“What’s your hurry? Some of these things have been here for hundreds of years.”
“My laptop might be up there!” Stellan hissed and tugged at Fenrir’s fur so he’d move a little faster.
“Is that something you think you’ll need?” He asked as he prowled closer to the scattered bits of hiking supplies and travelers’ detritus littering the floor of the cavern. Most of it had landed in a large heap in the middle but Stellan’s other duffle bag had rolled to the opposite corner by the pool and he pointed at it as he carefully scaled.
“My life’s work is in my laptop,” Stellan explained and he leaned and strained to reach his backpack. He cheered when he caught one of the straps and pulled it over his shoulder. He snatched his duffle bag’s handle and was able to get a hold of it and gave it a heave. It slid free and Stellan tumbled back and would have landed on his ass if Fenrir hadn’t caught him.
“Stay here and I’ll get the other one,” he said and Stellan smiled and pointed.
“Thanks it’s that one over—”
“I know which one is yours. It smells like you,” Fenrir said and went after it. Stellan’s eyes widened as he spotted several pans, stainless steel mugs and utensils and a really fancy camping shower. There were numerous sleeping bags, coats and blankets and plenty of toiletries for him to choose from. Fenrir returned with Stellan’s duffle bag between his giant jaws and laid it at his feet. “Help yourself to whatever you want,” he said and Stellan nodded as he looked around the cavern.
“I think I can make this place really comfortable.”
9
The cave was unrecognizable a week later. Stellan had more than enough foam mats and sleeping bags to make himself a rather decadent bed. He found an array of cooking utensils and dry ingredients and was able to set up an impressive camping kitchen and Fenrir allowed him to keep a small fire and lamps burning throughout the cave. Stellan made several trips back to the “supply cavern” and built himself a bathroom by the pool. The water was frigid but Stellan used a portable camp stove to heat up enough water for a brief but much needed shower.
Fenrir had changed as well. He followed Stellan around the cave and back and forth through the tunnel to the cavern as he worked. Fenrir only left long enough to hunt and always returned with a fresh carcass or a large cod for Stellan. Fenrir would nap by the fire as he cooked and the great wolf curled himself around Stellan as he read and slept.
The monster had turned himself into a pet but Stellan knew better than to gloat. He fed Fenrir and brushed his hair and Stellan read to him for hours. There were several dozen books in the supply cavern and most were in decent shape. Stellan couldn’t translate all of them but he could cope with the Northern Germanic languages, German, French, and Spanish. Fenrir loved to listen to Stellan read andreallyloved to ask questions.
“What is the purpose of art?” He asked after Stellan explained a modern art installation he visited in New York. Stellan frowned into his soup and scooted closer to the fire.
“Um… Pleasure and…inspiration?” Stellan attempted and his lips twisted as he hunted for better words. “Entertainment!” He said and pointed at Fenrir. The wolf stared back at him before he snuffled and his head dropped onto his crossed paws.
“And what is the purpose of entertainment? Does it fill your belly or keep you warm?”
“No…” Stellan shook his head slowly. What use would a beast like Fenrir have for art or entertainment? “Well… It’s like me,” he said and winced. It wouldn’t be very smart of him to point out how unnecessary he was, in the grand scheme of things, but Fenrir seemed to enjoy his presence. “I don’t fill your belly, yet.” He flashed Fenrir a cocky wink. “And I can’t keep you warm but you let me live and you’ve allowed me to make myself comfortable,” he said and Fenrir rumbled thoughtfully.
“You’re much wiser than you should be and I find thatI’mwiser when I listen to you. It’s been a long time since I was more than an animal and you remind me of my life before I was a monster, condemned to roam this forest.”
“I’m glad,” Stellan said and cleared his throat softly. “Could I ask—for academic purposes—who required that there be sacrifices?” He asked sheepishly and Fenrir snorted in amusement.
“For academic purposes?”
“Really!” Stellan said as he set down his mug and crawled to Fenrir. “I’ve been reading and learning about you since I was a child and I’m writing my doctoral thesison you. I came here to write the book my dad dreamt of writingabout you,” he explained excitedly as he climbed on Fenrir and stretched out along his side. Fenrir chuckled and Stellan enjoyed the way it made him bounce. It was a bit like being on a water bed as he snuggled into the great wolf’s fur and got comfortable. “Did you make a pact with the first settlers of Jötunndal? Did you promise not to destroy their homes or steal from them if they provided you with sacrifices?” He asked and Fenrir laughed again.
“I don’t steal because I’m a monster, not a man. I don’t know why they decided to leave wanderers and tourists but I suspect that’s more about them than it is me,” he said and Stellan’s head popped up.
“What? They believe you’ll wreck the village if they don’t feed you tourists.”
“That’s ridiculous. I destroyed their camp after the first jötunn came because they cut down my trees and built their homes in my forest without asking if I wanted them there. They could have had trees from the other side of the fjord but they took mine, without my permission, so I destroyed the things they made with them. I don’t care what they do as long as they stay out of my woods. But I’m not going to pass up a meal if it’s left on my doorstep,” Fenrir said and Stellan laughed in disbelief as he rested his head on his folded arms.
“You’re like a lethal Lorax.”
“I don’t know what a Lorax is.”
“He’s a magical creature who speaks for the trees,” Stellan said and Fenrir growled thoughtfully.
“I would let him live in my forest,” he decided and Stellan laughed softly and yawned as he became drowsy. It was the perfect time and spot for a nap so he sighed happily as he shut his eyes.
“That’s really sweet but he isn’t real. He’s a story,” Stellan said and Fenrir laughed again.
“So am I, boy.”
10