It wasn’t long after that when we found the cave we were absolutely under no circumstances allowed anywhere near. We stopped at the entrance of the cave, when we heard the heavy breathing of the creature inside. Hesitating, we looked at each other. Saying we were going to poke a bear was easy. Even walking to the cave today was easy. But now we had to follow through.

“No one would know.” Artyom offered everyone. “They wouldn’t care either.”

But a feeling tore at my soul. I tightened my fists. “The gods would know.” I said, simply, making for the cave.

“Hold on there, kids. Think you’ve had enough fun in the woods for one day.” came a familiar voice. We all slowly turned around to see the grizzled figure of my uncle walk towards us, a rifle on his back and premature streaks of grey spotting his black hair and beard. “Now step away from there, please, and let’s get you to safety. There’s bears around these parts.” He looked at each of us, levely. “But something tells me you already knew that, didn’t you?”

“Father,” Demyan started, “We only wanted-”

“I think I’ll ask the mastermind of all your little operations, thank you son. But good on you to protect your comrade.” He turned to me. “Niece.” He addressed me, looking me up and down. I stood tall, prepared for anything. He went to one knee, grabbing my chin and turning my head to the side, looking at my cut. “You didn’t think to go home after getting this?” he sighed, amused.

“A warrior is strong.” I respond, puffing out my chest.

“That’s not an excuse for stubbornness and stupidity.” He says, tapping his knuckles on my forehead. “Wodin was a god of war and...”

“Knowledge...” I mumble, head bent to the side, cheeks burning.

“Lucky for you,” He said standing. “For all of you, is that knowledge can be gained. A good example is the knowledge I’m sure my sister will gift you of the difficulties to get blood stains out of clothing, Hildr, in her wish for you not to return to this place. Best of luck with that.” He smiled. “Come. We should clean out that wound before it gets infected. It’ll surely leave a scar.”

This made me smile, as we followed my uncle back to town, even as the others hung their heads in shame. My first scar! Just like a true warrior. I couldn’t help but grin.

“Well come inside then.” My mother said, standing in the doorway, waiting, as my uncle brought me home. “Thank you for going out to find them, Petya.”

“See you tonight, Nadine.” He responded, leaving me to my execution.

She looked at me, expectantly. “Well?” She said, sharply. “Am I going to repeat myself?”

“No, mama...” I mumble, sulking into our house.

“Seeing as you seem so determined to go out and seek to injure yourself in such a matter, we are going to make damn sure that you are able to patch yourself up. I am getting far too on in years to guarantee that I can dust you off every time you fall down. And besides,” She said, with a wicked half smile. “You’re your father's proud little warrior are you not? You should be able to take care of yourself, correct?”

“I’m not feeling so great about this.” I say, worried.

“You shouldn’t.” She responded, setting me atop the kitchen counter, and pulling a toolbox full of first aid supplies. She dowsed a nearby towel with water, “Now, first thing’s first. You are going to clean that wound. Dab it gently now.”

I did as I was told, not wincing once, until mama was satisfied with my handywork. “That wasn’t so bad.” I say, pridefully.

“Nor should it be.” she grinned. “That was the easy part.”

“Oh...” I said, a little downtrodden. It seemed like it was easier than when I scraped my knees, but I was hoping that it just meant I was a born natural.

Mama pulled out peroxyde now, adding it to a dry end of the towel, and handed it me, expectantly. “Now apply that to the wound. This is where it’ll start to get difficult.”

“That’s the part that hurts?” I ask.

“That’s the part that hurts.” She confirmed, watching me expectantly, arms crossed. “Come now, we don’t have all day. We need to get you in the bath and changed, since you decided to ruin those clothes.” she chuckled, softly. “Or is the great and mighty Hildr afraid of a little pain?”

“The great and mighty Hildr fears nothing.” I grumble, cheeks puffed out as I placed the cloth against my wound, before pulling away sharply, and shouting, “Ouch!” I looked up to mama, about to complain, but, seeing her attempting to bite back a laugh sent me to a silent fury. I would win this battle. So, begrudgingly, I placed the cloth back on the wound, only hissing when it made contact, this time.

After a while, she had me take the cloth away and studied the wound. “There we go. All clean. You’re doing well, so far.”

“Now we just put a bandage on it?” I ask, hopefully.

“Oh no dear, we are far past that.” She said, calmly, pulling out a needle and thread. “You forwent the easy route when you decided it was more pertinent to go out and run amuck in the woods with your cronies.” she handed the needle to me, while holding up a mirror. “People that make dumb decisions, have to face the consequences.”

“What about people that make smart decisions?” I ask.

“I’ll let you know as soon as you start making them.” She responded. “Now remember when I had you stitch your brothers bear back together after you decided to rip off the poor things arms?”

“He’s too old for toys.” I grumbled.

She handed me the needle. “Just like that. But with that pretty face that I worked so hard on.”

The stitches felt weird. I had to crane my neck to see what I was doing too, so it was sore for awhile afterwards. But after having to take them out twice, and try again, I finally finished. It didn’t hurt nearly as bad as I thought, but it made me look cool. Battle hardened.

“Now did we learn our lesson?” mama asked, bandaging my handiwork, and hiding it from the world. You think an artist would know better.

“That I can get as many scars as I want as long as I clean them myself!” I respond, proudly, jumping off the counter.

“Sure, fine. Close enough. Now head off to the bathroom, and get out of those clothes. We need to meet your father at the hall in an hour. Off with you.”

I darted off, throwing articles of clothing as I went, shouting with my berserker rage!

I walked into the living room after getting dressed. Mama had the news on, but was in the bathroom. “Mama, I’m ready!” I shouted, as I sat on the couch.

“Okay, Hildr. I just need another second.” She responded.

“Kay!” I said, turning my attention to the tv. It was the late night broadcast of the Soviet News Network, our nation's official outlet on the daily events of our representatives and how we received information on the going ons of the outside world. A man was talking next to live footage of demo equipment tearing down a large concrete wall that was in the middle of Germany's capital city, Weltmitte.

“Yes, fellow citizens and comrades, it is true. Today, leaders of Western Germany, on hearing and listening to the wishes of their people, have agreed to join the Soviet Union. After growing economic peril, the once democratic and capitalist side of the country was coming close to a open revolution in the past months. Their leaders, upon hearing the will of the working class, agreed to strip themselves, and their country of the shackles of capitalism and we welcome them with open arms. Representative Pavel Kuznetsov traveled to Weltmitte earlier today, to join the people in celebrating this historical day.”

“News is boring!” I say, grabbing the remote, and changing the channel to cartoons.

“And that’s how we play handy-hands!” Said the shows mascot, and I frowned.

“Awww. I missed today's episode!” I groaned.

“Well you can blame yourself for that!” Mama said, walking into the living room. “Come. We’re running late as it is. You don’t want to miss Gyoja Raisa’s readings today, do you?”

“NO!” I say leaping from the couch excitedly. “It's gonna be the Egil’s Saga mama!” I grabbed her hand pulling her towards the door. “Come oooonnnnn!”

“Oh now we’re eager.” She smiled, letting me lead her out.

“It’s COLD!” I shouted as we stepped outside, mama standing behind me, amused, holding the coat I forgot to put on in my excitement.

“Truly? And why do we think that is?”

“SNOW!” I answer confidently.

“You sure it’s not because you went out without thinking?” she asked, holding out my coat for me to slide into.

I giggle. “Thoughts can’t be cold mama. That’s silly.”

“If only that were true, my darling.” She sighed, before zipping up my coat. “Now let’s be going.”

I skipped down the street, slightly ahead of mama, stopping and running back to her when I got too far ahead. As we went, we passed the houses of our neighbors, each an exact copy of our own. Each had a family roughly the size of our own. And inside, everyone had the same amount of everything as our own. Papa said that this way fewer people would suffer, and everything was fair. Nobody starved.

As we went, we met up with a few other families on their way to the hall. Eventually the houses disappeared and made room for the buildings that people worked at. The hospital and the school, that shared a clearing that had a large flag pole with the Soviet flag being lowered as mama and I walked by. I waived at my cousin, who was one of the ones lowering it. She ignored me, however. She was performing her duty as a police officer and this was very important. She was so cool.

Eventually, we made our way into the woods, mama and a few other adults pulling out flashlights as we left the street lights behind. By the time we made it to our destination, I was bouncing around my mother in excitement. It was a large wooden building, stretching the entirety of the clearing, warm, welcoming lights and sounds coming from inside. It was crafted, with love, after the halls of our ancestors and gods. This was where I was born. This is where I first heard of Thor and Wodin and Frigg. Of Tyr and of Fenrir. Giants and Dwarves and Elves. Of Valhalla, full of the greatest heroes and the best stories. And when I died and entered Valhalla, a hall just like this one, I was going to have the greatest stories of all.

“Can I go mama, can I go?!” I asked, tugging on her sleeve.

“As if I could stop you, my darling. Go on then, find your father.” she smiled, as I darted off, like a bolt from Thor’s anvil.