Page 5 of Polar Destiny
Yes, when you say it like that, it doesn't makesense.
"Húnn, get her back into the house." He gets up and another man steps forwards. At first I think it's Ràn, but while his face is almost the same, his hair is a little darker and he's slightly less bulky - slightly. He's still a lot bigger than most normalmen.
"Don't worry, sweetie, everything will be ok," he whispers and scoops me up into his arms. I cry out as pain flows from my ankle up into my leg. "Shhh," he grumbles, as if he was trying to calm a baby. I'm trying to think of something to say, but I then I decide I don't have theenergy.
He carries me back into the house. When we pass through the door, he puts his back against the door frame to protect me from bumping against it. I'm surprised as his gentleness. For his size, he's amazinglygraceful.
He puts me down on the furs, the same furs I woke up on yesterday. A full circle. Except that this time, four big, intimidating guys are looking down at me. Finn, Ràn, the man I assume to be his brother, and the Viking. I still can't get my head around how massive they all are. And how hot - but no, my brain reminds my ovaries, they are bears, predators, and even if they seem nice now, they probably just want to fatten me up so I make a biggermeal.
The Viking kneels down at my side. Again, there's that fold between his eyes. But this time, I stay silent. I don't need to embarrass myselfagain.
"Where does ithurt?"
I point down. "My ankle, I heard itsnap."
"Anywhere else? Yourhead?"
"My head is fine." Finn chuckles and I shoot him aglare.
The Viking gently rolls up my trousers and runs his hands over my ankle. I flinch and he stops, giving me a strange look, but I pretend it didn’t happen and he continues. His hands are warm, almost hot. He gently lifts up my foot and turns it back and forth until Iscream.
"Sorry. I don't think it's broken, probably just sprained. Let's cool it to prevent a swelling and then immobilise it. Finn, get some snow. Húnn, see if you can find some bandages. Ràn, I need a few pieces ofwood."
They all nod and disappear. I'm alone with theViking.
"Ehm, who are you?" I finally dare toask.
“I'm Torben. Which you would know if you hadn't been so stupid to jump off the roof before meeting Húnn andme."
I cringe, embarrassed. He's right, it was stupid. Butthen...
"Are you really... Imean..."
"Spit itout."
"Bears?"
"Yeah." He shrugs, as if that's the most normal thing in theworld.
"And... you won't eatme?"
He stares at me, his eyes laughing, then his mouth follows. He roars withlaughter.
"So that's what it's all about? You think we're going toeatyou? Sorry, girl, despite your curves you're not quite enough to satisfy a bear's hunger." I breathe a sigh of relief until he says, "At least not thatappetite."
He shoots me a wolfish - bearish? - grin and I feel myself blush. What is it with these guys and me blushing? It's not like I haven't been around men. In fact, with so few girls my age living on Salvation Island, I spent most of my time with boys. But, none of them were this... intense. Huge. Scary. Hot. No, brain, unthink that. Not hot. I don't think like that. I'm not that kind of girl. Now stopdrooling.
Finn is the first to return, carrying a dripping towel. He gently lays it on my ankle. Cold pours through the fluffy fabric, and I can feel it soothe my pain almost instantly. The pain I had almost forgotten with all this talk of bears andappetites.
"Is that better?" Finnasks.
"So much," I say, but it comes out as a slightmoan.
The two brothers step into the room, instantly making it feel crammed. While they sit down around the fire, Torben stabilises my ankle by squeezing it between two planks of wood, around which he wraps the bandages. Once he's done, he puts the melting snow-towel back ontop.
"How is thepain?"
"Much better, the ice ishelping."
