Revenge

The Inuits were sleeping peacefully within their igloos. A child awoke, wishing to relieve himself.

He stepped outside, and went about his business.

As the streaming stopped, the child heard crunching from behind.

He turned around to look directly into the hollow eyes of the Qalupalik.

The boy struggled in vain, as the Qalupalik was far superior. His eyes widened in horror, as he gazed upon the abyss that was the Qalupalik's basket.

The screaming could not be heard, only the pounding upon the basket was audible.

The Qalupalik stepped into the water, satiated for now.

The parents never knew what had happened to their child…

Tunraz had taken a break from investigating Höttr's death. He had heard countless rumors about various kidnappings taking place on Greenland: all of them involving children…

" I could help. " said Borr, Tunraz's Hamingja.

" If I need it, I'ill ask. Thanks. "

" Why is this place called Greenland? " said Thord the Cat; " it's more like Iceland! Am I right??? "

Þunraz ignored the cat, as he approached an Inuit village.

The people seemed a bit weary of him, so they all kept their distance. Except for a girl, about Tunraz's age.

" What brings you here, stranger? "

" I have come in the hopes of solving the many kidnapping cases. "

The girl just eyed him with curious eyes. She could tell that Tunraz was more than he seemed. He seemed… rather otherworldly, which was certainly true.

" Arnarulunnguaq. " said the girl introducing herself.

Tunraz paused for a moment.

" Arna- uluraq- "

" Just call me Arn. "

" Thank you… " he raised his hand; " you may call me: Tunraz. "

Arnarulunnguaq accepted his hand. That was also when Thord jumped onto Tunraz's shoulder.

" Who is this? " said Arnarulunnguaq.

Thord purred, as Arnarulunnguaq massaged his chin. With all the introductions out of the way; the gang made their way into Arnarulunnguaq's igloo.

" Do you live alone? " said Tunraz, accepting the cup of tea.

" Yes. "

Arnarulunnguaq poured herself a cup, and sat down opposite to Þunraz. She told of how her parents had gone hunting… they never returned.

Arnarulunnguaq has lived alone ever since.

" Well… kind of… " said Arnarulunnguaq.

" What do you mean: kind of? " said Þunraz, intrigued.

Arnarulunnguaq smiled gleefully, as if she knew a secret no-one else knew.

" Oh, you'll see. "

Þunraz and Thord simply looked at each other.

Arnarulunnguaq said that Þunraz was more than welcome to stay at her place.

Þunraz gladly took her up on her offer, as he lay down to rest.

It was an eerie night indeed.

Þunraz was sleeping peacefully.

Till he opened his eyes.

He turned over to see Arnarulunnguaq and Thord both peacefully asleep.

Þunraz thought that he must have had imagined it, till the whole room glowed with an eerie hue.

Þunraz turned over once more, which was when he saw a seal-head pop out from the floor.

Þunraz and the seal blinked at one another.

He looked over at Arnarulunnguaq, who simply winked back at him, for this was the ghost seal from Eyrbyggja Saga.

The seal also happens to be: Arnarulunnguaq's Fylgja.

Þunraz awoke the next day, feeling rather well-rested, despite the ghost seal incident.

Thord and Þunraz were on catching-the-fishes-chore, which was something the cat excelled at, unsurprisingly.

Þunraz and Thord brought back what they had caught, as Arnarulunnguaq brough back the hooded seal she had caught.

(seal hunting was something she excelled at.)

We find ourselves back within the igloo.

The campfire within was alight, as Arnarulunnguaq felt like telling a story.

The Avenged Animals:

" There was a Hunter once: a hunter among hunters. He was skilled with weapons, tracking, and surviving. There was no beast he couldn't tame. He was even able to tame the fiercest creature of them all: women. "

" One day, as the Hunter was returning home with his game, he felt like someone was watching him.

This was of course absurd, so the Hunter thought nothing of it. He returned home, hanging his seal-coat among his many Walrus-tusks. The Hunter sliced off some whale-meat. He then took off his necklace of shark-teeth, heating a cup of tea for himself. The Hunter got the feeling yet again: he was being watched. He exited his igloo, to find a pair of hands tightening around his throat. The Hunter looked upon a creature of creatures. He was looking upon a Tupilaq. The Avenger was made up of the animals the Hunter had hunted.

It was at that moment that the Hunter felt what many of his victims must have felt: dread, then death. "

Þunraz awoke, at the peak of night.

He went outside the igloo, wishing to relieve himself.

He just stood there, the river still going strong, trying to hold onto his sleep.

Þunraz, being a warrior and all, felt a presence behind him.

He slowly turned around, to look upon a grotesque figure.

Sufficient to say… the waterfall abruptly halted.

The creature approached Þunraz, its eerie cat-like-eyes holding him in place.

Þunraz was about to ask Borr for assistance, till the creature halted before him.

The light of the moon made its monstrous features quite visible.

" Wha-t ar-e yo-u? " stammered Þunraz.

" Tupilaq. " a hoarse voice announced.

" What do you want from me? "

" Nothing. "

" Then why are you here? "

The Tupilaq leaned over Þunraz's shoulder. It then whispered, with the voice of the child from the beginning of this story.

" Revenge. "

The Tupilaq flew past Þunraz.

Þunraz quickly turned around, to see the Tupilaq beating someone to a bloody pulp.

Þunraz hurried over, forcing the Tupilaq off.

He was then met with another grotesque creature.

Þunraz was looking at what used to be the Qalupalik. Now most certainly dead.

Þunraz turned his gaze towards the Tupilaq.

" Why? " he asked.

The Tupilaq repeated its answer:

" Revenge. "

Þunraz then realized.

" You were its victims! "

The Tupilaq nodded. It then started falling apart.

Arnarulunnguaq was ready to see Þunraz off.

She made sure that his hood was on properly.

Arnarulunnguaq then grabbed hold of the hood; kissing Þunraz.

Þunraz was speechless, as he watched the embarrassed Arnarulunnguaq run off.

That was when Thord wacked Þunraz on the head, as if to say:

" Go after her, idiot! "