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“Your work?” Gustav asked cluelessly and Stellan’s head pushed forward.
“My thesis and my dad’s book,” he reminded him. “I’ve got plenty of notebooks and pens but at some point I’ve got to get everything typed out and sent off. See what you can do about getting internet in Jötunndal. You can hide from the outside world but you don’t have to live like a barbarian,” Stellan scolded and Gustav laughed.
“We’ll keep a cabin for you if you’ll keep the wolf away,” he said and Stellan smirked.
“That won’t be a problem,” he predicted and Gustav appeared relieved.
“You know, I’ve never been afraid of the outside world or the occasional tourist. I was more afraid of our secret getting out and I never liked the killing,” he stated and Stellan couldn’t be happier as they shook hands. Well. He was happier after he took a long, hot shower and Stellan was overjoyed when he checked on Ted and found him groggy but awake and unaware of how close he came to being dinner for a monster.
“Welcome back!” Stellan said and Ted was ecstatic as he sat up and rubbed his eyes.
“Me? I thought you were dead! You never checked in and nobody here had ever even heard of you.”
“I never…?” Stellan started and realized his letter never made it out. “Sorry. It was all a mixup. I’ve been camping in the woods for weeks and I thought you knew,” he said.
“A mixup? I tracked you all the way here and then it was like you vanished and nobody in Jötunndal had heard of you,” Ted complained then leaned forward conspiratorially. “Is it just me or are the people here a little too nice and…um…large? It’s creepy, right?” He whispered but Stellan laughed and waved it off.
“I think it’s because they grow their own food and haven’t been corrupted by the outside world yet. I came down to borrow a cup of sugar and heard an American was visiting. Gustav said he had a little too much glögg so I decided to swing by and make sure he was ok. I thought I was dreaming when I saw that it was you.”
“I feel like I’m in a nightmare,” Ted groaned and clutched his forehead. “I didn’t think I drank that much.”
“It’ll sneak up on you. But I can’t believe you came all this way to look for me,” Stellan said and Ted raised a shoulder.
“I told you I’d send a search party if you didn’t check in.You scared the hell out of me, kid.”
“Sorry and thanks. I didn’t think anyone would notice and it means a lot,” Stellan said and pulled Ted into a tight hug. The older man laughed softly as he patted Stellan on the back.
“Your father was a good friend and I’ve been worried about you since he passed. But you look good! You look like you’re having a great time out there and I think he’d be proud,” Ted said. Stellan grinned and his eyes stung as he nodded. He missed his father and wondered what the hell he’d make of Stellan’s fate. Stellan blushed and hoped he only got the redacted version but he had a feeling his father would be proud.
“I’m so much closer to the legend than he ever imagined,” Stellan said.
“That’s great! How long do you think you’ll stay up there?” Ted asked and Stellan held up his hands and shrugged.
“As long as I can?” He guessed and Ted’s eyes bulged. “I’m happy up there and I have everything I need to do my research. I’ll have to come down here to do the actual writing for a month or two but I don’t think I’m going back to the school or to the States.”
“I’ll miss you,” Ted pointed out and Stellan cringed apologetically.
“I’ll miss you too but I think you’re the only person who cares. You’ve got a beautiful family and you love teaching but I don’t have anything like that pulling me back.”
“Wow. I was hoping you’d find yourself out here but I didn’t think you’d go full survivalist,” Ted said and Stellan hummed.
“I definitely found something. I promise I’ll check in more regularly and you’ll see one hell of a paper from me soon,” he said and gave Ted another hug before he got up.
“Stay safe out there, Stellan. And I hope you find your wolf,” Ted said and Stellan winked at him as he headed for the door.
“I already have.”
