“No! NO! Shoo, shoo,” Freyhild waved her wooden spoon in the direction of two baby Nadders that had come back again to sniff around the big pot of stew. She was trying to cut some more carrots to add to the stew but couldn’t even finish that without having to run to protect the steaming pot frequently. “Go away, you dumb beasts,” she mumbled, knowing that it is meaningless. They either didn’t understand or just chose to ignore her. 

“Here is your water,” a child brought a bucket from the well. Freyhild was cooking outside today, under a makeshift shelter that threatened to collapse any minute, especially as more dragons were sitting on it, peeking curiously. 

“Thank you, Halfdan,” she replied to the boy, but he ignored her just as the dragons did.

“Aww, look at those, aren’t they the cutest!” 

Freyhild turned around only to see that the Nadders returned, one now hovering right above the pot, waving its wings rapidly. Halfdan was softly nudging the other one, giggling playfully. The dragon fought back, bumping his head against the boy's stomach, knocking him to the ground. Soon they were rolling in the dirt, consumed by their pretended fight, squeaks and giggles coming from that pile of arms, legs and wings. “STOP IT!” They were too close to the pot, it seemed like they were going to tip it over any second. 

The wooden spoon came down a couple of times, hitting random limbs entangled on the ground. The dragon waved his wings flying out of her range, hissing angrily. “Go play somewhere else,” she told the boy, trying to stay calm. Normally she would threaten to talk to his parents, but she knew all too well that he probably didn’t have any. Too many adults died fighting, too many orphans now wandered around the new village. “Go tell the builders that the stew is ready, they can take a break to come and eat. Grab a bowl for yourself as well. And you,” she turned to the dragon still hovering over the pot. “If you come any closer to that stew, I swear to Odin that I will just chop you up and throw you right in!” She wouldn’t do that as it was against Hog Morsan’s orders, but the dragon didn’t have to know that.