A folk tale interpretation about the origin of the midges, written by Samantha De La Parra.

After Ragnarok, a long time ago.

They’ve all left. The battle between gods and monsters is over. We are all that remains. Us giants might not be the smartest or fastest, but we can fight.

Now Odin has sent us a new pest. They are small, fast and filthy replicas of us. They pollute the air and poison the ground.

I warned them against making a deal with them, but the others did not listen. They said peace is what matters. Humans are all creatures of creation and we shall not feast on them. I will not let a newcomer take everything I fought for. I would rather die in solitude than be surrounded by hypocrisy. That is why I have decided to retreat to my Fjord for the next millennia. Here I can live in peace under my own set of rules and values.

I was born to consume. Odin created me as a weapon of destruction. Always ready for war. Being soft and tender is against my nature. God knows I have tried but I cannot help being hungry. It’s either starvation or blood. Sometimes lost humans walk past my cave. Other times they come looking for me. On a couple of rare occasions they come trying to conceal their own wrongdoings. Hide their corpses and blame it on me.

I eat them all. The meaner, the tastier.

The word has spread around that I drink the blood of weary and innocent travelers. But what about the terrible ones? I help cleanse your stinky little towns from them! I should be thanked, revered.

Several decades later.

No one comes around anymore. It has been years and I can feel the hunger pangs every day. It won’t be long until I cannot control it anymore.

It has happened. I paid a nearby village a visit. I had not felt this full and warm for centuries. Why should we respect the ones that hurt us? Why hide my nature? Why do I have to die? All they have done is destroy my home, kill my pets and try to hunt me. They have invaded and corrupted all that I care for. I shall not harness compassion for them. I deserve to be warm and full. I will cleanse the Fjords from this pest.

A couple of months later

I have been feeding from the nearby towns. They never saw me coming. They are all caught up in their own petty fights. Too preoccupied with hating each other.

Today I was visited by the elders. They said that my feasts were known and frowned upon by the council. I tried to explain, defend my cause. They did not listen, a decision had been made. I was to leave the Fjords. Go down south. I had been exiled to the southern islands, and I was to leave by tomorrow.

Some giants keep memorabilia. Swords from their enemies, banners from battles, bones from loved ones. I do not have any. My mind is all I need, I have nothing to pack.

I started my journey early in the morning. The sea was only up to my chest at its deepest and within a couple of days I was there.

Shetland

There are tiny beings here. Smaller than humans and more aggressive. They take better care of their home. I reached down and grabbed a particularly nasty one, and gave it a taste. What a waste! It was not tasty AT ALL! Its blood was bitter, thick and green. Disgusting Trolls. I could not bring myself to swallow.

I decided to pass off feeding off them and look for another place.

I like to think I am self righteous but the truth is, they tasted disgusting. After all, why should I eat disgusting food? I deserve a tasty meal.

Orkney

This is a small island, there is not enough space for me here. I only stopped for a snack. To my surprise I found a battle! What a treat to remember the old days. It was the bitter green beings versus that terrible plague called humans. I decided to give the Trolls a quick win and join the battle. The Trolls turned out to be admirable warriors and great hosts. Celebrations went on ‘till dawn. Unfortunately, I could not stay there, the terrain was not mountainous enough and with the battle won, there was barely any food left.

I headed south to what they called “The Mainland”.

Caithness and Sutherland

The occupiers of this land were few and far between. Enough to provide sustenance in my journey down south. I heard of a place that seemed suitable enough to be my new home. I am tired of wandering. This place is said to have mountains and a steady supply of food: Applecross.

Applecross.

The journey here has been delightful. Nothing but bogs and hills. I have not felt this at peace since I left my cherished Fjords. Only sheep and deer to share a home with.

Eventually I approached a stretch of land with wild, rolling hills and sharp risks. These hills were wild and rugged. They seemed like a lovely place to rest, this must be Applecross!

As I walked among the hills I heard laughter and shouting. Those sneaky pests have managed to rot even the most remote and unreachable places. I will eat them all. A massive feast before my slumber!

The voices seemed to be talking to me, not just screaming in distress. Upon deciphering their language I realized they were mocking me! How dare they not fear me! I could crush them with one finger, and that is exactly what I tried to do.

They kept on running. They were sneaky and fast, with insect-like movements. I kept on chasing them, more used to fighting than hunting.

I tried to run faster and reach down to catch them, and then I fell.

I would like to say that I saw it coming, but I didn’t. In the blink of an eye I was not only on the ground but immobile. I couldn’t see out of my right eye. I tried to focus on the other eye. I had been impaled by hundreds of trees. They had carved them to act like stakes. Those filthy humans mocked me. They trapped me and killed me.

I was made for war. I can writhe in pain as much as any other creature made out of flesh and bone. What distinguishes giants is how we use our pain. Pain is pride. Pride of fulfilling my purpose, of being alive.

That day, as the humans surrounded me and tore me apart in a thousand pieces; I was the proudest giant to have ever lived.

After Death

My conscience lingered with my remains. I wondered how long until Odin took me back with him. Maybe I will be celebrated for my cleansing of the pest.

It did not happen that night.

As I saw the humans dance and drink, my anger grew. How dare they? I shrieked and howled as loud as I could.The ground shook and the wind whistled my name. They all ran and hid. I could finally wallow in my sorrow.

When the sun came up, they all squirmed out of their homes.

I could feel the heat but I could not see. I knew it was fire. Odin had given me a second death. A second chance to be the proudest giant in history.

I burned all night and felt the heat in my soul. They drank and danced around me but it did not bother me anymore. All I felt was the pain.

Will I go now? When will I be taken away?

All that remained of me were ashes to the wind.

A new life

The wind blew and I had eyes again. Thousands of them. I was no longer trapped, I was free to roam the hills, bogs, moors and forests. The hunger remained, I craved that red, sweet red blood to make me alive again.

I caught the last couple of villagers leaving the celebrations. They did not scream in terror or shriek in pain. I doubt they even noticed me.

I was full and they were not dead!

I could feast for eternity in my chosen land.

This was my ultimate purpose, to buzz and bite, to feed and not fight.

The end.

Sleep tight, don’t let the midges bite.

Written by Samantha De La Parra

Artwork by Leon Thompson