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As in many other mythologies, the patriarchal deity, Odin, leader of the Aesir and king of the gods, is a bit of a rabble-rouser. In "Thor's Duel with Hrungnir," we find him taunting the leader of the giants, Hrungnir, a proud beast with a temper of his own. Odin, drunk and belligerent, actually insults Hrungnir after having received a rather nice compliment about his horse. Snidely, he retorts, "Better than any in Jotunheim...that's for sure" (234). This sparks a duel, of sorts, as Hrungnir challenges Odin and his prize horse, Sleipnir, to a race. The two tear across the world at great speed until they arrive at Valhalla, home of the gods.
Seeing the gates of Valhalla, Hrungnir realizes who he's challenged; he has no choice but to remain silent and accept punishment. Much to his surprise, however, he's led inside and given food and drink. It's not long before Hrungnir becomes drunk and belligerent himself, a situation that Odin believes would be best handled by his son, Thor. Thor arrives with haste and demands to know why Hrungnir is in Valhalla. The two exchange words and agree that a battle will take place on Hrungnir's home soil, Grjotunagardar.
After arriving home, Hrungnir and the other giants construct a clay monster bigger than anything Thor has ever seen. It is meant to scare him off. Thor, arriving for battle, is unfazed. He throws his hammer, Mjolinar, at Hrungnir's hone, the two clash in the air, whetstones are scattered everywhere, and ultimately, Mjolinar still finds it's mark. Hrungnir is felled with a single blow. Thialfi, Thor's chariot driver, easily mops up Mist Calf, and the two Norse men return home.
This myth is a creation myth, in a way. It doesn't explain the creation of the world itself, as so many creation myths do. But it does explain where we get our whetstones.