A short story, written during writer's block on other stories. Hope you like!
Hiccup had the radio blaring, his brows furrowed as he hurriedly made preparations around his home. There was a cyclone coming, and although the news had reported it as only a category 2, he knew that anything could happen and it was best to be prepared. Cyclones were not uncommon in his hometown of Berk, a small farming and fishing community close to the coastline. The perfect spot for storms. Usually they were only a category 1 or 2, but sometimes they would get up to a Cat. 3. Rarely they would go to a Cat. 4, and he hadn't even heard of a Cat. 5 happening in the last few decades. Something he was grateful for. Cat. 5 cyclones were not ones to be messed with.
He'd already moved his cattle to higher ground, away from the dense forest and other objects that might harm them. He didn't like leaving them exposed, but knew the heavy beasts would huddle in tight and, although they would certainly be wet, they should also be safe.
He had then turned his attention to the farm. There was always stuff out in the open that needed to be secured or moved under cover so he'd already had a busy two days to manage all that. Every year he made sure he collected the items needed to survive the regular threat of cyclones. Even if the storm itself didn't do any damage, the resulting floods and power cuts could be a nuisance for days or even weeks on end. Especially where he was, on the outskirts of town. Any repairs needed to downed powerlines were usually performed in the suburbs first, where the highest density of people lived. The farms and outlying residential areas came last. That was just how it was. So he'd become used to being self-sufficient.
Hiccup glanced out his kitchen window as he filled more water bottles. He could see the old house which belonged to his neighbour, at the bottom of the hill. Hoark had since built himself a new house further up, and had promised to renovate the old one and rent it out. So far, none of that had happened. Hiccup had hoped the old man would just flatten the dilapidated house completely, as it was prone to flooding from the small creek that ran between the two properties. He shuddered to think what state the old house was in, as nobody had lived there for several years.
Hiccup was about to turn away from the sink, when he noticed a removalist van followed by a small car, pull into the driveway of the old house. His mouth fell open in shock. Someone was going to live there? And they decided that today was the best day to do it? Did these people live under a rock? There was a cyclone coming, and they wanted to move into an old building now?
He watched as two people jumped out of the truck's cab and proceed to the back to begin unloading. Of course it was the twins, Ruffnut and Tuffnut. Only they would be oblivious enough to do something as hazardous as this. Hiccup turned his attention to the small sedan, where he could see a blonde woman standing beside the open door. She leaned in to collect a bird cage from the back seat before holding it up to her face and obscuring her features as she apparently spoke to the bird within. She walked to the house and disappeared inside.
Hiccup wondered if perhaps his new neighbour didn't know anything about the cyclone, or maybe she had a death wish, but he decided he had better do the right thing and go down to let her know. Just as he picked up the keys for his four-wheel-drive ute however, the cyclone warning alert blared loudly over the radio, the 'whoop-whoop-whoop' sound never failing to make him pause. Stopping to listen, his blood ran cold as he stared down at the newcomer again through the window. The storm had just been upgraded to a category 3 and was moving towards land fast and furiously. It was getting dangerous.
-oOo-
Astrid lifted her long braid off her sticky neck as she fanned herself. It was very hot and humid, although there was a brisk breeze teasing her. She'd been living in the city for the last few years, but had been forced to move back to Berk in a hurry after her bosses demanded an office be opened here. The only removalists she could enlist at such a late date had been the Thorston's Removalists, with Ruff and Tuff behind the wheel. Astrid had found it difficult to keep her temper when the destructive duo had come barging into her small unit in the city, packing everything she owned into an assortment of cardboard boxes, then throwing it all into the back of their truck with their usual careless style. So far, she hadn't heard anything break, but she was still gritting her teeth as they rapidly dumped her worldly possessions onto the floor of the house she had hastily signed a lease for.
Looking around at the old house, she wished she had requested a sight inspection first, as the timber building had clearly not seen any love for a long time. She noted the dusty kitchen table and a few chairs waiting for her. Unfortunately, this house had been all that was available at such short notice. She sighed as she placed the travelling cage with her beloved parrot Stormfly, on the kitchen bench. She would have to go to the shops later for some cleaning supplies and put in some serious elbow grease. There went her weekend….
-oOo-
By the time Hiccup pulled into the driveway of the old house, the twins had already left. He shook his head as he took in the moving boxes thrown haphazardly across the front verandah. Fast and efficient they certainly were. Neat and tidy….not so much.
He walked up to the front door, his frustration burning at this stranger who had blithely turned up on the eve of a storm. Hammering his knuckles loudly against the door frame, he waited impatiently for the steps inside to reach him. The door was jerked open and a woman with a serious scowl greeted him. "What do you think you're playing at….." she began before her mouth dropped open in shock. "Hiccup?" she asked, totally flabbergasted.
Hiccup had been about to let loose but when he recognized the blue eyed blonde before him, he had stood back in astonishment. "Astrid?"
"What are you doing here?" they both asked together, before Hiccup smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck. "You first," he offered.
She leaned back against the door, with her arms crossed. "What brings you to my door?" she asked again, a frown pulling her brows together as she remembered the rough treatment he had just meted out against the timber.
"There's a cyclone coming," he informed her brusquely, his irritation coming back. "Why on earth are you moving into this beat up old house today?" he asked her, with a look that indicated she was incredibly insane to be attempting such a thing.
"What cyclone?" she snapped back at him.
Hiccup rolled his eyes and gestured into the air around him. "The one that's been all over the news for the last few days? Don't you ever listen to the radio?" he asked her in frustration. "Are you deliberately trying to make life difficult? Are you even prepared for it?" he demanded.
Astrid stood up straight and her cheeks blushed red in anger as she retaliated. "For your information, Mr Self-Righteous, I didn't know about the cyclone. I was too busy packing to get here to start work on Monday. Besides…" she leaned back against the door and crossed her arms again. "….from what I remember, the storms here were never much. We'd get all the hype, then freak out and the storm's over and done with while everyone's still wondering when it's coming," she told him dismissively.
"This one just made it to a category 3," he told her grimly, eyes narrowed at her casual attitude. Cyclones were highly unpredictable and never to be disregarded.
She hesitated at the news, before frank indifference settled over her features again. She flicked her braid back over her shoulder. "Is that all? I've slept through those before."
He raised an eyebrow at her. "In a house that wasn't prepared? And with no supplies?" he asked pointedly.
This seemed to have the effect of finally unsettling her, and she bit her lip in thought. "No…." she had to admit reluctantly.
Hiccup sighed heavily. He knew he had to help, even if he didn't want to. "Look…how about I get some tools from home while you see if you can find a radio or candles. Maybe even a torch and some food," he suggested with a cool glare.
Astrid glared back at him. She was on the verge of telling him where to stick his disdain, but bit back the retort instead. She was smart enough to realise she was going to need some help with this old building. It looked like an aging maiden…never touched by the loving embrace of a hammer and nails.
"Sure….ah, thanks," she mumbled, in embarrassed resignation.
He stepped off her verandah, heading back to his truck as she watched him go.
Astrid couldn't believe it. Of all the people in Berk she could have had as a neighbour, it had to be Hiccup. He had been in the same grade at school as her, and even though she knew who he was…the son of the Mayor…she'd never really made any attempt to be friends with him. He'd been the class screw up, the misfit, the one that everyone ignored or bullied. And even though she herself had never actually bullied him, she hadn't looked out for him either. She had been too busy working on her own goals and keeping up her grades to worry much about him. And now she was back in Berk, living right beside him. Although she couldn't help but notice that he had certainly filled out in all the right places as she eyed him getting into his truck and driving back to his own farm.
Shaking her head, she drew back inside. Apparently, she had managed to land in town right before a storm. Great…something else to add to her really bad week. She mentally made a note to have a few words with the Thorston twins the next time she saw them. Maybe they could have…Oh, I don't know…warned her about the freakin' storm that was coming?
