"They say that there is a dragon out there that nobody has ever been able to kill. The dragon is described no larger than a nadder, but deadlier in every way. Eyes like two glowing moons, black slits studying you, waiting to pounce. Claws like sharpened swords, scales red like fire. This dragon, the lethal Snatcher, doesn't take just anyone to its lear. Oh no! It only takes the smartest person in the village. The Snatcher comes every hundred years, making it's way around the world, kidnapping these geniuses and feasting on their-"
"That's enough Gobber." Astrid scolded, standing up.
"Aww." A collective groan was emitted from the crowd of children listening to stories from the older vikings.
"Stop whining. Your parents said we're not allowed to be too gruesome." Snotlout rolled his eyes.
"I've got a story about the time-" Astrid began.
"You and Stormfly found a volcano sticking out of the ocean." Gustav interrupted.
"How did you-" Astrid began asking.
"Know? You tell the same boring story every time!" Gustav whined.
"I love that kid!" Snotlout grinned.
Astrid punched Snotlout on the arm.
"We want a story from Hiccup!" A small girl named Freya complained.
"Yeah!" The group of children agreed.
"Hiccup is busy." Astrid sighed.
"Hiccup always tells the best stories!" A boy named Olaf fought.
"Yeah. Remember the one about the turtle the size of Berk?!"
"Mmhm. Remember the one when Toothless's tail fin broke and they crashed on a island made completely out of crystal?"
"Yeah! What about the tree that-"
"Enough!" Astrid yelled, silencing the chattering children.
"Story time is over! Go back home." Astrid commanded.
The children grumbled, standing and toddling home.
Astrid and Snotlout were about to leave when Gobber stopped them.
"Astrid?" He asked, almost nervously.
"Hm?" She asked, yawning.
"You...Go home lass. Get into bed. Lock your doors and windows. Let Stormfly sleep at your bedside tonight." The man warned.
"Excuse me?" Astrid scoffed.
"Ya heard me. That story I told, tis true! The dragon is real!"
"Gobber come on! That's a load of-" Snotlout began.
"Aye! Bu' it's true! Every century it comes out of hibernation and kidnaps the smartest mind in all of the arpechigo! Today is when it's suppose to strike!" Gobber nearly yelled.
"Oh please..." Snotlout groaned. "This is just another one of your dumb tales!"
Gobber stomped his foot and his peg leg. "It is not! The dragon has never struck Berk before...but just a island over, there lived a poet. Her name is unknown, lost in translation and paper. She is called the Orange Lady. Story goes that the Orange Lady was the most beautiful poet, she coul' write and write and write for days! But one night she simply disappeared. All that any of the town could find were scraps of her orange dress in the woods stained in blood. Plus in her bedroom, all of her journals and pieces of art n' stuff were gone. Whatever had took her had left a few scales behind too. These scales matched similar disappearences from around the world! Once, e'ery hundred years, a person vanishes into the night. This person is brilliant! All of their genius works missing along with their owning, the only traces? Scraps of bloodied clothing and dragon scales!" Gobber whispered dramatically.
Astrid gave Snotlout a certain look.
She cleared her throat. "Um...Wow, what a story. But really Gob, gotta get to bed!" And with that, the two teens bolted home, confused.
More soon!