Welcome back, my loyal readers! Glad you could make it today! Just like Family Ties, this story is based off of another dream that I had. However this one is going to be a little more loosely based, since it was not a HTTYD dream.
Chapter I:
As Razor, the Stormcutter, landed on the outskirts of ruins of Haumour, Ruth slid neatly off of his back, holding a bow in one hand, a lantern in the other, and a quiver of arrows on her back. She then untied a small bird, a rabbit, an two fish strapped to Razor's saddle. Side-by-side, the dragon, and the young woman walked over the half-standing horse stables that Razor slept in, set in the center of the ruins. It was dark. Ruth held her lantern in front of her so she could see where she was going. Razor gave a grumble of irritation. "I know." Said Ruth, in response to the grumble. "It's not a lot, but it should last us the night." Razor rolled if eyes in a "Speak for yourself." kind of way. "In any case." Said Ruth, still speaking to Razor. "Gen should be over tomorrow night with food and supplies. And you'll even get to see your old pal, Titan. Wouldn't that be nice?" Razor gave a wide, toothy grin in response to Ruth's last sentence. "Anyways, let's get this food cooked up and head to bed, it's been a long day.
As they came up to the stables, Ruth set down her bow and quiver, then arranged fresh wood around a pile of charcoaled bits surrounded by a circle of stones that she used for a fire. She then pointed at the pile of wood, then said "Logi." At which Razor gently blew a small stream of fire onto the wood. Patting Razor on the head, Ruth then inserted the fish into the fire. While that cooked, she handed Razor the bird and rabbit, which he took gratefully and swallowed whole. The two o the, sat down around the fire to keep warm, Ruth keeping a close eye on the fish. More to pass the time than anything, Ruth picked up a stick that she had dropped, pulled a knife out of her boot and started craving the bark off of the stick. "Things aren't quite the same anymore, are they, Razor?" She said gloomily. "I never thought I'd miss Gen and Titan's childish play." While she detested the way her younger sister wrestle in the dirt with her Nightfury, Titan, like a small boy, or would be out for hours at a time on unproductive flights, when se had ought to have been collecting food or supplies for survival, she missed them both terribly. Haumour now seemed to quiet since Gen had left for Berk. Ruth pulled one of the fish out of the fire, and prodded it absentmindedly with her knife. She gave a deep sigh before taking a small bite. She couldn't blame Gen for leaving. Sleeping every night with the constant reminder of what had happened fifteen years ago, to her friends and her family. Constantly struggling to find food, and stay warm. "And that boy could offer her so much more." She said to herself, thinking about Hiccup, the reason Gen had left in the first place. She couldn't help but feel a little bitter. The truth was that she was jealous. Jealous of Gen. Finding love before Ruth, when neither one of them had ever left the island. Jealous that Gen was now living in luxury compared to Ruth's living environment. But then again, she was happy for Gen too. She deserved better than living in the battlefield where their parents fell.
The quiet of the night was interrupted by a rustling sound from dark. Both Ruth and Razor jumped to their feet and turned in the direction of the noise. But they saw nothing. "Who's there?" Ruth called into the dark. "That you, Gen? You're early." There was no response. Suddenly, out of the darkness, Ruth saw a knife flying right at her. She didn't have a chance to react as the knife hit the sleeve of her shirt, pinning her to the tree behind her. Ruth exclaimed in surprise, and made to pull the knife out. Then another knife came out of the dark, this time plunging into Ruth's shoulder. Ruth screamed in pain. Enraged, Razor roared at the dark and ran in the direction the knives had come. There was a yelp, and Razor was thrown backwards, hit a tree which crashed down on top of him, and he laid still. "RAZOR!" Ruth cried. "He can't help you, Ruth." Came a voice from the dark. "No one can." A woman came into view. She was badly scared, and was missing large chunks of her hair. The hair that still grew was badly burnt, and matted. Ruth struggled to pulled her sleeve out of the first knife, but was breathing heavily in pain from the second knife. "Who- who are- you?" Ruth asked the woman. The woman chuckled softly. "Yeah. I understand why you wouldn't recognize me." She said. "I have changed significantly since we last met."
"What?" Said Ruth, staring at the woman. "I don't understand." The woman got up in Ruth's face. "You abandoned me, Ruth!" She hissed. "You left me to die fifteen years ago! I, who was supposed t be your FRIEND!" Ruth gasped. She felt as if a ghost from her nightmares had come to life to haunt her. "Lerra?!" She said exasperated. "No! It's not possible! I saw you die!"
"You saw me being mutilated by those wretched Viking invaders. I was then left to bleed to death while YOU ran away with your bratty kid-sister!" Lerra stared sadly at the ground for a moment. "I never thought you'd choose her over me. You always told me that you preferred me as a sister." Ruth grimaced. "Those were the words of an angry child! I had to grow up, Lerra! To take on new responsibilities!"
"SHUT UP!" Lerra yanked the knife out of Ruth's shoulder, and plunged it into Ruth's side, who screamed louder than before, tears now filling her eyes. "That brat NEVER deserved what you did for her!"
"SHE IS MY SISTER!" Ruth yelled. "She didn't have to earn my love!" Lerra laughed. "And I did?" She said. "Just because I wasn't your sister by blood? Well, what a shame. I guess I'll have to do something about that." She looked around, from the fallen houses, to the stables, then onto Razor's unconscious body. "Where is darling little sister? Unless she has turned into a dragon, I'd say she's not here." Ruth choked as she spat up blood. "Leave her out of this, Lerra." She said weakly. "Your quarrel is with me." She gasped as Lerra yanked the knife out of Ruth's side. "Oh, no no no no." She said softly. "It became her quarrel too when you chose her over me. I'm going to kill her, Ruth. Right in front of you. Slowly, painfully. And you'll be alive just long enough to hear her screams. And then, you're next." Lerra yanked the second knife out of Ruth's sleeve, causing her to collapse to the ground, Ruth put her hand over her side wound attempting to sop the bleeding. "Lerra." She pleaded at Lerra's feet. "I beg you. don't-"
"Spare me the groveling, Ruth before you make me barf!" Said Lerra, kicking Ruth in the face. "I will find her! And you'd better pray to the Gods that you're dead by the time I do!" Lerra clapped her hands together. There was a bang, followed by a puff of green smoke. Lerra was gone.
If you don't remember about Lerra, check out my first HTTYD story, Family ties, chapter 7.