Hiccup was having problems of his own. Apparently, his dad was far too busy getting camp set up and fortifying it against the winter snow and wind to listen to his son tell him about a new dragon that they had encountered.
"Best not worry him," said Gobber, the one legged, one armed blacksmith, coming up to pat Hiccup on the back. "He's got the whole operation riding on his shoulders."
"Gobber," said Hiccup in relief, "I need to tell you something."
"If that something is that you are finally going to show up for work in the shop, I'm all ears."
"Well, no. But it's much more important. One of us has been stung by the Venomous Vorpent."
Gobber's head swiveled around. His eyes went wide. "A Venomous Vorpent?" His question was like a sigh of wind. "But that poison is…"
"Fatal. I know. So, the gang and I are going out to look for a cure."
"Which is?"
"A red potato."
Gobber guffawed and waved his hook at their bleak surroundings. "Look around you, lad! It's not potato season!"
"I know, but I was thinking that one of the surrounding tribes on a nearby island might have one left over from the harvest…"
"And besides, where will you go?" pointed out Gobber. "With this wind blowing, you'll hardly get those dragons of yours off the ground. You'll have to ride them like ponies on the ground, and you know how much slower that is."
"And what is the alternative?" contradicted Hiccup, getting angry. "Staying here? Letting one of my friends die? No. No, no sir, Gobber. I'm not going to let that happen."
"Don't get so excited! I'm just pointing out problems in your calculations. Now then, what direction will you be going?"
"Umm…" Hiccup looked at Astrid, who shrugged.
"Well," Gobber pulled out a strip of paper, "it just so happens that I have a map here. How much time do you have to search for the potato?"
"About three days."
"Alright, that means that you will need to be looking in this general area." He dragged his finger in a circular motion over the paper.
"But we're in the middle of nowhere," Hiccup said in mounting dread, absently stroking Toothless.
"True, but look here." Gobber pointed to an area near the outer rim of the circle.
"Unknown?" read Hiccup out loud.
"Aye. If there's one place it would be that you could get to in three days, that would be it."
"But we don't even know if there's a tribe in that area," pointed out Astrid.
"True again, but let me put it this way: what choice do y' have?"
Hiccup looked at Astrid and sighed. "He's right, Astrid. There are no other tribes that we can get to within three days' time."
"Then to the unknown we go!" cried Astrid, swinging herself onto her dragon, Stormfly.
"Uh, Gobber," Hiccup turned back to his friend. "Could you talk to my dad and tell him where we've gone?"
"Sure! I bet I can calm the old warthog down a bit. Though," he leaned in closer to Hiccup, "you should still expect a bit of an outburst on your return."
"Noted." Hiccup swung onto Toothless, calling out, "And by the way, keep everybody off of those hills. We don't want the Vorpent showing up again."
The journey was cold. Very cold. The wind whirled around them, shedding snowflakes that always managed to smack their cold wetness right into their faces. There was no way to tell if the sun was high or low, but when it got darker than it already was, Hiccup decided to make camp. They found a large cave on a small island, relatively free of snow and wind.
"I think that we should press on, Hiccup," Fishlegs said, still on top of his Gronkle.
"We need our rest, Fishlegs. I think I speak for us all here when I say that we're tired."
"Not too bad," Astrid said dubiously.
"I could keep going for hours," Tuffnut exclaimed.
"Nope. I need to stop." Snotlout immediately withdrew his statement when he saw Astrid looking at him. "I mean… I think that the ladies are getting tired."
"Well, I'm tired," Hiccup said, putting an end to the discussion. Toothless sneezed as if to say 'me too!'
"I could keep going," Fishlegs said, still pressing the issue. "Gronkles were born up north. They are used to this sort of weather. Aren't you, girl?" he gave Meatlug a friendly scratch. She blinked her large yellow eyes up at him.
"No, Fishlegs. We need to stay together."
"But, Hiccup…"
"And that's my final word on the matter!"
Hiccup turned away, shivering violently. Astrid came up beside him. "Hey, what's wrong?" she asked softly.
"Nothing. Just cold."
"I meant about Fishlegs. You never talk to him like that."
"I don't know." Hiccup kept his head down, trying to unpack as slowly as possible.
Astrid patted him reassuringly on the back. "You just need some rest. I'll be back in a moment." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and walked away.
Fishlegs didn't talk again until after they had eaten and Hiccup had decided that they should post a watch.
"I think the twins should take first watch," Fishlegs said.
"What?" Tuffnut exclaimed in horror. "I need my beauty sleep, Fishlegs."
"Yes, you do," murmured Snotlout into his mug.
"Why, Fishlegs?" asked Hiccup.
"Well…" Fishlegs seemed to be struggling to find an explanation. "Well… they… didn't help to set up camp, so… I think that they should be pulling their own weight around here, right?"
"That… doesn't sound like you, Fishlegs. Are you alright?" Hiccup asked with concern.
"I'm fine!" Fishlegs said with more fire than he intended.
"Well…" Hiccup seemed to be considering this idea.
"Please say no, please say no," prayed Tuffnut and Ruffnut.
"Please say yes, please say yes," prayed Fishlegs.
"Alright," Hiccup decided finally. "Ruff, Tuff, you get first watch. Fishlegs, you get second. Snotlout, third. Astrid, fourth."
"NOOOOOOO!" moaned Ruffnut.
"The gods have abandoned us," wept Tuffnut.
"I can't help thinking that this is grossly unfair," moped Tuffnut. "I mean, look at them." He gestured at the two-headed dragon slumbering behind them. "They're our dragon. They should help us with the watch. Hey, you two. Wake up!" He nudged them with his foot. They merely stirred sleepily and did not bat an eyelid.
"Tell you what," said Ruffnut, "you watch for a while, I'll get some shut-eye."
"Oh, no you don't. You watch, I'll get some shut-eye."
"Why don't we both get some shut-eye, and the dragons will watch."
"That's a good idea. Barf, Belch, wake up."
This time, two feet thudded into the dragon's side. The dragon's four eyes opened sleepily.
"Keep watch, will you?" Ruffnut yawned "We're trying… to… sleep…"
Within seconds, they were both in dreamland.
The Two-headed Zippleback, who had been woken up without any clue why, naturally assumed that this was just a dream and they really shouldn't have to keep watch. Their eyes drifted shut and they fell asleep.
Fishlegs quietly opened his eyes. "I knew they wouldn't last the watch," he whispered to himself jubilantly. Rising to his feet as silently as possible, he went over to Meatlug. "C'mon, girl. Let's go," he whispered.
Nobody saw the two sneak out into the snow.
An hour or so later, Fishlegs was wondering if this had been such a good idea. The wind was strong. Too strong, almost, for sturdy Meatlug. Fishlegs had dismounted and continued on foot to make it easier for his dragon. "Just a little farther, girl," he murmured through frozen lips. To keep himself warm – which was becoming increasingly difficult – he started muttering species of dragons from the Boulder Class: "Whispering Death, Gronkle-" But no matter what he did, he became colder and colder.
"Need to keep going," he whispered as his legs buckled beneath him. Meatlug whimpered as Fishlegs closed his eyes. She nudged him with her great head. "Don't worry, Meatlug," Fishlegs murmured.
Meatlug watched in horror as her master tipped over to lay in the snow. She gave an anguished roar and tried to push him over, but he was asleep and could not be wakened. He had been her master for over three years. Was he to desert her now?
Meatlug's nostrils pricked and her pupils constricted. She growled deep in her throat and backed herself closer to her master. A scent was in the wind. A scent she had never smelled before, even in her youth.
Dark shapes began to form in front of her. She shot several fireballs at them to warn them away, but they stayed, never advancing.
Suddenly, a rope wound itself around her throat. She whipped around too late. The figures in front of her had been a ruse! She was trapped! She lashed wildly, but more ropes were thrown about her.
Figures wrapped in white polar bear furs came forward, speaking in a strange language. Meatlug growled again as they came near Fishlegs, stooping over him and muttering. Eventually, she subsided, resigned to the fact that at least for now she and her master had been captured.
A/N: Hey there, guys! Thank you for stopping by to read Chapter 2. I haven't posted to an extremely active fandom like this before and WOW was I surprised when I saw how many reads I got! Thank you all so much!
Guest: Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed that chapter.
Romantica 123: What an enthusiastic review! As to who was bitten, you'll just have to wait and see. :)
CurlyFriDays: I'll do you one better. Hm HMMM. :D
I'll be posting again next week. Hope you enjoy!
