Hello! Thank you for all of your lovely reviews, follows, and faves.

Also, guys, I'm just going to say it now… I have never been to a summer camp, nor a sleepaway, or anything of the sort, so forgive me if I make any mistakes about camp in here. Just a heads up, though. :-)

Suggested story of the week: 'When Life Gives You Lightning' by katurdi.

Revelation

Despite Gobber's earlier comments, it didn't take too long to unpack the necessities, and soon Hiccup was ready to go to the Great Hall with the others. There was a yearly opening ceremony there where the camp leader talked and told the campers the rules, the history of camp, and more.

As the four boys trudged across the grass, Hiccup attempted to hide from Snotlout, who had been relentlessly teasing him about Hiccup's new name since he had received it. Hiccup was still ashamed and embarrassed. He also was a little miffed with Gobber. He thought he could trust his counselor. But, no, Gobber had to name him Hiccup.

"Alright, boys, come on in now, we're already late enough as it is," said Gobber as they reached the entrance of the Great Hall. The campers scurried inside, stumbling over each other in effort to be the first one inside.

As soon as the door was opened, Hiccup's ears were filled with a noisy din of young campers eager to start the summer. There weren't too many kids at all (maybe twenty at most), but a lot of parents hovered around, taking up space. Benches were lined up all over the Hall, as well as a small stage where the counsellors stood around.

The counsellors consisted of a muscled, bald man with a brown mustache (he looked very murderous, so Hiccup took it into mind not to mess with him); a young man with a shock of red hair and streaks of blue face paint… that particular guy was grinning like an insane man, and Hiccup decided to stay away from him, as well. Next was a stout man with dark hair, a goatee, and a gloating smirk that suggested he knew everything in the world; then, a massive hulk of a man, dark and rugged. Just looking at him make Hiccup shiver.

Standing together were a woman with short strawberry blonde hair and a broad man with an orange top. And after them… oh gods… there was a familiar sight of a beefy man with an expression nothing less than nasty. Hiccup's uncle, Sidney- or now Spitelout. Hiccup shuddered. His suspicions, to his disappointment, had been correct. Spitelout would be one of his counsellors… oh, joy, this day kept on getting better and better…

And then there was Stoick, making small talk with his brother. Hiccup felt his heart pound heavily when he imagined his father hearing of what his new name was. Wouldn't that go well.

Suddenly, Hiccup's father turned to face the room. Without even having to cup his hands, he roared, "QUIET!"

The room silenced at his voice, turning in their seats to face him. Hiccup and his cabin mates found seats at the back of the room. The Weapons' Cabin campers were already there, and Hiccup's breath caught when he saw Astrid Hofferson sitting with a girl with long and wild braids. Ruffnut, Hiccup guessed. Gobber had mentioned her to Tuffnut when he had received his nickname. Hiccup wondered what Astrid's nickname was.

"Welcome to Camp Dragons," said Stoick roughly, pacing the stage. "My name is Stoick Haddock, and I'm your camp leader… though, here, I'm more well-known as Chief Stoick… the Vast."

A few people giggled, but it was quite true; Stoick was a massive man.

"Congratulations for getting in, Dragons, as we are a very secluded camp and only a select few are allowed to take part of this time here," Stoick told them. "This year, we have as few as twenty-four with us. This makes your experience more direct and you get more out of these few months here. We have been a camp for many a year. My grandfather, Haymitch Haddock, first founded this camp in high hopes of teaching the next generations about nature, and how it shouldn't be forgotten as technology grows."

There were a few nods from parents in the back. Meanwhile, a couple of kids held up their phones to see if there was any WiFi service. Hiccup awkwardly noted that he didn't have a phone yet.

Stoick said, "When Haymitch died, the camp was passed on his son-"

"Wha- he's dead?!" gasped Tuffnut. He was sitting on Hiccup's left side, making Hiccup wince at the sudden noise. "I didn't even know he was sick!"

There were a few chuckles- but mostly glares- at the boy. Stoick cleared his throat threateningly, then continued after Tuffnut had shrunk deeply enough into the bench.

"And the camp has been passed down the family line since… I am the camp leader now, and someday, my son will inherit the title." Stoick made a vague gesture to the back of the room where Hiccup was sitting.

Hiccup tried to look buff as people turned their heads to look at the supposed prodigy. A few of their eyes caught on Snotlout, wondering if it was him. Hiccup waved slightly to let them know that he was the son of their leader, but the campers had already glanced away. Hiccup wilted slightly. To make matters worse, he caught Astrid staring at him in a not-so-nice way due to this sudden fact that the camp would someday be led by... well... Hiccup, in a nutshell...

"That is the history of Camp Dragons," Stoick resumed. "Now, I have to go over a few of our very important rules that you mustn't break… for your safety, and ours…

"One of the most important rules is not to go beyond the Fence. The Fence is located a little ways away in the woods. It blocks out the nastier part of the woods. Though you are all allowed to go up to the Fence at all times, unless your counselors say otherwise, do not go beyond it. There are dangerous creatures that lurk in the deeper part of the forest that you don't want to face."

Fishlegs whimpered in fear. He sat at Hiccup's right side, and also right next to Astrid. "W-w-what do you think he means, dangerous creatures?" he whispered to no one in particular. "Are- are we not safe?"

Snotlout and Tuffnut too looked a little spooked at Stoick's words. Hiccup was secretly afraid himself, but tried to wave it off. He needed to appear free-spirited and upbeat as always.

"I think we're okay," Hiccup murmured back, "as long as we don't go beyond the Fence."

Hiccup, though, was not one to follow the rules. He had been different since the day he was born, so why should now be any different? He really wouldn't be surprised if he happened to wander past the Fence. He was always getting into trouble somehow, even if he tried to avoid it.

"Secondly," boomed Stoick. "Do not go out of your cabins after curfew. Those who have done this have been punished… by punished, I mean dish duty for the rest of the summer. And I don't think your cooks would mind at all… would you?" He gestured to a few men in the corner, who shook their heads.

"Not at all, Chief Stoick!" one with a wild brown beard said.

"Yes!" another chimed in. He had blonde hair, and a bucket on his head. Hiccup found this strange. Who wore a bucket on their head. "Mulch is right. We don't really like our job." He became sad. "It's always, 'Bucket, cook this!' or 'Mulch, do that!' Sometimes, I would really like a ne-"

But his friend, 'Mulch', had already clamped a hand over his mouth, chuckling nervously over the fact that his partner had been about to complain about their job to their employer.

"Point is," he said to the crowd, "we can use anyone."

Stoick's brow was furrowed at their behavior, but he nodded. "Yes. So I do hope that all of you lads and lasses follow that rule. Unless, of course, you like scraping sloppy joes off of cutlery…?"

Nearly everyone in the room shook their heads.

"I didn't think so. Now, on about explaining how Camp Dragons works…

"There are four teams. The A-team, B-team, C-team, and D-team. At the end of the year, pairs of teams will compete against each other with their knowledge of what they have learned during their time at Camp Dragons. A final test, shall you say. It is the A-team against the B-team, and the C-team against the D-team. All four of the teams are made up of two cabins per group, one full of boys, and one of girls. A-team: Blacksmiths and Weapons; B-team: Outcasts and Berserkers; C-team: Defenders and Winged; and D-team: Hunters and Shellfire."

He began to point to different counsellors. "The counsellors are Gobber the Belch and Spitelout Jorgenson on the A-team; Alvin the Treacherous and Dagur the Deranged on the B-team..."

Hiccup saw the red-haired man flash a maniacal grin to the crowd. I see why they call him 'the Deranged', thought Hiccup with a shudder.

"...Mala and Throk on the C-team, and Viggo and Ryker Grimborn on the D-team...

"Throughout the time you are here," said Stoick, "your counsellors will teach you the skills you need to know for the final test. They will include navigation, fishing, hunting, survival, and thinking on your feet. Your counsellors will tell you which ones you will be tested on. However, there is a random subject at the end of the test, so I warn you now to remember everything, as you could be tested on anything at all. In addition, a few weeks before the end of the year, one camper from each team will be chosen to show their skills off to their family and friends. Just one- the very best camper of your team. So, if you want a chance to prove yourself, then work hard..."

Stoick then straightened, gazing over his new round of campers. "I will not be present the entire year, but if you have any questions, ask your counsellors or a worker, and they'll be sure to tell you. Tonight, you will all get a chance to know your team at our annual team bonfire. Teams will go one at a time." He nodded to them all. "That is all. Now, enjoy your time at Camp Dragons."

As he left the stage, the campers and parents applauded after him. Gobber took the stage, grinning.

"Thank yeh, Stoick, fer that always wonderful speech yeh give every year," he acknowledged. "And now, we dismiss… campers back teh their cabins and parents back teh their cars… say yer goodbyes now, Dragons. It'll be a long two and a half months."

While everyone scrambled to say their farewells to their families, Hiccup pushed through the crowd to get to his father, who was looking as grim as ever. He was talking with the muscled man- Ryker, Hiccup remembered- in a serious voice.

Hiccup caught some of their conversation.

"-ghtings getting more frequent," Ryker was growling. "We've set up a couple o' traps in the woods, but the thing is too smart for that. And too big."

Stoick scratched his enormous red beard. "Whatever you do, just make sure that the campers are safe. That's our main priority. It is, and it has to be, or... we all know what will happen to camp if not."

"Yes, Chief…"

Hiccup came in, slightly ashamed that he had been eavesdropping. But on the other hand, it sounded really important. Something had been spotted near camp. And from the sounds of it, it was dangerous… and what was that bit about something happening to camp if something didn't happen? What did that all mean? Hiccup tried to shrug it off... he shouldn't have been listening, anyways...

"Hey, Dad," said Hiccup, interrupting the men. Stoick looked down on his son, faintly annoyed. He wouldn't be leaving now like all of the other parents, as he was camp leader and instead staying till tomorrow morning.

"Yes, Hadley?"

Hiccup glanced down, then back up again. "It's- uh- Hiccup now… but, anyways…" He tried to ignore his father's surprised and disappointed look. "Well… that's actually what I came here to talk about. Could you maybe decree that my nickname is something else? Like Thor Bonecrusher, or… o-or maybe even Guppylegs?" Yes, he was that desperate.

Stoick crossed his hairy arms. "Has Ger-Gobber already named you Hiccup?"

"I guess, b-"

"And are the other boys already calling you it?"

Hiccup slumped. "Yeah, but-"

"Then no," said Stoick. "Your name now is… Hiccup." He said it fragily, with a hint of distaste. "Now, go on back to your cabin. You'll need rest for what's going down tonight, son…"

Hiccup sighed, but knew how stubborn his father was. He was too, stubborn, but he didn't quite have enough energy to fight back. "Fine, Dad…"

So he slowly went back to his group.

For a few hours, the boys had to stay in their cabin, told to finish their unpacking and get to know each other better; the other teams got to go to the bonfire before them. The A-team was dead last on the list for tonight.

Snotlout was not even the slightest bit interested in making friends with Hiccup or Fishlegs, so he took to trying to influence his malevolent ways on Tuffnut. The other boy was all too eager to learn. Hiccup and Fishlegs made small talk as far away from the others as they could. There was an unspoken and joint agreement to avoid Snotlout at all costs, and at all times.

Hiccup had brought a camera with him that printed instant pictures. He liked to capture his surroundings with it, and prefered to hold a hard copy of them in his hands, so an instant camera was perfect. He now snapped a few pictures of camp from their cabin's window. Fishlegs twiddled with his fingers, sighing on occasion, then backing even further away from Snotlout; he had really grown to love to tease him.

Finally, long since the sun had set, Gobber came back to their cabin with news that it was their turn for the campfire. The boys had excitedly ran out of the cabin. They were starving, as no dinner had been served tonight. They would eat at the bonfire.

Soon, the A-team was all settled around a roaring fire and munching on hotdogs, hamburgers, and chips. Hiccup sat down next to Astrid and gave a wavery smile.

"He- h- hi, A-Astrid," he stuttered.

Astrid took a bite out of her hamburger, chewing thoughtfully without a reply.

"So..." He rubbed his sweaty palms together. "Wh- what nickname did you get? I got Hiccup... great name, I know... but it's not the worst..." ...Or is it?

Astrid swallowed her bite. "I'm still Astrid," she said after a moment. "I didn't want a nickname. I refused to have one, in fact... so I was allowed to keep my own."

And with that, she turned away, completely ignoring him.

Poor Hiccup took the hint and went to sit on a lone log by himself. Fishlegs had abandoned him for the food table. He looked back at Astrid, who was sitting near Snotlout. Snotlout was trying to show off, flexing his muscles (which were, to Hiccup's dismay, larger than he remembered) and flirting with Astrid. To Hiccup's immense relief, Astrid wasn't impressed with Snotlout. She just seemed annoyed. Annoyed with everything, it appeared. Still, Hiccup was tense as he watched and he ignored his dinner plate. His appetite had gone a long time ago. He just couldn't stop watching Astrid. The way the firelight reflected on her sky-blue eyes... on her braided blonde hair...

Hopefully, this summer, she would finally acknowledge his presence. Maybe even offer him one of her rare smiles. Now that would be something. So he had to prove himself. Make himself noticed. Do something brave, or do well in training… but how, exactly, would he manage that?

Crickets chirped the the woods. The moon glowed eerily through billowing clouds. Hiccup could see sprinkles of stars here and there, but the cloud cover was too thick to catch too many of them. Still, he could tell that there were a lot, as there wasn't nearly as much light pollution out here as there was in the town where Hiccup lived.

Gobber swiped his mouth with his forearm, smearing ketchup and mayonnaise all over himself. "How did everyone like their meals?"

There were a few cheers of approval- mostly coming from Fishlegs, who had once again returned to the food table.

"Good." Gobber leaned forward on his log, setting his dinner plate next to him. "Well, everyone should be done by now… come, now, gather 'round the fire…"

The bonfire had weakened since the gang had gathered, and now was only half of what it had been when it started. Still, it was bigger than what the usual fire would be, and certainly warmer.

Gobber captured everyone's attention with the words, "I have a story for yeh all… a ghost story… one that consists of a beautiful princess turned into a witch and an unassuming knight…"

Fishlegs was eventually dragged from the food table so Gobber could start his tale. He looked a little queasy from all the food he had consumed, but still listened to Gobber's story.

It was a spooky tale that frightened everybody at least a little. Even Astrid's eyes were wide at the scary parts. Hiccup's heart thumped rapidly in his chest when Gobber came out of his murmurs with a sudden shout that made them all jump. By the nearing end of the ghost story, everyone was on edge. Snotlout looked anxious, his nerves frayed. He jolted at every crack of the forest, nearly screaming that it was the ghost princess coming to haunt them. Hiccup was slightly amused at this behavior, but didn't really care. Well… that much…

"And Penelope still roams her castle today," said Gobber in a whispered voice. "Looming like a shadow over yeh shoulder… with a thirst for revenge on the knight that had taken everything away from her… some say that she sometimes leaves her palace to come haunt this very camp…" He paused, cupping his ear. "Do you hear that wind?"

The campers listened intently. Hiccup heard a faint whistling of a gale.

Gobber scratched at his mustache. "That's Penelope right now… screaming that she will avenge he-"

AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! AWW… AWW… AWOOOOOOO!

Gobber was cut off by a series of mournful howling that made Snotlout let out a very unmanly shriek of, "Don't let her get me!"

The others were too spooked, and Fishlegs had squeaked out a yelp of terror. Tuffnut clung to his twin sister, terrified that his idol, Snotlout, had been brought to this state. If he was afraid, then Tuffnut should be petrified.

"Geroff!" Ruffnut yelled, shoving her brother away. She was tough, but Gobber's ghost stories had wormed placed a little fear in her heart. Still, that didn't give Tuffnut any excuse!

"What was that?" said Astrid, looking alarmed. "Wolves? Coyotes? Just give me something big, I can fight it-"

"-though I have no doubt that yeh can, Astrid," Gobber cut in, "that's not what it was."

The campers froze.

"Then what is it?" Hiccup wondered aloud, speaking his team's unanimous thought.

Gobber shrugged like that dreadful howling was no big deal. "There's a pack of wild dogs that runs around here. Chief Stoick's father had been training some hunting dogs many a year ago, but something happened, and they all ran off. They've been breeding for years, yeh can tell, 'cause no dog lives too long in the wild. Ah, don't look at me like that- that's a dog's howl, I'd bet my last bottle of be- well, yeh get it." He shook his head. "Anyways, that's not the thing yeh really have the worry about."

Snotlout whimpered. "Then what is?"

For once, Gobber solemned.

"There's a strange creature," he said, "nicknamed the 'Red Death.' It lurks up there in the cliffs of Camp Dragons… yeh've seen 'em in the daytime, I'm sure…"

With a shiver, Hiccup recalled seeing the faint outline of cliffs a couple of hours ago. He had had no idea that it was home to a creature so bad it had a nickname with the word death in it.

"What is it?" said Astrid tentatively.

Once again, Gobber shrugged, though this one was more of an I-don't-know kind of shrug. "No one knows," he told them. "No one has ever seen it up close… that is, and lived teh tell the tale."

A shudder ran through the campers.

"All yeh need to know is that this beast is very dangerous," Gobber continued. "It's nicknamed the 'Red Death' fer a reason… its coat is stained with the blood of its prey. It's always red… and always brings death. It's threatened the camp fer years now, and no matter what we do, we can't get it away… some people have heard about our present dilemma, and now refuse teh send their kids here. It's getting that serious." He lowered his voice a notch. "Sometimes, it comes as close up to camp as the Fence itself." He pointed into the forest, where they could see a faint white outline in the dark. "On… on nights like these, actually, it comes out… partly cloudy… but just enough light…" He nodded. "Wouldn't be surprised if it made an appearance tonight."

Snotlout gave a squeak. "B-b-but, we're safe inside the Fence, ar-ar-aren't we?" he blustered. A few campers rolled their eyes at his anxiety, even though they were pretty terrified themselves.

Gobber met Snotlout's eyes in unblinking seriousness. "Probably," he only said, only adding to the pool of fear.

"Oh-kay," said Hiccup, standing. "I don't know about you, but I've… I've had enough for tonight. So, um, I'm just going to head back to my cabin now, if that's alright with you, Gobber… uh…" He glanced at Astrid, who was staring at him with an expression that was ceratainly not amused. His cheeks flushed slightly, and he was only able to cool them be thinking, I've still got all of summer to prove myself... I can still impress Astrid... He swallowed. "Goodnight…"

He hurried back to the Blacksmiths' Cabin.

A few minutes later, Fishlegs scurried inside behind him, panting as he slammed the door shut and leaned against it. From the way he was breathing, Hiccup guessed that he had ran the entire way back. Probably in fear that the Red Death would get him.

No more than ten minutes after Fishlegs' arrival, Snotlout and Tuffnut entered the room. By then, the other boys had already prepared for bed. Fishlegs was lying in his bottom bunk, trying to sleep, and Hiccup at a desk scribbling in his notebook.

Snotlout and Tuffnut got ready to sleep, too, and were soon prostrate in bed. Hiccup had expected Snotlout to be up and chatting away to everyone tonight, but Gobber's stories must've really freaked him out. He was completely quiet. Not that Hiccup was complaining or anything. He was downright glad that his cousin was silent for once. A few hours passed, but it only seemed like minutes to Hiccup. Soon, it was nearing midnight.

He was writing a letter in his notebook. It wasn't to a particular person... more like... his future self. Memoirs of what was going on in the past. He had just taped in his picture of camp inside.

This, he wrote underneath the photo, is camp. I'm here for two and a half months. Camp is located solidly next to the Forest of Death. It also can be found under the Cliffs of Crazy.

He knew he wasn't being fair to the really only averagely odd camp, but he hadn't, after all, had a very good day. That tended to get most people in a bad mood… note the most. Hiccup, however, always grew more and more sarcastic when agitated.

Camp Dragons… in a word, busy. There are only twenty-four campers this year, yet we manage to get into all the trouble there is. We're going to fish, hunt, and a whole lot of other stuff I'll probably fail at. It's a great, enlightening camp with counsellors that are sure to boost your moral.

He thought of Gobber then, with a smile as he remembered what had happened earlier.

The only problems are the woodland creatures. See, most places have racoons, or rabbits... but we have… Hiccup smirked as he wrote the next line. The Red D-

AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

A spine-chilling howl interrupted Hiccup's letter, and he dropped his pencil on his notebook in surprise. Fishlegs squealed and jolted up to a sitting position, terrified. Tuffnut was out cold, but Snotlout lifted a groggy head and whimpered a little.

"It's okay," Hiccup assured. "It's just those dogs again…"

Yet there was a wriggle of doubt in his gut. A wriggle that told him that it was not just a dog.

An idea sprang into his head.

What if it was… what if it was...

He swallowed, turning his head towards the door.

The Red Death.

He tried to convince himself that it wasn't it. It was the dogs again. But that howl… it sounded so close… close… like it was up to the Fence… and hadn't Gobber said it liked to come out on nights like this?

Hiccup stood to his feet, shaky, then began to walk. He felt odd, as if he didn't have control of his own movements. Like he was watching himself walk over to the door.

He reached the exit… and he opened the door…

The familiar hum of crickets filled his ears as he stepped onto the cabin's slight porch. His heart fluttered so loudly in his chest, he was afraid that whatever had howled might hear him.

Awoooooo!

Another cry pierced the air, yet this one was quieter. However, it sounded closer than before.

Hiccup squinted into the line of trees, shivering. Where is it, where is it, where is it…

And then he saw it.

There was a black smudge which he previously hadn't seen in the dark, but now that it was moving… Hiccup saw it, alright. It was right up on the Fence, sniffing around. Hiccup's breath caught. Could it be…? The… the Red Death…?

The smudge was moving again, but not much. It seemed to be just wriggling in the dirt- not walking around at all. But why-

Hiccup nearly screamed when he realized the answer.

It was digging. Digging to get underneath the Fence. Digging to get to camp. Digging to… to get to Hiccup.

Hiccup's mind raced. He had to stop this thing! If it got inside camp, he didn't know what would happen. Actually, he had a slight idea of what would go down… It was called the Red Death… oh, yes, he had a small guess of what damage it could do…

Panting, he ducked back inside the cabin. He needed a weapon. Something to hit it and send it running. But what? He didn't have anything that would work.

But he had an idea of where to look.

He turned to the closet door of his cabin. Gobber had told them that their supplies for their training would be kept inside of there. And Stoick had said that one of the training exercises was hunting. With hunting, you needed-

"Guns," Hiccup breathed, staring at the small pile on the floor.

They weren't real- just BB guns. But anything would work in this case. Anything.

Hurriedly, he grabbed one. He heard the soft clanking of something inside rolling around. Good. It was already loaded with the lead pellets. His father had taught him how to shoot a BB gun when he was ten, so he knew how to work it. Mostly.

Slinging the gun over his shoulder, Hiccup ran from the room and back outside. He fumbled to aim the BB gun correctly, the process taking a few moments. At the last minute, he remembered to turn the children's lock off, and cock it. Through the sights, he found the smudge. He nearly lost his grip on his weapon. The hole was nearly finished, and even from his far vantage spot, he could see the deep depression in the earth.

"Hey!" he yelled, trying to distract it. The thing froze. "Go on! Get out of here!"

And it did. It began to back away, getting faster as it made a retreat.

That's when Hiccup realized two things.

One: he had a gun that was ready to use.

Two: was he really going to let the terror of the camp for years get away? And wouldn't taking down the Red Death (if it was the Red Death...) earn him popularity? Some attention from Astrid? A better nickname? A better life?

It was too tempting.

He scrambled to aim on the creature again, but it was hard. It was moving so fast now... Can I make it? he wondered, nervous. No. You have to make it, Hiccup. You have to... for Dad, for Astrid, for friends...

At last, Hiccup set the sights of the BB gun on the mysterious shape. It was almost out of Hiccup's sight, so he hurried on with it. Ahh... I can't make it, I can't...

He aimed closer at the fleeing creature, sweat breaking through his forehead… Let me hit this thing..., he begged to no one in particular. ...Let me hit it... just this once, let my luck turn out right...

His shoulders trembled.

...please?

The thing was almost hidden away in the trees. It was now or never. Hiccup's sweaty fingers groped for the trigger blindly, clumsy and nervous. He swallowed.

Come on... come on...

And then he fired.