Okay, here's part 2. Do bear with me if ,after this, I don't upload as regularly, I am a full-time A level student and work must come first! Okay, I'll shut up now. Enjoy!
Hiccup squinted as he left Snotlout's house. It was almost mid-day, with the sun arching over the small village of Berk. He looked around, taking a deep breath of the fresh air and enjoying the wind that rustled through his mop of brown hair. Around him, the town bustled with activity, with carts of fish being pulled here and there and street vendors shouting their wears to anyone who would listen.
Then, there were the dragons.
Perched on every rooftop, observing the humans below or playing aerial tag, dragons of every sort buzzed, flapped or stamped by. There were Nadders, Nightmares, Gronkles, even the odd Zippleback, and every beast was decked in an assortment of pastel colours that shone brightly in the sunshine. Summer on Berk didn't last very long, but it was a great relief when it came.
Hiccup turned to the sea. It shimmered and sparkled, the light dancing off its many waves, and far, far away, The boy thought he saw a huge Scauldron surface. He smiled. Yes, summer on Berk was a great thing.
"Toothless! Where are you, Bud?" He called, looking around for the curious, green-eyed menace. Almost immediately, he was answered with a low call, the dragon himself crashing through the street and bounding around him like a puppy. Sometimes, Hiccup doubted whether the dragon could actually control his body, or whether it just flailed around wildly in any way it pleased.
"Whoa there, Bud, you're gonna knock something-"
CRASH!
"...over." With a resigned sigh, he grabbed the dragon's neck strap and swung himself aboard. With a breezy apology to the owner of the overturned cart, he snapped his metal leg into place and they were away, the streets falling away rapidly beneath the dragon's powerful wing-beats.
Toothless carried him swiftly across the island, the ground eaten up by his incredible speed. He turned his head and growled softly.
"No, not today, buddy," Hiccup sighed "We need to go to Gothi straight away."
The dragon turned his head back, murmuring quietly in displeasure. He adored the tricks he and his rider often performed when they rode. However, there was a certain urgency in his tone today that told the Night Fury there would be no playing today.
"Down, Toothless. We're here," smiled the chiefs son. The sleek, black dragon folded his wings and they descended to the small shack. Perched on a magnificent sea stack, the moss-covered wood told stories to anyone who dared to listen. It opened out onto the sea, a yawning void below that had almost swallowed both twins, albeit on separate occasions. Toothless perched on the over-hang, wobbling dangerously as he gained his balance and as Hiccup dismounted.
The tiny soothsayer was hunched over in the darkened corner of the shack. Smiling pleasantly, she turned to face him, though her face fell as she saw the urgency of his expression.
"Gothi, we need you to come with us" Hiccup enquired rapidly. "I'll explain on the way, but Snotlout is really, really sick. He needs your help"
With a simple nod, the old woman approached Toothless and he stayed as still as possible as she clambered up onto his back. Then, with Hiccup back in his saddle, the dragon released his grip on the overhang and spread his wings.
They landed gently in the street, once again outside Snotlouts cabin. Almost immediately, the dragon spooked at two figures running wildly down the street, screaming.
"Run for your lives!" Tuffnut yelped.
"It's gonna get us!" Ruffnut wailed in return, and the two of them quickly disappeared around the corner.
"Well, that wasn't weird at all" Hiccup quipped. Astrid must have heard them coming, because she immediately dashed out of the hut to meet them.
"Hiccup!" She called, "It's got Fishlegs!
She wasn't lying. The plump Viking was slumped against the side of Snotlouts bed, covered all over with blankets and yak pelts. He was shivering and pale, but still co-operative, unlike the boy in the bed behind him. Gothi entered the small shack and began to examine both patients, while Hiccup and Astrid stood by the door, talking in hushed voices.
"Do you actually know how to read what she writes on the floor?" Hiccup asked, fully aware that he couldn't himself
"Sort of" the blonde replied "You'll have to give me a minute, though"
"Toothless! What are you doing?" Hiccup hissed as his dragon brushed them both roughly aside to fulfil his curious nature. However, on sight and smell of the sickness, his face took the expression he usually used for eels and the likes. He quickly retreated, moaning softly.
"What is it, bud? What's wrong?" His ever-caring rider followed him out onto the street. Toothless gave a shouting roar and bounded off up the street, not turning back.
"What's wrong with him?" Astrids voice in his ear made Hiccup jump.
"I-I don't know... maybe... maybe dragons can catch this too?" He guessed. She raised an eyebrow.
"Whatever it is, I think Gothi is finished..."
The teens watched intently as Gothi softly drew in the dirt. The tiny soothsayer twisted together a myriad of strange symbols, and Astrid studied them carefully, frowning with intensity. The twins had joined them, finally, and were peering over the other teens shoulders. After a minute, Gothi lifted her staff and placed it beside her once again.
The silence held.
"She says... I think she says..." Astrid squinted slightly.
"...we need more Yak pie?" Tuffnut questioned, setting off the chain reaction.
"Ooh, yeah! And some bread"
"Okay, here's what we're going to do. I'm gonna-"
THWACK
"You're gonna shut up!" Astrid snarled, giving the brother a good, hard slap in the forehead. While he rubbed his wound and his sister chuckled, she continued. "She says she has everything except one ingredient."
"And that would be?" Hiccup enquired.
Before either twin had a chance to start up again, Astrid blurted out: "Purple Herb-Grass"
I know it doesn't seem like the twins are in it much, but they will be, I assure you. So, what is this Purple Herb-Grass? You will find out soon.
Fighting the urge to call it Purple Grerb...