(A/N Curses, your existence rocking me to my very core. If I'd known that this was in store… Ah! I can't resist anymore!
Then stop making your problems mine. Sleep and I'll take control.
Your leaving will solve everything.
+Solitude-
Tuffnut winced as he opened his eyes to the smoke from a nearby fire. The only reason he awoke was because of the stinging he felt in his eyes. "Did I get mauled by a bear or something- HOLY SHIT!" Tuffnut yelled, transitioning from groggy to fully awake. He was scanning the area as much as he could lying down, when he suddenly noticed a burning pile of wood shavings on his stomach.
The instant he understood the situation he was in, the memories coming back from that night, and visualizing the demon that attacked him that night, Tuffnut screamed in pure agony. This continued until something, or someone, overshadowed Tuffnut's own yelling with their roaring. Tuffnut blinked and hitched a breath when he tilted his head up.
"T-toothless?" The Night Fury almost seemed to become blacker in his scales. He used to be dark blue but now he was ink, even with the firelight reflecting off his scales.
"Thank Gods you stopped yelling. I was about to put you out of your misery." Hiccup was sitting by the fire, poking it every few moments.
"Hiccup?!" Tuffnut started to get up but Toothless put his paw on Tuffnut's forehead and stopped him.
"Hey." Hiccup nodded at Tuffnut. Then he pierced an unknown animals leg with a stick and placed it over the fire to cook. The light flickering from the fire showcased Hiccup's rugged features. His facial hair still close but progressively getting thicker, indents in his cheeks from lack of keeping up with his meals, and his eyes devoid of his past conviction.
"Hey?! You go AWOL and that's all you have to say, dumb-ass?!" Teddy cringed, his pain coming in waves from his stomach.
"Coming from the village of dumb gorillas. Did you even think as to send out a search team into the forest?" Hiccup snorted. "I've been hunting here for weeks, I never truly left Berk."
"A model chief leaving when there's a murderer in his own village. Sounds like a coward to me-"
"Toothless."
Toothless swiftly brought his paw down in between Tuffnut's eyes. Then Toothless snorted and walked over to the fire to lie down behind Hiccup, encompassing him with his body.
"A half-dead moron sent to me for company. Loki can go fuck himself." Hiccup grabbed another piece of burning wood and stood up. He made his way over to Tuffnut and knelt down, igniting the dying fire on Tuffnut's make-shift wooden cast. Then Hiccup got back to his spot and sat down, throwing the used timber back into the flames. He lost focus as he remembered the events that's been taking place every since he left the village. His actions since moving into the forest-
Toothless woofed once.
Hiccup turned his attention to the fire. Then he reached in and pulled out the stick with the leg of meat attached to it. He laid it on the ground and started ripping off the leather from the meat. Afterwards, he gave it to Toothless.
Toothless sniffed it once before digging his forepaws into it, and then tearing into it with his teeth.
Hiccup turned away and started rolling up the leather. He was just about to start when he felt Toothless nudge his forearm. Hiccup peered over his shoulder. "Hmm?"
Toothless wasn't just ravaging the meat, he was sectioning it. He held out a sizable steak of meat on one of his claws, presenting it for Hiccup to take and eat.
"No thanks." Hiccup resumed rolling up the leather.
This time, however, Toothless jabbed Hiccup in the ribs. Then he hissed.
"I'm shaking in my boots." Hiccup rolled his eyes. "Thank you for your concern, you useless reptile."
Toothless let out a low growl before snaking his tail up Hiccup's spine and then suddenly wrapping it around Hiccup's neck. Hiccup's hand flew towards his neck, but only met Toothless' tail.
Hiccup was forcibly lowered by Toothless' tail until he was lying on his back. Toothless then force-fed Hiccup the meat. Toothless only loosened his grip for Hiccup to swallow. After Hiccup had finished the protein, Toothless released him, a deep rumble coming from the Night Fury.
"T-thank you, caring mother from hell…" Hiccup rubbed his sore neck. Then he reached behind him, into Toothless' saddle, and retrieved a water pouch. He drank it and wiped his mouth.
Toothless swatted the back of Hiccup's head with his tailfin. Then he started eating.
Hiccup eyebrow twitched in annoyance before he reached over into Toothless' food pile and picked out a delicacy by Toothless' standards. Hiccup drove a stick into the Salmon and started cooking it over the fire.
When Toothless noticed what Hiccup was cooking, he snarled at his rider.
"Either I eat or I keel over? Take your pick." Hiccup stared right back into Toothless' jade slit eyes.
Toothless grumbled and then went back to his leg of meat, but not before firing a quick shot when Hiccup reached for a second serving of his fish.
"So selfless." Hiccup snorted.
+Solitude-
The sun rose and the village started its usual patterns. The bread bakers started their fires, the docks men filled their ships with empty barrels, and the forgery started smoking from its chimney. Despite the midnight killer's list gradually increasing, the villagers went on with their daily lives. Ignorance is bliss.
"NO!"
"Gods! Ruffnut? C-calm down, what happened?!" Fishlegs shot up from his side of the bed. He looked at Ruffnut frantically, checking for intruders and/or external injuries.
Ruffnut was clutching her chest with one hand and holding up her head with the other. She had grown past menial nightmares, but this was something else. Her own gut was brewing something dark, foreboding. Tuffnut… Ruffnut wasn't even thinking about her brother, the thought of his name just instinctively came to mind.
Ruffnut untangled herself from the covers and quickly got out of bed. Then she stepped into her boots and bolted for the bedroom door, eventually the stairs.
Fishlegs whipped the blankets off himself and followed closely after her. Even though the killer only struck at night, he personally didn't want to leave her alone for even a moment. Not even if she simply took a trip to the market.
Fishlegs got downstairs and noticed that the front door was absentmindedly left open. He ran for it and closed it behind him. After scanning the streets, he spotted Ruffnut by her hair. Forgetting the fact that he didn't even have boots on, Fishlegs ran after her. He followed after her but couldn't exactly catch up with her. Fishlegs noticed the route Ruffnut was taking. She was running towards Tuffnut's house. Why would she- Fishlegs' thoughts were cut short when he heard Ruffnut scream.
Fishlegs pumped his legs harder and he turned the corner Ruffnut just passed. His heart sank when he took in the mess in front of him.
Ruffnut was simply standing before a pool of blood, most of it dried up on the ground, and she couldn't help but feel her gut lurch. With Ruffnut's screaming, the puddle of blood, and her own vomit mixing into it, the other Vikings that lived on Berk soon started to crowd around her. Most mothers shielding her children's eyes and the fathers attempting to halt their own dry heave from the smell.
Ruffnut ignored them and slowly backed up from the sight. She stumbled backwards, but Fishlegs caught her, steadying her and turning her away from the disturbing view. Ruffnut buried her face into his tunic. She was calming herself down but then her breath hitched and ice raced through her veins. Right behind Fishlegs' frame was Astrid's house. "Please tell me it's not who I think it is, 'Legs…"
Fishlegs looked down at her before following the direction of her gaze. His arms slightly faltered around Ruffnut's back. Before he could try and reassure Ruffnut that it couldn't be Astrid, Fishlegs firstly had to find the solution for the mystery. The murderer was starting to hit home with Fishlegs. Fishlegs couldn't think as rationally as he normally would under such stressful situations.
Ruffnut felt Fishlegs' uncertainty. Her heart sank, bringing her whole body along with her as she fell to her knees. Already mourning before the facts were deemed true.
"W-was that Ruff that screamed?" Astrid stood in just her night robes.
Fishlegs momentarily lost the ability to breathe on his own as he whipped around. Only to face Astrid. Gods be praised… Fishlegs gave his thanks. Then he remembered to breath-
"Where's Ruffnut, Fishy?" Astrid asked again, tilting her head in confusion, and stepping closer to the master strategist.
Fishlegs could breathe later, he needed to keep Astrid as far away from the scene as possible. Before Astrid could peer around him, Fishlegs blocked her line of vision. In that very instant, it only took Fishlegs a second to imagine a plausible scenario. "What are you doing out of bed, Astrid?"
Astrid furrowed her eyebrows but gave all her attention to Fishleg's towering form. "I thought I heard someone scream-"
"Astrid! Why don't you have your boots on? You could step on something sharp." Fishlegs lightly scolded like a parent.
Astrid's eyes widened. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to take a walk. It's been awhile since I left the bed."
"We'll take a walk later. For now, let's get you back inside. Here." Fishlegs picked Astrid up, bridal-style, and started walking them both to her house.
"Am I in trouble?" Astrid asked from Fishlegs' arms. Her eyes were still wide from fright.
Fishlegs beamed down at her. "No, I was just worried, Astrid. I'm just an overprotective teddy bear." He gave her a less extreme smile.
Astrid nodded once, feeling a little better that she wasn't in trouble. "Fishy?"
Fishlegs was almost to her porch. "Yes?"
"Why is Ruffnut on the ground?" Astrid caught a glimpse of Ruffnut.
"I played a prank on her, that's why she screamed." Fishlegs answered, killing two birds with one stone. Answer-wise.
"Oh." Astrid nodded in understanding.
"After she screamed in surprise, I told her it was just a prank." Fishlegs mocked-hurt when he felt a small hand whack his chest.
"That was mean!" Astrid childishly pouted at him for Ruffnut's sake.
"Ow! Okay, sorry." Fishlegs apologized and pushed open the door. "She's still recovering from the shock." Fishlegs hunched over towards Astrid and whispered. "But I think she's scheming of ways to get me back."
"Good!" Astrid sided with her childhood best friend. She couldn't keep up the glaring she had on Fishlegs. She started in a fit of giggles when she noticed the betrayed look on his face.
"Whose side are you anyway-" Fishlegs started with a disappointed pout on his face, but then he looked up and saw that there was someone else in Astrid's home. Fishlegs instinctively controlled himself of gripping Astrid too much, but he wouldn't contain the killing intent he felt for the man in front of him. Fishlegs set down Astrid in front of him.
Astrid was still giggling but she calmed down when she felt Fishlegs lowered her to stand on her feet. That's when she noticed the man and she turned away from him, facing Fishlegs' stomach. She turned her interest to the floorboards.
The man froze from his descent down the stairs. His hair was in a mess and his clothes obviously had shown that the man dressed in a hurry. The man's eyes were as bug as dinner plates.
Fishlegs knew exactly what the man was doing at Astrid's house and it only infuriated him more. Fishlegs didn't have the power to bury the man six feet under the ground with his own two hands. Not physical strength, political. "Hey, Astrid?"
Astrid's eyes tore away from the floor and stared into Fishleg's eyes. "Hmm?"
"You think you can forgive me? If you do, I promise I won't play anymore pranks on Ruffnut." Fishlegs only locked onto Astrid's eyes for a second, changing from mad to expectant. Then he looked back up to glare intensely at the man.
"Promise?" Astrid sent him a warning glance.
"Viking's honor." Fishlegs vowed, narrowing his eyes slightly when he saw the man move slightly. "Can I get a hug?" Fishlegs opened his arms.
"Sure." Astrid stepped closer to him and wrapped her arms around him, as much as he arms could.
Fishlegs returned with a genuine hug and then sighed. Then he placed his hands over Astrid's ears. "With Odin All-father as my witness, I will personally…" Fishlegs started with his tone beyond venomous.
Astrid couldn't hear anything as she felt Fishlegs' hands cupped over her ears, but then suddenly, she felt her frame rock from his booming bellowing voice. She froze and gripped him tighter. Then as if it just started, it ended and Fishlegs withdrew his hands. She was about to ask what happened but then she saw the man bolt, passing her and Fishlegs. The man swung open the door and yelled in surprise after running it someone out the door. A grunt of pain came from the man and then retreating footfalls.
"Astrid!"
Astrid saw Ruffnut climb the last stair of the porch before coming in. Ruffnut had tears in her eyes.
"Hey, Ruff-" Astrid was interrupted when she was suddenly enveloped into a hug.
"Like I just told Astrid, you forgave me for pranking you, right Ruffnut?" Fishlegs started. He smiled at Ruffnut, slyly raising his eyebrow to hint her.
"Y-yeah! But don't do that again or else Astrid and I are gonna trick you!" Ruffnut put on a smile and slung an arm around Astrid's shoulders.
Fishlegs nodded once. "Hey, Astrid?"
Astrid didn't know why Ruffnut was still hugging her but she looked up to Fishlegs when he called her name.
"Why don't you go upstairs and get dressed. You're going to have breakfast with us this morning." Fishlegs grinned down at her. In his mind, he wanted nothing more than for her to be out of this house. He needed to keep a closer eye on her. Fishlegs peered over at Ruffnut, her eyes still shining from crying.
"Really?!" Astrid's mood brightened.
"Yes, Ruffnut will even make all your favorites!" Fishlegs answered with equal enthusiasm. For the moment, he ignored the pointed stare from Ruffnut. "Now go on, get dressed. We'll be waiting for you down here." Fishlegs walked up to her and playfully shooed her away.
Astrid beamed one last time before running upstairs.
Ruffnut made a move to follow after her. But then she felt someone pull her back by the waist. She turned around and stared up at Fishlegs, expectantly. "What?"
"You can't go up there." Fishlegs stated.
Ruffnut raised a brow. "Why not? I just found out she's alive and you're stopping me from hugging her to death?"
"Exactly as you said. You broke down and now you're happy that Astrid is alive."
Ruffnut didn't understand the statement and it showed on her face.
"You woke up this morning screaming, ran out without getting dressed, coincidentally found a puddle of blood, screamed bloody murder in mourning, and then you realized that Astrid was alive." Fishlegs rationalized for her sake. He sighed when he saw she still wasn't getting it. "You're just as unstable as Astrid and I don't think two people like that should be around each other right now." Fishlegs stared at Ruffnut with skepticism painted on his face. He still didn't know why she ran off like that.
Ruffnut eyes were downcast. "I just had a bad dream."
"What was the dream?" Fishlegs dropped his calculative face and pulled Ruffnut in closer.
Ruffnut sighed. "It was a gut thing Tuffnut and I have. If either of us feel it, we get a sense of foreboding. Like when you feel something bad is about or going to happen."
Fishlegs was thinking of what it could mean as he massaged the small of Ruffnut's back. Then his own gut lurched in his stomach.
Ruffnut felt Fishlegs jump. "So you figured out the rest…" Ruffnut pulled away from him. "I thought that pool of blood belonged to Tuffnut and then I thought it was Astrid when I saw how close it was to her house."
Fishlegs' mind raced again.
"I'm ready!" Astrid hopped down each step. She got dressed with a brown bell skirt, a black belt with a gold buckle, and a white puffy blouse. Simple clothes. Her hair was down.
"Good. Let's go!" Fishlegs acted quickly and waved his hand to the door. He grabbed Astrid's hand and lead her to the door. He opened it and then quickly started running towards his house. "Race ya!" Fishlegs shouted. He wanted them all to get as far as way from the murder scene as possible.
"Okay!" Astrid started running after him.
Ruffnut took one last look at the crowd before running after them. The owner of that blood pool was still up for debate.
+Solitude-
Fishlegs drank the last of his orange juice. "That. Was. Awesome! Right, Astrid?!" Fishlegs turned to her, she was just about done with her sausage links.
"Yeah. Thanks, Ruff!" Astrid looked over her shoulder and beamed at Ruffnut.
Ruffnut finished putting the last of the dishes in the sink. "It better be delicious, I worked my butt off to make it…" She muttered under her breath. She relaxed when she heard Fishlegs get up and thank her personally for the meal with a peck on the cheek.
"Thanks for breakfast but I got to go." Fishlegs soaked his own plate and then started to wash it.
Ruffnut furrowed her eyebrows and looked at him. "Why?"
"In short, I'm going to find Tuffnut. I think I know where he is." Fishlegs grabbed the drying towel and started on his plate.
"I'm coming with you. Let me just get dressed-"
"No, you stay here and watch Astrid." Fishlegs placed the now-dried plate back into the cupboard and then he faced Ruffnut. "I will find Tuffnut. Here's my brother too."
Ruffnut nervously smoothed her hair. "You won't do anything crazy. You'll come back with him… so I can beat him into paste for making me worry."
"I promise." Fishlegs leaned in and pressed his lips onto Ruffnut's forehead. "Keep the door locked all day. Don't answer the door for anyone. I'll try and be back as fast as I can." Fishlegs held onto Ruffnut's cheek before turning to leave.
"You're leaving?" Astrid pouted sadly.
"Yeah, sorry. Some of the men need my help down at the docks." Fishlegs quickly gave her a bear hug before opening the door. "I'll be back soon." Then he closed the door behind him.
"Astrid." Ruffnut tried to hide her true feelings in her voice.
Astrid turned around when she was called. "Yeah?"
"Help me with the rest of the dishes so I can wash your hair." Ruffnut beckoned her with a flick of her wrist.
+Solitude-
Fishlegs was at the docks. Tuffnut had once told him that he would come here every night just to get away from it all. The first thing Fishlegs noticed was the pile of rocks had lessened. This indicated that Tuffnut was indeed there last night. While this information was something, Fishlegs still didn't know where Tuffnut was as of now.
"Fishlegs Ingerman!"
Fishlegs turned to greet a messenger. "Yes?"
"The council wishes to speak with you." The messenger stood to the side and waited for Fishlegs to rush to the Councilmen.
Fishlegs pinched the bridge of his nose. He hadn't the slightest clue why the big wigs wanted his audience. Fishlegs sighed before walking past the messenger. "Very well."
Fishlegs stood in front of the men and respectfully waited.
"The council thanks you for your swiftness, Ingerman." A councilmen at the end of the table said.
"Honor to my council." Fishlegs nodded at the men. It was a custom to do if you lived on Berk.
The other councilmen nodded.
"Onto the business at hand. The council hereby declares you Chief of Berk. You're skills and mastery of strategies has truly opened the council's eyes to this decree. May you lead us well, Chief Ingerman." All the councilmen, save for one, nodded in respect to Fishlegs.
To say that Fishlegs was surprised was an understatement. He acted immediately. "Gather the Watchmen and Royal Guard of Berk. I'll need their help to find Tuffnut. He seemed to disappear and no one has seen him since last night."
"Despite your position, you still don't have the power to request such a feat-" The only councilmen that didn't acknowledge Fishlegs' promotion started. The man had black hair with rugged features. But mostly, a striking resemblance to Snotlout.
"Quiet Spitelout, show some respect to your new chief." A councilwomen silenced him. Then she turned back to Fishlegs. "The council would never doubt your great mind, Fishlegs, but we can't honor that request-"
"What's your reasoning?" Fishlegs was too close to back down now.
"Let me finish. Berk needs its guardians, the Royal Guard, to stay in the village. You may only take a four man lot for your quest on one condition…"
"Of course." Fishlegs waited.
"Please find and bring this murderer to justice." The councilwomen dropped the professional act. "I worry for my children every time the sun sets…"
"Council, my plan to capture the killer started when you announced me as Chief." Fishlegs bowed once and then turned on his heel.
Checkmate.
+Solitude-
"Don't tremble. Don't break your stance. Stay aware of your surroundings. Don't let your guard down for an instant."