Chapter 4: Camping

Astrid has been saved, and she's hiding something that very few people know about. I'm sure that you all know what it is, but it'll still be kept a secret to the viewers as well as the characters in the story.

It seemed like hours before they finally found an island to rest on. And just in time too. Astrid couldn't take anymore of the flying. Hiccup wasn't sure if it was because she was afraid of heights, or if she just didn't like flying at all.

The second they landed on the next island they found, Astrid dropped to all fours, happy to be on the ground again. Hiccup gave her a weird look. He wouldn't have been surprised if she started kissing the ground. But she'd probably prefer to save all of the kissing for her true love.

Whoever that would be.

"I can't believe that happened," Astrid said quietly. Heather and Firecracker looked at her as if they expected her to dig up the dirt.

Hiccup approached the slightly frightened girl. "We only wanted to help you, we never meant to..." He stopped talking when Astrid looked up at him. Her eyes met his own.

Hiccup drew in a deep breath. There was something about her eyes that seemed to captivate him. They were so blue, he thought he could see the ocean reflected in them. So blue...and beautiful. He couldn't bring himself to say anything to her.

Astrid was having similar thoughts about the way his eyes seemed to captivate her. She could almost see the forest reflected in them. She remembered how they looked back when she first saw him. Green, caring, compassionate...and loving. She slowly stood up to his eye level, her eyes never leaving his.

Hiccup was the first to speak. "I...I, uh...I never noticed how...how your eyes looked. I mean, I don't think they're bad, I mean, they're honestly beautiful. But that's...probably not the only thing about you that's...attractive." It took him a while to form all of the words he wanted to say. "You think I'm beautiful?" Astrid asked, a light blush appearing on her cheeks. "Not just that," Hiccup said, "I also think that you're extremely tough and, I think that you might also be a bit on the stubborn side, but I'm sure that anyone who actually gets to know you might not actually mind it at all. Know what I mean?"

Astrid did understand what he meant, but she had never expected him to say any of that to her. "And you think that's what makes me attractive?" she asked. Hiccup nodded. "I do." Astrid blushed even more. "That's the nicest thing that anyone's ever said to me," she said, "Thanks." Hiccup breathed a laugh. "It...it was nothing, really." They smiled at one another. Just then, Astrid's smile faded. "Your wings are turning red."

Hiccup was confused. "What?" He turned around. Sure enough, the skin of his wings had turned a bright red. "Oh, uh...this is normal. It...usually happens when I get a compliment that I like." He tucked his wings close to his body to hide the red skin. "So, it's like blushing?" Astrid asked. "Yeah, yeah, it's...it's like blushing," Hiccup replied, still trying to hide his wings. "I didn't know that Halflings could do that," Astrid admitted. "It doesn't really happen to us that often," Hiccup said. "You don't have to hide it you know," Astrid said to him, "I actually kind of like it."

Hiccup looked at her. "Really?" Astrid nodded. "Yeah, I...I think it...it shows a part of you that...you know...that I think people should know about." "That Halflings blush?" Hiccup asked. "That Halflings have feelings," Astrid said, "Just like us." Hiccup smiled, his wings unfurling and turning a brighter shade of red. "Thanks." Astrid smiled back at him. "By the way, thanks for saving me." "You're welcome."

Hiccup couldn't believe what was happening. The girl that had first seen him as a freak of nature was now talking to him, and giving him compliments, which made him blush. Was he falling in love?

Astrid also couldn't believe she was doing this either. It was true, many people, including her at one point, viewed the Halflings as a sort of monster, because of the way they looked. But the creature she was talking to didn't act like a monster at all. He was a kind, caring person that didn't leave a loved one behind, whether it be friend of family. In fact, as she spoke to him, she felt a sudden warmth bloom in her chest. She didn't know it, but she had developed feelings for the Halfling.

Tired of seeing the two of them stand there, Heather decided to speak up. "Okay, enough with the goo-goo eyes, we've got to get going." Hiccup nodded. "Right, we gotta get you home." Astrid snapped out of her trance. "Right, the sooner the better." Hiccup shrugged. "I guess we'll have to walk across this island, since you don't like flying. But don't worry, we'll find a way to get you home." "Okay, thanks," Astrid said. Without warning, she punched him in the arm. "What was that for?" Hiccup asked. "That's for scaring me," Astrid said. Then, after hesitating, she grabbed the front of his shirt, pulled him in, and kissed his cheek. "That's for...everything else," she said nervously. She then walked away, heading for the other side of the island.

Did she just kiss me? Hiccup asked himself. He couldn't describe what had just happened. Heather and Firecracker were also very surprised.

Astrid looked back at her three new friends. "Are you guys coming or what?" "Yeah, we're coming," Heather replied. Hiccup was too stunned to speak. He started after his friends, and they all started their journey.

"I feel like we've been walking for hours," Hiccup said. Astrid rolled her eyes. "We've only been walking for ten minutes. Don't tell me you're exhausted already." "We're Halflings," Hiccup said, "We're used to flying. We don't really walk much. But hey, if we keep up this pace, we might get you back home by lunchtime tomorrow."

Astrid stopped walking. "Tomorrow?" She looked at the sky. The sun was beginning to set. Oh, no, she thought to herself. "It'll really take that long? Shouldn't we stop and make camp?" The Halflings stopped walking and looked back at her. "No, I don't think so," Heather said, "That'll only take longer. We can just keep going." They resumed walking.

Astrid trailed behind, trying to think of a way to make them change their minds. "But...there's...cougars in the woods!" Firecracker dug his claws into Heather's shoulder. "Woah, time out! Camping is definitely starting to sound better!" Heather rolled her eyes. "Relax, you overgrown newt with wings," she said in frustration and annoyance, "We'll be able to scare away anything we come across in this forest."

Astrid suddenly dashed in front of them. "I need to find somewhere to camp NOW!"

Her yell echoed through the forest, causing some birds to fly away in fright. Hiccup, Heather, and Firecracker all wore matching expressions of shock and fear. Clearly, what Heather had said before was wrong.

Minutes later, the small group found a hollow pile of rocks on top of a small cliff overlooking the island. Heather pushed a rock aside, revealing the space inside. "How's this?" She asked. Hiccup looked inside the makeshift cave. "Okay, I'm not sure if this is really suitable for her," he said gesturing to Astrid, whose eye was on the setting sun. The sun was extremely close to being halfway gone.

"No, it's perfect," Astrid said, turning around, "It just needs a few homey touches." "Homey touches?" Hiccup repeated, "Like what?" Astrid shrugged. "I don't know, maybe something like...a door." Hiccup nodded. "Hang on." He rushed toward a large tree, and tore off a giant piece of bark. "How's this?"

Astrid ran over to take the piece of bark from Hiccup. "It's perfect," she said. Just briefly, their fingers brushed against each other. Hiccup's muscles relaxed under her touch, and Astrid took the bark from him, not noticing that her heart warmed slightly at his touch. Astrid then hurried back to the cave. "Okay, guys, goodnight." She then backed in, wedging the door into the entrance.

Hiccup walked up to the door to the cave. "If you need anything, you know, you can always ask us," he said. "I SAID GOODNIGHT!" Astrid yelled. Hiccup backed away in complete shock. Heather put a hand on his shoulder. "Just let it go," she said gently. She then turned to rest out on the cliff, with Firecracker following. Hiccup started after them, stopping to glance back at the cave that Astrid was in. He remembered their conversation earlier, and the way their fingers brushed against each other's. A huge wave of warmth spread throughout his body, mostly in his heart.

Confirmation of earlier. He had definitely fallen in love.

Obviously, Astrid just met her true love, and she doesn't know it yet. And you all probably know already what happens to her after the sun sets. And Hiccup's fallen in love with her. Review, follow, or favorite.