Chapter Four
Everyone falls but only the best rise from the ashes.
So close yet so far.
Crash!
The loud noise rips me from a dead sleep. I look around and see Fishlegs tugging the sail down while Astrid is pulling the rudder to the rudder. I look forward to see we're headed down a massive wave.
"WHAT IN THE NAME OF THOR IS GOING ON?" I shout grabbing the edge of the ship.
"Storm hit about twenty minutes ago out of nowhere." Fishlegs yells finally managing to get the sail down.
"How bad?" I ask tightening my grip.
"Bad looks like an early winter squall." Astrid shouts lining us up with the next wave.
"Damn. Nothing to do but ride it out." I say making my way back to Astrid.
"What do we need to do" I ask.
"We need to get the sail properly secured." Astrid says pointing.
"Got it." I say grabbing a flailing rope and tying it back up.
"Fishlegs grab that side!" I shout grabbing the flailing sail.
He grabs the fabric and starts to tie it up. I roll the fabric up and tie it back to the cross brace.
"Done what next?"
" Hold ON!" She yells as a massive wave hits the bow.
The water washes over us threatening to take us with it. I hold breath and wait for it to be over. The water finally stops and the ship bow breaks through.
"ASTID? FISHLEGS?" I shout looking for them.
"Here." Astrid says breathing heavily.
"I'm good." Fishlegs says still hanging on.
"So who else never wants to do that again?" I ask joking.
"Not the time Hiccup." Astrid says glaring at me.
"Sorry." I say looking back at the oncoming waves.
We're probably screwed.
Four hours later and losing some cargo.
"Finally it seems to be dying down." I say looking at the lessening storm.
"Yeah. I may sleep for a week but it does look to be settling." Fishlegs says smiling tiredly.
"Well at least we made it through it." Astrid says leaning on the rudder. "So any idea where we are?"
"Nope. Bud you want to see where we are?" I ask looking at the soaked dragon.
He jumps up and over to me.
"Guess that's a yes." Astrid says smiling.
"Be back as soon as I know where we are." I say getting on the dragon. Astrid and Fishlegs nod and I take off.
I fly high and look for any sign of land. Seeing none I check my compass and head north. A few minutes later I spot a large dark island.
"Land." I say smiling.
I nudge Toothless and he flies for it fast.
I look around the island and see a few wild dragons.
An arrow flies past my face. I pull up and face where it came from.
I see a man in rough looking armour and the face of a man as a crest on his belt.
"Who are you?" I ask glaring.
"I'm Savage from Outcast Island." He says lining up another shot.
"Damn." I say flying away dodging arrows. Quickly Toothless and I fly back to the ship.
Landing I hop off and move to the rudder steering us away from Outcast Island.
"Hiccup what are you doing?" Astrid asks confused by the sudden action.
"We're in Outcast waters we need to get out of here fast." I state steering us to the east.
"That's bad Hiccup how'd we get so far west?" Fishlegs asks worriedly.
"My guess is that the storm pushed us off course." I say watching the surrounding waters for other ships.
"We should be okay so long as we don't encounter any Outcast ships." Astrid says grabbing her axe.
"Yeah. With my luck we'll encounter an entire fleet." I say sarcastically.
"Don't even joke about that Hiccup." Fishlegs says flatly.
"Haha c'mon you don't want to fight more savage pirates?" I ask gesturing to the tied up criminals.
"Hey why don't you just drop us off at Outcast Island?" The leader says smiling.
"Because then you just get Alvin to come after us." I respond unamused. I look around and still see nothing.
"Nothing good we should be out of Outcast waters in a few hours."
"So how long until we get to the Island?" Astrid asks.
"Two days still." I say pulling out my map.
"We have to skirt Berk waters. Then go northeast and we'll be there." I say showing the route.
"And we're skirting Berk's waters why?" Astrid asks.
"Because I don't want to risk a confrontation with my former father." I say frowning at her.
"Just wanted to know." She says raising her hands in surrender.
"You knew that already." I say evenly.
"Well the next two days ote to be interesting." Fishlegs says sighing.
Two days later.
After skirting around Berk's waters and heading northeast we finally can see the island that we left Johann on.
"There it is." Fishlegs says pointing happily.
"Finally I can't wait to walk on dry land." I say smiling.
"Meh I just want to know what's in this box." Astrid says looking it over. "So can you tell me again why I can't just smash it open?"
"Because it might be rigged to destroy whatever's inside and we wouldn't want that right?" I explain taking the box from her.
"Fine but if that key doesn't work I get to cut it with my axe." She says brandishing is fiercely.
"Yes just like we agreed two days ago." I say rolling my eyes.
"Guys shouldn't we be focusing on making landfall?" Fishlegs asks as the land grows ever closer.
"Right we should be able to just go right up onto the beach and secure it from there." I say moving back to the rudder. "Astrid, Fishlegs, can you take the sail down to half mast."
"You got it Hiccup." Fishlegs says grabbing a rope. They pull the sail down to half mast and we slow down nearing the island.
"So what next?" Astrid asks looking to me.
"Uh actually I have no experience with landing ships so I guess we just sail up onto the beach?" I say more as a question.
"Really you have no idea of how to dock a ship?" Astrid asks looking at me disbelievingly.
"What? It's not like I actually know everything I do." I say exasperatedly.
"I just assumed being the chief's son you would know about things like this." Astrid says shrugging.
"Yeah because I spent so much quality time with him." I say glaring at the floor.
"Sorry I-" "Don't mention it." I say cutting her off.
"Get ready to make landfall." I say evenly.
"Got it." Astrid says dejectedly.
We move the ship to be perpendicular with the beach and then sail it up on the sand. Astrid and Fishlegs tie up the sail while I toss two ropes onto the beach and hop down. Astrid follows with Fishlegs right behind her. She helps me with a rope while Fishlegs ties the other one.
"Alright secured. Let's go find Johann." I say heading down the beach to our previous campsite.
"Hiccup wait for us." Astrid says moving quickly to catch up.
"Fishlegs can you wait with the prisoners?" I ask walking backwards.
"No problem." He says looking unsure.
"Thanks." I say before tripping over a log.
"Ow." I say sarcastically.
"Well maybe you should watch where you're going." Astrid says smiling before extending a hand.
"Haha you might have a point there." I say taking it.
"May have?" She asks helping me up.
"Okay you do have a point there M'lady." He says smiling.
"M'lady?" She asks raising an eyebrow and frowning. But a smile clear in her eyes.
"So why?" She asks smile breaking through.
"Because you're a lady worthy a title." I say smiling.
"Okay but why M'lady?"
"Because we're sort of dating? Or whatever it's called that we're doing." I say glancing at her sideways worried.
"Dating eh?" She asks happily.
"Well aren't we?" I ask smiling.
"I'm not sure what we're doing Hiccup. Only thing I am sure of lately is that I like you Hiccup and I don't want things to change that." She says a thinking look on her face.
"So we are dating?" I ask smiling nervously.
"Yeah I guess we are." She says smiling.
I walk into the camp to see the fire down to embers, a single sleeping pack rolled up and stored, and Johann looking at the sky.
"Johann how you doing?" I ask walking up.
"Master Hiccup. It's good to see you my boy did you get my ship back?" He asks tentatively.
"Delivered on time as promised. Also I would recommend making Berk your next stop. We have some prisoners for you to drop off, including the leader." Astrid says smiling.
"You captured them alive? Wonderful. I will be sure to tell Stoick of your brave deeds." He says happily.
"Don't tell him how you got them just that they tried to pirate your ship." I say frowning.
"Why wouldn't I tell your heroic tale?" He asks confused.
"Because my father and I." I say cringing at my mention of his name. "Are not really on the greatest of terms right now so please just keep me out your tale."
"Alright then I will respect your wishes Master Hiccup." He says grabbing his sleeping pack and handing it to me.
"And be sure to thank Tuffnut for the sleeping pack. It was most kind of him to lend me the sleeping pack." He says walking towards his ship.
"Hey where is he and Snotlout or Ruffnut for that matter?" I ask looking around.
"The last time I saw them they were taking off dramatically into the sky with you." Johann says shrugging.
"So they didn't come here yesterday?" I ask starting to panic.
"No." He says simply before climbing back on his ship.
"Hiccup?" Astrid asks worried.
"I know Astrid where could they be?" I ask looking at her grimly.
"Well, could they have been caught in the storm? She asks.
"Possibly but Snotlout and the twins would set down somewhere if they saw it coming. I mean, they aren't the brightest in our group but they aren't stupid. Right?" I say while climbing on to the ship.
"Are you asking if the guy that managed to get his head stuck in a bucket and two people that got stuck up the same tree twice. Are smart enough to wait a storm? I say that there is probably a fifty, fifty chance that they bunkered down." Astrid says climbing up after me.
"That's not good." I say frowning.
"So Johann about our deal. I need something forged for me at the forge in Berk. But I can't do it myself right now. But Gobber should have no problem doing it himself if I give you the dimensions. But one thing that I can't stress enough is that you can't tell him it's for me. In fact don't even mention that you saw us." I say emphasising the last part.
"Why wouldn't you want them to know that I saw you?" Johann asks confused.
"It's complicated Johann, can you get Gobber to forge the key or not?" I ask unhappily.
"Of course master Hiccup. If there's anything I can do, it's get you the goods that you desire." He says smiling while checking over the ship.
"Astrid, what would you desire from my humble wares?" He says looking over several weapons.
"These aren't mine." He says picking up several different weapons and setting them aside.
Astrid looks over a few different things before settling on some provisions for us. Some food and cooking stuff that we didn't grab on Berk before we left.
"I'll take these." Astrid says setting them in my bag.
"As you wish. Now Fishlegs my intelligent friend what would you like?" Johann says while stacking things in a pile in the middle of the ship.
"Do you have any maps of the outside of the archipelago?" He asks fidgeting.
"I'm afraid I do not my young friend. However I do have a book on illnesses rare and otherwise along with the information on how to cure them. Would you like that instead?" He says holding up a decent sized book.
"Sure I don't think I've read this one before." He says grabbing it and starting to read.
"Now master Hiccup there is the matter of the new wares on my ship that do not belong to me. Do they belong to you?" He says motion to a sizeable stack of various weapons, shields, food, and provisions.
"No I think that they belong to the pirates." I say motioning to the silent and tied up group.
"Ah then they are for us too split evenly." He says happily.
"Sure. You go ahead and take what you want. I think that's fair considering the circumstances." I say shrugging.
"I see please tell me if anything catches your eye." He says beginning to split the weapons up.
"So any idea on where Snotlout and the twins could be?" I ask pulling out my map.
"Well they couldn't have gotten too far. So I guess they could be in this area." She says drawing a large circle around where we were for the storm with her hand.
"That's a lot of ground to cover." I say thinking aloud.
"Yeah. So what do you think?"
"I think that we should start from where we were and go towards the island. Follow their trial." I say showing where on the map.
"Agreed we'll take off here soon and head back to the start point. Johann can you meet us here on this island in one week?" Astrid asks looking up.
"Of course. It will take me two days to get too Berk and I like to stay there for normally three days. I can head back here and that will take me two more days. So in short from yes I will meet you here in one week. Now where are the dimensions of the key you would like to me get forged on Berk?" He looking around.
"In here on second and I will copy them for you." I say pulling out the journal and my pencil.
"Oh, I almost forgot." Johann says digging through a chest.
"I managed to get you some of that rare squid ink that you like so much." He says pulling out two bottles of the wondrous liquid.
"How did you get more?" I ask happily.
"There is a man that will only trade to me in far reaches of the northern waters far above even Berk. He farms squids and harvests their ink." Johann explains happily handing me the bottles.
"Perfect. I can use this to copy the key." I say putting one in my pack and opening the other one. I carefully copy the key and all information on how to forge it to a blank piece of paper.
"Here you are Johann. Now remember, Do not mention us at all." I say handing him the copied information and closing the bottle of squid ink.
"I will not disappoint you. Also these are yours." He says nodding and then motioning to the stack of various items. "Now let us cast off and then I will make my way to Berk with these terrible men."
"We'll untie you Johann and hand us down the stuff we can store it here." I say before hopping down.
"Fishlegs let's go." Astrid says following me.
"I'm coming." Fishlegs says awkwardly climbing down. We take the items from Johann and store them safely hidden in the woods before going back. I untie one rope while Astrid takes care of the other one.
"You're free Johann see you in a week." I say waving goodbye as he drops the sail and slips free of the island. He simply waves back and turns the ship toward Berk.
"Alright let's get going I want to set up camp on this nearby island." I say showing them on the map.
"But isn't that too close to Outcast island?" Fishlegs asks looking afraid.
"No we should be fine Fishlegs." Astrid says smiling.
"Alright then. Let's mount up." I say grabbing the map and heading for Toothless.
"Hiccup, we should eat first before going." Astrid says heading for camp.
"Alright. I guess that's a good idea." I say following her. We walk to camp and Fishlegs starts to work on the fire.
"Astrid want to go fishing?" I ask motioning to the beach.
"Sure." She says. We go to the beach bringing our dragons with us.
"Toothless, fish." I say pointing to the water. Toothless looks around excitedly and then hops into the water.
"Stormfly, copy." Astrid says pointing to Toothless.
"Copy?" I ask confused.
"I'm trying to teach her to copy the moves of other dragons when I want her to." She explains sitting on the beach as Stormfly copies every move Toothless makes.
"Good idea." I say sitting beside her and massaging my leg.
"Your leg still hurting?" She asks quietly.
"Yeah. I think I've been standing too much." I say enjoying the relief of pressure.
"I told you that you were going to strain yourself." She says smiling.
"Yeah but to be fair I had a good reason." I say smiling.
"That was a stupid move Hiccup." She says staring out into the water.
"Which move are we talking about?" I ask laying down.
"Fighting that guy on the ship." She says frowning even more.
"It was the best way to get you free and prevent him from hurting anyone else." I say looking at the stars.
"It was not and you could have died. Again!" She says angrily.
"I'm a far better swordsman than I look and he had you what else was I supposed to do?" I ask my expressions souring.
"Gotten away found another way to free me and get Johann's ship back without putting yourself in more danger." She says the anger leaving her voice.
"Haha. My life is danger Astrid. As you so elegantly put it 'We're vikings danger is a way of life'." I say smiling.
"And as you put it you are not a viking." She says looking at me unhappy.
"So I was just supposed to leave you on the ship with a blade held to your neck? No. I won't leave you when you are in danger." I say firmly.
"At the cost of your own?" She asks.
"I think that I have answered that before." I say looking back at the stars.
"I don't want anything to happen to you Hiccup. Please don't put yourself in harm's way for the sake of others." Astrid says quietly.
"I can't do that Astrid, and you know it. It goes against everything I am. And that doubly applies when people threatens people I care about." I glancing at her.
"You mean me?" She asks looking at me oddly.
"I-uh well yes." I say growing uncomfortable.
"I feel the same way about you too." She says smiling.
"So what now?" I ask sitting up.
"Well first of all this." She says before punching me on my uninjured shoulder.
"Ow." I say rubbing the sore spot.
"And then this." She says before leaning in to kiss me. All of a sudden a large amount of fish land in our laps.
"Wha?" I ask looking up to see Toothless and Stormfly sitting there happily.
"Well we tell them to fish." Astrid says moving the fish off her lap.
"Haha yup and it looks like they came through." I say standing up and then helping Astrid up.
"Let's get back to Fishlegs." I say grabbing a bunch of fish and letting the dragons eat the rest.
"Yeah." Astrid says following me back to camp.
"Hey guys catch much fish?" He asks stacking wood beside the fire.
"Yes we did." I say setting them down and grabbing my dagger.
"I'll skin them, you cook?" I ask looking at Astrid.
"Sure." She says grabbing a stick and sharpening it. Fishlegs sit beside the fire watching us work.
"You guys act like you married." He says looking at us smirking.
"What?" I ask looking at him confused.
"I mean. I've watched my parents cook and work together and you guys look exactly like them." He explains.
"But we're not married." Astrid says pointing the knife at him.
"Yeah but you two act like it. Sleeping in the same bed, willing risk your lives for one another, the way you two work together almost without speaking because you know each other so well."
"Well he's got us there." I say looking at her.
"Don't go all I love you Astrid on me. Yet." She says looking at me suspiciously.
"I won't until you do." I say smiling and finishing with the fish.
"The Hofferson's don't do mushy stuff." She says smirking.
"Most of them." I say smirking back.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" She asks starting to glare at me.
"I mean I'm guessing that the Hofferson's also don't get tangled up with other people." I say still smirking.
"Don't even go there Hiccup or I will kick you out next time." She says pointing her knife at me.
"So what are you two talking about?" Fishlegs asks smiling.
"None of your business." We both say looking at him.
"Okay then?" He says looking at us oddly.
"Alright let's eat and then get going." I say grabbing a cooked fish from Astrid and handing it to Fishlegs. He nods his thanks before digging in.
"So do you think it will take long to find them?" Astrid asks in between bites.
"I hope not. But I also just thought of something. What if they come back here and find us gone?" I ask looking between them.
"Someone should stay back incase they get here after we leave. Fishlegs you want to stay?" Astrid says looking at him.
"Sure. I can read my new book." He says smiling.
"Well that's settled then. We'll go find them and Fishlegs will stay here incase they make it back here." I say smiling.
"Alright we let's go Astrid." I say finishing my fish and standing up.
"Agreed we want to be there before nightfall." She says standing up and getting on Stormfly.
"Hey Fishlegs can you spread our wares over the island in various caches marking them on this map. And keep this stuff near you." I say giving him most of the stuff in my bag.
"You got it Hiccup." He says taking the items.
"Let's get to the island." I say getting on Toothless and taking off. Astrid flying beside me.
A/N So what do you guys think happened to Snotlout and the twins? Any idea's on who the pirate is? Also any idea on what to do to the group next? I'm open to suggestions for future happenings. Review and let me know what you think.