Author's Note: Sorry for the wait.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but Haedryin!
Episode 7: To Heeth Or Not To Heeth
Tuffnut slides off the side of the dome, Ruffnut following both of them landing with ease on the ground, Snotlout face planting they quickly pick themselves up and race forward past me and Asher their dragons following. I smirk and nudge Asher's arm slightly.
"Nice to see those three doing training on their own." I note and Asher nods.
"It's not really like them is it?" He asks after a second. We share a look before racing after the trio, chasing after a Terror headed for Fishlegs's hut. Fishlegs pokes her head out the door, "Come on! Come on little guy!" Fishlegs
"Not so fast." Tuffnut commands he his sister and Snotlout disappearing in the hut with a heavy thump. Me and Asher reach it and I throw my hands out as I skid to a stop preventing Asher from going any further as I stare at the scene. The Terror leaps over my head and I duck slightly before watching the other teens yank of Fishlegs's limbs.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hey! What is going on with you three and why are you all on top of Fishlegs?" I ask as Asher wraps an arm around is bandaged chest. I shoot him a half annoyed look, he keeps insisting that he's fine but he's not. It's been a few days since the dragon incident and he is getting better.
"It's okay, really." Fishlegs assures.
Tuffnut lifts up a paper, "This little fisher, has been getting quite the bevy of Terror mails lately." Tuffnut explains. Asher and I share a look.
"And since we haven't been sending them." Snotlout adds.
"That begs the question, who is our sly little friend here communicating with on the….sly." Tuffnut says looking very proud of himself at the end. Fishlegs gets to her feet the other riders doing the same.
"Uh huh." Ruffnut agrees.
"And because she won't give up a name," Snotlout starts.
"We decided to take matters into our own hands." Ruffnut finishes.
"Fine!" Fishlegs exclaims. "If you must know-"
"We must! Oh we must!" Tuffnut assures.
"Yes, yes we must!" Ruffnut adds.
"Guys, Fishlegs doesn't have to tell you unless she wants to. It's her own private business." I say and glance at her. Although now I am curious.
"Well said Iyn." Fishlegs says and jumps slightly at the other riders annoyed looks. She looks back at me and I smile sweetly shrugging my shoulders in a "so?" way. She sighs, "Alright, I've been corresponding with a certain someone. Who has been returning my terror mails in kind." Fishlegs answers, "There happy?"
Asher's posture leaps upwards in surprise a smirk playing across his face, "Are you saying what I think you're saying?" He asks.
"Fishy's got a boyfriend, Fishy's got a boyfriend, Fishy's got a boyfriend!" Snotlout sings. She and Tuffnut laugh then high five.
"Yeah, it's fun to make fun of people. Yeah!" Tuffnut calls.
"Who is he Fishlegs?" Asher asks.
There's a moment of awkward silence, "Um, Fishlegs, now I have to admit I am curious." I say and she lifts up her hands.
"Okay, okay, it's Heeth."
Asher and I take in sharp breaths as the other riders jaws fall. "Whoa." Ruffnut breathes. Heeth? As in Heeth?
"So wait, you're telling me that my future husband, the future Mr. Lout. Heh, who just disappeared after the whole Viggo physico, you knew where to find him and you told exactly no one!" Snotlout shouts.
Fishlegs nods slightly, "Yup, pretty much."
"Mhhm!" Snotlout growls angrily.
"Look guys, Heeth is out on his own, he never stays in one place. We knew we'd hear from him eventually." I say and put a hand on my hip. Technically, I could find him, the snowflake he's wearing I can track. The other riders also carry smaller snowflakes for the same reason, if I went missing, it wouldn't be so easy to find me.
"Yeah but he and I have that connection. He should have written to me." Snotlout says and tugs at the end of her short hair.
"Fishlegs just how many of these 'correspondences' are we talking about?" Asher asks with a teasing smile. Fishlegs looks at a chest before pulling it open,filled to the brim with letters. I move forward with Tuffnut and Snotlout grabbing a piece of paper and pulling it open, Fishlegs walks behind us and I can almost feel the roll of her eyes, "Yeah, sure, read them all."
We will.
….
Nearly ten hours later, in a large pile of paper, spread through out the Clubhouse me and Snotlout stand side by side watching as Ruffnut tosses the last unread letter to the side. "Wow, those are some depressing Terror mails. I may need a mace to the head just to cheer me up." Ruffunt says.
"ON it!" Tuffnut shouts and races forward slamming a mace down. Ruffunt catches it by the handle and looks up at Tuffnut in annoyance.
"Metaphorically speaking."
"These letters don't even sound like him. He seems worried and confused." Asher adds looking up at us.
"Think about everything he's been through. The only family he ever knew, gone. Then being out there all alone by himself-" Fishlegs starts before Tuffnut pipes up: "And lest we not forget or forget, finding out his brother is one Dagur the Deranged."
Dagur. Right, um, first personality, yes I completely understand his perspective, alternate Archipelago Dagur that seems to have taken place of the other, I...still don't know if you should run or not. "Yeah, I can't say I'd feel any different in his shoes." I agree.
"Shoe." Snotlout corrects and I give an irritated breath through my nose looking over at her with the best unimpressed expression I can muster, "Because you have the…" Snotlout says and points aggressively at her left foot, receiving no reaction from me she places both feet on the ground, "never mind."
"Hey, Heeth's risked his life to fight with us. He's helped us save countless dragons, he's the closest thing to actually being one of us." Fishlegs points out. "Just seems like we should do something to help."
Yeah, she's right. I purse my lips slightly and weave tiny snowflakes through my fingers for a second, "Well hey, what about making him one of us? Ask him to be a dragon rider." I offer.
"Ooo! Iyn I think asking Heeth to join the riders would be amazing! Besides the Nadder migration will be coming through here and Windshear could be a huge help!" Fishleg says. Tuffnut shakes his head folding his arms across his chest.
"Well I think it's a terrible idea. A awful, dreadful, unfathomable idea." Tuffnut says.
"Very funny." Asher says dryly, "We're trying to have a serious conversation here."
"So am I!" Tuffnut argues.
"...And?" I ask.
"Look, you don't just get to be a dragon rider. Or part of Haedryin's court- I'm surprised you didn't know that. We've spent the last four years fighting the nastiest, smelliest, most disgusting and often insane dragons out there. How many times have we almost gotten killed doing it?" Tuffnut asks looking back at us daring one of us speak up against him.
"Well, there was the Screaming Death, the Whispering Death, the Deathsong, the Red Death and all the other deaths and then there was the-" Ruffnut starts to list.
"We get it Ruff." Asher interrupts.
"So why does he just get to waltz in here all of the sudden like he's one of us? Doesn't seem fair to me." Tuffnut argues.
"And besides, who said he'd even want to be a dragon rider? It's not for everyone. I myself had have times of doubt." Ruffnut adds.
"Mmm," I say and look up at the two, "you know Tuff's right about all of it." Tuffnut nods then looks back at me as if I insulted his mother.
"What!?"
"Well let's invite him to the Edge-just for a few days to hang out, see how he's doing. Maybe he'll help us redirect those Nadders." I say and move towards Toothless scratching at his neck. I look back at the five other riders, "But nothing permanent happens without us all agreeing. Sound good?"
000o000
A few days later, Asher walks up to Snotlout both of them looking down as Fishlegs, a small dot from where they're standing throws her hands up, "HEETH IS HERE! I SAW HIM FROM MY ROCK GARDEN HEETH IS HERE!"
Asher shrugs, "Sorry Snotlout. Looks like the future Mr. Lout might end up being the future Mr. Legs." Asher says and they both look down at the running around in excitement Ingerman.
"Pfft. Please. Fishface? So you're saying that he would choose bookworm Gronckle riding dragon geek over a real Viking?" Snotlout asks and Asher smirks tightening the bandage on his arm. "Why would you even think that?" Snotlout demands.
"He told me so." Asher answers nonchalantly, "Last time he was here, mentioned Fishlegs by name." Asher says and walks past Snotlout.
"Shut up Asher." Snotlout mutters darkly.
000o000
Windshear lands and Heeth jumps off her back and I smile walking forward towards him as Toothless bounds forward Windshear and he cooing. Heeth reaches me, long black hair messy and wild, reminding me of Asher's unbrushable locks. than he was last time I saw him. "Hey you. We thought you could use a few days to rest up." I say and he nods grinning.
"Thank's Iyn. I really appreciate this." Heeth assures. Fishlegs panting races up to us and Heeth's eyes widen happily, "Fishlegs! Oh, thank you so much for the Terror mail." He says and Fishlegs smiles tightly. I grin and cover my hand with my hand to cover my stupidly large smile. Those two were made for each other.
"Hey! We should sing the Dragon's Edge welcome song!" Tuffnut declares and I look back at him.
"Tuff...we don't have a Dragon's Edge welcome song." I point out and he shakes his head.
"Sure we do, my queen, it's very catchy, I can perform it in several keys and there's sort of a little dance I do along with it." Tuffnut says performing the 'little dance' he does with it. Asher walks into view.
"Yeah, I think Heeth would rather set his gear down and get settled." Asher argues. Tuffnut's shoulders slump. Okay, mental note to self, have Tuffnut perform Dragon's Edge welcome song at dinner.
"Asher!" Heeth shouts excitly and the two race forward giving a brisk hug maybe half a second before high fiving ending with a fist pump. "I'd love to hear your song later Tuff." Heeth assures one hand on Asher's shoulder the two young adults grinning.
"Good, oh Heeth, you're going to love it. And now I have time to warm up. Blehnmehtathciaw, threstiglbeaisltcisla, Ruffnurat…." Tuffnut starts.
"Good idea." Heeth applauds and walks forward bags swung over each shoulder with Asher.
000o000
Heeth tosses the final bag onto the second bed that had been put up for him in Asher's hut and turns towards the weapons rack giving a soft sigh, "You know," Asher says walking forward and handing the double bladed axe to his friend, "you could have come back with us in the first place. You just disappeared we didn't know what happened." Asher adds.
Heeth's gaze flickers to the ice shards hanging from his belt before shaking his head slightly, "And I feel terrible about that. But I knew that you guys would just try to get me to stay. Sometimes you just need to be by yourself to figure things out." Heeth says looking away from Asher's gaze.
Asher stares at him in concern, "Your letters to Fishlegs seemed like you were struggling with a lot." Asher says and Heeth looks up at him.
"You read those?!"
"We were all worried about you. We wanted to know what was going on." Asher explains.
"It was weird. All that time with Dagur we were playing a part, I didn't have a minute to think about the fact that he is actually my brother." Heeth says and Asher bites his lip slightly.
"Then don't think about it." He suggests.
"I have to, Asher. What if I have that Berserker insanity inside of me? What if deep down I'm just like him?" Heeth asks quietly. Asher rests a hand on his shoulder.
"Heeth you are nothing like Dagur." Asher assures then moves his hand back, "Look, if you were, we would have dropped you in a volcano a loong time ago." Asher assures and the two laugh slightly.
"So, what happened to you for all….this?" Heeth asks gesturing to the bandages covering Asher's right side and a large part of his torso.
Asher laughs, "Loong story. Ask Tuffnut, he'll be more than obliged to tell you." Asher assures shaking his head slightly the braid woven in his hair smacking against his nose. With an irritated look Asher tosses his head. Heeth watches it for a second.
"So let's talk about something less depressing." Heeth says and tosses his axe at Asher who catches it. "Like Haedryin."
Asher runs his finger along the blade, "What about her?" He asks smiling slightly a fond expression playing across his face.
"Asher," Heeth says shaking his head as he smiles, "life's too short. You need to express your feelings stop wasting time. You two are perfect for each other." Heeth finishes gesturing with his hands. Asher grins tossing the axe back to it's owner.
"I could say the same for you and a certain pen pal of yours." Asher teases and Heeth looks away from him, "You two have practically worn out our entire pack of Terrible Terrors."
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Heeth argues and both laugh.
000o000
Snotlout takes in a deep inhale as she rushes into the Clubhouse, me and the other riders trailing after her. "Oh my Thor what is that!?" Snotlout demands as Heeth sets down a plat on the table looking back at us with a shrug.
"Dinner. I was hungry I figured you guys were too." Heeth says. I walk forward with the other riders and snatch up whatever the thing is plopping down next to SNotlout as Asher and Heeth sit next to each other, Fishlegs on Snotlout's other side then Tuffnut next to me Ruffnut next to him.
"Cool!" Ruffnut declares.
"Mhmm." Tuffnut says then freezes as Chicken rushes up to him clucking. "Uh...this isn't Chicken right? 'Cause I don't do Chicken. Everybody knows that." Tuffnut says and points at the food. I bite into it my eyes widening, wow. Heeth is a really good cook, for the most part, the other riders have banished me from the kitchen-I can cook really well too- because kitchen requires heat and I have to wear gloves to work with heat-they hate it as much as I do. But a large majority of the time, it's Asher or Ruffnut.
"Those are yak-chops." Heeth answers Tuffnut's earlier question. "The other, other white meat."
"Great. I'd never do chicken I don't eat if I do." Tuffnut says Chicken satisfied with this walks off. "I'm in, who's hogging the gravy!?" Tuffnut demands.
Toothless bumps my shoulder and I turn looking back at him then at the flock of Nadders in the sky. "Uh gang," I say and all heads turn to me, "sorry to tell you but we've got more Nadders incoming." I say.
"Oh come on!" Snotlout groans. "Now?"
"Nadders?" Heeth repeats.
"The yearly Nadder migration takes them through the worst of Dragon Hunter territory, we've been herding them away and diverting them into a different route." Asher explains.
"It takes them longer to get to their migratory home but at least they actually arrive safely." Fishlegs adds.
"Heeth," I say and rise to my feet, "you and Windshear could come with us, we could use the help." I say offering a small smile. Meatlug rubs against Windshear and she hisses softly. Heeth watches her then looks back at me.
"Windshear is still tired from the long trip. We'll only slow you guys down." Heeth says.
"Maybe Meatlug and I should stay behind and keep Heeth company." Fishlegs suggests playing with her fingers. I purse my lips slightly and look over at Asher watching him with unblinking eyes as Snotlout leaps forward.
"Hey! I can keep Heeth company, everyone says that I'm a great company keeper." Snotlout says.
"Who has ever said that?" Asher demands.
"You don't know everyone-shut up Asher." Snotlout mutters darkly.
I roll my eyes and walk forward grabbing Snotlout and Asher's arms pulling them forward, "Come on guys." I call and look back at Fishlegs smirking before I mouth: Go get your prince.
000o000
Heeth and Fishlegs watch the other riders fly off, Fishlegs awkwardly playing with her two braids. After a moment of silence, Heeth and Fishlegs look away from each other. "So," Fishlegs says receiving the attention of the older boy, "how 'bout a tour of the Edge? I was a guide back on Berk you know."
"Wow, that's impressive. Lead the way." Heeth says and opens up his elbow. Fishlegs and him hook arms moving forward.
….
"This is our zip line system." Fishlegs says and gestures to the rope the twins had worked with, "It makes it very convenient to get from the top of the Edge down there." Fishlegs says.
"Should we try it out?" Heeth asks and Fishlegs shakes her head.
"Uh, hanging from a rope well hurdling through the air in the dark is not really my thing. Besides, lots to see and not a whole lot of time to see it." Fishlegs says. Heeth grabs her hand again.
"Whatever you think." He says and smiles, "I'm all yours."
..
"Okay, so this is the place I picked out to build your hut." Fishlegs says and gestures to an empty clearing later as Heeth's face falls slightly. "I'm not sure if you know this but Asher can get a little bossy. You'll probably want your own place."
Heeth rests a hand on her shoulder, "I'm not sure we want to build anything permanent quite yet. But if I end up staying, you picked out a really nice place for me." Heeth says and the two share smiles before a roar breaks out in the distance. "Windshear? That's WIndshear!" He calls in panic, he and Fishlegs rushing towards the stables.
000o000
Roars break out from the stable and I leap off of Toothless racing forward towards the stable Asher and the other riders behind me. Windshear and Meatlug are snapping at each other as Heeth and Fishlegs try to hold them back.
"What happened here!?" Asher demands coming to a halt as I race forward towards the dragons.
"Haedryin don't!" Heeth warns but I lift up both my hands between the two hissing female dragons both calming down. I rest a hand on Windshear's head then on Meatlug's and they both release calming breaths. I lower my hands and look at Heeth and Fishlegs.
'"What happened?" I demand.
"I-I don't understand. Meatlug loves all dragons, she gets that from me." Fishlegs says.
"Wow, I never thought I'd see our sweet little Meatlug turn into the green monster." Tuffnut declares.
"What does that even mean?" Asher demands.
"Uh, she's jealous. Is that not obvious to anyone else? Green with envy." Tuffnut says.
"Oh please that's ridiculous. Why would she be jealous? It's not like those two are-" Snotlout starts.
"Did you see Meatlug's face when we were reading those Terror mails? That my friend was the face of a woman scorned." Tuffnut says.
"Maybe it's Windshear. I knew this wasn't such a good idea." Heeth groans. I rest a hand on his shoulder and he twitches slightly.
"Heeth, it's fine." I assure and turn to Fishlegs, "Can Meatlug fly?" I ask.
"Yes she's fine." Fishlegs assures.
"Why? Never mind, Let me guess, more Nadder's." Snotlout groans.
"Heeth it's a really big flock, we could use you." I say and he shakes his head.
"I don't think Windshear can-"
"Windshear will be fine." I assure and rest a hand on the Razorwhip's head for emphasis, she doesn't snap at me but remains perfectly calm. "We'll keep an eye on her." I add.
….
A few hours later in the rising sun we herd the Nadders forward. "Okay guys, tight formation!" I call.
"Your highness let me take the lead on this. They're more likely to follow one of their own!" Asher calls pulling Stormfly up next to me.
I nod, "Good call Asher, let's take up our flanking positions and make sure their are no stragglers that break the herd." I say quickly and Toothless dives forward towards the left side of the group.
"Coming in hot, blowing out snot!" Snotlout reports. Great!-wait what?
I duck as shadow's loom over my head and look back at the other riders, "Guys! Small pack breaking off, get them back!" I command.
"On it!" Tuffnut shouts and he his sister and their shared Zippleback dive towards the Nadder's I watch them for a second before three identical Razorwhip spines embed themselves on Tuffnut's helmet.
"Heeth!?" I shout in question and look back at him. He shakes his head slightly.
"Something's not right with her!" Heeth shouts and guides Windshear next to the twins,"I-I'm so sorry Tuff. I-I don't know what's-" Heeth starts.
"I guess that throws your green monster theory out the window." Snotlout says with a laugh. Heeth twists around and looks back at me.
"Iyn, we're not doing you guys any good here." He says.
"Heeth it's fine!" Asher assures, "Sometimes the dragons just get a little skittish."
"No I've seen her skittish, that's not what this is. I'll see you guys back at Edge, I have to figure out what's wrong with my dragon." Heeth calls and without giving any of us time to elect a reply pulls away from the group. What is happening?
I give a heavy sigh, "Okay guys, Nadder's first then we deal with Windshear. Ruff, Tuff-" I call and Tuffnut looks down at me smiling.
"Please say wall of fire, please say wall of fire."
"Wall of fire!"
"YEAH!" The two Thorsten's yell in perfect sync.
The three Nadder's that broke off of the pact, roar in surprise before diving back towards the larger group away from the Zippleback gas. "Good job gang! Now let's get them back on course where they'll be safe." I call. Toothless growls in agreement diving forward.
….
A little less than an hour later, Toothless lands in the dome where Heeth and Windshear are. I slide off his back and walk towards the Heeth tossing my hair from my eyes, "So uh, how's she doing?" I ask walking forward.
Heeth looks up at me, "Better."
Toothless and Windshear walk towards each other growling softly, "She seem's better." I agree.
"I just wish I knew what happened." Heeth says and I rest a hand on his shoulder.
"Look we've flown hundreds of missions, this was Windshear's first one. You should have seen Snotlout when we first started, she couldn't fly ten feet without somehow setting her or something else on fire." I say and said girl and her dragon dive up towards us.
"Did I hear my name? We're you guys talking about me? I know you are, I'm going to be in my hut it has a great view come check it out." Snotlout says and Hookfang dives forward. There's a small blast of light then my cousin's piercing scream: "HOOKFANG!"
Scratch that, not much has changed.
Shaking my head slightly I turn towards Heeth, "We just need to Windshear some training, start with simple flying drills, formations get her used to what it's like to work with other dragons." I suggest and Heeth shrugs moving forward.
"I dunno, I just think I need to keep her away from other dragons well we're here." Heeth says and I purse my lips slightly before shrugging slightly.
"Well that's going to be kind of tough if you become a dragon rider." I say and Heeth's head jerks up and he whirls around looking back at me.
"W-what? Why would I become-?"
"Heeth that's part of why we asked you here. Just let me work with you guys." I say with a small smile.
…..
A little less than ten minutes later, Toothless and Windshear glide side by side. Heeth rubs his upper arm and I smile slightly, "You see nothing to it!" I say cheerily. "Let's try a good old fashioned wingman formation. Toothless and I are going to slow down to play the part of Windshear's wingman, we're for cover if anything comes up beside or behind you." I say and pat Toothless's side, he snaps his wings back and jerk backwards behind Windshear and Heeth.
Heeth looks back at me and I give a thumbs up smiling, "Hey!"
Heeth laughs.
"Not bad at all, alright, your turn!" I call, "You and Windshear take our wing." I say and he nods pulling back on Windshear's saddle. She stops about midway and Toothless lets out a soft growl. "Pull back harder!" I encourage.
"Ugh, I am, believe me!" Heeth shouts.
Windshear snaps out of the pull and dives forward. Toothless's eyes narrow before he dives after the Razorwhip! What on Thor's name is he doing this is not cloud tag! "Toothless no!" I shout.
The two chase each other through the clouds and after a minute or so, Windshear snaps her tail forward smacking me and Toothless off balance. "HAEDRYIN!" Heeth shouts in panic as me and Toothless start to descend.
I let out a long yell of surprise after a second Heeth's arm grabs my wrist. My shoulder jerks painfully but I ignore it as Heeth pulls me onto Windshear's neck, I scramble into a sitting postinost scanning for my other half panic swirling through me. "Toothless, where's Toothless?" I demand and my and Heeth scan the clouds before I sense his presence falling left. I turn and watch the black blob of him descend rapidly through the air.
"I have to get to him." I say firmling and grab Heeth's shoulder pulling myself into a standing position on the Windshear's neck.
"Wait, Iyn where are you-" Heeth starts to say before I leap off his dragon's neck, "-GOING!"
After Toothless.
I snap my hands out and the ice wings spread between my feet and arms jerking me upwards towards the wind. I fold my arms in and dive down towards Toothless before snapping my hands out to take air, after repeating the processes several times I grab Toothless's neck, slamming the stirrup down for him to take air.
Toothless glides upwards towards the clouds and I lean in close to his neck, "Come on bud! You gotta help me out here! Be the bigger dragon!"
Toothless growls in annoyance before pulling up towards where Windshear and Heeth are waiting.
….
"Okay so that didn't go quite as planned." I say as I walk into the stable, rain falling heavily behind me. Heeth looks over at me. "But I promise tomorrow will be better." I assure.
"There's not going to be a tomorrow." Heeth says firmly.
"Oh, Heeth." I start gently.
"Clearly this was a mistake. We just don't fit in here." Heeth says and I shake my head.
"What are you talking about? You fit in great. Besides, do you really want to do that to Fishlegs?" I ask quietly and Heeth shakes his head.
"No. Of course not, but it's obvious that Windshear can't work with the other dragons and someone is going to get hurt, I knew this wouldn't work." Heeth says and lets out a heavy sigh, "It's just better if we go."
My eyes widen and I watch them both for a second before shaking my head. "Heeth, look at me." I request at barely over a whisper. He does so. I tuck my bangs behind my ear and move forward towards him slowly, "It's okay to be scared- it's part of living; but if you don't try, you'll fail over and over again. You can't just give up like this." I say and rest a hand on his shoulder before pulling him into a hug.
Heeth's spine goes rigid and he flinches visibly before he returns the hug tightly. Heeth pulls away and watches me and his eyes grow dim, "I can't let Windshear get hurt or you or Fishlegs or any of the other riders. I'm sorry."
000o000
Heeth swings a bag over a saddle and turns at heavy panting. Fishlegs and Meatlug race towards the two Fishlegs panting, "Hey….Heeth.."
"Oh, are you okay?" Heather asks.
"Fine…" Fishlegs assures with a gasp of air, "just gotta take a knee for a second."
"Okay, just breathe." Heeth directs resting a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm fine. You can't leave." Fishlegs says firmly looking up at her crush.
"Fishlegs, I-I wish I had a choice." Heeth says.
"But you do have a choice, you can choose not to go. See? How easy that was?" Fishlegs asks as Heeth walks away from her.
"Windshear doesn't belong with other dragons, no matter how much I love being on Dragon's Edge, I'm not going to choose all of you over her." Heeth says firmly.
"But you haven't even given it a chance! Headryin is the best dragon trainer there is. I've seen her do things I didn't were possible, or worked with the laws of physics. You have to give her a chance. I mean when Snotlout first started out, you should have seen her, she was on fire-and not in a good way." Fishlegs says.
As if summoned by the mention of her failing, Snotlout and Hookfang dive by, " Did I hear my name? We're you guys talking about me? I know you are, I'll be in my hut if you need me. It's got a great view come check it out." Snotlout says and Hookfang dives forward. There's a small blast of light then her piercing scream: "HOOKFANG!"
Ignoring the Jorgenson, Heeth moves forward, "I appreciate everything you've done for me. Really I do, I just, can't take the risk."
Fishlegs sighs, "Okay, I wasn't going to say this but here it goes: I don't want to go back to being long distance Terror pals. I want you here on Dragon's Edge." Fishlegs says and her eyes widen slightly at the words. Heeth takes her hand.
"And I feel the same way. Believe me, but Windshear has spent her whole life with me protecting me and watching over me. That's all she knows how to do. I'm sorry Fishlegs." Heeth says. Fishlegs's eyes widen.
"You're right she has. Windshear was just trying to protect you. That makes perfect sense!" Fishlegs proclaims happily.
"I know, I wish it were different." Heeth says.
"Maybe it doesn't have to be. Okay let's get to work." FIshlegs says and moves towards Meatlug mounting her. Heeth stares up at her in confusion.
"Where are you-"
"I have an idea. I'll never ask you again, but please just this once, trust me Heeth." Fishlegs says. Heeth looks back at him and gives a small smile and a nod.
000o000
"On it!" Asher shouts and he and Stormfly dive down towards the dragons pulling up under them. I wave my hands forward creating a small trail of hovering snowflakes for the Nadder's to dive in between.
"Hey where's Fishlegs? This is the second time this week she's missed all the super fun Nadder herding." Snotlout says.
"She's saying goodbye to Heeth." Asher says.
"This is way harder on her than it is on the rest of us. So cut her some slack." I command.
"I'm just saying we could use the help." Snotlout says calmly.
"Yeah, especially with that Dragon Hunter ship coming towards us." Tuffnut says and points down at a boat sailing at us.
"Great." I deadpan.
"They must've figured out what we're doing with the Nadder's and decided to head us off." Asher guesses.
"It's only one ship, we'll take care of them no problem." I say.
"Uh, I hate to keep bringing down the room or the..you know outside but that isn't exactly the case." Tuffnut says and points towards where five more ships are sailing towards us.
"Even better." I groan softly. I look back at the riders, "Asher, stay back with the Nadders, everyone else battle ready!" I command and they obey me without hesitation.
A thick snapping sound of steel cuts through the air before Toothless, Barf and Belch pull back away from a rope that wraps around Hookfang's leg dragging him down.
"HOOKFANG!" Snotlout shouts in panic, "Come on Hookie, it's just a little rope." Hookfang fires down at it and the twins pull up behind them.
"It's not just a rope, it's some sort of reinforced steel or iron." Tuffnut notes. For the love of-Tuffnut!
"That's what I said! Come on Hookie it's just a little rope made out of some sort of reinforced steel or iron." Snotlout says. A flapping of wings cuts through the air and Snotlout twists around in the saddle, "Wait is that-" She starts.
"Fishlegs riding-" I start.
"Windshear." Ruffnut cuts.
"Uh...What are they doing?" Tuffnut asks.
"Doesn't matter. Right now, I'm just thankful that they decided to show up." I say and look forward at the two. Fishlegs riding Windshear and Heeth riding Meatlug, it's slightly funny.
The two look at each other and share some commands I'm to far away to here before Meatlug and Windshear dive down towards the boats. Heeth and Fishlegs successfully take out a ship, Windshear nearly taking a man's head off for trying to fire at Windshear.
I fist pump, "ha ha! Well done!" I shout in laughter. I turn to the twins, "Switching dragon's was the trick! Now even if they're other dragons around Windshear, she's going to come what comes naturally." I say.
"Protect Heeth." Ruffnut declares.
"Exactly." I agree with a smile.
After a few more seconds, the rope on Hookfang's talon breaks and the Monstrous Nightmare dives forward away from the net. Toothless growls and looks up at me and I follow his gaze towards a net heading towards Fishlegs and Heeth. "Guys look out!" I yell and Toothless dives forward as I throw my hands out firing several blasts of ice. The rope becomes heavy and sail's back down towards the boats as Toothless spins.
"Yeah baby!" I cry laughing as Toothless pulls up towards Fishlegs, the twins, Snotlout and Heeth. "Dragon riders, let's clean this mess up, once and for all." I command and Toothless dives down towards the boats, wings whistling as he and the other dragons fire at the boat's sinking them efficiently.
YES!
….
That night, Tuffnut and Ruffnut sit on one side of the table shoving as many yak-chops into Tuffnut's mouth as they can, currently at seven. Asher sits at my side as I re-wrap his arm, numbing the scabbed over still slightly bleeding in some parts wound. Asher winces slightly as I touch a tender part and I murmur an apology, wrapping the fabric more gently.
"Okay," Fishlegs says breaking the silence, "I have to know, is this a goodbye dinner or a welcome to the team dinner?"
"Either way," Ruffnut says looking up at us as she shoves another yak-chop into Tuffnut's mouth, "this is a lot of fun. You guys should try it sometime."
"It's not a goodbye dinner Fishlegs." Heeth answers and Fishlegs gives a sigh of relief. "You know," Heeth says after a second, "Fishlegs really deserves all the credit."
"Stop you, you're embarrassing me." Fishlegs says with a wave of her arms.
Snotlout lets out a laugh, "Yeah, Fishlegs stop. What on the name of Thor could she possibly do that I couldn't?" Snotlout demands.
I look up at her for a second, tying off the bandage, "If Fishlegs hadn't figured out how to integrate Windshear into our pact-" I start.
Tuffnut coughs up the yak-chops all over the table. "Hang on." He interrupts and I look over at him.
"What?"
Tuffnut rises from the table. "I shall perform the Dragon's Edge welcome song!" He declares and steps on a chair putting a hand on his chest as he starts to sing.
"Tuff-" I start but freeze as a piece of paper smacks onto the table.
I look up and the other riders shrug, "I didn't send it." Heeth says.
I pick up the paper and lift scan the text.
Haedryin! Greetings from across the archipelago. As I'm sure you're aware, Heeth has popped out of existence, I want you to help me find him-scratch that, PLEASE help me find him. I've been looking everywhere for my little bro and can't find him on any island in the Archipelago. It's so frustrating, keep an eye out for him, please help me find him, gather your riders.
Your brother,
Dagur
"What is it? Are you okay?" Asher asks.
"It's from Dagur." I say re-reading it several times. "He's been looking everywhere for his brother and wants our help finding him." I say and Tuffnut chuckles.
"Well, that won't be too hard 'cause he's right here." Tuffnut says.
"I knew he would come looking for me." Heeth mutters. Well, with this "new" Dagur, maybe that's not a bad thing I mean, he seems so..different.
"Maybe that's not a bad thing." I suggest and Heeth gives me an irritated expression, "then again maybe it is. Look, Heeth your one of us now; a dragon rider. If you're not ready to be found, we'll make sure you won't be." I promise.
Author's Note: I'm going to go find a blanket. I am cold and tired.
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