Chapter 7- Revelations

Hiccup shook his head to clear the shock of the news Astrid had just told him. He had to tell his father and quickly.

"Astrid, stay here," he said and quickly went back to the door.

Opening the door as quietly as possible Hiccup retraced his steps back through the hall to his seat and leaned down to whisper urgently in his father's ear. Stoick listened earnestly to what he had to say and his face paled as Hiccup told him what had happened. As soon as Hiccup had finished Stoick stood. The Chief who had been speaking stopped in shock at the rude interruption.

"Please accept my apologies for this interruption," Stoick said quickly and inclined his head in apology to the Chief who had stopped speaking. Stoick then addressed the Elder.

"I must ask that I and my son be excused from the remainder of this meeting as an urgent situation has arisen which we must attend to."

The Elder sat forward.

"What has happened Chief Stoick?" She asked in concern.

"The remainder of our fleet has arrived but they have suffered severe losses in the journey through the storm. I must beg leave to attend to my people and treat the injured," Stoick said in response to her.

She nodded.

"Of course you must see to your people's needs. The temple staff will assist you."

She turned to address the rest of the room.

"This meeting is now at an end for today. We will reconvene tomorrow," and with that she stood to indicate as such.

The rest of the room started to stir and Stoick and Hiccup left quickly to where Astrid was waiting. As the others filed out behind them Hiccup caught a glimpse of Alvin and Dagur and paused to watch them. Seeming to know that they were being watched the pair looked back at Hiccup and laughed. Then Alvin did something that chilled Hiccup. Alvin drew his finger across this throat and pointed at Hiccup before turning away and disappearing through the crowd.


Hiccups mind was reeling as they hurried down towards the beach. What had Alvin's actions meant? Did they know something about the attack or was he just guessing that something serious was wrong and taunting Hiccup? He had so many questions but at the moment he couldn't see how Alvin and Dagur could possibly be involved.

As they moved Stoick quizzed Astrid on what she knew. Astrid told of how she had been sitting on the beach looking out to sea when she had spotted the first boat. She then went on to explain that as the boats had drawn nearer she had seen that some were listing badly, how the sails were torn and burnt and rails and masts were shattered. When the boats had finally limped close enough to be beached Astrid had boarded the first ship to find an injured Gobber who had told her of the dragon attack and the loss of the Blue Whale. She had then raced back to the temple to tell them of the news. Stoick's face was a grim mask of concern as they ploughed ahead towards the beach.


As they finished the descent from the mountain path Hiccup could see just what Astrid had been telling them. The boats really were a state. There were people on the beach now. Some of the able bodied were trying to port the boats onto land for repairs whist others were attending to the wounded. Hiccups quick eyes sort out Gobber who was sitting on a rock looking angry, his good arm in a sling. At seeing his Chief approach Goober tried to stand but Stoick reached him first and put a hand on his shoulder to keep him seated.

"You're staying right there," he said in a firm voice.

Gobber huffed loudly and went back to sitting.

"Gobber what happened?" Stoick asked.

"Dragon attack Stoick, we didn't see it coming, the fog was too thick. Before we knew it the boats were being ripped apart."

"There was no warning at all! Did you disturb a nest or roost?" Hiccup asked in surprise.

Gobber shook he head.

"No, we were out at sea. There shouldn't have been any dragons for miles."

Hiccup turned to his father.

"Dad that doesn't make any sense, unless they felt threatened wild dragons shouldn't have just attacked without a reason."

"Maybe but they were certainly angry enough to attack us. We didn't stand a chance," Gobber added.

"Did you see what species they were?" Hiccup asked.

Gobber shook his head.

"No, the fog came in so thick and fast we couldn't see anything clearly. A few outlines through the fire but that was all. They went for the Whale straight away. I guess they were after the food."

Hiccup shook his head.

"That doesn't make any sense. Dragons don't eat meat, they eat fish, and raw fish at that. The Whale was loaded with cooked meats and fish to keep them preserved. I can't understand why they would attack."

"Maybe this is a new species, something we haven't seen before." Astrid added.

"Maybe…it just doesn't make any sense," Hiccup said looking over at the boats thoughtfully.

Deciding that the time for talking was over and action was needed. Stoick started to issue out orders. His people needed help now. They could worry about how it had happened later.

"Astrid, I want you to help the temple staff with the care of the injured," he said first.

Astrid nodded her understanding and left to greet the yellow robed helpers now coming onto the beach carrying medical supplies and stretchers.

Next he addressed Gobber.

"Gobber I'm going to send Sven and the others down to you to help get the boats repaired. Until your arm is healed you are to advise only. If I see you even thinking about lifting a hammer then I'm going to chain you to a chair. Do I make myself clear?" Stoick said giving Gobber a stern and meaningful look.

Gobber muttered under his breath and looked sour at the order but nodded none the less.

"What about me Dad? Do you want me to help with the repairs?" Hiccup asked.

"No Son, I want you to investigate what happened. I agree with you that this is not normal dragon behaviour. Something isn't right and I want you to find out what," Stoick said his face grim.


Hiccup spent the afternoon meticulously inspecting the damage to each boat. He paced the decks back and forth taking in the damage and speculating on what could have caused it. He really wished he had Fishlegs with him. It would have made the identification process so much quicker. As it was he was making good progress. There had certainly been Monstrous Nightmares involved and he had found spines from a Deadly Nadder embedded in the deck and solidified lava from a Gronckle. There was damage which he believed could have come from a Timberjack and a Whispering Death, this being a mast sliced in two and a hole clean through the side of one boat. He had also questioned most of the boats crews. One person had reported that he had to hide from jets of boiling water which had rained down so that put a Scauldron into the frame as well. In fact, as far as Hiccup could make out every species in the Book of Dragons had been involved apart from Terrible Terrors or Night Fury's.

He sat down on a barrel and tried to think through what he had found out so far. None of it made any sense. Aside from the dragons being way out to sea from any islands where they might of roosted or the fact that they had attacked a vessel full of food they didn't normally eat Hiccup couldn't understand how so many varieties of dragon were in one place together. All right some species did get on well together and had been known to roost together but Whispering deaths were solitary dragons, Scauldron's lived in water and Timberjack's lived in forests. It just didn't make sense. He kicked out angrily at a piece of metal by his foot in frustration and watched as it skidded across what was left of the deck. He continued to look at it absently until something about it made him stand and walk across to pick it up. He turned the item over in his hand. It was crudely made and broken but somehow looked familiar. He continued to look at it from different angles turning it over and over, curious as to it origin. It wasn't until he held it in one hand by what he supposed was the top that he finally understood what he was holding. His eyes widened in realisation and shock before darkening in anger.


Astrid and Stoick had been looking for Hiccup for a good half an hour before they finally found him on the deck of one of the most damaged boats. He had his back to them when they saw him. As they moved closer Astrid noted the rigidness of his posture and the slight shaking of his shoulders.

"Hiccup are you Ok?" She asked as she moved beside him.

Hiccup continued to look ahead his forest green eyes dark with anger and his hand clasped tightly around something metal.

"Hiccup….?" She asked again laying a hand gently on his arm, confused by his anger.

There was a long pause before Hiccup spoke.

"It wasn't a random attack," he said his voice shaking in anger.

"What?" Astrid said in surprise.

"I said it wasn't a random attack. They weren't wild dragons," Hiccup repeated, closing his fist tighter over the object in his hand so his knuckles showed white.

Stoick stepped forward now.

"What do you mean it wasn't wild dragons?" He asked.

Hiccup turned to his father and held out the object in his hand. As he uncurled his fist Stoick could see a crudely made triangle with a loop at the top. He took it from Hiccup and looked at it in confusion.

"What is it?" he asked.

Hiccup took a deep breath to calm himself down.

"It's a stirrup Dad. Those dragons weren't wild…they had riders."