A/N: Hey everyone!
Thanks for stopping by the story once more, or if you're new, thanks for checking it out!
Anyways, I would like to point out a few things. Just so that things will not get too mind boggling for you to understand. From now on, "-" will now indicate that there is a flashback about to take place.
That is all. Now, go enjoy what I've prepared for you! =D
Chapter Nine: Headlong
The scarlet ball of light was slowly setting, as it projected warm, orange rays upon the village where Hiccup used to live, lining the building with a dim light. The village, that Astrid used to live in–and will soon live in again – was now oddly silent, for a day that was supposed to be, a very busy day.
The merchants and stall handlers would usually be packing up by now, and the townsfolk should be picking up their last minute supplies.
But the streets of the village remained empty, frozen in time, as no living soul treaded, nor conversed through its stony roads. The eerie sounds of doors opening softly, and floors creaking filled the ghostly settlement. The stone tablets that lined the out rims of the village were covered in large, green leaves that gave the graveyard a mysterious ambience. Neither the high pitched voices of small children nor the husky voices of large men filled the area.
It was a ghost town.
Until the silent footsteps of a large, stout boy suddenly broke the ghastly atmosphere. His shadow, gliding along the cobblestone walls, reached a point where it halted to stop, slowing drastically as it did. The lone person finally reached what was known to the villagers as the town square.
The once lively and energetic merchants had all but vanished, leaving behind empty stalls, carts and baskets. Dust and garbage littered the cobblestone pathways, and the fountain in the middle had stopped sprouting out water. Only little droplets had come out of the four faucets that were connected by a metal rod, and the small hole in the middle, which used to contain water, was dried out.
Fishlegs wandered around the square aimlessly, his silent footsteps becoming louder by the step. The village of Berk was populated just hours ago, to the point where the square had been fully packed and loaded with people scrawling around the streets.
"Where is everyone…?" He mumbled, looking up to the sky and admiring it wondrous reddish hue. The ball of light, which was also known as the sun, had set lower in the sky, slowly giving way to the rising moon.
Fishlegs couldn't help but feel depressed. He was alone, and even though he tried to search for everyone, nobody came nor did he find anyone. It was like he was living a bad dream, and speaking of bad dreams; he made a mental note never to take such a foolish nap ever again.
'Stupid, stupid nap…I should have never slept.' He thought, as his mind was still blurry and clouded with doubts. He held his head low, and gazed at the ground, as he went back into his cold, depressed state. 'I wonder…did they go on to find the nest?'
Fishlegs stood there, pondering about the decision his tribe could have made.
'Did they actually set sail to find the dragons' nest?' He thought, and hacked his brain for statistics of whether or not the tribe would survive such a dangerous gamble. 'They couldn't have…they would die the second they got there! There are just too much dragons for them to handle.'
Fishlegs took one more glance upon the setting sun, as its last rays of warmth slowly faded, and let the grim feeling of dread seep into his fragile mind.
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The avalanche of rocks came down faster than she had expected, as for the plain and simple fact that she did not cause that much chaos. The young blonde had been followed, and was aware of her stalkers but decided to approve of it.
They were not supposed to be visiting her, nor was she allowed to make contact with them. But like all the other stubborn Vikings, she did. In fact, she was unsure what to think when she first saw the pair by the trap.
"-"
"Need help?" She recalled Snotlout saying, as Tuffnut glided by them nosily, making sure that she knew that he was present. Astrid turned her back to face Snotlout, ignoring the ever so annoying Tuffnut, who was fiddling with the trap set positioned behind her.
"Of course she needs help, you dumb butt!" Tuffnut mocked Snotlout playfully, as he came back into view. He quickly repositioned himself beside Snotlout, and turned to face him, making an odd face as he did so.
"You are going to help or what?"
Astrid slowly realized the friendship these two shared, for it was not one that they shared with any other. 'They really did make fun of themselves, huh?' She thought, a small hint of a smile forming wiggling its way across her face.
It was then that she thought about it. 'Why are they talking to me?'
'I mean, aren't they banned from talking to me?' She thought, as a bead of sweat started to form around her brow out of concern for her friends. 'If the village finds out, they will be goners!' She didn't want to break the rules, nor did she want her friends in trouble. She didn't want anyone in trouble because of her…and then, out of the blue, Hiccup popped into her mind, and the lass was overwhelmed by feelings of guilt and doubt.
She had to divert her attention. She couldn't stand to have these kinds of thoughts.
"Why the hell did you guys come here?" She said angrily, as it was her only escape, and turning away from them to try to pick up the concussion of large stones and ropes.
"Gods, Astrid" Tuffnut said, slightly ticked off, but in a mood where he could play with her. "We just came to see how you were doing."
"You're not allowed." Astrid said coldly, turning back to face them, as she stood upright. "Leave." She said, and turned away from them once more, only to start walking to the cove.
"Nu-uh." Snotlout said cheekily. "What's with the stupid pile of robes and rocks, huh?" He said, giving her his best puzzled look. Snotlout definitely knew that something was up…and he wanted to be part of what ever devious, mischievous plan Astrid had made up.
Like the We're-so-going-to-bust-Hiccup plan for example.
Astrid stared back at him, her light blue eyes piercing into him. She continued this as she thought about the decision she was about to make. 'They could help me build the boat…' She thought, estimating whether or not they would get detected before they could finish building it. 'No…they can't…they…' Her train of thought was interrupted by Snotlout obnoxious voice, asking her why she was staring at him.
Astrid looked down to the ground, and spoke. "Follow me…"
"-"
"Right," She said, putting on a stone face, turning around to see the two boys scratching their heads, as if they hit something hard. "I do you need your help."
"And why didn't you tell us that on the way here?" Tuffnut asked, rolling his eyes and giving her a displeasing look. "I have to show you, or you will never understand." She fired back, and turned around once more to head towards what seemed to be a large rock by the edge of a small lagoon.
"Nice place." Snotlout said, looking around to search his surroundings.
There was a large tree by on corner of the cove, old and wilting. A small lagoon was positioned near the middle of the cove, only slightly to the north, and some signs of human settlement filled the area too. The grass that filled the land around the cove was soft, warm and looked like that it was tended to by human hands.
He never knew that Astrid liked plants, and smirked when the thought of Astrid picking flowers in a garden came into his mind.
"Thanks."
"Now," She said, picking up a medium sized, leather, brown satchel that looked awfully heavy. "Check this out." She dropped the Night Fury scales near their feet, and their reaction was predictable.
Snotlout and Tuffnut had both been blown out of proportion. "Astrid…" Tuffnut said shakily, as he bent down to pick up one of the scales. He brought it closer to his face, and examined it with deep curiosity. Snotlout did the same.
"Where did you get these?" Snotlout asked rudely, making sure that he hadn't showed that he was shocked about the whole scale thing.
"Someone lived here" She spoke calmly, addressing the issue with great care. "Way before I did." She said, still wearing his stone cold face. "So?" Snotlout shot back, trying to cover up.
"Can you guess?"
"Hiccup." Snotlout and Tuffnut said in unison, their faces turning stone cold, more like how Astrid's did. "And what do you plan on doing, Astrid?" Tuffnut said, eagerly showing that he was the smarter one among the two.
"I'm going to find him."
Tuffnut and Snotlout looked at each other seriously, and stared into each other's eyes for a moment or two. Astrid stood there, and flat out waited for their reaction to her statement. After what seemed to be forever, they looked back at Astrid, their faces, full of determination and confidence in the dim, orange light that shrouded the cove.
"We want in."
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A/N: Alright guys!
Did you all like the chapter? I do hope I illustrated more of the scenes in this chapter than in the first few chapters. =D
Anyways, please review! I really do appreciate it if you do, and it will really boost the popularity of this story. Oh, and don't forget to recommend this story to your friends! (If you liked it)
Ravenblack
