Chapter 10: Hidden Among the Woods
Outside the city of Berkhaven, Dreampix
Most of the citizens of Berkhaven managed to flee to the mountains outside the city. These mountains were covered by trees and the vale was filled forests, hills and rivers. These vales were large enough for the refugees and soldiers to camp while licking their wounds. Furthermore, these deep forests were impossible for enemy flyers to find any signs of refugees. There were almost no signs of wildlife, thanks to the ongoing conflict in the city only a few miles away. But people could find small birds, squirrels and insects among the trees. Most of the inhabitants were in grief over seeing their homes in smokes and flames. However, that didn't crush their spirits completely. Under Mayor Stoick's leadership, they would fight against the invaders and retake their homeland.
In the secret camp of Snogglefuzz, Berk Forest, 6 days after the start of the attack
In the shadows of the trees, Hiccup and his father had managed to set up a secret camp in the deepest parts of Berk Forest. It included most citizens, soldiers and dragon riders. The leadership of this camp was headed by Stoick the Vast and his two closest accosiates: Gobber the Belch and Spitelout Jorgensen. Gobber was a known advisor to Stoick, as well as Berkhaven's well-known weapon-smith. Spitelout was Stoick's second-in-command who always assisted him in his boss's duties. He was also the father of Snotlout.
Since arriving here, the camp had not experienced any troubles on its location. Most of the refugees were afraid of Disnean troops searching the forest for any survivors of the assault on Berkhaven. That was the reason they all needed to be prepared, regardless of what abilities they possessed. Who knew what the Disneans might were capable of doing when searching for hiding enemies.
Inside the main tent, Stoick, Spitelout and Gobber were discussing about the various challenges lying ahead of them. They were accompanied by many soldiers and free-willed defenders of the refugees of Berkhaven.
"Damn it! Those Disneans are merely toying with us! They starve us to death inside the forest while waiting for us to come out!" Stoick slammed his fist on the map, causing many bricks and mini-flags to fall from the table.
"But Stoick, how do we know they are waiting for us outside? We haven't even sent out scouts to search for any signs of the enemy!" Gobber pointed out while trying to calm his friend down.
"We are cut off from any communications, Gobber! I can't get into contact with either the King or Prime Minister Sullivan. We are completely isolated!" Stoick stated with anger.
"Speaking of starving, we shouldn't take our eyes off the small animals. We need everything that can satisfy our hunger" Spitelout stated. Both Gobber and Stoick nodded in agreement.
"I agree with you, Spitelout. But for now, I have Hiccup and the dragon riders dispatched to scout the forest for any enemy intrusions. Mark my words, when we see an enemy, fight it! Never back down! Those bastards will pay for the purging of Berkhaven with their own lives!" he declared and anyone in the meeting agreed.
Among the giant branches of Berk Forest
Hiccup and his friends were all standing with their dragons on a giant branch belonging to the many trees in the forest. They had decided to have a brief discussion before splitting into different groups. Hiccup was heading the discussion and his fellow dragon riders were listening.
"Okay team! My dad had ordered us all to search for any signs of enemy activity in the forest. Sure, these woods are deep and tightly connected to each other, but we can't be discovered by the Disneans" Hiccup explained to his team.
Fishlegs spoke up first nervously. "Umm, what if we actually discover an enemy soldier here? I mean, what am I supposed to do, invite him for a role-playing game contest?" he asked, causing his friends to stare at him outrageous. Hiccup was just confused by his chubby friend's statement.
"You lard-ass, what kind of stupid suggestion is that!? You are supposed to kill the enemy, not befriending him!" Snotlout lashed out against Fishlegs while approaching him to his level.
The chubby blonde-haired Viking was still nervous, but he glared back at Snotlout, as did his dragon partner, Meatlug. "I'm just not used to battle, so I don't know what to do!" Fishlegs hit back with bumping into Snotlout. The black-haired Viking and his dragon partner Hookfang prepared their counterattack, until Astrid and her dragon partner Stromfly interrupted them by knocking out both Fishlegs and Snotlout. They both fell on their backs while stars were swirling around their heads.
Astrid sighed before speaking. "Okay, Hiccup! Those two idiots may not have understood you, but I have. But before we begin, why don't we split into different groups?" she suggested to her fellow dragon riders and they all agreed. Hiccup would then decide the groups and it had to be appropriate as always.
"Okay! Since Ruffnut and Tuffnut share the same dragon, they will be scouting the forest together. Is that okay, guys?" he asked the long blonde-haired twins.
"No problem! But I'm afraid this jerk-face here can't see anything past his own fat nose" Ruffnut remarked while taking a brief glance at her twin brother.
"Why don't you bring your big, fat ass over here and say that to my face!?" Tuffnut asked her insultingly, which caused them to usually quarrel with each other. But Hiccup moved on to the next group.
"The next group is Snotlout and Astrid! How's that guys?" he asked sarcastically while eyeing the pair. While Astrid was outraged about this, Snotlout was happy.
"Sure! Why not? Astrid and I will be a perfect team together, right babe?" the black-haired Viking asked the blondie while touching her behind inappropriately. But before he knew it, Astrid threw a punch on that quirky face of his. Snotlout was lying on his back again, only this time, the attack left him completely in his own world.
Astrid crossed her arms while staring down towards him in irritation. "Great! So I get to be stuck with the pervert?" she bellowed while changing her gaze towards the other side.
Hiccup sighed before concluding with the last team. "Then that leaves just me and Fishlegs. Okay, now that the teams have been assembled, why don't we start this mission?" he declared while asking his fellow dragon riders. To his surprises, they were all prepared. None of them were chickening out, even Fishlegs (who was technically the most childish amongst them).
Hiccup smiled at his fellow dragon riders before exclaiming: "All right, dragons! Grab your shields and start your mission! We will regroup here at the same branch!" he declared, much to the support of his teammates.
In the outer reaches of the forest
Hiccup and Fishlegs were flying on their dragons while scouting for any dangers lurking around. They were searching among the outer reaches of the forest and they were close to the open fields of grass. However, they had decided not to leave the forest in fear of being discovered or spotted by enemy troops. But still, things were very uneasy in these parts of the forest, something the two dragon riders noted.
"Hey Fishlegs, you see anything?" Hiccup asked his chubby partner while searching among the different trees.
"None here, except for the roots from the trees, the stones and the small critters living here! I've got a really bad feeling about this, Hiccup" Fishlegs answered while starting to get nervous flying in this environment.
"Yeah, I get your picture. It's too quiet around here. Don't you agree Toothless?" Hiccup asked his dragon partner and he nodded in agreement. Toothless observed the different direction in the forest. Being a Night Fury, he had remarkable senses compared to Meatlug.
As the dragon riders continued to search, they decided to land on the ground and look for more clues clearly. Both Toothless and Meatlug accompanied them of course and had their eyes peeled on both sides for any potential dangers. But so far, everything had been quiet during their search on the ground. They could only the many ravens screeching and flying up to the clear skies.
"Um Hiccup. What do you think is happening back in Berkhaven? Do you believe we will retake our home somehow?" Fishlegs suddenly asked his brown-haired friend, who watched him with curiosity. It took a few seconds before Hiccup spoke up.
"I…I don't know, Fishlegs. But one thing's for sure: those Disnean barbarians can't get away with all the atrocities they have committed against us! I'm not just talking about the assault on Berkhaven, but also the death of those brave agents from the HEA. In time, we will make them pay!" Hiccup stated calmly while expressing a hint of sadness in his voice.
True he along with many other citizens of Dreampix had been mourning the loss of Red Puckett and her brave companions. Hiccup hoped that this kingdom would not lose more of their champions, patriots and heroes. They were all a key factor to the Dreampixan values.
Fishlegs, who felt he was given the answer he needed, merely nodded his head. Right now, he had to concentrate in helping his people and friends, not dwindling in the past. The two Vikings and their dragons continued their path through the outer reaches of the forest.
As the pair was very close to the entrance of Berk Forest, they decided to take a break from their search. However, their break was interrupted when Toothless and Meatlug began growling towards the open fields. This made the two friends confused.
"Toothless. Bud, what's going on?" Hiccup asked his partner as he watched him growl with his gaze set upon the open fields.
Fishlegs was checking out with his partner. "Hiccup, I think they both sense something dangerous coming this way!" Fishlegs exclaimed uneasily while focusing his attention with Meatlug.
Hiccup was shocked. "What!" he stated concerned.
Before they both knew it, the group of four could spot something high up in the sky while hearing large motors running. While they had all problems figuring out what it was, they were all granted a shocking revelation once they got a clearer view of the object in the skies. It was terrible!
About four or five Disnean attack planes were flying in the sky while hiding among the clouds. They were all flying in fast speed armed with dangerous weaponry. Perhaps they were not as destructive as the battle airship, but they were still dangerous weapons to be taken seriously. The truth was, they were all flying towards the direction of Hiccup and his friends. This meant they would fly over Berk Forest, but for what reason?
"Hiccup, why are those planes flying over the forest? Are they searching for someone?" he asked uneasily while eyeing the planes coming towards them.
"I think its worse, Fishlegs! They must be searching for us! The Disneans have moved more inlands in the country!" Hiccup exclaimed while jumping on Toothless's back. Fishlegs did also the same with his dragon.
"We must return to Snooglefuzz! Dad and the others must be warned about this, but I think they are already beginning to be suspicious!" Hiccup said to his friend and he nodded.
"Yeah, let's just hope Astrid and the others have also discovered this and returned back to base!" Fishlegs said and the two dragon riders flew fast in order to reach the deeper parts of the forest. They needed to be prepared for the upcoming commotion.
Back in Snooglefuzz, Berk Forest
Stoick and his closest associates had gathered up all the fighters, as well as the refugees. He had become very cautious about this foreign sound. He ordered the fighters to be prepared while watching upwards. It was nearly impossible to see the sky thanks to the tall trees covering the ground. Stoick's wary attention was interrupted when he heard his son calling out to him.
"Hey dad, we're back!" Hiccup called out as he and his friends had just returned from their scouting mission. Stoick, Gobber and Spitelout went over to check on them.
"Hiccup, what in Thor's name is going on here!?" Stoick immideatly demanded an answer from his son.
"Dad, there are about four or five Dinsean attack planes flying over the forest! They must be searching for us!" Hiccup explained, much to his father's shock.
"WHAT! So the Disneans have moved further inland!? Surely the ground forces must not be far away from here!" he stated loudly while looking around.
"What are we going to do then, Stoick? I got a feeling this forest is not safe to be hiding in anymore!" Gobber asked while trying to figure out the problem.
"We must do something quickly! All the refugees must be prepared to evacuate should we engage in open warfare!" Spitelout suggested. But Stoick calmed them both down and tried to come up with his solution.
"There is only ONE thing we can do! But that will require ALL of us!" he stated commandingly but they all listened.
Soon, Stoick and his associates gathered up the rest of the refugees to deliver them his declaration. Most of them were very uneasy, other were prepared to defend their people.
"Attention sons and daughters of Berkhaven! As you all may know, the Disneans are still searching for us! They won't give up until they discover our whereabouts! That is why I therefore declare an evacuation of Berk Forest! If we can move further inland and upwards towards the Valdra Falls, then we will finally be safe! Now everyone, gather up your belongings and move on! This forest must be abandoned so no one will suspect something suspicious" he was finished with his declaration.
The large crowds of refugees were on their move evacuating. Hiccup and his fellow dragon riders were all accompanying the fighters, as they also felt defending those who couldn't fight was an obligation for them as well.
In the skies above Berk Forest, in the plane: LP 1
Aboard one of those many attack planes, a dim-witted duck was piloting the Disnean attack plane. His name was Launchpad McQuack and he was the leader of these five pilots which together formed the LP Pilots. Despite the fact that he never went to flight school, Launchpad managed to do his job as a pilot (even tough he had crash-landed many times before. As Launchpad was flying over Berk Forest, he communicated with his fellow pilots about the situation.
"Well folks! This is LP 1 speaking! Any sign of those troublemaking refuges from Berkhaven?" he asked them though the communicator.
"Negative, captain McQuack! All I see in this area are mountains and this large forest in the middle!" the pilot of LP 2. J. Worthington Foulfellow stated through the communicator.
"Comrades, I have a feeling they are far ahead of us! They can't be hiding here, can they?" the pilot of LP 3. Kronker "Kronk" Pepikrankenitz spoke while asking his fellow pilots.
"Oh, shut up Kronk! You're just lazy because you can't find anyone, so keep looking!" the pilot of LP 4 David Kawena stated while scolding Kronk's laziness.
"Hey! Don't you take that tone with me, you dumb surfer!" Kronk hit back at David for his insult.
"C'mon people, what's the holdup!? Let's bomb this forest!" the pilot of LP 5 Icarus demanded while in his practically insane state.
"No! Don't even think about it, Icarus! If you seriously do that then those innocent animals in the forest will die!" Kronk warned his fellow pilot while expressing his pro-environmental thoughts.
"Hah! Innocent my ass! Those computer-loving sons of bitches are practically hiding down there somewhere!" Icarus retorted back.
"Comrade Icarus! The heads of the military has forbidden us from wasting our bombs to something useless as that! Come to your senses! We are only here on a scouting mission!" Launchpad tried to voice reason inside him.
"You know, I'm also in favour of bombing the forest! I mean there could be survivors down there, so why don't we burn them alive!?" Foulfellow asked his pilots while agreeing with Icarus's suggestion.
"Not you to, John! Stop it immediately! Do you even know what defying a direct order from the military heads means!?" David was getting uneasy about this heated argument.
"To hell with their orders, I wanna secure a better future for our motherland, so mind your own businesses!" Icarus lashed against his pilots once again.
"Count me in, comrade! Once we do this, the great Pete himself will be proud of us! Our positions in the party will be strengthened!"Foulfellow exclaimed while thinking about what their outrageous attacks could lead to.
"Icarus, John DON'T…" before Launchpad could stop them, it was already too late.
The two overzealous pilots had defied their orders by dropping their bombs to Berk Forest. Their actual mission was just to scout the area, not bomb a forest. As large bombs from both LP 2 and LP 5 fell down towards the forest, the results ended with disaster and inferno. Large explosions appeared, causing piles of smoke to rise from them. The scent of burning wood was coming into the picture and the whole nature itself was crying in pain.
Berk Forest
The view was even more terrible from the inside. The bomb dropping had taken the evacuating Dreampixans by surprise and horror. They struggled in coming to their senses while dealing with the more difficult escape route. The burning trees created large smokes, which made the formerly clean and fresh air completely toxic and uninhabitable. Furthermore, burning branches fell on the ground, thereby blockading the easiest escape routes, not the mention the worse troubles with the fallen trees. Truth is the bombing of Berk Forest had made their escape route a living hell. Luckily with the aid of their dragons, the evacuators managed to find their way out while struggling composing themselves.
Hiccup and Toothless were close by his father and his closest associates. They tried to guide the refuges to safety while helping them with blockades and burning trees. With the help of his fellow dragon riders of course, their teamwork became more helpful to those in need, especially children and old people. Snotlout and his partner Hookfang were cutting down burning trees, thanks to Hookfang's fiery scale ability. The citizens of Berkhaven were more than convinced that dragons could indeed be helpful.
But while some managed to get into safety, many of those refuges had been killed by not only the bombs, but the fire as well. Their loss affected Hiccup and his father emotionally. They had feared they would all die in this forest. But with great encouragement from both Astrid and Gobber, there was no time to mourn for the perished. However, this day would remind them of their tragic evacuation from a once beautiful forest close to Berkhaven. Once they had finally reached the Valdra Falls, they would officially start retaking their shattered home, with the assistance of the united Drimpixan army.
This attack would without a doubt enrage both King Shrek and Prime Minister Sullivan. They would call for the Dreampixans themselves to unite against their common enemy. Even the great Shrek himself vowed before Red Puckett's urn that he would prevent more losses of brave Dreammpixan citizens. The Assault on Berkhaven and Bombing of Berk Forest respectively would officially commit him to his vow.
To be continued…
Author's note: That was chapter 10! Next chapter is about….I don't know, something important related to Disney.