Alright, chapter 11 coming your way! Nothing much else to say, so…

Review Replies:

Litwick723: That is a hope that I guarantee will come to pass. Will the events of RTTE take place with OCs? What do you mean? (If it involves spoilers, you can PM me the answer). I just don't know how to answer that question. Haha.

Gordon519: Hmm…I wonder too. Would be a good contrast to his status in his former home village.

Spartan10007: Thanks!

Cottonmouth25: Yeah, I won't be changing it. Just wouldn't fit with the original challenge material. Also, that's a good question. I guess we will have to see.

TheEraThief: Thanks!

ladipretender: I didn't used to put the datestamp on my chapters, but I realized that the site doesn't save it (not even in the author/writer control panel or anything) and I like to look back and see when I posted chapters sometimes. Anyway…yeah, I do plan to go a little more in depth into the dragon situation of Heather's island. That's actually coming up fairly soon. But…yeah, it's a good series. I'm still reading the sequel which (last time I checked) now has 42 chapters. Oh, and your review was great. It made perfect sense, but I understand what 3AM can do. Usually that's when I'm finishing up and posting chapters (which is probably why my endings usually suck).

Noctus Fury (anonymous): Took your advice on the names. I think they're great! Oh, Hiccup's going to have quite the role in this village. He's going to be pretty busy, I think. Also, the outfits and other various accessories will come, yes!

Chapter 11: The Chief's and The Elder's Decision

It was growing dark and Hiccup was fully prepared to spend the night out in the clearing with Toothless. Though he continued to insist to Heather that she should go home before it became too cold, she was adamant about remaining with him. Finally, Hiccup gave up; there was no changing Heather's stubborn mind.

Just when Hiccup felt settled, a rustling in the surrounding woods alerted him and he tensed. Is it a wild dragon? If it is, am I ready to show Heather how I train dragons? What if it's worse than a wild dragon? Wait, what's worse than a wild dragon? Is there anything worse than a wild dragon?

All Hiccup could do was wait until whatever was making the noise stepped through the woods and into the clearing. He didn't have to wait long. Heather's parents, followed by two people that Hiccup did not recognize, stepped into the clearing and Hiccup relaxed at the slightly-familiar faces.

"So…this is the dragon you told me about," the older man spoke, his words directed to Heather's father. The older man's gaze then shifted to Hiccup who had sat up a little straighter when his muscles had started to tense. "And this must be the boy. Flame, is it?"

"Uh…yeah," Hiccup answered, his voice soft.

"I am Valdemar, the chief of the Peaceable Tribe of Sharkbane village. With me is Frida, our village elder and my wife." Hiccup acknowledged them both and the chief continued. "Now, if I understand correctly, you're interested in staying with us for some time, but you want to keep your dragon within the boundaries of our village. Is that correct?"

Hiccup nodded. "Yes, sir. I don't know if you've been told my story, but I have no home and Heather, here, has shown me that I could come to find a place here. I'd like that much because, from what I've seen already, your tribe is much more accommodating than the one I…left."

The chief listened, nodded occasionally to show that he was following.

"I know that as an outsider I am in no position to ask anything of you, but I do have one request. As I told Heather and her parents, I wish to keep my dragon because…well…I just refuse to part with him. We've been through too much together." Hiccup paused to take a deep breath. "As much as I would love to stay here in Sharkbane village, I will not live apart from my dragon. Regardless of what you choose, I respect your decision." Hiccup finished and waited to hear what the chief had to say.

Chief Valdemar and his wife talked in soft whispers, discussing what they had just heard. Finally, the chief turned back to Hiccup. "So, it's true, then? You can tame dragons?" he asked, gesturing to the calm Toothless who was still letting the two young humans lean against his side.

"Uh…yeah, I guess I know a few tricks," Hiccup answered, careful to reveal very little about himself and what he knew.

"I ask, "the chief continued, "Because we have a bit of a dragon problem here that plagues our normally quite peaceful tribe. You see, every so often, the dragons will come to our island and take our livestock. Though our tribe members prefer to remain peaceful, the dragons send out their war cry when they take what is ours…and we answer it with full-strength. However, we do not wish to fight; we want to see an end to this fighting between our tribe and the dragons that come to plague us."

Hiccup listening, nodded occasionally. "And you think that I could put an ending to the fighting?" he asked, trying to figure out the chief's true intentions.

"Perhaps," Valdemar answered, cryptically. "Indeed I have heard part of your story from Brokkr and Sage," he continued, gesturing to Heather's parents. "Needless to say, I am intrigued by you, young Flame. I would be honored if you wish to stay a while and become acquainted with my village and those who live within it. Just maybe you will find a place for yourself here."

"So…that means that you will allow my dragon to live within the boundaries of your village?"

"For the time being, I will. However, tonight, I want you to bring your dragon into the village under the cover of night. He may stay behind the house for the night. Tomorrow, you will explain this situation to the villagers. If you do not, I cannot guarantee the safety of your dragon's life…regardless of how tame he may seem."

Hiccup nodded. "Understood. Thank you, Chief."

"Brokkr and Sage will look for you later on tonight after night has fully fallen. I look forward to getting to know you, Flame."

The Chief and his wife left and were soon followed by Heather's parents. Hiccup and Heather waited in the clearing with Toothless for just a little while longer. Just needs to get a little darker and then we can go back to the village. As they waited, Hiccup couldn't help but to recall the night he'd had to cut himself free from Toothless's saddle. He and Toothless had waited all afternoon in the cove and then moved to the outskirts of the Berk village at nightfall. Astrid had caught him that night and Hiccup was certain that was when her suspicions about him began. She was smart…too smart. Figured me out, but maybe it's better now that she did. No more hiding. It will definitely be better if I can truly find my place here.

"I'm really surprised that Chief Valdemar and Frida agreed to let your dragon live in our village," Heather spoke.

"Your dragon problem is that bad?"

"Well…kind of, I guess. It could probably be worse. At least the dragons don't raid our livestock too frequently. They just always seem to come when we are preparing our harvest to store away for the winter months."

Hearing this, Hiccup thought back to Berk. It must not be as bad here as it was on Berk. The dragon raids were so frequent there. Only stopping during the winter. Surely nothing would've changed since he had left the island. Berk must still be raided frequently…and now he wasn't there to "screw it up" as everyone was so fond of yelling to him after all the raids in which he tried to be helpful.

"So, you think it's dark enough yet?" Heather asked, pulling Hiccup from his thoughts and memories.

To test, Hiccup held his hands out a short distance in front of his face. He could still see them, but it was becoming increasingly difficult. If we start walking back now, it should be dark enough by the time we reach the village edge. "Yeah. I think so. Let's go to…"

"Home," Heather interrupted. "Let's go home, Flame."

And there we have it! The decision. A little story on the names. I chose the names of the chief, Valdemar (Scandinavian for "peaceful ruler") and his wife/the elder, Frida (Scandinavian for "peace"). The challenge giver gave me the names of Heather's parents and also the tribe name and village name. So, I can only safely credit myself with the two names I mentioned first in this note.

Thank you all for reading and supporting Flame!

Posted: July 15, 2015