Ok, I now I've said this a lot, but I'm sorry that it's been a while. This time though I wasn't being lazy. We had an internet problem at our house that lasted almost two full weeks and we didn't get it solved until Wednesday (Nov. 13th). Now, I also know that some of you guys PMed me a while back before the internet went on the blink, so I'll try to respond to those ASAP. So, before I get this chapter started, I'm just going to warn you that it's pretty short as it just kinda ended at what I though was a natural spot. Now if I keep churning out chapters similar to this there could be about 5-7 more chapters, or (and what I think will happen) it'll go back to the normal 2,000 wordsish chapters. In that case there's probably only two left, because next time I think it'll be a big thing about the Changewing finally being trained (if you want to send me name suggestions feel free to in the reviews) and then they'll escape for the last time. Ok, now that that's done, I want to quickly talk about "Appetite for Destruction". I revise my statement that "Fright of Passage" was the best episode, and I now think that "Appetite" is the best one so far. The whole 'If it works, I'll kiss Snotlout on the lips' thing was hysterical, and it was pretty awesome to see the Screaming Death back. Ok, that's all, I'm sorry for rambling!
Hiccup made a mental note of where all the tools were as Alvin showed him around the small forge.
"So, I expect you'll find everything you need here to make that saddle for the Changewing." Alvin said as he started walking out the door with the guards.
"Yeah, I think so. I noticed that you removed all the weapons though." Hiccup replied as he pointed to an empty weapon wall.
"Just in case you decided to get any… ideas. That's not going to be a problem is it?"
"No, not a problem at all. Just merely stating a fact."
"Very well. I'm expecting the designs to be done by lunch time, and the saddle started on by dusk."
"Alvin, I can't work that fast! It takes numerous trial and error phases to just-"
"Too bad! Oh, and just so you know, I moved Astrid to a different location for the day, just so that you don't know where to find her should one of the guards… falls asleep on the job again." Alvin said as he glared at Savage. The rest of the Outcasts left as Nagur entered the building with a bucket of scrap metal.
"Good morning Hiccup!" Nagur said enthusiastically. "Isn't it a beautiful day?"
"Nagur, it's bucketing down rain and it's almost freezing outside."
"Exactly!" Nagur set down the bucket and started pulling out the shards of metal. Hiccup grabbed a pencil and paper as he started drawing a rough sketch of what he pictured the saddle might look like. After several variants of the original saddle design, Hiccup finally came up with a design that let the rider hide when the Changewing camouflaged itself, and let the rider sit up on its back in the original way. Hiccup had been drawing for about two hours or so and had just finished the final design when Nagur cleared his throat, scarring Hiccup.
"Odin's Skivvies, Nagur, you scared me." Hiccup blinked as he realized what he had said and facepalmed. "Oh, great. I'm turning into Gobber."
"Who's Gobber?" Nagur asked, curious.
"Not important. What is important is what kind of materials do we have to make the saddle out of?"
"Dragon skin."
"That's it?"
"Well, I don't think Loki Tree bark will be very comfortable for the dragon, or the rider."
"Ok, you've got a point there, but there's not anything else we can use?"
"Unless you haven't noticed Hiccup, we don't exactly have much livestock here except for dragons."
"It's probably just as well anyway, because I doubt that this will actually work."
"What won't work?" Alvin asked as he and the guards entered the forge. Startled, Hiccup began fumbling with his words.
"Oh, uh, just the, um, saddle design for the Changewing." Hiccup said as Alvin snatched the drawing from his hands.
"Seems pretty straight forward to me… 'old on a minute. What's this pouch lookin thing doing under the dragon's belly?" Alvin said as he pointed at a flap on the underside of the saddle.
"That? That's a compartment for the warrior to hide in when the Changewing blends into its surroundings."
"Hide?! An Outcast Warrior isn't going to hide during battle!"
"Oh, so you plan on intimidating your enemies by having floating Outcast's somehow magically causing acid to attack targets from out of nowhere? Not exactly the approach I would have taken, but hey, you're the boss."
"Ok, lad I see your point," Alvin grumbled as he handed Hiccup back the drawing. "So what seems to be the problem then?"
"Actually getting the camouflage to work. I don't see how we would be able to make a saddle that would end up blending with the Changewing. As far as any of us know, a Chnagewing's scales are the only thing known to be able to blend like they do, and it's not like we have a saddle's worth of Changewing scales lying around." Alvin's mouth coiled into a smirk as Hiccup finished speaking. "What?"
"Actually, I think we do. About a week before we… brought you in, the Changewing shed its skin."
"And you still have it?" Hiccup asked hopefully.
"I thought it was interesting, so I kept it as a souvenir in my private hut."
"If I can figure out how to get the old-scales to interact with the current ones, then I may be able to get it working."
"I'll have my men bring it down and you can start tinkering with it. Until then, break for lunch, you've earned it… this time." Alvin said as the guards led Hiccup away. Nagur gathered up a few of his supplies and headed out himself a few moments later as Alvin allowed himself a chuckle and looked over some of the designs that didn't make the final cut. After a few moments, Savage nervously cleared his throat.
"Um… Alvin?"
"What is it Savage?"
"Uh… I was just thinking-"
"Haven't I warned you about that?"
"Uh, yes, but, um…"
"Spit it out Savage!"
"Uh, I was just thinking that you may be giving Hiccup a little too much power in these situations. I mean, he is our captive, right?"
"Right."
"Well, I was just thinking that he usually gets his way during these… talks."
"That's because everything he's managed to accomplish is benefiting us. He thinks he's getting his way, but in reality, he's just delaying the inevitable. The boy will get what's coming to 'im, don't you worry Savage."
"Yes, Alvin." Savage said as he walked off. Alvin spent a few more minutes looking over crumpled pieces of paper and scratched-out drawings before leaving the forge. After a quick check that the catapults were being repaired, Alvin headed up to Mildew's place. With a greeting bah from Fungus, Alvin shut the door to observe Mildew asleep in a chair. Alvin shook the chair, and Mildew jumped up, now wide awake.
"Cabbage!" Mildew yelled randomly as he realized that Alvin had woken him up. "Oh. How's the boy doing on the saddle?"
"He's got the design down, now he just needs to make it. It should be another two days at the most, and then we'll be rid of the runt."
"Finally. The new pins you have me working in are really cramped. It'll be good to work out of the old ones again."
"Speaking of which, how are the Changewing notes that the guards have been supplying you with?"
"They seems pretty straight-forward, but I heard that you thought the same thing when you had the Book of Dragons."
"Don't even remind about that whole Heather Fiasco. I never should have sent her to Berk, that whole thing blew up in my face."
"Yeah, it really did." Mildew said as Alvin's eyes narrowed.
"You better watch yourself Mildew. Should I ever grow tired of you, and can simply get rid of you-" Alvin picked up a chicken bone from the table and snapped it in half, "like that." Not a moment later, Alvin turned around and left, slamming the door behind him.
Ok, so there it is. As I said, I'll try to respond to those PMs as quickly as possible, and I hope you guys enjoyed!
