The sun was only just disappearing below the horizon when Toothless and Hiccup landed amongst the trio of houses. The air was fresh, as usual, and occasional breezes caused Hiccup's hair to go wild and blind him in a waving frenzy.
He leaped off Toothless' back, and both walked over to Qwynel's door. Three short knocks later, and the old lady made her appearance. Her creased face decorated with a faint playful smile said it all : ' I was expecting you.' She turned back into the house, and told someone that she'd "be right back". Most likely Erlend.
She stepped over her threshold and closed the door behind her.
" So ? " She inquired.
Hiccup drew a shaky breath in." I'm in." He said in quavering voice.
" What made your mind up ? "
" I uh..." He looked down at the ground, little tufts of grass poked up through the thinning snow. "...Well, I figured there's a war out there, between man and dragon...And we're the only ones who've figured it out. You're right, I owe it to all of us. But I mostly owe it to all those out there, all the humans or dragons who need a place to call home. Humans and dragons don't have to fight, we have that knowledge, and that knowledge is worth protecting." He looked over to Toothless, who stood besides him. " We realized...We want a part in protecting it."
" I'm happy you two figured it out..." Smiled Qwynel. " Now you all better get some sleep, especially you kid. Things get serious tomorrow..."
" Ugh...Could you not call me that...Please ? "
Qwynel chuckled and turned around to enter her house. The door closed behind her and Hiccup turned to hug Toothless. His thin arms wrapped around Toothless' scaly neck, and each could feel the other's heartbeat where their bodies met.
" G'night bud..."
" Good night Hiccup."
And with that hey parted. Hiccup, heading back to their house, and Toothless under a large tree at the edge of the clearing, to join all the other dragons in their slumbering activities.
Hiccup entered his house as quietly as possible. He closed the door behind him, and turned to find his forge lit by the dim light of a single candle at one of the workstations. The tiny flame lit up Einarr's small figure, which sat at the workbench, asleep. His head was lying sideways on the table, under it was a piece of paper scribbled in charcoal writing.
Hiccup silently padded over to the small boy, who breathed regular but wheezy breaths in his deep sleep. The teen peered over at the paper, only catching the top words, but then stopped himself. He couldn't, he had no right to peek into Einarr's thoughts and emotions. Thoughts and emotions, that he tried so hard to conceal and protect when awake. Instead, the auburn-haired boy grabbed a blanket from under the table and set it delicately over the child's shoulders. He blew out the candle, and crept into the next room.
There, he found all his guests, or rather, all the new Drekians, simply sitting around the table, discussing trivial things in hushed voices. The room was lit by several candles, two on the table and the other on the kitchen area's workbench.
Hiccup took a seat as the discussions fell silent. All stared at him, expectant. This would have made the old Hiccup furiously uncomfortable, but that night he merely brushed off the situation with a :
" We'll start building new homes tomorrow, as much as I like being around you all, I think it's best if we each have our own place to stay don't you think ? "
Smiles were born and hearts lightened. Most agreed with a nod of the head and a couple of 'Aye's. Conversations slowly started forming again amongst the small group, and Hiccup seized the moment to turn to WarBear, who sat directly in front of him.
" I Uh...I have something for you." He said reaching in his fur jacket's inner pocket.
WarBear raised an interrogative eyebrow. " Do you now ? "
Hiccup merely drew out a small object, wrapped in a piece of cloth. He placed on the table between them, nudging it towards the large bald man. WarBear took it in a large black hand and unfolded the piece of cloth. A large grin formed on his face, and he looked up from his hand to Hiccup, who answered with a crooked grin.
" You finished it."
Hiccup nodded. " It took me a while. Jewelry is tricky to master. I had to re-smelt the gold piece several times, I just couldn't be satisfied with the result."
" It's beautiful." Said WarBear holding up the amulet before him, hanging by its silver chain wrapped around his hand.
The amulet was mainly of smooth dark wood, circular with rounded off sides and a little smaller than your palm. The smooth shape was streaked with the wood's pattern, and seemed to glow around its sides in the candlelight. In the center, was a encrusted gold piece in the shape of the stoker dragon class insignia. The piece wasn't flat so much as the flames the dragon's mouth spat were done with relief, as were the wing and horn. It's eye, was made with a small stone. Worthless, but pretty. It was a tiny white stone that could fit under a fingernail found on the beach, it gave a piercing look to the 'dragon' and a remarkable feeling of danger and might.
" Thank you..." Said WarBear, passing the chain around his neck and letting the amulet sink under his shirt, leaving the upper third of it peeking over the rim of the brown tunic. " I will always treasure it."
The next day started early. As soon as the sun started peaking over the horizon, the Drekians were up and about. A small party was sent back on board the ship, which still lay anchored not far off the beach, in order to collect any tools or materials that could help in the construction of homes.
And while trees were downed and processed into planks, Hiccup and Lucia spent the entire morning designing a model for a house that could be replicated as many times as necessary. The houses, were designed to have two floors, a kitchen, a storage room, a room for two large dragons, and three small rooms for humans. It was also designed to be easy to build, and that's where Lucia's expertise came into play. The house's structure had to be designed based on the material's flexibility and elasticity, as well as it's reaction to humidity and wild temperature variations. As you all know, Dreki is an extremely cold and wet place, winters can be violent and summers wet. Fortunately, Lucia was well versed in the multiple properties and applications of pine, allowing Hiccup to perfect the optimal design.
So, the model for the houses was designed for everyone. Doors, were very large and beams placed high for the sake of larger dragons. In the end, it's appearance would resemble a rather tall and exotic version of a typical Viking abode. The roof was specifically designed to allow dragons to perch upon it. An access hatch was even incorporated to allow humans or even small dragons to reach the roof from the second floor, hence the roof was decorated with all sorts of large handle-looking perches and ladder-type elements allowing both dragons and humans to scamper across it with relative ease.
This, unfortunately, would cause snow to accumulate on the roof during winter and late autumn periods. So, every morning, the Drekians would have to clear them with wide shovels and spades, but after a short yet effective consensus, it was agreed that it would be worth it.
Overall, the soon-to-be 'typical' Drekian house was to be considerably larger than Hiccup and Toothless' or Qwynel's house, but smaller than the Roman's, which still stood as the largest.
And so, the second part of the day marked the start of the construction of Dreki's fourth house. It went rather fast, what with a total of thirty-five human Drekians and six dragon Drekians. Some were more mighty than others, but people were assigned to activities that suited them best. If one wasn't strong enough to haul large logs or thick planks, then one was assigned to making said planks, or chopping down trees, or nailing wood together etc...
Hiccup, was working furiously in the forge. That day, he used up his last supplies of iron to produce large quantities of all sorts of small but necessary objects such as screws, nails, hinges, handles etc... the list goes on.
The house was completed as the sun set, and was claimed by three of the guests including Arash, Baraz obviously joined them, having bonded with Arash and in the end they formed a merry household of four.
The next day started just as early as the previous one, as did the one after that, and the one after that, and all those that followed. The clearing grew wider and wider as trees were cut, iron was bought from the neighboring island as was farming equipment and seeds.
By day six, there was a total of ten houses in wich Drekians lived with close friends and bonded dragons. The clearing had doubled in size and dirt paths had started to form in the previously grassy clearing.
Einarr, had chosen to remain with Hiccup, as he was the only person he trusted or even interacted with in the entire island. An expansion to Hiccup's house was made, a small room branching off the forge was constructed. It was filled with a humble hay mattress, a desk for writing, and a smaller version of the forge's hearth. Hiccup knew how much Einarr enjoyed to snuggle up to the warm and circular brick structure and had made sure to incorporate this when designing the room.
Erlend, had also chosen to live with Qwynel. It seemed the two ageing birds took a liking to each other, a fact often used by Marcus as a means to make gentle fun of Qwynel, to which she smiled and responded : 'There's no age for love kid, and you haven't got anyone so quit ya' yappin' !'
There was then the issue of food. Thankfully, spring was making itself known to the world, but the Drekian's recent hunting activities had been rather intense. And one could see the population of boar, deer, and hare dwindling. Seven of the Drekians had been farmers in their past life, and expressed the will to resume their agricultural activities.
The problem then was the land. There was enough of it, that much was clear, but the trouble was organizing irrigation and all the other technicalities. Hence, a small meeting for leading figures and those concerned was organized. This meant Hiccup, WarBear, Marsaili and a woman who represented the farmers :
Hiccup unrolled the map onto the grass. All four kneeled or sat around it, it was an extremely detailed map of Dreki, made four days ago by Erlend's steady hand and Septimus' knowledge of the island.
" So this is our reasonably flat area of land we'd need." Indicated the brown-haired woman, she was rather tall and lean with a wine red tunic as well as tomboy cut.
" So it's arable land ? " Questioned WarBear, his voice forever thick with that accent.
" We checked it, if we clear the trees and small rocks, yes, we'll be able to grow almost everything. Peas, Barley, wheat...You name it."
" That'll require an entire day o' labour right' ? " Asked Marsaili.
" If everyone contributes it'll be done in under four hours..." Muttered Hiccup staring intensely at the map, calculating. "...No, that's not the problem. What we need to figure out is how we get water from here..." He placed a finger on the river that flowed from the mountain down through the clearing, before branching off into the sea. "...To here." He dragged his finger across the large map towards the arable area.
" Just dig irrigation from point A to point B. I don't see the problem." Commented WarBear.
Hiccup shook his head. " Yeah, but I'm just trying to think long term here...What if we want to expand ? We need to make room for future plots."
" He's right." Said the woman.
" So what do ye' suggest ? " Inquired Marsaili.
" Well, we could branch it off here." He placed his index on the map." Have the main irrigation go like this...Then it'll branch off into several smaller ones. That way, every time we want to make a new plot we just have to plough the land and dig a small irrigation stream running off the main one."
" But why leave this part of the river untouched ? Wouldn't it be easier to make it branch off higher upstream ? " Said WarBear.
Hiccup gave a small grin. " That's for an idea of mine. "
" Is it now ? " Mocked Marsaili.
" Yeah...I thought about it a long time ago...It's a building we can make that'll help us increase productivity."
" Why does it need to be by a river ? "
" I'll explain someday...Right now we don't desperately need it, so we'll think about it later. But it's something that should make our lives a lot easier."
" I like the sound of that." Smiled the woman.
" So do I." Said WarBear. " So it's settled then ? "
" I think..." Muttered Hiccup, scratching the back of his head. " We should start working on it tomorrow if we don't want to decimate all the animal population on Dreki, then we'd really be in trouble."
" Aye...You're right." Agreed Marsaili.
Everyone was about to rise and dismiss themselves to their own duties, when Hiccup interrupted. " Actually, we forgot to talk of the forests."
" What of them ? " Asked WarBear.
" Well, until now we've been taking our wood from the trees surrounding the clearing...And um...That's great 'cause we need space, but soon enough we'll need a more sustainable option."
They all raised an eyebrow.
" The thing is, we're on an island...We have to think long term if we want last over a generation."
" So what do ya' suggest ? " Asked Marsaili.
" Well, we could separate the forest in half...This entire west part of the forest could be the 'new' forest..." He waved his hand over the map. "...We can chop wood and replant trees. It'll be our supplies of firewood and construction materials. And over here to the east we can the er...'Old' forest...We need it for for hunting and herb collecting. Some herbs require certain environments and no animals will ever live in a forest constantly being chopped down and exploited."
" Well 'Iccup, ya' seem to have it all figured out."
" Aye."
WarBear patted Hiccup heavily on the back, summoning an 'Oof !' from the boy. " See ! I told you you would be good at this !"
Two weeks had past. These were the hardest and most laborious two weeks the Drekians ever lived. Obviously they had lived tough days before, considering their past. Only this time they toiled with a purpose, they were building their future. And this, was motivation enough to hammer, plough, and saw until their hands bled.
Thankfully, it didn't come to that. A small group of thirty-five was too little manpower for constructing the essentials of a village, but add five large and capable dragons into the mix, and you have the most motivated and united workforce in the entire archipelago.
Each now had home to share with friends and... Closer friends... If you catch my drift. The homes were now no longer crowded, which allowed the dragon population to regain their place by fires and upon sleeping slabs, as opposed to sleeping in a pile under a large tree on the edge of the clearing.
The overall mood was worn, but merry. A short vote by show of hand (or tail) was cast, defining the decision of whether to build a main hall or a fishery. The former was chosen, for the simple reason that any fish on Dreki would come from dragons, who don't require any infrastructure to do so. Merely a couple of barrels positioned on the beach for them to drop off their load. On the other hand, the idea of a main hall where everyone can eat, drink, dance, and talk together appealed greatly to the Drekians. Especially the dragons when Hiccup announced that he would design the hall to have low hanging beams and a high ceiling for them to perch. Obviously the idea of perching on comfortable beams above a giant fire-pit emitting heat seemed like heaven for the dragons.
And so the hall was designed, and the constructions started. Though they were at a slower pace, more relaxed pace now that the essentials were built, only the dedicated builders were working in that department. The other Drekians branched off into other professions depending on their skills and ambitions such as weaving, wood carving (Lucia), mead brewing, farming, wood cutting, hunting (Arash), stone carving, leather working, etc...
Einarr and Qwynel had decided to live together, both claiming with no little amount of humour that 'it's more fun to age with others.'. The older monstrous nightmare had chosen to live with them too, finding the sudden change in her life going for both the better and the calmer. She settled with the name 'Boon', from then on she was often called 'Ol' Boon' or 'Boons'.
Indeed, it was joyful time, full of hope and ambition. Not many are given a second chance in this world, but all forty-one Drekians had been given the chance, and all took it. It was a wonderful opportunity to abandon their past lives and start anew, to be reborn with the wisdom of their past.
But unfortunately, most of them bore a mark on their temple. A terrible mark there to remind them of what they were before, before they became who they are today. These horrible 'T' burns, were the object of dread on Dreki. Hence, one day, Hiccup was asked to head to Dreki, buy some ink, and return. He gladly did so, and when he returned, all the Drekians sat in a circle at the center of their newly founded village around a campfire, and one by one, had their temples decorated by the ink and Erlend's talented hand.
Every one of them, were tattooed over their brand with the mark of a popular symbol on Dreki. The dragon strike class insignia, an insignia, which not only honored the valued friendship between dragon and man, but also a respected and loved dragon, last member of his species, veteran of the Viking/dragon war. Toothless. In the Drekian's minds, the strike class emblem represented power, speed, agility, invisibility, fear. It was to become Dreki's emblem.
And so, one by one, the Drekians had their temples marked. All but those who had not spent their past in slavery, but rather another misery. They, had their wrists tattooed in the pitch black ink. The dragons too, urged to bear the mark, they chose the thigh, visible, yet not visually impeding. Contrary to humans, dragons' "spots of beauty" aren't places like the thigh, or the breast, or the rear, but rather the tail, wings and neck as well as the face.
And so, in under three weeks, a village, no...A community was formed. Tightly knit, indivisible, and the first of it's kind.