The next day on New Berk was as sunny and warm as the last. Birds chirped happily from where they perched on their branches, watching through curious pupils as Zephyr and Nuffink ran through the wilderness of the island. The monolithic island was enormous in its size and there was always more to explore. Zephyr couldn't wait till she and her brother turned over every stone and explored every cavern, cove, and lake within the island. It was funny enough that the village was built on an island within the island and that they had to cross over a bridge to reach another section on New Berk; Zephyr couldn't help but wonder what other strange formations such as this one there could be.
"Wait up!" shouted Nuffink as he ran, trying to keep up with his sister. The path they borrowed was clear of unexpected branches and ferns from the amount of times they'd used it to go to their secret hideout.
"Keep up!" she shouted back over her shoulder, accelerating to reach the tree house first. Her two legs carried her swiftly, thumping rhythmically against the forest floor, disturbing flies casually fluttering by and spider webs that'd been spun overnight when everything stood still and quiet.
Zephyr kept going until she couldn't hear or see her brother. She smiled in triumph and finally slowed down as she neared the hideout. She panted and approached the little house she and her little brother hand-built themselves out of large branches, fallen logs and rocks. It might not be much in comparison to the houses in the village, but to her and Nuffink, it was their pride and joy. They were the ones who'd built it from scratch, without the single use of a nail and hammer. And sure, it wasn't nearly as charming considering the holes in the walls and the roof, but it had its qualities.
It was the snap of a branch past the little tree house that had Zephyr stand alarmed. She looked around quickly, trying to see if Nuffink had somehow managed to sneak around the hideout to surprise her. She trailed off the path and scanned her surroundings, trying to see any movement to suggest her brother's presence.
"Nuffink?" she called out.
There was no answer, and Zephyr shrugged, brushing it off as a little critter wandering the forest floor much like she was. But just as she was about to turn back around and return to the main path, she spotted footprints carved in the soil. Intrigue pulled her forward like strings on a puppet and Zephyr crouched to investigate. These weren't Nuffink's boot prints nor hers. These were way too big to be a kid's at all. She never looked back and chased after the tracks, careful not to step over them so she could show Nuffink later. She managed to keep up with them for a short while until she reached the pine trees. The forest floor was covered with pine needles, disguising any creature's passage. Zephyr straightened up and listened. It was dead quiet out here but for the birds singing passionately high above.
Zephyr sighed in discouragement at the dead-end before shrugging and turning around, only to bump into a tall and dark figure that sent her toppling over. She landed on her rear with a surprised yelp.
"You should watch where you're going, young lady," said the figure, and Zephyr looked up to see an offering hand. She hesitated to reach out; she didn't know them after all. She looked up, taking a moment to study the man standing before her, her breathing shaky.
"There's nothing to be afraid of," reassured the stranger, but Zephyr couldn't help but be.
"Who… are you?" she asked, her voice timid as she picked herself back up on her own, putting distance between the stranger and herself. She knew she ought to run; to warn Nuffink and get back to the village. He wasn't a member of her tribe; not one that she knew. Everybody knew everybody on New Berk, and she would've remembered that scar, even if she'd met him only once before.
The stranger chuckled and crouched to be at her eye level.
"I am but a simple man trying to make my way through the world," he replied, his voice hoarse and deep. Zephyr still wasn't convinced, eyeing him up and down. The man could read her, and he smiled. "Here. I have something for you."
He reached inside the satchel at his side half-hidden by his cloak and pulled out a small object. He opened his palm to her, revealing a marble game piece.
That caught her attention.
"That looks just like the ones in that crate I found in the attic!" she exclaimed, picking it up carefully. She studied it closely, analyzing every single detail on the little sculpted piece of marble.
"Maces and Talons," said the stranger, gesturing at the game piece. "It is an ancient game. It was designed to test the abilities and decision-making expertise of future chiefs in the heat of battle."
"Whoa…" said Zephyr in complete awe, dropping her guard.
The stranger chuckled his amusement. "You may keep it," he said with a kind tone, meeting her gaze through soft dark eyes. "I ask but a simple favour in return…"
Zephyr was about to open her mouth to speak when she heard Nuffink call out her name in the distance. She spun around to her brother's calling, shouting, "Coming!" She turned back around to address the strange man again, but he was already gone.
Like a ghost...
Her eyes darted around trying to find him among the trees but to no avail. He was gone. Like dust in the wind. She stared down at the Maces and Talons game piece resting in the palm of her hand. She heard the quick footsteps approaching from behind her.
"There you are!" said Nuffink cheerfully even though he was completely out of breath. "Why did you run off?"
"Um…" she said, looking out into the undergrowth stretching out for Thor knew how far. "I thought I saw someone."
"Well, come on!" prompted Nuffink, completely unbothered by her visible concern. Zephyr turned to him when he gestured to follow, back to the tree house. She shook her head sideways to rid her head of questions and put away the game piece in her little satchel.
"Right behind you!"
…
Zephyr ran her index over the Maces and Talons marble game piece, exploring every curve and crevice and damage on it. She wasn't sure how she felt about her encounter with the stranger earlier that day. She hadn't crossed paths with him again nor caught a glimpse of him wandering through the woods. Zephyr had even gone back to look for him before she and Nuffink got back home when the sun had started to set. But she'd seen nothing at all. Not even tracks. He'd come and gone, like a phantom. Zephyr still wondered what favour he'd wanted from her and wondered if she'd ever see him again. What perplexed her the most what how he'd been in possession of a game piece from the crate she'd discovered the day before. Had he sneaked in and stolen it? More and more questions added to the figurative pile in her head the more she reflected on it.
She looked up from the object and stared into the flames of the fire dancing vividly in the pit in the living room of her house. It was dark out by then; she could hear the crickets chirping cheerfully as if they were taking shifts with the birds. Her mother sat at the dining table, sewing Nuffink's clothes after he'd ripped them off again from not being careful in the woods. Her father was reviewing plans on improvements the other Berkians had suggested bringing to the town while Nuffink demonstrated his latest surprise attacks where he proceeded to bunk his head against the beam. Zephyr paid little attention to him though, too wrapped up in her head to explain to her little brother that it's smarter to build traps so one doesn't have to physically engage the enemy.
"Dad?" called Zephyr, her eyes never leaving the marble piece she'd grown obsessed with.
"Yes, Zephyr?" replied Hiccup absentmindedly.
"Did you ever play Maces and Talons?" she asked curiously.
Zephyr heard her father nearly spit out the sip he'd taken from his mug and Zephyr turned around in surprise to see him and Astrid exchange a concerned look. Zephyr cocked her eyebrow as she gazed over her shoulder. Hiccup looked nervous.
"W-where did you hear that name?" he asked, trying to sound cool and unbothered. But Zephyr could tell otherwise, noticing his bouncing fingers drum against the wooden surface of the table.
"Hiccup, she's been spending hours in the attic," noted Astrid, rolling her eyes at Hiccup and his reaction. "I wouldn't be surprised if she already knows all the rules."
"No, not the attic," said Zephyr, nearly cutting her mother off with her enthusiasm. "A stranger gave it to me." She showed the game piece she'd been keeping a secret until now.
"Wait, what?" said Hiccup, suddenly alarmed. She had his undivided attention now, but Zephyr didn't like the hostility that flashed in her father's eyes. "Where? When?"
"Earlier…" she explained, feeling like shrinking on herself when Hiccup walked over to her. "I-in the woods. I'd never seen him before—"
Hiccup remained silent as he stared at her, and Zephyr couldn't understand the expression on her father's face. Was it…fear?
"Hiccup?" asked Astrid, her concern unmasked as well.
"Let me see that," said Hiccup, blinking away the storm in his mind. Zephyr handed him over the game piece, trying to figure out why any of it was such a big deal.
Hiccup stood still and silent for too long while he ran his thumb over the surface of the marble, his breathing growing unsteady as unease settled in his core.
"Hiccup, what's wrong?" asked Astrid, reading his body language like an opened book. "What are you thinking?"
Hiccup walked over to the dining table and presented the game piece to her, his agitation unmasked. He felt like a long-forgotten nightmare was rushing back to haunt him, and Hiccup didn't know how to handle the idea as theories started forming in his mind.
"It's not… possible, is it?" he asked – demanded. He wanted her to say no, that there was no way. But Hiccup knew otherwise.
There was always another way; another outcome; another alternative.
Hiccup stared into her ocean blue eyes as a silent conversation took place.
"After everything we've been through," started Astrid slowly, knowing what she was about to say would be far from comforting. She sighed, shaking her head sideways before meeting his gaze once more. "Impossible is just another kind of possible…"
Hiccup sighed and straightened up again as he stared at the game piece some more. He nodded firmly, chasing away the insecurities and doubt to make room to clear thinking.
He knew the man.
He knew the Hunter.
And he knew all too well this was just another way to get inside his head. He wouldn't allow his clever ruse to cloud his judgment the way he intended. Hiccup refused to play right into his hands.
"Astrid, stay here with the kids," said Hiccup, closing his hand on the game piece as he started for the door.
"What are you gonna do?" asked Astrid, concerned for her husband.
"I'm gonna go see what he has to say…" said Hiccup, his tone dark.
Astrid had gotten up from where she'd been sitting and crouched to hold Zephyr and Nuffink close to her.
"Are you sure this is the way you wanna play it?" she asked, looking up at him; undoubtedly worried for him, yet trusting him to make the right calls.
"You know the rules, Astrid," said Hiccup, turning halfway around to face her with a stern expression.
Astrid picked up Nuffink while Zephyr stood close to her mother, partially scared after seeing her father react so uneasily.
"But don't you think it would be better if we were there?" asked Astrid, referring to the other ex-Dragon Riders. "He doesn't stand a chance against all of us."
"And he knows that…" said Hiccup, holding her stare before turning away again. "He works alone. Which is why I don't think he'll show up unless it's just me."
Astrid took a moment before nodding firmly, smiling slightly up at him.
"I'll hold it together while you're gone," reassured Astrid. Hiccup kissed her sweetly before opening the door to leave.
Astrid had a hard time admitting it to herself, but she was worried. Worried for her family and worried for Hiccup. If what her husband theorized was true, then Astrid couldn't imagine the level of bad this news could bring. She stood in the door frame as he stepped out into the dark hours to possibly meet up with an old enemy.
"Hiccup," she called out to him, standing in the warm and welcoming glow. "Be careful."
Hiccup turned to her one last time and nodded the promise. He turned back around, hand closed tightly around the Maces and Talons game piece; a grim expression washed over his face as words from the distant past echoed in the back of his mind like resurfacing memories.
You're too good Hiccup… and it's coming back to haunt you.
The past was knocking on his door.
Dun dun dun... for what concerns the island, if you look at images of New Berk, the village is built on a smaller island within the island. There are waterfalls and all, it's actually kinda cool. And, the little treehouse is a reference to me and my brother from the time we spent playing in the woods building our treehouse from scratch ^_^
But for what concerns the story... If you hadn't guessed already, Viggo is back *evil laughter*