Green-eyed shadow
Disclaimer: I do not own anything except the plot.
KEY
'Thoughts/memories'
Emphasis/yelling
*Symbiote speaking*
*Symbiote think-speaking*
(A/N: Despite what someone does, the inevitable will always happen.)
Review responses
Arraia: Thanks. I'm not so sure, I'd like to keep Hiccup special.
Umbra Lycan: Thank you, only time will tell and still thinking out its application.
Death900098: Reviews with enthusiasm like yours give me so much drive to write, thank you.
RedTokyo95: Yeah, I could push the chapter length, but I want to upload as often as I can. I'm planning on this one being longer than my second story, but shorter than my first one. Nope, I'm just getting started, the climax won't be for a while. 7/10, I'm alright with that and thanks. Gobber and a few others have that quirk with them, it's what makes them… them. Thank you and I will.
Back to the Action!
Chapter 10: Malicious encounter
Nar POV
A few days later, Gothi's hut
Astrid awoke from her sleep, sitting upright and holding her head, "Ugh, my head… what happened?". Brenna opened the door, "Mom?", her daughter's voice froze her in place.
"Astrid?", her mother dropped her wash pan and rushed over. She scooped Astrid in a tender hug, "Thank Odin above, you're awake!".
Astrid was slightly confused by her mother's reaction, "Mom, where am I?".
"Oh, Astrid dear, you're in Gothi's hut", Brenna released her daughter, "You collapsed after slaying the monstrous nightmare".
"Yeah, I… I think I remember that", she narrows her eyes as she tries to recall her memory, "But what happened after I blacked out?".
"Your father and I rushed to the gate", Brenna brushed back a few loose strands of hair, "But by the time we got down, Hiccup had carried you up and over to Gothi and Gobber by the fence".
"Hiccup?", Astrid's eyes widen, "Hiccup carried me up?!".
"Yes dear, he's surprisingly strong despite how he looks", the mother sighed then smiled. "Your father couldn't do such a feat", Brenna rested her hand on her daughter's shoulder, "Hiccup must be a great friend, to do so much for you". The Hofferson matriarch went over to collect her things, leaving Astrid to process what she just heard.
The next day
Gunther and Brenna looked on as Gothi carefully unwound the bandages around Astrid's shoulder. The girl's parents held their breaths as the last wrap came off, revealing scarred but healed skin. "What in Thor's name?", Gothi shuffled closer and examined the damage. The pink marks stood out from her cream skin, leaving the elder beyond confused. Brenna's joy was clear on her face as Gothi told their daughter to move her arm in various ways, not showing any pained movements that they were expecting. Gunther patted his wife's hand to calm her down, "Let's not celebrate too early honey".
Gothi moved off the blanket covering Astrid's legs, her bandage legs brought them back to reality. The healer repeated the undoing, her legs in a similar condition. "Be careful sweety", her mother warned as Astrid swung her legs over the cot edge. Although initially shaky, their daughter managed to take several steps before she was walking normally. "Oh, my gods", Astrid's parents felt their fears leave them, "Odin be praised, our girl is blessed!". Astrid was scooped into a loving hug by her parents, all of them beyond overjoyed. Gothi however was eyeing the bandages she used, trying to decipher how such a recovery was possible.
Meanwhile, the cove
Hiccup was standing up the final wall of his treehut, "Avy, you mind?".
A pair of think slime tentacles sprout out from his back and latch onto the wall, *I got it*. while the limbs held it in place, Hiccup hammered nails to fasten the wall to the other three.
"Phew, finally", he wiped the sweat from his brow, "All that's left is getting some shingles and making the roof".
The large tendrils receded back into his back, *Indeed, then your hut will be complete*.
"Don't you mean our hut, Bud?", Hiccup pack his tools back into his bag.
*You're my host, Hiccup*, Avarice corrected, *I go where you go, I don't need anything else*.
"Right, you'll never leave me", the teen smiled happily.
*Never*, Hiccup descended the massive oak with his claws. He reabsorbed them after landing on the ground, *You're my friend, no matter what*.
"And your mine, Bud", he replied with a sigh as he made his way back to the village.
The next day
"Alright everybody, settle down", Stoick addressed the crowd standing before the great hall. The village was redecorated in a hurry, confusing the workers who were told that the dragon training celebration was going to be postponed. Hiccup stood quietly beside his father as the chieftain cleared his throat, "I know I said that we'd hold off celebratin' till Astrid got better, and I did say it might be days or even weeks till then". More muttering came from within the crowd, "But I have good news!".
Stoick stepped aside to let Gunther and Brenna walk out, the couple made room for their daughter to emerge, "C'mon sweety".
Astrid composed herself, then smiled and waved to the stunned crowd, "Morning, everyone". The audience erupted with gasps and amazed outcry's, hearing how hurt the girl was and now seeing her appear almost unscathed.
The crowd turned to Stoick, demanding answers, "I was as confused as you lot, but we'll explain everythin' soon". The mob calmed down, "Now's the time for celebration, to fully welcome another viking into our ranks, another warrior!". While Stoick spoke to the crowd, Hiccup stood by silently, knowing Astrid was in good health.
*Hiccup, she's keeps looking at you*, Avarice picked up on her subtle glances towards his host.
'I know bud', Hiccup was busy dealing with the uncomfortable loudness of the crowd.
"The party will be held in the great hall", bellowed Stoick, "Food will be provided".
Later
The party was in full swing, villagers ate and drank while talking. Many families who were close to the Hoffersons came up to their table to congratulate the teen and her parents. Meanwhile at the head table, Stoick was talking over to other council members seated nearby. Hiccup was in his own internal discussion with Avarice, 'Nadder, Nightmare and Zippleback… what should we go for next?'.
Avarice looked through hic host's eyes at their copy of the dragon manual. Hiccup flipped through the pages, *Most of these may not be on the island*.
'True, hmm… we could wait until another raid comes?', the teen clasps his hands hand rests his chin on them.
*The problem is we may get spotted trying to down our prey if it's inside the village*, Avarice raised a good point. Hiccup narrowed his eyes when a group of rowdy villagers start singing at the top of their lungs, much to the support of the equally inebriated groups around them. *Grrr, I can't stand it much longer, Hiccup!*, the teen squeezed his eyes tight.
He gets up from his seat, surprising Stoick, "Son, what's the matter?".
"We-", more people joined in and sung, "We… we're think we're getting a headache; can we go home?".
Stoick looks between his son and the loud group, "It's alright son, I'll tell them to quiet down".
"No, no need", squeezed his journal in his hand, "It's Astrid's celebration, let them have their fun".
"If that's what you want son, I'll see you soon", Stoick sat back down and watched Hiccup walked towards the hall doors. Astrid catches sight of him and excuses herself from her family and their friends.
The great hall steps
"Hiccup", he turns around and sees Astrid standing behind him.
"Astrid, we're glad you're okay", Hiccup brushed his white streaked bangs back.
"Where are you going?".
"We're getting a headache and going to laydown back at our house", he shrugged.
"Oh, do you want me to walk you there?", Hiccup looked surprised at her, "I-I mean if you're not feeling well?".
"It's aright Astrid, you just go and enjoy your party, we'll be fine", he waved her off.
"Okay, just be careful, 'kay?", Astrid stepped back inside and closed the door.
Hiccup blew out a deep breath, *C'mon Hiccup, let's find a quiet place to relax*.
"Sounds like a plan, Bud", he hurried down the steps and jogged back to his house.
The next day, Haddock house
Stoick stepped out of his room; the smell of fish stew woke him from his slumber. 'Where's Hiccup?', he looked around, everything was set for breakfast but no sign of his son. He ate quickly and fixed his clothes before walking outside.
"Mornin' Stoick", Gobber greeted his friend when he sees him walking towards the forge. "Wha' brings ya' 'ere?", he leads Stoick inside after filling his bucket from the rainwater barrel.
"Gobber, have you seen Hiccup?", the blacksmith empties the water into a tub.
"Aye, 'iccup came in 'ere earlier an' finished 'is work, then said 'ed be wanderin' tha' forest till lunch", Gobber hammered a shovel head into shape, "Why?".
"I'm just worried about him", Stoick sighed, "He told me his head was hurting yesterday".
"Aye, I 'erad an' asked 'im 'bout it, but tha' lad said 'e was feelin' fine this mornin'", that news brought some relief to Stoick. Ack ran towards the pair, he stopped and struggled to catch his breath, "Oi Ack, wha' tha' matta' with yew?".
"Gunnar spo-", the smaller man gasped to breath, "Gunnar thinks he saw ships sailin' towards us". Gobber hobbled into the back room, leaving the chief with the winded guard.
"How can you be so sure?", Stoick helped Ack to stand up, "I know he has the best eyes in the tribe". Gobber returned with a strange object in his hand and stepped outside with the others in tow. The trio jogged to an open clifftop near the docks, Gobber put the metal contraption to his eye. "Gobber, what is that?", Stoick tried to look at the gadget in his hand while he scanned the ocean.
"'iccup made it, called it a spyglass", Gobber answered while still searching the calm sea, "It lets ya' see just as good as Gunnar, maybe even fartha'". He grunted and handed it to Stoick, then pointed his hook off in the distance. The chief mimicked how he used it; his face hardened when he sees the ships. The lead boat's sail was stained with the symbol that made his blood boil, the mark of the outcast.
Later, Deep in Berk's Forest
Thunk, Hiccup landed crouched on a branch, "Hours of searching and still nothing". He rose from his perch and effortlessly walked across the tree limb, the ground many meters below.
*Don't beat yourself up over it, Hiccup*, the teen rested his back on the trunk and slid down, *You knew the chances of finding new dragons was slim*. He looked up and sighed, then heard birds squawking off in the distance. He scanned the gaps of the treetops and sees a flock flying away.
"That's weird", he gets up and rubs his chin with his clawed hand, then heard the village horn sound off in the distance.
*You think we should check it out?*, Avarice felt his host's curiosity pique.
"They could've been spooked by something, maybe even a dragon", a sharp toothy grin formed before Hiccup bound through the trees to where he guessed the birds came from.
An hour later, Berk docks
Stoick stood at the top of the dock ramps, Gobber, Spitelout and other veteran hooligan warriors behind him. A pair of unarmed ships slowly coasted into the harbor, only a handful of outcasts worked on deck. Hooligan fighters manned the catapults and ballistae mounted on the cliffs that banked either side of the inlet, all of them trained on the approaching boats.
The outcasts aboard dropped their gangplanks and calmly disembarked onto the empty docks. Alvin the treacherous, former hooligan turned chieftain of the outcast 'tribe', sauntered up the ramps with his men following. The dirty unkept soldiers glanced from emplacement to emplacement, seemingly unafraid of the artillery.
"That's far enough Alvin", boomed Stoick, his shout stopped the intruders at the top of the ramps.
"'ello Stoick, glad ta' see yur' still up an' 'bout", Alvin spoke in a friendly tone, which put the chief on edge.
"What are you doing here, Alvin?", growled Stoick.
"Wha'? Can't an ol' friend pay ya' a visit?", he shrugged.
"Grr, you were cast out years ago, Alvin", the villagers behind him scowled, "You know you'll only get a fight coming back here!".
"C'mon Stoick, ya' can't still be mad 'bout wha' happened all those years ago", Alvin again said calmly.
"What happen back then?!", Stoick became agitated, "You-… Ba', forget it". The chief composed himself, "You're an outcast, you knew you're forbidden from coming back here".
Alvin looked past Stoick, seeing a flock of birds fly out above the forest, "I kno'".
Back in the forest
An army of heavily armed outcasts moved through the forest. A few hushed exchanges between them masked their footsteps, "We'll catch those hooligans off guard".
"Yup, I'm gonna binge myself with their foodstuff till I pass out", sneered a chubby one.
"Bah, food?", huffed another, "Me, I'm going to snatch as much silver as my pockets can hold". He turned to a fellow outcast behind them, "What about you?".
"Me?", the ugly dirty marauder smiled a rotten tooth grin, "I'm gonna grab me a lass".
Both looked at him disgusted, "Really, you actually like the hooligan women?".
"Wah'? don't look at me like that", he shrugged, "Some aren't that ugly". The other two shook off their revulsion and resumed following their captain on the route to the village.
Above, hidden in the overgrown treetops, Hiccup hissed in restrained rage, *Hiccup?*.
'What is it bud?', the teen silently moved through the trees.
*You remember your no 'Head eating' rule?*, Avarice reminded his host about their unspoken agreement.
'Yes, you're not allowed to eat the heads of people, good or bad', Hiccup landed on a branch and watched the outcasts rest at a small clearing.
*Ah, I remember*, Avarice groaned.
'But-', the symbiote perked up when his host began to powerup. The teen swelled in size as symbiotic flesh spread across his form, 'Outcasts were exiled for crimes that jails could not absolve'. The white shiny goo solidified, forming bulging muscles, 'But outcasts are not worthy to be called people'. Avarice crouched down and smiled, letting his tongue slither out, 'So why don't we go down and enjoy ourselves?'.
*Oh, my kind host, you're going to spoil me rotten*, the symbiote sighed.
The captain stood and coughed, "Alright, yeh lazy lot… up on yur' feet". One by one, the outcasts rose.
The fat one put on his helmet, "Oi, you heard the captain pal". He turned around, "we're moving again…", only to find his friend missing. Black mist began to roll in, "Hey boss?", the captain turned to him. "Were we expectin' fog?", the group looked around as the haze encircled them.
"Ah!", many outcasts turned to where they heard the shriek, but find they were missing another fighter.
Thud, they look to another just in time to see him disappear into the fog, "Hey, get back here you!".
Two more raiders scream as they are lifted into the blanketed treetops, "Dragons!". His warning was followed by the sound of weapons being brought out. "Form up men, must be a pack of changewings", the warriors form a circle, "Watch out for acid spray!". One by one, the men are either lifted or tripped and dragged into the fog, "Where are they?!".
The last two get back-to-back, "Captain, what do we do?". The man falls when the captain vanishes, he picks himself up and shakenly holds his rusty sword. Ghostly whispers and moaning echo from the unnatural mist, a twig snapping finally sets him off, "Forget this!". He drops his weapon and shield and sprints back to where he thinks the landing boats were. The haunting murmurs slither into his ears as his heart humps in fear, following him as he desperately tries to flee.
He looks behind him and trips on an exposed root, "Oof!". He gets up but his hurt leg makes him shamble as something dashes from his sight, "Oh gods, oh gods, oh gods". The whispers grow in loudness, becoming deafening as he comes to a stop back at the same clearing. The survivor scans the surrounding fog, "Ahhh!", he feels a hand land on his shoulder.
He relaxes when recognizes the vambrace, "Oh captain, you startled me". He turns to look, only for the arm to fall off his shoulder. The survivor loses his footing and falls to the ground, fearfully muttering as he crawls away from the severed limb. A form appears in the fog, the odd-horned helmet lets him realize they are his friend. "Buddy, is that you?". The figure says nothing, his legs not moving as he draws closer. "P-pal?", the person finally emerges, his head hangs lifeless. White vine-like tentacles coiled around the dead man's throat and waist, stretching from a shadow still hiding in the fog, "What-oh gods-what are you?".
The corpse falls to the ground when the tendrils release him, then a pair of green glowing eyes and toothy maw shine out inside the mist, *Hello*.
Back at Berk
Stoick's temper was becoming more difficult to control, Alvin and his outcast remained relatively quiet. "Leave Alvin!", the chieftain bellowed, "This is your last warning!".
Alvin smiled, "C'mon Stoick, can't we sit down fur' a pint?". The outcast leader looks pass the chieftain and sees another closer flock of birds take to the sky. He turns back to a steaming Stoick, "No? I guess have it your way". Alvin and his men ready themselves, confusing the much larger hooligan party.
Stoick narrowed his eyes, 'Are they mad, we out number them three to one'. He thought earlier, 'Alvin shows up here in only two boats with only a handful of men, how does he think he has a chance?'. 'Unless…', Stoick's eyes widen in surprise, 'It's a trap, and he's the bait?!'. "IT'S A TRICK!", he screams to the rest of the village.
Numerous outcasts march out from the eastern forest edge, "Too late, o' friend". Stoick turns back to Alvin grinning like a madman, "NOW!", he commanded the first half of his arrived army.
"ATTACK!", screamed the mass of outcasts.
Alvin waited for the other group's war cry, "RETREAT!". Both hooligans and outcasts turn to the western forest, seeing few wounded and bleeding raiders running for the docks, "Run, run fur' yur' lives!". An unscathed outcast drops his shield but gets pulled back into the forest by a tentacle.
Alvin catches one his fleeing men, "Where do ya' think yur' goin'?!".
"Sir, you don't understand, there's-", he gets cut off by a man's womanly shrieking. A huge mass bursts from the treetops, boom, and crash-lands on a two-story hut's roof. The retreating raiders stop and turn around, both they and the villagers look up to a towering monstrosity rising from the collapsed roof. Avarice's white glistening muscle bound form was massive, making Stoick's bulk seem like that of a child in comparison. Sharp warped spikes dotted his upper back, the bases started off white before gradually blackening towards their points.
The mountain of a beast held a struggling outcast in its large hand, claws like that of a nadder held his prey firmly, "Boss, help me plea-!". He was lifted while the creature unhinged his toothy maw. "Someone, help m-", chomp, Avarice bit down over the man's head. He torn the remaining body away, blood rained down around his clawed feet and ran down the roof. He tilted his smooth head up and swallowed, a bulge moved down his throat.
He reeled back and launched the headless corpse at the other group of outcasts, *WRRRAAAGGGHHH*, his tongue wriggled wildly as he howled an unearthly bellow towards the sky.
Alvin turned to the other half of his army, "Well, wha' are you lot doin'? Attack!". Avarice followed to where he yelled, then smiled a toothy grin that split his face. He got down on all fours to perch on the damaged roof, waiting for the outcast to move while his long slimy tongue flicked in anticipation. The moment one outcast stepped back, Avarice hissed and bound across the rooftops to them.
The outcast line broke as they ran to escape the man-eating monster. A few fled back into the forest, the rest ran through the village towards the empty boats Alvin used to bait the hooligans. Stoick and the rest of the warriors formed up, not knowing whether the beast will try to attack them as well. They watched as Avarice moved across the roofs in pursuit, occasionally launching out tentacles to reel up outcasts to devour.
After losing a third of their group, the surviving outcasts made it to the dock ramps. Alvin was in the center of the escaping group, using his men as fodder to make sure he made it to the boats. Avarice clawed along the cliff walls while snatching a few more raiders to eat or kill. One outcast tripped and was trampled by the others, he groaned as he lifted himself up. His sight was blurry, trying to make out last of the fleeing raiders reaching their ships. The outcast tried to get to his feet, Thump, but was slammed into the boardwalk after something landed behind him.
Claws dug into his back as he was lifted into the air, then was turned to face Avarice's grinning visage. The wounded outcast gaped like a fish in paralyzing fear, then tried to reach for his knife. Avarice narrowed his glassy eyes, Thump, and smashed his prey into the boardwalk. The man's arms fell limb, Avarice grinned then bit off his head. He turned to the surviving outcast sailing away, tossing the headless body into the water. He breathed in, *WRRRAAAGGGHHH*, and roared at the escaping invaders.
*Argh!*, a ballista bolt pierced through his shoulder.
He turned around, "Hurry, load another!", seeing the warriors working the village emplacements. "Kill it, kill the monster!", hollered another guard, the pair readying ballista to launch another bolt. Avarice grabbed the ballista bolt sticking out from his shoulder and tore it out. He snapped the bolt in his hand as his flesh regenerated, Avarice hissed and ran down the boardwalk. Arrows and ballista bolts trailed after him before he dove into the water, disappearing under the surface.
A trio of guards rushed to the end of the pier, then fired their crossbows into the water. "Well, did you get it?", Stoick hollered down from up on the clifftop.
"No chief", they scanned the water for blood, "Whatever it was must've gotten away".
A little ways from the docks
Splash, Avarice burst from under the water and latched onto the sheer rock face. *The village was saved, not that they deserve it*, the teen and symbiote launched themselves up the face of the cliff, *Ungrateful skinsacks*.
*Easy bud, all that matters is the wellbeing of the tribe*, Avarice reached the top and pulled himself over. *You know I didn't do it because I want to be rewarded*, he shrunk down back to normal as he disengaged his bulky musclebound state, *I did it because it's the right thing to do*.
*How supremely noble, my dear host*, the symbiote snarked, *But we should hurry back before your birther finds you missing*. With that, Avarice takes off into a mad sprint through the forest.
The village docks
"What was that thing?", Hoark asked no one in particular.
"I don't kno'…, but I'm glad it didn't go afta' us", Gobber sighed in relief.
Stoick narrowed his eyes at the bodies Avarice left behind in his wake, 'Such a horrendous beast'. The chieftain's eyes opened wide, 'Wait, where was Hiccup?!', before he takes off running to his home.
"Stoick where ya' goin'?!", Gobber yelled at the fleeing chief before coming to a similar realization, "Oh no, 'iccup!".
Haddock house
Bam, Stoick burst through his front door, knocking a few things down. "Hiccup!", His bellow reverberated through the house. The father heard a faint rustling from his son's room and rushed up the stairs. He throws open the door to Hiccup's room, "Son!".
"Dad", he looks down and sees Hiccup crawl out from under his bed. "What's going on?", Stoick scoops him up in a firm hug, "We heard the horn and hid under my bed like you taught us to".
"I'll explain later, son", Stoick sighed in relief, "I'm just glad you were being smart and safe".
"Of course, dad", the chief put his son down, "What else would we were doing?". In his head, Avarice was stifling his chuckling.
(A/N: Oh Hiccup, such a good liar. Besides, who doesn't mind a bit of head biting eh?)