A lone male dhole managed to tightened his jaws around the neck of a wounded deer, killing his quarry within seconds. When he was about to feed, a large piece of meat slumped on the dead deer's side. The dhole tilted his head with visible confusion. He sniffed the recent delivery and wondered how it got there. But hunger drove him to lick and devour it in several bites. Soon after, the dhole saw Tuffnut approaching him leisurely with both hands reached out. The human's presence threatened the canine and prompted him to yap and growl at the intruder. Tuffnut's lips began to let out shushing noises that glided into the dhole's ears. To the dhole, the sound was pacifying and encouraged him to rescind his aggression. The scent that the hands emitted also radiated with compassion and courage. Eventually, the growls became whimpers and the dhole licked the hands and stuck his tongue out when Tuffnut ruffled his amber fur.
"You're a good dhole aren't you boy? You are. You are."
Tuffnut's playful words and interaction brought warmth to his friends who were watching from the shadows of the cedar forest. Tensay chuckled when the wolves walked out to greet the dhole and played around with their newest comrade. The group also used the moment to skin the dead deer before them, knowing that they may need the resources it yielded soon enough. A bee buzzed around Ruffnut's hair and the latter tried to swat the insect away. But when she noticed a beehive on a tree not far from her, an idea shimmered in her mischievous mind.
"Brothers! Sisters! Here comes Tensay and the Beast Masters!"
The newly arrived Wenja woman's announcement surprised every Wenja who were lingering around the cave, Sayla in particular. They walked out to investigate and smiled when she saw her tribe's shaman and her new six friends walking alongside two wolves, a dhole, and an owl that soared down to perch on Hiccup's left arm.
"Sayla!"
"Tensay!"
Hiccup and his group smiled when Sayla and Tensay embraced one another in a hug. It was clear that the two had been friends for a long time. Sayla then fixed her gaze on the people the Wenja named Beast Masters, which filled her mind and heart with exhilaration.
"The animals answer your call," she said. "Soon more Wenja will come to see the Beast Masters. We also need to build a village here so that Wenja can live with us in their new home."
"Yes, yes," added Tensay with enthusiasm. "This place has strong energy. Good land for Wenja. Although, it's missing something…"
"Let me guess, it's missing huts?" Snotlout asked with a rather sarcastic voice.
"Not just huts," answered the shaman. "A sacred shaman hut to heal broken flesh and spirit."
"I'm… not sure if I can argue with that."
"Can't blame your deflation, Snotlout," Fishlegs remarked with a slight hint of mockery in his voice.
Hiccup looked into his bag and knew that he and his friends had gathered resources that they could apply in building a new village for the Wenja. As all six of them exchanged smiles, they turned to their tribesmen who were filled with hope and excitement.
"Where can we start?"
For hours, Hiccup's group and the Wenja worked tirelessly in building huts and tents around the cave. They had plenty of alder wood, slate flints, and reeds, along with skins from animals that they harvested throughout their journey. When the sun was at its peak, Sayla prayed thanks to the spirits for the completion of her new hut that was built near the cave. She wiped the tears of joy from her face as she entered her new home with bags filled with her belongings. Before the sun could set in Oros, Tensay invited several other Wenja to dance in front of his newly constructed hut, chanting and thanking the strength that the spirits gave them. The rising smoke and the glimmering light of campfire did not go unnoticed by other Wenja that were wandering near the village. Hiccup's group and the Wenja waved a welcome to the newcomers as they settled in their new home. Stars shimmered across the night sky as Hiccup and his friends decided to decorate the cave with personal tents for each of them to sleep under and paintings on the walls. Sayla, Tensay, and the other Wenja blessed the Beast Masters' home with flowers and sprinklings of water, praying that it would remain strong.
"It's a start, Hiccup," Astrid stated as she wrapped her left arm around her husband's waist and joined him in seeing the new Wenja village prospering with resonating songs and dances. Fishlegs, Snotlout, and the Twins were dining on roasted bharal meat around a campfire they built before the cave's entrance alongside the wolves and the dhole.
"True, but we can always improve in the future."
"Chief, I think we should try not to think too much about the future and enjoy the present."
Hiccup thought about what Snotlout told him and allowed some burden to drift from his head as his shoulders loosened and relaxed, much to Snotlout's contentment.
"That's the Hiccup I want to see."
Astrid's ears soon caught Fishlegs and the Twins whispering some things to each other, and the trio at times giggled with sheer wittiness.
"You guys want to open up the discussion?"
"We would like to, A," said Tuffnut. "However, it's a surprise."
"Productive or disastrous?" Astrid asked again.
"A bit of both," answered Fishlegs quite nervously. "You will know it when you see it."
The combined suspicion of Hiccup, Astrid, and Snotlout was broken off when Sayla approached the group with a smile on her face.
"More Wenja has come to our village," she announced with joy. "They have come because of you, the Beast Masters. Before all of you came, I was hiding alone. Now, I can walk outside with courage I thought I have lost."
"It's the least we can do, Sayla," assured Ruffnut as she petted the dhole by her side.
"Not to mention Wenja together is strong," Tuffnut proclaimed with pride and a clenched fist.
"Yeah, no one will want to mess with us and our beasts."
Snotlout's boast caused a frown to conquer Sayla, which brought concern to the group.
"I fear that the Udam might attack us soon," she said. "They will see our growing numbers as a threat."
Hiccup took this as a sign to walk to Sayla and placed his hand on her right shoulder.
"We will show the Udam that Wenja cannot and will not break easily."
The guarantee in his voice allowed confidence to return to Sayla, and her growing smile proved that. Astrid beamed at Hiccup's counsel as Fishlegs, Snotlout, and the Twins stood up in support as the dhole and the wolves howled to the stars, promising to overcome any obstacle in their way.
