Hello. In the last two chapters, I received a ton of reviews, and I am very happy thanks to that. And the reasons that this chapter still took a long time are nothing but RL combined with a personal problem, a problem often referred to as "lack of skill".
Lastly, someone asked if this story will include Astrid and Hiccup's kids. Answer: yes, though not for some time yet.
One week ago, the discovery that boiling water did not make it permanently disappear had shaken the island. An excellent tavern had been closed for an entire week and this was the reward? The Berserkers were furious over the fact that the discovery concerned water as opposed to alcohol.
It may be because of these protests that the Eret and Helga prepared the God Enrager for another trip. The hidden world's dragons seemed a lot more peaceful than the angry vikings.
And luckily for them, there had been plenty of customers. The reason was that the children had, despite uncountable complaints, thoroughly enjoyed the trip, and spread the rumor. There seemed to be something that dragons had that simply fascinated small human children. Possibly even adults.
However, after seeing the claw marks on the deck, the owner of the ship had been reluctant to once more rent out the vessel. It had taken Eret and Helga hard work and heavy negotiations to get him to listen to them. But one kilogram of gold accidentally dropped on the owner's left toe had been impossible to ignore. And more than paid for the subsequent healing of the foot.
One day, they will wreck my beautiful ship, thought the owner as he looked on at the two loading up his boat from his new rocking chair. In particular, a large and strange clay contraption that he couldn't quite put a finger on was being pushed onto the deck. He couldn't prove it for sure, but the nagging feeling in his mind was clearer than ever. With those two, the God Enrager's life would be abruptly cut short. Still. He took a break from sipping mead out of his new cup to examine his new dagger while trying to ignore the new pain in his old toe. The fine golden threads along the handle reflected just slightly less light than the bright red gem at its end. In the end, he decided, some things were just worth it. He was ready to risk the vessel. For science, of course.
As for what the clay contraption was? The machine was nothing more or less than the pinnacle of the week's research, and essentially a bigger, much more efficient version of the contraption that had been built the day after their return to the island. In it, a fire warmed a separate chamber for the water vapour which was later picked up and subsequently cooled back into a liquid. And unlike the earlier machine, this one converted more than just a few drops out of several liters. But what was really interesting was the fact that it seemingly cleaned the water. In particular, saltwater was converted into something drinkable. Vikingkind had never before observed this phenomenon.
Other civilizations had often (and quite truthfully) called them primitive. But the vikings knew strong arguments, and the people criticizing them always found it difficult to continue doing so. And to survive.
In short, this revolution of the not-to-be-called-primitive vikingkind meant that it was no longer necessary to carry loads of heavy freshwater for each journey. Now, all you needed was this machine and loads of heavy firewood.
Eret, son of Eret, scratched his head. "I still don't see the practicality in this."
"It actually makes slightly more water than the firewood it uses.", argued Helga as she walked back to the pier to load more supplies. "And besides, the main advantage isn't the weight reduction. It's the flexibility. There will always be something to burn on a wooden ship.", she stated confidently.
Eret looked at the wooden ship that they were about to sail with considerable worry. It was true, he could think of a few uses but… It was like burning your bridges, yet worse.
The journey was already dangerous enough as it was. Why should anyone want to make it more risky, he thought as he loaded the childrens' daggers. Of course, these daggers were smaller than the adult version, as that would be far too unwieldy for the children, and ultimately, too dangerous. "Can you promise me that I won't wake up finding a big chunk of wood burning?", he deplored.
But his wife noodded reassuringly. "Of course.", she said while pecking his cheek, making Eret sighed in relief. "You will be woken up by the sound of the axe anyways." The relief disappeared.
The woman rolled her eyes. "Honestly, if you are so afraid of fires, you shouldn't sail towards the land of dragons in the first place."
The larger viking frowned as he started loading more supplies. He didn't really feel like talking. "I didn't want to sail there in the first place…", he rumbled. This was all her idea, and though he had grown to like it…
Big Eret found his wife's arms wrapping around him, and though she couldn't see it, smiled. "Thank you. I know this isn't easy for you.", said his wife.
The ex-dragon trapped finally relaxed. And with that came the implications of her words. "Are you suggesting that dealing with dragons is hard for me? I am fully capable of taking care of those fierce, angry and terrifying beasts.", he clarified stubbornly. Helga smiled at his words, until the viking decided to put his luck a little too far. "That is why I am with you."
The arms wrapped around his waist squeezed harder, almost painfully, and the fingernails started to poke against his sides. "Say that again and I'll make you feel my dragon claws.", threatened Helga playfully.
Eret quickly apologized. "You are right. You are nothing like a dragon. A yak would be a better fit…"
News of a fully-grown viking trying to run from a bulky, yet surprisingly fast woman would soon spread to the entire island.
At the same time, yet in a very different place, the alpha shook his head. "I don't care if it is violating your privacy. You are not allowed to fire a plasma blast at your brother's eye, even if he accidentally walked in the tunnel you were in."
"I was… distracted. And he startled me!", complained Pouncer. "It was just a reflex, there was nothing I could have done differently."
The night fury seemed unimpressed. His mate, even more so. "Was continuing by firing at his nose, wing leading edge, tail and other eye also a reflex?", she asked.
Pouncer gave a very exaggerated roll of his eyes."You don't get it, do you?", he said exasperatedly. Sometimes, he felt like the only sensible being in a world of idiots.
"I understand that you got angry at your brother. But you are becoming an adult.", said the night fury firmly. "And adults act mature, and do not resort to violence just because someone annoys them…" Toothless halted himself as he noticed how his son was not paying attention to his presence in the slightest. "Are you listening to me?"
But this turned out to not be the case, as the nighlight's attention had been taken by an approaching light fury. However, not a light fury that Pouncer knew. This one was a lot larger, and seemed a lot less friendly.
"Alpha! Your mate threatened to kill me!", stated the newcomer bluntly.
Pouncer cast a teasing grin at him. "Adults act mature, you said?"
The alpha had the sudden desire to vaporize into particles too little to be seen. "Shut up. But we will continue this session as soon as the statement becomes true again.", he said quietly. The nightlight flew away snickering.
Light seemed affronted. "I never threatened you Lemon!", she barked defensively.
Toothless' mate had told him about Lemon, and about how she wished to see the dragon rotting in the bottom of a pit. However, he couldn't really ignore the accusation, not when an inhabitant of his realm had what could be a serious concern. Toothless observed closely as the other light fury rolled her eyes. "Really? Do you deny saying that the non-violence rule was the only thing keeping you from murdering me?"
Light seemed outraged. "That is not a threat! That is a statement."
The night fury closed in on her. "Now I see who Dart took from.", he whispered in his beloved's ear, making the dragon roll her eyes.
"Alpha! Please do something about this outrageous dragon!", asked a furious Lemon.
At this, Toothless shook his head. "Light did not harm anyone, and neither did you.", he explained. "Threat or not, it's not forbidden. Noone will be punished. Not yet." Thinking of it, letting everyone threaten each other how they wanted was… But it felt natural.
"She is a traitor to her kind, a menace to our lifestyle.", protested the other dragon. "Even if you don't want to punish her, she is not worthy of being your mate!"
Light froze. "Oh.", she whispered silently.
"Oh.", noted Toothless, just as silent. His claws rumbled within their sheats.
Seemingly satisfied with their silence, Lemon decided that it would be a good idea to continue. "You know that it is true. She and the abominations of her children are causing chaos, and people are turning against you, alpha.", she spat out venomously. "And your apparent obsession with humans isn't helping either."
At this point, the night fury looked at his mate in the eyes. And with the security that only two who had been mates for twenty years had, he understood all the light fury's marevelous and complex thoughts from just those two raging, yet so, so beautiful eyes.
The thoughts seemed to be a rough proposal to open Lemon's throat. Toothless didn't really reject it.
"Go on.", he asked.
With the go-ahead, Lemon continued her statement. "What I, a proper light fury am doing, is giving you a chance. The humans are causing chaos, and if they arrive one more time, you should chase them away. And if that doesn't work…" She gestured the movements of snapping someone's neck.
Both Toothless and his mate were now very silent. "Anything more?"
"Yes. And it has to do with her.", spat out the increasingly suicidal light fury. "You should leave them, find someone better and don't let their negative influence hurt you in your role as an alpha. And after that…"
"Don't you dare say one more word!", he roared, his patience finally gone. "Not when you call her children, my children, abominations or ask me to kill the innocents that are our only hope to ever leave this hole!"
"You know that it is true!", said the light fury defensively. And that was one more word. The night fury and his mate looked at each other and nodded calmly, yet determined.
"Tell me, Lemon, are you good at flying?", asked the alpha.
The large light fury tilted her head. "Why are you asking?"
The words 'because me and my mate are going to chase you until the end of the world with extended claws and teeth' were never actually spoken, and instead subtly implied in Toothless and Light's actions. In summary, for the next half-hour, the three dragons found themselves very occupied.
Ruffrunner was lying onto a warm stone in a peaceful part of the hidden world, partly sleeping and partly eyeing a nearby stream for something interesting. He then felt paw gently patting his side. The nightlight responded by a simple purr. He was grateful for the patter's manners, but didn't really want to leave his heavenly position.
"Would you please get up?", asked Dart kindly, attempting a diplomatic approach for once. "I want to explore that cavern where Laura lives, and I want you to guide me there."
Hearing his sister's voice immediately made the situation more tense."Why don't you ask Pouncer?", pleaded the nightlight.
"I don't Pouncer.", explained the blue-eyed dragon.
Ruffrunner rumbled. "Don't like, don't want to see or don't stand Pouncer?"
Dart nodded. "Yes."
"As much as I agree with you…", Ruffrunner, pointed at himself using his tail, with particular emphasis being put on just how comfortable his position was. "…for the moment, I am very busy. So how about another time?"
Dart thought about the situation. Sure, the diplomatic approach that she had chosen had failed. However, attempting it hadn't really cost her anything. So talking was perhaps not such an useless concept, she reasoned. After all, even if the talks failed, there were always more options.
"Uhhh… what are you…", "Hey!" and "Hey!" said Ruffrunner as his sister's pressed against his side, aggressively pushed him away from his resting spot and shoved him right into the water of the stream, respectively.
He opened his eyes and found himself face to face with a small trout calmly swam by, and he could swear that the animal's gaze was mocking him.
Ruffrunner rose out of the stream and wandered back to a rather impatient Dart. "Fine, I am coming.", he stated sadly. The nightlight then had a better idea. He spread his wings. "Catch me if you can."
Dart was lighter and more experienced in flying than her brother.
Too bad that this race was a fifteen kilometer vertical dive, a track where none of that mattered. As relaxing as dives were, what really pushed one downwards was weight, and her brother's twelve hour naps didn't really do much to reduce it.
Ruffrunner threw a quick glance backwards and gladly noted that his sister was fifty meters behind him, and kept getting further. "Would you mind hurrying up?", he teased before facing forwards again, being forced to squint against the heavy airstream. However, as Dart roared "I will end you!" he still managed to roll his eyes. This was going to be a fun one.
A near collision with a strange trio consisting of a light fury being chased by a second light fury and a night fury was easily avoided with the flick of a wingtip. The rocky walls of the cavern streaked by in the corners of his eyes. The humid air felt like a liquid as the nightlight screamed through it, making it feel like he was constantly entering head first into the ocean. But luckily for the nightlight, he was a hybrid between a night fury and a light fury. Every part of his body, from the wings to the paws to the tailfins, was retracted and hugging against his center to minimize drag. In other words, he was made for speed.
And with his sister now far behind, the nightlight could now put his plan into action. His wings spread slowly, starting the high speed turn. From there, he swooped into the underground ravine, surveying the sea of dragons. Now, as the dragon behind him had still not entered the ravine, he fired and flew through a plasma blast, before swiftly disappearing among the crowd. And although many dragons complained at the sudden invisible obstacle, Dart flew overhead without seeing him.
"I won't miss you", he whispered at the passing dragon as his camouflage started to wear off. The nightlight found himself snickering. He was smart.
The nightlight then found himself not snickering but rather yelping as he was roughly knocked on his side and dragged/carried among the crowd into a narrow crevasse by some unidentified, yet very aggressive dragon.
Dart looked from side to side while surveying the cavern. "Where did you go?", she barked angrily.
After a few more seconds, she had reached what seemed to be the end of the tunnel (literally). Here, the underground ravine narrowed down into an opening that was almost too small for a terror, much less her. The dragon then reluctantly turned around, all the while muttering her opinion on that excuse of a brother. "You lazy taker of space…"
Ruffrunner was feeling very cramped in the narrow cave. He had countless bruises from being carried with seemingly no concern to his well being. And lastly, it was almost completely dark, save from some light coming from the ravine, light that the dragon who had captured him almost blocked by standing in front of it. In short, Ruffrunner was considerably angry at this dragon.
"Have you got any idea of who I am?!", asked Ruffrunner to the captor. The captor, a young, male monstrous nightmare with orange scales just chuckled. The dragon reminded the nightlight of those stupid males who ever so often decided to challenge his father, and get miserably humiltiated.
"There aren't many black green-eyed dragons here.", said the monstrous nightmare maliciously.
The nightlight couldn't argue with that statement, so he decided to say something simpler. "I hate you!"
With a fast and precise movement, the monstrous nightmare's talon, a claw almost as large as the nigtlight's entire paw, was poking Ruffrunner chin. The nightlight's eyes widened, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. "You claim to be good at fighting. But is that true when we are in a narrow tunnel, I am many times larger than you and you have no idea on how many dragons are behind me, ready to join the fight?", said the monstrous nightmare venomously. "Will you do as I say?"
Ruffrunner gulped and nodded, or anyway, as much as was possible with a claw on his neck.
After a few more minutes of fruitless searching, Dart proceeded to once more roar her opinion. "It's always like that! He thinks that just because he's the alpha's son he can just get away with everything, and then proceeds to annoy everyone."
"I am the alpha's son. And if you don't release me immediately, he will come down here and make you wish you had stayed in your shell.", said Ruffrunner with a shaky voice, the claw still ready to end his life.
He sighed in relief when the claw was removed. The monstrous nightmare, on the other hand, seemed everything but relieved. "You are the alpha's son?" he repeated. The dragon shook his head nervously. "Wait here. Don't leave." He then trotted out.
Ruffrunner was very perplexed. Apparently, the captor considered having asked the hostage to not leave a sufficient precaution. "Such professionalism…", said Ruffrunner, who was now a little calmer. The steps from the orange dragon seemed to halt for a moment at the comment.
Now with a few precious moments of calm, Ruffrunner collected himself to prepare for his next move. He examined his surroundings. And it was a surprisingly normal cave with dark, rocky walls. The inconcessant sounds of the ravine were still there, meaning that he couldn't have been carried too far. Which made sense, as the entire transport had taken mere seconds. But on how to leave… The orange dragon had asked him not to leave. But Ruffrunner decided that if it came to it, he was ready to break that order.
His incredibly complex line of thought was interrupted by an angry voice from outside. "There are literally two black green-eyed dragons in this entire bloody hole and you still managed to pick the wrong one?!"
"Yes but…", answered another voice, one that Ruffrunner recognized as the captor.
There was a sound that was surprisingly similar to Dart smacking Pouncer with her tail, and the angry voice let itself be heard again. "And now you just left him there and hoped that he wouldn't do anything?! You are such an…" Ruffrunner had hated his captor. But after the angry words, for a short moment he felt a sting of sympathy for him.
Moments later, the orange dragon returned, seemingly embarrassed. He didn't dare to meet the nightlight's eyes. "Well this is annoying…"