Setting off
The sun was setting very fast. Stoick walked through the village, watching villagers carrying weapons, baskets, supplies, sheep, and chickens. The journey to Kumandra would be long and require exceptional amounts of supplies. And the battles they would fight required specific ammo.
He saw Gobber pushing a catapult towards the docks with the aid of two farmers, a hefty one: Mulch, a bucket-hatted one Bucket. "That's the final catapult!" Mulch called over to their chief.
"Well done!" cheered Stoick. "Get it loaded onto the ship!". Astrid appeared beside him. "How are all the weaponry?"
"All done. All stored in the weapons storage hold on the main ships," she announced.
"Well done. I knew you could do it, Astrid,"
"Thanks, chief," she said. "Stoick, might I ask you something?"
"Of course,"
"Why did you not want to mention what happened to Hiccup to the other chiefs?"
Stoick sighed and turned his head slightly. "Some memories are just too much to bear in front of other people. And I couldn't bear to talk about her and have our people bear the shame," As he lamented, Astrid heard the breaking tip of his tone. "No matter how much I hate how he betrayed us for a dragon, a part of him still wishes he was here with us," Astrid pursed his lips and patted his arm. "He was my only child after all. The only reminder I had left of Valka. I feel like I've failed them both Astrid,"
"You could never fail anyone chief," Astrid consulted. She offered him a hug and he accepted it. He felt so embarrassed being comforted by a girl nearly thirty years young than him but Astrid didn't mind one bit.
As they pulled apart, Astrid wiped away her tears and cleared her throat. "I'm going to the prison to see if I can get any information out of the prisoner,"
"Good idea Astrid," Stoick pulled himself together. "If she still doesn't respond, we might let the hunters use their firmer tactics,"
Astrid cringed a little. When they allied with the hunters, she felt a little sick to death at the thought of working with aggressive, bloodthirsty men. But she knew in her heart that she and Stoick had to do what was best for their tribe. She nodded and made her way again. Stoick walked towards his lonely hut overlooking the village and entered inside. When he wandered inside, all he heard were the dying crackles of a fire. The house of wooden chairs, tables and furniture had no life within it. No one else to house except himself. The only time when it ever felt alive was when Astrid, her parents and Gobber would very occasionally dine with him.
On a table was a small dragon toy. Hiccup's. He walked over and picked it up tenderly and touched the small dragon's face. But as he did, he suddenly saw Hiccup's face. Desperate, scared. A sword tip pulled out from his chest. Stoick gasped and dropped the toy. What he saw in his head had haunted him for years. 'Traitor' or no traitor, Hiccup was still his son. When he pierced him with his blade as he selflessly protected the dragon he had bonded with, he felt as if he had just destroyed a part of himself that day. He sat down and let out all his buried emotions into his bulky but quivering palms.
Astrid approached the well-guarded prison fort on the far side of the village. The guards allowed her to pass and she walked to a cell at the far end of the hallway of strong-cemented bricks. She peered through the bars and saw Namaari, chained to the wall. Namaari raised her head and glared at her. The guard at the cell opened the door and Astrid entered before the lock clicked locked behind her. She eyed the prisoner dangerously. "I suggest you talk if you don't want to deal with the Dragon Hunters. They'll perform firmer tactics on you if you don't talk,"
Namaari glared at her coldly. "Let them do their worse. I beg you,"
Ignoring her defiance and demand, Astrid knelt before her. "What kinds of dragons do you have?" Namaari kept quiet. "What is the artillery force of your land? Who leads your people? Is it the Dragon Conquerors?"
Namaari had a hunch she knew exactly where they were. Like with every question, she remained as stubborn as a mule. Astrid pulled out a piece of paper behind her back and hung it clearly in front of Namaari. "Do you know this man?" Namaari stared at the paper. She saw a young man with short busy hair and a fringe. He was the younger version of a certain teen whose reluctant trust he had given to her so they could fix the world. She said nothing. No did she shake, 'no' or nod 'yes' with her head.
Astrid huffed. "Look. I'm trying to help you. As much as I going to work with these hunters to eradicate the beasts that have harmed our villages, I hate the way they treat their prisoners. I can help you if you just answer my questions,"
"I'll die first before I help anyone who dares to threaten my home. However powerful you all think you are, every dragon there will wipe you and your fleet out to splinters. And their leaders will show you no mercy if you attack their homes," Namaari's courage surprised Astrid but she remained frustrated with her stubbornness.
The sound of loud chains clanging against each other made Astrid turn to see Ryker approaching the cell. She eyed Namaari dangerously. "I gave you every chance to save yourself. Don't blame me when they treat you like a beast,"
"The only beasts here are people like all of you," spat out Namaari. "The real monsters of this world are men and women with no purpose than to attack innocent creatures,"
"You tried your best Astrid," said Ryker intolerantly. "But now it's my turn," he shoved her aside as he and his hunters entered the cell. Astrid glared at him as he arrogantly smirked. She watched Namaari being manacled behind her hands before being forced onto her feet and shoved out. Not before she gave Astrid a tense glance before she was taken out of the prison.
The sky had turned dark and the moon was high with only the twinkling stars as its company. Astrid made her way back to her house where she saw her parents awaiting her with baskets. She twirled her axe and then strapped her basket to her back. "Ready guys?"
"Ready," her father answered.
"We are so proud of you Astrid," praised her mother who cupped her cheek. "Is Chief Stoick ready?"
"He should be. He's just going through an emotional period," she explained. "The sooner we get to this Kumandra and win the fight, the sooner we can avoid ever crossing the path of these arrogant men," she cringed, remembering that big-headed Ryker smirking at her like a show-off.
"You're doing a great cause working with them to ensure our people's safety," her father reminded her. "The whole village knows that,"
The three walked quietly through the village, passing my mothers and children who would stay behind till their return many months later. They waved a remorseful goodbye and walked slowly down to the docks. Stoick, Gobber, Spitelout and the other teens awaited them. And so did Drago and the Grimborn brothers. "The prisoner is secure on the lead ship," said Viggo. "My men will get through to her,"
"Just don't kill her," Astrid spoke quickly. "We need her alive. And if she has family there, we could use her as leverage,"
"We shall see," Ryker crossed his arms. Astrid's hand curled into a fist but Gobber eyed her carefully. She held back.
They boarded the main ship and within minutes, the main and largest ship of their naval army left the harbour and sailed out to the sea. Stock and Astrid looked back at saw Berk, their home disappearing behind them. After they sailed between two tall Viking statues standing out of the ocean, they joined the fleet of 700 ships. There were 400 giant hunter ships with double sails. Then 150 Viking ships with the symbol of a Skrill dragon: the Berserkers, and 150 with the insignia of a Viking head with a helmet: the Outcasts.
Stoick saw on the main ship, a bulky man with shaggy black hair and a matching beard. Alvin the chief glared up coldly at him and they glared back, grudges of the past curling their fingers and reddening their faces. Gobber gently touched Stoick's shoulder and he backed away. He saw Alvin's body turn till he saw his cold shoulder.
Astrid walked to the lower deck of the ship and went to the face of the ship, staring out into the great dark blue. The moon's reflection shone on the surface at the line between sky and sea, like a beacon trying to lead the fleet to where they sought to go.
Astrid sat down around a small fire in a railed fire stove. Fishlegs and the twins joined her. "How are you guys feeling?"
"Apart from the fact we're working with an army of not-so-nice looking guys, just great," answered Fishlegs, a little fearfully. "But I am so excited to be seeing new dragons there,"
"Uh, we're going to kill dragons. Not study them," reminded Ruffnut, breaking the mood.
"Come on. It never hurts to study new species," Fishlegs loved studying new species. He would take any opportunity so ecstatically that he despised anyone trying to ruin his perfect mood.
"No. It doesn't," Astrid agreed.
Fishlegs noticed something about her. "Astrid, what's up?"
"I can't stop thinking about that prisoner," she said. "Where I showed her a picture of Hiccup, she didn't answer. But I have a feeling she's seen him,"
"Really? We're talking about that traitor?!" moaned Tuffnut.
"Guys, what if Hiccup is one of those conquerors?" she wondered. "No dragon would have ever trusted a human if it wasn't someone who could communicate with them? Or could connect with them?"
"That's a good point," Fishlegs said. "What if it's true? How do you think Stoick's gonna react?"
Astrid hung her face. "I don't know,"
"If anything, that no-good Viking has to be killed. Let me show him," Tuffnut punched his fist.
"Tuffnut, it doesn't work that way," Astrid reminded. "Stoick will decide what happens to him. Besides, we don't know for sure he's one of them. We need to scout Kumandra first we make a strike,"
"She's right guys. We don't know anything about these people. We need to study them before we provoke an attack," agreed Fishlegs. "Does anyone ever think Hiccup? What life would have been like if he had killed that dragon?"
"Well for certain, Astrid wouldn't be the heir," said Ruffnut. "And he would have ruined his dad's life,"
"But don't you guys ever feel guilty?" Astrid suddenly spoke up. "About the way you…we all treated him," she couldn't deny her part in how miserable Hiccup's life was on Berk. She remembered how she had lashed out at Hiccup for 'getting' in her way in training when actually all he was trying to do was help.
"You know…I think I do," admitted Fishlegs. He was always so scared to stand up for Hiccup because he didn't want to become another victim of Snotlout and the twins' constant bullying.
"Why would we feel guilty?" asked Tuffnut. "It was fun to pick on him!"
"It was fun to laugh about him! And make fun of him!" his twin joined in, high-fiving him.
"He didn't ask to be born the way he was," stated Fishlegs with full confidence. "Just like he wasn't asked to get put into training. Maybe he wouldn't have developed his insecurities and felt so apart from us if we treated him better. All he wanted to do was help us but…we never respected him because we just didn't think to look past what was on the outside,"
His words made Ruffnut and Tuffnut's enjoyment fade away. They shared guilty expressions, finally realising the cruelty their actions had taken on the chief's long-forgotten son.
"I was so afraid of what people would think of me if I kept being friends with him," lamented Astrid. "All I cared about was my family's honour and I put that before our friendship,"
Fishlegs tried to say something to comfort her, but someone pushed him by his bulbous round with large cheeks and he fell off his seat before it was taken over.
"Thank you Fishface," mocked Snotlout.
"Snotlout, go find your own seat," ordered Astrid.
"The future chief doesn't take orders,"
Astrid growled. "You are not the future chief of Berk!"
"I should be chief. I'm stronger. I'm faster!"
"And more arrogant and conceiting and caring only about yourself," complained Fishlegs who stood up. "Stoick chose Astrid because unlike you she cares about other people instead of her pride. And she's smarter, braver, and more skilled,"
Snotlout punched him in the face but Astrid stood up and punched him harder.
They heard a pair of clapping hands. They turned to see a teen chief heading their way, wearing the crest of the Berserkers on his belt buckle. His helmet had long horns and a three-line strike of paint marked his eye.
"Oh no," groaned Fishlegs.
"Hello my favourite Berkians," Dagur the Deranged greeted.
Snotlout saw him and quickly stood up, wiping his nose clean. "Hey Dagur!" he swooped in front of Astrid, much to her annoyance. "You are like my hero. You are so cool,"
"So, you're the future chief?"
"That's right. I…"
"I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to her," Dagur shoved Snotlout aside.
"Go away Dagur," Astrid crossed her arms.
"Is this how you greet a chief?" he feigned being hurt.
"You call yourself a chief…but you don't act like one," she crossed her arms. "Shouldn't you be talking with Stoick and the others?"
"No one tells me what to do," he childishly retorted. He noticed Fishlegs, flinching in his presence. "I remember you. Remember all those cod-heads I fed you,"
Fishlegs retched in his mouth.
"Leave him alone Dagur," Astrid stood in front of him. Before Dagur could retort again, she poked a stone finger right under his chin. "And don't think about challenging me to another fight by attacking me out of nowhere,"
Dagur tried to say something but Ruffnut spoke up first. "You got you there Daggy!"
Dagur growled at her. "Maybe she's doing that because she's jealous that I'm a better warrior!"
Astrid fumed and tried to walk away.
"Looks the future chieftess is a coward," mocked Snotlout, not letting Dagur have all the fun.
Astrid stopped. She clenched her fist. "Fine," she turned around. "Dagur, I challenge you to a duel. No weapons. Fists only. If I win, you leave me and my friends alone,"
"Deal. And if I win, which I will…" he boasted. "You tell everyone I'm a better fighter,"
"Astrid don't!" begged Fishlegs but Astrid had already nodded.
The four teens stood on the sidelines watching Astrid and Dagur standing five meters apart with their backs turned. "Stand up!" Ruffnut called up. The two opponents stood up. "Turn around!" they faced each other, holding up their fists with different facial expressions. Dagur had a mocking face. Astrid had a determined expression. "Fight!"
Dagur launched at her with a punch. But she rolled aside and then kicked him back a bit. He growled. He tried to punch again but Astrid deflected his punch with a kick; he cried out in pain. "Giving up?" she mocked.
"Not quite yet," Dagur pulled out a secret sword.
"That's cheating!" defined Fishlegs. Dagur swiped at Astrid but she backflipped out of the way. She tried to kick at him but his sword swiping would brutally wound her. All she could do was duck and dodge. He forced her towards the wooden rails of the ship. "Woah!" she nearly fell backwards.
"Looks like I'm gonna win," Dagur did a downward swipe but Astrid quickly ducked and the blade edged in the wood, stuck.
With the advantage, she kicked him down and grabbed his sword. Before he could get up, she kneed him in the stomach and held the blade to his chin. "Looks like I win, cheater. Now you keep your word and leave us alone," she stood up and the aggravated Dagur stood up, snatched his sword and stalked off.
"Well done Astrid," Fishlegs clapped, joined by twins.
"That was great fighting Astrid," Stoick's voice spoke suddenly.
The teens turned to see Stoick approaching them; he had watched them. Astrid felt stupid. "You fought very well. But what a chief doesn't do is their pride sway them into doing something very reckless,"
"Chief, I only did the challenge so Dagur would leave us alone," Astrid tried to say. She realised she had to be truthful. "And I just wanted to show Snotlout that I wasn't a coward,"
"No matter what reason you have, you cannot act very recklessly," advised Stoick carefully.
"I'll think next time," Astrid promised.
Stoick forgave her with a nod. He looked out to sea.
"Chief, how you feel this is gonna go?" Astrid asked.
Stoick sighed. "I don't know. I just hope that once this is done, we can all find peace,"
In her cell, Namaari shackled to the floor, staring out to the flowing sea through the small cell window carved in the wood. Beams of white moonlight shot through the opening, bringing light at last. She had never felt more sacred than in her entire life. All her captors were sailing to Kumandra, to capture and kill every single dragon until they were all dead. And every human who dared to fight against them would be captured like her. Or worse killed. All that fear she had held back from Astrid's threats couldn't be contained any longer. Clanging made her heart jump. She saw Ryker entering the cell. He looked down at her cruelly. "Come on. We've got work to do,"
That's another chapter done. I hope you all enjoyed it. So they're heading to Kumandra. That's not good. How will Hiccup react? How will they react? See you all soon.