Chapter 14: Talks & Runs with the Beast

This one is going to be a bit longer than some of my other chapters, but think of it as a little something after not hearing from me in a while.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Balto or How to Train your Dragon. They both belong to their respective owners and this is just for fun, NOT for profit.

(Gobber's POV)

A cluster of rickety sleds came within eyesight of Berk around noon. As they came to the edge of town, only a third of the sleds were left of the fleet and each sled held 2-3 people squeezed together with the supplies. When everyone that came off the sleds were either coughing, shuttering, or limping as they helped each other unpack their things and welcome friends and family.

I shuffled though the crowd until I found Stoick rounding up the tail end of sleds still coming in.

"Well, I trust you found the nest at least?" I said grabbing a couple bags from his sled.

"Not even close." He coughed a little.

"Ah. Excellent."

"I hope you had a little more success than me."

"Well, if by success, you mean that your parenting troubles are over with, then... yes."

Stoick grabbed my shoulder. "What does that mean?"

"You see-"

A group of passing villagers cut me off with giving him compliments, such as: "Congratulations Stoick! Everyone is so relieved.", "Out with the old and in with the new, right?!", "No one will miss that old nuisance!", "The village is throwing a party to celebrate!". The amount of confusion on Stoick's stunned face was almost comical as he turned back to me.

"Hiccup's... gone?"

"Yeah...most afternoons. But who can blame him? I mean the life of a celebrity is very rough. He can barely walk through the village without being swarmed by his new fans."

"Really, your joking?" He said with a raised brow.

"Nope. I even found a few people at the Qugax Tanaa looking for him." I chuckled, "Who would've thought, eh? He has this...way with the beasts."

(Hiccup POV)

Toothless and I were sneaking out of the howling stone to go to our usual practice route. After a couple of weeks studying Toothless' anatomy and enough trail & error, I think I finally got a prosthetic down.

"Okay bud, we're gonna take this nice and slow." I padded Toothless neck before I check a leather cheat sheet, clipped onto his harness. "Here we go... starting position." I press the pedal, causing the tail to loosen was sway easier."

We started with a brisk trot, before building up to a sprint. We eventually got into a familiar rhythm, but as soon as I relaxed, we would get clipped by a tree or two. A couple of growls from Toothless straightened me out and made me focus. We couldn't get off track.

Literally.

It's been getting hard to go through the forest with people always looking for me. I wouldn't be seen by anyone so long as we stayed on our route. But with all the malfunctions that veered us off course, we almost came across a someone a couple of times. A little too close for comfort.

Today we were going a little faster than normal. By the time that I realized it, my cheat sheet slipped from the harness. I tried to stop Toothless, but Without the cheat sheet we veered sharply off course and was going too fast for Toothless to hear me. I yanked on his fur to get his attention and we slowed down.

But when we did, we heard other rustling that couldn't be just us.

"Did you hear that?", a guy said.

"Yeah, but that sounded to heave to be Hiccup.",

Damn. It was Ruff & Tuff.

"Let's check it out." Tuff said.

I could hear them getting closer.

"Let's get out of here bud." I whispered before we made a mad dash.

Thanks to paw prosthetic, Toothless can walk & even sprint a little well. But because of his tail, he would subconsciously veer to the side enough to bump into or trip over things. We trying to the control the tail without the cheat sheet didn't help much. Toothless must of had it with me, but we huffed at me to stop. With not being much help, I closed my eyes and tried to think of how to get out of this mess.

That's when I felt something. The slight tilts of Toothless veering.

Tilt... Bump... Tilt... Bump... Tilt.. Bump...Tilt.

I tried lightly adjusting the tail and... not bump.

I kept my eye closed to focus on when Toothless tilted so that I could correct it. It wasn't long before I didn't hear the Twins footsteps anymore. As we slowed down, I saw that Toothless brought us back to the Howling Stone. When we climbed down, and I climbed off this back, gave me a gentle lick with his rough tongue plopped down so that I could take off his harness. When I did, and sat down for a second, he stretched himself out until his head landed on my lap. I scratched his head, making him use a sound that was like a chuff from a tiger or something.

Not bad for our first successful run.

(Later that night)

After getting back to town, I was once again bombarded with people. And it was even worse because the people that just came back from the raid were also asking questions. My only saving grace was when I got to the repair shop, where Gobber shooed them off me.

We had a normal workday filled with jabs and jokes with each other as we worked, until it was closing time and Gobber went to pray before dinner. I stayed in my back office looking over my notes and sketches for Toothless.

To think that I finally fixed Toothless, but he can't run properly unless I ride him... There has to be something more that I can do.

I was so lost in thought, that I didn't see or hear dad come in. As he appeared, I tried to quickly cover up my desk.

"Dad! You're back! He skirts the bench, blocking Stoick's view of Toothless, the prosthetic fin, and other drawings.

"Gobber's not here, so..."

"I know. I came looking for you."

"You did?"

"You've been keeping secrets." My legs give out, knocking some papers off the table and further out of his sight.

"I...have?"

"Just how long did you think you could hide it from me? Nothing happens on this island without me hearing about ... Let's talk... about that wolf."

"The what?" I said as I feel the blood drain from my face.

"You know what. And believe me, it only gets better! Just wait til you spill a Nadder's guts for the first time. And mount your first Gronckle head on a wall. What a feeling!" Dad was shaking with excitement like he was 10 and it was his birthday. "You really had me going there, son. Czar (*1), it was rough. And all the while, you were holding out on me! Oh Lord!" He grabbed a stool and sat. "*clears throat* With you doing so well in the ring, we finally have something to talk about."

He looked at me expectedly and I couldn't help but look elsewhere. When I looked at him again, only for him to adjust in his seat.

"Oh, I... *clears throat* brought you something."

He handed a canvas sack that was tied to his belt. When he handed it to me, I opened it up and saw an aviator's cap that was like the trapper's hat that many people wore during raids and hunting parties. It was made of leather with fur lining, and when picked it up, I feel s few more layers to it (maybe wool?).

"I know that you already have a cap, but this can keep even Jack Frost from nipping ya."

"Wow. Thanks." I said as I smoothed my hand over it."

"Your mother would've wanted you to have it. *clears throat* The bulk of the lining came from one of her insulating bras." I cringed a little. "Said it was lucky, because it was blessed by the spirits." He taped his own trappers cap and smiled. "Matching set. Keeps her close, y' know?"

"Yeah..." I said trying not to grimace.

"Wear it proudly. You deserve it. You've held up your end of the deal. Well...uh...good night."

He leaves the room albeit awkwardly stumbling over couple of racks in the dim light. I turned back at the cap and placed it on my head. As weird as it was, it was comfy and wasn't squeezing my head when I strapped it on. I glance at on mirror in the side of the office and could have sworn that I was yellow eyes or something. When I glanced again, they were gone.

(*1) Czar = Tanam aguuguu = god of the earth. I choose the one-word term as opposed to the two-word term since it would easier for both me and Stoick to remember after a little tip-toeing into Atkan Aleut culture.

Along with school, I might be delayed because of organizing my notes. I've been rearranging a few things but nothing too much to worry about. All I can say is that there's going to be a little of a shift, and hopfully one that you guys will like.

Other Atkan Aleut Translations used:

- Qugax = assistant spirit ; Tanaa = place

Thanks for all those that reviewed, every little bit helps. If you're new to the story, please let me know what you think with a review. Constructive criticism is accepted, but no flames please. And don't be too shy to check out some of my other stories.