Chapter 19: An Unbelievable Encounter

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.

(Hiccup POV)

Toothless' speed, like most wolves were far advanced compared to regular sled dogs. So, it only took a couple days of retracing the Louts' route for Toothless to find the scent trail of their return track. However, like I assumed in my dream, their return track started to diverge from the original route. We were entering a sparse forest when Toothless started to slow his pace to the point that he were barely walking.

"What's wrong Toothless?"

I tried to pet his scruff only for him to shake off my hand and gave a glance that practically screamed "stay alert". Not a second later, he sharply looked around. Even though I didn't hear anything, I was sure we were the only ones in the forest now. When Toothless locked onto something a few meters away, I tried to look for what was causing such a reaction out of them.

Then I saw it. Crouched near a boulder like a shadow, and at first glance looked like a bush, was a black bear. Something as normal as a bear should be simple compared to the wolves that we face on a daily basis. However, it was still the same size as Toothless and there's no guarantee that a disabled wolf and a gangly viking/native boy could match up to a healthy bear.

Realizing that it was spotted, the bear rose from his crouching position to its hind legs. Toothless bared his teeth and I readied my club as the bear towered over us. The bear launched itself at us, but Toothless deflected with a frosty blast. The blast hit the bears left side, but the right was heading for me. Toothless twisted himself so I was flung out the way and his chest getting hit instead of me. Darkening his already black fur with blood, Toothless tried to get back to me, but stumbled without someone to steady his tail.

The bear came between us and made a beeline for me. I raised my club hoping to strike it before it can hit me. But before it could come close to even touch me, a figure came from behind me and latched onto the bear's right shoulder. It was a sled dog, but the young one held firm with a deep bite as he tried to claw it off. Another dog came and latching onto the bear's belly and used it as leverage to also claw at it. The whirlwind of fur and blood was almost too much to really follow it if wasn't for the adrenaline pumping through me.

The bear then slashed the dog on his shoulder and swiped the other dog off his stomach, effectively killing both. When he turned back to me, I barely saw something sharp and shiny before his throat was open and he fell at me feet.

"It would be nice if you saved my ass for a change."

I looked up from the dead behemoth to see my dear friend proudly as standing on the back of the bear with its blood soaking her machete.

"How- But we- And you were- How even?" I stuttered out as I tried to get a hold of what just happened.

I was only brought out of my state of confusion when I heard a distinct growl coming from behind her. Before I realize what, I was doing, I grabbed Astrid and placed her behind me in time before Toothless struck her. I looked between the two as they both glared at each other but didn't dare trying to go around me.

"Toothless, I would appreciate it if you try to not harm one of the few friends I have." Toothless responded with huffed, but still glared.

"Toothless?" Astrid couldn't help but let a chuckle slip. "How can you name a wolf Toothless?"

"It sort of just rolled off the tongue." I commented before turning back to Toothless. "Calm down bud, this is my friend Astrid. Remember me mentioning Astrid?"

Mentioning her name seemed to ease the wolf enough stare between us instead of glaring at just Astrid. In response Astrid eased up as well, lowered her machete, and letting Hiccup sigh in relief.

"Now that everything has settled..." Hiccup turned to Astrid, "What are you doing all the way out here?"

"I can be asking you the same thing." She countered.

"I asked you first." I said maturely

"You really think I wouldn't notice my Agitaadaan up and disappearing?" She said with a raised brow. "I took couple of my sled dogs to track you down and find you about to be killed by a BEAR of all things! ARE YOU TRYING TO STRESS OUT THE PEOPLE THAT CARE ABOUT YOU!" I yelled the last part in distress, making Toothless huff in a chuckling manner. "Now explain why the bloody hell you're all the way out here with a wolf."

"Remember when I shot that wolf?"

"Turns out, it was the Night Fury. However, it was at a cost." I motioned towards Toothless' back leg and tail and Astrid almost gave a look of empathy as she noticed the missing tail and missing foot. "Since I did that to him, I thought I should fix it. As for why we left... I needed his help with something. Remember that dream that I mentioned?"

"The one with you as a sled dog in a raid?"

"Yeah that one, I could have sworn I hear them in that dream. I think it was hinting about the Louts being in trouble. Since they are late with the antitoxin, I decided to go see if my dream was."

Astrid was silent a bit before letting out a sigh. "Alright. Help me with my sled dogs and we'll be on our way."

"What?"

"Isn't it obvious, I'm coming with you."

"Wait you coming with me? Why? In fact, why did you even follow me?"

She grabbed my ear "You really aren't using these things. I couldn't let my Agitaadaan do something so stupid without more backup."

"Hey, let go." I swatted her hand away and letting out a sigh of my own. "I should have guessed it. If anything, I'm surprised that you didn't try to attack Toothless again."

"You know my Uncle told me, 'Our Ancestors used to see the wolves as equals. It was the settlers that couldn't reach the balance of unity, and in turn saw them as the enemy.' I didn't fully believe him on the whole equality thing but seeing the two is starting to prove me wrong.

"Who knows, this whole outbreak could all be blowback from fighting with the wolves instead of working with them." Toothless responded with a huff and nodding his head before brushing my face with his tail.

With that, we cleaned ourselves off, patched up Toothless, and buried the sled dogs. When we turned to the bear, Astrid took a couple of hours to scrape what meat she could, and I cooked it until firm enough for us to store while Toothless finished off the carcass (*1). We hitched Astrid's sled to carry her and her souvenir of the bear's head that was frozen over courtesy of Toothless.

I was this close to titling the chapter "unBEARlievable encounter", but it felt too on the nose. Also, I'm aware convincing Astrid might have been quicker than I intended, but I tried to stretch it out some.

(*1) Even though I never had it before, they saw that bear taste like a sweeter version of venison/deer, is redder & less fatty than beef, and the general texture of pork. And before you wonder, why they're even thinking about using it for food? In the wilderness, nothing goes to waste. They'll be out there who knows how long, and that bear is just pounds of protein that could go to waste.

Other Atkan Aleut Translations used:

(*) Agitaadaan = friend

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