12. Stupid interruptions
The gang looked at each other confused. The basics? What did that mean?
Storm rolled her eyes. They have been doing that a lot these days. She glanced at Hiccup to see him in a similar situation, she guessed they could allow this once.
"The basics," she said. "What you know about dragons? Their species and specialties, favorite attacks? Where's your dragon hunter friend? He would know a lot about dragons and could help you."
Astrid raised her hand a little, like a little kid wanting to ask a question during a lesson, but she stopped herself. Astrid stepped in front of her friends and looked into Storm's eyes, at least tried to, the helmet didn't help in that regard. Astrid cleared her throat, clearly uncomfortable.
"The chief let him leave. He asked for a bit of food and went around the island and went the opposite way he came. He's gone and I doubt he would like to be here."
Storm face palmed and she heard Hiccup sigh.
"Where is he?" he asked.
"Why do you need to know? Huh?" asked Snotlout in a condescending tone. Storm grew irritated and her posture showed it.
"Where the fuck is your chief?" Hiccup said harshly. Snotlout flinched at his tone, having had forgotten that the pair standing in front of them was, in fact, dangerous. But of course, Snotlout was idiotic at his best days, so he was prepared to give them a piece of his mind when Storm was suddenly in front of him silencing him with a wave of her hand. He couldn't believe it, he was Berk's best viking, according to him alone, so how did these two foreigners think they had any power over him –
"I'm here, what seems to be the problem?" Stoick interrupted his attempt at 'heroism'. Berk's chief was on the platforms overlooking the academy. Storm huffed in clear irritation and turned to the chief.
"Are you an idiot, Stoick?" she questioned. Berk's chief bristled, offended.
"What? Who do you think you are to insult me? You two are – "
"Asking a question." Hiccup stated, cutting him off.
"We are not the ones who let a person, who works for the fucking enemy, leave, just like that. He might have owed you a life debt, but he repaid it the moment he stopped talking and he never promised not to report what he saw here to Drago. He could go back and tell him to launch an attack and you could be wiped out in three weeks." Storm stopped raging, breathing deeply. She was angry at Berk's chief's stupidity. They asked for help, yet they already put their plan at risk by letting an informant go.
She started grumbling under her breath, while Hiccup looked at the chief who was red with either rage or shame. Stoick was about to start shouting for his men to go find Eret, because as much as he didn't want to admit it, the 'demon' was right. Eret repaid his debt and hadn't promised anything. The male 'demon's' voice stopped him.
"Don't bother," he said. "Which direction did he leave in?" Shocked, Stoick pointed north, the question of why they needed the direction on the tip of his tongue when the woman answered his unasked question.
"I'll go get him," she sighed. "You stay, find out what our trainees know about the common dragons. I'll be back in less than an hour. Good luck Chief!" she shouted walking out of the arena and into the woods. She left the people confused, why would she wish luck to Stoick? Hiccup snorted as he noticed the confused looks on some of the people.
"Okay!" he exclaimed rubbing his hands together. "You heard the woman! Let's get started."
Meanwhile Storm made her way to the camp and was greeted by the two dragons. The dragons were calmer after the other night full of fun. She gave both of them some attention and explained to Toothless why Hiccup wasn't with her and she sent him to the woods bordering the village, so that if Hiccup yelled for him Toothless would hear him without a problem.
She mounted Shadow, taking her helmet off for the moment, and took off north. She flew for about twenty minutes when she spotted the lone ship in the middle of the ocean. She put on her helmet before quickly approaching it. The ship's only passenger was on the deck, looking ahead, Storm smirked and pressed herself down onto Shadow to minimize the wind resistance. She didn't bother being quiet. She almost laughed at the startled look on Eret's face.
"Get on," she gestured to Shadow.
"Wh-what?" He asked, scared. Storm crossed her arms and regretted that her helmet didn't let him see the glare she was giving him.
"We're going back to Berk. Get on or you're making the trip in Shadow's claws." Seeing him about to protest she continued, not giving him any chance to do so. "We're going back and that's not negotiable."
Eret was scared and confused. Why did she want him back at Berk? He gave them what they wanted, he repaid his debt, he gave up the life he built to repay it. Stoick had saved him from death a long time ago, he gave Eret a chance at life and Eret abandoned that life to give every chance for Berk's survival. Then why, when all he wanted was to run as far away as he could from Drago and start a new life again, a life without bloodshed, did she want to take him back to Berk of all places?
"Listen Eret, I called you smart once and I'd have trouble calling you smart again if you don't understand how you leaving is an issue. You work for Drago, you are a dragon hunter. For all we know right now you're going straight to Drago to report on the conditions in Berk, on the fact that that the 'Dragon demons' he despises are on Berk – "
"I would never do such a thing!" Eret shouted, her word's offending him. Shadow growled, not appreciating his rider getting interrupted, Eret took a step back remembering that that was in fact a dragon who could end him with a simple signal from his rider.
"But we don't know that," she persisted unfazed by the interruption or Shadow's hostile behavior. "How long will it take for Drago to send men after you? He doesn't like people trying to leave his side without his say-so. How long will it take for you to be found, brought to Drago and tortured? How long will it take for you to break and tell him everything, life debts be damned!?" Her voice trailed off to a harsh whisper he could still hear clearly, "We both know that you won't die for Berk when you have nothing and no one there, you would spill everything for a chance for survival and I'm not taking that chance. I'm not letting your foolish hopes, of living a normal life with Drago on the loose, to take my only family."
She held her head high staring at him. He knew that he had no choice but to go back to Berk, it was truly foolish to hope to be free while he was branded as Drago's. But maybe, just maybe, he could somehow help Berk. Maybe he could help the 'Dragon demons' put an end to Drago and then he could live the life he wanted.
