Sorry for the long wait! I didn't forget about this per se, but every time I would open google docs, I would get sidetracked on something else. Plus all this issue with school going online and Corona, idk, it been a ride.

I wrote this up at 12 at night when I got reminded it has been four months since my last update, which is disgusting. I am sorry. Reminders help, because I get notifications on my phone when you review.

I hope this is ok, if you have suggestions for the future let me know, I am sorry for the long wait, hope you enjoy.

Today is a busy day! I sent Cascabel off to collect some bedding for us while I get around to making a rough pantry, well, maybe the word pantry doesn't measure up. A shelf on the wall might be better. Yea, ok, I am making shelves high up in the wall to store some food for us, far enough off the ground that most critters and bugs should stay off the food, but low enough that Cascabel can still reach it.

Astrid and Queen Mala haven't come back since yesterday, that's fine, I'm sure they are busy or something.

As I carve out the last shelf, making sure to get my talon right in there, Cascabel walks back in with her arms full of moss, she kinda looks like a scavenger when she walks like that, she should stop. She dumps the moss on the floor with a grin before looking up at me, still smiling "I got your bedding first! You like moss right? I can get some more if it is not enough!"

I nod and ruffle her sail with my wing "You certainly got enough! Good job Cascabel, you should get whatever you want for bedding now"

Cascabel beams and wiggles a little before bounding off in the direction of the beach, where I assume she is going to try and collect some sand.

I stop carving out the shelf and start digging through the soft rock to make an oval divet about twice the size of Cascabel. It would be better if she could have a sort of pit for the sand, just so it doesn't get anywhere.

I can't help but grimace at the feeling of my talons slashing through the stone, the stone is soft, almost like butter compared to my talons, but it is still rock and I can feel my claws becoming duller with every swipe.

It doesn't take long for me to finish, and Cascabel soon comes back to the cave, dragging a large sack of some sort that must be filled with sand. She happily dumps the sand in the hole I carved when she spots it.

I point the gray-brown sack "Where did you find that? I can't imagine the scavengers gave that to you"

Cascabel looks confused "Was I supposed to ask them? Oh no!," I can see the panic rising as she sits down "I just found it on the beach, all washed up with some nets! Is everything on the beach the scavengers!? Did I just steal from them!? I don't wanna be a thief! Momma says thieves are no good baddies! Am I a baddy now?"

I quickly move over to her before she starts crying "No, your not a thief Cascabel. I was just wondering, and you can take anything you want from the beach"

She drops her head, relieved "Oh that's good. I didn't want to be a baddy"

And of course, now that all of the drama is over, guess who saunters in? Astrid, of course. Queen Mala is suspiciously absent though as Astrid approaches me and Cascabel with a slightly guilty look on her face, I think, I think it is a guilty look. Their faces are too small.

She pauses for a moment when she sees what changes we have made to the cave since yesterday, but she quickly gets on track "Hey guys. Wow! Look at all this, how did you do this? Anyways, I have something to tell you and you need to promise that you won't go on a rampage or something, ok?"

Cascabel looks confused as I narrow my eyes at Astrid "No promise. Tell me, then we will see"

Astrid sighs "Hiccup and the others got here last night. They know you are on the island"

Cascabel jumps as flare my wings open and snarl "They stay away! Or I hunt them down!" If they try anything, I swear to the three moons I will kill them. Before, I might have just run them off or ignored them, but Cascabel is small and weak compared to me, and they might think she is threat, just like me.

Cascabel puts a talon on my shoulder "What's wrong? What did the blonde scavenger say?"

I clamp my wings shut and try to calm down before responding "Other scavengers that don't like me are here. They think that because I am dangerous, I should be killed or runoff. I don't want them to hurt you, you are just a dragonet"

Cascabel, for the first time, bares her teeth "Well that's dumb! My momma is dangerous too! But she is the best! And if your dangerous, that means your good too! So they are wrong!"

The dragonet's thinking is a little off, but I guess it is the thought that counts?

Astrid puts her hands up "I'm just the messenger, but I don't think anything I say will stop them from coming over here," she puts her hands back down and looks up to meet me in the eye "But I don't think they are going to try and hurt you or Cascabel. If anything, seeing all this," she gestured to the cave "will excite them more then anything. I'm pretty sure Fishlegs will move in" she chuckles a little, but rubs her arm as it dies off.

I run a talon down my snout. If they don't show up, Cascabel will remain a secret from them but I won't get to settle things. If they do show up, Cascabel will be outed to them and she could be put in danger, but I could have a chance to settle things once a for all. I'm not sure.

Cascabel turns away to cover herself in her new sandpit, and Astrid walks outside to mount the not-dragon that had been waiting outside while she talked. Deciding to make the most of my time instead of standing around like a tree, I start to organize the moss into a suitable bed as I think.

I could go to the village to head them off, but I don't want Queen Mala to get any backlash if things go south. I could hunt them down while they search for me and eat them all, but I don't know how not-dragons taste, probably not very good. Decisions decisions.

You know what? To hell with it. If they want a fight, I will give them a fight, and it will be a fight they won't forget if they live to tell about it.