It was nice to see my story has some readers, thank you for checking it out everyone. A big welcome back to Draco38; I forget, were you the reader from Italy? (I suppose with the name Draco, you could be from Hogwarts – what a dreadful joke... but it's what I do)
Hope you all like this next bit, and there will be more next week :)
Chapter 2
Back at the village, and unaware of what was happening off the coast of Berk, Ruffnut and Fishlegs had picked up a small pack containing a few basic supplies and were about to leave for their walk. The two friends did not get very far however, before a loud commotion began behind them as Chief Stoick the Vast burst from his house with his son following close behind him, and Gobber the Belch bringing up the rear.
"But Dad, you can't do this!"Hiccup exclaimed.
"I'm the chief; so not only can I do this, I must to protect the village" the large man replied.
Before Fishlegs knew what was happening, Ruffnut had grabbed his sleeve and dragged the half stunned young man around the side of the closest building.
"Ruffnut..." he whispered "we shouldn't be..."
"Shh; I want to listen" she said, slapping her hand over Fishlegs' mouth.
"But the Winter Wolf has never hurt anyone" Hiccup protested.
"The lad does have a point Chief" Gobber agreed.
"Maybe so, but I'm going to make sure it never does hurt anyone" Stoick insisted.
The Winter Wolf was an anomaly on the island of Berk. It had first appeared a few years ago and was only ever seen around the time of Snoggletog. It was bigger than any of the other wolves on the island and was the only one to be seen regularly near the village, often high on the hill overlooking the town.
"Dad... please... let me go alone and take care of it" Hiccup begged.
"You must be joking son!" Stoick plainly stated "You've grown strong but I wouldn't send anyone out to face that beast alone, and with all the dragons leaving..."
A light seemed to come on in Stoick's eyes.
"That's it!" the chief exclaimed "The Winter Wolf only comes at Snoggletog because the dragons are gone; there's the proof it's up to no good."
"No Dad, it's not the lack of dragons..."
"How do you know Hiccup?" Stoick looked at his son accusingly "Is there something you're not telling me? You know more about this Winter Wolf than you're letting on, don't you?"
"Me?! Nah!" Hiccup laughed off the suggestion, giving credence to Stoick's suspicions.
"Well if you can't give me any solid reason not to, Gobber and I are going to hunt down that creature so I can sleep well knowing our children and animals are safe."
"Seems like an odd thing to say considering all the dragons normally running around here, with their sharp fangs and fiery breath" Gobber noted.
"You more than anyone know how hard it was for me to trust the dragons at first" Stoick snorted.
"Then give me a chance to show you that you're wrong about the Winter Wolf, just as you were wrong about the dragons" Hiccup begged.
Stoick stopped in his tracks as memories flooded his mind of how he had treated his son back when the boy had first befriended a dragon; it was a memory he was not proud of.
"You've got till lunch time to give me something... anything that will give me reason to put off the hunt. If you can, we'll talk some more about what can be done to ensure every safely; but if not..."
"I know, the hunt is on" Hiccup realised "Thanks for giving me a chance Dad."
"I still can't believe I'm letting you meet this beast alone... now go before I change my mind.
Taking the offered opportunity, the young man ran off towards the hills, his metal leg squeaking in the cold air.
"I must be mad Gobber" Stoick sighed.
"No Chief; you're right to be nervous, I am too. But we both know how good Hiccup is with beasties most men would run from in fear. You were also right to trust him.
"Well... that was entertaining" Ruffnut said quietly to Fishlegs "I was sure the Chief was gonna blow his top for moment there."
"Can we go now?" Fishlegs asked impatiently.
"Of course we can" Ruffnut grinned "The excitement is over for now."
Walking out of the village, Fishlegs felt emotionally pulled in two directions. He was pleased to have Ruffnut with him as he walked, but he wished she would stop talking for a while; or at least let him join in occasionally.
"...and you should have heard Hiccup interrogating poor Gustav. Anyone would think Dragon Hunter Snoggletog Raids on the nesting grounds was a common occurrence, but how many times has it happened?"
"Erm..." Fishlegs took the opportunity to speak, but wasn't fast enough.
"None, zip, zero, zilch! In fact the weirdest thing I've ever seen on Dragon Island at this time of year, was when me, Astrid and Heather were there a few years ago, and that wizard from another dimension dropped in."
"Yes, I remember hearing the story when you..."
"Wow! When Astrid and Toothless disappeared though that dimensional vortex, Heather and I thought we'd never see them again. I was so glad when they eventually came back."
"Yes we all were..." Fishlegs tried again.
"And then the wolf appeared" Ruffnut continued "I wonder if it came through the vortex as well?"
"I doubt it but you never can..."
"Now I'm wondering if we do need to hunt it down after all. Because if it did come from another dimension, who know what it is capable of. I mean Hiccup is right when he says the Winter Wolf has never hurt anyone, but with the dragons away... hey; look where we are!"
Fishlegs smiled to himself. The way Ruffnuts focus could so easily be broken by something different reminded him of playing with dragon hatchlings; show them a new toy, and the one currently being chewed to oblivion is soon dropped and forgotten.
"This is the beach where Tuffnut and I played one of our best jokes ever" Ruffnut squealed with delight "When Heathers dragon went off to Dragon Island for Snoggletog, we managed to convince her that Windshear had flown away because Heather had insulted her. By Thor's toe nails, that was a fun year."
"I remember" Fishlegs nodded.
"You should; you were the one who caught us and tied us to a tree in revenge" Ruffnut replied.
"Are you... mad t me for doing that?" Fishlegs asked nervously.
"Mad? Of course not; those kinds of tricks are what my brother and I are all about. At least... we used to be. Tuffnut has changed; he doesn't seem interested in being a troublemaker anymore. Now he says he's matured."
Ruffnut grimaced at the word matured, making her look like she had just sucked on a particularly tart piece of citrus.
"To be honest Ruffnut, I think you have matured a bit as well" Fishlegs admitted
"Are you trying to insult me?" Ruffnut smirked "If you are, you're not doing a very good job of it. Why not mention my aroma... or my chin..."
"I'm not trying to insult you" Fishlegs objected "I'm trying to say I... admire you; I... like you."
"I like you too Fishle... oh... you mean... you LIKE me."
"Erm... yes."
"Wow!"
"I-I understand if you d-don't feel the same way..." Fishlegs stammered.
"No no, it's not that, it's just that... I thought you and Heather..."
"Heather and I had a little talk last Snoggletog, and we decided that our paths were leading in different directions."
"Last Snoggletog? You mean to say you've been on the market for a whole year and you didn't tell me?" Ruffnut gasped.
"On the... market?" Fishlegs wondered.
"You know; free as a bird, available, ripe for pickin'."
"I um... get the idea" Fishlegs nodded.
"And you'd like to get yourself... some of this?" Ruffnut winked, shaking her hips.
"What?! No... I mean... well..."
"Relax Fishy, I know you are an honourable guy" Ruffnut laughed "But I'm sure if you give me the chance, I'm sure I can turn you into something a little more... dishonourable."
Fishlegs swallowed hard, making a clichéd audible gulping sound.
"W-w-wa-what... do you mean?"
"I' saying if rumours aren't going around the village within a week of us become a couple, I'm doing something wrong!"
The look of terror in Fishlegs' eyes grew and grew, until Ruffnut could take it no longer. Not only did she burst out laughing again, but her legs gave way and she sank to her knees.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... but the look on your face... priceless" Ruffnut was laughing so hard, she was finding it hard to breathe.
It took poor Fishlegs a moment or two to realise he had been the victim of a Thorston prank, but eventually his heart rate began to drop down to a more normal level.
"Does this mean... you don't really want to... be my girlfriend?"
Getting back up to her feet, Ruffnut smiled sweetly.
"Love me, love my weird sense of humour" she said, leant forward and kissed Fishlegs' nose.
"That's the deal is it?" he asked.
"Yup; that's the deal" Ruffnut nodded.
"Sold!" Fishlegs declared.
He held out his hand to seal the deal but Ruffnut was having none of that as she leapt into her new boyfriend's arms, throwing her own arms around his neck.
"Kiss me, you mad impetuous fool" she demanded and he obliged.
As the couple indulged in each other, both were surprised to hear a substantial creaking sound.
"I'm not too heavy for you am I?" Ruffnut asked.
"It wasn't me" Fishlegs shrugged.
They heard the sound again and turning towards it. Both were surprised to see a trio of longships moving through the surf and making their way inevitably towards the beach.
"By Odin's beard!" Fishlegs exclaimed.
As soon as the bows of the ships made shore, a large force of men leapt over the side and assembled half way up the beach.
"Landing on a remote spot like this, they must be up to no good" Ruffnut noted as she dropped back down onto her feet.
"My guess would be a pirate raiding party" Fishlegs deduced "And it might be my imagination, but I think that crusty looking pirate standing with the captain looks familiar."
"So does the sheep standing behind them" Ruffnut added.
"There's only the two of us here to face them, so we'd better come up with a plan."
"Don't worry my sweet Fishy, I know exactly what to do; you hot foot it back to the Village and raise the alarm while I stay hidden and observe in which direction they go."
"Are you sure that's what we should do?" Fishlegs asked.
"Very sure; it's what Hiccup instructed Gustav to do if he encountered Dragon Hunters" Ruffnut assuredly replied.
"Wow... beautiful and smart!" Fishlegs smiled "Keep low and good luck."
"You too" Ruffnut agreed as she move into a good observation position.
The young woman watched intently as the leader of the pirates laid out his plans to his considerable force; she was determined to stay alert and not to let her tribe down.
"Maybe I am starting to mature" she said to herself, and the thought made her feel quite ill.
And so the plot thickens.
I just want to say a quick hello to Stripesicles222 (hope you enjoy) and I'll be back soon.
Marty and Boo Cat.