Bog Burglars, just like Berkians, had their hands full. Most importantly, they had to prepare the ships for the upcoming winter. Absolutely everything had to be washed with fresh water, dried and stored properly, every removable element disassembled. There were sails to stitch up and rust to scrub off. With smaller vessels, a well-organized crew was enough to get everything done, but the big ones required cooperation of multiple crews. Needless to say, it was a hectic period for the tribe.
It was precisely in the middle of the general commotion that a gigantic dragon landed in the middle of the village square.
As Bog Burglars dropped brushes in favor of items with more battle power, a mysterious figure hopped off the dragon. She took off her horned helmet, revealing a pale face equipped with auburn hair and sharp eyes, reminiscent of those of a wild cat, that shone with determination.
"I am looking for Big-Boobied Bertha," announced the stranger. "Somebody better go and fetch her, cause I don't have the whole day."
She spoke with a tone of authority, scanning the surroundings with the kind of perception that sends shivers down one's spine. The women tensed, keeping a firm hold of their respective weapons, stealing anxious glances at the majestic giant accompanying the uninvited guest. The dragon was truly impressive, with two sets of wings and one set of long horns that formed a crown over his flat, owl-like face. It was hard to tell which of the pair was scarier.
A couple of tense-filled seconds later, a bull of a woman made her way through the crowd. Ground seemed to be shaking with her every step, sending vibrations that pushed all fear out of her comrades. She was obviously a prominent figure. She had strong, thick limbs, and breasts the size of watermelons and hardness of cannon balls. However, her most striking feature were the piercing blue eyes, which she set firmly on the intruder.
"I am Big-Boobied Bertha," she proclaimed. "And I am giving you exactly two seconds to explain what the hell you're doing on my island." she added, placing her hands on her hips.
The mysterious newcomer answered her quickly, but in a calm manner.
"Greetings, Big-Boobied Bertha. I am Valka of Berk," she said, offering a slight bow to the Bog Burglar chief.
Big-Boobied Bertha's eyebrows swung up. "No shit," she blurted. "Valka? The Dragon Whisperer?"
"That's me," nodded Valka. "And this is Cloudjumper," she indicated the dragon, who blinked his eyes and opened his jaws slightly, just barely showing his impressive teeth.
The chief considered the two of them with hardly contained awe. "Wow," she mouthed, nodding to herself, possibly comparing her guests with the mental representations she's carved of them based on rumors. From the looks of it, what she saw bore little resemblance to what she had expected to see, but the fact pleased her rather than disappointed. Her expression was altering between analytical and intrigued, eyes darting back and forth between the dragon and the rider. Finally, she addressed the latter with a wide grin.
"Not gonna lie, I was looking forward to meeting you," she admitted, coming closer to Valka. "Though I didn't count on you sharing the sentiment. Why else would you be leaving Berk when my representation is visiting?"
There was no trace of accusation, nor suspicion in the question. Still, it could be deducted from the gleam in Big-Boobied Bertha's eyes that she refused to accept a gifted horse without examining its teeth. Even if said horse happened to have four wings, and she kept on stealing seemingly nonchalant gazes at him – almost like a young boy who'd just begun to notice the feminine charms.
"Funny you should mention that," responded Valka, maintaining the air of relaxed confidence. "It is because of your representation that I came here. You see, we were arguing the advantages of dragons versus ships, and there were some who doubted Cloudjumper's speed. I have decided to fly to the Bog Isles and back to prove them wrong. And to prove that I really reached the Bog Isles, I had my son Hiccup write this letter to your daughter Camicazi," she pulled out a roll of parchment secured with a piece of string. "I'd like her to read it and produce a reply."
Big-Boobied Bertha smirked in amusement. "I see. Hey, Cami!" she yelled out loud. "A letter for ya!"
A few seconds later a child sprung from the crowd. The girl was small – much smaller than Valka had expected – and very slim. She had to be about 13 years old, but looked no more than 10. She had a wild mess of blond hair and amazingly blue eyes, about the only trait she shared with her enormous mother. Also, she showed absolutely no fear of Cloudjumper.
"I'm Camicazi," said the girl. "You may ask me for an autograph later."
Valka couldn't help but chuckle. Hiccup did say his Bog Burglar friend was full of herself. "Nice to meet you, Camicazi. I am Valka."
The two shook hands and the older gave the younger the roll. "Please, go somewhere private and answer this letter. You may write on this piece of parchment. I'll wait for you here."
"No problem. Just don't die until I get back."
"I'll do my best."
Camicazi darted off at blinding speed, clutching the letter in her hand. Whether she was fueled by eagerness to get the job done, or curiosity of what Hiccup had written, Valka couldn't tell. Still, she had to admit she was intrigued by the girl. Surely enough Camicazi witnessed the whole scene and had enough time to get over the initial shock, but the level of confidence she exhibited in front of the Stormcutter was still rather impressing. One could think she interacted with dragons on daily basis.
"She may not look like it, but she can fend for herself," Big-Boobied Bertha spoke up, beaming with pride. "You wouldn't want to be stand at the sharp end of her sword. The girl's got some killer footwork, and she can slice faster than a bee can sting. You don't see such talent every generation."
Valka nodded in acknowledgement. There was something heartwarming in the way this powerful woman spoke of her undersized child. "My son thinks the world of her."
The chief grinned. "I'm not surprised. My Cami is pretty damn amazing," After a moment of consideration, she added: "And how's Hiccup? Heard he's had a quite nasty injury."
"That's true," confirmed Valka. "He had his leg broken by dragon trappers. But he's been working hard to rebuild his strength. Also, he's been working on his upper body. He's made incredible progress with the bow."
"Really? That's good to hear."
Following this blank statement, the two mothers locked eyes, and for a moment neither of them spoke. Finally, Valka donned a light smile and lifted her arms in mock defeat.
"Okay. Let's not dance around the subject. I know you want to know about the dragons. As much as I'd love to have a lengthy discussion on the matter, now simply isn't the time. Bloodybee and her crew will give you a detailed report once they get back from Berk, and I intend to address all of our allies during the Great Thing next Spring. For now, I suppose I can give you a glimpse of my plans."
"I'm all ears."
While the chief did a good job playing it cool, Valka still caught the aggressive glint in her eyes. The observation pleased her, perhaps more than it should. Nonetheless, she kept her tone casual and her posture relaxed.
"You see, I am in charge of training the Dragon Riders. In my advanced class, there are four boys and two girls. Not the most fortunate combination, don't you think?"
"Oh, definitely," Big-Boobied Bertha nodded all too eagerly.
"So, I was thinking of taking a couple of Bog Burglar girls under my wing. Training them alongside the young Berkians. I have grown quite fond of Bloodybee's daughter Avalanche, and I can't help but be impressed by your Camicazi. I'd love to have them as my students."
The revelation twisted the Bog Burglar's face into a combination of amusement, disbelief, and excitement. "No shit. Does Stoick know about this?" she asked, the challenge evident in every syllable.
Valka shook her head. "Nope," she admitted with disarming honesty. "But we've agreed that all matters regarding dragons are mine to deal with, so I'm not going to worry about what he has to say. If he has objections, well, let's say I can be pretty damn convincing when I want to," she added in a conspiratorial tone, throwing in a wink.
Big-Boobied Bertha looked at her speculatively. Then she snorted. Then she broke into a gale of hysterical laughter.
"Hah! I like you, Valka, I really do!" she said, tapping the smaller woman on the shoulder. "You and I are gonna get along splendid, for sure!"
The declaration produced immediate cheers from the crowd at large. The women clapped, joy brightening their features. Valka smiled sheepishly, discretely massaging the spot Big-Boobied Bertha pat. Even through her shoulder pads, the impact was quite impressive.
Suddenly, the Dragon Whisperer found herself pulled by the chief's muscular arm.
"A little suggestion, though," Big-Boobied Bertha grinned. "A woman as awesome as yourself should not be limiting herself to just two extra students. I insist you take at least four. Of course, not many can compare to my Cami, but this island's full of the finest damn girls you could find. Am I right, people?"
The crowd erupted with "Yeah!"
Valka skillfully freed herself from the host's grasp and strategically neared herself to Cloudjumper. Having her face crushed against another woman's bosom was not something she was comfortable with. Many men were said to have lost their lives between those boobies, and she could totally see why.
Having caught a quick breath, she forced herself to reassume the role and put on a brave face.
"Oh, I'm sure that's true," she said amicably. "I'll have you know, however, that my standards are rather peculiar. I am, after all, the Dragon Whisperer. My knowledge and experience are absolutely priceless. I'm sure you understand."
"But of course," assured Big-Boobied Bertha. "I won't be selling you a cat in a sack. Come Spring and the Thing, we shall have some inter-tribal games. I guarantee, once you see my girls in action, you're gonna want them all!"
She spoke with unyielding certainty and a fair dose of pride, while the villagers nodded and flashed their widest smiles.
"Fair enough," agreed Valka. "I'll have my hands full assisting Stoick, I'm afraid, but I'll be sure to spare your girls a look."
Big-Boobied Bertha seemed happy with the arrangement. "We ain't asking for nothing more. You start looking and we'll make sure you don't stop."
Once again, the crowd cheered in support of their chief. The host and the guest smiled at each other, acknowledging that a deal has been made. The air was full of satisfaction and hopes for the future.
It was in this gay atmosphere that Camicazi returned, beaming as she handed Valka the letter.
"See you soon," she told the Dragon Whisperer as she was leaving.
"I sure hope so," replied Valka, all too happy.
(…)
Away from the danger zone known as the Bog Isles, Valka collapsed to the ground, releasing the breath she didn't realize she was holding. Her head was buzzing and her throat clenching, making her feel like she was about to throw up her very stomach. She was only beginning to realize what she managed to achieve, and more importantly – how. She landed in the middle of the Bog Burglar's village and plain out demanded to see their chief. She withstood that monster woman's gaze and engaged her in a conversation that could be deemed fairly normal. She could even risk the thesis that Big-Boobied Bertha liked her.
Amazing. Plain and simply – amazing.
She couldn't believe she managed to pull this off. Considering how socially awkward she was, it was a miracle in itself that her confidence didn't evaporate the moment she took of her helmet. Alas, this was a mission she could not afford to fail. And so she had put herself through intense mental training. Since her usual self was perfectly useless against the Bog Burglars – a fact which she had learned the hard way – the Dragon Whisperer had to examine her recent experiences, see past the embarrassment and squeeze out as many advantages as possible. Following this train of thought, she chose to imitate Bloodybee. To copy her gestures, stance and speech. To act like the kind of woman whom Big-Boobied Bertha trusted to command a crew of over 20 people. This was Valka's strategy, and though it wasn't one of her best ones, it proved to be effective.
Still, it was only the tip of an iceberg.
(…)
The letter Valka gave Camicazi read as follows:
Dear Camicazi
I lied. This is my letter, not Hiccup's. But it is for Hiccup's sake that I wrote it.
I am looking for a former Hairy Hooligan named Diarrhea the Dirty. She was Stoick's housekeeper and an important figure in Hiccup's life. I would like to bring her back home for Snoggletog, her and her son.
Yes, I know Rhea has a son. And I know who his father is. I am certain beyond a shade of doubt. The man in question will most certainly acknowledge his son and provide for him, if Rhea gives him a chance.
Let me assure you, I have no intention of pressuring Rhea into returning. I am going to present her with a possibility – hold the door open for her, so to say. Whether she walks through it or not is her choice, and I swear to Hiccup's life I am going to respect it. But she needs to know that the possibility IS there.
I know you are probably bound by honor not to reveal Rhea's whereabouts. I know she is a friend of your Tribe and Bog Burglars do not sell out their comrades. If you refuse to help me, I will just look for clues elsewhere. With dragons on my side, I will find Rhea and her son eventually. But not in time for Snoggletog. So please, help me reach the woman whom my family owes so much.
Yours faithfully
Valka
To which Camicazi produced the following reply:
Dear Valka
Some nerve you got, deceiving the Great Camicazi, in front of her entire Tribe no less. I like that ^_^
Now, admirable as your feat was, it's by no means worthy of the reward you ask for. You must be silly to think otherwise ^_^
But you perked my interest, Valka. And I think I may be inclined to help you. Not for free, of course. I have a reputation to maintain ^_^
Meet me tonight at the Temple of Freya, so we could talk like uncivilized people. As a sign of good will, you may bring a barrel of honey from the bees of Berserk. I've always wanted to try it ^_^
Yours faithfully
Camicazi the Great
(…)
Valka nodded to herself, folding the parchment in her hands. The real negotiations were yet to come.
(...)
The Temple of Freya was located on Nordland – the largest of the Bog Isles. Situated on a hill, it had a lovely view of the main harbor and the village to the East. More importantly, it neighbored a forest to the South, which allowed Cloudjumper to remain relatively near his human as she ventured to get the business done.
Upon entering, the Dragon Whisperer noted the building looked impressive, but nowhere near as solid as the Berkian Meade Hall – which was carved well into a mountain. However, the wooden construction blended well with the landscape, and was pleasing for the eye.
Inside, a towering statue of Freya dominated the view. It appeared that the goddess had been depicted in the nude, and later adorned with real fabrics and accessories. Devoted practitioners have clad her in a full armor, along with a richly decorated scabbard that housed an impressive sword. On closer inspection, these items had runic patterns, possibly made with golden wires. The shiniest of all elements had to be the necklace, enormous, loaded with precious jewels. On top of that, the statue stood in a real chariot, which was surrounded by about a dozen of stuffed cats.
Only the best for the Goddess of fertility, love and beauty.
Valka had a lot of time to admire the temple. Camicazi had not given her the exact time of their meeting. "Tonight." could mean anytime between sundown and sunrise. Around midnight seemed most fitting, but it could be argued the village would be deserted enough for Camicazi to sneak out unnoticed an hour prior. Valka doubted the girl would be willing to wait for her, so she arrived at the scene way earlier than the reason dictated. In preparation for the upcoming meeting, she offered a prayer to Freya – for the success of her mission and forgiveness for the minor blasphemy said success required.
(…)
The Bog Burglar heiress arrived about an hour after midnight. She was wearing a black suit and a cocky grin.
"You came," she remarked.
"Are you surprised?" asked Valka, as she examined her host's attire. A rope around her shoulder, a dagger at her calf, a sabre at her hip, and likely some more weapons stocked in the hidden pockets of her suit. The girl clearly liked to put on airs, and carried herself with the relaxed confidence befitting a future chief.
"I could have told my mother, you know. There could be half of our Tribe waiting outside to ambush you," teased the little blonde, pointing at the temple's entrance.
"I doubt it," said Valka firmly. "For one, a common cleaner like Rhea is not worth this much hustle. Also, you wouldn't give up on the opportunity to solve this all by yourself."
Camicazi shrugged in mock defeat. "True enough," She glanced around before turning to her guest again. "Where's your dragon?"
"Somewhere safe. But I can summon him at any moment," replied Valka, resting one hand at the staff she carried on her back and sending a dangerously sharp gaze at the young heiress.
Camicazi was not impressed. "I see," she said simply.
The Dragon Whisperer decided to get to the point. "Are you going to help me?"
"What makes you think I have the information you need?" asked the little blonde, way more pleased with herself than it should be allowed.
Valka kept her calm and voiced the answer she had practiced beforehand. "This island is the first place a lone woman heads for after leaving her tribe. Rhea had to have come here at some point. It's common sense."
Camicazi shrugged. "I would've been too young to remember that."
"You wouldn't be saying that if didn't know when exactly that happened."
Camicazi nodded approvingly. "Good. You've passed the intelligence test. You may actually be worth my time."
Valka eyed the girl dangerously. The little blonde snickered.
"What, you thought I was gonna make it easy for you? Not a chance," her eyes shone with excitement as she started to circle her guest. Valka tensed up as the girl moved with sophisticated grace, casually launching a verbal assault. "For your information, I don't think you're all that awesome. You've been hiding from the world for longer than I've been alive. All this time you could have stopped the dragon war, but you didn't. Not until Hiccup dragged you out of your cozy cave. If you're the Dragon Whisperer, then he is the Dragon Whisperer Whisperer. And that, sweetie, is very uncool."
Another grin flew Valka's way, interwoven with a dash of contempt and a fair deal of pity.
"But then, I suppose you're well aware of the fact. After all, you've chosen to negotiate with me rather than my mother. A formidable warrior like her is way out of your league, but with a child like myself you may remain in control, that's what you thought. Well, sorry, but I saw right through you. Feel free to clap and swoon."
As Camicazi finished her insolent performance, Valka eyed her dangerously. She caught herself gritting her teeth, and immediately called upon her muscles to relax. She would not fall as low as to let a child's nonsense affect her.
"Alright, you've had your five minutes, but that's it," she told the girl firmly. "I don't care what you think of me, I just want information. If you are going to help me, then speak up, otherwise there is no point for us to be having this conversation."
Much to her despair, Camicazi seemed amused. "Uh, easy there, oh honorable guest. It's not like this temple's on fire."
"Where is Diarrhea?"
"Oh, I'll tell you, no worries. But first you need to answer some questions. I can't reveal such valuable information to just anybody, you see."
Valka took a deep breath. It was becoming increasingly difficult to tolerate the Bog heiress's smug tone, but she was determined not to resort to extremes unless absolutely necessary. She had a load more negotiations to look forward to in the near future, so best she could do was treat this one as a learning experience. "Fair enough," she conceded.
Camicazi nodded, practically bursting with complacency. "So, who's the father?"
"If Rhea wanted you to know, she'd told you."
"Then how come you know?"
A justified question, for which Valka had a carefully thought-of answer. "I've done my investigation. That's all you need to know."
Camicazi looked intrigued. "Interesting. Why were you running an investigation in first place? What has Rhea done to you?"
"Nothing," said Valka, with all the casualty she could muster. "She took care of my son. I just want to return the favor."
Her calm demeanor did nothing to impress the Bog heiress. "No offence, but your reasoning doesn't convince me," decided Camicazi. "Rhea was a housekeeper, looking after Hiccup was her job. You have no reasons to be grateful to her. Besides, you've abandoned him when he was a baby. Not that I'm judging you, but the facts don't exactly support the story you're trying to sell me."
All valid points, some perhaps more than others. The funny thing was, having her devotion to her son questioned did not hurt Valka as much as it usually did. Perhaps she was getting better at handling critique, or its impact was reduced by the deliverer's young age. Likely both. Either way, she was exasperated rather than hurt.
"There is no point in me explaining this to you," she said in the girl's general direction, shaking her head. "Unless you have had children of your own, you will never understand what it means to be a mother. To love somebody so much you'd do anything to give them a better life than you have had. Even if it means never seeing them again."
Camicazi pondered on it for a moment. "You're right. I don't understand," she admitted, though it was rather obvious the fact bother her all that much. "You adults just love to complicate things."
Valka sighed. "Look, I am well aware of what I've done. I left my family, betrayed my tribe, and turned my back on the Viking world. I am not going to deny it, but neither am I going to explain myself to somebody who wasn't even born when I made this choice. This isn't about me, anyway. So, for the last time: where is Diarrhea?"
She did hope these words conveyed her annoyance and firm resolve to get this over with. She's given her host enough consideration and leniency.
Camicazi, however, seemed reluctant to end the game.
"One last question, then," she proposed. "If I don't tell you, what are you going to do?"
Valka sighed. She will have to resort to extremes after all.
"I suppose, if I can't bring my son's beloved housekeeper home for Snoggletog, I will have to produce a different gift. I was thinking about that shield your people stole from ours those many generations ago."
Camicazi snorted. "Hah! You've no idea where it is!"
Valka smiled innocently. "Last time I checked, it was safely secured to my dragon's harness."
For the first time since they entered the temple, Camicazi's smile dropped.
Valka was almost ashamed to admit, but wiping that smug smirk off that child's face felt amazing.
Big-Boobied Bertha's daughter was lost for words, which terrified her no less than the possibility of Valka's statement being true. "You're bluffing," she blurted.
The Dragon Whisperer chuckled. It was time for her to reap the fruits of the last days' painstaking preparations, and boy, was she going to enjoy it.
"Learn this lesson, and learn it well, lass: do not enter into negotiations with anybody unless you have gained an advantage over them. Just as I did," she told Camicazi, a sense of superiority washing over her. So much she took the liberty of mimicking the girl's earlier behavior and started to circle her as she delivered the crushing speech.
"See, before I even appeared in front of your mother, Cloudjumper and I sought a Bog Burglar ship and snatched one of the crewmates. A big, tough-looking one, that appeared to be the captain. We dropped her on some remote rock formation and asked a couple of questions. She wouldn't talk right away – not that I expected her to – so I had Cloudjumper pick her up, take her high into the air, release her, and catch her right before she hit the water. The poor darling crapped her pants and swore to tell me everything I wanted to know, as long as I let her go. I suppose no training ever could have prepared her for this sort of torture."
Those were some intense moments, Valka had to admit. A truly composed warrior might have connected the dots and identified her as the Dragon Whisperer of Berk. Fortunately, there were still Bog Burglars who hadn't heard of her glorious return. That, or the element of surprise worked in her favor and her victim's brain malfunctioned. Either way, the gamble paid off. Thinking about it now, she couldn't help swelling with pride.
"I could have asked her where to look for Rhea," she said in Camicazi's general direction, "but I decided a random Bog Burglar had a higher chance of knowing where to look for the famous shield than a travelling cleaner, so this is what I inquired. My victim claimed it was in Freya's chariot. She stood by this even when I threatened to incarnate her if the shield wasn't there. Same is true for the two Bogs I questioned afterwards, to be extra sure. Not the safest location possible, but it made sense. Only the best for the goddess of fertility, love, and beauty. I have thus landed in this very location last night and took the liberty to take the shield before appearing in front of your mother the following morning. So, as you see, I have all along had a little something up my sleeve. Feel free to clap and swoon."
Satisfied with herself, the Dragon Whisperer stood with hands on her hips and looked at her young victim. Camicazi was still as a pillar of salt, and her expression so shocked it almost looked comical. Valka smirked, admiring the effect of her efforts. The child stared at her for a long, long while, but she didn't mind the wait. The picture was well worth engraving in her memory.
Finally, Camicazi moved. A smile curled up her lip. Then she snorted. Then she broke into a fit of hysterical laughter.
"Girl, you've got me good," she managed through giggles. "Very, very good. Oh wow."
After a brief pause, in which she caught her breath, she met the older woman's eyes with happy tears in her own. Therein Valka caught a glimpse of something that clearly wasn't there before. Genuine respect.
She knew now she's won this duel, and potentially a valuable ally.
Having gotten the hold of herself, Camicazi spoke up. This time, she sounded perfectly serious.
"Somewhere in the Peacables lives a farmer by the name of Sigurd. Rhea stayed with him the last two Winters, and was going to spend this year's Winter as well. I can't bet my head on it, but that's your best shot."
Valka's heart skipped a beat. Peacables! That was so close to Berk! If Rhea really is there, they will definitely make it back on time for Snoggletog.
'IF' being the key word.
"How do I know you're not making this up?" Valka asked her informant. She might have impressed the girl, but it was safer to remain cautious.
Camicazi waved her hand dismissively. "Relax. I was going to help you all along. Somebody put up a good word for you, and that means more to me than whatever happened here tonight."
She then pulled out a piece of parchment from one of her hidden pockets and begun to read from it.
"I was shocked. I didn't know whether I should be angry, sad, happy, or something totally else. It's not every day you find out your mother, who's supposed to be dead, is some kind of half-savage hermit-vigilante who speaks Dragonese. It's not at all easy to take in. Still, I was curious of her. She explained to me why she was away, and I understood. We have a great relationship now, as if those 14 years didn't happen. Getting to know her, bond with her, realizing I'm just like her, it made me feel more confident than I ever was before. It's as if I found a part of me that I never knew was missing. My mother is amazing. I hope to introduce her to you someday."
At this point Camicazi looked up, searching Valka's face. Meanwhile, the older woman fell silent. This was Hiccup's letter. His genuine thoughts. He did praise her to her face, but this was not a message she was meant to hear. In his private correspondence, her son described her as 'amazing'.
Hiccup's face flashed before her eyes. His anger, disappointment, frustration, all because of her.
Subconsciously, her jaws and fists clenched.
Meanwhile, Camicazi smiled gently. "Hiccup thinks the world of you," she said softly. "I hope you appreciate it."
There was no hidden meaning in this utterance, no implied malice or threats. The Bog heiress honestly wished that her friend and his mother would get along.
Once again, Valka was touched by a bond somebody shared with her son. More than ever, she was motivated to be a good mother to Hiccup.
"I do," she said, her intentions sincere. "Of that you can be sure."
Camicazi nodded. "Good. Good."
For a moment, the girl and the woman considered each other with honest, heart-warming smiles, enjoying the intimate atmosphere they managed to create. Eventually, the moment was broken by Valka, who gestured towards the exit.
"Come. I still need to give you that shield back."
(…)
Camicazi got to inspect Cloudjumper up close – which the dragon generously allowed. The girl's eyes lit up as she slid her hands across the magnificent reptile's scales, felt his nose and checked the sharpness of his claws. Valka observed their interaction, strangely elated. Big-Boobied Bertha's daughter has proved herself to be a tough nut to crack, but now that the negotiations have come to an end, her aura changed. She seemed so fascinated, so innocently curious, so much like a common child. The picture resonated well with the Dragon Whisperer's motherly heart.
Finally, it was time to part ways. Camicazi took the shield and shook Valka's hand.
"Good luck, Dragon Whisperer. Let me know if Rhea agrees to go back to Berk with you."
"Avalanche will tell you all about it when she gets back," assured Valka. "Thank you for everything, Camicazi."
"No problem. I just hope you're right and Dragon's father will acknowledge him."
Valka perked up. "Dagon's?"
"Yup. Dragon's," nodded Camicazi. "The boy is Dragon, son of Diarrhea. Funny, neh?"
Valka was intrigued. So Rhea had named her son Dragon. An interesting choice. How did she come up with it?
Dragons are immune to fire. She wanted her son to be safe from the thing that hurt her.
She may also have been influenced by the fact that Stoick hated dragons more than anything else.
Oh well. Either way, the choice turned out to be fortunate. 'Dragon Haddock' sure sounded nice.
AN:
Kudos to Avannak for Bog Burglar lore and a detailed map of the Bog Isles.