"It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest. We address ourselves, not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own necessities but of their advantages" – Adam Smith - The Wealth of Nations

Business

Hiccup did not feel better in the morning.

In fact, he did not even fall asleep that night. His stomach pains grew steadily worse, and he kept shivering despite being back in the warm house. It was after everyone had gone to sleep and the moon was very high in the sky that he felt a tingling in the back of his throat.

Oh… no!

He stumbled off the bed with a crash and tried to run down the hall to the door. But he could not see well at all. Everything was covered in a strange red mist and was twisting and bending in the mist. Bright spikes of light flashed and hurt his eyes. The hall that was straight in front of him suddenly turned to his left and then disappeared entirely before reappearing.

Was there something crashing along behind him too?

It wasn't clear if he was hearing silence, a buzzing sound, a loud crashing and clanging, or all three at the same time.

He stumbled face-first into a shut door. The front door.

No. Not good.

He frantically looked around for anything that would help. Thankfully, there was a pot on the floor in the kitchen.

He made it just in time.

A minute later, he lay moaning with absolutely no energy on the ground next to the pot. The taste of sick in his mouth was disgusting, but there was no water with which to wash himself. The twisting world around him gradually subsided, and the pounding in his head became almost bearable.

"Hrchph… Hichu… Hiccup!"

He forced open his bleary eyes and focused on the dark shape in front of him. Legs, arms, wings, a tail.

"Toohleth…"

Toothless felt very bad for Hiccup's sake. Hiccup had obviously eaten something very bad. He tiptoed over to the container and took a sniff. He blanched as several bad smells reached his nose. Something in the container, other than the foul-stomach-water, smelled very wrong to him. It smelled bad, wrong, and almost like fish. His eyes went wide, and he hopped back from the container with a growl in recognition.

Bad-wrong-snake-fish!

Why had Hiccup eaten bad-wrong-snake-fish? Every kin knew that those… things… were vile, disgusting, and a plague on all that is good. Every kin except for Hiccup it seemed.

"Hiccup, are you better?"

"Yes, head hurts," Hiccup mumbled.

"You ate bad-wrong-snake-fish."

"What?"

"The not-fish you gave me in friend-place and I not eat."

Hiccup groaned in realization.

Oh, there was eel in the soup. Now I know why dragons don't eat eel.

He started to struggle to his feet but was too weak.

"Toothless… you get… my sire?"

"Yes Hiccup, I will."

Toothless ran down the hall toward the place where Hiccup's sire slept. He stood up against the logs covering the entrance and began making as much noise as he could. His lungs were still far too small to make a noise that would carry any great distance. He hoped that his barking and yowling was loud enough to wake Hiccup's sire.

It was.

He heard the heavy footfalls on the cave floor and backed away from the opening.

Stoick grumbled heavily when he was awoken. Still in the haze after waking, he did not quite grasp that the noise had to mean something bad. He flung the door open and looked down.

In spite of the darkness, he could see the young dragon before the door.

"Hiccup?"

The dragon huffed at him, turned tail, and ran down the hall. That was odd.

He gruffly followed into the living room and from there into the kitchen. He grimaced at the smell.

"What the…?"

That is when he noticed the other dragon laying on his belly next to a bucket and a disgusting mess.

Hiccup was obviously very sick.

"Hiccup, what happened?"

It was actually a rather dumb question since Hiccup had obviously vomited. He had to have eaten something that was bad for him.

Oh Thor, what should I do? How bad is it!

He thought back to several occasions when Valka had tended to a sick and miserable baby Hiccup. For one, he needed to get Hiccup cleaned up and back to bed. And some liquids would help too.

"Are you feeling better?"

A faint whimper and a slight nod were the only responses he got.

"Ok, stay right here. I'll be right back with water and to… get you cleaned up."

He ran out of the house not a moment later.

It was just the two of them in the house now. Despite the smell, Toothless padded over to Hiccup and sat down in front of him.

"Hiccup, I was wrong."

"What?"

"I should not have said what I said. You should have time with Astrid. She is a kin to you."

He paused before continuing.

"I do not understand why you want to… with her."

"What? I not know word," Hiccup mumbled.

"Make eggs with her."

Hiccup groaned again. Why couldn't Toothless understand that it wasn't about… that?

"I like her, Toothless."

"What? How are you like her?"

Hiccup moaned at how confounding language could be.

"No… not like her. I… grr… not know how talk."

"Is hitting part of the two-leg mating?"

"Not now," Hiccup grumbled before laying back down in exhaustion.

They waited in silence for Stoick to get back. The brief conversation that they had did not, in Toothless's mind, explain any of Hiccup's strange behavior around Astrid. But, he now realized that he did not have to understand everything Hiccup did. He simply had to accept it and trust that Hiccup would not reject him or completely abandon him for Astrid.

At least, knowing that Hiccup did not hate him for what he had done on fire-island did a lot to reassure him.

The front door burst open, and Stoick marched in with a bucket full of water and a soaking rag. He poured some of the water into a mug and then walked over to Hiccup.

"Ok, I'll get you cleaned up. Come here."

His dad brought out a large and dry cloth, which he then used to dry him off.

"Here, drink some water and then I'll take you to your bed."

Hiccup complied, softly lapping at the water in the mug. It helped him feel a lot better, though his headache was still bad and he felt weak everywhere.

"Do you need me to carry you?"

It was very strange to hear his dad's voice being so tender and concerned. He got to his feet and tried to walk, but was very exhausted. His body didn't seem to want to obey his command. So he swallowed his pride, or what was left of it, and nodded to his dad, who cradled him in his arms and gently carried him down the hall to his room with Toothless in tow.

"Just go to sleep. I'll clean up everything, and I'll bring you a little food in the morning. You can tell me what happened tomorrow."

Hiccup nodded gratefully and settled for giving his dad a quick pat on the wrist to show his appreciation. Then he burrowed back into the blankets to sleep and Toothless joined him.

Toothless knew that nothing that had happened was life-threatening. With all the bad-wrong-snake-fish out of Hiccup's belly, he would be able to sleep well.

Before he himself drifted off to sleep, he couldn't help but wonder why Hiccup had eaten that vile thing at all. Even hatchlings that never had any experience with foods of the world knew that those things were not meant to be eaten. It was definitely not a mistake that Hiccup would ever make again. Maybe they could laugh about it one sun.

"How are you feeling?" Stoick asked.

Hiccup nodded and smiled happily as he climbed out of bed and walked into the kitchen. He still felt a bit weak, which made sense considering that he had been so sick just yesterday, but just a bit of food ought to help make him feel better.

"That is good. You looked very bad yesterday. Any idea what it was?"

Hiccup paused while slowly chewing the fish his father had carved for him. He could not tell the truth, that he had eaten at Astrid's house, since that would look very suspicious.

Bad fish and potatoes I guess

"Must have been. I didn't know that dragons got sick. None of ours have been as far as I know. Are you sure you are alright?"

Yes Dad

Hungry though

"Well, eat up then. You should stay inside and rest. I have a lot of work in the village today. We are going to be building a few new buildings and changing empty houses to ones that dragons can live in."

That sounded like a very welcome plan. Not all the buildings were large enough for the dragons to enter. Nightmares and Nadders especially could not fit through the doors and had to sleep either in the stables or outside.

I can help with that

Let you know what they like

"Maybe, for now though I will get Astrid to help design the new stables. You just stay here and get better."

Then his dad stood up and left the house. Toothless came forward a moment later.

"Hiccup, we talk now?"

"Yes Toothless, you helped me. I am happy you help me."

Toothless purred in happiness.

"Why did you eat bad-snake-wrong-fish?"

"I did not know about it. It was in the… water-fish-food that Astrid gave me."

"You did not know what you were eating?"

"I made mistake."

"Did it not taste bad?"

"Maybe little different, but I thought it was because she made it."

"Now you know why I did not eat it."

"Yes, I will not eat that again."

"Good, you learned. How do your wings feel after flying?"

He ruffled them slightly.

"They hurt a little, but it is good hurt."

"Keep flying every sun and they get very strong. Then we can fly much and have fun."

"That sounds good but I need sleep right now."

"You sleep. I will go fly."

They hopped down from the table and went their separate ways, Hiccup to bed to recover his strength and Toothless out the door to practice flying.

"Everyone ready?"

He heard two roars from above.

"Alright, lift now!"

He gave the signal and both Astrid and Snotlout's dragons began to beat their wings faster, straining to lift the weight they were burdened by. The beam slowly rose into the air. The two dragons knew the routine by now, having done this several times already.

Working together, they managed to position the cross-beam directly along the length of the barn. The planks creaked and groaned when they came in contact. Several men hopped up with hammers and nails. Stormfly and Hookedfang winged away from the structure, looking quite pleased with themselves.

Stoick crossed his arms as his men kept working. The barn, intended for the Hrafn family's Nightmare, Rendwing, was going up very quickly with the dragons' help. A task of this size would have taken several days without the dragons.

"That's the second one today Stoick. At this rate, I need more help with the forge. I'm running out of nails," Gobber bemoaned.

"That's a good problem to have. I'll see about sending one of the kids to you later to work the forge."

They looked around the village at all the various activity. Men and women were carrying baskets of fish, dragons were aiding in construction and peacefully lounging about in the midday heat, and children were running around without fear.

Stoick closed his eyes and exhaled deeply. It finally hit him how… good all this was. His was becoming a tribe of peace and happiness. There was no fear between the humans and dragons.

Is this what you would have made, my love? If only you had not been taken…

Something swooped closely over both of them. A very fast and small black shape. The little Fury made loops in the sky over the village and wove around the tops of the homes.

"Woah Stoick! That's one of yours! Beautiful isn't he?"

"Yep, that would be Toothless."

"Really, how can you tell? They look almost the same."

"Well, the other one is sick."

"What? He is sick?" Gobber looked genuinely concerned.

"It wasn't pretty, I'll say that. He is sleeping right now."

"I hope he feels better soon… he is one smart dragon."

"What? What do you mean by that?" Stoick wheeled on him.

"I mean what I said. He looks really smart for a dragon. Like he is actually listening whenever you talk to him. Say, how smart do you think they actually are?"

"Uh, well… very smart."

"Yeah, I agree," Gobber muttered.

They stood awkwardly without saying anything else.

"Oh, by the way Stoick, did you hear about the ship that finally came into port?"

"No Gobber, which one was it?"

"It's trader Johann's ship."

Stoick immediately forgot about everything going on around him.

Trader Johann…

If anyone had heard stories about magic in foreign lands, it had to be him.

"I need to go see our guest."

He ran off before Gobber could reply. There was already a small gathering of people down by the docks. Johann's annual visits to Berk were one of the highlights of the year. He brought trinkets and all manner of items from foreign lands. More than the stuff though, it was the news that he brought that most people were interested in.

Gossip about other tribes and the goings-on in the mainland was mainly obtained through the few travelers they received. And Johann had a history of telling very good tales and bringing many items to trade.

"Is that who I think it is? Why yes it is! My favorite Chief of Berk!" Johann cheerfully announced at his approach.

"The one and only. Trader Johann, it's good to see you again. We were beginning to wonder when you would actually get here this year."

Johann laughed.

"Don't worry about me, the dragons haven't gotten me."

He doesn't know yet…

"Are we your first stop in the Nordic Isles?"

"Indeed you are, my favorite tribe! You don't do the… unpleasant things that other tribes farther down south like to do. Climb aboard and see my wares."

Everyone started to do so. Johann walked straight over to Stoick with a small stoppered-bottle in hand.

"Say, where is your son? He is always the first one here, and I've brought a supply of ink for him just as always."

"Johann, he is dead."

Johann's usually cheerful demeanor fell almost instantly.

"Oh, I didn't know. I'm sorry about that. Truly, I am. I liked that kid. Here, take the ink, I was going to cut him a very good deal on it, but there is no point trying that now."

Stoick reached into his pocket and handed Johann a single gold coin. Far more than the inkwell was possibly worth.

"What is this for?"

"Payment and appreciation for the service you do to our island. No, don't try to give it back. Please come up to my place tonight. I have a… proposition that I would like to talk to you about."

The firmness with which he made the request made it absolutely clear that this was a very serious matter.

"Chief, I will see you after I finish all this business and get some food in your Hall."

"I look forward to it Johann."

He looked out past Johann at the approaching blue-green Nadder. Even from a distance, Astrid was clearly visible on Stormfly's back.

"Oh, there is one more thing Johann. We don't fight dragons anymore."

"Really? Finally found the nest after all these years then?"

"Nope, we do this," he pointed behind Johann.

The trader's eyes went fearfully wide when he heard the sound of approaching wings. He wheeled around in fright and stared dumbly at the approaching dragon and girl on its back. His gaze tracked the duo as they flew over the docks and above the cliff towards the village.

"What did I just see?"

"We ride dragons now. You don't need to worry about them. They won't hurt you if you don't threaten them."

"I don't believe it…"

"Believe it."

The clearly-perturbed Johann was swarmed with people looking to trade now that their Chief had stepped away. To his credit, he went right back into trading-mode and was able to carry on his business despite the revelation. On the way back to the village, Stoick kept running over how to approach this upcoming conversation.

Everyone was very cheerful at dinner that evening. Many had acquired new items from the trader as what they considered to be very good prices. Johann had seemed rather awed by the sight of dragons peacefully flying in and out of the village. Perhaps he had given them good deals because of the amazing inhabitants of the village.

Or maybe he was just a shrewd trader.

"Stoick, what did you get from him? I got a few books on smithing down on the mainland," Gobber announced.

"Oh, nothing much really. Just some ink."

"Ink? What for?"

"…writing…"

Gobber nodded. He knew the real reason why Stoick needed new ink.

"That makes sense. Well, I'm going to head out and give Astrid a bit of advice. She is leaving soon, right?"

"One of these days."

Stoick left soon thereafter. He walked past the table where Johann was busy chatting with a table of eager listeners. He tapped Johann on the shoulder once to remind him of his agreement. Then he headed home.

He briefly checked in on Hiccup and saw him sound asleep. Having done that, he walked into the living room and sat down. There was nothing else that he needed to do.

So he waited and thought about how this was likely his last hope for Hiccup.

All traces of sorcery had been driven from the Nordic lands generations ago. There were records of the cleansing in the old scrolls. All the Chieftains had formed a council and agreed to end the sorcerers who were obviously either in league with the dragons or controlling the devils.

The bonfires and dogs had been very hungry in the weeks that followed.

Everyone had shrugged-off the fact that eliminating the witches had not helped with the dragon problem.

Now he had to rely on there being a real sorcerer out there who would be willing to help him with Hiccup's dragon problem. And Johann was the only person who might know where to find such a person.

Hiccup needs me to do this. I cannot fail him.

He heard a knock on the door.

Ok, time to do this.

"Johann, good to see you!"

"Chief Stoick, thank you for inviting me to your island. It is always a pleasure doing business here."

"I'm glad that you enjoy it here so much. Come here to the table. Share a drink with me."

He filled two Chief-sized mugs, the foamy cream spilling over the brims. They sat down together and clanged the mugs together loudly, spilling the liquid gold over the table.

They both downed their respective mug and filled up a second one.

"So Chief, how may I help you?"

"You get around a lot, don't you Johann?"

"Of course I do."

"What are some of the strangest stories you have ever heard? Anything magical?"

"Well, there are stories about strange and fantastic beasts. I'm not sure that much can top what you have on this island though. Anything in particular?"

"Some of my people are very superstitious as you can imagine. Ever since we have brought dragons into our village…"

"An amazing thing indeed. I hope I can meet some of them tomorrow. I've never met a nice dragon before."

"That can be arranged. Ever since dragons became part of our lives, some of my men have… get this… started telling stories about people getting turned into dragons."

Johann raised an eyebrow and chuckled heartily.

"It is truly bizarre of course, but the idea is still very powerful. There is something I want you to do for me."

"What is it Stoick?"

"I want you to find a sorcerer."

Nothing was said between them for a long time. Then Johann deliberately set down his mug.

"That is quite a strange request."

"I know how it must sound."

"You know what happens to anyone who is associated with sorcery! I know what happened in the cleansing."

"That will not happen here obviously."

"Oh sure, what reassurance could I possibly have of that?"

"Those days are behind us. Maybe other tribes are still like that, but we are not. We made peace with the dragons and we do not raid other tribes. I also have no reason to get rid of you when you are so good for my tribe."

"True. Why would you even want a sorcerer?"

.

"Wait, you… you think that someone was changed into a dragon."

"Nah, as you said that would be very strange. It is more what people think that matters. If I knew who to turn to, I might be able to reassure people that they don't need to fear. If they knew that there was a 'cure' for being turned into a dragon, that would shut up the grumbling."

He knew that it was a very poor argument, but it was the best that he could come up with.

Johann ran a finger around the rim of the mug for a while before answering.

"Even if I did know a sorcerer, what is in it for me or for them? Why would they want to help you?"

"I could pay you."

"I am a successful trader. I do not lack coin."

Stoick reached under the table and pulled out a small bag. He dropped it on the table with a metallic clang. They both stared at each other, the tension building.

"Gold. More coin than you would make in ten years of trading here. You take that now as a down-payment."

"Gold is a language that everyone understands. What exactly do you want me to do?" Johann replied as he inspected the bag's contents.

"Find a sorcerer, a real one, and convince them to come to me. Promise them whatever they need. Give them this."

Stoick pulled out a dagger inscribed with the Berk crest and the Haddock family insignia.

"This will let them know that they will not be harmed. On my family honor. Do you think you can do this for me?"

Johann took a breath and leaned forward in his chair.

"I might know someone... who knows someone who could… arrange… something. Mind you, it will take a long time. I have to finish my trading voyage, sail home, send to meet the right people, get their trust, meet with them, and pay them. Then it is up to them to sail here."

"How long?"

"A year, maybe two. I cannot do better than that."

Two more years of Hiccup being trapped like this…

"That is all I can ask for Johann. I knew you could help me. And I trust that no one, and I mean no one, else will hear about this arrangement."

He extended his arm to offer Johann the traditional arm-hand shake to mark a formal agreement. It felt right to do so even though Johann was not properly a Nord like them.

"Of course no one else will know about it. It's not the kind of deal that it is a good idea to talk about publicly. Ha, a Norse Chief on an island filled with friendly dragons wants to bring a sorcerer onto his island. I had no idea how strange this day would be."

"Oh, have another one with me while you are here. Everything makes more sense after you have enough mugs."

"I don't normally drink that much Stoick, but this is a special day…"

He took the extra drink and began to speak more freely about such topics as the wars of far-away lands, womenfolk, the dragons he had already seen on Berk, and many other topics which he immediately forgot. Two mugs later, Johann had to be supported by a still-sturdy Stoick on the way down to the hut where he and his few deckhands were bunking for the night.

"Whel Shtoick, thiss has bhen… good day."

"Ah get to bed you silly man."

"I thingk I whil just do thaht…"

Johann was snoring on the ground moments later.

It was a bit hard for him to accept as he walked back home. It could take years for Johann to arrange the meeting and get a sorcerer sent to save Hiccup.

And what was he supposed to do in the meantime?

Wait.

Hiccup woke up early in the morning and felt very good. He happily stretched and yawned.

It was going to be a good day, he knew it. His belly felt completely better, if a little empty. That could be easily fixed.

"Hiccup, you are up!"

Toothless hopped on his back. He growled happily and began nipping at Hiccup's ears. A mock-fight ensued, sending blankets and pillows everywhere. The battle ended with Hiccup pinned under Toothless's paws as always seemed to happen.

"We should get food Toothless," Hiccup whipped Toothless with his tail for emphasis.

"Good idea."

They bounded into the kitchen. Only, there was nothing there for them. Hiccup could hear the sounds of snoring from his dad's bedroom.

"We need fish. Eat."

They began nosing about the kitchen, eventually finding the basket. Unlike months before, it was easy for him to push the basket over and drag out the largest fish since they had grown a lot.

He considered how to eat the fish properly and in a civilized way. He looked at his hands and appreciated that his claws were actually sharp. Maybe sharp enough to cut the skin off the fish. He didn't have a chance to try before Toothless pounced and started ripping the fish apart.

It was a little disturbing how viciously Toothless was devouring his portion, having left about half the fish to the side. Toothless made no distinction between the innards and the actual flesh. Hiccup began carefully tearing off the scales before gulping down the juicy, white flesh. It was far messier than he wished it would be, but it was a large fish.

"We should go now."

They dropped the bones and ran outside. It was indeed a glorious day. The sun was shining, people were working, and the village seemed to be returning to normal.

But he felt an itching in his wings as he looked up at the sky and the sun.

I want to fly.

"We fly Toothless."

Toothless chuckled deeply and flared his wings.

"I am faster!"

Toothless started running and jumped. It was not as easy for him to take-off from the ground as it had been from the rocks in the cove. But he managed all the same.

Hiccup stretched his wings and prepared to start running as well.

"There you are!"

He paused and turned to face Astrid. She ran right up to him and caught his eye after looking around. They walked around behind the nearest barn.

"Where were you yesterday?"

Sick

"What, you were sick? What happened?"

Eel makes dragons sick

"Eel? But when did you eat…"

She paused and covered her mouth with a gasp. Then she sat down next to him.

"Oh, I did this… I made you sick."

He shook his head wildly and whimpered softly.

I feel better

"I didn't know. I noticed that the dragons would never eat eel, but no one knew why. Are you sure you are better?"

He nodded.

"Ok, I am sorry. I really am."

He rested a paw on her forearm and dipped his head solemnly.

"Thank you," she eventually whispered.

"What are you going to do today?"

He stepped away from her and spread his wings.

"You… are going to fly?"

He pointed up at the nearest house, and she followed his gaze. Toothless was sunning himself while fanning his wings.

"Come up here Hiccup!"

He stepped farther back from her and began sprinting down the ridge toward the cliff. He managed to get airborne much more easily than he had the other day.

The wind coming in off the ocean lifted him higher as he banked around. That same elation that he felt before returned to him and left him giddy.

This was where he belonged. Enjoying the freedom that all dragons enjoyed. Toothless's perch was just ahead. He took a deep breath and threw his wings forward to arrest his fall. The landing on the wooden roof was surprisingly smooth.

Then Astrid started whooping and hollering in delight.

"What is she doing?"

"She is happy that I fly and land."

They then watched as Astrid ran off toward her house. Hiccup looked around the village again from this new perspective on top of the building. And he noticed something different.

There was a very familiar boat in the harbor.

That is trader Johann! No one told me he was here! He probably brought ink for me.

Toothless followed his gaze.

"What are you looking at?"

"That new… water-walker."

"Why?"

"It has a two-leg who goes far away. He bring two-leg things and stories."

Toothless shuffled anxiously.

"Hiccup, I want to talk about our fight."

"What about it?"

"I was sad that you want to give Astrid much time."

"Why does that make you sad, Toothless?"

"Because you might want to give her all your time. You might forget me."

Hiccup gasped. How could Toothless think such a thing? He ran over and nuzzled Toothless's cheek in reassurance.

"No, I will not forget you. Why you think I would? Silly!"

"You… said Astrid is your friend."

"Yes, you and she are my friends. Both friends. I not mean you not friend."

Toothless wasn't sure how much he liked that answer, but he wasn't about to get Hiccup frustrated at him.

"What would you do about her if you were two-leg?"

Hiccup thought for a while, unsure how exactly to respond because he did not know himself. What would his life be like if he were still human?

He would probably have Astrid's role as the head of the Academy. His dad would be proud of what he had accomplished. But there were also things that young men were expected to do when they came of age; things that he wasn't sure he wanted.

Like get married.

Would his father have already arranged something for him now that he was successful and the pride of Berk? Would he and Astrid already be married? How awkward would that have been for them both?

"I not know Toothless. Not now."

They watched a few of the people going about their routines. Neither of them wanted to move from their warm roost.

"Toothless, where was your nest?"

Toothless turned and stared at the peak of the most-appropriately named Thor's Hammer, the highest point on Berk's mountains. It was so named because it was shaped like a hammer laying on its side with the base of the grip at Raven point.

Of course he would live up there! That mountain is hard to climb.

Toothless started to fidget anxiously.

"You want to fly there? I can show you my old cave."

That sounded like a good idea.

"Not now, but later yes. I not strong enough for flying that high."

"You tell me when you are ready, and I will take you there."

They both heard a squawk and turned to see a Nadder winging toward them. It was Stormfly, and she was not alone.

"Come on you two!" Astrid shouted.

"Toothless, we fly now!"

Toothless unfurled his wings and jumped from the building with no warning. Hiccup jumped after him and began chasing after Toothless' tail. He did not even need to think about controlling his wings or fins anymore; it was as though they had minds of their own.

They ducked and wove through and around the buildings and the great Hall. He let out a spontaneous roar of joy as the same elation filled his being at feeling the wind under his wings.

Stormfly flew in alongside them and began eyeing them curiously. They were both no larger than her head and had difficulty keeping up with her. After all, it took several of their wing-beats just to match one of hers.

Hiccup looked over at Astrid, who incidentally had her hair flowing out behind her and her arms held out toward the sky. She was an accomplished flier with Stormfly from what he could see.

Up there in the sky and alongside two of the most important people in his life, Hiccup flew in complete happiness.

"Wake up Stoick!"

"Hrm..." came the noise from under the covers.

"You lazy man, you are worse than me after the winter party!"

Stoick threw the covers off and put on some garments.

"What is the matter, Gobber? Why did you wake me up?"

"Well for one, you never sleep this late."

"I may have had too much to drink."

"That isn't like you. Anyway, the real reason is that Johann is leaving soon and wanted to see you."

Stoick groaned in annoyance.

"Alright, let's go."

He threw on his cloak and followed Gobber down to the dock. There was a large crowd gathered around to say farewell. Johann was still busily engaged stroking Stormfly's side as she chittered happily at him.

We've won him over then.

"Johann, my friend, I hear that you are leaving us."

Johann sadly left Stormfly's side and walked over to him.

"Yes Chief, just the man I wanted to see. I'll be sure to come back here as soon as I am able. And I'll have a lot of new stuff for you all."

That got a round of cheering.

He held out his hand for the Chief to clasp. They did.

"I will not forget our 'agreement'," he whispered to Stoick.

"If only I could have one of your two little Furies here."

"What?"

Johann pointed at the two dragons sitting patiently at the side of the gathering.

"They are the most incredible of all them I'd say."

"Right about that Johann, and no, they are not for sale."

"I figured not, still, it is strange to see how different they are from the terrors of legends. If only they were for sale… Farewell Chief Stoick."

"May the gods smile on your voyages, Johann."

Johann returned to his vessel and his boat departed from the dock.

"I wonder when we will see him again," Gobber asked.

"Probably next year right around this time."

Gobber waited a moment before continuing. When he did so it was with a very solemn voice.

"There is something else you should know Stoick."

"What now? Out with it."

"It's about the Elder…"

Hiccup followed his father into the Elder's hut. He had of course been listening to everything that had been said and knew that it was not good.

The gaggle of Terrors on the roof were not bothered by their approach.

He had not been in Gothi's hut in years. The last time had been when he broke an arm. The entire hut was now filled with incense and herbs. The sharp tang of smoke assaulted him and ticked his nose until...

He sneezed several times.

No one was saying anything as Gobber and Stoick solemnly stood around Gothi's bed.

I can't see anything.

He stood up at the edge of the bed and rested his forearms on the blankets. He gasped at what he saw.

Elder Gothi looked much older than he remembered seeing her. Her wrinkled skin sagged on her face and her arms resting outside her blankets were twig-thin. Her breaths were shallow and weak and her eyes were closed.

More than her appearance though, was her smell. She smelled of something strange, something bad. Of decay.

She was dying and everyone knew it.

He closed his eyes and moaned sadly.

The Elder was a very wise person who had been a trusted adviser to his father in the past. She was the keeper of tradition and had been willing to change by accommodating dragons on the island. Astrid had told him stories about what Gothi had done to bring the dragons into the village.

He had also never been around a dying person before.

He heard a soft shuffling sound in front of him and lifted his head. Gothi was awake and was slowly reaching a weak hand toward him. He froze and stared at her as she rested her weak hand on his head.

Despite her age and weakness, her blue eyes were as piercing as ever. They stared directly into his green ones with a strange, appraising look in them.

He was sure that she knew his secret. There was no other explanation for the intensity of her gaze.

She started mouthing a word, only with nothing being said aloud. The corners of her mouth twitched as if to smile.

Then she slowly drew her hand back to her chest and closed her eyes while drawing a deep breath.

Hiccup shivered and turned away from the bed, running past his dad and out the front door. Something about the experience was deeply haunting and disturbing. There was nothing that he could do about the Elder, and it was strange and rather moving to know that there was a dying person in the building behind him.

Once back in the sun, he started to feel a bit better and wandered over to Toothless.

"Old female… almost dead."

"Death happens. Why you sad?"

"She… part of nest. Old two-legs have special place in nest."

"What do old two-legs do for nest?"

"They teach the young and share what they know."

He paused and considered how to explain religion to Toothless.

"They also do ceremonies for two-legs' life-breaths after death. Do kin do death-ceremonies?"

"Not for after death. No way to know what after death. How two-leg old-ones know?""

He struggled again with explaining the idea of the gods.

"Hard to say. They talk with great-breath-life beyond the clouds and skies."

"I not understand," Toothless answered after a moment of thought, "that sounds like a silly two-leg thing."

If he was honest with himself, he rather agreed that Toothless's skepticism made a lot of sense. There were many of the old myths that seemed unbelievable except as moral lessons.

"Some stories hard to understand but still teach good life-lessons."

Stoick and Gobber emerged a while later. Both of their heads were bowed and they walked slowly. Hiccup watched as Gobber clapped his father on the shoulder and slowly walked off into the village.

He got up and walked over to his dad with a clear look of solemn curiosity. His father looked quite shaken.

"She is gone. I'm going to tell everyone. You can go home, I need to talk to you later."

He nodded once in agreement since he did not especially want to see anyone right now.

He and Toothless walked back home, and Stoick continued on to the Hall to break the news of the Elder's passing.