Hiccup looked up from his worktable in the smithy. Normally only really loud noises penetrated the sound of the forge. A sneeze right beyond the roof posts seemed to qualify. Hoark sniffled, waved at Hiccup, and moved on. Just as he came even with the walkway heading down to the next level, Hoark sneezed again. Hiccup frowned. While winter tended to unleash many sicknesses, Hiccup just hoped it was not Eel Pox. It had been two years since the dreaded illness swept through the Archipelago, but Johann, back on Berk after three weeks being away, warned of the ailment hitting the Meathead tribe hard as he ate evening meal the night before. In response, Stoick had bargained with Johann to ferry some of Gothi's Eel Pox remedy to the Meatheads.

That bargain had been the reason Hiccup got up long before Gobber usually did. He, Toothless, and Sharpshot had the forge blazing in the pre-sunrise dimness. Hiccup knew Gothi would probably ask the Riders for help in getting the ingredients from Healer Island as dragon flight was faster than the same trip by boat. Johann would not be in port long and Stoick wanted the remedy ready to leave with him. Like Shivering Shores, the Meatheads had been a long-standing ally. Stoick also knew that any good will now would benefit Berk come spring.

Still there was an item in the smithy that required a bit more work to be finished properly. Two weeks prior to the Speedstinger's invading, Brynjarr had requested a Gronckle Iron hatchet for Torgeir. The lad would soon go with his father into the woods and learn to be a woodcutter. Hiccup had insisted on taking that order and Gobber had merely smiled. Now, Hiccup wanted to finish it before he and the others had to leave the island for Gothi.

Hiccup heard Horak sneeze again. Hiccup sighed and turned back to the hatchet.

"I have Gothi's list," Astrid said as she, Stormfly, Windwalker, and Sneaky walked into the arena's entrance.

"Mount up," Hiccup ordered, hoping to get out and off the island before his rather sick father came to see them off.

Hoark had been the first but by the time Gothi was able to write down the ingredients, ten more Berkians became ill, including Stoick. Johann, for his own safety, stayed in his ship, though he promised Hiccup that he would remain so he could ferry the remedy as he had given his word to do so.

Hiccup climbed onto Toothless and soon all the Riders were out of the arena and in the air. Hiccup looked back, seeing a sick Brynjarr persuade Stoick back to the Great Hall. Hiccup smiled, grateful for his future father-in-law.

They landed on Healer Island, a neutral island belonging to all in the Archipelago. Since they had the advantage of flight they got here before any elders from any other tribe. Hiccup was thankful for that. The Thing still weighed upon his mind. He did not need Vikings from other tribes showing up and picking a fight with the dragons. He and his father wanted to avoid conflict with other tribes right now. They did not want to feed any thoughts of them using the dragons aggressively.

"Okay, gang," Hiccup said taking the piece of wood Gothi had etched her ingredient list upon. "We'll probably get the ingredients faster if we split up. Snotlout, you and the Nightmares find buckthorn root. We need a basket full. It needs to be lightly roasted, so Hookfang, Wingblaze, think you two could handle that?"

[Of course, my alpha,] Wingblaze said bowing. [I'll make sure they do everything right.]

[Hey, now,] Hookfang protested. [I always act right.]

[Sure, my love,] Wingblaze said. [It was some other Flame-skin that buzzed Snotlout's father's father.]

Hookfang snorted. [Old male had that coming though. Speaking bad about Alpha like that.]

"Hookfang," Hiccup began, "no matter what his says, don't antagonize him. Ignoring him will irritated him more than if you keep bothering him."

[Really?]

"Grandpa hates to be ignored, Hookie." Snotlout looked to Hiccup. "I didn't know he was still talking bad about you, cousin."

Hiccup shrugged. "You're not responsible for him, Snotlout. Go on and get that root."

Snotlout nodded. After Hookfang and Wingblaze bowed to Hiccup, Snotlout and the Nightmares headed off down the beach they had landed upon. Hiccup turned to Fishlegs and the Gronckles.

"We need a lot of rock blossoms," he said.

Fishlegs beamed. "We'll handle those, Hiccup."

They left before Hiccup had a chance to reply, though not before Meatlug and Boulder had a moment to bow to Hiccup. Hiccup just shook his head. He still felt uncomfortable with the dragons bowing to him all the time.

"Astrid, can you and Gyda get a basket full of goat weed?"

"Sure, Hiccup," Astrid said.

Hiccup sighed as Stormfly, Windwalker, Sneaky, and Shadowfire bowed to him. He turned to the twins and the Zipplebacks.

"We need a basket full of wild dagga plant. Gothi's list says it grows on cliff faces so it'll probably be a bit dangerous to gather."

"Ooh," Ruff said, her eyes widening.

"You do know us," Tuff exclaimed smiling.

The Zipplebacks bowed, though Barf and Belch were careful not to unseat their riders, before flying towards the cliffs on the north side of the island. Hiccup sighed again. He turned to Moondust, who had joined them on the trip.

"The last ingredient is one I don't think any of you will like to deal with," he began. "We have to get a bloodbane eel."

Hiccup felt Toothless and Sharpshot shudder even as Moondust hissed and recoiled.

"I know," Hiccup said. "But we have to have it. Toothless, you are fast. You and I can get that eel before the others truly get finished. Moondust, Sharpshot, if you want, you can join any of the others and help them."

Sharpshot grunted. [I am not leaving my brothers,] he stated.

Moondust tilted her head. [I will go with you, if I may, my alpha.]

"Sure," Hiccup said smiling, happy for the company.

The flight to Eel Island did not take long. It lay an hour's boat ride north of Healer Island. To a dragon that distance was covered in three wing flaps, two when the dragons in question were Night Furies.

They landed in a wide expanse of grass. The tall stalks danced in the wind and a river bubbled through the middle of the expanse. Hiccup dismounted and gestured. Toothless rose onto his hindlegs. Hiccup heard Moondust gasp.

[What is that shiny thing?] she asked as Hiccup removed his shield from the holder he installed onto Toothless' flying rig.

Hiccup held it up. "It's my shield. It keeps me safe if a human tries to attack me and since it's made of Gronckle Iron it seems to stand up to some dragon fire."

Moondust looked to Toothless' tailfin and then back to the shield. [I don't think Elder Gyda is the only mage within the nest, my alpha. These things you have created…] her voice trailed off and she shook her head. [I have no words to describe the awe I feel.]

Hiccup smiled slightly and rubbed the back of his neck. "Come on, let's get that eel and get back."

Literally Nobody: Hehe, glad you loved that chapter. There are five books in total slated to be written. To See Through Another's Eyes was one. Two Worlds: One Family is two. Neverending Chain is three. The fourth will cover the Thing that happens in the spring and some other stuff I can't reveal right now. The fifth will have RTTE and HTTYD 2 elements in it. TWOF and NC have a mix of both Riders of Berk and Defenders of Berk in them. You have a nice day too.

Prince: Aye, I know many thought that Terror was a jerk, but something I learned was that all bad guys are the heroes of their own story and even the most unliked character has a reason for their actions. We may not like or agree with them, but their reasons are their own. Yep, Hiccup is coming along nicely. He seems to have accepted his role in the nest, finally. Hehe, aye, it was Astrid he was thinking right then, though he also admires his father and did wish his father's approval to. But he meant Astrid right then so the Terror could see there was no real difference between dragons and humans.