The Typhoomerang lifted his head and looked towards Hiccup.

[I heard my father, young alpha. I know what to do.]

Hiccup did not react since doing so would make the Meathead members and Padrig question what was going on. He instead looked to Steinar.

"Back there," he began pointed in the direction Steinar and Padrig came from, "there is a river where we got our bloodbane eel." He looked to the Meathead tribe. "Only one," he said, letting the thing within his soul coat his words. "Remember that."

Thuggory glared at him but Kieron and Matthjis nodded their heads. Steinar clapped Thuggory on the shoulder. Hiccup winced at the force, knowing from the grimace on Thuggory's face it was not a friendly pat.

"Come, lad," Steinar said. "Been a bit since I be fishin'. I be for helpin' ye git dat eel. Padrig, you be comin'?"

"I be stayin' iffen it be okay," Padrig said. "I be wishin' ta talk ta Hiccup 'nyways."

Steinar lifted an eyebrow. Hiccup watched Padrig nodded his head. Steinar tipped his head and then with a less than gentle push had Thuggory walking away from the group. Kieron and Matthjis followed, all three ignoring Thuggory's yelling protests about Steinar's treatment of him. Padrig waited until they disappeared over a hill before turning to Hiccup.

"Ye be controlin' des dragons more den ye let on," Padrig began.

Hiccup's eyes narrowed at the tone. Padrig sighed.

"Sorry. I be used to speakin' in a hard tone wiv the young steppin' inta da guard back home. Dey seem ta believe I be no knowin' nothin' even though I be a guard most me adult life."

"Sounds like Snotlout before he started caring for Hookfang," Fishlegs commented.

"He be remindin' me o'several I train few years back."

Padrig looked at the dragons as Toothless stood to his paws. Hiccup ignored the man, turning his attention to his brother. Toothless snorted and gave him a gummy smile. Hiccup returned it. The nest dragons cheered when Toothless stretched his wings straight up the curled them against his sides again. The Typhoomerang lowered his head. Toothless looked up at him.

[That was brave, young Wind-shrieker,] the Typhoomerang said. [To eat that water worm in order to save your brother's life. I am sorry I tried to attack you before learning why you were acting as you were.]

[I am sorry to have disturbed your nap.]

"Dem dragons are talkin' to each other, ain't they?"

Hiccup blinked. They had almost seven months to get used to the dragons speaking and only a few days to remember that not everyone had the ability to understand. In his elations that his brother was back on his paws, Hiccup did forget Padrig was still one of those who could not hear the Common Tongue.

[Brother, he did come with the other one to help and he did stand between us and those other humans,] Toothless said swinging his gaze towards Hiccup.

"Hiccup," Padrig said.

Hiccup looked up at him.

"Dem dragons ain't animals like we all believe are dey? Dey can speak and understand us and dey look ta ye as a leader. I be knowin' loyalty and I be knowin' da actions of ones wot bow to 'nother. Dey act like ye are deir chief."

Hiccup glanced to Fishlegs.

"You seem to always know what's right, Hiccup," Fishlegs said.

Hiccup tilted his head. "You are my friend, Fish. I trust your opinion."

Fishlegs smiled. "I've watched him, Hiccup. He hasn't looked at any dragon in disgust since we told him the tale of the Red Death. I have also seen him stop Baneson from saying and doing things, both to others in the tribe and to the dragons."

Hiccup turned back to Padrig.

"Me nephew be as stupid at times as his father," Padrig said. "I be against da marriage 'tween Hilda and Wolfsbane cause da man be stupid and prideful." Padrig shrugged. "I be overruled. I know Baneson be blamin' ye fer his paw dyin' but it be da man's own fault. Iffen ye be da one ta keep weapons sharp den he be needin' ta suck up his pride and let ye. I've seen no evidence ye be bad at dat job. I be seein' da weapons da others in da tribe be carryin' and all be sayin' ye and dat Gobber fellow be makin' dem. All dem be praisin' yer work."

Fishlegs sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Sadly, it wasn't always that way. Wolfsbane wasn't the only one who did not want Hiccup touching their weapon before the end of the war."

"Fish-"

"No, Hiccup. He will need to know why Wolfsbane thought that way. Why it was accepted, even applauded. Why Baneson was allowed to keep you from the morning and mid-day meals. We were stupid back then. All of us. He needs to know that."

"Dere be more ta the tale den ye jest shootin' da Night Fury down and findin' it in da woods and tame, eh, befriendin' it instead of killin' it?"

Hiccup sighed. Toothless nudged his hand.

[Tell him, brother. We are with you.]

Hiccup took a deep breath. "There is a lot more to that tale and a lot more to the dragons than any of us could ever think before the war ended. I will let Fish tell you the truth of why I shot Toothless down. I dislike thinking, much less speaking of that time. As for the truth of the dragons, that will have to wait until we are back at Berk. I have to speak to my father as we were to let the other chiefs know at the Thing before spreading it all around the Archipelago."

Padrig tilted his head. "I be patient and wait fer dat truth if ye be thinkin' it be better ta tell da chiefs first. I be needin' ta know why dat lad," he added tipping his chin towards Fishlegs, "be lookin' as if swa'lered a rank salmon in one go. If it be da reason why Baneson be actin' a fool, I canna stop'm effect'vely without knowin'."

Hiccup looked at Fishlegs and nodded his head. He then turned and placed his forehead against Toothless' as Fishlegs began explaining.

"Everyone!" Tuff called. "We've had a breakthrough."

Astrid looked up from where she was aiding Gyda and Gobber hand out the remedy. Stoick was still sipping his since the brew had to be placed back onto the fire and drawn while warm. Snotlout had been given a double dose since he still believed he was trying to liberate the dragons from harsh living arrangements, though the Terrors begged to let the funny man stay sick so they could laugh more. Her father was sitting with Stoick and the rest of the tribe was in line to get theirs. All stopped to look at the twins.

"We have discovered that if you boil yak milk you can freeze it on a stick and dip it into a variety of tasty flavorings," Tuff continued.

Astrid groaned. She looked to Gyda, finding the mages biting her knuckle and blinking tears from her eyes. Gyda caught her gaze and snickered. Astrid snorted. This must have happened in the tale Gyda knew. She would have to ask Gyda about it later.

"Better make theirs a triple dose," Gobber said. "Who 'ver thought of freezin' perfectly good milk? I never heard of anythin' so barbaric in me life."

Astrid slipped away and out of the Hall as Shadowfire, laying near the big fire, explained ice cream was a great thing back in his and his family's homeland. She shut the door on Gobber's response. There was only so much of the twins and their shenanigans she could take right now.

The sun was sinking behind the horizon and Hiccup was not back yet. She knew Toothless would need a moment to recover but each heartbeat that past without Hiccup caused Astrid to worry. She could not leave the nest. He trusted her to keep it safe and sound but she wanted to. She wanted to get Stormfly and head back to Eel Island. She had to know Hiccup was safe. She had to know Toothless was okay and that his eating that eel did not cause lasting harm. She even wanted to know how Fishlegs fared in aiding Hiccup deal with a sick Toothless and whatever else happened on that island. Mostly she just wanted Hiccup home so she could hold him and he could hold her. A want her former self before the war would have scoffed it. A want that was as natural as breathing now. A want that had her mother grinning and winking at her at different times during the day.

"Uh, excuse me," a welcomed voice said from above. "Uh, you should be indoors young lady. You'll catch your death of cold out in this weather."

Astrid spun, looking up. "Hiccup! You're okay."

Hiccup smiled and patted Toothless' head. "We all are. Come with us to my house. We'll tell you everything that happened. Fish," he added looking to the larger Viking. "Thank you. I don't what I would have done without you there. Come with us too. You deserve to tell this tale, elder-in-the-making."

Kirika: Hehe, yes, poor Astrid. She's doing well though. She just needs a hug from her man, don't you think?

Literally Nobody: I loved that episode too. It always made me laugh and grin. Hehe, it's not just dragons that are confused by Hiccup now. Many humans are as well :p Though we know how awesome Hiccup is. They are just now learning it. I had a good day. I hope you did as well. /me looks up Ta da. Hehe, that just seemed like something a dragon would say to another when parting so I went with it.