I can't believe How To Train Your Dragon 2 is finally out in theaters! Seems like it was just yesterday that the countdown was showing 220 days…and now, here we are. Just know that, to those who have seen it or will see it this upcoming week, I am super jealous of you all. Yeah…to satisfy my need to see this movie, I'll just work harder on continuing to update Wheel and Brave.
Ten more reviews until Wheel's 100th reviewer! Who'll win that honor, I wonder? Well…it's not much, I guess. I post your name on my profile in a special section…finally got around to updating my profile and creating that.
Review Replies:
Jesusfreak (anonymous): I am super jealous! I don't know yet when I'll get to see it. Hope it was wonderful! Yep, this story is going to be my longest yet. This arc is about halfway done, though. Here's the next chapter.
MHJohn64th: It's okay. I don't mind that you've been silently reading. I am glad to hear that you've been here from the start. I don't know why, but it always pleases me when I learn that there are readers who have always stuck by my stories. It means a lot. As for the plot, yep, that's about all there is to get right now. Trust me, in the next arc, you might have to just sit and take it all in because a lot will happen in Arc 3! Now, for your questions. The first question is set to be addressed in the start of Arc 3 (either the first or second of Hiccup's chapters in that arc). As for the message, we have not seen the last of it! That will also return at the start of Arc 3. As I said, Arc 3 is VERY important!
Herro (anonymous): Thanks for your thoughts. I guess Astrid's mainly conflicted because she thinks that if she takes the job she won't have time to search for Hiccup…not that she has much time at the moment either.
lorde (anonymous): Well, right now, I'm not sure of a true answer to that question, actually. I've been way too lazy about planning out this story. When this arc gets closer to reaching its end, I'll sit down and plan out Arc 4 and possibly Arc 5.
aaquater: That was just a spur-of-the-moment decision, actually. I was trying to think of a way to start the chapter and "Talking In Your Sleep" by The Romantics started playing on Pandora and I was like "…sure, why not?" Yep, that's not what Astrid wanted to hear and she definitely does not like everyone telling her to move on. They just don't understand!
Next chapter starts…now!
Chapter 23: No Easy Victory
Wheel in the Sky
It was surprisingly warm again this afternoon and Hiccup was grateful. As this season of harsh snows progresses, the days will no doubt grow colder, just as cold as the nights currently were and, most likely, even colder than the nights. When it gets to that point in the season, the nights would definitely not provide a sustainable living environment for a young Viking such as the still-stranded Hiccup. While he had these more pleasant days, Hiccup knew that he had to formulate some sort of plan, but he did not even know where to start.
Sketchbook in hand, Hiccup sat on the beach and stared out at the rolling waves on the waters surrounding him. Many times he had sketched this scene; it had given him something to do. Today, though, he was sketching some plans, possibilities that might take him and Toothless back to Berk. He had started out the day by sketching out some ideas. As he had sketched out these ideas, it became clear that, to successfully execute the majority of them, he would need to install a new working tailfin on Toothless. This realization had led to Hiccup's current sketches. For, perhaps, several hours now, Hiccup had sat staring out at the ocean, letting the picturesque scenery inspire him. He had drawn several tailfin sketches already. Each one, though, seemed to become less and less stable. None of his current designs would ever hold up with the possible materials he had to work with on this island.
In frustration, Hiccup scribbled over all his designs and sketches before ripping them out of the sketchbook and tearing them to tiny pieces. Not satisfied with simply ripping up all the pages, Hiccup threw them into the air and let the miniscule pieces rain back down over him, finally coming to a rest on the sand all around the young Viking's seated form. The warm wind picked up the fallen pieces and carried them away, but Hiccup no longer cared. Those designs and sketches were useless anyway. Letting himself fall backwards onto the sand, he stared up at the cloudless blue sky as he had done countless times since waking up on this island.
Hiccup felt so frustrated. As the days had passed, this frustration had continued to grow and, finally, it had overflowed and Hiccup could not stop the tears that welled up in eyes. All he could do was shut his eyes and squeeze them tightly in hopes that would stop the droplets from falling. Everything had been fine before the change of seasons. There had been plenty of food and the weather had been warm enough that Hiccup's life had not been in any immediate danger. Now that the season of harsh snows was upon them, Hiccup was lucky to wake up each morning and even luckier to wake up without shivering.
Though Hiccup and Toothless had gathered nuts and berries before the season of harsh snows began, it still wasn't enough. These small rations did little to satisfy the way Berkian food did. Living this way, meal-to-meal, couldn't be healthy for him…or for Toothless either. I wonder if it's possible to make a fishing net out of vines? If I could do that, then at least we would have food. Maybe that would be enough to make it through this season. Hiccup frowned, knowing that his optimism was short-lived; without shelter, he would surely not live. As much as he did not want to think about it, Hiccup knew that his days were numbered. Time was quickly running out and there was little that he could do about it. He had no shelter. He had no way home. The quicker he accepted this, the better off he would probably be…but his inherent Viking stubbornness refused; Hiccup would keep fighting death until the very moment it finally claimed him.
On Berk, Hiccup had been known well for being one of the most stubborn Vikings to ever live in the village and he was, again, going to live up to that expectation. There was no way that he would just hand Hel an easy victory. No, he would push through this and he would do everything within his power to survive and find a way back to Berk, home to Astrid. It will be dark soon. I need to gather supplies now before the sun sets. Hiccup continued to lie on the sand as he made a mental list of everything that he would need to find. If he knew what to search for, then he could probably find it faster and get back to the beach before the world's light disappeared. He did not want to stay in that forest after dark. Sure, it seemed deserted, but, knowing his luck, Hiccup would come across something if he tried wandering the forests paths after the sun set. Deciding that he would grab some twigs, downed branches, and vines, Hiccup wiped any remaining tears from his drying eyes, stood up, and called to Toothless. Once the dragon had joined Hiccup, the two set off into the woods.
They searched together as a team until Hiccup had his arms full with the items he had decided to search for and then they headed back to the beach. On the beach, Hiccup dumped all the supplies from his arms and began to separate them. The branches, twigs, and some of the vines he would use to create a model of a tailfin. The model, though temporary, would assist him when he could secure some stronger branches and twigs (along with some leaves) at the end of the season of harsh snows. The remaining vines Hiccup would tie and weave together to create netting that he could try using to collect fish. If he caught any, he would determine how to cook them. The sand on the beach made it hard to sustain a roaring fire (which is the main reason he had not built one for warmth at night).
For now, though, Hiccup would just work on weaving the fishing net. It was a worthwhile project, one that could potentially benefit and increase his chances of surviving this ordeal. This new project renewed Hiccup's hope and, for now, that was more than enough.
This chapter was probably all over the place. I wrote most of it late at night. Even when I went back and edited it this morning, I was still like…um…yeah. Hope it was enjoyable.
Coming Up Next: They wanted her…no…expected her to move on. Astrid could see it in everyone's eyes. They all wondered how she could still believe. What choice did she have? No one had found any proof either way. Yet, Astrid found herself growing more and more depressed. It doesn't seem like Astrid's life will soon get any brighter as her parents begin discussing…her future? "Don't you see? I have no future without Hiccup. He is the only one I'd ever want to spend my forever with!"
Next chapter: I will aim to post chapter 24 by Thursday night after 10 PM US East Coast time.
Thank you all for supporting Wheel in the Sky!
Posted: June 13, 2014
Happy "How To Train Your Dragon 2" Day!
