To Freak Out A Viking Chief (Continued)

Oh my goodness, I am so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so…. *so's continue*

Oh boy, this is going to take a while. Mary we only have so much time.

…..So, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so,SO sorry! I swear, I didn't mean to leave it! But first Silkmouse's computer broke….

I blame Tucson, Arizona's lousy electric charges.

*continuing as though not interrupted*…. And then I couldn't find the inspiration…..

And I've been working on my story for Percy Jackson.

Hopefully, we'll get the next chap up a lot sooner! Until then, enjoy!

(P.S. There is some mild swearing in here. Just thought I'd warn ya.)

"Great." Silkmouse swallowed.

"So," Stoic boomed. "Where are you two young ladies from?"

"Oh, um, you know….." Mary said vaguely. "Around."

"Yeah…." Silkmouse agreed, while quickly gathering a bunch of food on her plate and stuffing it into her mouth so that she couldn't talk.

"And where exactly is 'around'?" Stoic looked suspicious. Only members of an enemy tribe would keep their home a secret like this.

Mary, noticing the look they were getting from the fierce leader, was quick to remember her second-favorite tribe from the book.

"Um, the Bog-Burglars' tribe. Both our families moved there last…. Fall."

"Really?" Stoic raised his eyebrow. "Why didn't I see you at the games then?"

Silkmouse swallowed and cut in, seeing Mary about to break down. "Well, we were getting settled…. You know, making the new houses feel like home….."

Stoic appeared to accept this explanation, but still seemed wary of the girls.

Hiccup continued the conversation. "So, you guys must be pretty good flyers then. The Bog- Burglars were the first tribe after us to learn how to fly. "

"Actually," Mary looked out the corner of her eyes, as if searching for an exit. "We haven't learned yet. Been too busy…."

"Well then," Hiccup grinned. "I guess I'll have the honor of teaching you!"

Mary and Silkmouse exchanged shocked glances. "Seriously? You'd teach us?" Silkmouse gasped.

"Be quiet 'Mouse. We don't want him to change his mind…"

"Oh, it'd be my pleasure." Hiccup grinned. "Maybe we can even spar. I've certainly improved since I stopped fighting with my right hand, like everyone else, and instead used my left, like I do with drawing and all that."

"We'd love that, Hiccup." Silkmouse says. "But the thing is…."

"We don't know how to fight!" Mary blurted.

Everyone at the table gasped.

"Members of the Bog-Burglars that don't know how to fight!" one Viking called out.

"Yeah." Tuffnut snorted "Where have you been, living under a rock?"

"Well no one ever took our education into consideration." Silkmouse said "So we never learned."

"Well that seems like a poor excuse." Hiccup commented.

Mary nodded "It is, but what can you do?"

"Well Astrid could teach you." Hiccup said.

Silkmouse's eyes widened until they were nearly the size of golf balls "Really?" she said, trying not to explode with excitement.

"Sure. You can start tomorrow if you like."

"That'd be great." Mary said.

"But where are we supposed to stay?" Silkmouse asked.

"You can stay at my house." Astrid told them.

"Are you serious?" Mary exclaimed.

"Yeah, sure. It'll be fun. Besides, my oldest sister just moved out. You'll have plenty of room."

Silkmouse and Mary exchanged grins. Just then, Mary remembered.

"Oh, I almost forgot!" She gasped. "We still need to ask Stoic some questions!"

"You're right!" Silkmouse slapped her forehead, narrowly missing hitting her glasses. "I can't believe it! The one reason, well, big reason, that we come, and we almost forgot!"

Mary pulled out her notepad, and Silkmouse grabbed her pencil crayons and paper.

"So, Stoic. When Hiccup was young, a dragon killed his mom. Valhallarama, right?"

Stoic looked away and quietly muttered yes. Mary, unhappy that she had upset the legend, paused, looking quite unsettled, paused.

"Never mind, that's too personal." She shook her head. "Anyway, as chief, people must expect you to know what to do pretty much all the time. How do you handle the pressure?"

Stoic stood up. "I'm tired." He told Hiccup loudly, and then he left the room.

"Damn it!" Mary banged her head on the table. "I can't BELIEVE I just did that!

I'm such an idiot! Ugh!" She got up and walked away from the table, clearly upset.

Silkmouse looked at the others and said, "I'll be right back."

She followed Mary out the door and into the night "Mary wait!" she called.

"Why am I so stupid!" Mary exclaimed.

Silkmouse shook her head "You're not stupid. You just need to be more tactful with the questions. We'll ask him again later on when the moment is right."

"I guess." Mary replied.

They ran back inside.

"Sorry folks!" Silkmouse said to the Viking teens "Just a minor setback."

Astrid stood up "Well we still have a few hours before sundown, so how about we show you around a little?"

"That'd be great!" Mary said with delight

"But before that I have one question." Silkmouse said to Astrid.

"Yeah?" Astrid replied.

Silkmouse pointed to Astrid's shoes "Where can I get a pair of those boots?"

And that pretty much wraps this up! Have a great week everyone! Oh, and check out my profile when you get a chance!

Why, what's on your profile?

Not telling!

Seriously?

Penelope, over and out!