I am SO SO SO SORRY for the lateness of this chapter! I've just had so much going on lately and I had a school trip abroad where I had no wifi for 3 days. And when I did it finally get 3G it took AGES to get loaded. And then there were loads of Race to the Edge clips coming out and I was fangirling and squealing over them the Mockingjay part 2 trailer came out.

That was quite a funny story actually because we were on the coach back and were finally in England so I could get 3G. So I go onto U-tube and start watching this trailer. And then I start fangirling like crazy. I was so wound up I was like shaking and had tears streaming down my face and everyone's like "What's wrong Acia?" And I'm just squealing, flapping hands around in the air going, "Omigod, Omigod, oh Thor, oh Odin help me, OMG IT'S AMAZING!" It was kind of embarrassing when I got over the immediate shock… so yeah that's a little sneak peak of my everyday life;)

Anyway enough of my appalling babbling…

Chapter 3- Threads

Hiccup's POV:

My heart freezes. Then the torch starts to fall. It slants to one side: Quickening as it plummets toward Fishlegs' toddling form. Meatlug lets out a cry of distress and shoots forward at a rapid pace. A pace so fast for a Gronckle it's like Meatlug's transformed. But even though Meatlug is moving at the speed of light compared to other Gronckles it's obvious she's not going to make it in time. My brain fuses with terror.

Unaware I'm doing so I leap onto Toothless and shoot out the glowing warmth of the Great Hall and into the cold of the outside world. The wide-eyes of the Hooligans never leaving my hurling form. The torch falls quicker now: Speeding toward the ground: Toward Fishlegs. I lean forward: My eyes locked on Fishlegs. The wind rushes in my ears, and the air burns as it blasts into my eyes. The torch groans in pain:

A metre from Fishlegs.

I'm so close. Almost there.

"Come on Toothless! Faster!" I scream into the howling wind. The ground shudders and the torch becomes mere center metres from Fishlegs' oblivious form. He looks up at last second…

"Hiccup wha-" I crash into him and throw him from the torch's path as the whole structure comes plummeting down to the dusty road, landing with a pounding crunch on the convulsing ground. Fishlegs flies a few metres from me and Toothless' rolling form.

A mist of dust blows up around us and I squint to shield my stinging eyes. I slide off Toothless and pound over to Fishlegs who lifts himself shakily from the ground as I approach.

"Fishlegs! Are you alright?" He stares at the torch with a vacant expression.

"I didn't even see it," He says emotionless.

"I know," I can't think of anything else to say.

Meatlug suddenly comes flailing about from the corner of my eye. I leap backward to avoid being pummelled by a crazed Gronckle. She squashes Fishlegs back into the dirt. "Ahh! Meatlug! Aww I love you too girl!" Fishlegs squeals in delight at the attention Meatlug is giving him.

The ground tremors underneath our feet and the buildings creak and groan in chorus. Not wanting any more accidents I say, "Come on let's get back to the great hall."

I climb back onto Toothless and with one click of my foot we're sailing over the quavering Island. Fishlegs follows behind us on a purring (well more like growling nicely) Meatlug.

"Tha…thanks," he stutters after a while, the prospect of what could have happened finally sinking in. "For… saving me."

"No problem. What were you doing with your head buried in that book anyway? I thought everyone was in the hall."

"I was trying to figure out what's causing this entire ground convulsion," He explains as we land in the Great Hall doorway.

I slide off Toothless and I barely get a chance to look at my village's terrified faces before Astrid plummets into my arms; obscuring my eye sight with waves of golden hair. I wrap my arms around her waist and hold her close as Ruffnut cockles over into Fishlegs' arms. His eyes widen; startled at first, then he relaxes and hugs her back- closing his eyes softly. I smile.

"I thought for a moment there you were going to get trapped under that… thing!" Astrid says gulping.

"Would I ever put myself in imminent danger just for the sake of it?"

She deadpans.

"Okay… forget I ever said that!"

She shakes her head but her lips twitch up in a smile. Then they're on mine, soft, smooth, perfect. I cup her head and loose myself in my wife's breath-taking kisses.

"Ew! Daddy! Mummy!" We break apart and both breathe a laugh at the face of disgust our daughter is pulling.

I pick her up and swing her round as she squeals delightedly. Putting her down I stare straight into her emerald orbs as the doors boom behind us; shut. "Thank you Lucinda Haddock. Without you I wouldn't have seen Fishlegs and wouldn't have caught him."

"That's okay daddy," She says seriously leaning up and kissing my cheek. I smile as she runs off to join Olaf who's sat at the end of the hall, his head buried in a book.

I wrap my arm around Astrid as we watch Lucy approach Olaf. "I'm guessing she's forgotten her punishment about not playing with Olaf then."

"Oh come on, she's just been woken up by a quaking Earth," She replies.

"I guess… I don't want her to forget though. She can play with Olaf just this once then she can finish her punishment. I know she saved Fishlegs' life but we can't use that as an excuse to get rid of her punishment."

"I know bossy," She says imperatively with a wink.

"Hey! Violent."

"Pft! As I've said a million times it's not violence it's communication," she says emphasising the 'Communication.'

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Olaf's POV:

"Boom!" I jerk upward from my book, as a spike of pain rockets up my arm, and turn to a glowing face with emerald eyes and bushes of vibrant red hair; Lu.

"Hey lu!" I say, wincing and rubbing my shoulder.

"Haha! I made you jump!" She yells bouncing up and down in joy.

"Okay you did!" I admit with a shy smile.

I still couldn't believe a girl like Luce played with me. She's two years younger than me, the chief's daughter, so loud and bouncy and I'm just… Olaf. I brush a hand through my golden waves self-consciously. Suddenly the floor shudders, I gasp and my book slips from my hands.

"Silly billy! You dropped it!" Lucy giggles, picks up the book and hands it back to me.

"Thank you Lu."

She leans in close to me and whispers, "do you want to play hide and seek?" Her breathe tickles my ear.

"Yeah!"

She skips off then turns round abruptly, "You count!" she orders.

I don't argue. Her fist can throw one mighty punch for a three year old and besides, I like counting.

I turn and face the wall, "1! 2! 3!"

I hear her squeal in excitement.

"4! 5! 6! 7! 8! 9! 10! Coming ready or not!" I shout, turning round to face the hustle bustle of the village; asking questions to each other, gossiping, talking in whispers, crowding round Hiccup asking questions. I blink a few times then narrow my eyes in pursuit! I race across to the tables, obvious hiding places always need checking first. I look under them: nothing. I rush up to the higher- stage like- part of the hall and rush over to the tapestries. I fling the fabric back: nothing. I frown where is she? I bite my lip. Where would be the best place to hide? I glance round at the shouting Vikings in the hall. My eyes drift over the mob covering Hiccup. Covering Hiccup! Of course!

I practically trip over my own legs in my excitement to get there.

I slip between big bulky legs and scary looking axes, hooked through large belt hoops, toward the centre. Hiccup's strong yet tired voice fills my ears.

"For the last time: we're not sure yet! I and Fishlegs will look through the book- if you leave us in peace- and try to figure out what this is."

At last I see the spark of red hair; I toddle over- almost shaking I'm so excited I've figured out her hiding place. Not so clever now is she? Ha! Her face slides into sight, hiding behind her daddy's legs. And her back is too me- yes!

"Got ya!" I scream.

She jumps and yelps in shock then shouts, "Oh no you haven't!" And with that she runs between the legs and disappears back into the mob of Vikings.

"Oh no you don't!" I mumble under my breath jumping after her.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Astrid's POV:

We wait for what feels like an age until the ground stops moving under foot. I groan in half relief as Gobber yanks the hefty doors open. Dawn is just fingering into the sky. The stars look as though a layer of dust has landed on their surfaces. I clutch Hiccup's hand- both ours slippery from the heat of the hall and race of our hearts- place my arm protectively around Lucy; who'd spent the night chasing around and playing with Olaf. They make me dizzy just watching them! And we walk down the loose and cracked stone steps and stare at the waste land that used to be our village.

Houses lay collapsed everywhere, doors creeping from beneath roofs. Our water system runs in deep rivers along the soggy roads; their container now splinters on the cracked ground. The well is a rock pile, to which immediately gets attacked by the villages Gronckle pack. The air is cloudy and clogged up with dust from the shattered village making it hard to breathe. I feel Hiccup's hand tighten within my own and I give it a reassuring squeeze. Dreading the pain he must be feeling right now.

"Wow… we have a lot of repairing to do. It's like back in the days when we had dragon attacks and we'd have five houses gone every couple-la days." Gobber chips in all matter- of- fact. "Now you can show your kids what you had to do every week!"

"Well… we better get to it then. We'll discuss what caused this destruction tomorrow- right now we need to get Berk… back on its legs." Hiccup says, his voice shaking slightly.

"You heard the man! Let's get these buildings fixed!" Gobber shouts and a parade of Vikings make their way down the steps.

"At least everyone's safe," I say softly kissing Hiccup on the cheek as he stares at the destruction. He nods, hardens his face and follows his village.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hiccup's POV (the next day):

I brush my hand across my forehead as the sun blazes across the back of my neck. I can almost hear Astrid screaming at me to cover up my neck as it'll burn but I don't linger on this thought and get back to concentrating on fixing the roof. I felt like part of my heart had been taken away when I'd seen the village. Then I'd felt a slight anger boiling under my surface- whoever- or whatever- was the cause for this would pay the price. No one destroys my village, turns it to mere splinters, and gets away with it.

"Do you need the next one yet daddy?" Lucy asks from down below, looking at me through great big eyes- wide with wonder. Toothless sits a few feet away playing nanny and watching her carefully- making sure she doesn't get into any trouble.

"Erm… I think so missy. I climb halfway down the ladder and take a nail from the box she's holding up carefully in her hands. "Well done Lucy. You're being very good and helpful today."

"Well everyone is looking sad about the shake so I'm trying to not get in anybody's way." She says solemnly.

I breathe a laugh, "Good girl- daddy will play with you after the meeting okay?"

"Okay." She replies.

I smile at her and start to climb back up the rickety ladder. It wobbles and Toothless immediately steadies it with his snout. "Thanks Toothless," I say and start hammering away at our roof again.

"What's the time Lucy?" I call down a few seconds later.

I can hear her little feet toddling over to the clock (that used to stand proud over the doorway but now rests clicking at the house's feet due to the 'shake') and smile again. I was so proud of that creation- even Gobber was impressed! Now it looks weak and vulnerable. A mirror image of Berk right now.

"Erm…The little hand is at the…" She murmurs to herself for a moment then, "eleven and the big one is at the…erm…one…two…" I glance down for a second to see her face screwed up in concentration, "four!" She calls up eventually.

"So can you figure out what that would be then?"

"…five past… no too… Five too four!"

"You got it baby girl!" I say. "And what's happening at four O'clock today?"

"The meeting!"

"Right again Missy," I make my way carefully down the ladder, hoping my stupid metal leg won't slip, and land with a soft click- 'poof' on the ground.

I take her hand and she giggles and skips toward the great hall- dragging me along with her.

We make it to the Great Hall just in time. It's already full of shouting Vikings, gossiping Vikings and a few quiet Vikings-like Fishlegs- who give me and Lucy nods. I spot Astrid at the front. "You go and see mummy, I'll see you after I've spoken to the village okay?"

"Okay daddy!" She kisses me on the cheek, skips across to Astrid and immediately starts babbling away to her. I'm guessing she'll be talking about how she told the time on the clock. I make my way to the front of the hall; Fishlegs gives me a reassuring glance. I nod in thanks- nerves tickling in my stomach a lot more than usual because for the first time… I don't know the answer to their problems. And I'm terrified.

"All right guys settle down!" I shout my voice coming out steady despite the war of confusion raging in my mind.

For the first time they quieten the first time I ask.

"Alright guys I know you're all scared. We don't know yet what caused the 'shake' but I promise you I will find an answer."

"Was it a dragon!?" A farmer calls out.

"Of course it's not! You think the chief would know if it was a dragon? Of course he would! I think it's Drago!"

"Really!?"

"What?"

"Are you sure?"

"It can't be! Hiccup got rid of him for good years ago!"

"Savage then?"

Gasps and squeaks of terror rise in the hall as loud Vikings call over one another.

"Excuse me! They're very good questions…. Erm… guys! Excuse me…" I groan and put my face in my hands. Turning to Gobber I say, "I need a horn of some sort."

"I won't argue with that point," he replies staring at the screaming population of Berk.

I jump as Toothless lets out a mighty roar that shakes the building. I stare at him wide-eyed. As does the rest of the village. He turns to me and attempts a smile. I smile back, "Thank you Toothless."

I clap my hands together, "Right, I don't think it was a dragon unless it was a Bewilderbeast which I don't think it was… it's not really their style to break into Islands. If they want a nest they make it- that way they lay a secure claim to it. A whispering death wouldn't have been able to create that much destruction- plus it would have come into the village as it was dark so we'd have seen it. I think we can say the same goes for the screaming death too. There aren't many other dragons that would be able to cause this much damage-"

"What about a Thunderdrum?" Snotlout asks, "Come on it's pretty obvious. It's exactly what a Thunderdrum would've caused." He says boastfully.

I shake my head and for the millionth time say, "A Thunderdrum couldn't have caused that much damage."

"Maybe it was a group of Thunderdrums. Ever thought of that?" He says sarcastically

"We'd have seen them." I say unaffected.

"Maybe not!" He exclaims.

"Snotlout, Thunderdrums like you to know they're the one who are causing the damage unless they've…" He looks uncertainly at me as a deadly thought dawns in my mind, "Unless…If they've been trained… they could have been told to stay out of sight…"

The village looks to me with nervous eyes.

I bite my lip. "It still doesn't look like the damage a Thunderdrum would have caused. They would have hit us from the caves beneath Berk so…" I trail off- my face creased in thought. Could trained dragons have caused this? "I'm still not convinced it's dragons."

"Well of course you're not. You never blame dragons!" Ruffnut pipes up. Many villagers nod and mutter to each other in agreement.

"No it's not that… we didn't see anything- there's no evidence of anything being hit or blasted over the Island, Fishlegs checked earlier on Meatlug. For one the dragons would have picked up other dragons' scent- which they haven't- and there's no sign of anything being hit by a dragon."

"Maybe the dragons have gone faulty," Tuffnut pipes up.

"Dragons can't go faulty," I scoff.

Vikings raise their eyebrows all over the hall. I sigh, "Look I just don't think… all the evidence says that dragons are not the cause of this. I just know. I think this is part of something bigger. Maybe something none of us have ever seen before. Just trust me. This isn't the work of dragons or people."

"Then who caused it?" Someone calls out.

"I don't know but I assure you I will find out."

"And how will we sleep sound at night in the meantime?"

I bite my lip. "Hope and trust in me."

Awwww! Poor Hiccup! Being a chief isn't easy;) Let me know what you thought of this chapter and what you think I could improve. Did I go out of character at all? Did everything make sense? Oh and how are you guys liking Lucy? And Olaf? The new character;) I'll try and get the next chapter up within the next week or two.

Don't forget to review!:D