Oh dear? Thought Astrid, this can't be good. She had opened her hands to reveal a piece of tapestry. Valka took a step back, eyes wide. 'Do you know what this means?' She asked, pointing. Astrid shook her head slowly, 'That would be why I'm here...to find out? Do you recognise the signature at all?' The signature was a curling vine in the shape of a triangle, spikes intertwining. 'Last week, late at night, an old woman from the village knocked on our door. When i opened it she thrust this,' she gestured to the item in question, 'into my hands like she was in a hurry to be somewhere and clearly she was because she dashed off into the night! Leaving me and my ma to wonder what in the world this object could be all night..Ma thought you might know something, so that's why I'm here.' Valka hesitated before answering confidently that she knew nothing. But she wore a little frown that afternoon that convinced Astrid otherwise.
Snotlout, after a day full of pure boredom, was enjoying a drink in the tavern. Of course, a drink meant chilled yaks milk with a kick. He and the team not long ago were defending the a whole two islands full of people and dragons and now his days resulted in putting out house fires. Where was the excitement? He sat on a stool one arm on his hip and scouted the area for a beautiful lady. He scowled, which in Snotlout language could only mean - one tavern in town and not a woman worthy of my attention! If it weren't for Fishlegs I would've been here earlier, he thought, his fist tightening around his glass.
'Hey, Snotlout!' A young voice appeared at his left side. 'Huh? Oh.. it's just you Gustav.' Snotlout slumped in his chair and pouted. Gustav raised an eyebrow. 'Yeah, Just little old me! You know what, I've been training reeeeally hard... and as you might know! Me and the gang were wondering if you'd give us a lesson tomorrow..?' Snotlout stared at Gustav, had he not noticed how old the boy was getting? 'Next week...?' Gustav fidgeted. And since when did Gustav have a gang? 'Umm, next month then..?' Since when was he taller? Snotlout had to look up to answer. 'Tomorrow is fine,' he drawled, 'bring your friends down to dragon training straight after lunch, don't be late.' Snotlout then proudly walked out the tavern meeting an 'eager to fly' Hookfang. 'Looks like we're going to get some fun afterall,' he confided in his dragon, immediately before Hookfang set fire to his pants.
Believe it or not the library, if it could be called that, was growing since Hiccup became Chief. He didn't waste the opportunity to deal with Traders for books on things Vikings couldn't yet comprehend. He also used this as an excuse to collect books on tribe or clan symbols. Hiccup believed that the tapestry he found must hold some kind of secret about Stoick. After a week of searching he found what he was looking for. In a book entitled 'The Stupids Guide to Clan Distinction' he found a page that contained the exact symbol found in his Dads den, though he was more curious about where the symbol belonged. His eyes flickered to the name and destination, his eyebrows raised in curiosity. He was going to go on a little trip to a place he'd been to many times before as a kid. The Island of Hermon. And that's exactly what he did. Hiccup and Toothless landed on the main beach, feeling lucky that it was a warm day. No one needs sand flicked on their face when on a mission of self discovery.
'You rest Bud, it's been a long ride.' Hiccup then began re-examining his hand-made map. 'I must have gotten lost here...,' he traces his finger along the route he coloured in red and then pauses over the half way mark. He ran a hand through his hair. Talking to himself he imagines what Gobber will say when he arrives home late, 'Great going Hiccup missing your meeting last night, everyone really feels like they can depend on you during next winter season!' Hiccup shook the sand out of his metal made leg in frustration. The tribe more than made up for his Dads disappointment in him. He remembered his Dad taking him to Hermon beach to collect shiny objects, plus it was a way for Hiccup to have fun without embarrassing the Chief any further. They were never there for long. Just then, Toothless made a noise indicating an intruder to the area. An arrow whizzed by Hiccups arm and he turned around one hand on his own weapon attached to his leg. 'Tell me who you are or I'll start aiming at your friend here...!'