Fishlegs and Meatlug walked about the forest, looking for signs that Mani was nearby.

"Seriously," the youth muttered. "If he wanted me to help him learn about dragons, the least he could've done was make it easy to find him."

Meatlug gurgled in sympathy for her Rider.

"Aw, you always get me, girl. Thanks for that."

"Hey, Fishlegs!"

The boy screamed a little, spinning around to look for the threat. He saw Mani carrying some logs right behind him. "Thor, Mani! Don't sneak up on a guy like that!"

"Why does everyone think I'm sneakin' up them?" Mani asked, head shaking. "I heard you comin' a mile away, thought I'd say hi, and see what's up? Need help with anythin'?"

"Uh, no, nothing," Fishlegs answered. "Just wanted to ask if you were up to learning about dragons today."

Mani's face broke into a huge grin. "That'd be fantastic! I'm really curious about all the dragons, and what they can do! I mean, the past year, I've only ever seen Hati, so any other dragon could kill me instantly. I think I can tell you anything you want to know about Timberjacks but any else would be difficult."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Slow down, please!" Fishlegs interrupted. "Do you want to know about specific dragons, or do you want learn about each class?"

"Well, first off, let's get to my campsite, huh? These logs are gettin' heavy." Mani shifted the pile of lumber to get a firmer grip. "It's just this way."

Fishlegs followed the younger teen deeper into the woods. "So, where's Hati?"

"Around," was the vague reply. "We don't need to be with each other constantly. If I need help, I'll whistle, and if she does, she'll call me."

"Don't you ever worry that hunters would get her first, though?" Fishlegs asked.

"Oh, sure, every time. But, she was a wild dragon first. She knows how ta take care of herself. I'm the one who came buttin' inta her life, and she decided to stay with me. So, if every once in a while she wants ta go off huntin' on her own, I'll let her have her space. She always comes back to me in the end, and she shares her dinner, so it's all fine."

"Wait," Fishlegs paused, face contorted in a grimace. "You share a dragon's meal?"

Mani turned slightly, confused at Fishlegs' reaction. "Of course. If she's willing to offer, why would I refuse her generosity?"

Fishlegs stared incredulously. "You eat the half-digested food of a dragon?"

"Wait, what?" Mani gagged. "Freya, no! Hati's learned that's not how I get my nourishment. Trust me, once was enough. And it happened to be a time when I was starvin', so I didn't even care where it came from."

Fishlegs groaned and shuddered. "So you did at one time eat it?"

"When I say I was starvin'," Mani continued, "I'm not exaggeratin'. I got as sick as an expecting mother at sea after eating what she gave me." Mani stopped walking and placed the logs on the forest floor before turning to face the older teen. "No, when I say that she shares with me, I only mean that she hunts enough for two. I skin the ones I want, and she gets the rest."

"So, you've been living on squirrels for about a year, then?" asked the boy.

"Eh, not just squirrels. That's Hati's preference, and I'm more partial to boar meat, myself. These arrows aren't just for show, ya know."

"Where'd you learn to craft arrows? And shoot them like you did?" Fishlegs asked. Hey, if he could get more information about the stranger to share with the others, then maybe Astrid would be less likely to murder the kid when Hiccup asked Mani to join the academy. "It must've taken years of practice to be able to get as good as you," he added, hoping to butter the archer up.

Mani slightly raised an eyebrow. "Are ya grillin' me, Fishlegs? Just 'cause I tell ya a couple things about me, doesn't mean I'm about to spill out my life story. I think that's enough reminiscin' for the day. What are we gonna learn about first?"

"I thought we were waiting 'til we got to your campsite?"

Mani chuckled. "There's a reason we stopped moving, Fishlegs. I'm more than capable of talking and walking at the same time."

Fishlegs looked around, and saw evidence of a campfire, some wooden shavings, and clear signs of a giant, legless reptile.

"Oh." The large boy stood there awkwardly, before Meatlug lay down beside him.

Mani smiled. "Follow your dragon's example, Fishlegs. Just sit down, get comfortable." The smaller blonde fell straight down, cross-legged, and began to place some of the logs in the firepit.

"Are you starting a fire now?" Fishlegs asked, surprised, because the sun was still high in the sky.

"Nah," the other replied. "I'm just getting it ready for tonight. So! How about you tell me all about Meatlug's kind first? Since she's here?"

Fishlegs brightened up immediately. While he loved to talk and geek out about any kind of dragon, Gronckles were, naturally, his favorite.

"Well, Meatlug, if you remember, is a member of the Boulder Class of dragons. She is fourteen feet long, has an eighteen foot wingspan, and five thousand, seven hundred and twenty-four pounds of pure love." At this, he gave his sweet dragon a snuggling hug, which was happily returned. "Her skin is so thick, it's an impenetrable armor, yet it's still soft and springy, perfect for hugs."

Mani let out a little laugh that sounded remarkably like a giggle, which caused Fishlegs to pause and look up in surprise. But when the archer merely nodded at him to continue, he obliged.

"You might remember, she eats rocks, and they melt in her stomach to help her produce liquid fire. Which does a whole lot of damage. When she's angry, she is as ferocious as any dragon. But for the most part, she's as loving and sweet as a baby yak."

Fishlegs paused a moment. "Um, Mani? Not that I doubt you, or anything, but…"

"Never have those words been uttered without war breaking out later," Mani casually mentioned, but the green eyes were sparkling, reassuring Fishlegs that the younger teen wasn't too upset with him.

"Well, it's just that…" Fishlegs stammered. "We recently had someone come onto Berk, with the intent of learning all our dragon secrets and telling them to Alvin." The sparkle left Mani's eyes, but Fishlegs continued, "She kinda flirted with all the guys, and I just realized that I'm telling you exactly what I told-"

"Fishlegs," Mani interrupted, voice clipped, and as hard as steel. Fishlegs glanced over, and noticed how Mani's fists clenched tightly in anger. "Let me say, right now, that anyone who manipulates and lies to get what they want are lower than the dirt in my toenails. I will never get you guys to tell me secrets in that way. If fact, if ya even have secrets, you'd probably be better off keeping them to yourself in the first place." Mani's fingers twitched oddly, as if the archer was tempted to whistle for the absent Timberjack. Instead, the blonde head just shook, and glared at the larger boy. "If these aren't well-known facts, Fishlegs, and they really are supposed to be secret, then I'm sorry for prying. When I ask for privacy, I know to extend that courtesy to my hosts, as well."

"It's not exactly a bunch of secrets," Fishlegs explained, feeling a little embarrassed that such an outburst came from the newcomer. "It's just that I was telling you exactly what I told Heather, and it occurred to me that if Astrid ever heard me saying this, she'd probably kill the both of us…"

Mani sighed. "That's not much better, Fishlegs. Look, I can't promise ya that I won't use this knowledge against ya. I'm a selfish person, and if I need to get away from everyone, I will be willing to use any knowledge ya give me against ya. But I can promise ya that I don't want to hurt ya, and I'll do everything in my power to keep every one of ya from harm. Hopefully, I won't have to run any time soon," the archer muttered, looking away. "I'm so tired of it…"

Fishlegs frowned. "Why are you-?"

"Not answerin', don't even bother," came the short reply. "Fishlegs, will it hurt your people if you share your knowledge with me?"

The heavy set boy shook his head.

"Do ya trust me enough to know that this Alvin guy is up to no good, and I will not be in cohorts with him?"

"Sure, I guess."

Mani raised a brow. "Not very reassurin'…"

Fishlegs tried to explain. "I trust you, Mani, and I know that Hiccup trusts you, but I'm not sure about the others, except Astrid I know doesn't like you. No idea why, though…"

"Okay, how about this: are you comfortable with teachin' me about dragons?"

"Well, sure, I've got no problem with it," Fishlegs admitted. "And Hiccup knows I'm doing this, and he's cool with it, too."

"Well, then… Ya said Meatlug was in the Boulder class, yes? What other dragons can be in that group?"

Fishlegs, relieved that the conversation was back into safe waters, and completely reassured that Mani would not betray them, discussed dragons until the sun went down.