Chapter 5: Lots of Questions, Few Answers

Bog Burglar Island

Hiccup and Heather waited on the far edge of the island hoping Cami would return with helping hands instead of drawn weapons and a cage. After Berk, Outcast Island and a string of uninhabited places, they were in need of a change of pace, and definitely something permanent.

It wasn't easy keeping a fire going with the damp weather around them. Toothless had to stoke it a couple times. Unbeknownst to them, the fire was drawing the attention of a different creature there. Toothless could sense something was wrong but it was far off. He'd let them know if it got too close.

"Are you alright, Hiccup?", asked Heather.

"Yeah, why?" He seemed confused but he knows why she was asking.

"Well I can't help but notice what happens to you when it's too dark. You start shaking, breathing heavy, and you tend to space out like you forget where you are."

Heather's concerns were valid, but Hiccup didn't like to talk about it; mostly because it was a problem he couldn't explain. Back on Outcast Island, he spent three of the first six months in a darker part of the prison. The whipping was rough but he'd gladly take that over the effects of this. A small room with no light getting in except through a small hole in the door, damp and cold, he was brought food once a day, and he eventually lost all concept of time. It was just the usual cruelty of Alvin at the time. The dark room was typically for thievery or attempted invaders, but having the son of a chief for a prisoner made Hiccup special in this regard. Another part of the burden for the small boy.

Even after leaving the island, when it was too dark, Hiccup would have these moments where he'd be spacing out and forgetting where he was. Once it happened during a flight and they nearly crashed into the water. Heather demanded answers and she was not buying the idea he was tired.

"I'm sorry about what happened before, and I never meant to snap at you", Hiccup explained. "I just have these moments where it's like I'm back in that cell and I don't know how to make it stop. I keep thinking it will go away, but it hasn't worked yet, I'm trying really."

"Okay, I get it, Hiccup". Heather responded. "I'll help in any way I can, but remember that avoiding it won't help."

"I…I know Heather. Before you came along, it wasn't as simple as eat, sleep, back to work. They had to break me down. I don't know why. I think Alvin just got some sick pleasure out of it. On top of that I had no idea if Toothless was okay or if anybody would even come back for me. The truth is I have no idea how much longer I would've lasted in there."

Heather listened to this with a somber face, but her fists were clenched most of the time. Her family being missing was bad, but Hiccup being discarded by his was just as bad, if not worse. She felt sorrow for him, and anger towards all the others who had done this to him. Alvin, Stoick, and the entire Hooligan tribe.

She dreaded to think what they did to actual criminals on Berk because in her eyes, Hiccup was the most gentle, understanding person she'd ever met outside of her tribe and didn't know why he had drawn such ire from his people. He was unusual maybe, but a kind young man. Empathetic, brave, very smart and hard working. And even despite how he'd been treated by, well almost everyone, there wasn't a bad bone in his body. She saw it, Cami saw it. Why didn't they? Why didn't his father for that matter? Were they so inclined to think brute strength and bloodshed was the only way, that a boy like Hiccup didn't belong? What had he dealt with for fifteen years? Did he have any happy memories there? She didn't want to press this any more than Hiccup wanted. She was grateful for his help and would allow him to open up in his own time.

Suddenly, Toothless stood up with ears back and eyes slanted up. Something was coming out of the fog. An unfamiliar presence that warranted him to protect the kids.

"Toothless, what's wrong?" Hiccup showed much concern. He hoped the Bog tribe wasn't coming with weapons. "Easy, bud." The last thing they needed was to look threatening to another tribe.

"He did the same thing before he found Camicazi," Heather pointed out. "He knows something's nearby."

Toothless' mouth glowed as he readied a plasma blast for whatever may be coming. What he sensed wasn't human, but a creature, and soon Hiccup and Heather both heard something. It was a low growl getting louder, meaning it was running towards the fire. The bushes moved and out popped…another dragon.

"It's another dragon." Hiccup said. The newcomer was not full grown if Hiccup had to guess. It was a bit smaller than Toothless and the growl seemed adolescent.

Heather asked, "Yeah but what kind is it?" Fair question and Hiccup wondered that too. It was slender, with green eyes and a horn on its snout. Its scales looked metallic and the tail looked very sharp. No doubt a Sharp class, like the Deadly Nadder Hiccup remembered back on Berk. He read that book of dragons so much and it killed him to forget which this was at the moment.

"I don't know. It looks familiar, but the name escapes me. The fire must've drawn it in." Hiccup approached but the creature growled, untrusting of the boy. "Yeah, people stink, don't they? I don't blame you." Hiccup chuckled.

Heather suddenly noticed a mark on its front leg. "Hiccup, look there. I think she's hurt." Hiccup saw the deep burn mark and agreed. The silver dragon turned towards Heather.

"Maybe she ran into the wrong group or got into a fight with another dragon. Wait, how do you know it's a she?" Hiccup wondered.

"The lashes on the eyes give me that impression. That's all." Heather shrugged as she said this.

"You could be right." Hiccup tried again but the dragon growled again and Toothless was getting more antsy. "Bud, easy. She's just frightened." Toothless relented a little bit but kept his eyes trained on this stranger.

The dragon's full attention had turned to Heather. It was as if she saw something in her. The dragon hesitated as Heather took a step and Heather responded in kind.

"Hiccup…"

"It's okay, Heather. Just approach slowly, remember? See what she does. I think she likes you." Heather wasn't sure why, but what Hiccup said about this strange dragon seemed right. And Heather felt something too, if she was honest. Heather stopped as she came within a few feet of the dragon and just held her hand forward to see what happened.

The shiny creature cocked her head to the side and decided to see if her senses about the girl were right. Heather then felt a cold snout against her hand and when she opened her eyes to look, the dragon's were shut. She was relaxed and seemed to trust Heather on some level. Hiccup and Toothless looked at each other with a smirk.

"Wow." Heather had never done this before and was amazed at how easy it was.

"I know, right? Good job. I think we just made a new friend. Of course I have no idea why she's here still. Maybe…" There was suddenly screeches and roars back in the fog and it made the two dragons turn in shock. Hiccup and Heather responded in kind. Then the silver one ran past Heather into another part of the woods.

"Hey, wait! What's wrong?" Heather showed concern for her. Poor dragon seemed confused and frightened, like Heather had been after her clan was attacked. "Whatever is in that fog has her scared. It might be what injured her."

"You could be right", Hiccup agreed. "At the same time, taming a dragon takes time. She won't completely trust you right away, although that was faster than me and Toothless."

"There's something in those woods that scares her and has probably scared people who have attempted invasions here." Heather claims.

Hiccup silently agreed with this. The Bog Burglars lived in a very remote part of the Archipelago, but many knew where to find them, so why were they not pillaged as often on their own land? This back area provided plenty of cover for sneak attacks due to the wooded area and dense fog. It was either traps or a natural defense system back here. And Heather may have discovered the truth. There were dragons back here defending their territory. This made Hiccup realize the silver dragon was lost. And given she was not full size either, she may need looking after. Hiccup took a deeper look into the fog and could swear he saw glowing in the distance, but he and Heather had no time to wonder as Camicazi returned by water with some soldiers. She said something to the ones on the boat to let them know to be calm and she'd handle things.

"Cami, what's happening here?" Hiccup asked.

"My mother wants to speak with you. She was very relieved I survived, but she is still concerned. I was able to explain things to her, but she needs to see this for herself. The attack on our boats earlier has her on edge. I didn't see whose ships they were and most of that was a relief package to Berk. They had a rather unusual dragon raid and needed weapons, supplies, and rations. We couldn't spare much and we can't get word out right away without knowing who attacked us and why. Stoick may not understand and he doesn't like his deals being unfulfilled."

"I understand. I'll talk with her." Hiccup knew his father didn't take to excuses and he wondered what was so unusual about the raid. He still hoped everyone was alright.

"What about Toothless?" Heather asked.

"He can go too. I told them you would keep close watch over him and they won't act hostile unless necessary. My tribe is a little more tolerant of dragons than Berk, it seems. No offense, Hiccup."

"What for? I know better than anybody what happens to dragons there." Hiccup chuckled, but with a heavy heart; reminded of why he was out here at all, but thankful in a certain way. "Let's go. This sounds serious. Maybe I can help."

Cami nodded and they all went on the boat. The other sailors took heed of the Night Fury, but Hiccup stayed near him; making sure Toothless behaved. As friendly as Toothless was, he like any human or creature; being suspicious around strangers. Camicazi reassured the sailors as they set sail for the Bog village.

Berk/One month later

The village repairs were finally done. Luckily the dragon raids were shorter during the winter and they hadn't been attacked since the last peculiar raid, which worked out for many reasons. The kids were still bickering. They refused to work together on some days because of the twins' antics, Snotlout's carefree demeanor, and most of all, Astrid's short temper. Stoick tried numerous times to get her to cool down, but didn't spare a minute to find out what was wrong with her. Her parents couldn't calm her down at home, either. She would just eat, sleep, and storm out.

Gobber had rebuilt part of his forge. Of course with the mason broken and his best worker still gone, weapons were still in short supply.

The Burglars and the Meatheads agreed to spare some rations and weapons. Chief Oswald of the Beserkers never replied to Stoick, which was unusual. Perhaps things were rough there as well, he thought. (More than he knew actually)

Stoick was waiting on Spitelout and his crew to return with Hiccup. Things, at the forge especially, had been in disarray lately, and while Stoick hated admitting it, it mostly began after his son was sent away and he sent the village on a wild dragon chase. If there had been a Night Fury, it was long gone.

The kids were still going about as usual. Of course most of it wasn't helping the village. Snotlout was lazy, the twins built things without planning, Fishlegs was better at planning, not building, and Astrid had little patience trying to get their cooperation.

All Astrid really did most days was sulk or go to the woods and fling her new axe into the tree. Hiccup's birthday present to her. She really liked it. The blade stayed very sharp, the balance was excellent and nearly pierced the entire trunk of the tree the first time. She hated admitting how potent the weapon really was because it came from a guy she never really gave a thought. Why was being oblivious about Hiccup making her feel bad? That was normal, right? Nobody took notice of Hiccup or was that why he had trouble learning?

And the more she gave thought to that, the more frustrated she became. Hiccup never picked things up quickly, or was it that he paid attention to the details? Vikings weren't known for patience, or thinking really. They tended to learn as they go. Hiccup tried that approach and the end results were unpleasant, but he always kept trying.

A million thoughts about the boy called "useless" ran through her head. It's all she could do as she stared at his gift. She wanted Gobber to fix her old one before Hiccup returned because she wouldn't give the boy the satisfaction of seeing her with it. Wait..why did that matter? She knew Hiccup had some kind of crush on her but that was no different than the other boys. Or was it? Sure he approached once in a while but he never tried pathetic lines like that pig, Snotlout. Astrid guessed he respected her space; that or he was afraid of catching a fist. Either way, she appreciated it about him.

'Oh, what am I doing?' She thought to herself. 'Why is he getting to me again? He's not even here. He'll be back soon and this will all go back to normal. Whatever that is.'

She headed back to the forge hoping her old axe was finally done, but the place was empty. Gobber probably went to eat, so she let herself in to check on things. She couldn't find the axe, so she went back to Hiccup's area, curious to see what else he did back here. It was mostly sketches on the wall. Weapon designs he apparently thought of making, but stopped. There were drawings of the docks, the sea stacks outside of Berk, his father's house, a few of the dragons in the kill ring, and another dragon that she didn't recognize. 'The Night Fury, maybe…? Oh stop! There's no Night Fury!' She mentally kicked herself.

Astrid bumped against Hiccup's desk and something fell on the floor. It was a journal. Clearly something Hiccup wrote in private. She guessed he had a lot of free time for that, plus he avoided people after a bad day. Understandable, she guessed. It's not like many wanted to be around him anyway.

Astrid didn't know why, but she started to open it, but then she heard Gobber returning, singing that stupid Viking song again and closed it immediately. She jumped out of Hiccup's area and nearly ran into Gobber.

"Whoa, lass. 'Scuse me there. Wait, why are ya here?" He asked.

Astrid stuttered for a moment before saying, "I, uh, wondered if my old axe is done."

"You still want that thing? What about your new one?" Gobber was surprised. Most Vikings would kill for such a perfectly crafted axe. Ladies would especially find it flattering. Astrid may have been an exception, but still…

"I…It's just…" Suddenly, Astrid couldn't find the answer. What was the big deal? Hiccup made the other one, too. What did she care if he saw her with the new one instead?

"What? You don't like it?" Gobber was definitely confused here. Was this about Hiccup in some way?

"Yea…NO…I…uh…", Astrid was kicking herself again. 'Think of something!' "I'd just like to have a spare, just in case this wears down. That's all." Astrid breathed finally.

"Uh-huh" Gobber raised a brow and didn't seem convinced. I mean he wasn't known for being intuitive, but he couldn't shake the idea Astrid wasn't saying something. But he didn't really have time, plus Astrid could explode any minute.

"Well, I understand, lass. Never hurts to be prepared. Sorry but your old one is still in back. I haven't gotten the mason fixed and I have a million other things to do right now. If it's wear you're worried about, that new one seems pretty durable. Hiccup obviously found a way to keep it from wearing down. I'll be curious to ask him. You should be fine for now."

Astrid relented. "Okay. Thanks anyway." She just went home. She was too tired for this anyway.

Gobber was a little shocked at how easy that was. In times before, Astrid would raise her voice and stomp off, knocking things over, but she just left this time with a somber look. He thought he saw something in her hand when she left but paid no mind to it. She seemed distracted, too.

'Why was she in Hiccup's work station? Is that why she's been acting this way?' Gobber wondered, but shrugged it off. 'Not like I'm 'bout to ask her. I need some quiet.'

Astrid walked home in a daze. She couldn't really figure out what happened back there. She went there intent on finding her old axe, but instead just accepted Gobber's apology and walked off with…

'Hiccup's journal? How did I…? Great.' She forgot she was holding this when she heard Gobber coming back. She was too tired to go back now. She'd sneak it back in the morning. Hopefully, Hiccup wasn't returning for a while.

Oh, if she only knew.

Bog-Burglar Island/A month earlier

As the boat arrived in the village, Hiccup could tell all eyes were facing them. He did his best to keep Toothless calm. Despite the fact he helped her daughter, Hiccup knew Chieftess Bertha was being very generous, allowing a fugitive from Berk, an unknown girl, AND a Night Fury into her home. What else could he expect? Cami could put a good word in, but he had to prove that to her mother.

As they stepped off the boat, Hiccup guided Toothless close to him, listening to him whimper. Hiccup could tell the poor creature was nervous. He wasn't used to crowds and he definitely was wary around Vikings. How could he not be?

Big Bertha was waiting at the end of the docks with guards at attention. This tribe was mostly women, from what Hiccup knew, but they looked just as intimidating to someone like Hiccup and just as frightening to a wary dragon. Hiccup stepped forward with Cami, while Heather stayed back to keep Toothless calm.

"Well, Hiccup Haddock." Bertha said. "This is a surprise, certainly with a dragon for company, of all things."

Hiccup bowed his head slightly. "Chieftess. Thank you for allowing us to be here. Camicazi was just as shocked at the sight when I found her."

She and Cami smirked at that. Bertha liked the boy's manners. "Yes, she mentioned that. I had heard of Night Furies, but never saw one. Couldn't be sure they were still alive. Much smaller than I imagined. Let's talk."

Hiccup was confused by the request. He wanted to ask to keep Toothless nearby, but Bertha replied. "I've told the villagers not to provoke your dragon. Cami can stay with him and your friend there, if you're worried. That's all for now. Now come."

Hiccup was unsure but he agreed. He had to build trust here and it was a step up from Outcast Island. He had to take whatever grace he could find. He trusted Cami. Who would endanger the heiress to the tribe anyway?

"Bud, you stay there, okay? I'll be alright." Toothless warbled and laid down next to the girls. He'd had a pretty long day as well. Hiccup stepped inside Bertha's hut with two guards at the door so they could speak privately.

Bertha asked about everything to see if Cami had left any of it out. The Chieftess formed a technique of asking two different people the same story to see if it all lined together. It was her way of establishing trust and getting to the truth.

Hiccup just started from the beginning. He was used to not getting a word in and allowing himself to be reamed by those around him, mainly his father, but here he had a voice. And after his dealings with Alvin and the Outcasts, he had a little extra confidence in himself.

Bertha listened to everything about Hiccup's imprisonment up to finding Cami and it all seemed plausible to her. Bertha could sniff out liars, and from what little she knew of Hiccup, he wasn't good at lying anyway. Her daughter liked this boy, so she offered him a fair shake.

"Well, you've had quite a year haven't you, boy?" She said with a smirk. "The fact you've managed to survive such an ordeal at your age, along with not having the brawn of your father to back it up, is impressive."

"Some of it was luck, if I'm being honest, ma'am". Hiccup was humble too. That or it was lack of self-confidence. Nobody was sure. "Luck that I met Heather and luck my dragon came to save me, although I have no idea how he was able to find me out there."

"Aye, son. Fortune comes into play once in a while. It seems you needed some of it, but don't sell yourself short. Your wits and will apparently earned you the respect of the Outcasts, and that's not easy. Don't misunderstand me. Alvin and his kind are not the lot I would ever trust with my own."

Hiccup nodded in agreement. "It's why I felt responsible to get Heather out of there. I'm not much protection, but she needed someone."

"Heh. Seems she and my lass don't mind you for company, though beggars can't be choosers." The guards laughed with her at that comment.

Hiccup raised a brow at the dig.

"I'm only kidding, lad. I'm grateful for you rescuing my girl. Although I need to know if you know anything about the attack. Did you see any ships?" Bertha wondered.

"I wish. We were flying too high. Toothless, uh…, my dragon sensed something below, so we checked it out. All we saw was wreckage and then Cami on some rocks."

"Oh, well." Bertha relented. "That brings me to my other important question. We haven't many weapons to spare for your tribe at the moment. The ships that were attacked had what we could spare and until it feels safe to travel, we can't get word out to your father about what happened."

Hiccup looked wary about this. He couldn't go home yet, not knowing what was waiting for him or Toothless. "What is it you're asking, Chieftess?"

"I understand the circumstances of you leaving Outcast Island has your exile from Berk in limbo. Your father, as you may know, doesn't take kindly to change like this, whether it violates Viking code or not, and I have no intention of putting my tribe in the middle of that."

Hiccup looked defeated. "You want us to leave?"

Bertha replied, "If that is your choice, but I hear you worked as a blacksmith's apprentice, so you may stay as a guest for what you did for Cami, IF you are willing to help with our weaponry. It would need to be done in haste in order to avoid any conflicts with Berk, while we search for who or what attacked us."

Hiccup was all for helping out if it meant getting some rest for Toothless and Heather. He was in need of company himself too. "Alright. I'd love to help. But my father…"

"Now, son, I won't tell Stoick about you, unless it's what you want. This is a contract between you and me. A reward for protecting the heiress."

Hiccup looked in surprise at the woman's wisdom.

"Well, don't look so surprised, lad. You don't get to where I am without brawn AND brains."

Hiccup smiled. "Apologies, Chieftess. I meant nothing."

"No need, son. You are well-mannered and in all honesty, I'd much prefer you here to those other boys back on Berk. Forgive me."

Hiccup shook his head. "You're not saying anything I don't know, ma'am."

"I suppose not. Just remember to keep your dragon behaved. Being a Night Fury, perhaps he'll keep those Changewings in the bog from coming out here."

What Bertha said got Hiccup's full attention. "Changewings live out here? Oh, that must be what we heard from the back" Hiccup asked.

"Yes. They actually provide perfect protection for the back end of our island. Many outsiders think it's haunted, but it's just their nests, and they do not like intruders, so it works well. Except if other dragons wander in there. The Changewings get aggressive or scared and tend to wander. They spit acid and because they blend in with anything, it's near impossible to spot them coming."

"Wow. You know a lot more about them than the book we have at Berk."

"Well, not many do", Bertha said. "They've settled here pretty nicely. We just don't tell other tribes. We don't need those blundering idiots hunting around here. Plus, Cami is getting a little too curious about them. I worry she might want to tame one like you now."

"Oh. Heh. Sorry." Hiccup shrugged. He remembered when he visited here and told Cami how he wanted to find the Night Fury. Of course, back then, it was just to impress his father. A task that proved impossible over the years. Cami swore him to secrecy about the dragons in the bog, along with her secret hideaways here.

"Although…" Hiccup started.

"HADDOCK…" He was getting a stern warning from Bertha not to suggest anything of the sort.

"Forgive me. I was just going to say how Changewings are perfect for the Bog-Burglar tribe, given their skillset."

Bertha opened her mouth to yell, but then started thinking. "Well, you're not wrong there, but Cami is too young and rash for that right now."

"I understand."

"Besides," Bertha continued. "We are already in the middle of a mess with a stray dragon running loose out here."

Hiccup's eyes went wide at that. "Sorry?"

"Oh, well if you must know. Another woman came here claiming a dragon she was taking care of wandered out here and we're afraid it might disturb the Changewings. We agreed to let her stay and help look for it. We've had no luck finding it."

"Uh, pardon me, Chieftess?" Hiccup started. "What did this dragon look like?"

Hiccup had her attention and said, "Was it maybe medium sized with metal scaling and a horn on its snout?"

Bertha stood up and Hiccup jumped back. "You saw it?! Where was it?"

"Well, at the back of the island. It wandered into our camp. It only stayed for a minute. It seemed frightened."

Cami then burst in with Heather, while Toothless could be seen out the door. Cami ran up and said, "Mother! Heather saw the Razorwhip. It wandered into their camp and ran away while I was out getting help for them."

'Razorwhip! That's the name!' Hiccup thought to himself.

"Yes, I know." Bertha said. "Hiccup was just telling me."

"We should move before it wanders into the nests again." Cami seemed too excited.

"I'll get Minden first and tell her we spotted it." Bertha insisted. "She needs to be there."

"We can help, if you like". Everyone turned as Heather spoke. "This dragon seemed special to me. It's hard to explain, but I felt a connection."

"I don't know." Bertha was hesitant.

"Please, Chieftess." Hiccup chimed in. "I saw it too. Besides, we're good at this."

Bertha sighed. "Very well. But not without protection. Nothing is good against Changewing acid, but it's better than nothing. Hiccup, get your dragon, too."

"Thank you, Chieftess," said Heather. "By the way, Hiccup and I found a strong metal on another island. Cami mentioned your weapon supply was low. Maybe we could work something out."

Things seemed to be coming together, for now.