Animal House
It was shortly after the Red Death's death that major changes had been brought about the Isle of Berk with now Vikings and Dragons living side by side after 300 years of stupidity.
It was still adjustment for many people and it was soon to be revealed it wasn't only the people and dragons who were still getting use to the new living arrangements it would appear.
Two of Berk noticeable residents named Bucket and Mulch had gone up to one of the local farms to get eggs and milk as the first snow was coming and found to their dismay not any of the animals were giving anything to earn their keep.
Bucket whom was very simple-minded after being struck by lightning when he was younger which is why he wore a bucket was even more confused. Mulch his best friend who was able to explain things to him while getting things done at the same time was worried.
"I'm confused again, Mulch. Are you sure its chickens that lay eggs and yak that make milk?" as he looked a third time at the hen coop without seeing a single egg and Mulch tried a fourth yak with no milk.
"Bucket, I know what animal does what as I told you before. But we need to get the chief at once. This could be a serious problem if none of the animals can give us what they need to give us. You just stay here and keep the animals company and I'll go get the Chief."
"Alright, Mulch, I'll keep the animals company. Will that help?" he asked in a childlike way to which Mulch replied, "We can only hope. Be right back, Bucket."
Mulch found his Chief with his wife and his best friend outside his house seemingly having a conversation about something he got the tail end of.
"Yes, Gobber we are more than happy that now our children have a purpose on the island with the Dragon Training Academy, so now the other kids have to listen to them and show them respect," Stoick was saying in a proud voice with an even prouder smile on his face.
"Though, as I've told them and you too Stoick, before they can have their fun there's work that must be done. So they can't go have fun with their friends or run the Academy till all their chores at home are done.
Nor can those chores be done in a hasten manner. They either do it right or I embarrass them, after all I have no problem embarrassing you if rush your share of the chores either," Valka reminded him with her eyebrows cocked and her arms folded.
"You don't need to remind me of it, Val. The village is well aware of the time you dragged me home by the ear when I was trying to help build a fence because I didn't wash the dishes right. So yes I know. We all do our part to keep the house running smoothly before we do our work outside or have any kind of fun," Stoick's face flushed as red as his beard from that incident which the village did remember quite well.
"Well, you did marry her, Stoick. So I guess that comes with it," laughed Gobber only to earn a stern look from Valka and he quickly stalled his laughter. "You know we are all friends here, Valka. You know I love your kids like there my nephews and niece, right?"
"I know you're like a surrogate uncle and my husband's best friend, but your recent troubles with finding yourself was hard enough on the family and the village. Though it is a delight you're a talented dragon doctor and dentist.
Skullette and Firefang were a big help in the UDS and still are a great help with helping the rest of the village with this new transition, but no neither of them could do dental or doctoring like that. So thank the gods we now have someone to fulfill that need!"
"Was that a big problem when the UDS was still a secret?"
"More than a few times," Valka admitted then noticed Mulch approaching, "Mulch what's the matter? Shouldn't you be at your farm?"
"Pardon me if I was interrupting a private conversation, but I come with a slight problem that could use all your help."
"What's the problem, Mulch?" Stoick asked the man seriously.
"We seemed to be having a problem with the animals. None of the chickens are laying eggs and none of the yaks are giving milk. We're not sure why."
"That's bad news, winter just starting and we need the animals to help us get through it," Valka spoke with great concern in her voice.
"I'll have a look, I know many beasts inside and out. Let's get going and hurry." Gobber informed him as he pulled up his pants and they started towards the farm but as they walked there seem to be one last bit of their conversation yet to be finished.
"So, Stoick I've got to know, since the whole village is wondering this," Gobber was whispering as Mulch was only Nightmare's length in front of them.
"What do you just have to know, Gobber?" whispered Stoick as they made their way to farm.
"Well as everyone in the village was beyond shock by Berk least favorite Viking Mildew and the gull he had to go very below the belt less than two weeks after the Red Death's death and before we gave your kids the Academy..."
"You mean how that abhorrent maggot was beyond offensive with his words by degrading our children and everything to do with them?
From their appearances, intelligence, them training dragons in addition to insulting their gifts as well as calling their gifts a bunch of gobbledygook?
Furthermore having the audacity to not only do this to their faces but in front of us as well? Is that what you're talking about, Gobber?" Valka hissed in a low and dangerous voice at the recent memory of that foul excuse for a human being.
"Yes," he said in a cautious voice, "So, the whole village is kind of been wondering what did you do with him that night after the Academy was founded to shut him up?
Since we know you went to see him at his house and well he's not said anything at least not like that again. He's still a vulgar man but not what he said on day one."
Stoick and Valka exchanged glances and wordless agreement between them before turning to Gobber, "If you don't tell anyone else we'll tell you what we threaten him with if he ever did that again."
"I swear to Odin I won't tell, but what did you threaten him with?"
"We threaten we castrate him with our bare hands and if that didn't do the trick we go further and disembowel him as well," Stoick replied.
Gobber went a little pale realizing they're serious and this wasn't a bluff, "I guess threatening one's manhood even for someone as vile as Mildew would make him think twice before insulting the Chief's children again."
"It better," was all Valka replied while she shook with a big of anger.
"Valka please calm down. We both know what kind of man Mildew is and we both don't like anyone hurting our children and we won't let anything happen to them if we can help it."
"I know, Stoick, I know. And I know we can't protect them from everything, but don't think I won't try."
"I won't expect anything less from you. Though do you know where they're heading this morning by chance?"
"Hiccup was meeting Astrid up in the mountains to go dragon boarding on the fresh powder and yes of course Boden and Una are with them. Hiccup assured me he and Astrid make sure Boden and Una be safe as well."
"Let's hope so, for now let's deal with what we came up here for," as they by now reached the farm in question and Gobber got to work trying to figure out wrong with the animals.
Still while Gobber was working Valka took a quick glance up at the mountain and was wondering where the kids really alright?
At the moment they're fine 'dragon boarding' which was just using your dragon like a snowboard so they slide down the fresh powder at super-fast speeds. As promised Astrid and Hiccup were keeping an eye on Boden and Una.
They just took turns going down different paths and testing their dragons' abilities to maneuver around obstacles. They're refraining from the use of fire and other special abilities to try and keep things safe and friendly.
Unfortunately nothing stays friendly for long. They'd gone to the highest peaks they could find and were going the fastest they'd gone all day. It was like the ultimate thrill of the day. Therefore everyone naturally just got swept up in wanting to win the race to the bottom.
That's when things got dangerous when they started to pull tricks, stunts and other things to try and give them an edge to win.
First it was Stormfly shooting out her spines, followed by Toothless shooting a hole through a snow bank, then Stardust blinded everyone for a moment to take the lead and Una not liking being in last place had Nightrainbow try to sing a new song to really disorient everyone to pull ahead.
However all their actions all were a recipe to set off a chain reaction for an avalanche!
"Hiccup! We've got trouble coming in faster than we can fly!" screamed Una as it was catching up to them too fast to take flight.
"Oh no! Everyone we got to clear that ravine and fast! It's our only shot!"
"We're not gonna make it bro! It's too fast!" cried out a panic Boden as the wall of snow got closer.
"Astrid get on Boden's side I'll get on Una's side maybe we can increases our velocity and make it in time!" and they really tried but they all just fell into the ravine screaming and fell into blackness.
"Are we dead?" squeaked Una in all the darkness to which Boden retorted, "We can't be dead if you're talking Una!"
"Hey! Don't talk like that Boden! Everyone just try and find each other and get together for body warmth and then we'll figure out what happened!" snapped Hiccup and in a moment a light told them what happened.
Looking up they saw their four dragons had formed a circle and saved them, also Hiccup and Astrid were very close together and they broke up quickly and Boden and Una got between them so they still could get body warmth.
"Looks like they saved us, BBBFF!" cried Una as Hiccup tried to put his vest around his sister. "Yeah they did, sis."
"This is totally amazing! One for the true Book of Dragons!" Astrid said as she hugged Boden closer to her chest to keep him warm.
Meanwhile back at the farm Gobber had come to the conclusion the same dragons that had just saved the kids' lives were scaring the daylights out of the animals, hence why they're not providing anything for the Vikings.
"I mean look for yourself clearly their spooked," pointed to a bunch of sheep hitting each other from two nearby dragons, "So Stoick what do you and Valka think we should do? This is your family areas of expertise after all?"
Though before another word could be said a bloody scream was let out and all eyes turned to Bucket and Mulch was looking very worried, "Oh, Bucket, your bucket not tightening up on you is it?" he sounded really worried as he said this.
"No, no, I'm, FINE! OH!"
Valka rushed over to the poor screaming man and tried to render some type of aid, "Are you in some type of pain? What's causing you this discomfort? Mulch?" she question him sternly.
Sighing and looking into Valka's blazing blue eyes he answered quickly and honestly, "Bucket will only scream in this much pain for one reason and one reason only. If his bucket tightening due to an incoming storm and the tighter the bucket the worse the storm."
"Based on this screaming it's got be very tight so a very bad storm coming," Valka surmised from what she was getting only to hear Gobber laughing.
"Storms never hit this early and that the most ridicules thing I ever heard! Predicting the weather with a bucket! That's what chicken bones and goose feet are for!
Or now that we know your kids, Stoick all are blessed by the gods I think they'd tell us if we had any real crisis coming are way."
At these words everyone looked at Gobber with angry looks and Valka got to him first and started to lace him too him. "Gobber! How many times have I told you and the village since my children revealed the truth about their gifts? Must I repeat this for the zillionth time?!
My children may have been blessed but their gifts do not work on command! It not like flipping a lever and they work! They cannot control them! They barely understand what they can do and it's a lot of hit and miss with them. And what they can control is only like 10% at most!
How many times do I have to repeat that till the village gets that?!" she screamed so loudly she also scared the animals as her veins were popping out of her forehead.
"Also if you failed to recall Gobber that bucket your laughing at predict the Blizzard of Olaf and it took us a week to dig Mildew out and the rest of our lives to wonder why we even bothered," snorted Mulch.
"And on both accounts Gobber a wise chief listens to all parties and also gets a second opinion before making a decision. As for my kids, Gobber, Valka right.
They told me everything about their secret lives after they woke up and even I can see for myself they don't have a lot of control or understanding of what the gods blessed them with.
It may take years and countless different situations before they can make them work on command or understand them, or even unlock their full potential. Till then they're relying on more handy skills like their minds and other things they can do for now." Stoick informed his best friend as now he along with his wife made the trek to see the village elder Gothi.
Gothi was as short as she was a mute, but never make the mistake of interrupting her though. She had a powerful enough whack with her staff it could leave you out cold for two days straight. So she maybe small and mute but she still wasn't to be underestimated by any means.
"Gothi," Stoick began as respectfully as he could, "I've come for your wisdom. Is there gonna be a storm?"
The old woman stopped what she was doing and began to write in the sand with her staff and both Stoick and Valka turned to Gobber who was more adept at reading Gothi's words then either of them.
"She's saying "What do you think?" and the men were clueless as to what she meant or how she knew about the storm.
Valka being a woman had a touch more brain power. She'd already took one look around them when they'd arrived and saw Gothi was already preparing for the storm. So she just asked "Let me guess you heard Bucket screaming from all the way up here and starting boarding up that very second?"
To which she got a nodded from the old lady as well as smile before she turned her eyes to her husband and his buffoon friend and rolled them.
"I agree Gothi some men just don't use their common sense, but my sons at least were taught to use their brains, I can assure of that. Thank you for second opinion. Now we better go get a jump on this. Good luck at preparing for the storm and have a nice day!
Come along Stoick! You too Gobber! I'm calling Cloudjumper to get us home ASAP and then let's find the kids!" as Valka walk to the edge of the structure and began to call for her dragon to come get them.
Meanwhile the kids and Astrid were recounting their harrowing tale before Fishlegs and Snotlout. Well they're also doing a little more than just that to be honest.
Before Fishlegs and Snotlout had found them sitting at the observation post Hiccup and Astrid were in the mist of brushing and detangling Boden and Una's hair which always seem to get knotted badly after they did an activity together.
So while Hiccup was busy untangling his brother's longish hair and Astrid's his sister shoulder length hair they're talking and taking things slowly and easy just as his mother told them to do.
After they'd woke up from their coma and gotten back from that first flight after they defeat the Red Death Valka had pulled Hiccup and Astrid aside to talk to them about not just dating but how to make a real relationship work and last.
Her advice had been very wise, practical and smart and she had made Boden and Una sit through as well so when they found someone to like they didn't need to be told later.
Valka explained a good and healthy relationship came from taking things at a slow and easy pace and not rushing into things, but letting things develop naturally and taking a few simple steps first.
First to remember as a kid or teenager you are in an awkward phase already. Experience new feelings and sensations within yourself, your body and other people. So you first had to get through this and understand that.
Which also meant getting through just simple attraction and infatuation feelings and letting them become more real and genuine feelings and to do that you had do a few things first.
First you'd to get to know the person you like as a person, not a lover but as person and friend. To know who they were as themselves. To earn their respect and trust as well as their friends and family respect and trust. So friends first before lovers and be able to like them past simple physical attraction by being able to have a real conversation them and respect them as a person.
Then be able to have a simple date and not some fancy nine yards. Something as simple as a walk together and not going all physical. Just simple things at first and again nice and slow and let things happen gradually.
Rushing into a full on passionate romance with all the hugs, kisses and the bedroom? Too many people get hurt that way and things just don't work out. Slow and steady does the trick.
So taking your time and even months and years really building your relationship will make both of you stronger and help you know if it's real or just more hormonal.
So that's what Hiccup and Astrid had decided to do was follow Valka's advice and not rush headlong into a full flung romance. Nothing serious or heavy, just slowly getting to really know each other and being friends and letting time and love take its own course.
And as Hiccup wasn't alone he was always with Boden and Una they're part of this relationship. As a result Astrid had to make sure she got along with them on the other hand they did know if they really need privacy to step out enough to give it to them.
Nevertheless for simple things like needing time to have a conversation to get to know each other better or just bond they did simple things like this. Brushing the knots out of Boden or Una's hair or like earlier doing an activity together.
And so far it seemed Valka's advice was working and more people could really use it would seem as that point was soon to be made all too clear as they're recounting the daring tale from earlier in the day.
"It was so amazing! We really thought we're toast as that wall of white was heading towards us at speeds you cannot imagine!" Boden was chatting away in an animated way as he sat beneath his brother who was working on getting a particular hard knot out of his hair.
"It was like death cometh! Of course it was really our own fault if we hadn't got caught up in trying to one up each other and win a silly race, ow! Astrid!" moaned Una with a slight tear in her right eye.
"Oh sorry, Una," Astrid said in an apologetic tone, "I didn't mean for my nails to nip the back of your ears there. You have such lovely hair you know. So soft and silky. Gold as the sun and vibrant as fresh lilacs," as she continue to detangle it.
"Thank you, Astrid and you nails only nicked my left ear. I love my hair so much. I can't wait for the day it's as long as Mommy's so I can wear it just like hers! Then I will just look like Mommy!" Una squealed happily at that delightful thought.
"Well, I just want my hair to grow as long as I can get it. So maybe my hair will grow so long one day it will reach as long as Mom's too," Boden said then yelped, "Hiccup! Be careful!"
"Sorry, bro but you got a really big knot here. And don't worry, I'll always help you with however long your hair gets, but I really just wish they invent something that help us with the knots you two get after these little adventures of ours. So you know there be less tears and screams?" Hiccup said as he finally got the knot out as Snotlout looked up from his seat with a snicker.
"What adventure was this exactly, Hiccup? What where you doing? Out in the woods playing dress up?" he snickered to which Una kicked a nearby piece of wood and some snow got dumped on him.
"Ugh! Ow!"
"Actually, Snotlout we're just getting to the part where an avalanche caused us to force us into a ravine and we thought we all perish," Hiccup said with a coy smile repressing a giggle while looking at his sister out of the corner of his eye.
She merely smiled and glanced up at Astrid who went on to say, "Yeah it was totally amazing! The dragons saved us all! Like their protective instincts took over and they totally just knew what to do save us from the crush snow. As well as keep us all warm," she exclaimed exactly as she finished giving Una a hundred strokes.
"Why didn't you just all get together for body warmth?" Fishlegs inquired to which both Hiccup and Astrid looked a bit uncomfortable though Boden bailed them out. "Hey, Hiccup now that you've got all the knots out and done my hundred strokes can you redo my ponytail? My fingers are still a bit numb from being half frozen this morning!"
"Oh, yeah, give me a second, Boden," as he took his brother auburn so like his and got it back in its ponytail with its teal hair tie. "Did I do a good job, Boden? Feel okay?"
"Feels good and I feel great! So thanks, bro! Also thank you Astrid for keeping me warm. It was very kind of you to do that while Hiccup was keeping Una warm," he politely thanked the blond warrior which made Snotlout give a disgust look and say.
"Astrid if you need a real man to keep you warm…" to which Astrid answered by knocking more snow on top of Snotlout and saying to him. "Snotlout you're not even close to being a man. At least Hiccup and Boden have manners and at least they'll warm the cockles of your heart."
"Oh, you just got burned, Snotlout. Perhaps you should listen to Mommy's advice on how to treat girls and how make a relationship work. So you could even have a shot at having one someday!" teased Una as she and Astrid high fived each other before everyone burst out giggling.
Then they heard two voice call out.
"Oh Hiccup?"
"Oh great," he turned around and saw the Twins looking up at them. "Yes? What do you want, Tuff?"
"It's not what me or Ruff want. It's what your parents want. They're looking for you three. They looked upset about something."
"Yeah said you needed to get home right away. Maybe you're grounded or something. Are they always so upset with you three?" Ruff asked aloud to the group.
"Well, let's go see what Mom and Dad want. See you all later! Boden? Una? Time to ride!"
"Okay. It was nice hanging out with you today Astrid! Thanks for the wonderful time and helping get the knots out of our hair!" as they got on their dragons and took off for home.
As everyone attention was on the departing siblings no-one heard Snotlout mumbling that his tongue was frozen to the snow that he was still entrapped in.
Hiccup, Boden and Una were just about ambushed the second they walked inside their house by their parents. At first they expect it was because their parents knew what happened up in the mountains, but quickly found that wasn't the case.
"So if this storm is really as bad as it's predicted to be we might be snowed in for months without any provisions. This isn't the time to be without milk or eggs if we cannot hunt or fish, so we need the animals right now," their father was saying as he was pacing back and forth while wearing a hole in the floor.
"But what do you want us to do about it Dad? We can't control the weather!" Hiccup asked in a confused tone not getting where this was going at first.
"No, none of you can do that's true. However all of you can control dragons," he rounded on them sharply and they looked taken aback by his words.
"Dad! Do you think we are miracle workers or something? The dragons aren't trying to scare the animals or anyone! They don't even eat them! They eat fish!
Besides they've already shared this island for years! I mean there were just living underneath their feet for 15 years, of course, but still they've all shared the same home for over a decade. So why do they suddenly not get along?" Boden demanded hotly.
"Well for one thing they are huge, flying fire-breathing lizards that are now above ground and literally everywhere and the animals know it now. They didn't know they're sleeping in the same bed as an enemy before boy. So now that their everywhere can you truly blame them for panicking?" Gobber challenged the ten year old.
"Here's where the three of you jump in and fix this."
"But Daddy! Again we are not miracle workers and how do you expect us to fix this problem is another problem? Are you expecting us to use our dragon knowledge or our gifts or both?
Since Mommy will be the first to remind you are gifts well they don't exactly work when we need them too all the times and I get this feeling we may need both with a natural disaster on the way to fix a problem with such a short time period to fix it!" Una questioned in a trembling tone looking like she was about to cry.
Valka hurried over to her daughter to hug her and spoke softly too her, "We know we are asking a lot of you three, but right now Berk needs the three of you and you must do all in your power to help us in our time of need. You can do this, we believe in you," as she kissed Una's forehead.
Hiccup looked for a moment at the floor not happy before his resolved strengthen, "Alright we'll do what we can as fast as we can? How much time do we have?"
"Well…" Stoick looked to the door as Bucket and Mulch came in to give him an update.
"Sorry Stoick still no luck and we tried for three hours!"
"Never mind that, Mulch. How much time do the kids have to work with the animals to hopefully solve the overall problem?" pressed the Chief to which Mulch start to speak and then was abruptly cut off by Bucket screaming. "Um 3 days and six hours."
"You three get on this immediately, your father and I will get the rest of the village ready best we can for the storm. You and the Riders try and get the animals and the dragons to co-exist and fast!" their mother order them and they nodded and bolted.
Even with such little time to work with Una was worth the weight of the gold her hair was. She at least got all the animals in into the arena no problem. She had a singing voice so beautiful that the Valkyries of Asgard would be jealous of it.
She simply flew over the farms with Nightrainbow and began to sing a lullaby and the animals following her enchanting voice all followed her into the arena no problem where she kept singing till they're all gathered.
Then Boden came in managing to at least talk in a pair of dragons with Hiccup shutting the gate behind them with the Riders already inside. Now the mayhem could really begin after at least getting everyone gathered.
"Okay well we got step one accomplished fairly well. At least everyone is here without too many problems. Now the really hard work can began, trying to get the flying lizards and the livestock to be brothers in arms. And we now have less than 3 days to do it in. Perfect!" Hiccup chuckled nervously as he played with his hands.
"Bro, let's not let any of our other problems get in the way of this one," whispered Boden referring to the other secrets they were determined to keep from Berk about their inner problems and he nodded to his little brother.
"Okay, let's begin. Una?" he called out to his little sister who came rushing forward. "Yes, BBBFF?"
"I know the only ability you have that always works no matter what without fail is your danger sense. So please tell me right away if things become too deadly for us to continue?"
"Sure thing, Hiccup and I'll do my best to keep the animals from also panicking as well," as she hugged him and went off to try and calm down three little lambs.
"Well, how do you want to start with this, Hiccup?" asked Astrid urgently as she was gazing at the darkening skies above.
"Well, I think I'll try to use a quick and easy fix considering the time restraint before we try some other things. Just prepare to catch me if I faint," he requested to Astrid who realized he was gonna attempt to use one of his powers.
He got between the two parties dragons on one side and the livestock on the others and took a deep breath, "Okay, you can do this, Hiccup. Just focus and you can do this. Just breathe, focus and concentrate and you can do this."
The other Riders still were not use to any of the Haddock siblings strange 'gifts' nor did they or most of the village get how they worked, though they could understand it did take a lot out of them sometimes to make them work.
Hiccup had taken three deep cleansing breaths and opened his eyes and they're glowing and suddenly all dragons and animals' eyes were glowing meaning he had made contact with them.
They seemed to have a passive look on their faces and seemed to be relaxing for all of 3 minutes and then Hiccup collapsed and Astrid had to get him and animals broke out into a panic and everyone was trying to round them up.
"What happened? I get you're trying to share positive and good memories to build a good rapport with them and trust. So what went wrong?" she asked him concerningly as he looked a bit pale.
He was shaking a bit as he answered, "I've never tried to share memories with animals before and never so many minds at once, while under such anxiety. Too much stress and it wiped my energy out almost immediately," he gasped for air before looking around with a huge sigh.
"Looks like now all the animals can see is their fearful memories and not the good ones I was sharing. I'm sorry," he apologized as Astrid sat him down and Boden and Una rushed to his side.
"Wow that was creepy. Cool but creepy," Ruff whispered to Tuff who nodded, "You said it sister. I'm so glad we ain't blessed by the Gods!"
"Okay, we need to think of some other ideas and fast while Hiccup's getting his strength back. Any ideas?" snapped Astrid trying to get the Riders to focus while she glanced worriedly at Hiccup who was still pale.
"Why don't we try and see this from the animal point of view and then we will know how to proceed from there?" Fishlegs suggested as he got down on his knees and acted like sheep only to flee being near a dragon.
"I think I understand now why they're spooked. It's terrifying to be near them when you're small and helpless!" he squeaked from under Meatlug.
"Then maybe we should show them that dragons get scared too. Remember the Magus the Merciless? I was scared of him till I learned he was scared of the dark," Astrid started to say when the twins interrupted.
"So during the day he was Merciless?" Tuff said and Ruff dug a knife in by saying "And at night he was you!"
"Hey! That's a real problem!"
"Hey before you two start getting into another silly fight can we please remember why we are here? And Ruffnut just so you know in the future; a lot of people are scared of the dark!" called out Una from her big brother side as he was just starting to get his color back.
"Okay, so let's just show the animals dragons have something they are afraid of and see if that helps them co-exist, alright?" Astrid said in frustration as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
She went and got two eels and showed them to the dragons who backed away and the animals seemed to get it, though the expression wasn't slippery like an eel for nothing.
One did slip and the dragons went nuts and sheep went flying and Hiccup who was just about recovered threw himself over his siblings to protect them from incoming sheep being thrown on the walls behind them.
"We'll never get milk and eggs at this rate will we, big bro?" Boden asked miserably looking into Hiccup's eyes and he whispered back unhopefully. "Nope not at this rate, Boden. Not at this rate."
Meanwhile Stoick was at the storehouse with Gobber sadly noting their inventory wasn't nearly good enough for the incoming storm. "This is really bad Stoick. No way are we gonna survive with this lack of food. Unless those chickens and yak start laying eggs and giving milk like no tomorrow there will be no tomorrow for us."
"I know Gobber, I'm not blind! I can be thickhead at times, but I ain't blind! Though I'm confident will be fine, I've faith."
"You have faith in a brainless bird and even more brainless hairy beast who sleepless in its own dung?"
"No, Gobber we have faith in our children," called out Valka as she dismounted from Cloudjumper and hurried over to her husband.
"Val! How is everyone? Did you get everyone to the Great Hall?"
"I told everyone to grab what they could since we don't know how long we'll be hunker down. I also had Skullette and Firefang on their dragons gather up whatever supplies they could leftover from the UDS and bring it to the Great Hall.
Everyone else is present and accounted for at the Great Hall. We should get the children and get there ourselves. The storm is almost here." she replied grimly.
"Gobber I want you to go and get the children, we'll send some to join you. Valka you and I need to get to the Great Hall. You know you're the only one with any common sense in a crisis and the village gonna lose its head if we're both not in the Great Hall to quell the panic.
"You're right, of course, Stoick. Gobber? Bring the children all to Hall safely. Not just ours but all of them. We'll sent Mulch to join you. Though hurry as fast as you can go!" and she and her husband got on Cloudjumper and took off.
Back at the arena they just failed to find common ground with eggs after it exploded and now were in dire straits and desperate to try using another one of their gifts again.
Hiccup was in great protest of Boden trying to use his empathic powers although as his little brother pointed out they're running out of time fast and didn't have much choice, so he reluctantly gave in.
Una charmed a sheep to come over to Boden who placed his right hand on the sheep and his left on dragon and took a deep breath and also tried to bridge the gap between the two animals by making them feel each other on a personal level.
That went as well as Hiccup had done but again after three minutes Boden become weak and pale then collapsed gasping for air and Hiccup was cursing himself for letting his brother take such a stupid risk.
Una screamed danger was now upon them so they knew it before Gobber showed up they'd run out of time. Even though they had run out of time Hiccup, Boden and Una still stubbornly wanted to stay and try and finish the job. However Gobber was right they couldn't get eggs from a frozen chicken.
Things seemed to go from bad to worse when they found the barn was destroyed leaving them no choice but to bring the animals to the Great Hall where the dragons would be too.
As it was when things were going bad to worse they went to absolute worst. Due to the snow storm and the dragons the animals scattered and without even thinking about the Riders were off after them before Gobber could even get a full sentence out of protest.
At the Great Hall the rest of the tribe was trying to stay warm. Skullette and Firefang were running around handing out fur blankets from the old Sanctuary and their dragons along with Cloudjumper had made a large fire in the fire pit.
Still right now the only thing on Stoick and Valka's minds was where were all the kids? Then the doors burst open with a huge blast of cold. Stoick was about to order the doors to be blocked when Cloudjumper used two of his four wings to do it.
Then Gobber and Mulch came in and Valka was right at their feet demanding to know what happened. Gobber gave them a very short version of what happened and Valka was very pale.
"But not worry about the animals. I at least got two yaks to start another herd."
"Um you might want to check them again, Mulch." Gobber told him as he, Stoick and Valka rushed out the door with Cloudjumper in order to retrieve the children and remaining animals.
It was a nightmare trying to see anything in a total whiteout blizzard! Toothless, Stardust and Nightrainbow may be trying to light the way but that wasn't enough.
To be totally truthful it was only thanks to Hiccup's other power of finding people when in trouble due their hearts sending out a sort of distress signal that they found the animals at all.
"Okay, everyone we need to be quick as possible! Herd them as fast as possible to the Great Hall before we all die from exposure!" he yelled loudly as he and siblings dive-bombed towards the sheep.
"Everyone pick some animals and just do what you can!" yelled Astrid as she went after her own sheep and tried to corral them with some of Stormfly's spikes but they broke loose.
Snotlout and Hookfang were no help flying like crazy all over the place that caused the animals to scatter even more. The Twins tried to pick up the chickens but just came closer to inventing fried chicken each time and Fishlegs got stuck trying to get some sheep.
Though Hiccup, Boden and Una managed to all save the three baby lambs from falling to their doom and then yelled to the twins three appeared to be stray yaks near them and the twins took off to get them. Only they discovered the 'yaks' in question were their parents and Gobber forced to land because of the storm.
"Mommy! Daddy!" cried Una as she jumped off Nightrainbow and rushed into her mommy arms who hugged her little girl tightly.
"Dad are you okay?" asked Boden as he ran to his father for warmth too who also picked him up held him close to his chest.
"I'm okay for now, son. Though I don't see you mistaken your mother and I for yaks. Gobber yeah, but not your mother and I."
"Hey! I don't look like a yak!" Gobber said indignantly though the yak next to him would tend to disagree.
Hiccup step forward with his head hung low. "Dad I'm sorry. I endangered everyone and I was just trying to do what you asked me to do. I'm sorry I failed you and Mom. And I'm sorry for putting Boden and Una in danger too."
"Sweetheart, it's not your fault, you're just being true to yourself. Always thinking of others before yourself. That's just your nature it's who you are," his mother reminded him gently.
"Your mother's right, son. You're just trying to help all of Berk and you're doing your best to protect your brother and sister like always. Beside you let yourself die to exposure before Boden and Una."
"Well, I don't want to die to exposure and I don't think any of us do. So how about we get going?" suggested Gobber as he came over to them shivering as did the rest of the Riders who starting to turn blue.
"We can't just fly it's a total whiteout, Gobber, remember? The winds are too violent and we have no idea where we are. It just too dangerous to try flying. We'll only get more lost in this storm. We're stuck where we are." Valka informed the blacksmith.
"Then what do you suggest we do? Freeze?!" he demanded to her.
"Everyone come together," Stoick as they got together in a tight circle to hopefully generate a little body heat. The five Haddocks were standing very closely together. Valka had Una pressed against her breast and Stoick had his youngest son pressed to his chest and Hiccup pressed to his side knowing with his massive side he could give both of them a lot of warmth.
The dragons seeing their Riders predicament knew what to do at once. They automatically formed a large circle around them with their wings out to block the elements before making a fire to keep them warm.
"What are they doing?" asked Stoick in wonder and his eldest son answered, "They're protecting us, Dad."
"It's their natural instinct," Astrid replied as the warmth from the first was also the warmth of a loving friendship.
Then they all noticed as Toothless, Stardust and Nightrainbow broke away just for a moment to encourage the lambs they helped save to come towards the fire and when they did all the animals followed and then started to curl around the dragons.
The animals finally understood the dragons were not only friends but protectors and they'd protect them and the humans from anything and everything. They had to spend the night out in the cold but they manage to make it too morning thanks to the dragons.
So it was very happy moment to get back to the Great Hall to tell the whole village the animals were no longer afraid of the dragons and that dragons we the protectors of everyone on Berk right down to the animals!
Life really was a lot warmer on Berk after that day.
