-Chapter: XVII-

-A Two-Tinned Fork-

'The sun is only just peaking over the horizon as I strike this books page. The air being blown in from the North carries a harsh bitterness to it. The world above us has most likely frozen over and soon Berk will be too. It does not take much to tell that it will be quite soon before the first snows fall and the surrounding sea ices over. At least that leaves my promise with my brother fulfilled.

'Toothless. The name is mine for him, but I am not sure it is his for himself. When I gave 'Puff from the evening of our maiden flight a name, my brother said that I "could have asked". I wonder if this means he has a name that he has yet shared with me, or that I should have gained his insight before giving him a name. Some times I am beside myself with how troublesome he can be. When I see him sleeping so peacefully, it makes me wonder if beneath that calm hide there really is a fierce and deadly dragon, or if our perceptions on the creatures is terribly wrong. Enough speaks for the latter, but I still feel fear knowing that my connection with him is all but wrong and yet feels right. I could ask for a loving father, a sister, a friend to walk beside me, but all I need is Toothless. With Toothless, I don't have a need for anything else. I am content with him. Just as he is content to be with me, as he has never asked anything greater from me than I have from him. I would be lying if I said I would be burdened if I left the Village of Berk, for Toothless. Truth on page, I would be happy, simply happy, to live my life with Toothless.

...

I think anyone who has such a wonderful brother would say the same. You would't want to leave your family when your family cares so much about you.

...

Toothless may have had a far more devastating life in his youth than I, but he did have one. I just wish that I could share my brother with my father, to have a new member in the family.

...

Stoick would never accept Toothless though. He would return from the hunting trip, he would learn of Tooth', he would kill Tooth', and he would leave me with a shattered soul. Perhaps, as scary as it is, the best thing may be to not allow Stoick to come back to a boy and dragon together. Maybe the right thing is to spare everyone of this truth, of us...

"Wake up you lazy reptile. The sun is up and you haven't stirred." Hiccup pushed playfully at the lounging pile of dragon hide that was curled around him. The evening bonfire and meet-and-greet with the 'Terrors left both tired and Toothless had curled himself around Hiccup. Toothless' wing had drifted down at some point, giving the boy ample sunlight to scratch in his book that he kept at his side at all times. It was his personal method of conjuring his minds endless thoughts into as close a physical form as he could muster. It still left the boy squeezed shut against the sand as he desperately pushed against the impossibly solid back wall of pitch-scales. After a few tense minutes of scrambling to get out of the dark hold, Hiccup gave up and settled back into the rumbling chest of his large friend. He did't really want to stay in his hold, but he also did't really want to get out either. He would take the warmer, and much safer approach and stay within the barrier for the time being. 'I still, would like to move...' He voiced his thoughts while trying to settle into a more comfortable position. The hard leather straps did't bode well either. Hiccup looked up at the sky, more out of curiosity as the sun slowly moved higher and higher. Nearby, perched in the crook of three large stones lay the snoozing form of 'Puff, who evidently had feasted himself upon the remains of the fish Toothless had caught. His slight chest rounded off with gentle risings and falling as his steady breathing could be heard even over the deep rumble that Toothless gave off. Hiccup chalked it up to Night Fury's being far more deep sleepers, with very quiet rumbles compared to other species.

"I don't deserve you guys. I mean, what have I done to deserve such love?" Hiccup questioned himself as to how he managed to aquire two wonderful companions in his stumbling life.

"You could try and let us sleep. That might give you some nicer friends." A sudden voice came from behind as Hiccup jumped as he only could have in the tight hold he was trapped in. He spun his head around to see a large, pale yellow eyeball staring back at him. He nearly forgot who it was that was staring him down in shock. He barely blurted out his stunned, choice words before nudging Toothless playfully in the side. A gesture of good will as it were.

"I thought you were still asleep?" Hiccup looked back to Puff who was shifting more so now.

"We're asleep. Your activity woke me, and the squeak you made probably woke him over there." Toothless still held onto Hiccup as he eyed the tiny reptile that was now more clearly waking.

"Well now that you're awake, would you mind moving you tree limbs so that I can get out?"

"Nope. You can stay here." Hiccup groaned weakly as Toothless covered the boy with his wing, shrouding him in darkness.

"Toothless. Please, I am awake and I would like to move." Hiccup pushed with his feet and hands at the wall darkness that covered him, hoping to gain some ground at all.

"Fine, you can move about." Hiccup jumped quickly at the opening when the dragon moved aside his legs and wing. With a stretch, Hiccup move his legs and arms to make sure they were all intact.

"Oh come on. I was not crushing you, you can stop worrying about yourself." Toothless at the same time had rolled himself onto his belly, more easily shifting onto his feet. From his point of view, Hiccup was stamping out what remained of the embers of the previous nights fire and collecting any gear that had strolled off. He scattered hither and thither only being reminded by Toothless that they did't have anything save the saddle and harness, one of which still being on the dragon.

"Old habits, I guess. From the times when I would go hiking with my father." Hiccup mused with himself as he gestured for Puff to seat himself in front of him as he hooked himself into the saddle. Puff was still clearly groggy from the buffet of the evening, so it was not surprising when he gladly took the offer of seating himself for the short flight back to Berk.

"Do we have to take him?" Toothless cast an eye onto the now sleeping bundle that curled in front of Hiccup. Puff only groaned when being prodded with the dragons eyes. Hiccup on the other hand waved off the remark with his own.

"Worried you might have to share your fish?"

Toothless stared back at the morning sky and gently pushed off from the dark sandy beach, leaving only a campfire to suggest the presence of humans.

As the duo-now-trio turned lazily in the early morning sky, Hiccup looked down at the dragon beneath and thought back to whether or not Toothless had his own name, something given to him by his own kin.

"Toothless?"

Upon receiving a curious glance back, Hiccup continued.

"Yesterday evening, before we slept, You said that I 'could have asked' when I said I did't know your name, and instead gave myself one for you. What did you mean by that? Do you have a name?"

"Of course. Toothless" The dragon of the same name replied simply enough, like it was the most obvious thing in existence, which it probably may easily have been. Hiccup shook his head, not to his friends knowing.

"No, I mean a name given to you, by other dragons." There was a long pause in which Toothless shifted nervously. He took in a glance at the waves below them before replying calmly.

"No."

Hiccup bit his lip, knowing he may have stumbled into uncomfortable waters. He always managed to put the mood to a sour taste.

"Well..." He did't really know where to go from there. He thought maybe Toothless had a name, and at the time did't feel comfortable sharing it, or that he did't like it much; as Hiccup with his namesake. The prospect did't really cross his mind that Toothless may not have one at all. He did not know much to anything about dragons, so maybe they simply had a different method of names? Perhaps that was the case. It was another question, but it was a more comfortable question.

While Hiccup was busy thinking over himself, he did't notice that the Isle of Berk was nearing closer. Any closer, and they would risk being spotted.

Toothless kept his gaze level, staring back at the island that slowly came into view. He moved his head upwards to gesture towards the clouds. Hiccup got the message. With a quick flick, the two and their companion took to the clouds and disappeared as quickly as they could. Even if they were being blocked to see land below them, they could still head level and come down on the far side of the island, opposite the Village. No party member would want to get spotted by the Vikings. That spelt terrible in the largest runes possible.

When they felt that they had traveled far enough into the clouds, a quick drop brought them back into visible air. It took only a moment to find a flat and sparse enough clearing for them to land in, before they stopped quickly and gracefully enough as a cat.

Hiccup un-hooked himself from the saddle and slid down Toothless flank, being followed by a stirred Puff. Toothless had placed himself beside the pair as they moved slowly through the forest. Nothing but the rare felled log and tumbled boulders inhibited their journey. Their destination being Dragon Gorge meant they would need to travel quite far. They easily could have flown, but the bright noon light and and Hiccups insistence of a nice walk meant the trio would have to walk the glades. The topic of food was talked over. Hiccup had made it quite clear he dearly loved what he called 'Cabbage and Venison stew'. Toothless was appalled by the very idea of a liquid form of food, but was non the less intrigued as any lover of good food would be. That also meant bad tidings for him as Hiccup made it equally clear that he would get Toothless to try some form of soup at some point or another. Puff on the other hand decided to stick with talking of his favorite games of Cat and Mouse, only he called it Hunter Game. Puff was a talkative little dragon, despite his obvious outlandishness. The three shared their favorite stories of the past, some with danger, some with daring, some with simple fun. All in all, Hiccup was fine with the company of his brother and new friend. He could't ask for a more pleasant afternoon of walking through the fading leaves of an autumn forest with two companions who wanted nothing more than to share the moment with him.

Perhaps the only thing that could bring him out of his pleasant mood would be a quiet disturbance, for no quiet disturbance would be any louder than a bellow. The world loved tricks, as that very thing happened.

Hiccup was only just vaulting over a short log when, after landing on the opposite side, did he just take in the deathliness of the surrounding wood. Toothless moved beside him, evidently aware of the still. It was quiet, despite it nearing close to noon. Few birds could be heard as they walked through the eerie forest of dark pines. Hiccup could literally feel the stillness of the forest. The sensation was unlike anything occurred that day. The boy felt his heart slowly pick up pace, more aware of the sense of danger. It was so unlike all the other times when they would go for walks. This time, it did't feel normal. It did't feel right. Hiccup looked over at Toothless who was clearly more aware of the situation than the human. He looked over the boy with a sense of dread, before turning himself fully at the boy, picking him up by the tunic and launching into the forest. Hiccup barely made a squeak as he launched through the forest at break-neck speeds, a surprisingly quick Puff keeping pace behind them.

"Toothless! What are you doing!" He despaired to reach out for any reason as to why he was suddenly like this.

"Silence! Must not speak!" Toothless' quick message pushed into Hiccups head with force, forcing the boy to quiet down, lest he be berated again. He did't like the silence. He was held firm against the jaws of the massive dragon as both burned through the forest so quickly, he wondered if they were flying. When he looked down at the ground, he could make out the blur of grass making way for more and more rocks. Hiccup tried to look to where they were going when the world suddenly disappeared into blackness, an echoing pounding of Toothless pads the only sound, save the slight beating of Puff's wings. The darkness toiled on till Hiccup could't keep his eyes open, or were they open and he still could't see? In the end, only the sound of the beating of pads made him aware he was awake. Eternal blackness never was his friend...

A low wind howled in the vibrating mind of a small boy. His head rang with a dull throb as he awoke to the sound of the trickle of water and a gentle rumble coming from around him. He strained to open his eyes but was met with only a veil of blackness. He warily stretched out his hands in an effort to test the limits of the void, only to be met with a leathery wall. He chalked the situation up to being stuck in Toothless firm hold again. He let his arms collapse, knowing he was't going to get out of his hold anytime soon. He did't even have any light to write in his journal. He instead took to going over what he remembered and what brought him to being stuck in the dragons grip again. He remembered being launched through the forest, only to descend into darkness. The darkness continued, and continued. Sounds of trickling water echoed in his memories, as well as the sound of the wind shaking pine needles. Then he awakes here. He could not tell whether he was still in the cave, or if he was outside. Judging from the distance took into the cave, he mused that they were still inside it. That still did't explain why he was here and why Toothless had acted so strangely. He felt it might have had something to do with the foreboding feeling he had in the forest, or it simply could have been another of Toothless' games or tests. From all the times he has played, Toothless never did in this manner. If it was a test, normally Toothless began with it being like a game, which would entail a manner unlike what had occurred. That left it being to the strange feeling in the forest. If that was the case, then what was that feeling? Hiccup thought over and over what it was, and despite his clear memory of it, still could't quite understand it. His mind ached with a dull headache as he toiled to think on the past events. His ever clever mind of all times to fail him decided to fail him now.

All his troubled thoughts did't pay heed to the fact that Toothless was now awake and eyeing the boy. Only when Hiccup casually looked in the general direction of Toothless head and was met with a quite visible, pale yellow orb for an eye did he jump back in startlment.

"Oh by the souls of Nidhogg! You scared me." Hiccup calmed himself as he was released from the wing and limb grip of the dragon, who was gleefully aware of how easy he can scare Hiccup.

"Oh your safe, no need to fret." Toothless teased as he licked Hiccups face teasingly, earning a startled gasp from the boy.

"Ack! What was that?" Hiccup blatantly tried to rid his face of the tongue now licking him teasingly. Toothless did't cease as Hiccup stopped his failed attempts of stopping the tongue.

"Nothing much. Dragons clean each other out of good intent."

"That's your idea of cleaning?" Hiccup finally spoke out now that the tongue had gone.

"Is yours any better?" Hiccup thought over the question, Vikings were not really known for being the cleanest of the humans. Toothless cocked his head to the side in victorious wonder as Hiccup waved off the stubborn look he was getting.

With the licking out of the way, Hiccup had to face an important question. He could clearly see, with the light streaming in through the entrance, that he was still, in-fact, inside a cave. From the present light, he could make out a large tunnel leading from the entrance to where he was now. The tunnel opened out into a large cavern that could hold two full Night Fury's at width, with him being on the side wall coming from the tunnel. The cavern rounded off to a slightly smaller hole that disappeared into the darkness. He edged himself towards the cavern entrance, hoping to gain a peek as to where they were. As he neared the blaring light coming from opening, his eyes slowly adjusted to the change in surroundings. The cavern peeked out to a canted ledge that looked out over a near perfect view of a surrounding forest. A slight creek bubbled nearby with a sun only just visible over the tree tops, dipping down in the late evening. It was a nice sight. A positively lovely view of a near perfect expanse of land. Hiccup could't ask for a more perfect setting of a home. With that thought, he turned to the dragon who had positioned himself beside him.

"Where are we?" Hiccup would dearly like to know where. He did't even know if such a perfect place was on the Isle of Berk.

"This is my nest." Toothless responded while puffing out his chest in pride.

"Your nest? You live here?" Hiccup was answered with a simple nod. Turning back to the scene, and the peaceful forest that stretched out in front of him, he was reminded of the not so peaceful forest from before. He sat down on a tumbled rock that was near the entrance.

"What happened, in the forest? When you picked me up and took me here. I remember a strange feeling in the forest, then the next thing I know, Whoosh!-" Hiccup made a dramatic flare of his hands as demonstration to the polite being listening, "-I am being carried through the forest and into a cave." Hiccup looked over his brother who was listening quite well.

"What I did, was make sure you were safe." Hiccup lifted his brows in question. He was not quite sure if he ever would not be safe with his brother.

"Safe? Safe from what?" Puff had now woken and was sitting idly by the two siblings. He looked on with fascination at the conversation. Hiccup had't noticed him, not that his attention was on the smaller dragon.

"There were others in the forest." Toothless had shifted to be facing the forest now. His eyes no longer looking to Hiccup.

"Others? Who? Who else was in the forest? Who made the birds quiet? Why did I feel a sense of danger?" Hiccup had pressed his point in question strongly, refusing to be turned down by a stubborn brother. Toothless in due point refused to answer the question. Whatever was in the forest must have been awful for such action to be needed. Hiccup did't know if pushing the question would be wise, but he got this far, he may as well see to the end. "What was in the forest that made such action necessary? What danger was I in?"

"There were humans. Humans were in the forest, and they were not friendly."

Hiccup sat back in shock. 'Humans?'

"Humans?"

"Yes, humans."

"What threat did they pose? I'm a human. I could have talked to them."

"No, you could not have. They would have dragged you back to their nest without question."

Hiccup was shocked to be simple. He did't think that other Vikings from Berk would be out this far.

"They were looking for me?" A nod was all he got. Hiccup slumped down. He never would have thought that any of the villagers from Berk would ever be sent out to find him if he disappeared at a moment. He figured they would learn of his disappearance, then quickly forget about it and move on. It was the same ordeal he went through since he was a young boy first learning the wonder of creating. He was ridiculed, and beat down because he was different. He never really understood how different and quite frankly, he did't really care. He was who he is and that is what mattered, but never would he imagine a search-party to be sent out for him. Toothless has been one to avoid subjects, but he has often avoided the topic of Hiccups village life. If a search-party was sent out for him, that means they were worried about him. If they were worried about him, that means they cared about him. The question remains still. Does he turn himself in and let there cares end? Does he stay with Toothless and let them forget about him?

In truth he was hoping for some terrible creature to potentially charge out of the woods. Something that was not so much frightening as it was dangerous. This however was terrifying, for he was now stuck in a position he never imagined he would be stuck in. He cared for Toothless, and Toothless cared for him. He had a home he could live in with a sure-fire protective guardian. He could have a brother for the rest of his life that cared about him and who he is. He could be happy and content with his life. The question on the opposite hand; does he let the people he grew up let know that he was alive and well and continue living in the Village?

"Hiccup?" Toothless' voice broke Hiccup out of his trance. He jumped slightly at the sound, but relaxed afterwards.

"Hiccup? You look troubled." Toothless nudged the boy gently in the side. Hiccup looked up at Toothless with curious eyes, before turning to the cave behind him.

"You would't happen to have a spot where I could stay, would you?" Toothless looked thoughtful for a moment, before realizing what he had meant by it. Immediately Toothless had launched himself at Hiccup, embracing him in as gentle as a hug as a dragon could give to a human.

"It's nice to know someone cares about you." Hiccup wrapped his arms around as best he could with the massive neck of his brother, then looking him in the eye before speaking.

"There are still some things at the Village that I will need to gather before moving here." Toothless just shrugged thoughtlessly before sauntering into the cave.

"You're going to like it here."

"I bet I am." Hiccup walked slowly behind him, with Puff now perched on his shoulder.

"We live here now?" Puff asked quietly. His voice was much different from Toothless' His was slightly liquidly, with very little gap between syllables.

"Yes Puff. We live here now." Hiccup replied happily as Toothless trotted around the walls of the dark cave, joy and happiness flowing off him in torrents.

"I don't know what you need, but we can gather what ever it is at night." Toothless sat happily at the base of the back wall. Hiccup sat nearby, taking fully in his surroundings. Winter would be harsh, but a dragons flame could fend off the bitter chill and the surrounding woods would allow for plenty of logs for a fire pit. The creek offered clean, fresh water for drinking and washing.

A log fire could wait for when everyone calmed down. In the mean time, this meant Hiccup could have plenty of his questions answered.

"Hey Toothless? Why do you not have a name given to you by other dragons? Do dragons give each other names?" Hiccup moved onto a single elbow to get a better view of his companion. His companion on the other hand stopped his playful fidgeting.

"Dragons do received titles. Names that describe what ever great feat they accomplished. All dragons receive these titles from their Guardians." Hiccup scooted closer to his friend, knowing what it all entailed. Again with his sour tongue and moods.

"My Guardians taught me many things, but I never got chance to prove myself and earn a title." Hiccup leaned up against the broad chest of Toothless, feeling his deep intakes of breath and low purring at his grasp.

"Well, if I know there is one thing you're Guardians taught you, it is that they taught you to be a great brother. I know losing a mother or father is difficult, I have experienced it, but that does't mean their memory must be in pain. We are here, the three of us and we are happy." Hiccup looked up at Toothless' eyes, eyes that showed a simple pain of knowing the awful truth behind those words. The truth was in the being that they really did teach him how to be a great brother. It was a wonderful truth indeed. Something that would inevitably lead to a great many falls and climbs.

"Now. We will wait, and at sundown, we can gather the things I need from my Village. Sound good?"

"I'm the one who suggested it, so yes, it sounds good." Hiccup smiled before settling against the hide of his brother for the evening, watching the sunlight gently recede out the entrance to leave the cave dark for the coming night. Tonight would be a long night indeed. Perhaps there was truth in words after all. Perhaps that truth could be spread to the rest of the Vikings.

Another challenge for another time, he still had to deal with the coming winter at hand.

If someone happened across the cave mouth during the setting of the sun, and happened to be able to see into the dark cave, they would be quite surprised at the sight beholding them. There, against the far wall, would lay a young boy nestled in the crook of a great Night Fury, with a small 'Terror resting on the heaving wings of the dragon. Sight can be misjudged at times but it is also something to take in awe at others. The same goes for word of tongue and heart...