Hi again, this is the writer speaking. Thanks to a culmination of ideas that people have given, I am pleased to say that the story now has a plot for the last two days. Any other thoughts or interactions that you would like me to squeeze in are still appreciated. This story is slowly reaching its close, a couple more chapters after this one and I will be satisfied to stop writing for a short while.

italics = thoughts

Disclaimer:

Me: Gatekeeper, I have come from afar to claim HTTYD as my own!

Gatekeeper: Hold on I'll go check, (goes of and comes back), they said no.

Me: NO? STAB!

We stayed in the air all night, hovering and gliding in circles above the clouds, confident that no one would be able to see us there. How Glint had remained awake and alert enough to remain in the sky was a mystery to me, he had probably had the least rest out of the two of us. The moon was spectacular to see from above the misted clouds, its shimmering light cascading down to the world like silver water down a cataract. That was probably what had kept me up, it was just too dang bright to ignore! Even in my spot hugged underneath Glint, the moonshine just bent around his black form and found its way to me. It's a remarkable feeling being relaxed and ready to sleep, but kept in a twilight-like trance instead of the timeless state of unconsciousness.

By the time that the moon, in all its glory, had capsized and sunken under the horizon we were so tired that Glint would nod off for a few minutes and I would wake him up when the ground started to overtake us. Eventually we both fell asleep, and without someone to wake him up Glint plummeted out of the sky. I felt the water first, being the one closest because of the way Glint would carry me when we flew, its sharp knife-like fingers slapping me awake the second we made contact. The sharp inhale from such a wake up call stung and stabbed at my broken rib, and what was worse I started coughing. Glint freaked out as soon as he began to submerge, his bluish eyes roiling about, his rapid movement spraying droplets of seawater everywhere including my own sputtering form. Don't tell me that he doesn't know how to swim!

"Easy bud, calm down, y-you just have to keep your head above the-" I was cut off in my blubbering by a huge splash from Glint's wing. I spat out my mouthful of salt water and shivered, the water was way too cold. It was hard trying to keep enough air in my lungs to stay afloat without hurting setting my chest on fire with pain. Those darn Romans! The cool was beginning to ebb, or more like I was getting used to it, hopefully Glint would warm up to the water too. After several volleys of splashing Glint seemed to do just that, relaxing his body and floating relaxedly in the water. Maybe he can swim, I thought as I back-stroked over to him. but doesn't like water, the thought of it reminded me of myself; I considered the water a necessary evil, but never actually considered it fun to be in.

I looked around, searching the dawning sea for the island that we had just escaped from. There it was, jutting out barely over the waves; no wonder it was uninhabited, nobody could find it from a distance. I scanned for the outline of that Roman tub docked on its edge, finding its red and white sails almost instantly. What are we going to do about them?

(scene change)

The sun had risen in Berk, acting as a testament to the fact that the world hadn't ended. The usual morning monotony proceeded in classic Berk fashion. The Terrors skittered around, trumpeting to the sun's arrival. Nadders, perched on rooftops, hopped from their spots and migrated to the feeding bowls. Vikings, young and old, strode to the town hall for breakfast. This wast the average morning here. Hiccup strode to breakfast too, leg squeaking with each step, Toothless keeping in stride beside him.

"Hiccup." an older viking greeted him as he strolled past, nodding to Toothless as well. They had been out of the village early today, therefore the Haddock home was on the way, so Hiccup decided that he would go to walk Astrid to the hall as well. The two friends made their way to the largest house in Berk; formerly the quarters of Stoic the vast, but now the living space of his son and daughter-in-law. Astrid was already on the porch, sitting in her chair and looking out into the southern skies.

"M'lady, would you give me the honor of escorting you this fine morn?" Hiccup called out chivalrously, flaring his hands out as he bowed. Astrid giggled as he wobbled, trying to remain in his pose and failing miserably.

"The pleasure's all mine good sir." She playfully replied, reaching out her hand for him to take. Side-by-side they went to breakfast, the constant tap of his metal foot giving pace to the melodic squeal of her wheels while Toothless' steady rumble gave the accompaniment. With the three of them, life was almost complete . . . almost. This orchestrated walk was missing a key player, but this bit of spice would be back in two days; Hiccup was sure of that.

(Scene change)

The idea wasn't totally unreasonable; since the ship was too big to fry with one dragon, we'd just get more. Glint was actually quite fast in the water, his strong wings propelling us forward at velocities a sail boat would kill for. We'd dive every so often to keep from being spotted, like a moving black splotch wouldn't be sighted immediately. Other than the one objective I had thought up there was no plan; can you imagine me, the schemer, having no scheme?

We were only a few hundred yards off the shore now, the Roman ship safely obscured behind the tree cover. After a few more wing-strokes we struck ground, sand clinging to Glint's wet scales as he pulled himself onto the beach. Everything felt so heavy since I was positively soaked. I slid off of his back just as he started to shake like a dog, trying to getting the water out, spraying water and flecks of sand all over the place. When he was done I gave him a quick scratch behind the ears, then cupped my hands on either side of his face and stared into his eyes.

"Glint, we can't do this alone, I want you to go get your buddies and we'll meet back here when you do." I said slowly and commandingly, looking intensely into his eyes. He made no move, staring back with a questioning face and moaning.

"Go Glint, I know that you can hear me!" I said again, this time he shook his head. Good, proof of understanding, I thought before trying to convince him further "Go on! I'll be right here when you get back!" . . . probably, I mentally added. He got the point, giving me one more worried glance before scampering off into the palms.

I sat down, waiting and scheming, plotting out the plan and trying to convince myself that we could win. It was in my thinking pose that they found me in, four ironclad romans armed with shields, hooks, and nets. Surprise, mingled with fear, arched up my spine as I looked up at them. One screamed out some garbled line in latin and they all charged, raising their hooks like spears and twirling their nets like bolas. I screamed out something incoherent too as I picked myself up in record time and started to run away from their threatening presence. I kept to the beach as I sprinted in my waterlogged clothes, hoping that by some luck the gods would lift the sea up to swallow my pursuers; so far no good. Gods, your never around when I need you!

As I galloped down the beach it turned sharply inland, looping around into a cove. Before I knew it my legs were tangled up awkwardly in some sort of contraption. I slammed face-first into slightly rocky sand of the cove, pain shooting holes through my right eye the second it connected to the ground. Dazed, vision blurry, I looked to my feet; I guessed that one of those Romans had thrown his net, but couldn't see well enough to find all the snares and tangles laced around my legs. Just as my vision cleared I felt a heavy weight crunch down on my chest, my broken rib shrieking in protest. I flailed my hands around, grappling at anything that they could find purchase. It didn't seem to affect the Roman stepping on top of me much, he just pressed down harder!

An eternity passed in seconds to my eyes, the booted Roman remaining stout and firm in holding me to the ground. The ache of my rib had receded only a little, and my eye had become docile once more. The muted puffing of new footfalls in the sand caught my attention, getting closer and closer. Seconds later I was looking up to the face of a man that I would have rather not remembered, Mr. Scrawny Roman leered at me with his high and mighty composure. I lifted my hands in an attempt to wipe that accursed smile off his mug, but was swiftly reminded that I was pinned by Mr. Boots.

"We meet again savage!" his patronizing tone was ticking me off already "Your stubbornness becomes you, a truly wise man would have turned tail and ran by now. And where is your mount, I assume you brought it back as well?"

"Don't talk about Glint like he's a thing, he's a greater person than you will ever be!" I yelled, or tried to anyway; it was kind of hard with Boots' boot on my torso. Skinny just sneered and started to walk in a circle around my floored body. He turned and kicked me in my side, right where he knew I was injured, and I hoarsely yelped in pain.

"But it is just that! A tool, a mount, just as the horses we ride and the sheep you cultivate. There is no him, just it." he sounded like he was trying to prove something, like talking to a three year old and trying to tell them that trolls don't exist; it's impossible because they do! "So then, where is it? Where did you hide it?"

"Can't tell you what I don't know." I wheezed matter-of-factly, that was when he kicked me again "He's not my possession -cough- . . . I don't know where he is."

"Well if its not yours, then we'll happily take it off your hands." he bent down low, giving me a front row seat to watch his crooked teeth chatter. Don't you get it!

"Have fun catching him again." I smiled when I said that. He kicked again, I could taste the metallic flavor of blood in the back of my throat, but other than that I couldn't tell that he had hit me at all.

"We're done here." he said flatly before issuing some orders in latin. Rough hands gripped me hard and dragged me to the water's edge in the cove, I knew what was coming. I took one last breath of air before the strong hands shoved me below the surface and held me there, trying to drown me. Oden, help me get out of this!

(scene change)

Breakfast had went along nicely, Hiccup had had a wonderful conversation with his wife and a few of his old friends, and now they were preparing the ship to leave this evening. If they left tonight, they would arrive on the last day; that's how Hiccup figured it. The ship's larder was filled with fish, dried lamb, and anything else that a viking could want to eat. Right now they were prepping the sail, mending any little tear that could be found on its tan surface. A small group of youth sat on the grass hill overshadowing the docks, watching the ship's preparations anxiously.

"So you really think that he's gonna live?" one had asked as Hiccup and Toothless lugged a load down the ramps to get there. Hiccup to a minute of his time and turned to face the group.

"Absolutely!" Hiccup replied without a shadow of a doubt.

(scene change)

My lungs burned at the last of my air and now they were going into panic mode, heaving up and down trying to extract fresh air from nothing. I ignored the sting that the saltwater gave both of my eyes and frantically searched for a solution. My ears detected nothing but the sloshing roar of the ocean. Ears . . . hearing . . . THAT'S IT!

I knew that this cove was familiar; looking through rippling water, I could faintly see the cave. I raked my hands around in the sub-water sand, swiftly searching for anything that was heavy enough to throw. My right hand blindly caught hold of a largish smooth stone and brought it up. Perfect! I internally praised, hefting the heavy stone through the water. The hands holding me down found their way to my throat as I lifted the rock out from the water, trying to thwart any thing I might try. With one last burst of strength I sent the rock flying toward the cove's back, my vision pulsing with vibrant blotches of black. I was now choking on completely sour air, the end was in sight.

From my deaf position underneath the waves I couldn't hear the rock strike home on the cave's entrance, but could tell that it did because the fingers clamped around my neck loosened slightly before letting go completely. The rippling sight above me was that of shining lines convulsing in what I could label as pain. I only brought my lips above the surface, happily sucking at fresh air and seawater, and could hear the vibration roaring through my mouth. I retreated back below and watched the rippled images of Romans doubled over and clutching their ears. "Thunder Drum, this reclusive dragon inhabits caves and large tide-pools. When startled it emits a high pitched sound that can kill a man at short range."I remembered the old dragon manual, not as relevant to the true nature of dragons but very conscious of their capabilities. Now armed with the knowledge that their sound waves don't carry through water, I knew that I could survive here.

I came up only when I had to for air, anything else could wait, and in time the Romans finally left. I swam beneath the waves and rounded where the beach turned inland, only poking my head above the water once the cave was out of sight. I had prepared for that blasted noise to come roaring into my ears, but when I pulled onto the shore there was no such sound. I peeked around the edge of the naturally walled in cove, four dead Romans littered the sand; Mr. Scrawny wasn't among them to my disappointment. I turned and began the walk to the rendezvous point where Glint would probably be waiting . . .

Dun . . . dun . . . WHATEVER!

So yeah, this is only half of a day because I can't bear to not update for much longer than three days (makes me feel like I'm letting people down) and this would take a lot longer than three days to finish the whole day in this story. Please review, I love people telling me what I need to work on and what I do well already. If people don't like the chapter, then they should tell me why and listen to some "Christaphori's Dream" by David Lanz. Now, time for me to go back to brainstorming for the next half of the day!

Me: Review?

Karma: Please?

Glint: Rrh?