Was it awkward taking care of a village full of people you've never met? Yes. Though Hiccup had explained everything to her before leaving, Ember still found herself swimming in a sea of questions with no answers. Looking for any way to escape, Ember found comfort in being near Marble. Stoking the fire in the quiet hut was a dream compared to the outside world. So many things needed to be done, and not one of hiccups friends had lifted a finger to help with the repairs.

"Marble…I know you must be in a lot of pain." Looking over at the unconscious dragon beside her, Ember frowned. "It's not enough to say it in words…but I-I'm a horrible person for what I've done, and all I deserve from you is anger, but I-I'm…"

"Is this some kind of game to you?" Astrid walked through the door looking her usual 'cheerful' self. "You're acting Chief, and all you can do to help is sit here prodding a fire?"

"Astrid is it?" Looking into the flames as she stirred the thriving embers around amid the burning wood, Ember showed no sign of irritation. "Can I ask you a question?" After a few moments of silence she continued. "How long has it been since both you and Hiccup did something…romantic? Like, I don't know, couple stuff."

"I don't see how that's any of your business, OR how it's even relevant to the situation at hand." Looking more annoyed than before, Astrid folded her arms.

"But you see, it has everything to do with the situation." Placing the poker at her side, Ember looked over and patted the ground next to her. "I' you'll talk to me for a moment, I'm sure you'll get the answers to every question you want the answer to."

Seeing that refusing would only cause more discomfort for her, Astrid reluctantly and halfheartedly sat down a small distance from her. "What do you want?"

"Well. I've noticed the pull you have in your little circle of friends. My guess is, and this is just a guess. My guess is that ever since Hiccup started taking over for his dad, he's been neglecting something." Pulling her hair over one shoulder, Ember began to play with the ends of a few strands. "I'm guessing, that you miss doing stuff with him, and it's making you a tad testy. I also think that you may be oblivious to your own attitude."

The words came as a total shock to Astrid, who now fumed in anger. "W-what do you mean oblivious? Who are you to judge my attitude?" The shade of her on her face darkened as she stood up. "You think you can just come into town and act like you know everything?"

"No, I came into town looking for some desperately needed help. However…" Clearing her throat and still keeping her cool, Ember got to her feet as well. "I'm not quite as dumb as a rock, and I do know that if you're upset then Snotlout is upset, and if Snotlout's upset he picks on Fishlegs, which in turn bothers Ruffnut, because it's painfully obvious they've got some weird friendship going on, and if Ruffnut is angry, she and Tuffnut go at it like a couple of children."

What she said made sense, and Astrid's jaw hung ajar for a moment in bit of disbelief. ("She's been here for…three days! How did she memorize all the names, and notice something like that?") Correcting her bewildered look, Astrid shook her head. "You think you know so much? Well tell me this, WHY did hiccup leave the village in the hands of a stranger? Why would he leave the fate of the village on the shoulders of someone he barely knew, when I'm here for him every time he needs me? I'm his- his…"

"His girlfriend? I didn't understand at first, but after observing you over the last couple of days I now realize something. It would have been irresponsible for him to leave the village in your hands with the way you've been acting." Wanting to scream and holding it in was harder to do than Ember had ever dreamed. "He said it himself after you walked off in such a testy mood the other day. If things would have been different he said…if you had proven that you were ready to take on such a big responsibility. Then it would have been you in my position." Narrowing her eyes, she saw the thick layer of anger that surrounded Astrid fall to pieces. "But when you argue and bicker, people tend to think you aren't ready for such a big responsibility."

Thinking on that for a moment, Astrid remained quiet. It was a moment of realization for her. Hiccup was trying to teach her a lesson. A lesson she wouldn't ever have learned had he not put Ember, a stranger, in charge instead of her. She had been acting rather put out over the course of the last month, but hadn't realized how truly bad it had gotten. "You're right. He was right not to put me in charge. It's not easy to admit, but I do miss being able to hang out with him alone. We used to go for rides, and a couple of times he even tried to hunt with me. He's just been so busy lately being the acting chief that…we haven't don't anything together in a while."

A smile crept across Embers face as she stepped forward. "So, now that we've gotten everything, um…awkward out of the way. What do you say we grab something to eat?" A screech from behind quickly changed her plans. "On second thought, why don't you just grab something without me."

"Oh um…how's your wrist?" Astrid looked down at Ember's wrist with half a smirk.

"I had forgotten about it for a while. I suppose it's better than it was." Holding her arm up Ember unwound the cloth to examine her wrist. It had actually managed to get somewhat worse than when she had last seen it. "It's still hurts to move it, but I can still wok my hand so it's not too bad." Seeing as she was thinking about it the pain came through even more than it had been coming through when she was distracted.

"I'll bring you back some ice." Turning back to the door Astrid was near leaving as Marble shot up in a frantic screech. "What the…?"

"Marble, what is it?" Ember looked back to see the white Night Fury trying to back against the wall of the hut. "Marble, lay down nothings-"

He gave a raspy, gurgled roar, and showed more life and energy than he had in days. Before he had been standing for too long, his legs became weak again and he fell back to the floor still thrashing and roaring in anger.

Outside, the entire village had erupted into chaos, as dragons ran rampant in fits of fear and rage. It was like watching a flock of deer after they had become aware of a threat. They ran from homes and barns, attempting to get away from the ocean. Vikings from every corner of the Village yelled and chased after their once docile companions in confusion.

"What's going on?" Astrid ran outside looking extremely confused. Suddenly she found her Nadderhead standing before her. "What is it? What's going o-on-?" In the next instant she was being thrown onto its back. She had no time to protest before it spread its wings and lifted her away from the ground. "Ember! What's happening!"

Looking back to Marble who now was attempting to once again get to his feet, Ember turned to the sea. "It's here…" Fear coursed through her chest, and the hair on the back of her neck stood up. "Why is it here…what great coincidence of the gods is it that it would come here?"

Visions of that night in the storm flashed through her mind. The memory of a fearful dragon, a broken merchant ship, and most frightening of all, two yellow eyes belonging to a vicious killer. She knew exactly what was happening.

"Astrid!" Turning quickly Ember looked up at the now hovering figures of Astrid and her Nadderhead. "Get everyone into the woods! Get them away from here with the dragons and STAY PUT!" Screeching and shouting filled the air around her as both people and dragons rushed past.

"But what's going on?" Trying to get the dragon under her to do as it was told, Astrid caught a reprimanding scowl on Ember's face.

"Just get everyone out of here now Astrid!" Lightning her expression, Ember smiled. "I'll do my best to take care of things here. You're in charge! Hiccup would do the same thing!" Seeing a smile appear on Astrid's face they each nodded to one another before Astrid flew off over the buildings.

Hearing Astrid's shouts of leadership, Ember felt relieved when the only sound she could hear was that of Marble roaring and stumbling on the ground. She could protect him from what she knew was coming. After all it probably wasn't even after the weak Nigh Fury. It wanted something more.

Revenge.