Hiccup was looking at his list the next morning while he was helping in the forge when Gobber happened to glance over and spy the list.
"What's that ye got there?" he asked.
"Hm? Oh, this?" The blacksmith nodded. "This is a list of stuff Nina and I need. We're gonna build something."
"What's that?"
"A boat. One that's small enough for us without us having to use one of the fishing boats or warships. She's drawn up a quick sketch of the end product. She says we can adjust as needed," he explained showing Gobber the doodle Nina had made.
"Would you lot like some help building?"
"Well Nina and I can handle it ourselves," he said. "But we do need some materials."
"Oh?" said Gobber. "What might those be?"
"Metal," Hiccup said weakly. "I'll understand if you can't spare any. The village needs as much help as possible."
"What in Thor's Name do you need metal for on a ship?"
"Nina said we could reinforce the wood with metal to make it stronger."
"Ah... I might have a couple old swords lying around. Do you need to use the forge?"
"No. She's gonna set one up in her bunker."
"Bunker?" Hiccup nodded. "So she's resourceful too, huh." Gobber's voice had grown quiet. "Alright, I'll spare you a couple old swords that can't be sharpened anymore. Maybe you two can do something about them."
"Thanks, Gobber!" Hiccup said. Gobber went out back and came back with the swords wrapped in cloth.
Nina had finally settled on a wall that didn't have much to it. She and the Terrors set to work, breaking the dirt from the area and getting it away. After about three hours, she had a decent sized room for a forge. The Terrors chattered at her and she followed them. There were several large flat stones and a wet, sticky mud that was a grey color. She picked up a clump and squished it in her hands. Movement caught her eye and she gasped, looking quickly up, expecting to see Hiccup or someone else. Herby was flattening some of the mud and then began to slowly breathe fire on it, drying it. He increased the intensity turning it a blistering white hot. He stopped and watched it as it cooled into a light, almost white color.
Curious, Nina and the dragons maneuvered the stones into the room and used the mud to seal the cracks. Then her Terrors set to drying and cooking the mud. She pondered over the patty Herby had cooked. It was strong, exceptionally so. She left the patty to gather some firewood. Upon returning, she noticed Hiccup standing in her camp with a couple old swords. Beside him was a basket which she assumed had the stuff to make their ship. She hoped desperately that the Terrors had hidden as they headed down. There was a thick curtain across the entrance to the new room. She pushed it back and immediately regretted it as scorching heat slammed into her, stealing her breath. She staggered back, bumping into Hiccup with enough force to knock them both over. She stuck her hands out behind her to catch herself but still wound up sprawled on top of him. She rolled over and rose on all four, shaking her head unsteadily.
"You okay?" Hiccup said to her. He was kneeling beside her and had a hand on her shoulder.
"Whoo! That heat is intense," she managed to squeak. Hiccup looked over his shoulder and stood, heading toward the curtain. "Wait! Hiccup, don't go in there!" Nina had somehow managed to get the strength and wind to squawk. Her warning came too late. He opened the curtain and flinched back. He grabbed for one of the old swords and brought it into the room. He came back into the main room staggering, a line of blood on the sword. He was limping. "What happened to you?"
"Saw a dragon. Tried to attack. Dropped the sword when the heat got to me. I cut my leg," he gasped, pale and shaky. She grabbed his arm and together they somehow managed to get out of the bunker. They made it back to the village and Hiccup collapsed. Some villagers caught sight of them and hurried over.
Stoick noticed the commotion and joined the crowd, shoving his way through easily enough. Nina had bandaged Hiccup's leg as best she could using a rag in her pocket. It had quickly turned red. Noticing this, the chief went green with worry. Not wanting to have his friend be seen as weak, Gobber quickly dispelled the crowd.
"What happened?" demanded Stoick, voice strong, yet oddly detached. It was as if he didn't want to be there but knew he had to be.
"He saw a dragon and got overeager. Didn't take into account the heat in my forge. The little pests are probably long gone by now," Nina said. Hiccup was too shaken to answer.
"Pests?" repeated Stoick. Nina nodded nervously. "How do you know there were more than one?"
"Likely the dragon was a Terrible Terror. Terrors travel in flocks and rarely stray from the group unless they're sick or injured," she said. The three of them stared at her. "I read it in the Book of Dragons."
Stoick nodded absently and scooped Hiccup up and carried him to the house then sent for Gothi. Nina headed back to her bunker and entered her forge after making sure she wasn't followed. Herby hopped down onto the small desk she'd drug down into the main room. He sat there purring in greeting to her.
"Herby which one of the Terrors did Hiccup see?" she asked quietly. He hung his head. "He got hurt really bad. He was just trying to protect me." She sat down on her stool and Herby dragged his paws as he crawled over to her, not looking up. "He's my best friend, Herby. He's not really a threat."