Nina went back into town with about six rabbits, two foxes and three wild boar in her cart. There was also a deer, but its hind legs were broken and it had already laid down to die. She'd shot it to end its suffering. It was quite fat, so she knew there was good grazing for herbivores. She dug in her heels and pulled hard as the load she dragged in skidded down the hill, bringing her with it. Mercifully, she was able to hold her own and slow the heavy load till she got to the bottom.

"Hi!" she said breezily as she heaved the cart back into its parking spot. She kicked some rocks under the wheels to keep it from going anywhere.

"Quite the haul today, Nina?" the butcher asked.

"Yup. Done for now, though, that was tiring." She fastened her bow to her back and turned around, running smack into Stoick's chest and abdomen. "Whoops! Sorry, Stoick, didn't see you there."

"It's fine, Nina. Where did you find these?" he asked.

"Just looking around and listening to the forest, I guess." She glanced over her shoulder. The butcher was lugging the deer off. "And knowing when an animal is suffering. The deer has two broken hind legs. My guess is a rock slide. Oh! And luck."

Stoick nodded and she took his musing to nip out of town again. She darted into the woods again, heading for her camp and bunker. She paused briefly in the clearing where she and Hiccup often hung out, looking around to make sure she wasn't being followed. Then she smiled and gave a small giggle, making for her Terrors.

First she checked her bunker, and they didn't seem to be there. Then she headed for the meadow where she and the Terrors had started building the boat. She was shocked when they were sitting around an almost complete boat hull. She approached and they bolted into the tall grass. She went out and scanned the forest, seeing if they had sensed someone else watching, but saw nothing obvious.

She approached them and clucked her tongue a bit. They peeked out and realized there wasn't any danger. The fluttered around her, landing where they could or hovering near her. They all gazed at the hull in pride. She was so proud of her dragons for helping and taking the initiative to make something they didn't need, but she wanted.

"Okay, so now for the mast an-" A loud crack of a branch breaking sent the Terrors packing, pelting for the tall grass again as she whipped around to face the trees.

Spitelout popped out of the trees. She tilted her head. What was he doing there? He looked around then spied her. "Oh, hello, Nina," he said, tone kind of...sly. "Lovely ship you've got there."

"Thanks," she said slowly. What was he doing there and why was he making small talk? "Didn't want to take a fishing ship or warship, so Hiccup and I were working on it when-"

"Ah, about that," he said interrupting her. "Why don't you spend more time with my boy, Snotlout? Hiccup just isn't Viking material."

Her temper flared. How dare he say her friend wasn't good enough. "Maybe the way to end this war once and for all isn't the Viking way," she spat. "If you want to insult Hiccup, don't do it in front of me, got it?"

He kind of smiled slightly and turned, sauntering back to town. "Oh, and I'd be careful out here if I were you. Dragons lurk around every corner, ready to attack kids like you," he called over his shoulder.

She ground her teeth but held her tongue. She glared after his retreating back. When the forest had swallowed him, she waited for a while, half expecting him to come back and continue to insult and berate either Hiccup or her. He didn't and the sun slowly slid down the sky toward the horizon. She made a small motion with her hand and the Terrors slithered through the grass toward the trees, and scampered up into the canopy. They shadowed her and darted down into the bunker when she passed it.

She made it into town and found Spitelout giving her a smug look as though he'd just proven something. Stoick was there looking troubled.

"Nina, did you yell at Spitelout?" he asked quietly.

"Yes, but-" she started.

"See? She admits it, Stoick. You should-" Spitelout began. He was silenced by Stoick giving him a stern look.

"Why?"

"I only yelled at him because he told me to hang out with Snotlout instead of Hiccup, saying that Hiccup just isn't Viking material," she said. She had to clench her fists to keep from lashing out again.

Stoick nodded. "Very well, that's understandable. You may go, and you won't have to worry about Hiccup much longer. He'll be allowed to leave the house unaccompanied tomorrow."

"Yay!" she said.