Chapter 25: Boneknapper Peak
The truck rocked and rumbled a bit as it made its way up the rocky road. Olaf cleared a lot of the ride talking about breakfast with his family. Jack found himself smiling at the story that reminded him of home. He glanced at Hiccup hearing the other male chuckle at some of the tale. It was nice to hear his friend smile again. Then the question of their travels appeared when Olaf asked, "Hey Jack. Where are we going?" Jack looked from the window to Hiccup. "Good question. Hic, care to give us a location update" He asked. "Well since we only have a few hours of daylight we can't go far. So Toothless and I decided to take a little trip back to "Boneknapper Peak". Olaf sat in the back petting Toothless and asked, "What's Boneknapper Peak".
"It's a cavern we found a few months back and mapped out as a possible city park landmark. From the outside, when it just finished snowing the cliff looks like a dragon made completely of bone, and during the spring, fall and summer it looked like the old bones of a dragon. So we named it Boneknapper Peak, even got it mapped out on most of the archive maps". He smiled at the thought of showing them. "Sounds cool," Jack smirked. "I can't wait to see it, but how long will it take to get there," Olaf asked.
"We'll have about an hour hike to the entrance of the cavern, and then it'll take us an hour to go through the cavern and two hours to get back." Hiccup explained and Jack nodded, "Sounds like a plan". About 45 minutes later the three teens found themselves parked in an off road area. There sat a small rundown house made of thick wood. A shield with a black dragon painted on it, was posted above the entrance to the little porch. Olaf looked at the construction, "Is this being fixed or torn down". He asking looking at the brunet, Hiccup gave a weak laugh at the rough condition of the house.
Looking up at the shield, next to Olaf he explained, "Well it was abandoned when we found it. Toothless, Merida and Rapunzel helped me fix it up about two years back. It… still needs a little work, but it's a great place to rest after a long day of hiking and keeps the cold, bugs and occasional animals out. We usually camp here in the summer and maybe once to get away in the winter, but not often due to the serious winters we get here".
Jack was removing his shoes in the car as he listened to his friend. Placing the boots on the car floor he stepped out felt the cold patch of grass send shivers through his body. Toothless stood beside him watching in curiosity. He took his staff and felt around the ground, as he began to closed his eyes and took a deep breath, listening, hearing and feeling the new environment he was in rocks, sticks, trees, a stream about 1 mile away. Once his senses took over the people around him became invisible. It was a meditation skill that he learned from his uncle Ester. However, when using this skill came to Jack his sense of motion took control of his actions. Toothless was taken back as Jack began to wander into the forest without making a sound.
The feline quickly followed the human to assure he wouldn't get lost or hurt. Walking Jack found there were two more open plots of land a few feet from Hiccup's cabin. Using his bare feet and staff he found five trials that Hiccup followed when he went on his mapped out hikes, and each trail went in four directions of north, south, east and west. The wind picked up in the direction of North and Jack began to follow it.
Walking.
It was dangerous and exciting thing for Jack. The boy could walk for hours aimlessly in a direction of the winds choosing. It was often a problem back home, when he went on his morning walks he would find himself lost in white forest miles and miles away from home. The first experience terrified him, to a point where he'd stopped his morning walks, but just as the wind lead him now, it lead him then. Jack would spend days inside, but if a window was open or a door was cracked the wind had a way to lead the teen outside. The wind got him to wander again, and it would get him lost, but it would always get him back home. After realizing this Jack no longer feared walking alone, or without his staff, because he always knew the way back home, thanks to the wind.
His trace was broken when he felt a tug on his pants leg. Facing down to the back his left leg, he smiled at the black cat trying to pull him away from the cliff. Jack chuckled, "Clam down Toothless, I'm not goanna fall". The cat stopped pulling and meowed at the teen. Jack held out his hands for the cat to jump in and he did. He lifted his head hearing his name being called by Hiccup and Olaf. He sighed with a smile shaking his head and went to end his friend's frantic searching.
"Hey, shout any louder and you'll start an avalanche," He joked walking upon the two, from Hiccup's trial. The brunet gave a strong sigh of relief at the sight of Jack. "Oh thank the gods! Dude. Don't. Ever. Do that. Again." Hiccup ordered still trying to calm down. "Yeah! You didn't even make sound when you left" Olaf agreed with a frown. Jack just laughed, "Ok, I'll try to make more noise next time".
They regrouped at the truck and Hiccup handed them the extra back packs of camping gear. "They're a bit worn down, but still in good condition. We've only got them as a precautionary, probably won't even need them, but it's good to be prepared." He shrugged and the other two nodded understanding. Pulling a brown worn down booklet from his backpack, he knelt down and began to unfold the paper that was a collage of national maps, covered with red, blue, green and black markings.
"Whoa," Olaf stared with an excited smile. "That's a lot of paper," Jack mumbled hearing the folds of paper raddle. "Boneknapper Peak is down the Northeast trail, we'll start down the main trail and head off on extended trail that leads in that direction." Hiccup spoke and Jack and Olaf nodded understanding their travel plan. They locked up the car and headed out on their adventure. While they traveled Hiccup told them about other parts of the land that he'd mapped on his voyages.
During his stories and the land marking lesson Jack and Olaf received, they found themselves at the entrance of Boneknapper Cavern. Jack felt the wind from the ice based tunnel they stood in front of him, he whistled at the size and it echoed off the frozen walls. "Whoa," Olaf sighed with wide smile. He took a few steps to entrance and Hiccup followed, with a smirk of his own. The brunet stopped at a slim trail on the far right side leaning into the cavern. "Lucky this patch of land isn't frozen over. It hardly ever does and lets me walk up to the top without dealing with the ice," He looked at his watch. "We better get a move on if we wanna get back before sun down," He informed the two spectators.
Olaf followed Hiccup, and Jack followed Olaf's footsteps. The first change in temperature and shift in ground was quickly known by Jack after two steps. He kept his hand on the wall as they traveled in a spiral format on the trail. "My sisters would love this. Elsa really likes ice sculpting and Anna likes exploring new places. This is totally up their ally!" He exclaimed in excitement. "Ah! Jack winced at the loud echoing volume that bounced off the wall. Hiccup and Olaf quickly looked back as the white haired teen shaking his head. "You ok," Hiccup asked. Jack quickly nodded saying, "Yeah, I'm good. Let's just talk a little softer. Cool?"
Olaf gave a soft sorry and Jack just ruffled his hair, reassuring him that is was ok. They continued on their way, Olaf asked questioned about Hiccup's findings, and Jack enjoyed the feeling the cold wind and ice numbing his fingertips. Thirty minutes they were half way through a long tunnel and Hiccup labeled the "Throat Bone," He spoke up telling the two they were almost to the top.
He spared a glance at his watch and quickly did a double take, he frantically turned to shout Jack's name, but before the words could properly escape his lips an enormous gust of wind rushed through the tunnel. A loud inhuman sound that quaked the cavern followed the wind. The sound wave sent Jack's ears into an over whelming state of pain and confusing.
His feet tumbled back making his fall onto the ice and slid down the slope at an accelerating speed. "Jack," Olaf and Hiccup shouted in unison, hurrying down to their friend as fast as they could. To say the teen was disoriented was an understatement. His head was reeling, ears ringing, and back ached from the harsh impact his back made with the wall, that stopped his tumbling down the icy hill.
"Jack, Jack! Are you ok," He barely heard the question clearly, with everything sounding as if he was under water. The slowly recovering teen held up his finger for silence and patients. The two frantic males somehow understood and went quiet. Jack closed his eyes and covered his ears taking a deep, long breath in and out. He took another deep breath, listening to himself breath, hearing his heart beat slow down, counting his pules beat down to it usual rhythm. He opened his eyes and listened to Hiccup's breath, listened to Olaf holding his breath, he listened to the soft tings of ice sickles on the ceiling, also recovering from the sound wave. Taking another deep breath Jack removed his hands from his ears.
He could hear clearly now and the first sound to grace his ears were the sighs of relief from his friends. He snickered giving them his signature smile, "I'm good". There was a moment of silence when Hiccup asked, "You're sure"? Jack nodded standing up as best he could on the ice. Hiccup helped him get back to the ice-less trial, a few inches away from where he landed. He asked again with a weary voice, "You're sure alright? We can go back ya know". Jack chuckled straightening his back pack, "I'm good man. We're almost there don't stop on my account". Hiccup still looked unsure of the decision and glanced at Olaf, "You up to keep going," he asked. Olaf smiled and nodded, "Yeah".
They head up the slope once again as Jack asked what was that sound that burned his ear drums. "I call it the Dragons Roar. It happens almost all the time at the exact time, around mid- noon. It happens when the temperature drops and wind begins to blow lower to the earth, large gust of wind go through the cavern's entrance," He explained and Jack nodded. "So I take it the entrance is the dragon's mouth," he questioned. Hiccup shook his head, "We'll actually come out on top of its head. The mouth of the dragon is an indent in the cavern. Sometimes Toothless and I climb down to sit on and make a fire, if we stay the night". Jack chuckled, "Must be a great date spot for you and Merida, huh"? Hiccup cleared his throat blushing embarrassed, "Well… I… uh… Hmm never thought of that… I guess it would heh".
Jack laughed patting his shoulder, "Well let's hope you use my idea to your advantage on your next date," He nudged the brunet in the shoulder playfully. Hiccup chuckled, "I'll see what I can do". They reached the top of "Boneknapper Peak," with an hour and a half. "Well here it is," Hiccup shrugged as Toothless jumped down from the top of his camping bag and rolled around in the snow. Hiccup chuckled at his pet and looked at the awe struck Olaf. "Whoa," Olaf sighed looking at the view. Jack smiled peacefully at the air around him. "How's the view," He asked Olaf. "Amazing," the younger teen replied still in awe.
Jack chuckled hearing Olaf running off a few feet away to chase a playful Toothless. He took in a deep breath and smiled, as the sound crunching snow stopped next to him. "You come here a lot don't ya," he asked the brunet. "Yeah, how can you tell," Hiccup asked. "Your feet impressions are carved into the snow. No matter how many layers of fresh snow that covers it these prints will always be here," He explained and Hiccup looked at the ground.
He chuckled, "You figured that out just from standing there"? Jack shrugged, "That and I know the feeling of leaving your mark in the snow. After my first month of training I went hiking into the mountains with my uncle. He took me on the same trail every morning, and lead us down a different one when we'd come back. I memorized almost every footstep we made down those trails and used those prints to find my way back and forth when I traveled on my own". Hiccup looked at the view he knew all too well and smiled. "You and dad every take trips out here," Jack asked. Hiccup laughed, "Yeah right. My dad's too worried about me being mayor, to even talk about my interest at the dinner table. No way am I goanna be able to get the subject of hiking together".
Jack gave him a reassuring neck hug, taking the brunet by surprise, "Hey ya never know unless ya try man". Hiccup rolled his eyes, "You sound like Astrid". Jack laughed at the thought, but stopped when the sound of hitched breath caught his ear. His head snapped to look behind them, only to hear Olaf shout, "JACK"!
Hiccup turned just as fast at the sound only to see Jack rush to the cliff edge and grab the freshmen's hand. A sigh of relief barely escaped the brunet's lips, before he saw Jack's body slip over the edge. His heart sunk and he rushed over to edge to see Jack gripping a rock that looked like a tooth. The white haired teen was keeping Olaf and himself up, but the bags were weighing him down, as well as the poor positioning of the rock he held. "Guys! Guys hold on! I'm goanna get you up," Hiccup shouted rushing to pull off his bag and get out some climbing rope. He figured they wouldn't do any rock climbing see as the time frame they had and decided not to bring the needed equipment.
Big mistake on his part, he looked down at Toothless, "Go find help bud," he ordered. As soon as the cat left his owner began looking around for something wrap the rope around. He spotted a tree a few feet away and ran to it, wrapping the rope around the trunk he heard shout. "Hiccup," Jack hollered as his grip started to slip. The ice on the stone was beginning to melt. Hiccup looked around franticly and saw the opening of the dragon's mouth. "Jack, JACK! There's a ledge a few feet away. If you swing Olaf to the left of you he'll land on it," Hiccup explained. "But what about Jack," Olaf asked weary of the plan. "I'll fallow ya after you land buddy," Jack answered. "But I can't see how far the ledge is, so your goanna have to tell me when to let go," he winced as he began to slip again. "Ok," Olaf nodded uneasily.
Jack began to swing his arm slightly to the left. Olaf's weight did most of the work as he spoke, "A little more, Now". Jack let go of his hand and Olaf rolled on to the ledge. He was still a bit shook up, but ok. Looking up at the older teen shouted, "Ok Jack your turn"! "Alrigh_" Jack's grip finally slipped and Hiccup grabbed it before it was too late. "Hic?!" Jack questioned feeling the hand holding his tightly. "Yeah," Hiccup winced, "I got ya"! His left hand held onto Jack and his right was wrapped around the rope secured by the tree. Granted Hiccup didn't have his back pack, but Jack did and that made it hard to pull them back up. The brunet attempted to pull them up, Jack blinked at a distant sound not far from them. He spoke more so to himself as he said, "Someone's coming". He twisted his wrist to get a grip Hiccup's hand, trying to get his attention.
After the third try Hiccup felt the rope loosen from the forced weight. The knot tied around the tree began to slowly unravel and Hiccup could feel them slowly going further and further off the cliffs edge. Jack felt it too and faced Hiccup with wide eyes. Hiccup looked down to see blue wide eyes from the one guy that stood up for him without reason, and told him he could do something his own way. It was than he realized that this random, white haired, guy that just popped up into his life had somehow became his best friend. And he was about to lose him, because of his careless actions. Jack's grip tightened, "Hey man it's goanna be all right". He smiled as the final hinges of the ropes knot untangled.
Hiccup winced for the fall that never came, thanks to a quick snag on the rope. He blinked a few times when nothing happened and as the two teens were pulled up. "What," He questioned, while Jack chuckled a sigh of relief, "Knew I heard someone". Toothless meowed at the two males and the stranger pulled them up. Hiccup sighed deeply relieved to be back on solid, cold ground. "Good job bud, "He huffed ruffling the cat's head. A bark made him jump as he saw a brown dog panting next to him. "Oh… uh… Thank you too… I guess," The brunet spoke patting the random dog. "You guys alright," asked a young man's voice who stood over them.
Hiccup looked up to a tall muscular teen with dirty blond hair, bundled up in fur based attire. "Yeah," Hiccup replied with a nodded. "Hey Olaf, you ok down there," Jack shouted. "Yeah, but I'm still stuck," the younger teen replied. "I got him," The blond teen stated throwing a rope down. Once Olaf had a good grip the three males pulled him up. He laid out on the snow covered ground and sighed with a smile, only to be attacked by a brown dog licking his face. He laughed sitting and petting the energetic pooch. "Alright Sven, down boy," The blond smiled ruffling the dogs head. "I take that's all of you. You guys alright," The blond asked as they all stood and got their baring. "Yeah, thanks for the literal save," Hiccup state dusting some on the snow off his shoulders.
He walked up to the slightly taller teen and held out his hand, "We owe you _". "Kristoff," The blond nodded shaking Hic's hand. "Hiccup. That's Jack and Olaf," He stated motioning to his friends. "Thanks a lot man," Jack waved and Olaf nodded with a big smile, "Yeah thanks". Kristoff waved them off, "It's nothing really. Your cat showed up at my house and started making a fuse with Sven, and then he led me here." Toothless meowed and held his head high, next to Hiccup. "Good job bud," Hiccup smiled petting his cat.
"That's one hell of cat you got there man," Kristoff chuckled. The brunet nodded in agreement. "You guys from the city?" Kristoff asked. "Yeah we came out for a hike, but things got kind of out of hand," Jack replied. "I noticed, forgot your climbing gear, I assume," Kristoff asked. Hiccup arched an eyebrow, "How'd you_" The blond chuckled and shrugged, "No one comes out here with that kinda gear unless he knows what he's doing. Being an explorer myself it's easy to spot one". "Well I'm glad you brought yours or we wouldn't be here right now, "Hiccup sighed.
He looked at the setting sun and pinkish blue sky. They could still go back to care, but they wouldn't beat the sun. It was getting colder and would be much harder to navigate back in the dark. Apparently Kristoff thought the same thing as he spoke, "If you guys need a place to crash you stay with me if ya want. It's dangerous to walk the wood at night and my parents won't mind. Besides, it's not every day we get company". The three exchanged looks (minus Jack) and agreed to go. Lighting a few lanterns and giving Olaf a flashlight they headed into the woods to a large cabin house.
So here's Kristoff to save the day! When I say I have been trying to write this chapter all month! I mean it! Like I really really want ed this come out at the beginning of October,but life had other plans!
But I'm really glad you guys waited for it and again I feel horrible for taking so long. For those of you that probably forgot about the story by now I don't mind, but if ya ever remember to come and read it, please do!
I hope this month will be less taxing on my free time and I start dishing out these chapters quicker, cause I have so many ideas and not enough time to get it all done! God i hate grown up responsibilities... Anyway next chapter Stoick is introduced, Rapunzel worries about Jack, Kristoff and guys become friends and Dagger makes a smashing return.
With all that on my plate and the struggles of life I do hope to see you all soon at least when i the chance. Much love to all my new favoriters and followers. I hope you enjoy reading as much as i enjoy writing.
Remember Read on and Review
Agi out!