Gemsho, Gemsho, nobody likes yo...
YO. Hey, guys! How are you all doing today? I've almost finished Race to the Edge! I'm in the middle of the last episode right now. We were in the middle of watching it, and suddenly, the screen went black and said, "We are sorry, but there is a problem with this movie at the moment" or something like that, and my brother and I both shouted "DAAAAAAAARN ITTTTT!" at the same time, XD.
I'll have to do shout-outs next chapter, unfortunately. My email isn't working too well right now. Stupid email...but I will do shout-outs next chapter for sure! Thank you all for reading, reviewing, and what not! Enjoy chapter 17!
Astrid got there just as the other members of the search party arrived. She eyed the other forty nine Berkians, seeing as how they all had weapons, and were ready to use them against the Gemsho, when they found it.
Astrid stood next to Snotlout and the twins, watching as Stoick stood up in front of them to address the Berkians.
"I know it is normally not our way," said Stoick. "Since making peace with the dragons, we have never used the rule 'kill on sight.' But this is a different story. And so, if you do happen to see this Gemsho...kill it."
It might have sounded harsh, to anyone else, but not the Berkians. Not after they saw what the Gemsho had done to Hiccup and Avril. And so, they cheered in response, and then were sent out.
They left the dragons on Berk just in case the Gemsho got there while the search party was out. Although it might have seemed like a bad idea (and in Astrid's mind, it was), it was the safest thing for the remaining Berkians.
"You know," said Snotlout as he marched in line next to Astrid, heading towards Raven Point, "this is weird. We are being sent out to kill a dragon. We never do this."
"This is different," said Astrid, not even looking at the boy beside her. "This beast shouldn't even have the right to be called a dragon."
"Then what is it, then?" said Snotlout.
"I don't know," said Astrid. "It's not like I've seen it. But Hiccup and Avril have, and you know what's going on with them right now, as we're heading out."
"Of course I know," said Snotlout. "But how can a talking dragon traumatize a person like that?"
"Oh I don't know, Snotlout," said Astrid sarcastically. "A talking dragon that threatened to kill everyone they care about, who just so happens to still be alive as we speak, and-"
"Alright, alright, I see your point," said Snotlout. "But why?"
"Why what?" said Astrid. "Why do you see my point?"
"No, why does the dragon want to kill us?" said Snotlout.
"I don't know," said Astrid. "I really don't know."
They continued to march in silence, until they reached Raven Point. Then, one of the older members of the search party stood up in front of the others.
"We should split up into groups," he declared, and everyone listened. No one else wanted to take charge besides him, so it was unspoken that he was now the leader of the search party. "Five groups, consisting of ten people each. Does anyone reject?"
After a few seconds of thinking about what they should choose, everyone shook their heads. It sounded like a good enough idea, splitting into groups. It would help them find the Gemsho faster.
"Right then," he continued. "Split up into five groups of ten. It doesn't matter who is in whose group."
And so, they started lining up into five different sections, ten people each. Snotlout, Astrid, Ruffnut and Tuffnut ended up in the same group, along with six other Berkians much older than they were.
Once they were all ready, they took off in different directions, searching for any sign of the Gemsho dragon.
They searched for hours, not knowing exactly what they were looking for. Hiccup said that the dragon had been "darker than a Night Fury", but Astrid didn't really understand what all that meant. It could have meant a number of things; none of them good.
No one knew what the dragon looked like. How were they supposed to find something when they didn't even know what it looked like? It could have been small, while at the same time, it could have been huge. No one knew for certain, and no one could even guess.
"What are we looking for again?" said Tuffnut.
"The Gemsho," said Ruffnut, spinning around in a circle to assess the forest. "It's a dragon."
"Oh, well, okay," said Tuffnut. "We're trying to kill it, aren't we?"
"Yeah," said Ruffnut. "Yeah, we are."
"But we normally don't kill dragons," said Tuffnut.
"Were you listening to anything the Chief said back at the Great Hall?" Astrid snapped, clearly irritated.
"I really try not to listen," said Tuffnut.
"Pfft," said Snotlout, tossing his head and rolling his eyes in the most sarcastic way possible. "I could have told you that."
"Hey, guys, break it up," said Astrid. "We're here for one reason and one reason only."
"What's that?" said Tuffnut.
"You don't ever pay attention, do you?" said Snotlout.
"Yeah...no, not really," said Tuffnut. "It often interferes with being crazy."
"Wait a minute," said Astrid, putting her hand back to silence her friends, meeting Tuffnut's chest, as he was the one walking in front. He, Snotlout and Ruffnut stopped instantly, their breath pounding in their ears as they looked around the forest, wondering what had caused Astrid to stop.
"I don't see anything," said Snotlout in a whisper after about ten seconds of listening to the silence spread over Raven Point.
"Shh, listen," said Astrid. She had heard someone; she knew that she heard something. She didn't know what it was, but it was something, and it was dangerous.
"Astrid," said Ruffnut, but Astrid cut her off.
"No, there's something here," Astrid said.
They stood there with bated breath, until they suddenly heard a growl. As quick as possible, they moved into a formation, their backs to each other, drawing their weapons. Something was wrong. They could feel it.
Suddenly, an ice cold breeze rushed through the forest. The riders yanked their heads in that direction, but saw nothing. Then, the ground shook, and a loud THUMP echoed through the forest of Raven Point.
"That didn't sound good," said Snotlout, and Astrid nodded. Slowly, ever so slowly, Astrid, Snotlout, Ruffnut and Tuffnut turned around. Astrid and Snotlout gasped while Ruffnut screamed, Tuffnut following her shortly after.
"Is that...that…?" Snotlout blubbered, lifting a shaking hand.
"Yes," said Astrid. "The Gemsho."
The dragon roared.