Chapter 4: Danger Approaching

Berk

February 29

Stoick sat upon the same table he had sat upon this morning, his hand to his forehead and his journal lying open in front of him. He had finished all his chiefly duties and now he was waiting as patiently as he could for the birth of his and Valka's child. Now the evening sun was halfway below the horizon and the sky was growing dark and he still hadn't received any news on Valka and the baby.

"It takes time," he reminded himself. He was certain his wife and child would be just fine. After all, he knew lots of mothers on Berk who had delivered their children without a problem.

Then again, there were a few mothers who hadn't been so lucky. He knew a few mothers who had ended up dying in childbirth. And he still remembered all those funerals he had to hold for them.

The thought of a Viking funeral brought a vision of a burning ship to his mind. He could see tiny golden frames dancing along different parts of the ship and growing larger and larger. And in the middle of that ship was a thin, young woman with three long braided ponytails.

Stoick shook his head trying to erase the vision from his mind and he succeeded. Those mothers may have perished bringing their children into this world but not his wife! No, his Valka was going to be just fine. She was a strong and independent woman after all and that's why he married her. And as for their child, it too was going to make it through the early birth, grow up big and strong and lead a proper Viking life. He wouldn't be surprised if that child lived all the way to its senior years, something rare for most Vikings.

Just then, Gobber arrived with a tray of food and sat down next to him.

"Hey, Stoick, how about some supper?" he asked.

"Uh, no thank you, Gobber," Stoick answered with a sigh. "I'm not very hungry."

"All right, more for me," said Gobber cheerfully and helped himself to a sausage.

Stoick looked at his best friend with a bit of annoyance and envy. How can he stay so calm, cool and collected while a baby was getting ready to be born?

Noticing his expression, Gobber swallowed his bit of sausage, smiled softly and patted Stoick's shoulder with his good hand.

"I wouldn't worry too much about Val, Stoick. I'm sure she'll be fine. You married yourself a good woman…even if she is a dragon activist."

Stoick smiled softly in return, feeling a little bit better. "Thanks, Gobber."

Gobber nodded and then he frowned sadly. "Although I am a bit concerned about that wee one of yours. You hear stories about the difficulties premature babies go through. Some don't even make it at all."

"Maybe those babies go through some difficulties and probably perish, Gobber, but not my child," Stoick said firmly. "My child will grow up to be the strongest of them all."

Gobber was just about to respond to that declaration when a fellow Viking man, Rockhands arrived before them in a flash.

"Stoick, I'm so glad I found you," he said, panting heavily, clearly out of breath.

"What is it, Rockhands?" Stoick asked.

"I was walking through the town being on the lookout when I saw something in the sky," Rockhands explained. "At first I thought it was a trick of the light being that it's getting dark now and then I realized what it was: A small herd of Monstrous Nightmares!"

"Monstrous Nightmares?!" Gobber exclaimed.

"Are they in the village?!" Stoick demanded, standing up from his chair.

"No, they're in the forest," Rockhands replied. "I watched as they landed somewhere near Hrungnir's Slope."

"Hrungnir's Slope, eh?" Gobber echoed, sharing a look with Stoick. "That's not far from here."

"How many were there, Rockhands?" Stoick asked.

"I think there were four or five," Rockhands answered. "Yes, definitely five."

All Stoick could think about was Valka and the baby. Putting a hand to his forehead exasperatedly, he said, "Perfect. Of all nights for dragons to come trespassing my island."

Then looking up with grim determination, he announced, "All right, Gobber, Rockhands, let's gather a few more men, grab some weapons from the armory and take care of those devils."

"Yes sir!" Gobber and Rockhands replied in unison, saluting.

…

Night Fury Island

February 29

Dusk was snoozing away peacefully when his ears perked up in an alert sort of way. His eyes popped open and he lifted his head. First he looked down at Sapphire who was asleep beside him with her tail curled around their eggs. Then he looked towards the opening to their den.

The last rays of sunlight were streaming through the trees. Before long, the dark of night would be hovering over their home. There was something in the air though. Something foul, something…dangerous. And Dusk didn't like it. His ears lowered backwards, the pupils of his eyes constricted as he narrowed them and he curled his lips back into a snarl.

His soft growls must have woken up Sapphire because she lifted her head and looked at him, blinking her sapphire eyes sleepily.

"What is it?" she grunted curiously and somewhat tiredly.

Dusk hated to worry his mate but he responded honestly, "Danger."

Sapphire's ears perked up in alarm. "What danger?"

"I don't know but I'm gonna find out," Dusk declared as he stood up and walked panther-like towards the opening.

Then he turned back to Sapphire and added, "You remain here and guard the eggs."

Sapphire nodded, determination in her eyes now. "I won't let anything happen to them. And you be just as careful."

Dusk nodded back, stepped out of the den and broke into a run into the forest.

Sapphire watched as he disappeared into the forest that was rapidly growing black from the evening sky. Then she looked down at her eggs and used her tail to push them as close to her body as possible in order to keep them safe from whatever danger her mate had sensed and was about to face.

As she pulled the eggs closer, she felt some movement coming from within the shells.

…

Well, looks like waiting for the births of our heroes will have to, well, wait.

P.S. Rockhands is right about the Monstrous Nightmares arriving on the island but he's wrong about how many there are. He thought he saw five but there are really SIX Nightmares. The sixth Monstrous Nightmare is a youngster clinging to the breast of his mother and that's why Rockhands didn't see him from afar. This young Monstrous Nightmare you are going to meet in Chapter 5 will be a certain Monstrous Nightmare you're all familiar with.