Chapter 30: The Aftermath
Berk
November 1
Under the rooftop of Gobber's forge, Hiccup looked down at the new shield he was working on without even looking at it. Some of the Vikings' shields had been damaged from last night's raid (then again, a lot of shields always get damaged whenever there's a dragon raid) so Hiccup and Gobber were working on some new ones.
As he slowly turned his wrench on the screws of the shield, Hiccup thought about the raid last night. That particular raid was different than the raids he had witnessed in the past mainly because of the Night Fury or Night Furies. After years of hearing stories of these creatures of the night and praying they would never show up, every Berkian's worst nightmare had come true: a Night Fury had attacked Berk.
Hiccup had barely slept a wink after he, Astrid and the other kids overheard the adults' talk of the raid and everyone agreeing with Spitelout's declaration that the new dragon was a Night Fury. If his eyes were closed, he could still hear the new dragon's shriek as it dived down from the sky and blasted catapults and torches.
Once in a while, he kept pulling back the curtains of his bedroom window to make sure he didn't catch a glimpse of the deadly new dragon and he never did. He admitted he half-hoped that he would then he would see what it looked like.
This got him wondering: what exactly did Night Furies look like? Were they small in size? Or medium or large?
Did they have one head or two heads like Zipplebacks? Or worse, what if they had multiple heads?
As for its scale color, it was definitely black like the night sky otherwise if it had been brightly colored, it would have been more easy to spot.
But what about the eye color? Most dragon eyes were yellow in color. Maybe the Night Fury had yellow eyes too. Or black like its scales so it would be really hard to spot against the night sky. Or maybe they were red like fresh blood.
Blood.
Hiccup shuddered. He could almost picture the Night Fury's claws and teeth caked with dried blood from its previous victims.
"Hiccup? Hiccup!"
Hiccup jumped, startled. He looked up to see Gobber standing over him. He had been so lost in his thoughts he hadn't even heard his mentor.
"Oh, it's you, Gobber," Hiccup said, half-relieved.
"Who were you expecting? Leif Erikson?" Gobber asked dryly. Then he looked worried. "You all right, lad? You're working unusually slow today."
"Oh, I am?" Hiccup asked, looking down at the shield.
And Gobber was right, the screws weren't even halfway screwed into the shield. Hiccup picked up the wrench and began to turn the screw a bit faster than he did before.
"Woah, lad, take it easy," Gobber said, holding up his hand and the wrench attached to his stumpy left arm. "No need to work too fast. You'll end up taking a piece off the shield."
Hiccup slowed down a little. "Sorry, Gobber. I was just thinking about last night's raid."
"I know, lad," Gobber said solemnly. "Everyone is."
"I especially can't stop thinking about the Night Fury," Hiccup added.
"I don't recall telling you it was a Night Fury that attacked last night," Gobber pointed out.
Hiccup realized, too late, that he had blurted what he shouldn't have known until he was told.
"You don't?" Hiccup asked, trying to look innocent.
"No, I don't," Gobber said, narrowing his eyes in suspicion. "Incidentally, how did you know the new dragon was a Night Fury?"
"I guessed it?" Hiccup replied with a sheepish smile.
"Hiccup," Gobber warned sternly.
Hiccup sighed. "I snuck out of the house after you brought me there and stood outside the Great Hall listening to you and the other adults talk. I heard Spitelout claim that the new dragon must've been a Night Fury."
"That's what I thought," Gobber said.
"I'm sorry, Gobber," Hiccup said sadly. "I shouldn't have done that."
Gobber was silent for a moment then he said, "Well, I admit I used to stand outside the Great Hall and listen to meetings when I was your age as well."
"Really?" Hiccup asked, his eyes lighting up.
"Yeah," Gobber nodded. Then he cleared his throat. "But I learned to kick that habit so I suggest you do the same thing."
"Yes, sir," Hiccup said.
"Good," Gobber said, and he resumed wrenching screws into the new shields.
"So you really think the new dragon from last night was a Night Fury?" Hiccup asked.
"You bet I do," Gobber said.
"Then I think so too," Hiccup declared.
"You and everyone else on this island," Gobber replied. "You know, for some reason, it didn't bother to try to steal our food like all the other dragons."
"Or other people," Hiccup added, thinking about his poor mom.
"That too," Gobber nodded. "While food is replaceable, people aren't."
Hiccup nodded back and Gobber had a strong point about people being more important than anything. Although he disliked the adults and children teasing him and calling him odd, they were still human beings.
"Just the same, if it had helped to steal food, then the dragons would have a bigger winter supply then we would ever have," Gobber said.
"I would've hated to see what it looks like up close if it had tried to steal our food," Hiccup said.
"Me too," Gobber replied. "Good thing there was only one last night."
Hiccup started to nod but then a horrible thought occurred to him.
"But Gobber what if it wasn't just one?" Hiccup asked. "What if there are more out there?"
"Hmm," Gobber said thoughtfully. "That would be a spectacle, wouldn't it? A whole herd of Night Furies."
"Where do you suppose the one that attacked last night came from? From the dragons' nest?"
"Mmmm, probably."
Hiccup was getting more excited by the minute. "Now we'll really have to find the nest more than ever to see for ourselves and…"
Gobber gently cut him off. "All right, lad. I think we've talked about Night Furies long enough. Back to work with you."
"But I'm curious," Hiccup said.
"And I'm glad you're curious. Curiosity is a good thing. Helps you learn better. Then again, it was curiosity that killed the cat and I'd hate to see you end up as one of those cats…well, humans anyway. And you had fallen victim to your own curiosity one too many times as it is."
Hiccup nodded and resumed working on the shields.
Gobber also had a point about him falling victim to his own curiosity. It was true that he had fallen victim to whatever he was curious about and it had gotten him into enough trouble over the years. But he couldn't help it. After all, a Night Fury or Night Furies had attacked Berk. Although it was a terrifying experience, it had brought a little excitement into his life.
For years, he had hoped he'd never have to come face to face with the scariest dragons of all time but at the same time, he was a little curious about where they came from and what they looked like.
Well, he had no idea where the one from last night came from and it was too fast of a flyer to stick around to show everyone what it looked like.
As he paused to rest from his work, Hiccup craned his neck in the direction of his workshop and noticed the Cata-bow-shot still standing there, still waiting to be used.
Suddenly, he got an idea.
All his life, everyone in the village talked about how weird he was and just last night he was just saying to Gobber how he'd do anything to prove to the whole village that he wasn't as weird as they thought he was. Well, maybe he just found the answer!
He would bring the Cata-bow-shot to one of the high cliffs of the island, wait beside it every night if he had to and the next time the dragons attacked, he would use it to shoot one down. And if he was lucky, that dragon would be the impossible-to-catch Night Fury! He would be famous!
He spent the rest of the day helping Gobber with the new shields and by the time they were finished, Hiccup turned to the blacksmith.
"Hey, Gobber, when do you think the dragons will come back?"
"Not a clue, laddie," Gobber said."But when they do we'll be ready."
"Do you suppose with any luck, they might come back again tonight?" Hiccup asked hopefully.
"I hope not. Then again, there have been some occasions when the dragons raided us two nights in a row."
"And I hope tonight will be the second night in a row," Hiccup said enthusiastically.
Gobber narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "All right, little man, what's this all about?"
"What do you mean what's this all about?"
"Why are you hoping the dragons will come back again this very night?"
"Well…all these raids as scary and dangerous as they are, bring some excitement to the island…especially since we live in the middle of nowhere and it's rare for something big to happen here…heh heh."
After about a moment, Gobber stopped looking suspicious and nodded.
"You're right, Hiccup, old boy. Anything exciting does very rarely happen around here and I suppose two dragon raids in a row would be somewhat exciting, dangerous as they are. And if one does happen again tonight, I suggest you hurry home before it gets too dark."
"Good idea, Gobber," Hiccup said. "But first…"
Hiccup approached a barrel full of swords, pulled out two and then after a second thought, pulled out a third and placed them on the wooden board of the Cata-bow-shot.
"Whatcha doin', lad?" Gobber asked.
"I'm gonna bring the Cata-bow-shot home with me," Hiccup replied, walking over to the Cata-bow-shot, got behind it and started to push it out of the shop. "I figured it's taking up a little too much room in the shop."
"More like more than a little too much room," Gobber muttered.
"And since nobody else wanted to use it last night maybe Dad will want to try it out whenever he gets back," Hiccup said. "After all, it involves using swords, axes, rocks and other heavy or sharp objects which is what he uses best."
"True but I think like everyone else on the island, your dad would prefer using heavy or sharp objects in his own two hands rather than using them on your cata-bow-thingamajig," Gobber warned. "I did try to warn you about that yesterday and it turned out I was right. If none of the villagers wanted to use your shot thingy than your father might not want to either."
"Doesn't mean I can't encourage him to use it," Hiccup said determinedly.
Gobber sighed. "All right, Hiccup. Have it your way. You want me to help you push that thing? Looks a bit heavy for you to push by yourself."
"No!" Hiccup cried suddenly.
Then Hiccup realized that he must've said that too loud because Gobber was looking at him in surprise.
"Uh, no thank you," Hiccup said more calmly. "I could use some exercise."
"Er…all right, Hiccup. If that's what you desire. And if you ask me, you really could use some exercise. You've been working in my shop for five years now and I've yet to see a single muscle grow on those spindly little arms of yours."
Ignoring Gobber's comment, Hiccup continued to push his invention out of the shop and through the village.
The Cata-bow-shot was quite on the heavy side and Hiccup was still on the frail side. He was already breaking out into a sweat and he wasn't even on top of the cliffs yet. But the thought of using this to shoot a dragon down was giving him newfound confidence and determination. So we wouldn't give up. If he dropped dead getting this thing to a high cliff, it would be worth it.
He was just passing by the Hofferson house when he heard two familiar voices: Astrid's and Snotlout's.
"Now what do you want Snotlout?" he heard Astrid ask in an annoyed tone.
Hiccup paused from pushing his contraption and looked up. Astrid was standing outside her doorway, her arms folded and wearing an annoyed expression. Snotlout stood before her, his chest swelled up with pride and bravery.
"Well, Astrid, it's gonna get dark soon," Snotlout said. "And you never know what sort of scary stuff happens at night – thieves, knaves, wild boars, dragons. So I thought you could use a bodyguard. And I'm just the man for the job."
Hiccup shook his head. Typical Snotlout – always boasting he could do even the impossible things…and although he refused to admit it, sometimes he was even scared of his own shadow.
"I don't need a bodyguard, Snotlout," Astrid said, annoyed.
"I'm not saying you need a bodyguard every single night," Snotlout insisted. "Just until there is something dangerous going on."
"And when do suppose that will be?" Astrid asked with a sarcastic smile.
Snotlout was at a loss for words. "Uh…any night I guess."
Astrid's smile grew wider. "That's what I thought. You might as well forget it, Snotlout. You're not gonna be my bodyguard 'cause unlike you, I'm not afraid of my own shadow."
Now it was Snotlout's turn to look annoyed. "Well, you sure were scared of that Night Fury from last night."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Astrid retorted.
"Come on," Snotlout taunted. "I saw the way you hid under one of the tables in the Great Hall while that thing was out there destroying half the village."
"It didn't destroy half the village," Astrid pointed out. "Mom told me it only knocked down a torch and a catapult. Plus I wasn't hiding under the table because I was scared. I was…getting myself ready to ambush it. That way, if it did come into the Great Hall, I would wait there until the time was right for me to strike it with my axe before it suspected me. And if I recall correctly, Snotlout, you were hiding under a table yourself."
"I wasn't hiding," Snotlout protested. "I was doing just what you were doing: preparing myself to ambush that creature if it had found its way into the Great Hall and then I'd be helping you to finish it off."
"I don't know, you looked pretty spooked to me," Astrid teased.
"I was not spooked!" Snotlout snapped. "I was just practicing my war cry and waiting for my chance to make my first kill."
"Well, that "war cry" of yours sure sounded more like you were screaming to death," Astrid continued. "Some bodyguard you'd end up to be."
Hiccup had to admire Astrid for her independence and authority. And she was right. There was no need for Snotlout to be her bodyguard. He could see he was only doing it to brag and impress her. He admitted that he too wanted to impress Astrid but his ways of doing it – killing dragons and protecting the village – made much more sense.
He couldn't help but speak up around this very occasion. "You know, there will be no need for bodyguards or being scared of Night Furies."
Astrid and Snotlout looked up at him. Astrid looked surprised while Snotlout looked suspicious.
"And what makes you say that?" Snotlout demanded.
"Because I just invented the Cata-bow-shot," Hiccup said proudly, gesturing to his invention. "Just put a sword, an axe, or any kind of weapon against the strap, release it and it's sure to strike any intruding Viking or dragon. In fact, I'm gonna use it for the next dragon raid and if that Night Fury returns, I'll use it to catch it and hopefully finish it off."
Astrid looked rather unimpressed at the Cata-bow-shot while Snotlout burst into laughter.
"You've made a lot of crazy stuff in the past, Hiccup, but this has got to be the most hilarious thing I ever saw!" Snotlout said, holding his gut.
Astrid was more reasonable. "I usually never agree with Snotlout, Hiccup but you know, he does have a point. Why can't you just learn to throw weapons with your own two hands like everyone else?"
"Because his fingers are too slippery, that's why, Astrid," Snotlout piped up.
"And besides, even when we throw weapons with our own two hands, you could still miss your target," Hiccup added.
Astrid shot Hiccup a dirty look. Hiccup blushed. He completely forgot that Astrid spent her spare time practicing her axe throws and striking her targets with perfection.
"No offense," Hiccup said to her, holding up his hands.
"Oh, face it Hiccup, you'll never catch a Night Fury with that thing," Snotlout said. "You'll just die trying."
"Then I guess I will die trying," Hiccup said, getting behind the Cata-bow-shot again and resumed pushing it. "The least you could do, Snotlout, is wish me luck."
"You're right, Hiccup, how rude of me," Snotlout said, pretending to look and sound regretful. "I wish you the best of luck…for blowing it! Ha ha ha ha ha!"
It was a shame that Hiccup had his backed turned to Astrid and Snotlout as he continued to push his invention to the hills. Because if he had taken the time to look back, he would've seen Astrid punch Snotlout's shoulder. Even if she wasn't so impressed with Hiccup's inventions or gentle nature, it wouldn't be right for Snotlout to continue to bully him like that.
After an annoyed Snotlout walked away rubbing his sore shoulder, Astrid looked towards the direction Hiccup was walking down. He seemed far away enough to be out of earshot. She had no confidence that Hiccup's invention would work the first time or even at all but she still felt he deserved to be wished luck after all the hard work he put into that contraption and his desire to rid the village of one less dragon…or two.
She looked around herself and after seeing that there was no one else around, she looked back to Hiccup who looked tiny now from her perspective. Then just to be on the safe side, she put her hand over her mouth and whispered two words – two words that only she and she herself would only hear.
"Good luck."
…
Hiccup was exhausted by the time he got the Cata-bow-shot at the very top of a cliff overlooking the village. But it was worth it. This looked like the perfect spot to keep on the lookout for raiding Vikings and/or dragons.
Now if only some would come.
He hoped the dragons would decide to come back tonight. Not because he wanted the dragons to steal Berk's winter supply of food – which was what everyone depended on for survival against the deadly snow and ice) but because he didn't think he could wait any longer to try out his contraption.
After all, it hadn't been used the night before and if it was going to be used, he hoped tonight would be the night.
…
Dragon's Nest
November 1
Toothless rolled over, trying his best not to touch the part of the ground that he hadn't heated up with his flames. He was trying to sleep but it was hard to sleep with that Queen Dragon grumbling inside the fiery mountain.
He lifted his head at looked around enviously at the other slumbering dragons surrounding the foothills. None of them seemed to be bothered by the Queen's constant grumbling. Then again, they were used to it as they had lived on this island all their lives. Him, he had just been here for nearly two days.
Reluctantly, Toothless got to his feet and flew away from the beach and towards the sea stacks surrounding the island. He didn't stop until he landed on top of one of the stacks in the middle of the trail of sea stacks. As he always did, he walked in a circle, heated up the top of the stack with his flames then doused the tiny sparks with his paws.
And just as he was started to get comfortable, he heard a great big…
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
Toothless tried to keep his feet steady as the stone surface shook beneath him from the Queen's distant roar. He looked back towards the mountain as he listened to the sounds of panicked dragon cries that followed the Queen's roar.
Moments later, he could see hundreds of dragons flying out of the mist and towards his direction. Toothless ducked as Nightmares, Nadders, Gronckles and Zipplebacks flew over him, on either side of him and his sea stack perch and down below.
"The Queen wants more food!"
"The food we collected yesterday wasn't enough!"
"We must hunt for more!"
"Let's back to the humans' island!"
Toothless watched as the herds flew in different directions, possibly to go fishing in the sea. Some of the herds were headed down the direction of the humans' island.
Toothless stood where he was and tried to decide – should he go with the dragons that were going to the humans' island or should he go with the dragons that weren't going?
Now he could go fishing with the other dragons that were gliding above the sea water or he could go back to the island and help to catch fish in the watering holes of the island. After all, Toothless had no interest in trying to steal food from strange, practically furless creatures that carried strange objects.
But then again, the dragons that were hunting for sea-fish had no other creatures to try to harm them and stop them from hunting what they wanted to bring back to their Queen – except maybe territorial sea dragons like Thunderdrums and Scauldrons.
He remembered the Nadders and Gronckles telling him how even going to humans' island for food was a risk – though not as big a risk as going near the Queen. Either they died from inside Queen's enormous jaws or they died from the striking of the humans' deadly sticks – sticks with either shiny but sharp material or spiky rocks.
And as for the two-legged humans themselves, did they attack out of self-defense like the Queen's servants themselves or out of malice like the Whispering Death he had once faced and the tusked dragons that had taken his family? Or maybe even both out of self-defense and malice?
Toothless might never know the reason for the humans' attacking the raiding dragons but he knew that maybe those dragons heading there would need help. After all, he couldn't stop the mountain-sized Queen but he could stop the puny humans.
He would do what he did last night: he would perch himself in a dark spot far from the humans and stay there while the other dragons collected food and challenge the humans. Then when the moment was right, he would catch the humans by surprise…without showing himself before them of course.
….
Berk
November 1
It was getting dark and Hiccup was getting sleepy. He had his back against the wooden board and post of the Cata-bow-shot, his arms crossed in front of him and he had been sitting that way for so long his eyes were getting droopy.
He had to pinch his waist a few times to wake himself up.
A small gurgle from his stomach helped to wake him up. Not only was he getting a little sleepy but a little hungry as well. In his excitement of trying out the Cata-bow-shot, he forgot to bring some food with him and now he wished he did.
He spotted a berry bush a little ways from him and started to stand up to pick a few and eat them. Then he stopped himself. He remembered that time when he was five and he wanted to try some purple berries in the middle of the forest. Gobber had tasted them for him to make sure he was safe and ended up sick enough for Stoick and Hiccup to bring him to Gothi's…again.
Hiccup decided not to see if those berries were safe or unsafe without supervision and he wasn't feeling that hungry anyway. He sat back down against the Cata-bow-shot and with a sigh, closed his eyes.
…..
The sky was getting dark but luckily the fireplace of the forge provided plenty of light for Gobber as he hung the shields he and Hiccup had worked on today on the walls. He was nearly finished when he heard a voice at the window.
"Hey, Gobber!"
Gobber put the shield down and looked towards the window and saw Fishlegs' round, cheerful face with his puny helmet on top of his head on the other side.
"Ah, good evening, Fishlegs!" Gobber greeted cheerfully. "What brings you here on this fine evening?"
"Your great-great-grandpa's dragon book is amazing!" Fishlegs said excitedly, holding up the old dragon book. "I was wondering if I could borrow it again if you don't mind?"
"Not at all, lad," Gobber said kindly. "Glad you loved it."
"Ooooh, thank you, thank you!" Fishlegs squealed. "I've only read it once and yet I've learned so much about dragons already."
"Excellent."
"Did you know that the Monstrous Nightmare can spray its gel-like flames about fourteen feet? Or that Thunderdrums eggs make a sound so loud it can shake the sky when they hatch? Or that…"
"Yes, yes, Fishlegs, I've read the book before," Gobber laughed, holding up his good hand. "It was my great-great-great-grandpa's after all."
"Oh, right," Fishlegs blushed. "Well, thanks again and good night."
And he turned to walk away.
"Good night," Gobber called. He chuckled to himself good-heartedly. "Kids."
He turned back to the pile of shields, picked one up and was just about to hang it on the wall when he heard a knock. He put it down again and looked to the window.
Fishlegs was back and this time he looked a bit worried.
"What is it now, Fishlegs?" Gobber asked, getting a little worried himself.
Fishlegs placed the book on the windowsill and opened up a section.
"The only thing that worries me is that there's information on almost every dragon there is except the Night Fury," Fishlegs explained. "See?"
He pointed to the pages he had opened and Gobber approached to look.
And Fishlegs was right. The Night Fury section only had the title written on top and only a few notes down below. There weren't even any pictures of the mysterious night dragon.
"Hmmm," Gobber said somberly. "Yes, I know. Old Bork has seen many dragons in his day but Night Furies were the only species he had trouble locating."
"And it says here that if you ever do locate a Night Fury, your only hope is to hide and pray it does not find you," Fishlegs said, pointing to the note he mentioned.
"I can read, you know," Gobber pointed out.
"Sorry. So if I ever do come across any Night Furies, I should do what Bork says and hide and pray it does not find me?" Fishlegs asked.
"I guess so," shrugged Gobber.
"Well…okay. Good night, Gobber."
Fishlegs turned away again.
"Good night, son."
Gobber walked back to the shields. He was just resuming hanging them when there was another knock. He looked over and Fishlegs was back.
"What if it does find me?" Fishlegs asked.
Getting a little antsy, Gobber pondered and replied, "Then pray it already ate a big meal."
"Okay. Good night."
He started to walk away again.
Gobber picked up a shield.
Another knock.
Fishlegs once again.
"And if it already had a big meal?"
Gobber could only shrug.
Fishlegs whimpered in fear and muttered to himself that sounded very much like, "I'm doomed."
"I'm sorry I can't give you any more advice, Fishlegs," Gobber said apologetically.
"Well, good night, for real," Fishlegs squeaked.
And he walked away and this time he walked away without turning back and it wasn't long before he disappeared into the rapidly growing darkness.
A little glad that Fishlegs had run out of Night Fury questions, Gobber resumed his shield hanging. He was just about to hang the final shield on the wall when he heard another knock on the window. Gobber silently exhaled a breath of annoyance and placed the shield down.
"Fishlegs, I don't mean to be rude but…"
But once he faced the window, he stopped talking. Someone was standing on the other side of the window and it wasn't Fishlegs.
It was Stoick.
But there was something different about him. While he still looked like Stoick, his face didn't look…well, stoic. His dark green eyes were wide open, unblinking, his face was white as a sheet and a look of pure horror was etched upon it.
"Stoick?" Gobber blurted, shocked to see his friend looking this way upon his return.
Stoick opened his mouth but no words came out.
"Oh my gods," Gobber breathed and hurried outside to let his friend in. He grabbed Stoick's hand and led him indoors. "Come on inside and have a seat. I'll get you some water."
He helped Stoick sit on a stool and went to one of the shelves and grabbed a pitcher of pitcher in his good hand and slipped his left hook through the handles of two mugs. As he placed the mugs on the counter and poured water into both of them, Gobber wondered what had happened to make Stoick look like that. The last time he had seen his old friend look that pale and horrified was after Valka had been snatched away. And although that time still haunted Stoick occasionally, it couldn't possibly be that. Something else must've happened.
But what?
"Here you are, old friend," Gobber said softly, handing Stoick the first mug before reaching for the second and sat in the stool opposite of him.
Stoick sipped his water without pausing before looking at his friend.
"Now, tell me everything," Gobber encouraged.
Stoick opened his mouth and then closed it again.
"Uh, never mind, Stoick," Gobber said, holding up his hand. "No use pressuring you. You don't have to tell me now, just until you feel ready to tell me."
"No," Stoick said softly but firmly. "You have to hear it. It's important for you to know this."
"Well, if it's that important, let's hear it."
"Well, I arrived at Hardstone Island just in time for the chieftain's gathering about the dragons," Stoick explained.
"Oh, and did you all come up with a solution?" Gobber asked.
"Well, I had just finished making my suggestion when another man entered the Great Hall – a man none of us had ever met before until now," Stoick continued.
"Who was the man, Stoick?"
"His name was Drago Bludvist. He carried no weapons but he was dressed in a cloak of dragon skin. His face was heavily scarred with both previous and current battles with dragons. He promised us that if we agreed to follow him, he would protect us from all dragons for he alone could…control them."
Gobber suddenly grinned from ear to ear and burst out laughing. He raised his mug and tilted it enough to spill out half of his water.
"HA HA HA HA HA! For a heavily scarred, dragon-skin-wearing warrior, he sure sounds like he has quite a sense of humor!"
"That's what we thought as well," Stoick said seriously. "Next thing I know, the rooftop is on fire and suddenly dragons burst out of the ceiling."
Gobber stopped smiling and laughing and listened silenty and solemnly as Stoick continued his story.
"But these dragons were different," Stoick explained. "They all donned heavy armor and they set the Hall on fire and attacked Chief Colburn and every other chief who were in their way. I tried to save them but they insisted that I saved myself and so I…I…"
"You got out of there as fast as you could," Gobber finished.
"And I was the only one who got out," Stoick said, his face turning paler than ever. "Then I watched as Drago and his follower flew away from the burning Hall…on the backs of dragons."
Gobber almost refused to believe what his friend had just told him: A man with the ability to control dragons into doing what he ordered them to. A man who controlled dragons into killing innocent chieftains and destroying a Great Hall.
Then before he and even Stoick knew it, the Berkian Chief broke down into sobs. It seemed he had been holding back those tears throughout his entire journey home and wouldn't release them until he arrived back in the safety of his own home. And Gobber hadn't seen Stoick shed this many tears until after Valka as well.
"He killed them, Gobber," Stoick said, shuddering. "He killed them all…and I couldn't save them."
Gobber reached out his good hand to place it on Stoick's shoulder comfortingly but he decided not to. Not right now anyway.
Instead he said sympathetically but honestly, "Despite your good intentions, there was nothing you could've done."
"I know that," Stoick said. "But still…"
"You wished you could've," Gobber said for him. "You cared about all those chieftains enough to want to save every single one of them. And they cared about you enough to give up their lives so that you could finish living your own."
Stoick nodded.
"Well, it might not make you feel better, but you're not the only one who had a bit of a shock," Gobber said. "We Berkains had one just last night during another dragon raid."
"I figured," Stoick muttered. "I saw some scorch marks on some of the houses and a few damaged rooftops as well. But I don't see why you say a dragon raid was a shock to you when we're always having them."
"Well, last night's raid was a wee bit different than our usual raids," Gobber said. "Not only did we have the usual Gronckles and Nightmares and the rest of the lot, but a Night Fury or Night Furies came as well."
Stoick's teary eyes lit up. "Night Fury? Are you sure?"
Gobber shrugged. "Well…that's what everyone is saying."
"Did you see it?" Stoick demanded, suddenly acting like his old self again…but only slightly for his eyes were still teary.
"Ah, not really," Gobber said dejectedly. "It was so dark outside and it whizzed by so fast it didn't stick around to let us get a good look at it. But everyone believes it was a Night Fury."
"I knew those devils were out there somewhere," Stoick breathed.
Gobber was glad to see that despite his horror and grief, Stoick was looking quite interested and astounded.
"Aside from knocking down a torch and a catapult, it didn't bother to steal food and/or people like all the other dragons," Gobber continued.
"Good," Stoick said, looking happy to hear that.
"It's all everybody's been talking about today. Even Hiccup showed some great interest in it. He's spent nearly half the day asking all kinds of Night Fury questions."
"How is Hiccup by the way?"
"Oh, he's doing just fine, I can assure you. He does miss you and worry about you every time you go away."
Stoick looked flattered but said, "I should be the one worrying about him when I'm away."
"Nevertheless, he's going to be happy to see you when you come strolling through the door," Gobber said. "Oh, and just so you don't get any surprises, he's finished another one of his inventions yesterday and he brought it back to your house this afternoon. He's looking forward to showing it to you and was hoping you'd like to try it out."
Stoick looked appalled.
"At least try it out for his sake," Gobber encouraged.
"We'll see," Stoick said. He got up from his seat. "Well, good night, Gobber."
"Good night, Stoick," Gobber said. "You deserve some rest after that experience with this, uh, Drago person."
"Speaking of Drago, Gobber, let's keep that between the two of us," Stoick advised. "Don't tell Hiccup what I told you. I don't think he's ready for that kind of story."
"Uh…all right, Stoick," Gobber said slowly. "But we both know he can't go out into the world without knowing the facts of life."
"When I feel that the time is right, I'll tell him myself," Stoick assured him.
"Very well, then," Gobber said. "Good night."
"Good night."
Stoick turned around and walked away still thinking about the horrors he had just went through as well as what Gobber had just told him.
Night Fury.
Somehow he knew there were more Night Furies out there and Berk had just recently been attacked by one. And he hadn't even been around.
Now he had wished he hadn't gone to that Chieftain's meeting desperate as he was to rid all dragons and protect mankind. Then he wouldn't have had to meet Drago Bludvist and see the terrible things he had done and scar him for life. And he would still be here patrolling his own island and protecting his own people.
He also wished that the man he had met on his journey, Grimmel were here so he could deal with the Night Fury himself. After all, he had killed other Night Furies – all but one.
Or maybe it wasn't just one that had come. Maybe a whole herd of Night Furies had come and with their speed and camouflage, they played tricks on the villagers and led them to think it was just one.
Who knows.
Stoick had a strong urge to tell Gobber about Grimmel but the man had told him: "Let's keep this little meeting between the two of us, shall we? Although I enjoy fame and fortune, it does get a little tiring from time to time."
And so Stoick kept his word and didn't tell Gobber about him. And he wouldn't tell anyone else about him either. Not even Hiccup.
Hiccup.
As clumsy and frail and…and…different as his son could be, Stoick couldn't wait to see Hiccup. No matter how angry or exasperated he could get, the sight of Hiccup could always comfort him.
And he was only a few steps away from his front door already.
Stoick picked up the pace a little until he reached the door. He opened it and closed it as quietly as he could in case Hiccup was asleep. Then he walked up the stairs to Hiccup's bedroom expecting to find the boy asleep in his bed or sitting at his desk working on one of his contraptions.
Even in the darkness, Stoick could tell that the room looked a little empty.
"Hiccup?" Stoick whispered.
Nobody was sitting at the desk.
Stoick walked over to Hiccup's bed but no one was sleeping in it.
"Hiccup?"
Stoick looked under the bed.
No one.
"Hiccup?" Stoick called a little louder.
He went down the stairs and looked around the fireplace and the kitchen.
Still no Hiccup.
"He must be working late at Gobber's again," he decided.
No wait. He was just at Gobber's and Hiccup wasn't there. Gobber had told him he had walked home with one of his new inventions.
But if Hiccup wasn't inside the house then where was he?
Panic growing slowly in his heart, Stoick walked to the back door, opened it and stepped outside, his head swinging left and right frantically.
"Hiccup?!"
Suddenly, the sound of horns blaring broke the nightly silence.
The sound of those horns caused the panic in Stoick's heart grow even faster.
There was going to be another raid.
