I'm glad you all have been enjoying my return. I've really enjoyed getting back to writing this story, and I hope you enjoy this next chapter.
Elsa stood on the beach, barefoot and with her arms and lower legs exposed to the air. She sliced the head off of a fish with a knife that she created from her ice, wincing at the slightly sickening crunch, before cutting the body cavity open and removing the entrails. She had gotten better at food preparation, but her skills still needed improvement. There was no way she would be of any use in a nobleman's kitchen, but stranded on an island, she could at least make something edible.
After removing the fins, scales, and skin, she took a momentary break, rinsing her hands in the ocean before returning to her task. She skewered the fish on some sticks, before adding another piece of wood to the fire and propping the bodies over the flames.
She heard the flapping of heavy wings behind her and turned to see Sleuther land on the sand. Indi dismounted and walked over to her. The pair made eye contact and he shook his head.
"We flew to the southwest," he said. "Nothing there for at least three hours."
Elsa sighed. Indi and Sleuther had been exploring the area around their island, hoping to find some sort of landmark.
The past few days had been unproductive. There were a few tiny islands to the south, but without a map, they were absolutely lost. Any islands they did find had no different or more abundant resources than the spot of land that they were currently living on, but the knowledge of their surroundings was a slight consolation.
Elsa nodded sadly. "Perhaps we could try the east tomorrow? Sooner or later, we'll hit some land."
"Sure, eventually we would," Indi said. "But how far can we reasonably expect Sleuther to go?"
Elsa sighed. "And I don't want you to leave me here while you find the mainland."
"I wouldn't want to," Indi said. Elsa motioned to the fish that were cooking over the fire. Indi smiled and nodded. He knelt, inspecting the fish. Motion caught his attention and he saw Sleuther snap up the heads and entrails off of the table. "What are the chances that we're on the only decent island for days around here?"
"Depending on where exactly we are," Elsa said. "Low to probable. If we're farther north than we expect, then there could be islands somewhat close. We might even be in the Viking Archipelago. If we're somehow farther southeast than we expect, well…" Her voice trailed off. They had no idea how far off course Sleuther had been taken, and the pair of them floating in the ocean all night meant they could have drifted almost anywhere.
"I see," Indi said as he sat in the sand by their fire. "It seems that we're in a bit of a predicament."
Elsa stepped over and sat next to him. "It seems we are."
They sat together in silence, watching their food cook. The fire in front of them crackled, the wood slowly charring. It popped on occasion, sending small sparks fluttering into the air.
Indi grabbed a stick and began drawing in the sand. "We were going Northeast, or at least in that general direction. Assuming Sleuther didn't turn too much and was just blown off course a good bit, we could be somewhere up in the archipelago."
"Maybe," Elsa said, trying to think back to her trade maps. "There is a big ocean current that could have pushed us north once we fell in. It's not overly strong where we were, but it might be enough."
Indi nodded. "So, this current might have saved us, assuming it caught us and was strong enough."
"Possibly," Elsa said as she rotated the sticks, flipping the fish to cook the other sides.
Indi pursed his lips. It wasn't much, but it was a start. "I see. We'll try the east a bit tomorrow. If there's nothing that seems promising, we'll consider going north."
Elsa nodded. For the first time since they had washed up on the shore, they had something that resembled a plan concerning getting off the island.
Brynn stood on a rise that was well outside of the town of Arendelle, looking out over the ocean, her scaly form rippling. Her eyesight was just as good as the dragons, letting her scan the horizon for any glimpse or hint as to Indi and Elsa's whereabouts. She rumbled from the back of her throat.
It had been nearly ten days since the pair had left to go to the Southern Isles with Sleuther. They should only have been gone for four days, maybe five if things were going well with mending relations between the kingdoms. Extending their time away by nearly double without even a word sent to anybody was starting to concern her too.
After stomping her three-toed foot and letting out a frustrated roar, she turned and walked down the hill, each footstep shaking the ground. She soon came to a dirt road and passed by a cart that was carrying goods and a few people to the main settlement. The horses panicked when they saw her, though she paid them no mind. She walked up the path a short distance, coming to a small group of isolated wooden buildings set into the forest. They were elevated on thick poles, and each had a large patio or balcony that extended from the doors.
Brynn shrunk down to her human form and tied her hair back. After what she had told the princess a few days ago, she felt like such a hypocrite.
"Hannah!" she called. From one of the buildings, she saw the girl peek out, before revealing herself fully. From other buildings, other people peered out. "I need to talk to you."
"What's going on?" Hannah asked as she transformed into a silver dragon and glided down to the ground, before changing back.
"Indi and Queen Elsa are still missing," Brynn said. "And Sleuther hasn't returned either."
"Still?" Hannah said. "Weren't they supposed to be back days ago?"
Brynn nodded. "I think something happened to them. What I want you to do is have two of the dracomorphs fly out and search the area every day. Always in groups of at least two. Look for any sign of them."
Hannah nodded. "Of course."
Brynn steeled her gaze. "If you spot any dragon hunter ships, return to Arendelle immediately. Keep your distance and do not try to fight. Do you understand?"
"I understand," Hannah said. "I'll tell the others. When did you want us to start?"
"Tomorrow morning," Brynn said. "Come see me before you begin." Hannah nodded.
As Brynn turned to leave, Hannah spoke. "Do you think they're okay?"
"Knowing Indi," Brynn said. "I would think so. Those three would look out for each other. But just in case something has happened, I want us to be on the lookout."
She walked off, returning to the road and making her way back to the primary residential area. As she entered the outskirts of the town, people nodded to her. She had become a regular and well-known presence in Arendelle. Though some thought her ways were rough and somewhat tactless, none doubted her loyalty to Indi, and through him, their queen.
She went through a tight alleyway, before turning onto the porch of a small tavern. She noticed that the establishment had a new sign hanging out front. She stepped inside and heard a familiar voice call out to her.
"Miss Tyrannus! What can I get you today?" It was the bartender.
Brynn produced a coin and set it in the bar. "Whiskey, Nicklas."
"Ah, the usual. One moment," the barkeeper said. He retrieved a small cup and a bottle, before serving Brynn a light brownish-orange colored liquid. Brynn nodded her thanks before picking up the cup and bringing it to her lips. She took down the beverage in one swallow and set the cup down.
Nicklas nodded, before motioning for Brynn to come close. He leaned in, speaking quietly. "I have received word that Queen Elsa and Sir Indi have not returned from the Southern Isles. Is this true?"
Brynn glanced around. Seeing that no one else was paying any attention, she responded quietly. "That is correct. They've been gone much longer than expected, and we haven't heard from either of them."
"So, they're missing?"
"Yes," Brynn said. "But don't tell people that. The last thing I want to deal with is panic. We're taking care of it."
Nicklas nodded and Brynn left the tavern. She made her way to the castle, nodding to the guards that were posted by the gates. She entered the courtyard and looked around, wishing to see a familiar Triple Stryke perched on the roof. Making her way inside, she went to Queen Elsa's study. There, she found Queen Primrose and Princess Anna doing some sort of paperwork. Copal and Emerald, the Indominus Furies, were curled up together in the corner, with the fluffy dinosaur called Yeager between them.
"Brynn," Anna said as the women looked up.
"I thought about what you said, Princess," the guard said. "I went to the dracomorphs." She filled the royals in on her plan and what she instructed the dracomorphs to do. Anna rose and went around the desk. Brynn brought the princess into a hug.
"I'm worried about them," Anna said quietly.
"I know," Brynn said. "I am too. It's been too long since they left, and we've heard nothing. We can't do much, but at least occasional patrols from the air are better than sitting around." The pair stayed in the embrace for a second longer, before mutually releasing each other.
"Thank you," Anna said, wiping away a tear from the corner of her eye. Brynn nodded, suppressing her own tears. "Brynn, I have court soon. I would like you near my side tonight."
"Sure," Brynn said, glancing over as the dragons rose, waking up the small dinosaur. "Though I suppose that these three will be joining us as well."
Anna gave a small smile for what felt like the first time in forever. "That's fine."
Primrose stepped over to the young women. "If it is alright with you two, I will take my leave. Anna, if you need anything, come find me. Alright?"
The princess nodded and the queen left. Anna and Brynn shared a look before leaving the room, being followed by the three creatures. They walked together silently through the halls, two completely contrasting people. One wore a gown and a crown while the other wore armor. One was a former assassin and a soldier while the other was royalty, a princess. One was human, the other an unnatural creation. However, their differences meant nothing at that moment. The people they cared about were missing, yet they both had to remain strong for the people who were their responsibility.
The pair came to the throne room and Anna was announced.
"Presenting Princess Anna of Arendelle," Kai said. Anna gave Brynn a glance and strode out. Brynn stood at the wall nearby. Yeager followed Anna. The princess sat on the throne and picked up the little dinosaur, setting him on her lap. Copal and Emerald circled the throne, before sitting on the floor on either side, their tails curving behind the decorated chair.
Anna looked at Kai and nodded. Kai motioned to the first person, and a man walked up to stand in front of the princess. He bowed in respect.
"Your Highness," he said. "I am Atlas Marton. I am here on behalf of my family. One of the reptiles that have been living in Arendelle has attacked several of the sheep my family keeps. I fear for my wife and children's safety."
"I am sorry for the loss of your property," Anna said. "Could you give a description of the animal?"
"I cannot, precisely," Marton said. "I can tell you that it was not large. Perhaps the size of a man."
Anna frowned. All of the dinosaurs should be in their enclosures. She turned to look at Brynn.
"Aren't they put away," she asked.
"Yes, Your Highness," Brynn said, furrowing her brow. "It might be one of the dinomorphs. I will go visit them tomorrow and discuss it with their mothers."
Anna nodded and turned back to Marton. "We will compensate you for the damage. Miss Tyrannus, can you go to his property in the morning?"
"Yes," Brynn said.
"My apologies, Your Highness," Marton said. "But wouldn't it be best to send a human to survey the damage?"
Brynn squinted at the man. Anna sighed; she knew that the man just wanted to be sure he would get proper compensation.
"I'm sure Miss Tyrannus will be fair," Anna said. Though reluctant, Marton nodded and bowed.
"Thank you, Your Highness," he said before he turned and left.
Anna sighed once more; so, this is what her evening would be. She stroked Yeager's feathers and nodded to Kai, who called the next person forward.
This time it was a woman, the local teacher named Elizabeth Anker. She requested some slight additional funding for school supplies, which Anna immediately granted.
She noticed some people near the back of the room. They were discreetly gesturing to her and muttering quietly, which made her stomach drop. One of them stepped forward.
"Your Highness," he said. "I am Theodore Weldon, one of the butchers in Arendelle."
Anna noticed Brynn visibly tense, clenching her fist at her side. "Well met, Mister Weldon."
"We understand that Queen Elsa and Sir Indi left a while ago. Do you have any idea of their whereabouts?"
"My sister and Sir Indi went to the Southern Isles," Anna said. "They went for the former King Charles's funeral and the coronation of his son the newly crowned King Isak."
"Yes," Weldon said. "But, to my knowledge, it should have only been a few days travel by ship, a few days spent there, and a few days back. One would think that they should have returned by now, especially since they were riding Sir Indi's flying beast."
"Perhaps the message got lost," Anna said, more so to rationalize it for herself.
"Perhaps," Weldon said. "But is it possible that you disposed of both the queen and her beloved knight to take the throne for yourself?"
Brynn's eyes flared yellow.
"No, it is not possible," Anna said, struggling to keep calm.
"Is it?" Weldon continued the people in the throne room began muttering. "Because we haven't seen a second large, white reptilian creature since he returned with the Vikings for the second time. I have heard that Sir Indi Rex has lost the ability to transform."
"Who has told you this?" Anna said, furrowing her brow.
"Various sources," he said, before gesturing to Brynn. "With Tyrannus here, disposing of him would have been easy, and you know your sister's magic better than anyone else. She takes care of the knight; you take care of your sister and take the throne."
Brynn let a low growl rumble from her throat.
"That's enough," Anna said, trying to maintain her composure. "I will not let you slander Miss Tyrannus nor myself any longer. Leave my presence."
Brynn stepped forward, her now-yellow eyes blazing. Weldon nodded and turned to leave, completely ignoring the custom to bow.
Anna turned to Kai, who looked at the princess with concern. "Court is concluded."
The man nodded and directed the crowd to disperse. Anna set Yeager down on the floor and left the room. Brynn followed after her, stopping as the princess walked down the halls.
Brynn frowned and walked off in another direction. After a few moments, she located Kristoff in a small office that Elsa had given him.
"Hey," she said, knocking on the doorframe. "Anna needs you."
"What happened?" the blonde man asked, rising from his desk. "Is she alright?"
"No, it's just…" Brynn said. "She really needs you."
Kristoff nodded and blew out the couple of candles that were on his desk, before quickly leaving the room. Brynn shut the door for him and watched as the man rushed down the hall to find the princess.
Anna was staring out of the window, tears streaming down her face and smearing her makeup, when a pair of strong and gentle arms surrounded her from behind.
"Anna," Kristoff said quietly. "What happened?"
"They accused me of killing Elsa for the throne," Anna said.
"The whole crowd?" Kristoff said.
"No, just one man, though others were whispering about it too."
Kristoff frowned. Everything that had happened to the princess was clearly too much. He had intentionally neglected to tell her about the ugly rumors since... the incident... and how she had lost her honor. He intended to discuss it with Elsa once she returned. He turned Anna to face him and brought her into a tight hug.
"I just miss Elsa," Anna said quietly.
"I know," Kristoff said softly. "I do too. But wherever she is, wherever they are, I'm sure they're alright."
Sleuther shot a small blast of fire into the pile of sticks, igniting them quickly.
"Good boy," Elsa said, rubbing the dragon's head. She sat next to the fire and added another chunk of wood to the blaze. From behind her, Indi stepped out of the house. He carried two of the small ice bottles, and as he sat next to the queen, he handed one of them to her.
"Thank you," Elsa said, waving her fingers over it to make the cap disappear. Wordlessly, Indi held his own bottle out, and Elsa did the same to his. The pair tapped their bottles together in a toast and drank.
Indi swallowed. "How do you think everyone back home is doing?"
Elsa stared out over the ocean. The sun had just sunk below the horizon, and the ocean was lit aflame with orange. "I hope they're doing well. Anna is probably holding court right now."
Indi nodded. "I'm sure Brynn is helping look after her. Though when we get back, she is sure to chew me out."
"Oh, I'm sure that we both will receive an earful," Elsa said with a small chuckle.
"I will say," Indi said after a moment of silence. "I wouldn't want to be stranded on this island with anybody else."
Elsa's fiance rested his head on her shoulder and she took his hand gently. It was such a weird thing to say: "her fiance". Before and shortly after her coronation, she never imagined getting married. Ultimately, if she had not been pressured into a marriage to ally Arendelle with another kingdom, she planned on passing the throne on to Anna's future children. But now, things had taken a quite different turn. Ever since she met Indi, things changed completely. Her kingdom had dinosaurs living in it, dragons existed and people rode them, and they were involved in a war. Getting engaged was probably the most normal thing to have happened, though her engagement was improper and she was proposed to on a deserted island. It was not something most girls and women thought their own would be like.
Being stranded on the island was a major change from being pampered in her castle by staff, but her short time with the dragon riders came back to her. Though even now, their current state was considerably more rugged than anything she had experienced before.
She noticed that, despite being isolated from almost everyone and most comforts, she was fairly happy, and Indi seemed more at peace than ever.
The trio sat on the sand, watching as the sky darkened over them and the stars slowly appeared.
Elsa yawned, and Indi squeezed her hand gently.
"Why don't you go to bed?" Indi said.
Elsa nodded and rose. She stepped to the house made of her ice and paused, turning back to look at the young knight. "Aren't you coming?"
"I'll be in shortly," Indi said. Elsa looked at him, giving him a nod with a small smile, before going inside.
Indi turned back to the fire and added another couple of pieces of wood. He stared into the flames for a while, his mind drifting off. As much as he enjoyed being on this island (he had to admit he enjoyed it quite a bit), Elsa did not belong here, especially with a war going on that involved her kingdom. He wanted to get her back. He had to. The people there needed her. Her sister needed her.
Indi rose and went to the house. He peered in through the doorway, looking inside. It was quite dark, the only light coming through the translucent walls from the fire outside.
On a bed made of ice, Elsa was fast asleep. Her body was covered with the remnants of the skirt from her dress, which had been sliced open to provide more coverage. She was lying on her side and her arms were folded underneath her head in place of a pillow. Indi smiled and pulled his head from the doorway.
"Sleuther," he said quietly as he walked over to his dragon. The dragon ducked his head, and Indi climbed on, the scales tough underneath him. "Let's go."
Sleuther took flight, soaring over the island. Indi directed him away from where the sun had set. He knew what he was doing was stupid, and if Elsa woke before he got back, she would freeze him to a tree. Despite this, he had to try.
The pair flew east, scanning the darkened sky for any light on the horizon. As they soared, Indi's mind was constantly on Elsa. It felt very strange to have a fiance, despite nothing truly changing between them. He suspected that once they returned to Arendelle, things would noticeably and seriously change. Admittedly, he would hate that.
Sleuther flew for hours in the dark sky, his form barely visible, though slightly more so than a Night Fury.
"I haven't seen anything, Sleuther," Indi said, sighing in defeat. "Do you?"
Sleuther snorted. Indi gave the dragon a pat. They had tried, but there was no sign of civilization in this direction. Not even any ships.
Indi directed Sleuther back to their island. It was not too hard to find. Their fire was the only source of light below them.
Sleuther landed quietly, and Indi was thankful for it. The fire was still burning somewhat, providing enough light to navigate around the camp.
"Goodnight, Sleuther," Indi said quietly, giving Sleuther a gentle pat. The dragon rumbled and lay down in the sand and pine needles next to the house. Indi smiled softly and went inside. The ice floor was cold on his feet. He went over to the bed and joined Elsa beneath their makeshift blanket. Elsa's eyes opened slightly.
"Hello," she whispered as she slid over, providing Indi a little extra room. "Where have you been?"
"I've been out," Indi said. He placed a small kiss on Elsa's cheek. "I'll tell you in the morning."
Elsa nodded and pulled Indi close. The pair drifted off to sleep. The day had been rather disappointing.
The pair were woken by a rumble of thunder. Elsa realized that during her sleep she had changed from using her arm as a pillow to lying on her back. She felt a weight on her and looked down to see that at some point during the night, Indi had started using her chest as a pillow, a discovery that made her blush slightly. Looking around the room, she saw that Indi's leg was hanging off of the bed.
Indi groaned and raised his head slightly. He scratched his head. His hair was a mess. Elsa could only hope that her hair was slightly more presentable at the very least.
"Good morning," Indi said. He picked his head up from Elsa's chest and settled down next to her. "Sorry about that."
"It's alright," Elsa said and reached down and squeezed his hand. She looked over at the doorway and saw a large reptilian form appear. Sleuther entered the house and thunder rumbled outside again. She was glad she had made the door just wide enough for the dragon. "I hate storms."
"No argument there," Indi said, reaching over and petting Sleuther. "Hey, big guy. I guess you'll be crashing with us."
Sleuther snorted and curled up against the wall opposite the door. He put his head down, watching as the rain began to fall outside.
"You're not going anywhere now," Elsa said. "Go look in the east tomorrow."
"I actually have something to tell you," Indi said. Elsa looked at him. "Sleuther and I went flying east last night after you went to bed."
Elsa frowned. "That was stupid. What if something had happened?"
"Well, nothing did," Indi said.
"Did you at least find anything?"
"No," Indi said, shaking his head. "Not even a ship. We didn't find any islands out that way either. Granted, it was dark, but we probably would have seen lights from the ship or any islands with settlements."
Elsa was not pleased Indi had done something so risky as to go flying in a strange place at night without telling her, but he and Sleuther were safe. That was the important thing, and it seemed that they would not get to scout that area today anyway.
"I suppose we'll have to try the north once the storm ends," she said.
"Sleuther and I could try this morning?" Indi said, half joking as he rose from the bed. Sleuther snorted at this notion.
"Absolutely not," Elsa said, sitting up.
"Well, rain or no, we have things to do," Indi said as he walked over to Sleuther and petted the dragon's head. "We can start a fire and go fishing if you want."
Elsa nodded and climbed out of bed. "I'll get some water and wash up. Meet back here?"
Indi nodded and motioned to Sleuther. "C'mon, bud, let's go get breakfast."
The dragon rolled over, groaning.
"Come on, Sleuther. I'd like to get this done before the storm gets worse."
Elsa stepped over to Indi and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Your dragon has more sense than you."
"Perhaps," Indi said. "But I'm hungry. Sleuther, let's go."
The dragon snorted and rose to his feet, following his rider outside. The rain was coming down hard, and the waves in the ocean were churning hard in the wind. Indi took out some wood from under the icy woodshed and set it into a pile. Sleuther ignited it with a hearty fireblast.
Satisfied that the fire would not go out, Indi climbed onto Sleuther's back and the pair took off into the rain.
Elsa watched for a moment before waving her hands, creating an umbrella from her ice. She stepped outside and walked into the forest. With each step, the soil beneath her feet squished with muddy water. She made her way over to the stream. She created several ice bottles and filled them with water, before returning to the house.
She saw Indi had also returned and was in the middle of gutting a fish. The rain was pelting down on him, flattening his hair. She smiled and made a large canopy with her magic, the ice held up high enough so that the heat from the fire would not melt it. The canopy covered the fire and the table that Indi was working at. Sleuther, who was hiding underneath a tree, came over and lay by the now-protected fire.
The queen set a bottle of water on the table. Indi looked at the offering and smiled, nodding his thanks. Elsa went inside and set the ice bottles on the shelf, before exiting the building. She stood by Indi as he prepared their breakfast.
Once two of the fish were cleaned, Indi skewered them and handed the sticks to Elsa, before giving the refuse to Sleuther. Elsa took their food over to the fire and propped them up over the flames.
Indi stuck his hands out from underneath the ice canopy and rubbed them together, the rain washing away the remnants of the fish. He and Elsa waited for their food to cook. Once it had finished, the trio retreated into the house.
Indi and Elsa sat at the table to eat, while Sleuther lay at their feet. Indi gave Sleuther the remaining fish, rubbing the dragon's head.
"Indi," Elsa said between two bites. The young man looked up expectantly. "Can you tell me a story of your time up with the dragon riders?"
"Sure," Indi said. "How about the time I had to help defend an entire island from invasion with only two other people, two dragons, and my pack?"
Elsa nodded, already enraptured.
Anna woke up in her bed and she looked over at the window. Outside, rain was falling hard, pelting the glass and streaming down. Thunder rumbled in the distance. She wished that the thunder was the sound of a dragon landing on the roof, a dragon who was carrying a certain queen and knight.
From her door, she heard a knock.
"Princess, are you awake?" a woman's voice said quietly.
"Yes," Anna said as she slowly sat up. Her bedroom door opened and in came a trio of handmaidens, each wearing a uniform exactly like the other.
The women helped the princess get ready for the day. Anna chose a blue dress, as well as some light makeup. Her handmaidens assisted with all tasks. Once she was ready, she dismissed them.
She stared into the mirror, forcing herself to smile for a moment before her face fell back to neutral. Perhaps Elsa would return today.
She left her room and walked down the halls, making her way to the dining room for breakfast. As she walked, servants bowed as she passed by them. The air in the castle was tense, and it was not just from the storm outside.
She entered the dining hall and sat at the head of the table. She waited alone, closing her eyes and listening to the storm outside, the rain pattering on the windows and thunder rumbling in the distance.
After some time, a servant approached her, bowing respectfully. He carried a cup and teapot on a tray.
"Tea, Your Highness?" he asked. Anna nodded silently, and the man prepared her cup, adding the liquid and two small scoops of sugar.
Anna nodded and the servant bowed once more before leaving her.
The lone princess sipped from her tea. After some time, the same servant reappeared, serving her a plate of eggs, prawns, rice, and bacon, along with a bowl of oatmeal and fruit.
Anna nodded her thanks again and ate her breakfast quietly. Her mind drifted off to what tasks would need to be completed when the door opened. Kristoff's presence was announced, as was the royal family from Corona.
The four people sat with her and were quickly served their tea and meals as well.
"How are you doing today, dear?" Primrose asked.
"Surviving," Anna said, her eyes downcast.
"Any word of their return?" Princess Rapunzel asked. Anna shook her head.
Thomas looked over at Kristoff. "Do we have any plans concerning them?"
"Brynn was sending out the dracomorphs," Anna said.
"I doubt she'll go through with that today," Kristoff said. "I believe this weather is too dangerous. There is no sense in endangering more lives than necessary."
A tear formed in Anna's eye, which she quickly wiped away.
Primrose's lips tightened. "Anna, why don't you relax today? I'll look after things for you."
Anna nodded silently.
Out in the storm, Brynn stood in the rain, looking at the damage. The rain flattened her hair.
"Yeah, this is definitely from a small Velociraptor," she said, looking at the body of a sheep.
"Why would they do this?" Marton said, adjusting his coat. "To my knowledge, they haven't done this before."
"When dinomorphs start adolescence," Brynn explained. "They start to get an instinct to hunt live prey. They don't have anything else to do right now, so they feel the need to hunt very strongly right now."
"Do you feel this urge?" Marton asked, taking a half-step away.
"On occasion," Brynn said. "All of us do. Those of us who are older know how to channel it and choose more suitable prey and not destroy property.
"How much are these sheep worth?"
"Twenty silver shillings for the ewes, and fifteen for the ram," Marton said.
"I'll inform the princess," Brynn nodded.
"Thank you," Marton said.
Brynn shook the man's hand and left. As she walked away from the small farm, the rain picked up slightly, and thunder rumbled in the sky.
She wiped the water from her eyes, only for it to shortly reappear. She heard several sets of footsteps slowly approaching her. She turned and saw the dracomorphs behind her.
"Hi," she said, before shaking her head. "Not today. I'm not sending you out in this storm. If Indi finds out when he returns that I had you out there on my orders, and something happened to one of you, he would kill me, regardless of my reasons. Go home. We'll start once the storm ends."
"Alright," Hannah said, and the group dispersed.
Brynn turned and walked on, coming to a series of small houses. She approached one and knocked on the door. After a moment, the door opened and she was greeted by a black-haired woman.
"Brynn!" she said. "Come inside, please."
"Thank you, Gwendolyn," Brynn said as she stepped inside the house, escaping the rain. The interior was somewhat plain compared to the houses of most other townspeople, but still serviceable. A couple of small candles burned, providing light in the dim space. "I've come to speak with Violet."
Gwendolyn's eyes widened. "What happened?"
"Your daughter has been attacking farmers' livestock. They are rightfully upset."
"She's not here," Gwendolyn said, her eyes downcast. "When she returns, I can send her to you."
"Do that. This is serious," Brynn said, giving the woman a serious look for a moment. "Thank you for your time."
Brynn left the small house, the rain pouring down onto her once more. She went back to the castle and entered through the gates.
As she stepped inside, she was met by a servant who handed her a towel. Brynn nodded her thanks and dried her face and arms, before handing the towel back. She walked through the halls, making her way to Elsa's office. She noticed that there was a distinct lack of guards posted outside of the door. She knocked on the door and stood back. After not receiving an answer, she knocked again. She pursed her lips, and turned, walking back down through the halls. She heard voices inside of a door and stood outside, listening.
"I'm worried sick, Kristoff," Anna's voice said. She sounded understandably distraught. "I lost my mother and father in a storm. I can't lose my sister as well."
"I know," Kristoff said. "I know. Believe me, we are going to do everything we can."
Brynn frowned, her eyes looking into the distance. She had heard how the former king and queen of Arendelle were lost at sea but did not pry into it. She felt it was not her business.
She turned and walked quietly down the hall. Her eyes steeled and she threw the doors open, striding into the storm. Lightning flashed and thunder clapped overhead. She transformed, her body changing more and more with each step. She strode through the streets, rain pouring down her brown scaled skin, each footfall making the puddles ripple.
Beneath her, she saw people looking up at her. She passed by the church, a man in white peering through a window at her fearfully as she walked by.
Brynn left the main settlement and climbed a hill that overlooked the town and the harbor. She swished her tail, growling. She stomped her foot and thunder crashed overhead as she bellowed into the air. She would keep watch all day, waiting for her alpha to return.
Indi sat on the bed watching the rain pour off of their roof while Elsa sat next to Sleuther, petting the dragon absentmindedly.
The rain had been pouring all day, and the sky was getting dark. Indi and Sleuther had braved the weather to catch their meals, while Elsa prepared and cooked the fish. This was no divide of labor by their gender, just what worked and what seemed fair.
Their wood pile had dwindled and would need replenishing once the storm ended.
"I hate rain," Elsa said. "Snow is so much better."
"At least you can do things when it's snowing," Indi said. "What would you do when it rains like this in Arendelle?"
"I would read," Elsa said, though that was what she had done in her isolation for most of her childhood, regardless of the weather. It was one of the few forms of escapism she had. "When we were younger, Anna and I would play games. Once I took the throne, I tried to busy myself with work, though sometimes I would play chess with Anna."
Indi nodded and Elsa smiled at the young man. She had spent the day listening to his tales from the time he spent with the dragon riders that she was not present for. She was fascinated by the mention of a dragon called the "Snow Wraith", a dragon that blended into the snow and had an icy blast. She hoped to see one someday.
She watched as Indi fidgeted with some ice she had made, a small piece with a few long, dull spines that he could toy with while they talked.
"I wish I went on more adventures," Elsa said. Indi glanced up at her, raising an eyebrow.
"Believe me," he said, before motioning to their house. "This is adventure enough. Being thrust into a haphazard series of battles is not something I'd wish on you."
"I'd rather not be in battles," Elsa said. "But I do want to explore more."
Indi nodded. "Once all of this chaos dies down, maybe we can arrange some time to do some exploring. Is there anywhere you'd like to go?"
Elsa thought for a moment. "England."
"Perhaps," Indi said. "Though I think Sleuther would hate it."
Elsa laughed, gently rubbing the dragon's head. "He would probably become a local legend, eating sheep and maidens would be offered to him as sacrifices."
"He's already something of a local legend in Arendelle," Indi said. "Though without the thievery and sacrifices parts."
"I'd like to keep it that way," Elsa said.
Indi thought for a moment. "Do you think your parents would approve of us?"
"In what way? Oh, like that," Elsa said. "I think they'd be a bit confused at first, but once they got to know you, I think they would approve."
Indi smiled softly. "I hope I would have made a good impression."
"Well, an impression you've certainly made," Elsa said. "Especially on me. Not every queen can say that they had an Indominus rex in their throne room."
Indi smiled, before suppressing a yawn.
"Why don't you go to bed?" Elsa said.
"What?" Indi said, mocking incredulity. "You don't trust me to not go flying in this lovely weather."
"No," Elsa deadpanned. She rose from her spit next to Sleuther and sat on the other side of the bed. "Sleep. The north will be there in the morning."
Indi rolled his eyes with a sigh but knew better than to worry Elsa with something like this. He lay back on the bed, and Elsa lay next to him, covering them up with their makeshift sheet.
"Indi," Elsa said quietly, grabbing his hand. "If you're not there when I wake up, I swear I'll freeze you to the bed and take Sleuther to find mainland myself."
Indi chuckled. "I'll be here."
Indi quickly fell asleep while Elsa lay awake. She stared up at the ceiling, listening to the rain.
Her mind, like it had done many times, went to Anna. She hoped that her sister was managing as best she could. Knowing Anna, she would not rest until she found them or they returned.
"I'll be back soon, Anna," Elsa whispered into the darkness. "I promise."
Indi's eyes opened to see that the sun was filtering through the canopy. the sky was blue, and the trees rustled slightly in a gentle breeze. He smiled, listening to the gentle crashing of the waves.
He looked over and had to suppress a snort. Elsa's hair was an absolute travesty, with it frizzing in some places and half of it looping over her head. Her mouth was open slightly, and Indi would have sworn that he saw some saliva dripping from her lips onto her arm, which she was using as a pillow.
Indi slowly rose to his feet, the icy floor cold on his skin. He stepped outside, looking at the blue sky. A few small clouds dotted the expanse.
The waves crashed onto the shore, sending up small sprays. Sitting in the sand underneath the sun was Sleuther. The dragon's eyes were closed and he breathed deeply, enjoying the fresh, clean air.
"Hey, Sleuther," Indi said, stepping over and patting the dragon's flank. Sleuther opened his eyes and turned to his ride, giving the young man a nuzzle. "We'll go for a ride once Elsa wakes up."
The dragon snorted, before taking flight, the wind from his wings blowing Indi's hair back.
"Good," a voice said from behind him. "You can actually listen to me."
Indi turned to see Elsa standing in the doorway. She was in the process of dumping water onto her head and into her hair.
"Good morning," Indi said, walking over to her. Once her hair was wetted down, Elsa created a piece of ice in her hand that had the shape of a comb. She began working on her hair.
"When were you thinking about going out?" Elsa asked.
"After breakfast," Indi said. "I want to cover as much of the ocean as we can."
Elsa nodded. "Where did Sleuther go? I saw him take off."
"He might have gone to the stream," Indi said with a shrug. Elsa looked up at the canopies she had created the previous day and waved her hand, making them disintegrate into millions of tiny snowflakes, which promptly melted in the sand. "Can I have an axe? I need to restock our wood."
Elsa nodded and created an axe from extremely strong ice. She handed it to Indi, who hefted it onto his shoulder and went into the forest. He began chopping at the trunk of a small tree that had fairly smooth bark.
As he worked, Elsa worked on putting some of their dwindling wood supply into a small pile, before going over to him and placing a quick kiss on his cheek. "Would mind lighting the fire once Sleuther gets back?"
"Sure," Indi said, swinging the axe again. From overhead, Sleuther roared, slamming into the tree Indi was chopping, bringing it down. Indi dove out of the way, accidentally tackling Elsa to the ground.
"Sleuther!" Elsa said. The pair rose, brushing the mud and dirt from their bodies. Sleuther snorted, investigating them, and Elsa gently pushed him away. "Yeah, yeah. Sure you're sorry…"
"Well, those are down," Indi said, inspecting the tree. In his haphazard crash landing, Sleuther had brought down two more small trees. "You go wash up, like you said."
Elsa nodded and walked into the forest to the stream. From behind her, she heard Indi say "Could you not try to kill us the next time you bring down a tree?"
Elsa shook her head, chuckling. She made her way to the stream. The rain had raised the water level slightly.
She stripped down and stepped into the water. Almost everyone else would consider the temperature near freezing, but for her, it was perfect.
She settled down in the cold stream and began rubbing the water onto her skin and into her hair, trying to remove the salt and sand. It was no castle bath with soaps, perfumes, and handmaidens to pamper her, but as she bathed, she felt slightly more human.
She saw Sleuther fly overhead, his form a dark shadow against the bright sky. Once she finished scrubbing her skin, she went to the deepest portion of the stream, took a breath, and leaned back, letting herself sink a little. The cold water soothed her face.
Elsa came to the surface and pushed her hair back. She waded over to the bank and stood in the sunlight for a few minutes, letting herself drip dry.
She put her clothes back on and went back to their camp. She saw Indi working at the table, slicing open a fish.
"Hey," he said. "Your hair is wet."
"I took a bath," Elsa said as she went over to stand by Indi.
"Good," the young man said with a nod as he removed the entrails from the fish. "So, my plan is for me and Sleuther to go north as far as we can."
"Alright," Elsa said. "Go for half the day, then turn back."
Indi nodded as he skewered the fish. "Alright."
After breakfast, Indi was climbing onto Sleuther's back. Elsa stepped over to the dragon and handed Indi two ice bottles that were tied together with a length of fabric. Indi nodded and attached them to his belt.
Elsa gently grabbed his hand. "Be safe."
"I will," he said, leaning down. He kissed Elsa on the cheek and held onto Sleuther's horns. Sleuther extended his wings and flapped, shooting into the air. Elsa shielded her eyes from the sun and watched as the dragon and her fiance flew off, going along the shore for a little before flying out over the ocean.
Soon, they were a faint speck on the horizon.
She turned back to the house and saw freshly chopped wood. She shrugged and set to work, stacking the firewood underneath the small canopy that was attached to the house.
Out over the ocean, Indi and Sleuther shot along. Once their island disappeared behind them, Indi stared forward. They flew for hours, investigating any reasonably large bump on the horizon. Slowly but surely, more and more islands appeared though they were generally small. The smallest was the size of a few houses out together, while others were larger than the one that he and Elsa were staying on.
At about noon, the sun was high overhead.
"Down there, Sleuther," Indi said, pointing at a sparsely wooded island. The dragon dove gently, landing among the small saplings. Indi saw that the island used to have larger trees, but the only thing that was left of the fallen giants were charred trunks, twisted and crooked.
Indi broke open the cap of one of Elsa's ice bottles and dumped the water into Sleuther's mouth. The dragon swallowed what was a small amount of water for him but nuzzled Indi nonetheless. It was the thought that counted.
Indi opened the other bottle and sipped it. After swallowing, he cleared his throat. "I wonder where we are, Sleuther?"
The pair began exploring the local surroundings from the air. They were in a small island cluster, the chunks of land closer together than they were to the other islands.
Sleuther continued flying north, and Indi scanned each island for any obvious signs of civilization. From the corner of his eye, Indi saw a shape in the sky. Sleuther, seeing it too, glided over.
As they neared, Indi saw it was a dragon: a Hideous Zippleback. The dragon was blue, and the body was covered in orange spots. The two-headed dragon looked over at them, examining the newcomers with their large, yellow eyes. Sleuther gave a short roar in greeting, and the Zippleback gurgled back.
"We're here," Indi said, his heart welling up in his throat. He patted his dragon. "Let's go back and tell Elsa."
Sleuther snorted, peeling away from the Zippleback and flying south.
Elsa stood on the beach. The sun was sinking below the horizon, and Indi and Sleuther had not yet returned. She had kept the fire going, the blaze flickering in the dimming light.
Suddenly, a loud roar sounded out from above her, making her jump. Sleuther dove down, before throwing his wings out, slowing his descent. Once the dragon touched down a short distance away from the woman, Indi dismounted and ran over to her.
"Elsa!" he shouted.
"Indi," Elsa said, grabbing at him. "What happened? Is everything okay?"
"There was a dragon," Indi said.
Elsa's eyes widened. "Do you mean..?"
"We're here," he said, smiling. "We are on the edge of the Viking Archipelago. We are basically right on the edge of it. You were right."
"If we keep going north," Elsa said. "We might find some people who can help us."
"Probably," Indi said, nodding.
"What kind of dragon did you see?" Elsa asked, taking Indi's hand and bringing him close to the fire.
"The one Ruffnut and Tuffnut Thorston ride," he said. "A Hideous Zippleback. It let us come fairly close."
"Alright," Elsa said. "So, we have a new plan."
Indi nodded. "We go farther north."