Chapter 5: Capture the Boar, Part 2
With the first challenge still underway, Hiccup makes a discovery that could put the whole camp in danger.
Hiccup scanned around for his friends. He spotted Ruffnut, who was chasing a terrified-looking Hysteric. The Hysteric disappeared into the trees and Ruffnut slowed down.
"Yeah, that's right! Run back to your mommy!" Ruffnut cackled. Hiccup pulled her aside.
"Ruff– you're okay," Hiccup said, relieved. "Where's Tuff?"
Ruffnut shrugged him off of her. "Heck if I know! Wherever he is, he's got to pick up the slack. I've been fighting my butt off here!"
"Right," Hiccup said. "Listen, we've got to find the others–"
"What? No way!" Ruffnut interrupted. "I'm on a roll here."
A whole team of Hysterics rushed forward with crazed yells. Hiccup and Ruffnut prepared for a confrontation, however the group went right past them. The Berkians looked at where they were coming from and were met with a large burly Viking limping fast and furiously.
"Gobber!?" Hiccup and Ruffnut exclaimed.
"YAAAHH!" Gobber yelled, raising his wooden-ax hand in the air. He paused to smile at Hiccup and Ruffnut. "What? I can't let you young ones have all the fun now, can I?"
He went lumbering away with more battle cries. Hiccup and Ruffnut glanced at each other.
"Alright, you've convinced me." Ruffnut stated, gesturing out with an arm. "Lead the way."
Hiccup and Ruffnut regrouped with Fishlegs, who had found Snotlout and Astrid. Snotlout tapped his foot impatiently and Astrid had a look of concentration. "You better have a good reason for pulling us out of the fight. I had a six-going-on-seven streak." Snotlout said.
"Where's Tuffnut?" Hiccup asked for the second time.
"Probably out there bashing the Meatstick's heads together– as I should be doing right now!" Snotlout declared.
"Snotlout, be quiet," Astrid snapped, and Snotlout grumbled at her.
"We have to find him." Hiccup resolved.
His anxiety must have shown in his voice, for his friends looked at him with more attention. Astrid was the first to ask. "Hiccup, is something wrong–?"
"I'll tell you what's wrong." A Berserker slowed down near the Berkians. "The Hooligans are standing around wasting daylight! Come with me– we're going hunting for the enemy boar!"
Snotlout made a delighted noise. "Finally, someone who speaks norse!" He grinned defiantly at Hiccup. "Have fun standing around. We're having boar for dinner!"
"Sounds good to me!" Ruffnut said, who apparently had another change of heart, and she chased after Snotlout and the Berserker.
"It's not an actual boar!" Hiccup shouted after them, but of course he was left unheard. Astrid stepped into his line of view.
"Hiccup, what's going on?" She asked, and in that moment Hiccup appreciated her more than anything else in the world. She was taking him seriously, which was much more than he could say for the others.
"I saw something in the woods," Hiccup explained. "I don't know what it was, exactly, but it was big, and definitely not something you'd want to be caught alone with. If Tuffnut's out there somewhere, by himself…"
Fishlegs twined his hands together, his expression very uncomfortable. Astrid nodded. "I see where you're going with this. Let's go find him."
"You're not going anywhere!" A sleezy voice announced, and half a dozen Hysterics slunk around the Berkians in a semicircle. The leader pointed a spear at Hiccup. "Because now, you're our prisoners!"
"Oh, for the love of–" Hiccup began.
"Now, move it!" The Hysteric interrupted, and with the others all pointing spears at them, they forced Hiccup, Astrid, and Fishlegs to start walking away from their team's woods and past enemy lines. Hiccup tried reasoning with them.
"You don't know what you're doing, we've got a much bigger problem here–"
"Shut it, Hooligan!" The Hysteric demanded.
"Stop, we're not playing around anymore," Astrid persisted, and the Hysterics gave low growls.
"You think this is a game? This is about honor!" Their leader boomed, and he prodded her with the end of his spear.
Hiccup interfered before Astrid could commit a serious crime. "If you really want to show some honor, you'll let us go."
The Hysteric turned his spear at him. "Prisoners don't speak, or else…" He made a motion of impalement, and his tribemates snickered delightedly. Hiccup and Astrid shared a look. They would cooperate– for now.
The Hysterics escorted the unwilling troop deep into Hysteradon territory. Astrid had a focused look about her; Hiccup guessed she was memorizing their route to find their way back. Fishlegs was getting increasingly nervous, to the point he was going pale. Hiccup wanted to assure him that everything was going to be fine, that there was no way they were in any actual danger, but even he was starting to have doubts about how far these Vikings would go.
What resembled a base of operations opened up before them. It was much more impressive than what they'd seen on the Viserkian's side. Tents were pitched all about the clearing as were barrels of weaponry and tables with maps and battle plans on them. It was clear the Hysteradons didn't mess around when it came to Capture the Boar. Hiccup could have easily believed they were in a real battle camp.
Their captors led them towards the large tent in the center. But, instead of going in it, they swerved to the side, where the ground split into a wide ravine. For a horrifying second Hiccup thought they were going to push them off the cliff. Then they stopped at a much less life-threatening pit.
"In you go!" The Hysterics poked the Berkians with their spears, forcing them to back up to the pit's edge. It wasn't too far of a drop, but enough where they'd be trapped. They were one step away from falling in when the Hysteric's spears were suddenly kicked out of their hands.
"Bullseye!" Snotlout cheered, and he knocked the lead Hysteric in the chest with his bludgeon. Ruffnut swung her mace at the remaining Hysterics, and now defenseless, the Hysterics were quick to scurry out of harm's way. Astrid drew an ax out of a nearby barrel and leapt in the fray, and even Fishlegs was quick to join in with a hammer.
Hiccup grabbed a sword. He watched the fight, seeing where he might need to jump in, but his friends were doing a fine job of chasing the Hysterics away. He didn't know one was sneaking up behind him until they made a grunt of effort as they swung their sword.
On instinct, Hiccup parried the blow. But the Hysteradon had put a lot of force in the swing, and his great weight plowed the both of them over. They rolled a few times and then parted, the Hysteradon landing flat on the ground with a huff, while the momentum pushed Hiccup towards the ravine. He made a grab for the ledge, stopping himself right as his lower body dangled over the cliff's face. His sword went spiraling all the way down where it crashed into fast flowing rapids.
"Snotlout, Snotlout, oi, oi, oi!" He could hear the Jorgenson crow like a rooster, and similar sounds of victory came from his other friends. Hiccup tried hauling himself up, but the rocks were slick from the morning dew and were hard to get a grip on. He lost his traction and slid off the edge.
For the second time that day Hiccup's stomach traveled all the way up his throat. Vaguely, he took note that he wasn't falling anymore, but he also couldn't breathe. Hiccup struggled.
"Watch it!" A Scottish voice proclaimed. Solid ground appeared beneath Hiccup, and his knees wobbled but didn't buckle. The pressure at his neck was released and he gulped in air. Only once he got a handle on his breathing did Hiccup realize Gobber had caught him by the shirt collar.
"Next time you choose to fight someone, I suggest doing it away from a cliff!" Gobber said in a furious reprimand.
Normally Hiccup would run his mouth with a smart remark. However there was a bigger problem that needed to be addressed. He breathed in deep, trying to slow his racing heart. "Gobber, you've got to call this whole thing off. There's something–"
"Hold that thought," Gobber said distractedly, and he charged at a gang of Hysteradons who had been cautiously advancing. Seeing the larger and older Viking lumbering for them, the Hysteradons retreated the other way at once. Gobber laughed in delight and gave chase. "That's right, you under-grown Meatsticks! You better run!"
"Gobber–" Hiccup broke off, giving up. Gobber wouldn't be any help in this state.
"Hiccup? Hiccup!"
His friends emerged from the trees. "There you are," Astrid stated, and Snotlout, Ruffnut, and Fishlegs flanked her. "We chased the Hysteradons out, but they'll realize soon how outnumbered we are. What's the plan?"
Hiccup thought of his previous intent to find Tuffnut. Every time he and his friends were in the heart of the battle, the Thorston boy was mysteriously absent. Knowing just how uncharacteristic that was of him, Hiccup asked himself why it might be, and as soon as he wondered this an idea came to his mind. He shook the jelly feeling out of his limbs.
"We find our boar, of course," Hiccup announced, putting his friends off guard.
"Uh, I thought you didn't want us to do that anymore?" Ruffnut said oddly.
Snotlout was equally confused– and irritated. "Yeah, Hiccup. Do you want us to fight or not? Make up your mind!"
"Oh, I want you to fight," Hiccup said, sounding more confident as he spoke. "We're going to put an end to this game."
"Hiccup, you do realize the whole point of 'Capture the Boar' is to capture the enemy boar, right?"
"Yes, Snotlout, I'm aware." Hiccup said for the sixth time. "And, be quiet."
"You be quiet," Snotlout grumbled.
"Shh!" Astrid hissed. "Someone's coming!"
Hidden deep in the bushes, the Hooligans went silent as they listened for the person Astrid was referring to. It wasn't hard to locate where they were coming from. The newcomer stepped on every leaf and twig in their path, and they were talking none-too-stealthily to noone in particular.
"Hooligan tribe, won't you come out tonight, come out tonight, come out tonight…" Tuffnut sang, then abruptly stopped himself and dove behind a tree. He waited a few moments, peaked around the tree, and, apparently deeming it safe, continued on his way, only slightly quieter singing, "Over the light of the moon, over the light of the moon…"
"Ah-HAH!" Snotlout flung out of the bushes right in front of Tuffnut. Tuffnut squealed, then dropped on all fours, kicking at the ground like a bull getting ready to charge.
The others interfered. "Tuffnut, wait! It's us!" Hiccup tried reasoning, and Tuffnut leapt around to face him, still on his hands and tiptoes.
"RrrooAAAHHRRR–" Tuffnut cried, then Ruffnut walked up to him and kicked him in the shin. "OW! What are you doing?"
"What am I doing?" Ruffnut repeated.
"Yeah," Tuffnut got to his feet, adjusting his askew helmet. "I'm supposed to be a wild boar. And you're supposed to be running away terrified!"
"As much as we should be doing that, we've got a better plan," Hiccup said before they could argue more. "Tuffnut, you have to come with us to the Hysteradon side."
Tuffnut was scandalized. "What? Never! You'll never take me alive!"
He bounded deeper into the woods. "Tuffnut!" Hiccup started forward, then sighed. "He's not going to listen, is he?"
Snotlout hummed hopefully. "We could always…" he pounded his bludgeon in his palm to make his point.
Astrid started to smile. "Maybe we don't have to convince him."
Hiccup looked at her, bewildered that she'd agree with Snotlout. Astrid quickly remedied. "Not knocking him unconscious– but if he wants to run away from us, we can use that to our advantage."
"Good thinking," Hiccup agreed, catching on. "We'll split up and funnel him back to the clearing. Astrid and Ruffnut, go after Tuffnut and circle him back around. Snotlout, Fishlegs, come with me! And– be careful," he finished, being reminded of the monstrous-like creature.
Astrid nodded and the girls sprinted away.
"Be careful of what?" Snotlout asked almost disdainfully as he followed Hiccup.
"I'll explain later," Hiccup said, "Now come on!"
"Fine, but you better have a good explanation for making our team lose!" Snotlout declared. "If you make me look bad in front of the camp, I'll blame you."
"Blame away." Hiccup invited.
The boys reached the edge of the woods. Hiccup waited, questioning if it made sense for the girls to be taking this long. Just when he seriously began to think something was wrong, Tuffnut came charging along with a crazed war cry, Astrid and Ruffnut right on his tail.
Hiccup and Snotlout blocked Tuffnut from going to the sides. He bounded through the clearing and to the woods beyond– exactly where they wanted him to go.
"That's right– almost there!" Astrid shouted, and Tuffnut realized what they had done. He skidded to a halt, but before he could turn, he was surrounded by Hysteradons, their wooden spears pointing all around him. Unfortunately, it happened to be Beckett and his tribemates.
"Checkmate," Beckett said silkily, and with a flourish he brought a horn to his lips. The baritone note vibrated the whole forest, marking the end of the challenge.
Everyone in the vicinity swiveled to Beckett's direction. It couldn't be clearer: the Hysteradons had won. While Hiccup couldn't care less about who won or lost, he didn't want to cause any problems between his friends and the other tribes. Maybe, just maybe, no one noticed they had given Tuffnut right into the enemy's hands.
The Hysteradons were gathering from near and far to celebrate. They hollered and clapped each other on the backs. The Meatheads in particular were shooting horribly smug looks at the Hooligans. Likewise, the Viserkians met together, a blend of frustrated and forlorn looks on their faces.
"Odin's beard." Vigor's voice came from right behind them. He was watching the Berkians with a disbelief that made Hiccup's hopes dwindle. "I know, I just know, that you did not just chase our boar into their territory."
Hiccup said nothing. Maybe silence would speak for itself, and Vigor wouldn't question them further.
And then Tuffnut piped in. "That's exactly what happened!"
A series of gasps spread through both sides. Mogadon, who had been congratulating his son for his success, stalked to the front of the gathering. "What's this? Did I hear someone admit foul play on the field?"
His cold eyes fell on Hiccup and his friends. A hush fell over the crowd. Hiccup's heart pounded, for the first time considering there might be consequences due for interfering with the usual gameplay.
Gobber hobbled in quickly from the side. "Of course not! Respectfully, chief, I'm sure it only looked that way. They were only in the wrong place at the wrong time is all!"
Mogadan's chest swelled. "Are you suggesting that I'm deaf? I heard the boy loud and clear!"
"Yes, well, that one says a lot of nonsense, he can hardly be trusted," Gobber tried to explain, ignoring Tuffnut's offended look.
Mogadan remained stubbornly in place. "Well, if it isn't true, then I'd like to hear it from them!"
Every pair of eyes turned on the Berkians. Hiccup's friends looked to him for guidance, waiting to see what he'd do. Every fiber in Hiccup wanted to deny Mogadan's claim, but it was pointless. Someone would have seen it, and besides, Hiccup had done it intentionally, and for good reason. Gobber was staring at him imploringly. Clearly he wanted him to lie, too. Hiccup returned Gobber's gaze, then looked at Mogadon.
"It's true." He confessed, and promptly winced at the outcry.
"He doesn't mean that!" Gobber exclaimed, but his voice was drowned out.
"Traitors!" A Visithug accused.
"Never trust a Hooligan!" A Berserker agreed.
"Unfair! We demand a rematch!" Vigor howled.
"SILENCE!" Mogadon roared, and at once the clearing lulled into mutters. The Meathead chieftain's glare went dangerously thin and he brought his face very close to Hiccup's. "Do you mean to admit that you meddled with the match?"
Hiccup didn't back away. "Yes," he said, forcing himself to sound sure.
"And why," Mogadon breathed, sounding hardly able to control himself, "would you do something so impudent?"
A long silence stretched before Hiccup. In reality, it may have only been a few seconds, but the pressure was intense. Hiccup swallowed and sought for words. "I encountered something in the woods," he said at last, eternally thankful that his voice remained even. "I don't know what it was, exactly, but it was big, and sounded dangerous."
"He's lying." Beckett chimed in from behind, and Mogadon stepped aside so he could be seen. "It's because he's a coward."
The Hooligans opened their mouths to protest, but Mogadon silenced them with a hand. "Go on," he prompted his son.
Beckett continued. "I've run into him a few times before, Father. Hiccup Haddock is a disgrace to all Vikings."
His fellow Meatheads nodded in synchrony. A chorus of assent rang through some of the Hysterics. Mogadon however paused. "Haddock? Stoick's boy?"
Something changed in his expression. Hiccup was one of the few who noticed, but he wasn't comforted into knowing whether it was a good thing or not. Mogadon looked like he was going to say something, but Gobber once again tried butting in.
"Don't take it so seriously, chief! If you think about it, there's still honor to be found–"
"Honor in betraying your team?" Mogadon boomed, shutting Gobber up. "My son makes an excellent point. If this is how the heir of the Hooligan tribe shows honor, then none of you know what it means to be a Viking."
Astrid couldn't hold her tongue any longer. She fought her way in front of Hiccup. "Did none of you hear what Hiccup said?" She challenged, setting steely eyes on the Meathead chief. "This camp could be in danger."
"You will show more respect to the leader of this camp, and the chief of the Meathead Tribe." Beckett snarled. Astrid whirled on him next, and Hiccup put a placating hand on her arm.
"We have more than respect and honor to worry about!" Hiccup said urgently, and Mogadon sighed gruffly, shaking his massive beard.
"Is there anyone else who witnessed this encounter?" The Meathead chieftain boomed.
Heads turned to their neighbors as everyone waited for someone to speak up. In the midst of the throng, someone very timidly raised their hand.
"I– I did, sir," Fishlegs squeaked.
The tribes rustled with interest. Hiccup was surprised. The truth was, Fishlegs didn't see anything that Hiccup saw. Now that he thought of it, he hadn't seen Fishlegs since before they started chasing after Tuffnut. Where had he been the whole time? Nonetheless, it appeared his friend was willing to lie to support him.
Fishlegs said nothing else, probably waiting for permission to speak. Mogadon tipped his head. "Tell us what you know, lad."
The stocky teen glanced left and right at the watching crowd. He swallowed. "Hiccup is right," he said, steadily getting stronger. "But, it wasn't a creature he thought he saw. I… I think it was me."
Whispers rose from all directions. Mogadon frowned. "You think what was you?"
Fishlegs didn't look at any of his friends. "I was in the woods very close to Hiccup. He didn't know I was there. I meant to meet up with him, but I, I tripped and fell down a steep hill. I also dropped my helmet and shield. I wonder– I wonder if Hiccup mistook all that noise for something else."
Hiccup couldn't believe it. Fishlegs wasn't helping him, he was selling him out. By the expressions on Astrid, Snotlout, and the twins' faces, they were in equal shock at the testimony.
"What?" Hiccup finally said. "Fishlegs, what the Thor are you talking about? We went over this earlier!"
Fishlegs flinched and Beckett took that moment to jump in. "So you admit that you both conspired to lie!" He said triumphantly.
"Fishlegs," Hiccup implored, but Fishlegs shrugged.
"I'm sorry, Hiccup, I tried to tell you earlier. But, don't you see? This is good news! It means there's nothing to worry about."
Hiccup's memory said otherwise. But he refrained from arguing. He didn't want to make a scene in front of the whole camp. Plus, he didn't think he could say much else until he had a moment to process the feeling of betrayal in his chest.
Mogadan was the one to break the tension. "WELL. I suppose anything can appear threatening when you're as small as that!"
The jibe lightened the mood and the Vikings guffawed at varying levels. Gobber looked like he wanted to say something rude in return, but lost the energy for it. Astrid had a face of hopelessness, and Snotlout and the twins were just confused.
The Vikings seemed to realize the confrontation was over and they started to mingle about, the Meatheads and Hysterics gloating over their performance and the Visithugs and Berserkers gruelling over the unfairness of it all. Vigor was pleading with Mogadon for a rematch, but Hiccup didn't know how the chief responded. It was suddenly hard to focus on anything.
"Hiccup?" Astrid brought him back to the present. "What was that all about?"
Hiccup couldn't find it in him to speak. That's what I'd like to know.
Something tells me the tribes won't be too happy with the Hooligans for the next few days. And neither will Hiccup be happy with Fishlegs, I'd imagine...
As always, thanks for sticking with me this far; I hope the story is enjoyable!