The sound of a sword slicing through a straw dummy and hitting the wooden skeleton inside was rather a satisfying thunk and Gobber picked up the blade to look at it before he shrugged. "I don't know, it's working now," he told his client before handing it to him.

The man just left and Gobber turned to the dark haired Viking who was standing with his arms crossed on the window ledge. "You wouldn't be finished with that chest plate would you?" he asked with a small chicken bone in between his teeth.

Gobber was wiping soot off his hands before he looked over at his coworker Bjarke as he was busy using a hammer on a leather awl. "Working on it. I promise," he told the man who left it at that.

"That's the second time he's checked on it," the dirty fingered muscle mass replied as he continued to work without looking up, black in his auburn beard.

"Then work faster, huh?" Gobber joked dryly, though he didn't feel like actually smiling when he did. He wasn't in the mood.

"Hiccup was better at this, if I'm honest," he replied.

"'Is'..." Gobber corrected, almost sounding harsh as he was sticking to his gut that Hiccup was still out there somewhere...

Bjarke looked skeptical but went back to what he was doing, the mood in the room dropping significantly.

Just as this was happening, the young Viking lad who helped with Gobber's supplies was running through the village and he stopped before the doorway of the smithy. "Gobber... come quick!" he said breathlessly.

Hiccup slid off Toothless's saddle. "Come on, bud. Let's get this off so you can take a breather. You've earned a good dinner tonight," he said as he began unpacking the load from his saddle so he could go catch fish.

The sun was barely beneath the horizon now as the sky was lit with the colors of fire, pink cirrostratus clouds striping the sky.

"Agh!" Tuffnut complained when he fell from his dragon. "I don't think having kids is gonna be an option for me," he complained with strain as he hugged the ground.

"That's probably for the best," Astrid commented as she watched him.

[MELODY]

Once she climbed off her dragon's back Moira went to put her arms around Cailean's head. "Ye did good..ye deserve yer rest.." she said to him softly before giving him a warm smile. The beast purred in reply.

[GEM]

"So this the dragon paradise called Berk is it?" Yrsa said like she was unimpressed, hopping off her beast like the others were.

"A fine island, my lady," Fionnlagh corrected her. "The power of the north. It's been long since I met its chief. I look forward to seeing him again." He had his hand on the dragon he rode back here, a strike class one. He had a bit of trouble but was able to pick things up quickly, luckily.

They heard people running through the huge evergreens and watched as little Olfand came from the woods with Gobber right behind him, some of the other villagers following as well when they noticed the dragons fly in.

Gobber's eyes widened. "Oh thank Odin!" he said and ran to the lad to embrace him, Hiccup grunting as he was squeezed in the man's tight iron embrace.

"It's Hiccup!" one of the people said but they didn't know who and the talking followed... as well as multiple questions for them as the people began to crowd around them.

[MELODY]

Ikatere didn't like the crowd at all as he cowered behind Uriah whimpering slightly. Kahu kept his distance from the others watching the crowd form around them observing it quietly.

[GEM]

"I know I know, a lot happened and we'll fill you all in soon," Astrid was telling some of them.

"Are you all accounted for?" Gobber asked as he looked at their group.

"Aye, we were just lucky we didn't lose anyone."

"That's one word for it," Uriah said under his breath, knowing there was no way "luck" was involved in their survival.

"Oh your father's going to be so relieved. Even more than I am," Gobber said as he parted from Hiccup but kept his hands on his shoulders.

"Yeah I'm going to have to... apologize to him," Hiccup said with regret, overwhelmed with different thoughts and multiple feelings at the moment.

"What in the gods' names happened to you, lad?"

"Too much to tell you now but we're right to be afraid," he said in a lower voice. "Gobber this is... big and we need to be ready for the worst."

The look in Hiccup's eyes told Gobber the degree of devastation he had seen and this made the man hesitant to ask any more questions as worry grew. "Go see Stoick, he's not left the Great Hall since you took off," he told him.

Hiccup nodded but was nervous about that, not waiting to walk past the man and Astrid followed him after both their dragons were released and flew into the sky off the side of the cliff, though Toothless waited for Ikatere to join him before he did.

Uriah let him go when he finished taking his things off the beast.

[MELODY]

Ikatere hesitated glancing back up at his rider before following Toothless. Moira had let Cailean go as well as she made her way over to Uriah. "..I will try to find David.." she said to him knowing her brother probably had been worried sick about if she would return.

[GEM]

"I think that's a good idea—" he began to say but that's when they heard a familiar voice saying, "Move! I have to see them!" and the boy was sprinting from the woods and through the people that had gathered until his eyes met Moira's.

"Or he'll find you," Uriah added.

David ran to her and threw his arms around her immediately, getting emotional as he did.

[MELODY]

Moira's eyes filled with tears as she saw how emotional he got. She put her arms around him as she held him close giving him a kiss on his forehead. "I-I am sorry it took so long.." she whispered to him as she laid her head against his.

[GEM]

"You damn well should be. I was getting so worried," he said like he was mad but she could just hear the love and relief he was soaked with as he clung to her.

Uriah smiled at their reunion. "Hope you stayed out of trouble like you promised," he commented.

"Close enough," he replied when he and Moira parted.

[MELODY]

Moira raised an eyebrow wondering what he meant before shaking her head slightly. She moved some hair out of his face as she did. "..ye can tell me later..first..I brought someone else back.." she said as she glanced over to where she saw Fionnlagh was standing.

[GEM]

David's eyes became round with shock and he said, "MacCallum?!" before running over to him.

"Oh dear lad, thank God for you," the man replied as David embraced him. "I'm so grateful two of you survived. I thought I was all alone out there..."

"I know how that feels," David replied. "Where had you been?"

"I was... on an errand for your father. It didn't go as planned," he answered vaguely.

[MELODY]

With a warm smile on her face Moira watched them as a tear escaped her. She quickly wiped it away as she tried not to cry. She took a deep breath before she walked over to the both of them. ".. ye should let the village healer check on ye.." she said to Fionnlagh softly still worried about his health.

[GEM]

"Oh I've survived worse," he reassured. "Why don't you take David and go eat some dinner, aye?" he said, nodding towards the town.

[MELODY]

Moira clearly hesitated but nodded letting out a soft sigh as she knew there was no changing his mind. "..aren't ye coming with us?" She asked him trying to get him to at least sit down and eat something.

[GEM]

"Aye. After I see Stoick I will," he agreed, giving a gentle nod.

[MELODY]

"Alright..we will see ye there then.." Moira said to him before she explained to him where he could find them. "Let's go.." she said to David softly as she glanced over at Uriah giving him a small smile as she started to walk in the direction of Astrid's.

12/27/23, 9:10 AM

[GEM]

"We'll be in the Great Hall when you get bored, huh?" Arne joked as he and the rest of the gang walked towards the center of the island where the mountain was.

Uriah messed up his hair like an older brother and chuckled before following Moira.

Stoick heard someone enter as he had his fists on the table, hunched over a map of the north with small stone figurines sitting in different places on it, along with markings drawn... trying to figure out his next move for Berk.

He had assumed it was Gobber, coming to lecture him about eating or sleeping. But when he saw it was Hiccup, his heart stopped. He was shocked but relief swept through him quickly an so intensely that he didn't move or speak for a moment as he stared at his son.

Hiccup was humbled because he knew he messed up and he was just hopeful that nothing too bad had happened while they were gone. "Dad I..." he took in a breath as he tried to collect his thoughts into a coherent sentence. "Well I guess I have a lot to tell you but—"

Stoick shook his head with his eyes closed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he got his heart to beat normally again and approached his son to pull him into a hug immediately. "Oh damn you, damn you, my boy," he cursed with frustration but also intense relief.

Both of them had their eyes closed tightly but when they parted Hiccup began with, "Dad I'm so sorry, I was—"

"Where the Hel have you been Hiccup?" he demanded, his eyes intense.

"We traveled to the witch village and then west and then to Loki's Labyrinth—chasing clues about what happened—"

"Do you have any idea how reckless that was? Do you have any clue, how worried we have been?! How worried I have been?!"

"I know and—"

"You are the future chief of Berk. You cannot run off by yourself and leave your people behind. You cannot behave on rash and sudden decisions—"

"Look I know I made a mistake but I wasn't about to just sit here and wait for the outcome of this war—I needed answers. Spitelout was out there somewhere and—"

"And he's dead. Just like all of the scouts we sent after you," he said with a tremendous weight in his voice.

Hiccup stopped talking when he heard that, his expression revealing devastation and grief. The last thing he wanted was for anyone to come looking for him or lose their life on his account. But when he ran off without telling anyone, that was the risk he took. And now it felt like that was on him as guilt took his heart. He shut his eyes as he took in the consequences of his actions to the center of his being.

"You must understand why I give orders, Hiccup. I do what I must for my people and that is what you have to do," Stoick continued as Hiccup looked away and swallowed his emotions that began to bubble up inside him. "If you want to lead these people you must understand the consequences of making poor decisions which could be death to your subjects. A good chief protects his people above all, Hiccup—"

"There won't be anyone to protect if we don't deal with this—" Hiccup interrupted when he looked at his father.

"And how do you suggest we deal with it, Hiccup?"

"Dad... Tempus Mora killed Drago Bludvist."

There was hesitation in Stoick's face as he took this news in, confused and shocked.

"Picked him up like a rag doll and fed him to his dragons—his dragons that he can control with a magic stone some kind of god," he said with emphasis, trying to convey the importance of what he saw. "He just got another stone—a white one. And if it's as powerful as the last then I am truly terrified to what it can do."

"That's not possible," he argued.

"You can say that all you want but I saw it. And you won't be doing Berk any favors by denying the truth," Hiccup replied plainly, unsure of what else to do. "We were taken to Bludvist's hideout and it was like a city in the ice, preparing for war... but while we were there Mora attacked. He took out everyone, dad. Everyone. Hundreds of warriors and dragon trappers. And it's only a matter of time before he brings the fight here."

"Are the others with you?"

"Yeah we all made it back... miraculously."

He was still angry about it all and backed away from Hiccup.

"I know I made a mistake taking off instead of talking to you about it first—I didn't think you'd send anyone—"

"Next time you have a plan... you tell me. Understood?" he said sternly when he looked at him again, less like a father and more like a chief.

Hiccup hesitated and nodded.

"I thank the gods you have returned but that might not happen next time. I already lost your mother to dragonfire. I won't lose you too."

He understood this and swallowed again. "...I know... it won't happen again."

"Go," he told him with his back turned.

Hiccup took his leave from the hall...

Stoick remained there for a moment to take a breath. He would have been more angry if the fury in him hadn't slowly dissolved into worry during the days Hiccup was missing... but he couldn't deny the relief he felt that he was alright... the fool.

Faelan sat down with a round of drinks for the group at a long wooden table in the main room of the Great Hall, Hiccup passing them by to go outside where Astrid was waiting.

"It's so gloomy in here," Greenhood commented.

"They're on the brink of war, leprechaun," Ruarcc said to him with a scowl.

"Yeah not all of us can be like you, having fun in the face of certain death," Arne added with attitude.

"I don't see why not," Faelan replied with a smirk as he took a drink.

"Because sometimes tragedy and war deserves respect," Ruarcc told him with a stern tone.

They looked at Gregor who was just chugging alcohol and he let out a loud burp when he finished, the foam trickling onto his beard.

Ruarcc rolled his eyes.

Ruffnut was looking over at Snotlout who was sitting alone, depression soaking his face and posture.

She pulled her lips to one side and got up to bring him a drink, setting it down as she sat across from him. "Is it your father?" she asked quietly.

"Yeah..." he said as he looked away. "We're nowhere closer to him after all that and I think I should just accept that he's—"

"Hey you don't know that. Only weaklings give up that easily," she said in a candor voice.

He took in a breath, his eyes on the ground.

"You're not a weakling are you?" She narrowed her eyes.

"No," he said like a defensive child.

"Really?"

"No—... I mean yes... I mean—agh damn you woman!"

"Ha!"

When Hiccup left the hall, Astrid stood up from the steps. "What happened? What did he say?"

"He... well he was mad," he replied to start. "And he told me that apparently they sent scouts to search for us but none of them made it back," he added heavily.

Astrid shut her eyes and put her hand to her mouth to take that in, regret filling her system. She rubbed her face with her hands as she let the silence fall on them, grieved now. "Um..." she finally said as she looked away. "I suppose we shouldn't have—"

"No we shouldn't have," he said as he choked back emotions as well.

"There's nothing we can do now, don't let consume you," she tried to advise, basically telling herself this as well.

"It will for a while..." he said as he looked at his people, going about their business at dusk, a metaphorical dark cloud hung above them all...

"Come here," Astrid said and pulled her man into a tight hug that he accepted and returned.

"It was an enormous beast. The first of its kind I had ever seen, and its roar was like a hurricane," Fionnlagh was saying to David as he talked about their little terrifying adventure. They sat at the round table talking.

"Pass me that, will you, love?" Uriah told Moira who was standing beside him in front of Astrid's wooden countertop where they were cooking. He was referring to the iron ladle to her right as he put the hot put if soup on the wood from off the fire. He was in a new tunic and trousers he had from the things from their boat, sleeves rolled up to his elbows for cooking.

[MELODY]

Moira had put her thick curls in a messy bun while they were cooking. A few strains of hair escaped it as they were hanging around her face and over her neck. "Here ye go.." she said with a smile on her face as she handed it to him. She wasn't great at cooking but she wanted to help anyway following Uriah's instructions. She sometimes looked over her shoulder at the other two sitting by the table.

[GEM]

He mirrored her smile as he took it and stirred in some spices. Originally, Astrid didn't have much in the ways of food. They knew from what little she had that she was an eater for sustenance and not for enjoyment... or taste. But when Uriah and Moira spent time here they gathered ingredients from venders and cooked together often.

Moira's experience was little to none, as she wasn't taught how to cook as a princess and scavenged for her food when she ran off or bought it an inns.

Meanwhile, Uriah had to learn how to make food for his crew because they were either terrible at it, or wouldn't stop fighting when they tried. They were humble little dishes, but it was better than eating straight, plain fish for the hundredth time when at sea.

After stirring the stew he tasted it carefully. "What do you think?" he asked when he lifted the spoon to her.

[MELODY]

Moira leaned forward as she tasted it. "..tastes good..I don't know how ye do it." She said sighing softly. "All I can do is bake an egg."

[GEM]

"I use salt in mine," he said, referring to when she didn't use it in one of her stews and he never stopped teasing her about it.

[MELODY]

Moira rolled her eyes at that. "I take it back.." she said as she looked away focusing on what she was making again.

[GEM]

He chuckled with that wide grin of his and began to slice bread as the two of them listened to David and Fionnlagh behind them. Uriah kept a smile on his face as he did and he glanced over his shoulder when David talked about going for the eyes when it came to dragons and the war chief laughed at his energy.

"He's a great lad," Uriah said to Moira quietly. "He's got your spirit."

[MELODY]

A smile returned to her face as she listened to their conversation before it grew when Uriah said that. "..I am glad he does..I think we both are more like our mother.." she replied quietly before glancing over her shoulder at them again.

[GEM]

He looked at her thoughtfully and said, "I wonder if it would be safer to send them both back to Scotland..."

[MELODY]

Moira's smile disappeared when he said that before shaking her head. "That isn't safe.." she said as she glanced up at him before looking away again. She didn't want to risk losing the two of them..so she wanted to keep them close to her.

[GEM]

"Or to hide somewhere perhaps... with their dragons," he added, his expression serious as he thought about this.

[MELODY]

"..I am not going to leave them again Uriah." She said seriously as she glanced up at him again. The fear of losing them was showing in her eyes while her expression was all serious.

[GEM]

He returned her gaze, understanding her hesitance to let them out of her sight. "I just worry I suppose..." he began as his eyes drifted away, "...seeing him take control of all of those dragons like that... so easily and so absolute... And Berk... well Berk has a lot of dragons..."

[MELODY]

As she let out a soft sigh she nodded. "I worry about that as well..it..will turn into a massacre if he does the same on Berk.." she said concerned but still quietly as she glanced over her shoulder at her brother and Fionnlagh again.

[GEM]

Uriah's eyes were stuck on the counter as his thoughts continued in worry. He didn't like that his loved ones were in danger again. But what was new?

He finished putting their dinner in bowls and said, "I'm going to go pray," before he kissed Moira's cheek lovingly and grabbed his cloak to head out into the cold, shutting the door behind him.

[MELODY]

Moira nodded giving him a small smile as she watched him leave with a concerned look on her face. She put a smile on when she gave David and Fionnlagh their food as she sat down by them as well. But honestly she wasn't so hungry anymore.

12/28/23, 6:32 PM

[GEM]

When they gathered, the three of them took one another's hand to say grace.

With their heads bowed and eyes closed, Fionnlagh spoke, "Bless us, O Lord, and these, Thy gifts which we are about to receive from Thy bounty..." He stopped for a moment when the other two expected him to finish and instead added, "and thank You for watching over us... that we are alive right now... and I thank You that You have a plan in this unsettling time and that we have a purpose in it... You have not abandoned us..."

David felt heavy with these words as Fionnlagh reminded him that no matter what would happen in this war, even death... they would be okay. He needed to hear that.

"Through Christ our Lord. Amen," he finished.

"Amen," Moira and David repeated as they broke hands.

There was a silence that lingered as they began to eat and it wasn't broken for a long moment.

[GEM]

"You know..." Fionnlagh said, pulling the other two from their thoughts, "after how much you fussed when you were young I'm surprised you got married, Moira," Fionnlagh stated, making David smirk with amusement at his very well placed assumption.

[MELODY]

Moira had just taken a bite of her bread as her eyes widened when he said that almost choking on it as she started coughing. She had gotten red in her face as she took a sip from her water quickly. She shook her head slightly when she was able to speak again. "W-We aren't married.."

[GEM]

Fionnlagh was confused, staring for a moment before shaking his head as he raised his brows. "I'm sorry... you're not married?" he asked as if needing clarification again. He glanced at David who said, "Deep denial," with a nod of his head, entertained by this tremendously.

[MELODY]

Moira shot her brother a glare giving him a nudge against his shoulder. "I am serious..we aren't married.." she said as she looked away from them and started eating again. "Firstly I don't know if I want to..secondly where in this crazy war would we have the time?"

[GEM]

"Hmm..." Fionnlagh looked at David after she said all that. "I think you're right, lad."

"I always am."

[MELODY]

Moira shot them both a glare now before looking away again sighing softly as she shook her head slightly. She glanced up at the door then hoping Uriah would come back soon.

[GEM]

And that he did, though it took about a half hour. But when he did, Moira saw a new sense of peace in his eyes, as if back to his normal self again. That was comforting to her. 

Melody and Muiredach stood facing one another as dusk hit the forests of eastern Iceland, the crickets singing their songs with the owls around them as they both wore their armor and carried their weapons. He had his hands behind his back. "Now I don't want you to hold anything back... despite how much I'm sure you don't want to hurt me," he said to her with a dry teasing tone, a little squint of his eyes and the smallest hint of a smirk on his lips.

Runa was watching them both with interest. "Kick his arse, Melody," she said.

He lifted a brow at her with a touch of amusement.

[MELODY]

Melody rolled her eyes at him as a playful smile appeared on her face watching him. "..what makes you think I don't want to hurt you?" She asked him raising an eyebrow before she glanced over at Runa giving her a warm smile. As she looked back at him her expression changed to a more serious one but still playful as she charged forward making the first attempt to hit him.

[GEM]

He had his blades out faster than she thought possible and whipped his arm up to block her first strike, not taking his eyes from hers the whole time.

[MELODY]

While he blocked her first sickle she used the other one to try and slice his abdomen.

[GEM]

He used his offhand to catch her blade before it could make contact with his armor and yanked his weapons apart to shove hers off.

[MELODY]

It made her step back but she didn't wait long before coming for him again. In the little time they were training now she had grown in her combat skills and barely hesitated.

[GEM]

Even though it was one day of training, the two had unlocked something in Melody that wasn't there before and Muiredach liked it.

He used both his blades to block in an "X" formation before trying to hook her leg, seeing if she could pay attention to multiple strikes from an opponent.

[MELODY]

She did notice it barely in time stepping back again before he could make his move. She quickly got her balance back blocking his strike now.

[GEM]

He slid his blade off hers and struck again from the other side with his opposite blade.

[MELODY]

She reacted quickly blocking his strike as she tried not to let him get her unbalanced again.

[GEM]

He kept a steady flow and struck left and right as she took steps back to block each one, keeping up better than he expected.

[GEM]

Runa was watching with captured attention at each single movement.

[MELODY]

As she noticed he was forcing her back so she tried to copy what he did to make him step back the other way again. But she couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching them and it wasn't Runa or Lyre..

[GEM]

He bent back to dodge her wide swing and knocked her blade aside with his own when she came back, taking a calculated step backwards as Melody made her advances, ducking to miss another strike. He brought down his own blades towards her and she put both of hers up to block him, creating a ringing sound of metal on metal, grinding their weapons against one another as his height gave him an advantage. He kicked her in the gut and when he did she stumbled back but didn't lose her footing.

He took steps back from her and put his face mask up, now only his eyes visible to her, before he used two fingers to wave her forward.

[MELODY]

Melody shot him a small glare after she found her balance back before she came at him again trying to get him off balance this time.

[GEM]

He brought up his blade horizontally to force her weapon back, bouncing off his own before he did the same with her next attack. He attempted to strike towards her throat.

[MELODY]

Melody ducked to avoid his attack but that made her vulnerable as well.

[GEM]

If he hadn't been taking it easy on her she would have been on her back bleeding out as soon as this occurred but he took longer to strike than normal and she was able to catch his blow. He was bearing his weight on her as she held up her crescent blade horizontally, hoping she would remember some of the specific maneuvers he had taught her.

[MELODY]

She suddenly thought of something as she let herself drop immediately taking away the pressure she put on blocking him before moving out of the way and getting back onto her feet quickly.

[GEM]

He threw himself aside when she got up, facing her in order to put up his weapon, blocking her next strike.

Runa smiled, impressed she was able to pull that move off.

[MELODY]

When he blocked her next strike she tried striking him with her other sickle. She kept her concentration even if she still felt something watching her.

12/29/23, 2:06 PM

[GEM]

He blocked her move and she deflected his when he tried to swipe at her legs, standing her ground when he slid his blade up against hers and pressed her weapon against her, the blade nearly catching her face as he kept pressure on it but she kicked him in the leg and turned, forcing him to fall through his strike to the right of her instead. This gave her the opportunity to strike at his backside but he already whipped around, missing her blow by a hair and hitting her weapon back with his.

They were standing with his left leg in front of hers when they exchanged these strikes back and forth but she moved her leg before he could hook it to trip her, spinning to strike his side and he blocked it, sending her sickle away from her body to leave it vulnerable for a strike. But she ducked and avoided it, charging him down instead and leaping onto his body with her thighs wrapped around his torso, forcing him to the ground because of the lopsided weight and sudden hit.

[GEM]

He landed on the grass on his back but blocked her strike that attempted to bury into his chest with both her sickles, his blades crossing over to deflect it before he hooked his leg around hers and shoved her aggressively to her own back instead as the two flipped.

He was surprised when she was able to block when he tried to catch her, even if he taught her how to handle this kind of scenario. She used her sickle to hook his arm and force it left before she kicked him and threw her body out from under his hold, standing to try and deliver a final blow but he deflected the strike on one knee and grabbed her arm with his other hand, pulling her down but she did a forward roll to correct being knocked off her feet, standing to face him as he was standing again as well.

[MELODY]

Melody was breathing heavily holding onto her sickles tightly as she watched him before going for him again not giving up yet.

[GEM]

As they continued to spar, she got faster, focused and driven. He blocked her every move with precision but was curious to see how long she could last, so he didn't slow down as he kept up with her, sending his own advances when she gave him the opportunity.

She deflected one of his strikes to the side of her head, catching it with her hook blade and ducking under as she came up to try to strike his back right shoulder. He spun the other way and met her head on, blocking her blow with his arm blade before she continued to try and sink her sickles into his armor, hitting him left and right as he backed up and caught each strike.

[MELODY]

Melody kept going with using the things he learned her to do. It really showed her new found confidence in herself drove her to do things like this which she never thought she couldn't do.

[GEM]

As she struck him over and over and each was blocked, he finally had a window to slice her with a dagger he had pulled from his thigh, attempting to get between her left collarbone and shoulder with it.

[MELODY]

She quickly blocked him with using both her sickles. When she felt it was now stuck between her blades she moved her blades down in the opposite direction pulling the dagger out of His grasp. She then quickly did a strike for his throat stopping inches from hitting him.

[GEM]

When she executed the move he taught her with such perfection he remained still with her blade against his throat, his eyes holding a twinkle in them to suggest he was smirking, his back currently against the tree.

"Yes! I knew you could do it!" Runa said with a competitive cheer as she clapped for her.

[MELODY]

Melody slowly lowered her blade not breaking eye contact with him. Her expression changed completely realising she did it when she heard Runa as her eyes widened in surprise and a bright smile appeared on her face as she let out a cheer as well. She looked over at the girl then before looking back at him as she put her sickles back on her side. As if asking for his opinion about the fight.

[GEM]

Muiredach stood up from the tree and retracted his blades. He reached up to pull down his face mask, revealing a certain smooth pride in his expression as he nodded at her. "The kitten's got a bite," he complimented her, impressed with her rapid improvement. He hid how her wide giddy smile made him feel, however.

[MELODY]

Melody rolled her eyes playfully at the comparison he made but was glad seeing him being proud of her. "..I do..I see now." She said being proud of herself as well.

[GEM]

He gave her a wink that was hidden from Runa's view.

"That was killer, Melody. I'm surprised. You've improved a lot for only a few days of training. Are you sure you never practiced with those before?" Runa asked with her arms crossed.

[MELODY]

"No I never needed to..or at least thought I didn't.." Melody said with an innocent expression on her face. "..the village I grew up in was perfectly safe..and it seemed safe out here..so I never learned these things.." she replied honestly. She had learned from her family that violence was always a last resort and that kindness came first.

[GEM]

Runa snickered. "Safe out there... right," she said with saturated sarcasm. "Well I'd say you've earned a nice hot bath after today. I'll go heat the water for you." She said before turning to go back to the cabin.

[MELODY]

"Thank you." Melody said to her not reacting to her sarcastic comment as she understood her view was different. She just really had felt safe and protected in her childhood. She watched her leave before turning her attention back to Muiredach

[GEM]

He looked down at her as he twirled the dagger she didn't realize he had picked back up. "You should have been taught," he told her. "Everyone needs to know how to defend oneself. If I have my way I shall never see you defenseless or at another's mercy." He lifted his hand to pull a leaf from her hair she had gotten stuck in there when she was on the ground. "I didn't hurt you too badly did I, doe?" he asked in his usual way but she could tell under that mask that he genuinely cared if he had or not.

12/30/23, 8:14 AM

[MELODY]

Melody sighed softly before shaking her head slightly as she looked at him with a smirk on her face. "..I am fine..did I hurt you?" She asked at a slight playful tone. But she also cared if she had or not. She never wanted to hurt someone she cared about.

12/30/23, 10:20 AM

[GEM]

"Hm..." He smirked at her question. "Only a few bruises to my precious ego, but I'll survive," he replied with the same tone, referencing what she had said to him before. "Perhaps next time you won't have the pleasure of me going easy on you." His eyes seemed to compliment her every feature as he spoke with that smooth, yet a ruggedly coarse voice.

[MELODY]

She smirked as she rolled her eyes playfully. "Oh you and your ego..I wouldn't mind bruising your ego some more." That's when she noticed something behind him. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw two glowing blue eyes peeking through the shadows of the trees and covers of the bushes. "..it came back.." she said quietly as she watched it.

[GEM]

His brows furrowed and he followed her gaze, noticing the same thing she did. He turned slowly and put a protective arm over Melody's chest though because of his height it was basically her neck. "Back up," he whispered, unsure of what the dragon would do. "When I give the signal I want you to run back to the cabin, got it?"

[MELODY]

Melody glanced up when he did that. She hesitated clearly as she looked back at the dragon, who stayed in its position but narrowed its eyes at Muiredach. "What if it came back because it has no place else to go to?" She thought out loud as she watched it, but wasn't sure what its intension was either.

[GEM]

"It's a dragon, not a lost kitten," he said through his teeth. He didn't pull a weapon yet because that usually caused dragons to attack immediately but he kept his right hand ready to pull his blades out at a second's notice.

[MELODY]

She glanced up at him again before hesitatingly pushed his arm down that was in front of her. She then walked past him keeping her eyes on the dragon. It did surprise the dragon as it let out a low growl. Melody stopped in her tracks then. "Alright..you don't like that.." she said mumbling to herself. She decided this was close enough for the beast as she sat down watching it. It still growled but surprisingly didn't attack yet.

[GEM]

"Mel!" Muiredach hissed when she moved forward, watching her and the beast very carefully as he was very much on edge now.

The dragon has an intense bark but not a very eager bite... why would that be? Lyre said to Melody as he skulked about the scene.

[MELODY]

"I will be fine..I promise.." She said calmly to Muiredach but not looking at him sitting with her back to him. Melody let out a soft sigh when she heard Lyre but kept her focus on the dragon trying to figure out why it was back and how she could get closer. "..you are just scared.." she said to it quietly. The dragon slowly stopped growling as it looked back at her tilting its head slightly when she just stayed there. It seemed genuinely curious and interested by her for a second.

[GEM]

Muiredach's heart was beating fast and he was tempted to arm himself, his fingers tracing the loop for the blades' release. He didn't move, nor take his eyes off the dragon to make sure he knew every sign if it was about to attack.

He didn't like this. Not at all.

As Runa poured some of the hot water into Melody's wooden tub, she turned to walk outside again to retrieve water from the well, letting the old wooden door shut as she did. The cold caused her breath to make puffs of white as she walked a few meters to the well, the dark forest alive with wildlife, dotted with fireflies in the distance. She loved the scenery out here, always loving the lush forests of Iceland. She felt like she could look at it forever.

But as she set her bucket on the wall of the well, her eye caught something in the brush not too far away.

Moving to investigate, she walked up and knelt down to rummage through the tall grass to see it was the leather saddlebag that was on the dragon that had come to kill Melody before, the material stained with blood.

[MELODY]

As Melody just watched the dragon quietly she decided to try something. She tried activating her magic so that her eyes and markings would glow. But she didn't move from her spot watching its reaction carefully. The beast's eyes widened slightly when it saw that and seemed not sure what to do as it took a step back. Melody frowned slightly as she had hoped that would have made it more curious to take a step closer. But it didn't. She sighed softly as her glow slowly disappeared again. "What am I going to do with you?" She said to it, but when she saw it tilting its head again when it noticed nothing had happened with her magic it did take one step closer.

[GEM]

Muiredach continued to remain cautious but he noticed the dragon's demeanor. Yes it was defensive but it seemed to be putting up a front to appear that way with no true intentions of harming them. That made him feel a bit better about Melody trying to make friends with it like it was a doe with a hurt leg.

[MELODY]

A small smile appeared on her face when she noticed its curiosity won over the fear she clearly saw behind the front it put up. "It's okay..I am not going to do anything to hurt you.." she said to it at a soft calm tone. The dragon clearly was hesitant as it took another step now almost out of the cover that the bushes and the trees provided. Melody still didn't move letting it come to her now.

[GEM]

Muiredach wasn't surprised that the beast had formed an attachment to Melody after she had healed it. Dragons don't typically like to remain in others' debts and saving its life would ensure a return of the favor in most cases.

[MELODY]

Once it stepped out it revealed its beautiful fluorescent body. Melody was truly fascinated by it watching it in amazement as her smile grew. "..you are so beautiful.." she said to it as it carefully got closer step by step. It did however check its surroundings the whole time. It was now still at a safe distance from her but if she tried she could reach out and touch its nose. But she didn't knowing that would probably make the dragon freak out and panic.

[GEM]

'This stupid girl and her stupid heart of gold...' Muiredach thought to himself, but something was making him almost... smile as he watched this.

Runa opened the first pouch to see if there was anything worth saving. She discovered some rotten foods wrapped in paper, a small pot, and a blanket eaten away by something. She looked in the next pouch and her hands felt parchment. So she pulled out whatever it was and carefully unfolded the palm sized piece of paper until it revealed itself. It was a list.

But not just any list.

A kill list.

These were official orders from Valmaor that the assassins had with them. The first name on the list was "The Witch in the Cottage"

But the second name...

"Shite!" she cursed and stood up, running to the others at once.

"Careful there..." Muiredach told Melody quietly, as he knew she wanted to touch the dragon's nose.

[MELODY]

She was almost about to try and touch the dragon anyway when he said that. She stopped herself then. The dragon hesitantly took another step closer then keeping its eyes on her now. "That's it..it's okay.." Melody said to it smiling warmly as she carefully held her hand out to it. It froze at first being a bit startled by that but then carefully lowered its head to sniff her hand.

[GEM]

The dragon's head shot up when it caught the sound of frantic footsteps running through the woods towards where they were, followed by a feminine "Muiredach!" from far off.

[MELODY]

The dragon decided to fly away when that happened knocking Melody over in the process as she fell back. "W-wait!" She called out to it as she got back up quickly. She then glanced over when she heard Runa call.

[GEM]

Muiredach was kneeling beside her to make sure she wasn't hurt when the dragon hit her to take off but stood up when she did.

Runa stopped when she saw the dragon flying away, her eyes widening more than they were before. She ran ahead until she got to them as she said, "What was that?"

"The dragon Melody healed. It came back," Muiredach answered her.

[MELODY]

Melody nodded sighing softly as she felt bumped that she almost managed to touch it but it flew away before she could. "..are you alright?" She asked Runa then.

[GEM]

She shook her head to refresh herself on what she was thinking and handed Muiredach the piece of paper. "This was the kill list from the assassins. I think we know where Mora is heading next," she said, a bit out of breath from running but urgency in her eyes.

Muiredach furrowed his brows as he read this and his expression began to show concern as he looked back at her. "Stoick the Vast..."