𖣯 ✹ 🌷(makligr) ꏍ ！┈─❟
╰───►chapter ten; hiccup
❝ old friends! ❞

     HICCUP WOKE up to a very strange sight.

     And he means very strange.

     Not only was it strange to see Yrsa around Snotlout willingly. But it was even stranger to see her walking around with a red fabric 'S' hanging around her neck, arms out and shouting with a very weird and strained voice: "RAWRRRR! SNOTLOUT! RAWRRRR━I love Snotlout!"

     She did not look very happy with this, however. 

     Hiccup arched a brow at them as they passed his hut very early in the morning, probably waking the rest of the riders while they were at it. Toothless had joined him, ears quivering as he matched his friend's incredulous look.

     "Yrsa?" Hiccup asked as they stopped. Snotlout grinned, pointing at Yrsa's state. It was then that Hiccup also noticed she wore a red tail, too that. "What ... what are you doing?"

      She flushed, glancing at Snotlout with a dark glare━like she was ready to murder him. "Uh━Snotlout━"

     "Ah━ah━" Snotlout held a finger up, and she stopped her sentence. Livid and fuming, she clenched her hands and grumbled something incoherent. Snotlout, very proud of himself, leant towards her with his hand to his ear. "What was that, Yrsa?"

      Very embarassed, she repeated her words louder this time. Reluctant, she said, "I ... I'm dressed in this costume to show my support as Snotlout's dragon wingman who's also secretly in love with his━" she gritted her teeth. Beside her, Snotlout mouthed her words━he had obviously rehearsed this with her, "━pleasant and amazing personality ..."

      Hiccup was very, very confused. He turned to Snotlout for an explanation and he grinned, "I won a bet over the Twins rock tower."

     Yrsa crossed her arms; steam might've burst out of her ears (and then she'd really be a dragon). 

     "And now," went on Snotlout, "Yrsa has to wear this for the rest of the day."

     "I just thought I was going to give you Mackerel."   

     Hiccup tried to keep in his laughter. Yrsa looked ridiculous, and it was even more hilarious to know how much she must hate standing there next to Snotlout and continuously saying she was showing 'her support as Snotlout's dragon wingman who's also secretly in love' with him. (Even though the fact she was a dragon was ... concerning). 

     But she could see right through him. "Shut up."

     "I didn't say anything," he chuckled.

     She glowered at him, "You didn't need to."

     And with that said, she relucantly turned and followed Snotlout along the wooden walk to their huts, continuing their humilation round. Hiccup grinned and called after her, "Hey! Guess what, Yrs━we're heading back to Berk today."

     Snotlout's face lit up, delighted as Yrsa gaped, horrified. "No!" she screamed. "NO!"

     "This is the best day ever," Snotlout wiped an imaginary tear from his cheek. Then, he took Yrsa's arm, dragging her along as she scowled back at Hiccup, mouthing: I'm going to kill you. She pointed at him to repeat: KILL YOU. "Come on, Yrsa, dear! Let's go!"

     Hiccup just waved at her, "See you soon, Yrsa! Have a great morning!"

     She sent a final very un-lady-like gesture over her shoulder. 

     Hiccup knew he was going to find this day crazy (as usual), already━but very satisfying. Especially when Yrsa's fake dragon tail even flicked back and forth in her moody walk. 

     In true to whatever bet Yrsa somehow got herself into with Snotlout, she had to wear the strange costume the entire flight to Berk, and even after they landed. As they stacked up on gear and supplies, Hiccup caught her still stomping around with furrowed brows and holding a basket of more of her father's toys that he made her when she was little. Her room on Berk was filled with them, and soon, her hut will be, too.

     The Twins were hysteric at the sight of her, laughing and pointing. And while it was funny to start off with, Hiccup started to feel bad as it continued on and on and on. He didn't stop it━maybe he should've, but he wondered whether this might help Yrsa to realise that it was all fun and jokes, and none of it was serious━but he did know she was taking some of it to heart. So, he disappeared off to the forge and spent the rest of the morning finalising a set of daggers he had started making her back on the Edge.

     Hiccup made her a lot of things. He loved to make things, and she loved to recieve these things. Ever since they started being friends and she'd sit there, watching him sharpen swords and fix axes in the forge, feet dangling off his workshop bench. She ended up helping around in the forge━she told him it had become a happy place for her; that it reminded her of when she'd watch her father make things. And so Hiccup kept making her things; again and again. 

     And when he returned back to the plaza with the two twin daggers, making his way towards her and Helrose, her face went from grumpy-I-hate-my-life to a bright, happy light that made her eyes glint with copper. 

      "Here," he passed them over, feeling his heart flutter. 

     She took them in her fingers, turning them around, feeling the hilt and testing the sharpness. She found the designs he made today and her eyes widened. Hiccup flushed, wondering whether it was too much, or whether she wouldn't like it. Or whether she did like it and didn't want to get emotional right now━

     He quickly stammered, "I━If you don't like it, I can change it, I just thought you'd want━"

     Yrsa was tearful. She quickly took a deep breath, shaking her head and blinking her eyes to keep them clear. She gripped the hilts, staring at the intricate designs he carved in to be an exact copy to the ones her father made on her axe. 

     "I━" she was speechless. She looked absurd in her dragon costume, but she was still beautiful (How was she so gorgeous even in this ridiculous outfit Snotlout made her wear? How?). "Hiccup━I━I don't know what to say, I━" she glanced around again, taking a deep breath. Meeting his gaze, she lightly gave him a nudge with her boot from her saddle. Helrose purred, noticing the tremble of her fingers that held the new daggers like a lifeline. "Thank you."

     He shrugged, trying not to show how relieved he felt that she liked the gifts. He made so many, and each and every one meant everything to him━her reactions were the highlight of it all. "I thought I'd finish them early to make your day feel a bit better. Also to make up for my laugh this morning."

     Yrsa looked like she wanted to do something, but she wouldn't around everyone else. Hiccup hoped he hid how disappointed he felt about it, knowing that she'll hold those daggers close to her heart. He didn't need a hug to let him know that. 

     Hiccup gave her a last smile before turning to his team, "Okay, now remember, gang, we're only taking absolute necessities to Dragon's Edge."

     At those words, Fishlegs sheepishly clutched his pile of rocks in his arms. Snotlout let out a laugh at him, "I guess we're leaving you behind, Fishlegs!"

     When Yrsa didn't laugh with him, he held out a hand to her. Yrsa's smile fell and back to being a livid, flustered mess, she managed a weak, "Hahaha━so funny, Snotlout!"

      "I know that was sarcastic! But I shall let it slide."

      She just gave a sarcastic smile in return.

      Fishlegs continued his way to Meatlug who was already carrying two stacked baskets filled with heavy rocks. Hiccup sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You're better than that, Snotlout. Oh, wait! No, you're not."

      Astrid glanced over at Yrsa. Seeing her state, she was back to laughing.

     Yrsa placed Hiccup's knives into her saddlebag. "It's not funny, Astrid."

     "It's very funny. Actually━" Astrid gestured to the dragon tail that was snagged on one of Helrose's sharp back fins, "━you might want to━"

     Hiccup decided he'd fix it for her, taking the tail and setting it gently over the side of the saddle. Yrsa puffed up like a Terrible Terror ready to blow. But, she calmed herself and said in her polite voice she always put on when talking to a villager that needed help. "Snotlout made this for me. He is amazing. He is a great tailor."

      Ruffnut turned to her brother and burst out into laughter. She was perhaps enjoying this more than Snotlout. "Hey, Tuff, can you draw Yrsa in that costume━I want to keep it forever on a shrine in our hut."

     Everyone turned to her, a little disgusted.

     Yrsa arched a brow, "Um ... no."

     "Yeah," agreed Hiccup, stern. "No."

     Moving on, Fishlegs gave Meatlug a happy pat on the shoulder and with a clatter, she beat her wings and lifted into the air. Except, she didn't get very far, considering the two over-filled baskets of rocks sagged her right back to the ground with a thud. 

     Fishlegs coaxed her as she tried again, and failed again. "Come on, girl, you can do it! Lift with your legs."

     Hiccup sighed again, "Fishlegs..."

     "What?" he replied, defensive. "Berk granite has a nicer finish! And trust me," he grabbed Meatlug's tail to help her lift, "you want the nicer finish." All the huffing and puffing casued for Meatlug to let loose a long and disgusting blast of flatulence━right into Fishlegs's face. Snotlout laughed again. Yrsa copied unethusiastically. Hiccup winced. Meatlug glanced back at her rider, apologetic but he just smiled through the pain, giving her tail a rub. Smells wonderful, he seemed to say. "Point illustrated."

      Clang! "Ow! Not bad. That's a two. Do it again."

     THWAM! 

     Hiccup looked over at the Twins. Who, now that they decided not to be laughing at Yrsa, were testing out each and every mace they brought from home; on each other. Right at this moment, Ruffnut was slamming her's against her brother's helmet as hard as she could. 

     At the impact, he spun on his feet, dazed and cross-eyed. "Oh! Yeah! Three." He gave a thumbs up to Ruffnut a little ways to the left. "I still think we could do better."

     She grinned. She hoisted her weapon up high. "Yes, we can!"

     She hit him so hard, his helmet was knocked right off his head and back on. "OUCH!"

     Hiccup hunched up, considering to grab Gothi as he watched Tuffnut stumble around, completely out of it now. "Yeah ..." he slurred, "that is a four. Yep! One ... two ... three ... four ..." he counted way more than four before passing out at his sisters feet. Barf and Belch sniffed at him, showing the same amount of concern as Ruffnut: zero. 

      She held up the mace, satisfied. "I'll tag it and bag it."

     Tuffnut━in a daze━murmured, "Any of you four need anything ... I'll be right there ..." and he was out again. 

     "All right!"

      Hiccup spun around at his father's voice, eyes wide. He knew that tone. That was his: someone was in a lot of trouble tone. He saw him storm down the steps from the Great Hal with Gobber, Mulch and Bucket in tow━none of them looked happy. They marched right up to Hiccup and the Dragon Riders.

     "Which one of the usual suspects was out sinking boats on their dragon this morning?" The chief halted to a stop. His eyes fixed on the Ruffnut and Tuffnut, who was starting to come back to consciousness with a loud groan. "I have my suspicions."

     Gobber then frowned at Yrsa, asking, "What are yeh wearing?"

     Yrsa leapt to explain, "I━" then caught herself. She took a deep breath. Snotlout crossed his arms, smug. She said her line in a droned tone, "I am showing my support as Snotlout's dragon wingman who is also in love━"

     "Yeah," Gobber held a hand up, stopping her, "I think I've heard enough."

     "She lost a bet," grinned Snotlout.

      Hiccup pushed forward the more important topic. He stepped up to his father, "Sinking boats?" he queried, feeling a tug of concern in his gut. 

     "Bucket and Mulch saw the whole thing," said the chief and the two fishermen nodded helpfully. Bucket gave a wave. "And don't try convincing me that there's anyone else in the Archipelago who could pull something like this off! Well?" he arched a bushy, red brow. "I'm waiting?"

     Hiccup didn't know. He glanced at his Riders, trying to see the expression's on their faces, but they all looked as clueless as him. He knew Yrsa and Astrid would never do such a thing━though, with Yrsa's bet, he wouldn't put it past Snotlout. But the Jorgeson was shrugging, and it wasn't his I-Did-It-But-I'm-Going-To-Lie shrug, either. Even the Twins, who were the easiest pick out of all of them, shared a glance. Ruffnut scratched her helmet, confused until her brother suddenly gasped and dropped to his knees.

     "It was me, Chief!" he cried, sobbing. Ruffnut stared at him, shocked. "I couldn't control myself. I had to do it!" He crawled forward, begging. His sister sighed and shook her head. "What's wrong with me?! Why do I do things like this?!" he broke down into wails, shaking his shoulders as he wept dramatically at Stoick the Vast's feet. "Why doesn't anybody do anything to stop me? Can't you all see that it's a desperate cry for help?!"

     Stoick could tell this wasn't real. Hiccup pinched of his nose, looking very similar to his father in this moment as Ruff stormed up to her brother. "What are you talking about?!" she demanded. "None of that happened!"

     And like that, Tuff stopped crying and got back to his feet, the facade gone. "I know that," he said, shrugging. "I just always wanted to confess to something. How'd it play? I didn't overdo it, did I?"

     His sister thought about this. Yrsa threw her gaze to the heavens. "Yeah, I mean ... Overall, you seemed grounded," Tuff nodded, taking the criticism in, "but still, it was a little hard to believe." 

    Stoick the Vast growled. Hiccup winced, quickly pushing forward to say, "Dad," he held his hands up, desperate to calm his temper, "we've been together all morning. It couldn't have been one of us attacking the ship."

    "Well, if it wasn't one of you, then I say we have a much more serious problem on our hands."

     Astrid frowned at this, "Rogue dragon rider?" she muttered.

     Hiccup tried to think━it was possible. They can't have been the only Vikings to bond with dragons, but that didn't mean it was a good thing. Fishlegs agreed, "Not good," he said, "not good at all."

     "No it isn't," murmured Hiccup. "And we need to find out who it is."

◞ ★ ꒱꒱◜

     "OKAY, gang, let's spread out."

     Bucket and Mulch's fishing boat was still afloat when they reached it. Though the mast was damaged, and the sides had multiple very-good-sized dragon bites, the ship drifted easily with most of it still above water. Hiccup took this as a good sign as he landed Toothless onto the deck. The others followed suit, stepping off their saddles to examine any damage on the boat that could allude to who had done this.

     Right beside Hiccup, Yrsa dropped down. She had finally abandoned the ridiculous costume (with much argument with Snotlout), but she looked far better for it. Back to her prideful self, she ran a hand along Helrose's neck as she said, "I've been thinking about this rogue dragon rider."

    Hiccup already knew where her thoughts were heading━his had been, too, "Dagur," he answered. She nodded.

    "It makes sense. If Dagur has a dragon and is attacking ships, then, who's to say we won't be next?"

     "Hiccup!" Fishlegs called them over to the bite marks in the side of the ship. "You've got to see this."

     Seeing them at a closer glance, Hiccup crouched down to examine the shape and length of each mark. He pursed his lips, "Those are some deep gashes ..." he glanced up at Fishlegs watching over his shoulder. "Any idea what it could be?"

     "This dragon is extremely powerful," guessed Fishlegs. "It seems to has the slashing attack of a Speed Stinger yet from the depth of the strikes it appears to be as strong as a Typhoomerang."

     "Great," grumbled Yrsa, scowling at the damage, "just want we need, an impossibly-dangerous dragon."

     Hiccup couldn't help but agree. He set his jaw, trying to think himself of what this dragon could be, but none came to mind. They'd have to check the Dragon Eye━or this might be an entirely new species they've yet to discover. And a rogue someone with an obvious ledger had trained it and was riding it━never a good combination. "You guys," he turned back to the others, "you find anything else?"

     Astrid was peering into barrels and fish buckets. She pulled out a net that looked to once be full, "This ship has been stripped of everything valuable." She kicked a barrel along, if not a little frustrated by the situation. 

     "Which means whoever this person is," said Yrsa, pulling Hiccup back up onto his feet, "they're in need of supplies━maybe coin, food, that sort of thing..." she trailed off at the sound of scuffles and grunts.

     Hiccup arched a brow, and they all turned around to stare at the Twins who seemed to be fighting over ... something. They pushed and shoved, a hand each on the glinting object between them. It looked sharp━maybe made out of metal, but he couldn't get a good look at it. 

     Hearing nothing from the others━a complete, incredulous silence, the Twins froze. Mid-fight, they glanced over and Tuffnut quickly pulled away the object from their view, "Nothing over here," he said quickly. "Right, sis?"

    "Nope!" she agreed, still trying to grasp whatever he held. "No━thing━"

    "Zilch!" They stood shoulder-to-shoulder and hid the object behind their backs. Hiccup sighed. "Not a thing in the front, behind, or to either side of us..."

     Hiccup propped his hands on his hips. He darted his eyes down and could see the object perfectly; a long, slender barb of some sort grasped in Tuffnut's palm. It looked almost like a Nadder spine, but the colour was as grey as a winter ocean storm. "You know I can see that, don't you?"

     Tuffnut pursed his lips, caught out. He gave up, "All right!" he decided. "But we get to keep it!"

     "Yeah!" Ruff crossed her arms. "Finders keepers."

     Hiccup just walked up to them. There was no time for games such as these. As he did, Tuffnut went to finish the saying, "Losers ..." but he seemed to have forgotten. He brought out the barb and stared at it before shruggging, "Uh .. Losers don't get this 'cause it's way too cool for a loser."

     Fishlegs gasped in delight at the sight of it, "A barb!"

    "That looks like one of Stormfly's," muttered Astrid.

     "Which means the dragon we're looking for could belong to the Sharp Class. In fact, I'd bet my Meatlug on it!"

     The Gronckle let out a whine, horrified and Fishlegs quickly reassured her with a few hugs, "No, no, no! Don't worry, girl! It's just an expression, I'd never do that!"

     Hiccup reached the Twins. He held out a hand to the barb. Tuffnut glowered. "Uh ..." Hiccup carefully reached out to grasp it, but the younger Twin did not let go. Instead, he tugged it back and Hiccup stumbled a little, suprised. Annoyed, he pulled it his way just as harsh, "Tuff..." he warned.

    "No!" Tuffnut yanked it back. Hiccup pulled. It went back and forth for a little bit until Hiccup grasped it with his other hand. Tuffnut followed, settling his just above. Their hands climbed to the tip of the barb until Tuffnut fell for Hiccup's trap and went to place a hand on the tip only to be struck by the sharp needle in his palm.

    He screamed, falling back and clutching his hand. "Oh! Oh! I'm hurt, I am very much hurt!"

    Hiccup paid him no attention. He scowled at the barb, a million thoughts coming to his head, but they were all narrowing down to a single one. He held up the silver spine to the sunlight, "Are you guys thinking what I'm thinking?"

     Completely forgetting about his hand, Tuffnut jumped back onto his feet, "Ooh! Ooh! Good game, Hiccup!" he shuffled on his toes, eager. "You think of something, and then we'll try to guess what it is! And if we do, we get a prize. All right, think away, my good friend. And let the game begin."

     "Hmm, let me see," Snotlout tapped his helmet as if in thought. Then he grinned and pointed at the Twins, "I'm thinking you two are muttonheads!"

     "Yes!" declared Tuff. "I win!"

    Snotlout face-palmed. 

    Hiccup sighed and turned to Yrsa who came to stand beside him. He met her gaze, knowing he could rely on her at least to listen, "I was actually thinking, if we find the dragon, we find the rider. And ..." he showed her the barb. Yrsa gazed at it intently, "... I have a pretty good idea of how we can find the dragon."

◞ ★ ꒱꒱◜

    IT TOOK until the evening to finally get through Bucket's fearful screaming, ramblings and repetitive descriptions to come to an end result so accurative, it had sent the halfwit screaming to the Great Hall door. But, they had a visual description of the dragon; a drawing to go off as they searched the Dragon Eye. Hiccup woke everyone up (to which Snotlout was not happy about━as always) where he set up the barrel in front of the stone wall with Helrose's breath fanning his neck. Yrsa stood beside him, waiting patiently with the Dragon Eye. 

    "So," he said as he did, "I'm thinking, since Helrose is also a Sharp Class━" he gave the Dervish a scratch and she purred.

    "Her fire could possibly illuminate some information about this new dragon," finished Fishlegs. 

     Yrsa nodded, "All right." She set the Dragon Eye upon her new twin knives embedded into the barrel, tilting the antique upwards for the right angle. At Hiccup's nod, she signalled Helrose for a low-flame blast. The dark room lit up in the intense heat of the Devilish Dervish and Yrsa kept a hand on her dragon's scaly neck, murming, "That's it, girl ... just enough to light it up." She gave her a quick hug and scratch, to which Helrose was very happy with. 

    They all peered at the symbols illuminated onto the stone; a series of writings about the Dervish's sleeping patterns, mating rituals, feeding habits, amongst other things. 

    "Huh!" Fishlegs observed, eyes brightening in surprise. "Devilish Dervish ... I must've missed some of this the first time around. Uh━who has some chalk? I have to translate it."

     "Fishlegs," Hiccup chided, though interested, they needed to stay on track, "now's not the time." He switched the lenses around and the dragon switched.

     "Speed Stinger! One of my favourites━!"

     "You're favourites?" said Yrsa, dubious. "Seriously?"

     "━There's always so much more to learn," went on Fishlegs and Snotlout rolled his eyes. 

    "Oh, my Thor!" he sighed, exhausted at this point.

     Hiccup scratched his nose, "I━I━I know, Fishlegs," he tried to steer his friend along. "I got it. Later." He turned the lenses along for the final time before a dragon of similar size and appearance to the one Bucket had described showed itself. He grinned. "Yes━that's it!"

     "It's called a Razorwhip," Astrid quickly translated, eyes lit up with curiosity. 

    Hiccup sent her a small smile before nodding to his friend beside him, "Okay, Fishlegs. Do your thing."

     Fishlegs rubbed his hands together, excited and marched up to the light from the Dragon Eye. As he read, he translated: "Okay. Razorwhip. 'Sharp Class dragon. Long, spiny, barbed tail. Very aggressive. Very dangerous'."

     "Yeah!" scoffed Snotlout, rolling his yees. "We got that. Give us something new."

    Fishlegs shot him a glare, "You want to do this, Snotlout?"

    "Duh! I would!" Snotlout squinted his eyes to try and read the symbols. They all knew he had no idea, but he tried to play it off with another scoff, a shrug, and an indigiant cross of his arms. "But I'm just━you know━I don't feel like it right now."

     "Convenient," said Astrid sarcastically. 

    Fishlegs rolled his eyes, "Continuing on, this symbol indicates━" he pointed to what looked to be a person tied up in barbed ropes to which Hiccup assumed to be the dragon's tail, "━it can use its tail to wrap around a victim and literally squeeze the life out of them. Unless it's in a hurry. Then, it just slices you in half."

    "Oh, wonderful!" declared Yrsa, arms crossed.

    Beside her, the Twins were in love. 

    Tuffnut sighed dreamily, "Punch me," he told his sister, "because I must be dre━" she punched him without even needing to hear the rest of the sentence. He hit the ground and threw a dazed thumbs-up. 

     Yrsa turned her nose up at them, "Fishlegs," she turned her attention back to the Viking, "is there anything about it that won't kill us?"

    "How about its eyeballs?" suggested Ruff as her brother pushed himself back onto his feet, massaging a growing bruise to his jaw. 

     "Nope," Fishlegs shook his head. "Poisonous tears."

     "That's ridiculous," grumbled Yrsa. 

     "Poisonous?!" exclaimed Tuffnut. "I LOVE IT!"

     Before Yrsa could punch him this time, Hiccup held a hand out and quickly said, "Y━yeah, poison's━uh━fantastic. Fishlegs, anything that might help us locate it?"

    "Um ... 'Top speed, mating rituals, oral hygene, feeding habits━'"

    Hiccup stopped him right there, an idea coming to mind straight away, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait━go back to that one."

    "Oral hygene?"

    "No! Feeding habits. If we can figure out what this thing eats, then we might figure out where this thing eats."

    Fishlegs nodded and peered intently at the symbols. Then, he held up a finger in victory, "Ahah! Sea slugs!"

    Tuffnut squealed, jumping up so high he could've hit the axes of the old chieftains along the sides of the hall. "Sea slugs!" he screamed. "Where?! WHERE?!" his sister laughed and just tripped him over. He scrambled to latch onto her leg, eyes wide as he searched the Great Hall for any possible sea slugs. 

    Yrsa stared at him, annoyed, "How are you so stupid? Seriously?"

    "Yrsa," Hiccup sent her a look. She crossed her arms, but didn't lose her scowl.

    "It eats sea slugs," corrected Fishlegs. 

    "Slugs?" Tuffnut slowly let go of his sister's leg as he realised there were none around. "I hate those slimy monsters. They're just snails without homes! Giant homeless snails!"

     "We've come across a few islands that are crawling with sea slugs," said Hiccup. "Hopefully━" he turned the lenses and Helrose closed her maw, and the light dimmed to nothing, "━our Razorwhip is feeling hungry."

     "And hungry for sea slugs," added Astrid, "not Vikings."

     "Though, the option is still open for Snotlout."

     "Shut up, Yrsa!"

◞ ★ ꒱꒱◜

      DAYLIGHT broke through grey storm clouds like the gods presented them with only the breath of warmth out of keyhole spaces. Hiccup wondered whether they liked teasing them. They teased them with the taste of summer within long wet seasons and disaster winters. Winter in the Archipelago never really had a set placing in the year; instead, it lasted as long as the gods deemed it should. Whether that be half a year, or only three months. And usually, the end of the freeze brought only a slim time for Thawfest and Summer before they were met with rain, and more rain, and then winter storms again. 

     Hiccup has heard of places where it was always Summer━where the gods switched the odds around. Johann told him of a country very far South (so South that they often wondered whether it even existed, Johann was known for exaggerating tales), where Summer scorched great desert plains, red dirt and dry trees where it only snowed in the highest places and rained in the rainforests before storming nearly everywhere else. But when it was winter, it was cold in the way that snow should be around, and yet it wasn't━as if even snow avoided the horrific terrain. It made him sort of glad for the dreary weather of his home. 

     Even if they seemed to be stuck in this middle ground of wet, grey clouds that held back the sun━not raining, but also not clear skies. It made the ocean below grey and full of misery heading towards the shoreline of the island before them.This island was home to many dragons (including plenty of sea slugs), but Hiccup has never seen a Razorwhip there, and he had to admit, despite it sounding very dangerous, he was very excited. But it was the fifth island on their list, and it the luck in finding this dragon and its rogue rider was very low.

     But that didn't deter Fishlegs. "I have a good feeling about this island!" he said, grinning from Meatlug's saddle.

     Snotlout glared at him, "That's what you said about the last five islands!"

    "Hey! Is it my fault I'm an optimist? I'm a yak bladder half-full kind of guy."

     "I don't mean to burst your yak bladder," spoke up Astrid, spinning into place in between the two of them, "but has anyone considered what we will do if we actually find this Razorwhip?"

     "You can marry it," suggested Tuffnut, slumped in his saddle with a wistful look out towards the island. They all frowned at him, confused. 

     "And ..." Yrsa arched a brow at him, "what if Dagur's riding it?"

     Tuffnut sighed, "Well, then, Ruffnut can have him." His sister gaped, furious at this decision. "I admit, it will be complicated, but, I will one day learn to love him as my own."

     "Um, Tuffnut━"

    "Like a little babe," he continued, ignoring them, "a child that I carry in my arms ... But he's too heavy."

     Toothless warbled, glancing up at Hiccup incredulously. He gave him a scratch, agreeing before holding up his spyglass towards the island. He searched the rocks and cliffs until he saw it and he sat up in his saddle━a line of smoke drifiting up to the clouds: a fire. 

     "Guys!" he announced. He pointed. "Look! Smoke!"

     "A campfire!" said Yrsa.

     Tuffnut frowned. "Wait," he glanced at his sister, "this dragon builds campfires?"

     Yrsa gritted her teeth. She veered Helrose closer to Hiccup and Toothless, eyes cold as if considering the best way to knock the Twins off their saddles. "Give me the Twins Serve A Purpose speech again," she grumbled, "quickly. Before I seriously hurt them."

     Hiccup went to say that it was going to be okay, and she'll be fine, but Tuffnut made things worse by clapping his hands with an ignorant eagerness. "Yeah! I've only heard the Twins are Muttonheads speech, which is also very good."

     Yrsa glowered at him. Hiccup sighed, great. This was going to be a rather long day, he can already tell. "Oh gods ..." he urged Toothless onwards and called back to Yrsa who flew in beside him without hesitation. He wanted to keep her there, just incase she decided to attack the Twins when he wasn't looking, and the last thing Hiccup needed was Ruffnut and Tuffnut egging on her frustration. 

     The group of Dragon Riders sweeped the length of the island to the otherside, landing at a abandoned campsite. But whoever this person was, they hadn't been gone for long; the smoke still drifted and the embers were glowing, still warm. Astrid pointed to a set of barrels and weapons to the side, similar to the ones that were on the ship. 

    "Could be the loot from the ship," she said.

    "Yeah," agreed Hiccup. He noticed something else. He gestured to the set of rocks by the bottom of the cliff where some deep claw marks striked along the stone, "And these gashes look familiar. All right, gang, let's split up and search the island for our rogue rider and his Razorwhip. He can't be far away."

     "Or she," corrected Astrid before Stormfly launched up towards the caves. Hiccup rolled his eyes, good-natured. Or she, he added silently to himself. Of course. 

      While Astrid searched the caves, Yrsa took Helrose towards the forest down below. Snotlout headed to the South beach and the Twins took to the woodland on the East. Hiccup turned Toothless West while gesturing back at Fishlegs, "You and Meatlug stay here. Signal if they come back."

    Fishlegs sent a thumbs up, "You got it!"

     Hiccup nodded and set off West. He and Toothless followed the line of winding rivers, sweeping around and through the cavern with their eyes narrowed and ears peeled for any movement. He never expected Dagur to settle for anything other than a Skrill, but he was still on high alert. Though, if this was Dagur, he wondered what he was doing out here, and more importantly, alone. After raiding those ships at the Ship Graveyard, Hiccup wouldn't see why he'd feel reason to raid a fishing boat. But Hiccup would be lying if he wasn't used to strange surprises━

     Suddenly, Toothless flung out his wings and they halted midair. Hiccup clung on tight, confused. He heard his dragon emit a low, warning growl and he quickly jumped to be ready, eyes squinted as he searched the rocks and trees around them. "What is it, bud?" he murmured.

    Then, he saw it. The Razorwhip, and the rogue rider. Hiccup's eyes widened, and he was struck for a moment by how glorious the Sharp Class dragon looked in the ray of sunlight breeching through the grey clouds into the canyon. Grey scales shone like rich silver; glinting: each and every part of this dragon looked ready to kill. Sharp, dangerous and deadly. The rider on its back was unknown━their idenity shrouded underneath a black hood amongst iron armour over ragged tunic and pants. And yet, Hiccup felt something within him jolt, like he had met an old stranger who he should know.

     He pushed past it and whispered to Toothless so they wouldn't hear, "Nice work, Toothless!"

     But somehow, the Razorwhip heard them━or perhaps, they had been waiting. The dragon turned a poisonous green eye onto them and reared back. She roared before taking off, the Rogue Rider on her back.

     Hiccup gasped and wasted no time in squaring his body, "Let's get 'em, bud!"

     Toothless was fast━perhaps the fastest dragon so far. But with a head start, this Razorwhip was hard to catch. She and the rider were obviously experienced, swooping and twisting around trees and rocks. They sliced off branches as they went, trying to cut of Hiccup and Toothless. Hiccup had to duck and dive, spin and spiral last minute, his jaw clenched and his fingers rigid in his concentration. They even sent a small rockslide onto them━

    "Toothless, look out━!"

    Hiccup felt a little dizzy after manouvering around so many rocks, but they managed to get out on the other end, and with a frustrated curse, Hiccup clicked back Toothless's tail to go as fast as he dared in these narrow caverns.

    The Razorwhip and her rider disappeared around the corner. Hiccup leaned forward, trying to follow. He and Toothless swooped around only to see them come straight back the next way. They passed. Hiccup found his eyes wandering━he could see their eyes, just at the brim of their mask ... a green; a bright, brilliant and vibrant green.

     His heart raced. He's seen those eyes before━they're so familiar. Why are they so familiar?

    Toothless shrieked. Hiccup was jolted from his trance. His gaze snapped back forwards and he gasped, "Look out━!"

     Hiccup shielded himself low on the saddle as Toothless barrel rolled, shooting multiple blasts that shattered the wood of the three flinging straight towards them into pieces. 

     He was done playing this game.

     With gritted teeth, Hiccup pulled Toothless up and back. "Toothless!" he shouted, glaring after the Rogue Rider and their dragon. "Give me all you got!"

     The Night Fury didn't hesitate. They dived down and shot through the twists and turns of the canyon like an arrow from a bow string. One blast, two blasts━the rider dodged, but Hiccup could tell by the way they glanced back that they had gotten nervous. Hiccup waited or the right moment. As they passed near the canyon wall, he let out, "Toothless, now!"

     The shot from the stone rebounded a stun-hit to the Razorwhip's side. She and the rider toppled to the ground, hitting the rock, dazed. Hiccup landed a few metres away, glowering as he watched the Razorwhip snarl, immediately standing over her rider as they struggled to their feet. 

     As they tried to get back onto the dragon's back, Hiccup snapped, "I wouldn't do that if I were you." Toothless snarled and the stranger faltered. 

     Hiccup eyed them cautiously, ready for the next move.

     They glanced back at them, eyes low to hide their face, "I wouldn't, either," they said.

     Then, they revealed themselves.

     Hiccup gasped. 

     Those green eyes. He did know them. And he recognised that face, that hair, that voice━the braided black hair that dangled over the rider's shoulder and the horn at their hip.

     It was━

     "Heather?!" he breathed.

    (He definitely had not expected that).

◞ ★ ꒱꒱◜

    IT TOOK little persuasion to get Heather to come along to meet back up with the others, mainly because Hiccup wasn't giving her much choice. After they saved her parents from Outcast Island when she had come to Berk, determined to grab the Book of Dragons in exchange for their lives, Hiccup hasn't really heard from her, at all. For three years. And then suddenly here she was, with a dragon and destroying boats? It made him curious and concerned more than angry, but he couldn't exactly say the same for the others. They were a mess. Snotlout was drenched with water, the Twins were still knocked out, Yrsa was covered in mud, Astrid was glowering and Fishlegs was massaging a bruise on his jaw. 

     "You rolled me into a river!" cried Snotlout, furious. 

    "You trapped me in a cave!" seethed Astrid, hands on her hips. 

     "You knocked me into the mud!" snapped Yrsa, throwing her arms up in fury. "Do you know how long this will take to get out of my hair?! Are you kidding me?!"

     "You left me dangling in a tree!" continued Fishlegs, more upset than anything. 

     "And I have to admit," Astrid then crossed her arms, peering at Heather out of the corner of her eye, if not a bit impressed, "the chicken move? That brought back some memories."

     Heather pursed her lips, her gaze shooting to the ground, ashamed. Hiccup glanced at her, and quickly said, "You guys, now, I━I'm sure Heather has a really good reason for doing what she did." She didn't meet his gaze. "Right?"

     Yrsa scoffed, glaring like the sharp spines of a Dervish. "Sure she does," she said sarcastically. 

     Hiccup frowned at her. Not now, he told her. She just glowered back. Heather sighed, "Hiccup," she began, turning to face him finally, "I've been living on my own here for years and I've made more than a few enemies. I didn't want you guys to be involved. I needed to send you back to Berk."

     "Well, should've thought of that before you attacked one of our fishing boats," said Yrsa coolly. 

     "Yeah," agreed Snotlout. "You couldn't have just━oh, I don't know━said that?!"

     Heather spun to them, annoyed, "Would you have listened?"

    "She does have a point," muttered Astrid. "We are a stubborn group."

     "I would've left her," said Yrsa and Hiccup threw his hands up, exasperated. Did she really have to be like this right now? Hiccup wanted to help Heather, and for her to feel welcomed, and Yrsa was really going ahead and trying to do the exact opposite. It was like three years ago all over again, and this time, Heather wasn't liasoning with the Outcasts to save her parents, she was just standing here. And sure, she had knocked them from their dragons, but for defence, and Hiccup knew that Yrsa wasn't angry for that reason. And he also knew what exact reason it was, and it made him want to snap at her in real anger━for the first time in a while, and that only made him more livid. 

     But he tried not to show it for Heather's sake. He took a calming breath and smiled at her gently, ignoring the way Yrsa rolled her eyes, "Whatever problems you have, whatever enemies you've made, we can help. You don't have to be out here anymore."

    Heather shook her head. "Hiccup, please," she sounded desperate, "just let this go."

    But she was right━he was very stubborn. "We━we have a base not far from here," he urged, trying to persuade her. Heather sighed, slumping. "Why don't you come back with us? Nothing permanent. We'll get you some provisions and catch up. You can see how you like it?" He smiled at her, and so did the others, aside from Yrsa, who just scowled.

     And Ruffnut, but she was too busy dragging her still unconscious brother towards them. She set him against one of the trees as he stirred. Heather's Razorwhip leaned down near him, sniffing at his state as he opened dazed eyes. 

     His eyes widened, "Whoa ..." he breathed, gazing at the dragon. "Razorwhip━this is the best dream ever ..." he reached out to pet her, and she purred, nuzzing into his palm. Tuffnut still thought he was dreaming. "It's like ... it's like I can reach out and touch it." Then he realised and gasped. "I can reach out and touch it!" he scrambled onto his feet and gave her a hug. He ran his hands along her scales, walking by her neck. "Cold ... scaly ..." he then took off his helmet. "I, Tuffnut Thorston, take thee, Razorwhip whatever your last name is, insert it here, to me by━oh! Hey, Heather."

     She had walked up to him, very amused. "What are you doing in my dream?" asked Tuffnut. "At my wedding? I didn't put you on the list."

     Heather chuckled, "You're not dreaming, Tuff."

     He frowned at her, "Oh ..." it slowly hit him. "Huh ... in that case ..." then, he screamed and started to run, "RAZORWHIP ATTACK! RUN!"

     Heather laughed and Hiccup smiled. It was good to see her again, despite the situation. He walked up to her and she said to him, smiling, "I see nothing has changed." 

     "Yep," laughed Hiccup, "same story, different year."

     Yrsa scoffed and spun on her feet moodily, "I can't deal with this," and stormed off towards Toothless and Helrose. 

      Hiccup watched her go, and his smile dropped a little. Heather noticed and murmured, "She still doesn't like me, does she?"

     Hiccup wanted to meet her gaze, sheepish, but his eyes were fixed on Yrsa's back, and the way she rubbed Toothless's scales, leaning simoultaneously against Helrose. She always made sure that she treated them equally. If she had a hand on one, she always had a hand on the other. She was caring, and thoughtful, and compassionate ... just ... not to everyone else. 

     "She ..." he didn't know what to say, or whether he should make up excuses. Hiccup shouldn't make up excuses for her behaviour, and yet he always did, because he knew she was at a constant war within herself. He knew she didn't want to hate Heather, but it was like a natural defence mechanism, like a dragon would snarl whenever someone they didn't know got too close. 

     That was when an idea struck him. He turned to Heather, not realising she held quite the knowing look upon her face as she watched the way he gazed at Yrsa. "Come back to Dragon's Edge," Hiccup said, pleading this time. "Just for a little bit. If you talk to Yrsa, and just get past her mean comments, I think you guys might actually get along. All she thinks of was what happened three years ago, and she's stuck on that. But if she gets to know you, and you get to know her ..."

     He meant it. Heather and Yrsa were very similar━more similar than Yrsa might want to admit. 

     Heather thought about it. Then, she smiled at him, "You really care about her, don't you?"

     Hiccup blanched, "W━what? What?" he found himself growing hot. Heather watched him, green eyes sparkling in amusement. "I━I━don't━I━I mean, I do, of course, I do━that's not what I meant━I just━she's━um━she's a really good friend."

     Heather scoffed, "Friend," she said the word like it was the most hilarious thing she's ever heard. "Sure. I just don't understand how you manage to ..."

     She didn't need to finish it, Hiccup knew what she meant. He answered softly, eyes fixed back on Yrsa as she picked at the mud angrily within her curls. "She's not this person━I mean, she is, she's not nice, at all, but she's also ... she also is. She's one of the most thoughtful and loving people I know. She just feels like she needs to hide it. I just wish she didn't feel like she had to."

     Heather arched a brow, "Yeah, friends," she muttered. Hiccup shot her a playful glare. She just smiled and said, "I know what that's like," she nodded to Yrsa, a look of understanding washing over her mature features. "I really do ..." Taking a deep breath, Heather nodded again to herself. "I'll come to Dragon's Edge. Just temporarily."

     And Hiccup grinned so wide his cheeks hurt. "You're gonna love it!"

◞ ★ ꒱꒱◜

      AS SOON as the returned to the Outpost, Heather and her Razorwhip, Windshear, were bombarded with questions from the gang. As Hiccup expected, Yrsa sat away, just listening while she combed through her damp hair, the mud finally out. Hiccup found himself sitting down beside her, and could feel her annoyance and anger radiating off her like a bonfire.

     They sat in silence for a long while, just listening to Heather explain how she found Windshear, her and Astrid working together to trip over Snotlout and the Twins begging to ride her dragon. 

     Then, Hiccup plucked up the courage to say to Yrsa, "They tripped over Snotlout."

     She hummed, still combing her hair. "That's what he gets for not understanding boundaries."

     He frowned at her. "Yrsa," he whispered, "Heather isn't out to get us━and even then, she was trying to protect her parents."

     "I know that," Yrsa replied back in the same soft tone, except it was harsher on her tongue. "But I don't forgive her for the way she made me and Astrid feel alone and like we were going crazy. Or the way she manipulated you."

      Hiccup sighed, "It's been three years, Yrs ... and Heather didn't want to do any of it. She just wanted to help her family."

     "And now, she's destroying boats," Yrsa set down her comb to meet his gaze, stern. "She destroyed Mulch and Bucket's ship with no consideration to whether they'd drown or survive. Don't you see that?" she didn't let him finish. "Wait, of course you don't, you just see perfect Heather who can't do anything wrong. You all do."

     Hiccup set his jaw, "And you just search to see everything to hate about a person."

     Yrsa's eyes widened, a mix of shock and then anger coming over her dark brown eyes, "I'm sorry━?"

      "How did you train a Razorwhip?" Fishlegs spoke up before she could finish, and their attention returned to the conversation. Yrsa went back to angrily bushing her hair, Hiccup clenched his hands, hating how another conversaton was turning into an agrument (they always were these days). "It's incredible!"

     "Actually," said Heather, smiling a little nervously, "I owe a lot to you guys."

     They were all pleasantly surprised. Astrid's face lit up, "To us?" she gestured to herself, a smile growing onto her face.

     Snotlout struggled back onto his feet, fixing his helmet. "To me," he said. Astrid's smile dropped. "She meant to me. I mean, how much more obvious can she be?" he sighed, shaking his head. "Women. I totally understand them━wahh!" he was knocked back to the ground by the tail of Windshear. Heather smirked, giving the dragon a grateful scratch. 

     "When I found Windshear," began Heather, "she'd been hurt in a fight with a Typhoomerang. Windshear held her own, didn't you, girl?" she hugged her dragon at that, and the Razorwhip purred, closing her eyes. "But she needed to be nursed back to health. And when she as better, I used the training you guys taught me back on Berk. We've become the perfect team!" she stepped out and showed a determined fist, grinning. Hiccup was taken aback by it. "We're unstoppable. I mean, look at her! No one can take us down. And if they try, then they'll be sorry for it!"

     The tone of her voice ... Hiccup didn't like that tone. It wasn't the one he was used to with Heather. Awkwardly, he glanced at Yrsa beside him, who was already locked in his gaze. She arched a thick brow to say, listening to me now? Hiccup pursed his lips. He still wanted to give Heather the benefit of the doubt; he will because he trusted her. He knew Heather. If he went around assuming the worst out of everything, then Hiccup wouldn't be sitting here, right now, at Yrsa's side giving her the benefit of the doubt because he knew her. But what she said about the ship, and the tone to Heather's voice right now, it didn't settle well within him.

     "Ha!" Snotlout pointed a finger at Heather, determined to one-up her. "I guess she's pretty cool, but not as cool as this! HOOKFANG!" the Monstrous Nightmare jolted awake from the deck outside. "Flame up!"

     At the command, Hookfang took to the air. He hovered inches above the ground and lit his scales from head to tail in bright, red-hot fire. Snotlout crossed his arms, very proud of himself. Heather just battered her eyes.

     "That's cute," she said, patronising. "Windshear, tail slice!" she pointed to the wooden floor where Snotlout was standing.

     His smirk dropped, "Oh, gods━"

     In a flash of silver, the wood around Snotlout was sliced; an exact circle that creaked before it broke away. They heard his screams until he managed to grab onto a support beam beneath them, humiliated. "Okay," they heared him call up, "we'll call it a draw."

     "Whoa!" grinned Fishlegs. "What else can she do?"

    Heather propped her hands on her hips, happy for the attention, "Her breath can burn the flesh off a human from one hundred feet way!"

    "Is anyone gonna get me out of here?" called Snotlout again.

    He was ignored.

    Heather continued, "One single blade of her tail is as deadly as the sharpest battle axe!" To show her point, Windshear sprung out the spines on her tail just as Snotlout managed to pull himself up. He screeched and dropped back down. The Twins raced over with more questions, Fishlegs was enamoured and Astrid rushed over to where Hiccup and Yrsa sat to say:

    "Great having Heather back, huh?" she smirked. "She's so ... I don't know ..."

     "Annoying?" offered Yrsa. "Smug? Suspicious?"

     "No, intense!" corrected Astrid. "Hardcore! I love it!"

     Hiccup scratched the back of his neck, watching Heather warily. "Yeah, yeah," he agreed, careful. "It's great. She's ... definitely grown up since the last time we saw her."

     "Hiccup," said Astrid, "it's been three years. We were just kids. We've all grown up."

     "Yeah, but━" he glanced anxiously at Yrsa. She was listening, even if she didn't show it, "━she was so sweet, and now she's so━I don't know ..."

     "Edgy?" finished Astrid, frowning. "What's wrong with that? I like it."

      Hiccup sighed, and decided to give up on his pride to actually agree with Yrsa despite how mean she had been. "Astrid, there's edgy and then there's destroying ships. Which, I still need to ask her about."

      If Yrsa was smug, she didn't show it. She just started to braid her hair nonchalantly. 

     "Well," said Astrid, "do me a favour and wait until after I ask her about her battle axe? I want her to show me how to make one for myself."

     They all glanced at the girl as she brought out what seemed to be a single bladed weapon, until she spun it and it expanded to a menacing, double-bladed battle axe. She fought of the Twins easily, knocking them aside with a enthralled laugh. 

     "See?" grinned Astrid. "Hardcore!" then, she grabbed her own axe to join the battle, screaming.

     It wasn't until Astrid was gone that Yrsa muttered, "See my point?"

     Hiccup eyed her, annoyed, "Yes," he said, stiff. "But I know Heather, okay? She's better than this. There has to be a reason..." he kept going before he lost the courage, standing up to frown at Yrsa, "... and if I just gave up and didn't read past the lines into something; just settled for the surface, Yrs, then I don't think we would have ever been friends in the first place, either."

     And with that said, he left before he could see the look on her face. If he had, he might've seen the guilt in her eyes, and the revelation wash across her face that almost disguised the hurt. 

     But Yrsa was right about one thing. There was something going on with Heather, and Hiccup needed to figure out what. 

◞ ★ ꒱꒱◜

     a/n: yes, i know, i technically cut the episode off short, but while this is long, i didn't want the chapter to be too long. next chapter it practically takes off from where we left just from yrsa's point of view so don't worry. sorry it took a while to get this out ahaha. 

     also, heather knows all bahaha

     i hate when hiccup and yrsa fight it hurts my soul but they both need the development. 

    (also rip yrsa's pride for the first quarter of this chapter). 

    hope you guys liked the chapter!! so sorry if there are mistakes, and i hope i see you guys sooner next time lol. 

    and i'm going to be truthful with you guys. like seriously truthful, and you can come at me if you want, but i actually really did not like heather until season 3. she just got on my nerves. like, i got her character, right? i understood why she did what she did in riders of berk, and in season one, but it just grated on me. then in season two she was so brave to go undercover, but she really didn't understand how obvious it was that she could be the spy (she has a dragon and working with hunters? like??? hello???), and then she fell into viggo's trap and made such a rookie mistake i thought she'd totally see through, then got captured in a way that she knew wouldn't end well for her or windshear. like, yeah, i get it, she wanted to fix her mistakes and stuff ... but i dunno, i like her now. I actually love her now, but for up until season 3 i just ... i didn't hate her, she just annoyed me so much. 

    but we're good now. she grew on me.