𖣯 ✹ 🌷(makligr) ꏍ ！┈─❟
╰───►chapter eleven; yrsa
❝ family ties! ❞

YRSA STARED at the opposite wall from her bed. She hasn't moved since she came here from the Club House, going over Hiccup's words again and again until they were a loop that didn't make her angry anymore, except just confused. Yrsa didn't know what to think anymore, she didn't know what he had meant.

Things were complicated between them back on Berk; they always had been. But since they left and came to Dragon's Edge, it was as if all those complicated feelings just grew. Everything that made them want to work, and yet everything that wouldn't let them work was becoming overbearing. Yrsa felt as if her feelings had doubled, and yet so had her anger, and her frustration, and the part of her that wondered whether all of it was worth it. All of the pain, and all of the arguments, all of the moments she felt like she was never going to be good enough for someone who acted like he didn't have faults and problems himself. But their faults always used to even out. Yrsa always used to think that Hiccup made her selfless, and kind, and that she made him confident, and driven enough to take a step towards responsibility. That they saw the best in each other and that was supposed to be how those things work.

But now, they were older, things were different, and it was as if that side of their complicated friendship was left on Berk. And now that they were here, something else had surfaced; maybe something that had always been there, but only just finally boiled to its point. The truth as to why it's been three years of waiting; three years of hoping and receiving absolutely nothing.

Yrsa was really scared to know what that truth might be.

She sighed, placing her head in her hands. Looking back up, she settled her gaze on one of her father's carvings, set beside the new twin daggers Hiccup made for her━the little ingravings matched almost perfectly.

"Hey, Yrsa! Check this out ..." Yrsa had no time to fix her position when Snotlout burst through the door, grinning like the usual maniac. She froze, breath hitched with teary eyes, heart thundering as she thought of all the terrible things that could happen. She was so vulnerable here━Snotlout could just go and use that against her. But he just frowned, slowly coming to realisation that she was upset. "Whoa ... Yrsa, you okay?"

"Don't you know how to knock?!" she snapped, quickly pressing her palms against her eyes to stop the tears. "Thor, Snotlout━have some manners! You just barge into anything! Get out!"

He didn't move. Snotlout shuffled awkwardly. He glanced back at the door as if thinking about it, but in the end, he decided to stay there. Yrsa glared at him, furious, "What are you doing?" she seethed. "Get out!"

Snotlout turned up his nose at her face, "Have you been crying?"

"No," said Yrsa defensively. "I━I'm just tired."

"You were crying."

"I was not crying! Do you ever listen?" Yrsa gestured wildly to her door. "I told you to leave!"

Snotlout still stayed in that spot. "I didn't know you could cry."

"Just because I don't cry around you doesn't mean I can't," replied Yrsa angrily, standing up and turning away to glower at her bedposts. "I just like to sort out my problems by myself."

There was silence. But Yrsa could still feel Snotlout's presence, and it annoyed her. Why wasn't he leaving?!

Then, he said hesitantly, "You want to talk about it?"

At this, Yrsa spun on her heel to face him, "No, of course, I don't want to talk about it! Especially to you! You completely humiliated me on Berk today in that stupid dragon costume, and you don't have any boundaries whatsoever it's almost creepy. Not to mention you're a complete idiot and sucker that you don't take anything seirously so no, why would I even consider wanting to talk about anything to you?!"

Snotlout stared at her, a little taken aback. He pursed his lips and shuffled backwards, finally looking away with what Yrsa was shocked to see almost be hurt. It made her frown, slumping as she realised what she said. She meant it, she did, but that didn't change the sudden flash of guilt she felt.

It made her bottom lip tremble and a short sob escape her throat. Turning away again, Yrsa sat back down on her bed and brought her head to her hands again, not finding herself even able to look at Snotlout. "I'm sorry," she found herself saying, suprising even her. "I'm sorry ... you're ... you're just trying to be nice for once."

Yrsa started to cry━something she never thought she'd do in front of someone else. But she couldn't help it. She just ... she just wished she was so much better. She wished she was kind, and trusting, and the perfect person Hiccup would actually like back; instead, all she's done is just prove to him time and time again that she hasn't changed. That she was just mean, and horrible.

She heard Snotlout awkwardly walk up to her. He didn't say anything. There was a shuffle, then she felt his hand on her shoulder. "Um," said Snotlout finally, "it's okay?"

"No it's not," sobbed Yrsa into her hands. "I'm a horrible person. Even Hiccup thinks it. I can't even be nice to Heather who's been alone for three years because I'm so untrusting!"

"What?" Snotlout made a noise of disbelief. He pulled away his hand and decided to sit next to her. Yrsa felt the weight change on the wood. "No, he doesn't. Sure, you're really mean sometimes, but that doesn't mean Hiccup━or any of us━think you're a horrible person."

Yrsa looked up at those words, confused. Sniffling, she frowned at Snotlout beside her, "You don't?"

He shook his head. Yrsa tilted her head ... she never realised Snotlout could be such a comforting presence and listener. It was so different to how he was on the daily. But then again, who Yrsa was underneath all of her iron walls, was as different to how she always is, as well.

"Look," offered Snotlout, "I'm sorry about the dragon costume thing."

Yrsa arched a dubious brow.

"Okay," backtracked the Jorgenson, "not really sorry. But, I promise, no more dragon costume whenever we make a bet ... or just no dragon costume on Berk."

Yrsa shook her head, managing a chuckle. It was probably the best Snotlout could give, and so she nodded. "Deal," she stated and Snotlout gave her a small smile. In seeing it, Yrsa sighed and did something she's never done with him before ... Yrsa found herself opening up. "Hiccup told me that if he wasn't so trusting, we probably would have never been friends. And ... and I don't know what that means. Everything ... everything is just so complicated between us right now."

Snotlout rolled his eyes at this, "Ugh! You guys are so annoying sometimes. Yrsa does this, Hiccup does that, Yrsa thinks this, Hiccup thinks that━" he made a different voice for each. He even shook his shoulders when he put on his best impression of Hiccup. It made Yrsa laugh at the accuracy. "Maybe you guys just need to take a break from all of that stuff. It's obviously not working right now."

"He's my best friend, Snotlout," said Yrsa. "I don't want to ruin that over this. But he just ... he thinks he can do no wrong and it's like all I ever do is wrong."

"It's because he's the chief's son."

Yrsa made a loud nose of agreement, "Oh, my gods! It so is!" she gestured to Snotlout as he nodded vigoriously. "I mean━he has everything! I can't ever get him a gift, I can't ever vent about not growing up with fleece blankets and embroided tunics! I mean, he isn't perfect. He get's way to fixated on things."

"Yeah, definitely," snorted the young man beside her, "dragons this! Dragons that! Oh, what was that Snotlout? Oh, yeah, sorry, talk later I'm making a new tail for Toothless."

"Toothless has fifteen different tails!" laughed Yrsa. Snotlout joined in.

Then, like that, Yrsa stopped, eyes widening as she realised what just happened. "Oh, my gods," she made a face, suddenly disgusted. "I think we just bonded."

Snotlout pointed at her, "Can't take it back."

"Ew!" instead exclaimed Yrsa, hands flying to her hair. "Get out!"

"Can't take it back!" sang Snotlout as he stood up, almost skipping towards the door. "You secretly love me!"

"Get out, you idiot!" snapped Yrsa, but there was less aggression to it. In fact, her furious tone was laced with amusement; and as Snotlout shouted: 'YRSA LIKES ME!' to the whole Outpost, she just rolled her eyes, chuckling to herself.

"WE HAD A WHOLE CONVERSATION!" he went on as he left, running along the wooden planks towards the clubhouse. "ASTRID, I WANT THAT TWENTY MACKEREL!"

"I DON'T LIKE YOU!" Yrsa shouted after him, not admitting that somehow, Snotlout had made her feel listened to, and better.

Falling into silence with herself, Yrsa thought over what Snotlout had said. For once in his life, he had made sense; he said something sensible. Maybe he was right: maybe Yrsa and Hiccup did need a break from each other, just to figure things out. Yrsa knows there's definitely things she needs to figure out; by herself, on her own accord without pressure, or constantly feeling like she was chasing him across the open skies attatched to a very thin chord. Yrsa needed to detatch herself. She needed to let him run, and she needed to ground herself. Perhaps she had begun to rely on Hiccup a little bit too much.

Yrsa had the impulse to find Heather and talk. Not because of him━not because she felt pressured and like she had to, but because Yrsa wanted to. She'd never admit Snotlout inspired her towards something, gave her an insight into what she really wanted, but he had, and now Yrsa found herself wanting to give Heather a chance.

She got up and stepped out into the night, heading for the stables. She had a feeling Heather would be there; she had seen her leave the clubhouse not long ago, and Yrsa knew that if she needed a place to be alone with her dragon at night, she'd go to the stables, too.

Yrsa travelled down the ramp and ladders, making it to the stables with many possible conversation starters going through her head. Hello, I'm sorry for being mean, or, Hi, Heather, how are you? Though she was sure all of them were going to end badly. Heather didn't owe her any kindness; she never did. Yrsa had never once been welcoming to her at all.

But as she reached the stables, she knew something was off. First, Windshear was nowhere around. Second, Yrsa noticed the locks on their dragons' stalls. Her heart suddenly raced and she ran to Helrose who was walking around in a distressed circle, which was the final sign to let Yrsa know something was wrong.

"It's okay, girl," she said, trying to soothe her as she grabbed her key and unlocked the stall. She opened the door and Helrose immediately rushed forward for comfort. Yrsa wrapped her arms around her neck, "It's okay, it's okay. What happened? Where's ...?"

Yrsa realised, and she cursed. "Come on, girl━" she mounted her dragon and took off out of the open stable doors towards Hiccup's hut. Landing outside in seconds, she rushed inside, calling: "Hiccup? Hiccup, where are you━we need to talk! Hiccup!"

There was no answer. Toothless's bed was cold, which told her they hadn't even retired like Hiccup said they would. Yrsa clenched her fists, realising that wherever Heather went, Hiccup had followed her.

◞ ★ ꒱꒱◜

YRSA GLOWERED at Heather the next morning. Arms crossed, jaw set, she watched her awkwardly hang her bag on the edge of the chair in the clubhouse. She had locked up their dragons, left to attack Dagur's ships, almost getting captured, and the only reason she was okay was because Hiccup had followed, possibly even risking Dagur getting an idea of their location. Heather eyed them all sheepishly, fiddling with the bottom of her braid. When she got to Yrsa, she adverted her gaze quickly.

"Look," she began into the tense silence, "I'm sorry I locked up your dragons. I just ... I just didn't trust that you guys would let me go after Dagur."

"You're right," grumbled Yrsa, "we wouldn't. Because it's stupid and it's reckless."

"Yrsa," Hiccup muttered to her which set her off even more.

"What?" she demanded, and his eyes widened at the anger she suddenly threw onto him. "What, Hiccup? She locked up our dragons. She risked herself, her dragon, and our location. She should be thanking you for being there when she needed you."

"Trust does need to be earned with people and dragons," spoke up Fishlegs and Yrsa stared at him in disbelief.

Heather smiled at him, "Thanks for understanding, Fishlegs."

He grinned, happy and Yrsa shook her head. "Oh, my gods," she threw her gaze up to the ceiling, unable to believe this. "Is that it? Are we just forgiving her?"

"You know what, Yrsa?" Heather scowled at her and she matched it with what she hoped was a scarier one. "You don't know me, okay? And I don't know you. So I don't trust you, and I can take care of myself. I also don't need your forgiveness."

"You can take care of yourself?" Yrsa scoffed. "Dagur had you and Windshear suspended in chains! He was going to grab you━can't you just admit that you did the wrong thing?"

"Can't you just be nice and understanding for once in your life?!" snapped back Heather.

Yrsa bit back on her tongue, hating how the Twins whistled lowly and Astrid shared a quick glance with Hiccup. Fishlegs shuffled on his feet and Snotlout nodded, liking this very much. Hiccup's eyes darted back and forth between the two of them, not sure what to do. When he left Yrsa's side towards Heather, she rolled her eyes again.

"Look," he tried, gentle, "the point is, we have your back, Heather." He sent a pointed look towards Yrsa. "All of us. You're one of us, okay?"

Seeing the way Yrsa glowered at the floor, Astrid carefully approached her, discreetly rubbing her back. Yrsa didn't respond. She just kept her mouth shut and continued to glare, going over her conversation with Snotlout again and again in her head.

"Yeah," Fishlegs was saying, agreeing with Hiccup, "I stocked Windhsear's stable with buckets of sea slugs."

Snotlout growled at him for that, immediately stepping up and offering with a boastful bow towards Heather, "And I made room for you in my hut."

Hiccup scowled back at him, "And I've made it clear to Snotlout that you're not staying in his hut. You can stay in Yrsa's, she has plenty of room."

At the same time, both Yrsa and Heather exclaimed, "What?!"

"Yeah," said Hiccup. He met Yrsa's gaze again, stern as if daring her to argue. It turned into a tense glaring match━something that happened alot between them, daring the other constantly. Yrsa clenched her hands, refusing to back down.

In the awkward silence, Tuffnut muttered to his sister, "Even though Heather was the rogue dragon rider, and she sabotaged our dragons, and snuck away in the night━hang on," he backtracked, frowning to himself. "Yrsa's right, why do we like you again?"

Heather's gaze dropped. Ashamed, she turned to Tuffnut, "I'm truly sorry, Tuffnut," she said.

He gasped and stumbled back, "Whoa!" he held his heart, starting to breathe heavily. "That was ... that was sincere. What am I supposed to do with that? I━I'm feeling a little bit flushed a━and overwhelmed━little help here? People!"

Meanwhile, Yrsa and Hiccup were still having their glaring match. In the end, Yrsa had gritted her teeth and pushed down her pride to state, "Fine! Come on, Heather."

She didn't wait for a response, and instead stormed right out of the Club House. It wasn't long before Heather caught up, their dragons following quietly behind them. Not that they had any conversation either. Yrsa refused to say anything. She was angry; at Heather, at Hiccup, at Fishlegs, and everything (the usual). She didn't even look at the woman beside her, marching up to her hut and throwing open the door, not offering Heather to come in first.

"I'll get you some wool blankets," Yrsa finally said as she did. "Actually, just have mine, whatever━" she grabbed hers and threw them at Heather who only just caught them, annoyed. "There's room over there━" she pointed to the corner near her bench of strange animal-shaped bowls she kept on buying from Johann's ship. For no other reason than they were really weird.

Heather hovered by the space, looking a little confused. She frowned at her bowls, and her small weapons on the wall adjacent, then to the drawings on top of the height adjustable table Hiccup made for her, all the wooden toys, proper weapons, everything Yrsa collected of her father's, from Johann's ship, that she found, or that Hiccup made her. Her entire hut was filled with everything; no real organisation. It was just her━the her she liked to hide, and Heather seemed astounded by the fact Yrsa's hut wasn't filled with deadly traps, torture cages and a basement to throw her in.

"What?" said Yrsa, finding a spare bed roll.

"Nothing," replied Heather quickly. "Just ... it's not what I expected. You ... you have━are those sea shells?"

"Yes," she grumbled, dropping the bedroll down beside Heather. "And those are shiny rocks from the lagoon here. And those are weird bowls from Johann's boat, get over it."

"You collect shiny rocks."

Yrsa spun to glower at her, "You have something to say to me, Heather? Because pretty sure you said everything in the clubhouse, and have definitely caused enough trouble. I don't want you here━I don't like anyone in here, but I'm doing this for Hiccup, however much it annoys me, so, just set up your bed and go talk to Astrid, or something, she's happy to see her; she missed you."

Heather dropped the blankets down, "I don't want to be here either! You think I want to listen to you put me down constantly because you're jealous and super insecure?"

"I'm not inscure━!"

"I want to be out there again after Dagur," snapped Heather, "but I'm not. I'm here for Hiccup, too, so at least we have something in common."

"You're not here for Hiccup," scoffed Yrsa, trying to hide how her jealously boiled at that because she didn't want to give Heather any satisfaction to being right. "All you've done is lied to him. He's really trusting, and you proved him wrong. You just take advantage of that."

"I don't take advantage of him," said Heather angrily. "If anyone does it's you. You expect him to be on your side constantly and when he isn't, you make him feel guilty over it."

"Oh, and suddenly you know everything about me and Hiccup?" Yrsa jabbed a finger at her. "You don't know anything about me, Heather."

"All right!" she threw her hands up, exasperated.

"Fine!" Yrsa added, determined to have the last word.

The two of them gave each other a final glare before spinning on their feet towards opposite sides of the room. Yrsa sat down on her bed, annoyed she didn't have anything to do aside from keeping Heather company. It was like Hiccup planned this, and that only angered her more.

More to herself than anyone else, Yrsa muttered, "I can't believe I wanted to apologise to you yesterday."

Heather's eyes widened. She glanced briefly back over to Yrsa before quickly looking away. She took a sharp breath through her nose. "I was wrong," she decided to say.

Yrsa arched a brow, confused.

Heather sighed and admitted, "You were right. What I did was stupid and reckless, and I put Windshear in danger. If Hiccup hadn't followed us, I don't know where I'd be. So, yeah, you were right, and I was wrong. You happy?"

For some reason, Yrsa wasn't. She clenched her jaw, looking down at her fingers. Feeling as though she was supposed to say something in reponse, Yrsa sighed and threw her head back, muttering a reluctant, "I am mean sometimes, you're right. And I'm not trusting. But ... that's because I care about these guys, even if some of them might not care about me. Especially Hiccup. So, yeah, we're both right and wrong about things."

Heather nodded. Another awkward silence settled. Her gaze drifted towards the bowls on the bench beside her, "So ... the bowls━?"

"They're interesting, okay?" let out Yrsa before she could stop herself. "They're interesting, and they come in different colours and I just like them, okay? What's wrong with that."

"Nothing," assured Heather, holding up her hands in surrender. "Odin, you're defensive."

"For good reason," responded Yrsa stiffly.

Heather tilted her head at her. Instead of asking why, like Yrsa expected her to, she instead settled for, "I think the bowls are cool. And those drawings are good. Is that ... is that you━?" she pointed up to one of the charcoal drawings Hiccup had done of Yrsa in the forge when she wasn't looking.

"Yeah," muttered Yrsa, still very defensive. "Hiccup did that."

"Hiccup," repeated Heather knowingly. "Did Hiccup draw the others, too?"

"Not all of them," said Yrsa, awkwardly pointing to the ones of Toothless closer to her. "I━I did those ones."

"Right," nodded Heather. "So ... you and Hiccup━"

"No," Yrsa cut her off before she tried. "We're not going there."

"Okay," she crouched down to fix up her bed. They didn't say anything more.

◞ ★ ꒱꒱◜

YRSA STAYED behind when Heather decided to meet up with Astrid to see the Edge, and Yrsa knew she was glad about the offer. Her and Astrid got along really well, but Yrsa refused to get jealous over another relationship. She knew she made things difficult, and Heather was just perfect in every single way she couldn't be.

Helrose kept staring up at her from where she was curled up on the floor, knowing she was upset. She gave her a concerned whine and Yrsa fell back on her bed, sighing as she stared up at the ceiling. Snotlout's words went over in her mind; over and over, and Yrsa still didn't know what to do. She didn't want to make a mistake and regret it━to accidentally mess up one of the only good friendships she's ever had in her life. Mess up a chance with maybe the one person Yrsa actually saw herself spending the rest of her life with.

But maybe it just wasn't meant to be the way she wanted, and Yrsa respected herself far too much to let herself continue playing this game that left her constantly dry.

She didn't know when it was the right time to say anything; especially with Heather here. She was scared━very scared ... Yrsa didn't know what to do ... or maybe she didn't even know what she wanted anymore.

She just knew she needed to figure things out, and she didn't need someone to tell her how to do it, even if they meant it out of the kindest part of their heart.

But the gods seemed to play her story to their amusement. As if they heard their thoughts, Yrsa heard a knock on her door and the warble of a familiar Night Fury.

"Yrsa?" Hiccup called, uncertain. "I ... I know you might be angry with me, but ... but I just really need to talk to you right now."

Yrsa sat up, tempted to say no. But she shook that out of her and replied, "Yeah, come in ..."

The door carefully moved, and Hiccup peered a cautious head inside. He met her gaze, and Yrsa wondered whether he could see the severity of what was going on through her mind just by her eyes. "Hey," he started, slipping inside.

"Hey," she answered, soft and pained.

Hiccup glanced over and saw Heather's bed roll set up. Heather had left pretty quickly after their conversation and so Yrsa had made it herself, even if she hated herself for it. Hiccup seemed to know exactly what she had done without her saying anything. He smiled a little, though it didn't meet his eyes.

"You angry at me?" he decided to ask.

Yrsa didn't lie. She nodded.

Hiccup sighed. He nodded, too. He glanced down at the bag he brought with him where his hand grasped something inside. Then, he pulled his hand out and closed it. "I guess I'm a little angry at you, too..."

"I know," she said.

"Heather did the wrong thing," he went on. "You're right about that. But ... we have to help her, not push her away, and by doing that we need to get her to trust us."

Yrsa frowned slightly at him, "Why do I feel like you're saying that to remind yourself?"

Hiccup looked away, setting his jaw. Yrsa's shoulders slumped a little, her gaze dropping to the floor as well. Just say it, she told herself. She took another deep breath and turned so she could face him, "Hiccup, I need to tell you something."

He closed his eyes, as if he already know, "Yrsa, can we please not do this right now?"

She shook her head, "No, we need to do it━"

"No, because I just━" Hiccup clenched his fist, "━there's something happening━"

"━otherwise we'll never talk about it━"

"━and I really need you━"

"━and I really need to talk about this."

They both fell silent in realising they finished at the same time. Yrsa and Hiccup watched each other. Something felt off ... almost like they were attending the wake to whatever they were. Yrsa needed to say goodbye to it.

In the silence that followed, she decided to stand up and walk up to him. "Can I go first?"

Hiccup went to say something, but then, he sighed and nodded. "Okay," he murmured. "Yeah, go ahead."

Yrsa clenched and unclenched her hands, already feeling a lump in her throat as she mustered up the courage to tell Hiccup what she had been mulling over all day. She wondered how they got here, and what changed. But things have changed, and Yrsa couldn't go on any longer the way they were.

So, closing her eyes, she let it all out, "I think we should step away from each other for a little bit."

For a moment afterwards, she kept her eyes closed, scared to see Hiccup's reaction. When Yrsa didn't hear anything, she slowly opened them, and something inside her broke to see the look on his face. Whatever he expected her to say, it wasn't that.

"W ... what?" Hiccup managed, searching her gaze━he didn't want to believe what she said. He wanted to her to tell him she didn't mean it, that she was playing some cruel joke. But Yrsa wasn't. She meant it. She really, really did. Realising she wasn't taking it back, Hiccup tilted his head, something crossing his eyes that almost looked like what Yrsa imagined to be heartbreak. His brows furrowed, "What?" he repeated.

Yrsa's throat started to really ache right now; so much she wondered whether she'd even be able to talk. But she managed to force out, "Hiccup, I━"

"Is this over Heather?" he stepped back a little, incredulous. "Is━is this seriously over Heather?"

Yrsa clenched her eyes shut for a second, "No," she said. "I━I mean, yes, but━"

"But what?" Hiccup shook his head, confused.

"I don't know!" let out Yrsa, exasperated. The anger she thought she'd feel didn't come. Instead, all she felt was exhaustion. "I don't know, Hiccup, okay? I haven't known anything for three years! I have been on this stupid edge waiting for you to make up your stupid mind on us, and you haven't. You make me think like we'd never work, and then you'd be there for me, and make it seem as if you still like me, and then we argue and make everything worse."

Hiccup's brows lifted again, the frown rising from his face to be replaced with a breath of realisation.

Yrsa crossed her arms, as if that was supposed to protect her from the pain she knew she was going to feel. "I don't know. Am I not good enough? Am I not worth it? Are you ashamed of me? Because you're not perfect either, okay? You can do things wrong━a lot wrong."

"I don't think you're not good enough━" tried Hiccup but Yrsa shook her head.

"Then why do you make me feel like you do?" she countered. "Why do you tell me off, why do you push me around, why do you order me me like you're better than me? I thought we decided long ago that we're equals."

"Because we are," argued Hiccup. "Yrsa, I trust you more than anyone else━I rely on you. I'm not trying to push you to do anything! I just don't agree with how you treat the others, especially when you tell me that you don't want to be like that. I know you're kind, and I know you're compassionate, and I know you're not the person you make yourself out to be and I'm just trying to help━"

"Help?" Yrsa felt that anger rise now. "Help me? That's what you think you're doing? Hiccup, I'm not━" she jabbed a finger at his chest, "━I'm not something for you to fix like Toothless's tail. I'm also not just━I'm also not just someone you can━I don't know━plan to have around when you need to talk after you say things to me like you did last night. I'm here for you. I will always be here for you. But I need space right now. I need to figure things out by myself. Not with you overlooking me, or planning who sleeps in my hut━" she gestured towards Heather's bed roll. "I am my own person. I have the ability to work on myself because I want to, not because you tell me to. And Snotlout is right━" Hiccup made a face at that, confused that Yrsa actually talked to him, and if this was another time, Yrsa would agree with him, but right now, she was not happy, at all, "━maybe us━this, whatever it is━is not working out. So, yeah, I think we need to take a step back from each other. And I think you need it, too, because if you rely only on me, and not yourself?" Yrsa arched a brow at him, seeing the way he hung his head, listening, "Then you need some things to work out, as well. We both need things to work out that we can't do together."

Head still hanging, Hiccup nodded. Yrsa grew tearful to see something wet on his cheek.

It was a horrible silence, and Yrsa realised that this hadn't been the wake ... Yrsa had arrived right at the funeral.

"Right," said Hiccup finally. Yrsa nodded, taking a deep breath to keep her tears at bay. She heard Helrose and Toothless share a low warble, understanding exactly what had happened. Yrsa expected him to say something else, but Hiccup just stepped back, and back again ... until he turned on his heels and started towards the door.

She frowned, confused, "Wait ... where are you going?"

Hiccup met her gaze, eyes a little distant. "Well, you said yourself, right? Take a step back. I'm heading to Berk for a little bit."

"Why?"

"I need to talk to my dad," he muttered. "I think ... I think Heather is my sister."

Yrsa's eyes widened. She didn't know what to say; everything she might've just exhaled in a shocked breath. That had been what he come to talk to her about? She was the first one he thought of? Hiccup gave her a final sad look, "See you soon, Yrs ... or ... or whenever you're ready. You know where to find me."

He left her hut after that. Toothless followed him, giving Yrsa a final glance, stopping at the door.

She pursed her lips, gaze turning blurry, "It's okay, bud," she croaked. "I━I'm okay. You ... you go look after him."

Toothless warbled, but he dipped his head, leaving her be with Helrose. As soon as she was alone with her dragon, Yrsa brought her hands to her head, covering them as she broke down into tears right then and there.

◞ ★ ꒱꒱◜

SHE WAS determined to keep her mind off what had happened, leaving her hut to work with the others. Silent, as usual, but Fishlegs, Snotlout and the Twins could tell something wasn't right with Yrsa. She wasn't irritable, she wasn't angry, she wasn't judgy, she just looked lonely━she looked like she didn't even have the energy to find something to judge them about, at all. Yrsa kept to herself, not sure whether Hiccup wanted the others to know why he went to Berk, and she didn't want to say anything about what happened, either. She knew it was for the best, but it still hurt.

But ... it wasn't like they weren't friends anymore, right? They were still friends. Yrsa told him: she'll always be there for him, she just didn't want to wait for something that didn't seem to be coming, at all.

They were adding some extra new renovations to the Edge. They built more barriers for dragon training in the arena, gathered the wood for some more lookouts with that new large spy glass Hiccup made, as well as this pulley ascending wood thing (that they needed to find a better name for) to get quicker access up to the Club House when they didn't have their dragons.

Helrose was very worried for Yrsa. She crooned, dipped her neck down, peering at her out of one, gentle eye. "I'm okay, girl," she told her every time the Dervish did. "I did the right thing. This is good for both of us."

It was strange, she felt like she was explaining to her daughter why she and her father aren't together anymore.

The only one brave enough to approach Yrsa━or perhaps the most stupid━was Snotlout. However, he had a feeling he knew exactly what had happened. He tried to show it off as nothing, and deep down, Yrsa actually appreciated it. He just leant up against the side of the arena, arm up as if he was going to flirt with her.

"So," he started as she dropped some wooden logs in a pile to be shaved down later. "Let me guess ... you talked to him?"

Yrsa nodded, glancing briefly back at the others. They weren't paying attention, but she was sure soon enough the Twins will begin to watch, begging for Snotlout to get his behind smacked with Helrose's razor-sharp tail. "Yeah, I did," she murmured, running a hand down her dragon's scales. Snotlout nodded. "I don't ... I don't know what happens now."

"You're still friends, right?" asked Snotlout, suddenly very worried. "Because━like━if you're not friends, that's it, we're all doomed. You guys are like our parents━"

"Gross," Yrsa butted in before he'd go any further. "Yes, we're still friends ... at least, I think. I just ..." she sighed, pursing her lips, "What if ... what if I made a mistake, Snotlout?"

He arched a brow. Then, Snotlout pointed to himself. "You're━you're asking me for advice?"

Yrsa nodded.

Snotlout looked sick for a moment. "Wow ..." he fell back against the stone of the arena foundations. "I ... I don't know how I feel about this..."

"If you try to flirt with me," Yrsa grumbled, "then I will hit you and never talk to you again."

He winked at her, "You know it, babe━ow! Okay! Okay!" Yrsa gave him another shove for good measure. "Look," then said Snotlout, holding up his hands for her to back off, "you did what you did, it's happened now. Might as well see what happens. It could be good. It could be bad. Just deal with it when you get there."

Yrsa frowned at him, "I never thought you'd actually be good at listening and giving advice, Snotlout. It's weird. It sorta freaks me out."

Snotlout just shrugged, "I get it from my mum. My dad would just say, get over it, boyo!"

She made a face at that. No one liked Spitelout. "Maybe you should listen to your mother more, Snotlout."

Their conversation ended rather quickly when the silhouette's of Astrid, Heather and their dragons returned in the skyline. They looked to be in a hurry, and it was only moments before they both landed in the arena. Yrsa crossed her arms, suddenly quite suspicious of the way Heather gripped her axe and Astrid marched up to them, demanding for them all to meet up with her.

"What happened?" asked Yrsa, confused but also on alert.

Astrid quickly explained where she and Heather had been. Yrsa's brows shot up when she mentioned Johann, and how Heather had been talking to him this entire time, getting knowledge on Dagur and Berserker ships for raids. Before she could say anything, Heather stepped in and ordered:

"We gotta go now! Dagur won't be out in the open for long."

"Hold on," Yrsa held a hand up and Heather rolled her eyes. "You just come here, and order us around like that? You want us to go to battle with Dagur and the Berserkers with little plan, little organisation, and without Hiccup's approval?"

Astrid pursed her lips. In the way she crossed her arms, Yrsa knew she agreed, but didn't want to say anything with Heather beside her. This was reckless━but Heather was great at that, apparently.

"Yrsa," Heather stepped forward towards her, "I wish Hiccup and Toothless were here, trust me━"

"No━"

"━but they're not," she ignored her and continued. "And we can't wait."

"Yes, we can," argued Yrsa. "There is no stragety to this. We can't just attack Dagur. That risks our location, it risks us getting captured, and right now, we're still working on proper defences here at the Edge. Not only can't we risk an attack at the Outpost here, but we can't risk Dagur retaliating at Berk━which, he knows the exact location of. And they're without trained dragon riders at this moment."

Heather frowned at her, "So, you're against this?"

"Thor, yes, I am!" said Yrsa. "And I'm sure Hiccup would be, too."

She set her jaw. Heather looked so angry━furious about all of this. She had a personal vandetta against Dagur, and Yrsa didn't know what. But what she did know, was that these sort of things made people irrational, and Heather cannot let herself fall into that. It will only get her hurt, or even worse, killed. "You're being a coward," she told her.

"No," Yrsa tried not to lose her anger, doing her best to keep a level head. "I am being smart. You are being irrational, and that's not brave, that's just stupid."

Heather clenched her hands, gaze shooting to Astrid. Yrsa saw desperation flicker across her green eyes. Her own brows lifted with sudden sympathy ... what had Dagur done to her? "Just ... please, Yrsa, hear me out. Dagur's ships have dragon-proof chains and grappling hooks, and the ships he's buying are more powerful."

"That's ..." Yrsa frowned, "that's not really helping your cause, Heather ..."

"But," went on the warrior, "with all of us attacking at once, he won't know what hit him."

"Even with all of us attacking, we have one long range dragon," Yrsa pointed out, "and that's Meatlug."

Meatlug whined at her, offended. Fishlegs gasped and quickly reassured her with a hug and a squeeze, "It's okay, girl, you're still our favourite."

"No offense, Meatlug ..." added Yrsa, "... but she's a Gronckle, she needs boulders from catapults to fire. So, that's basically the rest of us attacking in the range of those grappling hooks, arrows and dragon proof chains. It's not going to work. We would need Hiccup and Toothless for that."

Heather glanced at the others for help. Astrid sighed, agreeing with Yrsa. Even Fishlegs made a nervous noise of disagreement, "Yrsa's right, Heather ... any aerial assualt of this magnitude would be foolish without Toothless. He's the most powerful dragon in our arsenal." Meatlug slumped down at him, horrified. Fishlegs rushed to hug her again. "Meatlug, you're always my favourite girl, okay?"

"Well," Snotlout crossed his arms, puffing out his chest, "it's not like we need Hiccup and Toothless."

Both Yrsa and Astrid scowled at him. Instantly, he back tracked, "But it's nice to know that we have a Night Fury when things get hairy."

Heather couldn't believe this. She spun onto Astrid again, begging, "You heard Johann, Astrid! This is our last chance! Tell them."

Astrid hesitated. Yrsa watched her best friend drop her gaze, unsure on what to say. It angered her she was put in this situation, because despite everything she said, and portrayed herself to be, Astrid hated hurting others. She hated picking sides. "Well ... Look, Heather━"

But her friend didn't let her finish. Heather's eyes widened, "You, too?" she scoffed. Stepping back, Heather shook her head. Then, she set her jaw, hiding the hurt in her eyes to snap, "Just forget it."

"Hey," Yrsa tried to stand up for Astrid. "Heather, that's not fair━"

"All that stuff about trust?" continued Heather, livid now. "And having my back? I guess that was just talk." With that said, she spun on her feet and stormed over to Windshear, the two of them leaving the arena.

Astrid watched her go, defeated.

The others looked away━anywhere but the fight that just happened before them. But Snotlout just laughed, "Haha! Awkward!"

Yrsa shot him a glare that shut him up. She walked up to her friend, and despite her dislike for Heather, she squeezed Astrid's shoulder.

"She's going to go after Dagur no matter what," sighed Astrid. "You know that."

"I do know that," agreed Yrsa. Then, she sighed, clenching her eyes shut, "Which is why I'm already regretting saying this, but ... we need to go with her."

The others gasped, not expecting it. Tuffnut's hands flew to his heart, then his face, and then his helmet. "No!" he cried, horrified. "Who are you and what have you done with our Yrsa?!"

"Your Yrsa?" she spun back to him, incredulous. Yrsa stopped herself before she'd get distracted, "Actually, nope, not going to ask. Look, Heather's going to get herself hurt, and we can't let that happen."

Astrid smiled at Yrsa, proud. "Let's do this," she decided.

They all caught up with Heather just before she was about to leave. She glanced over her shoulder from Windshear, surprised to see them all waiting for her at the stable doors with their weapons, dragons and ready to go. Her eyes lit up, grateful, and Astrid gave her a smirk.

"If we're gonna do this," then said Yrsa, "it has to be a capture mission, okay? Not a kill mission."

Heather frowned at her, confused, "Why are you coming?"

She ignored the hostility, feeling as though she probably deserved it. "Because Hiccup was right," said Yrsa, genuine. Heather's frown turned gentle, taken aback by the kindness to her tone, "you are one of us, and we don't let fellow Dragon Riders go into a suicide mission alone. Even if it is completely stupid, and reckless, and not at all thought through━"

Surprisingly, Heather chuckled, "Thanks, Yrsa. Really. And ... and I'm sorry for what I've said about you."

"Yeah, me too," Yrsa shrugged. "So, we got a deal?"

Heather nodded. "Deal. We'll sink Dagur's armada and drag him back to Outcast Island. Let him rot there."

"Okay," said Astrid, finding this satisfactory. "Then we're with you."

"You can thank me!" butted in Snotlout and the girls all rolled their eyes simultaneously. "I was the one who rallied these guys."

"Well," Fishlegs tried to hide his laughter, "that really wasn't my recollection━"

"Quiet, Fishlegs!"

"As soon as she left," went on the pudgy Viking, smug, "your lips started to do that cute little quiver thing━" he leaned forward to immitate Snotlout and the Jorgenson slammed his foot down.

"Quiet!" he snapped again. "That's a tic! It's━it's a tic when I'm about to fight!"

"All right, Heather," Yrsa cut them off, not wanting to deal with this right now, "do you know where Dagur is?"

She showed her a map, smirking, "Exactly."

"Good," Yrsa swiped it out of her hands, "then you won't need this." Grabbing one of her twin knives Hiccup gave her, she unrolled the map and pinned it right up against the stable doors with the dagger tip. "Now, Hiccup will be able to find us."

"So, what's your plan?" Astrid asked Heather.

Heather mounted Windshear, determined, "Hit him when he leasts expects it."

That wasn't a plan, but Yrsa guesses she'll take it.

◞ ★ ꒱꒱◜

THIS TIME, Heather discussed the plan with the entire group. Fishlegs, Snotlout and the Twins would stay up in the air out of range to distract Dagur and his men, who were on the front boat separated from the rest of the small fleet. While they were occupied, Yrsa, Astrid and Heather would sneak onboard from behind, aiming for a surprise attack to which they'll take out the Berserker's on board before Dagur could notice. Then, they'd take him before they'd be outnumbered, returning him to Outcast prison.

It was a pretty solid plan, Yrsa had to be honest. Heather knew better when she wasn't overshadowed by her anger; most of this plan was her idea.

Quiet, careful not to make even a single sound, Yrsa, Astrid and Heather climbed off their dragon's backs clawed to the hull at the stern of the boat. Sharing a nod amongst the explosions of fire hitting water, chains missing by miles and arrows whizzing past their friends, the three girls crawled up the wood.

Reaching the tip, they shared another look. Astrid motioned a countdown before they'd peer over. When she reached zero, the three of them carefully rose their heads. In seeing one Berserker leave the facilities, they ducked back down so quick Yrsa recieved a small head rush. They listened to his humming and footsteps before they checked again.

Yrsa glanced around. Seeing the coast was clear, she signalled to Heather and Astrid before leading the way onto the boat. Her feet were softer than a Speed Stinger's when she touched the wood, carefully regaining her balance.

She saw Dagur frowning up at their friends at the stem, and she quickly ducked behind a barrel when he glanced back. Heather and Astrid found their own hiding places, holding their breaths until Dagur turned back around. Yrsa watched a Viking make his way over, holding a barrel of supplies. She waited for the right moment before stepping out.

He spun to her, shocked. He dropped the barrel, hitching a strangled gasp. Yrsa grinned and sent him a sly wave, "Nice surprise face."

He didn't see Heather come up behind him until it was too late. She smacked the hilt of her double-bladed contractable axe across his head and he fell to the ground, unconscious. Yrsa bounced her brows, impressed. Heather shrugged. "That was all right," decided Yrsa.

Heather smirked, "I'll take the compliment."

"Nice!" Astrid joined them, congragulating in a whisper and they all shared a quick bump against their arm guards and furs. "I call dibs on the next one, okay?"

"You go for it," grinned Heather and they crept up along the boat.

Their next victim manned the chains. He struggled to pull them back at the winch, and he didn't notice the three girls sneaking up behind him. Mischevious and with an idea, Astrid carefully snagged a wicker basket, holding it up over her head. Waiting for the right moment, she leapt up and brought it down onto his head. He froze, startled. Not wasting a second, Heather crouched and took out his legs.

And the thud! of him hitting overboard hard, the girls gasped and ducked down behind the barrels and crates to their left before Dagur could see them. Yrsa heard his confused murmurs, before he growled in frusration and stormed up towards his weapons, still glaring at the others above.

"That was close," whispered Yrsa.

Her eyes widened to see a third Viking pass them, carrying rock weights for bolas. He hadn't seen them yet, and the three girls just stared, hearts pounding. When he saw them, it was a moment of bewildered silence. His eyes darted back and forth behind his helmet visor, slowly coming to the realisation that they were not supposed to be here.

Yrsa awkwardly raised a hand for a hello.

At this, he dropped the weights. With a growl, he charged forward to attack━

Until a long, slender barbed tail swiped in and wrapped him up tight; so tight he couldn't even shout for help. Heather grinned, victorious for Windshear as she threw the final Berserker into the water. The girls stayed hidden for a few more seconds, knowing full well Dagur would have heard the splash.

Yrsa heard him pick up the chain, "What is going on?!" he exclaimed, incredulous. It was almost funny, if his footsteps weren't getting closer. She clenched her fists, preparing to attack, but Fishlegs had their backs from above. Meatlug sent a molten spew to the water with such impact, it rocked the boat, and Dagur spun back around, furious. "Oh, COME ON, ALREADY!"

Astrid nodded to them, letting them know, now's our chance.

And like that, the three girls got to their feet. Yrsa spun her axe and as Dagur swung back the chain to throw, she met the hook halfway, securing it at the base of her blade and hilt. She tugged to stop the momentum, and Dagur faltered.

"Oh no," he realised and yelped when Yrsa tugged again, satisfied to see him hit his back hard on the deck at her feet. He glanced up. In seeing her, his brows bounced, "Oh, hi, Yrsa. How's the sea fairing?"

Heather kicked him onto his stomach and grappled for his hands, tying them up with rope. Dagur struggled, grumbling many incoherent curses. "What are you doing?" He then said, louder. He forced himself back onto his back. Heather leered over him, eyes dark with fury. Dagur's face dropped to a matching glower━so matching, it startled Yrsa for a moment. Their eyes were both a venomous green. "You, too?"

"And me," Astrid pointed her axe at him threateningly.

"Don't forget Astrid," pointed out Yrsa. "Otherwise you might lose your head."

"Surprise, Dagur," smirked Heather, frighteningly smug.

"Three axes?" Astrid pulled hers back, grinning over at Yrsa. "Are better than one."

"Better than two," added Heather.

Yrsa's brows lifted as she realised what they meant. She smiled a little.

"And twelve ships," countered Dagur, "trumps three axes."

Yrsa chuckled. Dagur frowned at it. "What?" he demanded. "What's so funny."

She whistled, and at her side in seconds, Helrose, Stormfly and Windshear flared their wings, emitting low, threatening growls.

Dagur's shocked look turned blank, "I should have seen that coming."

Yrsa joined Astrid and Heather on the other side, propping a hand on her hip and her axe over her shoulder. She met Astrid's glance, and they exchanged a little proud grin.

Then, everything went downhill.

At a sudden change of heart, Heather's gaze snapped up to her dragon, "Windshear!" she demanded. "Finish it!"

Yrsa's stomach dropped. "What?" she let out, confused.

Windshear roared, flinging up her tail. The slender mercury scales armed themselves with barbs under the second. Astrid gasped, horrified, "No! Heather!" she cried. "Don't! You promised us a capture mission!"

But that look in Heather's eyes? It scared Yrsa. It had no room for negotiation, no room for thought━it was pure wrath, pure vengeance, pure beserk. "Sorry, Astrid," spat Heather, digging her blade further under Dagur's chin. He gasped, inching as far as he could away. "I changed my mind."

"Heather, don't do this," Yrsa warned. "This was not the plan."

"Dagur didn't capture my village," snapped Heather, giving her a harsh glare. Yrsa's breath hitched as she finally understood━realised what Dagur had done. She felt sick at the thought. "So," Heather set her gaze back onto the Berserker Chief, "this ends here."

But before she could command Windshear to strike, Dagur let out a deranged laugh. "Ha━ha!" he cried, finding this moment glorious. "If you kill me, Heather, you'll never know━"

She shut him up with a scrunched ball of fabric. She shoved it into his mouth. "Save it for the gods," she sneered. "Windshear!"

Yrsa had to do something. She had to stop this. But as Windshear sprung up her tail yet again, she found herself unable to move, stunned with this information. Dagur had destroyed her entire village━killed her family, her friends, her home ... no wonder she had been so desperate, so furious, so reckless. No wonder she wanted her revenge.

Heather stood back. Nodding to her dragon, Yrsa hated the smirk upon her face. Windshear shrieked, she went to bring her barbed tail down━

"STOP!"

The purple blast of a Night Fury made Windshear stumble. Her bards jetted back in as she cried out, startled. They all gasped, craning their necks up as Hiccup leapt up to stand on Toothless's back, diving down at full speed to the ship. As Toothless landed, Hiccup grabbed the rope of the sail to keep his momentum, landing perfectly at Heather's side.

"Move, Hiccup!" she shouted, shoving him away.

"You don't understand!" he tried, frantic.

"You promised me there would be another time," said Heather, fuelled with an estranged anger, "and this is it!"

"Look," Hiccup reached for his bag, pulling out a ornate horn. "You told me your father gave you this."

Heather's anger faltered momentarily in a flicker of confusion. "H━he did, but what are you doing?"

"This is my father's Chief Seal."

It hit her, and Heather stumbled, her gasp so high in the back of her throat it made no sound. Astrid glanced at Yrsa, stunned.

Fingers trembling, Heather reached out for her horn. "Stoick's seal is carved in my horn? What ... what are you saying?!"

Hiccup stepped closer, breathing heavily, "I'm saying that years ago, Stoick gave this horn to the Chief of the Berserker Tribe, Oswald the Agreeable, as a gift for his newborn daughter."

Heather shrunk up, all of it slowly coming to her. "B━But━"

"You were that newborn, Heather," said Hiccup. "Oswald the Agreeable is your father. And ..." he glanced down at Dagur on the deck, hesitant for his next words. But at the look on Heather's face, Yrsa had a feeling she already knew, she just refused to admit it, "... he is also Dagur's father ..."

But hearing it, it made her drop. Heather crumpled, the horn falling from her grasp as she hit the deck, horrified and pale. She stared at Dagur the Deranged, her brother, with a gaping mouth that could produce no words, green eyes that matched his brimming with tears.

"Heather," Hiccup didn't seem to know whether to crouch down with her, or stay standing, "Dagur is your brother. You can't kill him."

Heather didn't respond. It was like she was frozen with ice; she couldn't move, she couldn't speak ... her shock was ice-cold, shattering; broke every bone in her body until she could no longer function.

The boat suddenly jerked. Yrsa gasped, quickly gathering her strength to stay standing as catapults launched and struck nearby. The water crashed against the hulm, sending the barge tipping. Other boulders soared up to the others still in the sky, who desperately spun out of the way. The other ships had managed to get into range; they had run out of time.

"It's the rest of Dagur's ships!" announced Astrid, running to the edge to check the number.

Up above, Snotlout desperately tried to dodge. In retaliation, Hookfang sent a column blast that soared off course, straight to the ship they stood on right now.

"Look out!" cried Yrsa, tugging Hiccup down as the flames struck, burning at the hulm instantly. The ship tilted yet again, already gaining water below. Ships arrived. Planks were slammed down for boarding. Men readied to charge. They had no time. They needed to get out of here, now.

"Heather," Hiccup surged forward away from Yrsa. She tried to not let it hurt at this moment, "we have to go."

She didn't get up. She didn't move. Heather looked as though everything that once mattered, now held nothing. She was just an empty shell.

Dagur had managed to get to his feet. With a yell, he ripped the ropes off his hands. Yrsa stiffened, gripping her axe tight once again. He just chuckled at her, "I have to admit," the crazed chief set his gaze on Hiccup, "you never disappoint, brother. Or, maybe you're actually my uncle," Dagur tapped his chin, amused. "Who knows in this crazy world?"

He cackled, and cackled, and cackled━and then, he stopped; instantly, like he had never laughed in the first place. Yrsa stepped back closer to Astrid. Dagur joked, and he laughed, and he seemed so idiotic that sometimes, Yrsa forgot just how dangerous he was. She forgot that he lived up to what they called him: the Deranged. In moments like these, she had a gut-twisting reminder.

     At the first Berserker breaching onto the boarding planks near Yrsa, Helrose roared. Toothless bared his teeth, readying a blast as Yrsa reached for her dragon's saddle. Helrose dipped her head and she climbed on. Beside her, Astrid followed her example, fixing herself on Stormfly's back and sending a volley of spikes to set the Berserker's back. "Heather," she called to her friend, wary, "we really should go."

    "Heather," Dagur walked up to her frail, crumpled figure. She watched him approach, making no move to run, "I'm the only family you've got left."

     Toothless quickly intercepted, landing in front of Heather with a deadly snarl that made Dagur take a few steps back.

     "Join me, sister," he didn't stop despite it, putting on his infamous, devilish grin. He held his hand out to Heather. "Don't fight destiny! I know you feel the Berserker blood flowing through your veins."

     More men jumped up onto the board, kicking away Stormfly's spines. Yrsa gritted her teeth and guided Helrose over. She blocked the bath, her Devilish Dervish bellowing in terrifying fury. She swung her tail. The men ducked. A few jumped off and into the water. Behind her, Heather had finally gotten to her feet. For a terrible moment, Yrsa thought she'd listen to Dagur. She thought she'd take his outstretched hand, no matter what horrible things he had done, and turn on them. For a horrifying moment, she smiled, and she looked as though she already did.

     Then, Heather spun out her axe. Dagur frowned, taken aback. With a holler, Heather charged. Her brother cried out, but she didn't go for him. She jammed her blade into the wood of the deck, and leapt into the air. Twisting her body, she pulled her weapon free and landed, perfectly, onto Windshear's waiting back.

     "What are you doing?!" screamed Dagur.

     Heather didn't say anything. She sent him a terrifying glare before Windshear took off. They didn't wait for the rest of them, already racing towards the horizon back to Dragon's Edge.

◞ ★ ꒱꒱◜

     HEATHER DECIDED to leave. Yrsa knew Astrid was upset. She was happy with Yrsa around, of course, but it was great to have someone else around, and in the past two days, Yrsa started to realise that in a way, Heather wasn't as bad as she had been so determined to think. They weren't friends, no, but maybe one day, they might be. Right now, they respected each other, and Yrsa believed that to be a good start.

     Fishlegs had decided to cook everyone dinner tonight, which they all looked forward to. He was a fantastic cook. But when Hiccup didn't show, Yrsa pursed her lips and decided to grab a serving of soup and bring it down to him herself. Despite what she said, she did mean when she told him she'd still be there for him, no matter what. But just as friends. Only friends, for now. Except, this time, Yrsa wasn't too sure whether she had started something, or ruined it.

      She found him exactly where she expected. He sat at the edge of the landing deck outside the stables, staring out up at the stars, and Yrsa wondered whether he had even left since Heather said goodbye.

     Yrsa took a deep breath, "Hey," she spoke up.

     He glanced back. She expected him not to smile. Hiccup saw the bowl of soup that was a little cold now, but still okay enough. Then, he looked back out at the horizon. Yrsa sighed and walked up to him, sitting down at his side without permission. Eyeing him out of the corner of her eye, she passed him his dinner and frowned at the hair in his face.

     "You really need to braid some of your hair, Hiccup," she said softly. "Otherwise soon, you won't be able to see where you're flying."

     He took the bowl. "So, we're talking, are we?"

     She scowled at his tone, "I said I needed to take a step back, I didn't say I'd stop being your friend."

     Hiccup didn't say anything. He picked at the wooden spoon, scooping around some of the soup. Yrsa sighed, looking out as well. Her legs swung a little over the side. "You frustrate me so much sometimes, you know that?"

     The chief's son set down the soup, "Yeah, well, you drive me crazy often. I wasn't controlling you, Yrsa, I was being a team leader. And ... and I was trying to be your friend. I wanted you to be comfortable."

     "Yeah, well, I want to figure how to be comfortable on my own accord," Yrsa said sternly.

     They fell into that uncomfortable silence again.

     Then, Hiccup closed his eyes and slumped. Sighing out, he whispered, "I think ... part of me is upset Heather isn't my sister. I don't know why ... I just ... I guess for that short moment where I thought she was, I had been excited: that I wouldn't feel as alone."

     Yrsa's annoyance turned to a gentle understanding. "I know ... but you're not alone, Hiccup. You got all of us ... and you still have me. I'm always going to be your friend, okay?"

     After that, she decided to stand up, leaving him to himself to think things out. But this time, as she walked away, she didn't look back. Because if Yrsa looked back, she'd knew she'd take back everything she said. And she couldn't. Yrsa made a decision. And she'll keep her head forward.

     From now on, Yrsa was determined to never look back.

◞ ★ ꒱꒱◜

     a/n: omg such a long chapter sorry not sorry. It has a lOT of important moments, especially for hiccup and yrsa *cries*

     trust me, they need this. they need to focus on themselves better than they were before they can come back together as equals. It still hurts tho ...

     hope you guys liked the chapter!!! (Even if it is super long). I'll see you guys soon in the next 💕