I hate titles I regret not doing chapter numbers

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Astrid's father was going to be fine, although it was probable that he may walk with a limp now because of the damage done to his right foot. It wasn't enough to amputate it and deal with those consequences, but Gothi said that her herbs might not be able to fully heal the burns. He was lucky that he had been on the edge of the blast and the flaming debris had only done what it did, rather than one of the lives it took of those who were on the ships when the queen blasted them. The Hoffersons honestly weren't too bothered by the news and thanked Gothi and Gobber for coming to help. 

Afterward over dinner Astrid had told her parents about the argument at the well. Her father had laughed at the request while her mother frowned disapprovingly at Stoick's actions. It was well known that the Hoffersons and Jorgensons disliked each other's brains and very rarely got along. Snotlout was no exception; he was smitten the first time he saw Astrid but never was able to get it through his head that the Hofferson girl was way out of his league in brain, will, and fight power. Her parents were certain if Stoick were serious about this then he would come with Snotlout and Spitelout to offer again.

Currently, Astrid was in the "Astrid clearing;" the grove of trees that she often practiced her axe skills- also known as the place where Astrid destroys trees in anger or irritation. Currently the latter. 

UGGGGGGHHHHH why did all this have to happen? I should have stayed with him; I should have left... 

The forest seemed lonesome without the russet-haired boy wandering through it. Astrid remembered even before Toothless that if Hiccup wasn't in the forge with Gobber then he was at the gods' hands in the woods somewhere. 

Astrid was still flustered and aggravated from yesterday, not to mention that she hadn't slept well because of some insistent Terror that decided it was a good night to annoy the village with just its call. Half of the village was running on half a night's sleep over two days and what felt like three extra days of exhilaration and battle, so if a deliriously angry Mulch wasn't your cup of tea then it would be better to be like Astrid and spend your day decimating trees that did nothing to you. 

Astrid's axe swings were perfect as they cut through the young saplings that barely had a chance to grow before the silver edge sliced them cleanly in half. Unfortunately, having Astrid's level of perfection meant that training (tree butchering) wasn't as much of a stress release as it was before. 

I can't BELIEVE Stoick would ask me to date Snotlout! He's seen firsthand how he acts and how I retaliate! 

Least to say the shield maiden was offended. 

She had thought the chief and her were on pretty stable, positive terms as chief and warrior subject. As by far the best fighter of the newest generation of warriors, she would have thought there would have been something to come of that. 

But now everything she thought to be normal was thrown out the window; dragons are friends, Hiccup was incredible, Snotlout is next in line to be chief, and Stoick wants her to be the next chief's wife to keep him out of trouble. 

Was Stoick just waiting for Hiccup to die then, so Snotlout could be somewhat of the heir he wanted? Was Stoick just waiting for the right moment to play his hand in all this? Have the Jorgensons been guiding this in their direction all along? 

The Jorgensons were egoistic and thick-skulled, but also could be deviously cunning. Snotlout had plotted enough times to nearly kiss Astrid, so she should know. It wouldn't be passed Spitelout to have somehow set some of this up or taken advantage of the moment to get his family more directly involved in the hierarchy then only as the chief's brother. 

Astrid huffed and threw her arms forward to wedge her weapon in a tree. 

I'm probably overthinking this. 

The forest had grown strangely quiet over the past few days. With the dragon queen (Astrid had been hearing the name "Red Death" whispered in town) defeated, the dragons that raided the village every few weeks seemed to have all but disappeared from the skies around Berk. Except for the annoying Terrible Terror that had cursed everyone's sleep, Astrid herself hadn't seen any sign of dragon life in at least three days. Most people had (accurately) guessed that the Red Death was the only thing keeping the dragons around Berk, and a few Vikings had even gone as far as to wonder if it was what made the dragons raid. 

Astrid wanted to share what she had learned from her flight with Toothless and Hiccup, but Stoick's threat kept replaying in her head. 

Death for bonding with a dragon. I mean, I guess it makes sense. It's like treason, almost. But Mom and Dad used to talk about that Valka lady that was never threatened for protecting dragons...? And she was Stoick's wife. If she was never punished, why was Stoick's and her son? 

Astrid growled and chucked her axe into one of the thicker trees. 

As a dull thud was heard, something above the confused blonde gave a surprised "squawk!" 

"What in the-" 

She looked up to see a brightly colored Terror looking down at her with a disturbed and disapproving look in its beady eyes. 

"Oh, what are you looking at me like that for?" Astrid huffed as she tugged the axe out of the tree. She knew dragons were intelligent thanks to Hiccup and didn't think anyone would really care if she was talking to one of the smallest species of dragon while she was alone in the woods. 

The Terror looked down at the scarred trees. It glanced between the axe in Astrid's hand then down at the chips and cuts in the bark. 

Astrid groaned. "Even a dragon is judging me food taking my anger out on trees. Of course." She held up the axe so the Terror could see it. It reeled back and flapped its wings in agitation, about to take off. 

In an easy swing the Viking girl chucked it into the tree farthest away from her with precise, blind accuracy, and the large blade embedded itself inside the other strips of pale white wood inside the rough bark. 

"Don't get your wings in a bundle, little guy. I'm not gonna hurt you." She said before looking directly at the Terrible Terror. Astrid had no clue what she was actually doing; she was just bored and half sleep-deprived and feeling rebellious to whatever Stoick was demanding. 

The Terror's look of distrust changed to one of curiosity and its eyes as it observed her in a new light. It hopped down from one of the highest branches in the (relatively short) tree to one of the much lower ones. There was a new warmth to the creature's movements, its inhibition all but gone. 

Astrid chuckled at its trust. "I guess once you prove your not dangerous dragons are pretty friendly, huh." Her thoughts flashed to Toothless's insane flying when Astrid first met him and then his reaction once she apologized out of pure terror. 

The Terror had a strangely happy look on it face as it took off and flapped over her head before sailing off into the trees. 

Astrid was disappointed that the exchange ended so soon, but at the same time had an interesting idea. 

If Hiccup did this with Toothless and was able to convince a freaking Night Fury of all dragons to let him ride him, why can't I convince an ordinary dragon to trust me too?