#yes there is a man laying in the road in the bottom row middle image.

[perap]

new pokemon snaps been fun so far!

[such-as-it-is]

The World Is Round - Chapter 3

The fire sizzled and crackled gently as Maro lay by it staring up into the stars. Yet another thing to add to the countless list of things Maro could not experience from the swamp. And slowly, the stars started to vanish under a navy blanket of clouds covering the sky. Maro had been traveling for about 2 weeks ever since she left Forgaway, and was fairly close to her next destination now. People from the inn at Forgaway told stories about this town. It was a tourist town named Larone, famous for its luscious beaches, hospitable accommodation and vibrant carnivals. The map didn’t show where the towns, cities and villages are, nor does it show landmarks, so estimating how close she was was hard, but she reckoned she had about 1 or 2 days travel to go before she was there. The fire continued to burn while her eyes slowly shut, preparing for sleep, however, she was interrupted by a cold metallic feeling on the back of her her neck.

Quickly she opened her eyes, her heart now racing. Before her a silhouette of a man came into focus.

“Gentle now” said the silhouette’s soft, deep voice. “Let’s get a good look at you”

The man dragged her to the still burning fire while keeping is short sword firmly at her neck. He grabbed her by her shirt to lift her up in front of the flames. Now she could see him properly. He had long dark grey hair that came down past his left eye and over his shoulder blades. He had a very defined jaw line, but most distinguished of all, he had a tattoo that started both above and below the left side of his right eye, came together at the right side and continued down over his temple and past the bottom of his right ear.

Maro thought about offering her coin purse so that he would let go of her, but then realised that there were many of them and that  they probably had a different motive. He let go of Maro.

“I’m so very sorry” he said retaining his soft deep tone. “I”m looking for a woman matching your description” he continued. “However, she has the same tattoo as us. What are you doing on your own all the way out here?”

“I’m a traveler”

“Really now? And where did you come from?”

“Forgaway”

“Funny, I don’t recall ever seeing you there…”

But then came another voice, not quite as deep from one of this man's followers:

“Now’s not the time for chit chat. For all we know, she could have reached The Swamp by now”

“Right. If you see a woman like that be sure to tell anyone you ever see with this tattoo. There is a pretty reward for her. But only alive you see. That’s very important” said the first man to Maro.

“Hurry up now!” said a woman amongst the fellowship “You know she wouldn’t be so stupid as to sleep by an open fire in the night anyway” and with that they all marched off into the blackened  night, south for the swamp.

‘That was strange’ thought Maro. She could almost have sworn they were wearing water tribe attire...

Maro sat up in front of the fire, the shock from the whole ordeal still fresh in her bones and muscles. Shivering and now nearly paralysed, she found the courage to fall asleep on the open night, only extinguished the fire first. Larone was awaiting.

After about half a day's walk, Maro arrived at the top of a vibrant green hill amongst the meadows, from which she could see Larone. If Witnessing Forgaway was astonishing, witnessing Larone was bewildering. The town was simple massive, with it’s huge multi-level stone structures and houses, wide open spaces and intricate roads and paths. The waves coming in out out of the beach welcome site to Maro’s child like eyes. The town stretched out into horizon so that Maro could not even see the end of it. She walked down along the hill and into the bright and lively town. Even the clouds were clearning up now.

Everyone seemed to be so happy. There were street performers juggling and stalls along the streets selling all sorts of exotic good and foods. People pointing and laughing, couples and families all gathered around under the bright white clouds that were now hiding the sky. Posters covered the walls and lamp post on the streets of events that were being held in the theaters and the tents and the beach.

“Mummmmmyyyyy!!!! I wanna go see the Lizard Man” said in infant girl tugging on her mothers pants as she bought a fine painting from one of the stalls.

“Yes, yes, we’re going”

“We’re gonna be late!” said the other infant girl

“Alright, we’re going! We’re going” said the mother as she left with her husband.

Maro was intrigued by this Lizard Man. She knew that animals came in crosses like so, but never people. Perhaps this was another new phenomenon worth experiencing that could only be found outside the swamp? She followed the family around the booming streets when finally the came to flat area covered in grass. A small stage lay at the back while logs for people to sit on where starting to fill up. A brightly coloured pink and cyan fence surrounded the area with a man collecting entrance fees manning a gate right behind all the benches. Maro stood in the queue until she met him.

“How much just for me to see the Lizard Man?”

“One copper”

She handed him a small coin shaped in the earth kingdoms symbol. It was round and the faces were painted green with a square hole in the middle. Het let her in and she took a seat, right in the front row on the left hand side. People mostly filled up all the seats while Maro eagerly awaited to see this ‘Lizard man’. The sun set on the right hand side of the stage, causing a brilliant orange horizon to span itself around the town. A small lady took her place on the stage.

“Ladies and gentlemen” she announced as the crowd eased into a hush. “Throughout the history of world, animals have always crossed with each other, but never humans. This was a mystery that continues to puzzle zoologists even today, but despite that, nothing is more puzzling to anyone than what you are about to witness with your very own eyes!” She made dramatic arm movements and walked around the stage as she gave her little speech. Tensions began to spread amongst the crowd as she spoke. A smile even started to form itself on Maro’s own face.

“Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of Larogo Laray circus, it is my great honour to introduce to you today….. THE LIZARD MAN!” She said finally as she walked backwards off the side of the stage with her arms indicating to the back of the stage, where a dark figure could now be seen getting larger and larger.

The Lizard Man now stood proudly upon the stage, his body facing the audience while his head was staring off into the sunset on the right. His skin was a murky shade of navy blue and medium grey. He was a fat bald man, with a large head. He was wearing nothing but a rag as underwear, coloured in the same scheme as his body. His fingernails were really long, which kind of reminded Maro of her fingernails before she cut them shortly after leaving the swamp. The most intriguing thing about this Lizard Man however, was his long, lizard-like tail.

He got off the stage at the front, showing off to the crowd from up close. He moved his tail freely while the crowd ooo’d and ahhh’d, but Maro was less than impressed.

“Your just a man with paint all over your body!” she said to him as he got close to her. The crowd went payed no attention despite maro knowing people had heard her. The Lizard Man did not fret from this comment and continued on with his act. He looked maro in the eye and pushed his tongue out of his mouth, which extended down a couple of centimeters down from his chin. The crowd wow’d and clapped, but Maro narrowed her eyes and cringed with her face, still not knowing what all the fuss was about. In response, she stuck out her own tongue, which proved to be even longer than The Lizard Man’s. The crowd who could see gasped at Maro’s freak tongue, but soon forgot as The Lizard Man continued to blow their minds with his act.

After The Lizard Man had finished, he took and bow and the benches began to clear themselves. The crowd began to murmur amongst themselves about the amazement they had from the show as they flowed out the back of the performance area through the gate where Larogo Laray Circus flyers were being handed out. Maro stood up from her bench, her backpack lay heavy. The sun had sunk into the mountains leaving the cool night air behind. Just as Maro turned around to leave, she felt a tapping on her shoulder. She turned around to be greeted by the announcer woman.

“The Lizard Man said he wanted to speak to you about something” she said as she pointed to the stage, shrugged and then walked away.

The stage was empty, and Maro climbed up onto it to see a large silhouette sitting down on it’s back. She walked across the stage where The Lizard Man was waiting for her. Maro’s heard started to thump furiously with fear. She had tried to expose him after all, maybe he was mad.

An image rolled it’s way into Maro’s mind. An image of a ferocious river sweeping Maro down at colossal speeds, her trajectory perfectly inline with a giant Lizard Man, a stretched out smile across his face revealing huge pointy teeth and a ten meter tail splashing across the liver bed as Maro was forced helplessly to be rammed right into him. She could not bare to image the unspeakable things that he could do to her for what she did to him.

“Sit down” he said, and although his tone was easy enough, it was still enough to frighten Maro as she let out a short high-pitched screech from her jump-scare. This was the first time she had heard him speak, and his voice was not as deep as she imagined it to be.

“Come now… I’m not gonna eat you” he said patting the stage as an invitation for Maro to sit down. While it seemed now that he was not really mad, Maro still shivered as she sat down, keeping her guard up.

“You got me” he said. He turned his head to look at her and smile. “But you do realise why we have such tongues, yes?” He asked. Maro shook her head slowly.  “Why it’s because we're from the Foggy Swamp!” he said and laughed a little bit. Maro was shocked by this development. She didn’t even believe it.

“But why?” she said. She felt more at ease now.

“Do you know the story about the survival of the first men in the swmp?”

“Yes, of course” said Maro. The stories about the swamp and it’s people where the only resemblance the swamplanders had to a proper culture apart from the essentially meaningless and desperate religion they preached and brainwashed each other with.

Maro continued. “The first men who arrived at the swamp where nomads. They tried to live in the swamp for a while, but could not find their way out. They slowly began to die out as anything they tried to eat proved to be poisonous. They did not realise the swamps offerings. Eventually, some of them found that she could survive on the sap from the great roots and trunks on the swamp, however, the only for them to obtain this sap was to create holes, which would harm the swamp and so over time the learned how to differentiate between what they could eat and what they would not eat”

“That’s not quite it. You see, they had to poke holes in the roots and the trunks, yes, but the only way they could get the sap out was by using their tongues. Only the ones with the longer tongues could reach the sap and so the ones with the shorter tongues died out due to their lack of access of benign food. The ones with the longer tongues lived on and passed down their tongues so that the next generation could live as well”

“I see. And what about the tail”

He smiles and unclipped the belt that went around his waist that was covered by his underwear and kept the tail up. He took it off carefully and showed Maro that it was hollow and filled with water.

“Ah! That’s clever!” said Maro “It’s also immoral”

“What? No it’s not…”

“Yes it is. You’re making money by tricking people. You should be ashamed”

“HA! Anyone who is dumb enough to believe this act deserves to be stripped of their money. You may have fell for it this time, but I can tell, you won’t again… will you? And what do you know about money anyway?”

“I know enough to know that that’s a dishonest way of making it”

“Why do you care so much?”

“You know what the swamp is like, right? You know how they indoctrinate you into their bullshit lifestyle? Well I had enough of doing nothing but meditating all day. They teach you the world is intereconnected, and that everyone is related but yet they seclude themselves from everyone else! The hypocrites! They’re so out of touch with the word for people preaching togetherness and unity. There is a whole world out there, so many places to go, so many things to do and they sit under and tree and not think about anything so that they may forget that the world goes on outside the swamp. They forget that unity is actually about being together. That being together is nothing unless you live and work together. Unless you strive for greater thing! For growth and progress! They sit there in seclusion so that they may never have to work a day in their life. So that they may never be apart of anything bigger than themselves or be useful to anyone other than themselves or ever experience anything actually worth experiencing”

“Oh yes, I know. Trust me. Let me tell you something… what’s your name?”

“Maro”

“Ok Maro, let me tell you something. My reason for leaving the swamp was not quite so righteous as is yours. A traveler passed by the swamp and traded food with my family, and I got to try some fox turkey, and it was the most delicious thing I never tasted in my life. I left the swamp so that I could eat it as often as possible, and well, as you can see, I have been. HAHAHAHAHA!” He put his hands over his stomach as he laughed. Maro was not impressed. “Anyway, I quickly learned that society is tough and unforgiving. Have you been down to the beach yet?”

“No! But I plan on a swim tomorrow!”

“There is a little stand that sells this incredible thing called ice cream. When I first got here, I got a job working for a stand like that. I was paired up with a buddy to help run the stall. She ended up become a good friend of mine. Anyway, they are always looking for waterbenders to help them out. We got paid so badly, but I was fine to get around, and plus I learned immportant valuable lessons like turning up on time being reliable and working in a team. But there was another stand that also did the same thing nearby. They managed to sell their ice cream cheaper by paying their workers even less than my cart did. Naturally, people bought ice cream from there to save a couple of coppers. People didn’t buy from our stand and all the people who had been paid close to nothing now where literally being paid nothing because the stand had to close down. Finding a job is not easy, especially in a place like this where everyone live to serve their role. The area around here is pretty human centric, and so providing for myself with nature like I learned to do in the swamp proved of no use. It’s ironic now that I think about it. I left so that I could eat fox turkey all the time and suddenly I have nothing to eat at all. My friend and I stuck together afterwards thinking we could help each other out when needed, but she starved to death”

Maro leant back in shock. He continued. “In the swamp, everyone cares for everyone. In society it’s every man for themselves. I don’t know how you got this idea in your head about society being everyone working together for the great or good, but it isn’t true. I’m always gonna do what I need to do to not end up like my friend, so here I am”

There was silence for a while. Maro shivered at the impact of the story as well as the cool breeze that was brought along.

“I’m sorry about your friend”

“It’s ok, because now I’m doing the living for both of us”

“That was very unfortunate. However, I’m sure that society is built on the foundation of hard, honest work. I’m also sure that there is always a way”

“Oh Maro, you’re still fresh out of the swamp. I would tell you to go back to the swamp where everything is nice and simple, but I know you would not listen to me. I can see the adventurer's spirit in your eyes. And as such, I will suggest you keep traveling and learn what the world is really like. And please don’t die. Death is such an easy thing to come by out here” Maro smiled at him. “Circus Larogo Laray travels around a certain times of year. If you ever seen them around, feel free to come visit me, I would like to hear about your travels. Ask for Vinik. Anyway, it’s late now, so I better get back to the tent”

“Yeah, I better be off too. Good bye, Vinik”

“Good night, Maro” had said as Maro hopped of the stage and went to exit the performance area.

The next morning arrived and was headed for the beach this time. She was eager to try what Vink had referred to as ice cream. She found the inn last night by asking around and bought herself a decent meal and a room for the night. A couple of clouds in the sky was hardly a match for today as the sun beat down vigorously upon the town of Larone and it’s fine beaches. Maro stood upon a grassy hill bearing witness to the magnificent waves as they they grew tall, broke and crashed into the beach on the northern side. There was a number of people on that side of the beach enjoying the waves including a small amount of people riding them on boards made of wood. On the more southern parts of the beach more people gathered around where the waves were much smaller and hardly broke at all. The glowing pure white sand of the beach was littered by people under their umbrellas lying on towels, bathing in the warm sun’s radiants.

‘I’m a pretty good swimmer’ thought Maro to herself as she walked down the hill. She left her shoes and bag in the inn and was wearing light clothes which she thought was best suitable for swimming in.

The afternoon broke and Maro decided she had enough of the water. She was extremely pleased with the time she spent swimming amongst the breaking waves. But as she did so, she couldn't help but think about Ora. She had known Ora for her entire life, and while spending this much time away from her family and everyone else in the swamp seemed like a blessing to Maro, spending so much time away from Ora seemed to trouble her. As though a part of her was somehow missing. But she dismissed these feelings as weakness while she was drifting along with the waves. The young lady often just relaxed and let the waves carry her, as if it didn’t even matter to her where she was going because the waves knew best after all, and the definitely would not take her back to the swamp. They however take her back to the shore from where she started off.

Over the course of her trip, Maro was able to find solace through many experiences, even the ones that caused her anguish. She always felt good looking back on such memories even though she was in anguish at the time. And as she lay in the sun drying herself off on a rock on the sand (for she had no towel), she could not escape the conversation she had had with a Lizard Man not to long ago. It was echoing in her mind. And then she remembered the recommendation he made to her.

She got up, eager to find what she was looking for. And surely enough there was a stall. Maro could not read, and so she had no idea if this stall was selling what she was after, not only because of that but also because Vinik had not really described it to her, so she thought she would ask. She approached the stand and waited a bit for the queue to die down a bit so that she could converse with the one of the 2 people manning it. And surely enough, there came a time when the queue was absent.

“Why hello there! How can I serve you on this fine afternoon madam?”. The one who spoke was a young lady who looked like she could have been in her early or mid twenties.

“Hi. Do you sell ice cream here?”

“We sure do” she said with a smile and a soft giggle and pointed up and the sign that was standing above the stall. “We boast the widest range of flavours too! We sell vanilla, strawberry, passion fruit, mango, lemon lime, raspberries and blueberry” she said point to each tub of ice cream with it’s respective flavour inside. It reminded Maro of a rainbow she had seen for the first time on one of the rainy days she spent traveling even since she left the swamp.

“The most flavours? In comparison to what?”

“Why the other stand of course” she said pointing into the distance alongside the beach. Maro used her hands to shade her eyes and squinted them, peering into the direction she was pointing. Surly enough, Maro could identify another ice cream stall along the beach.

“huh… This friend of mine once told me that once there was two ice cream stands along this beach, and that one shut down because they could not afford to make their ice cream as cheap”

“Yes! That’s a true story… In fact, it was indeed us who shut down all those years ago, but now we’re back and competing again!”

“Really now? Wow! How can you compete with the other stand?”

“Oh it’s simple really, we changed the way we made the ice cream. This new way was more expensive, believe it or not, however, it meant that we got better quality ice cream. So while our ice cream is still more expensive, people still buy from us because our ice cream is better”

Maro smiled, with Vinik in mind.

Maro bought herself an ice cream with a scoop vanilla and scoop of blueberry, only because she like the mixture of those colours. After further conversation with the lady, she found out that the stand needs waterbenders to freeze the water under the tubs so that the ice cream can remain ice cream and not liquid cream. Maro had no idea how to freeze water, and nor did she want to stay at Larone for too much longer, so she did not offer herself up for a job. Indeed she stayed one more night in the inn and started to head off the next morning along the coast, where according to her map, her next destination was a forest named Hei Bai.

[writerspink]

K-12 Words

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5.2

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6.1

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6.2

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7.2

evade debate dedicate budge available miniature petrify pasture banquet pedestrian solitary decline reassure nonchalant exhibit realistic exert abuse dictate minor monarch concept character strategy soar beverage tropical withdraw challenge kin navigate purchase reliable mischief solo combine vivid aroma spurt illuminate narrator retain excavate avalanche preserve suspend accomplish exasperate obsolete occasion myth reign sparse gorge intense revert antagonist talon aggressive alternate retire cautiously blizzard require endanger luxurious senseless portable sever compensate companion visual immense slither guardian compassion escalate detect protagonist oasis altitude assume seldom courteous absurd edible identical pardon approximate taunt achievement homonym hearty convert wilderness industrious sluggish thrifty deprive independent bland confident anxious astound numerous resemble route access jubilation saunter hazy impressive document moral crave gigantic bungle prefix summit overthrow perish visible translate comply intercept feeble exult compose negative suffocate frigid synonym appeal dominate deplete abundant economy desperate diligent commend boycott jovial onset burden fixture objective siege barrier conceive formal inquire penalize picturesque predator privilege slumber advantage ambition defiant fearsome imply merit negotiate purify revoke wretched absorb amateur channel elegant grace inspect lame tiresome tranquil boast eloquent glisten ideal infectious invest locate ripple sufficient uproar

8.1

apprehensive dialogue prejudice marvel eligible accommodate arrogant distinct knack deposit liberate cumulative consequence strive salvage chronological unique vow concise influence lure poverty priority legislation significant conserve verdict leisure erupt beacon stationary generate provoke efficient campaign paraphrase swarm adhere eerie mere mimic deteriorate literal preliminary solar soothe expanse ignite verge recount apparel terrain ample quest composure majority collide prominent duration pursue innovation omniscient resolute unruly optimist restrain agony convenient constant prosper elaborate genre retrieve exploit continuous dissolve dwell persecute abandon meager elude rural retaliate primitive remote blunder propel vital designate cultivate loathe consent drastic fuse maximum negotiate barren transform conspicuous possess allegiance beneficial former factor deluge vibrant intimidate idiom dense awe rigorous manipulate transport discretion hostile clarity arid parody boisterous capacity massive prosecute declare stifle remorse refuge predicament treacherous inevitable ingenious plummet adapt monotonous accumulate reinforce extract reluctant vacate hazardous inept diminish domestic linger context excel cancel distribute document fragile myth reject scuffle solitary temporary veteran assault convert dispute impressive justify misleading numerous productive shrewd strategy villain bluff cautious consist despise haven miniature monarch obstacle postpone straggle vivid aggressive associate deceive emigrate flexible glamour hazy luxurious mishap overwhelm span blemish blunt capable conclude detect fatigue festive hospitality nomad supreme

8.2

exclude civic compact painstaking supplement habitat leeway minute hoax contaminate likeness migration commentary extinct tangible originate urban unanimous subordinate collaborate obstacle esteem encounter futile cordial trait improvises superior exaggerate anticipate cope evolve eclipse dissent anguish subsequent sanctuary formulates makeshift controversy diversity terminate precise equivalent pamper prior potential obnoxious radiant predatory presume permanent pending simultaneously tamper supervise perceived vicious patronize trickle stodgy rant oration preview species poised perturb vista wince yearn persist shirk status tragedy trivial snare vindictive wrath recede peevish rupture unscathed random toxic void orthodox subtle resume sequel upright wary overwhelm perjury uncertainty prowess utmost throb pluck pique vengeance pelt urgent substantial robust sullen retort ponder whim saga sham reprimand vocation assimilate dub defect accord embark desist dialect chastise banter inaugurate ovation barter muse blasé stamina atrocity deter principal liberal epoch preposterous advocate audacious dispatch incense deplore institute deceptive component subside spontaneous bonanza ultimate wrangle clarify hindrance irascible plausible profound infinite accomplish apparent capacity civilian conceal duplicate keen provoke spurt undoing vast withdraw barrier calculate compose considerable deputy industrious jolt loot rejoice reliable senseless shrivel alternate demolish energetic enforce feat hearty mature observant primary resign strive verdict brisk cherish considerate displace downfall estimate humiliate identical improper poll soothe vicinity abolish appeal brittle condemn descend dictator expand famine portable prey thrifty visual

9.1

stance vie instill exceptional avail strident formidable rebuke enhance benign perspective tedious aloof encroach memoir mien desolate inventive prodigy staple stint fallacy grope vilify recur assail tirade antics recourse clad jurisdiction caption pseudonym reception humane ornate sage ungainly overt sedative amiss convey connoisseur rational enigma fortify servile fastidious contagious elite disgruntled eccentric pioneer abet luminous era sleek serene proficient rue articulate awry pungent wage deploy anarchy culminate inventory commemorate muster adept durable foreboding lucrative modify authority transition confiscate pivotal analogy avid flair ferret decree voracious imperative grapple deface augment shackle legendary trepidation discern glut cache endeavor attribute phenomenon balmy bizarre gullible loll rankle decipher sublime rubble renounce porous turbulent heritage hover pithy allot minimize agile renown fend revenue versa gaunt haven dire doctrine intricate conservative exotic facilitate bountiful cite panorama swelter foster indifferent millennium gingerly conscientious intervene mercenary citadel obviously rely supportive sympathy weakling atmosphere decay gradual impact noticeable recede stability variation approximately astronomical calculation criterion diameter evaluate orbit sphere agricultural decline disorder identify probable thrive expected widespread bulletin contribution diversity enlist intercept operation recruit survival abruptly ally collide confident conflict protective taunt adaptation dormant forage frigid hibernate insulate export glisten influence landscape native plantation restore urge blare connection errand exchange

9.2

feasible teem pang vice tycoon succumb capacious onslaught excerpt eventful forfeit crusade tract haggard susceptible exemplify ardent crucial excruciating embargo disdain apprehend surpass sporadic flustered languish conventional disposition theme plunder ignore project complaint title dramatic delivery litter experimental clinic arrogance preparation remind atomic occasional conscious deny maturity closure stressed translator animate observation physical further gently registration suppress combination amazing constructive allied poetry passion ecstasy mystery cheerful contribution spirit failed gummy commerce prove disagreement raid consume embarrass preference migrant devour encouragement quote mythology destined destination illuminating struggle accent ungrateful giggle approval confidence expose scientist operation superstitious emergency manners absolutely swallow readily mutual bound crisp orient stress sort stare comfort verbal heel challenging advertisement envious sex scar astonish basis accuracy enviable alliance specific chef embarrassed counter tolerable sympathetic gradually vanish informative amaze royal furry insist jealousy simplify quiver collaborate dedicated flexible function mimic obstacle technique archaeologist fragment historian intact preserve reconstruct remnant commence deed exaggeration heroic impress pose saunter wring astound concealed inquisitive interpret perplexed precise reconsider suspicious anticipation defy entitled neutral outspoken reserved sought equal absorb affect circulate conserve cycle necessity seep barren expression meaningful plume focused genius perspective prospect stunned superb transition assume guarantee nominate

10.1

install reticent corroborate regretfully strength murder concise cunning intention holy satire query confused progression disillusion background mundane abrupt multiple enormously introduce emulate harmful pragmatic pity rebut liberate enthusiastic elucidate camaraderie disparage nature creep profitability impression racist sobriety occupy autonomy currently amiable reiterate reproduce cripple modest offer atom provincial augment ungratefully expansion yield rashly allude immigration silence epitome exacerbate somber avid dispute vindicate collaborate manufacturer embellish superficial propaganda incompetent objective diminish statistics endure ambivalent perpetuate illuminate phenomenon exasperate originality restrict anxiety anthropology circumstances aesthetic manufacturing conventional dubious vulnerable reality precedent entity success term critical repair underscore stepmother republican hesitantly classic wary contents prediction immediate invoke notorious implicit excluding input skeptical foster element punish frank humanity profound dessert orthodox substance disappear encourage neighborhood elder superfluous naive ascertain complacent resilient deafening military tend prudent glare acceptance skillfully induce monster beam gullible conciliate vessel petty cantankerous disclose archaeology anecdote disdain electronics substantiate subjective tourism advisable joyful incredible provocative psychological ruins discipline condone indifferent misfortune judgmental industrialize tasty assume astute mission mar protective definitely escape oppress shocked virtual zealous endorse qualification hostile eccentric abstract disparate geographical scrutinize generalization tolerate activity claim dogmatic influential obsolete extol implausible subsequent resource chronic benevolent improve confidential ambiguous seriously dearth perplex hatred throughout dine contemporary evoke essentially economic flagrant obscure alleviate eloquent dreaadful clumsy sympathy victim condemn vigor condescend spontaneous quell reprehensible substantially sleeve equivocal ironic decry errand articulate progressive eradicate refreshments elicit aspiration recently exemplary bribery theoretical disingenuous partisan revere particle nostalgia self-aggrandizement debunk tyranny rhetoric hierarchy warning whimsical venerate commend assert miserable awful vibe constrain undermine explicit differentiate compliment scrupulous contempt erroneous ideal refute imply cynical rash presume insight revival vary delay renounce indignant offensive temperate circumstantial export peep logo advertise suppress distort chunk convoluted denounce overwhelming fertility rigorous acquire arrogant university antagonize profitable indulgent strategic breathing idiosyncrasy profession frugal discern accommodation adversary incredulous disturbance digress social belie roam smug continual pertinent voluntarily elite subtle blame sincerity lick horror censure involvement candid infer futile impetuous exploit bewilder sustain diligent sincere protect sealed musical empathy callous parenthetical insure acorn sarcasm seize sacrificially allege emphatic irrelevant progress diplomatic stunned improvise deride reconcile meticulous deject scientifically incontrovertible pressure justify gloomy depict supplant endurance analogous diary bolster slip contemplate pesticide glow religious advocate negligent creator lament fundamental embrace throne inherent inferior valuable thrive trivial pretense reserved capricious refresh refusal flight boost explanation coherent prevalent tenacious official royalty assassin rub poach delete

10.2

warrant circumscribed somewhat explosive optimistic mandate previously detract opinion intuitive feasible intimate persistent humble simplicity tempt deliberate painful unethical fundamentals discrepancy remorse pessimistic possibility conclusion acknowledge impregnate soberly creation paralyze suitability oblige tranquil medal arbitrate pacify illusory susceptible vibrate vengeance infection democratic stressful grave speculative sample identification stifle obligation revenge organization namely mediocre practical scream weaken consensus affectionate deficient treacherous console isolation ingenious memory melodrama despair awestruck composition regret recommendation celebrity decision devoid opaque ornamentation longevity participate dread restore interrogate aid accordingly mislead embarrassment optimism domestic apt funds virtue geography fundamentally thoroughly press despite horrible chilling rental esteemed disappointment innovative contemplation assign popularize haunt deafen serene percent estrangement suffer extravagant throng estimate comment priesthood mass dreadfully promote periphery animated saying relate clarity triple derivative succeed distortion register suicide improvement discreet inquisition probable curative incident praise convenience baffle covet dreadful genuinely weary undisturbed disgruntled humility renown nonchalant monopoly comedy vague decisive inconsequential announcement fabricated nevertheless vigilant scarce neglectful hushed attainment tedious explode snatch pslm agency sentimental tension adhere meanwhile sacred avert conformity likewise challenger accessible responsibility peril contact event roast fallible catastrophic competitor violate resolute deceive exaggeration discredit intolerable approve paste dimly novelist demeanor norm politician satisfaction obvious vehicle reservation defer involve restoration crush audible assistant backpack attain inanimate commemorate confrontation emigration parasite disperse quantitative laughter policy vulgar occasionally repay effective eulogy starvation empty therapeutic overall immortal encompass inappropriate opportune engagement illustrate turmoil observatory classification expression reminiscence comedian invention depress remedy protagonist gesture texture diplomatic election prolong conducive emotional invigorate curiosity expressive %

K-12 Words was originally published on PinkWrite

[dire-kumori]

The Long Road: Chapter 9

A Matter of Trust

Rating: T

Pairing(s): hijack

Chapter summary: Hiccup is still reeling from his horrible realization when a wild dragon invades Berk and targets Toothless. He has no time to deal with his own bizarre emotions as events go from bad to worse.

Hiccup hardly got any rest that night. It did not help that Toothless seemed agitated as well, for reasons unknown to the slim viking. Ignoring the nightfury's agitated pacing and pawing at the floorboards, Hiccup struggled to find sleep.

Flying back to the village with Jack on Toothless had been pure torture; the spirit's body was so close and Hiccup could feel Jack's cool breath on his neck. The moment they had touched down in front of his hut Hiccup had retreated inside without so much as a 'goodnight,' slamming the door in Jack's face behind him. He offered his father no explanation as he rushed up to his room, where he immediately threw himself face down atop his bed and screamed into the furs until he went hoarse.

His dreams offered no reprieve; his subconscious tormented him all night with images of Jack. He knew such dreams were normal, though he himself had them only rarely. Usually, however, in these dreams he would lay with Astrid. On a rare occasion his dream-lover would be a nameless, faceless stranger, but although these dreams were often hazy and unfocused Hiccup was fairly certain he had never dreamed of a man before. When he woke the next morning his undergarments were sticky and he felt as though he had not slept at all.

That morning was yet another overcast one. As the people emerged from their homes they expected to find another bountiful haul in the fishing nets. What they did not expect was what they found in the center of the village plaza.

"What did you do?"

The question, posed by Jack, had been directed to Ruffnut and Tuffnut, each of whom wore a mask of false hurt as they faced the young Guardian.

"Uh, why does everything have to be our fault?" Tuffnut asked, placing his hand over his chest where he thought his heart would be. His hand was on the wrong side of his chest.

Wodensfang shot the twins a flat look mirroring Jack's. "There's a massive hole smack in the middle of the village," Jack deadpanned, gesturing towards the offending crater with his staff even as Stoick and Gobber peered down into its depths. It seemed as though the entire village had come out to stare at it and muse over how such a massive hole could have been dug in the middle of the night with nobody noticing. "Who else could have caused that?"

"Maybe Meatlug had a midnight snack," Ruffnut suggested. The moment she heard her name, Meatlug's eyes went wide and her bat-like ears flattened against her skull.

"Please, that's impossible," Fishlegs scoffed as he threw a consoling arm over his dragon. "Meatlug is on a diet."

Jack and the twins raised an eyebrow each, but said nothing.

((ENEMY!))

Jack jolted as Toothless's translated roar echoed in his head. Moments later the black dragon bounded up to the hole, Hiccup following not far behind. Teeth bared in a feral snarl, Toothless lowered his muzzle to the ground and hissed at the darkness.

((Here-enemy-Nest-Killer-here-hunt-strike! Me-track-hunt-find-fight-kill!))

Placing his hands on the nightfury's neck, Hiccup tried in vain to calm his dragon. "Whoa, Toothless, calm down bud. It's just a hole."

"It's not just a hole!" Bucket's voice echoed up from beneath the ground. "It's like an underground village!" Peering down, Hiccup caught sight of the addled viking standing in the bottom of the hole. He had not been there a few moments ago and the brunette could only surmise that he had been wandering about down there for some time.

One of the vikings broke away from the crowd and ran to the edge of the hole, kneeling on his hands and knees in the dirt. Mulch let out an audible sigh of relief as he took in the sight of his housemate. "Bucket. Oh, there ya are. I've been looking for you all night!"

"Sorry Mulch," Bucket cried, rubbing his bucket sheepishly. "But I think I've finally found it; my happy place!"

Not a few seconds later the tunnel was flooded with a thick cloud of shredded earth and dust. Bucket screamed and the whole village stared in shock as he was vaulted from the hole and landed on a stack of barrels nearby with a pained gasp.

"Bucket!" Jack cried as he, Hiccup, and Stoick rushed to the blonde's side. Bucket sat up appearing to be dazed but giving no indication he was in further pain.

"Are ye all right Bucket?" Stoick asked, offering the man a hand. Bucket seemed to not notice.

"Not so happy anymore," the addled viking replied, voice a low whine.

"What happened?"

Bucket looked at the chief with wide, frightened eyes as he pulled himself up. "Something pushed me out. Something's down there, something big!"

((Enemy.)) Jack blinked, turning back to the hole. Toothless was still there, leaning over the edge and growling, but that had not been Toothless's voice. It sounded farther away, and came out almost like a whisper; a furious, deafening, hate-filled whisper, but a whisper nonetheless. ((Enemy-Earth-Hoarder-me-slice-shred-kill-tear!))

((YOU-DIE!)) Toothless growled as he launched himself into the hole and disappeared into the darkness.

"Toothless!" Hiccup ran to the edge, peering into the tunnel but seeing no trace of the nightfury. Before he could even think about jumping after him the earth beneath his feet began to quake. Astrid and Jack approached cautiously, though Wodensfang was whimpering and digging his claws into Jack's tunic and the other dragons were fidgeting where they stood.

"What is that?" Astrid asked, hand automatically going to her axe.

"I hear someone's voice," Jack replied, drawing confused stares. "From beneath the island."

"Eh, whatever it is," Gobber said, taking a step back, "It's givin' me the willies."

The hole exploded. Clouds of dirt and bits of rubble and tree roots pelted the gathered crowd. Many of the onlookers fled as the creature emerged from its hole, milky eyes gazing sightlessly over those that remained.

The dragon had a massive, bulging head that gave way to a long, whip like body that spiraled even as its bat-like wings held it aloft in the air. Crimson spikes protruded from sleek, charcoal scales. Yellow fangs as long as Stoick's forearm jutted forward from its lipless mouth and inside the teens were able to see row after row of rotating teeth extending all the way to the back of its throat.

"Whoa..." Snotlout breathed. "Look at the size of that thing!"

Everyone was already looking at it, save for Fishlegs who was staring resolutely at the ground. Tuffnut was giving the creature a dreamy expression while everyone else stared with varying degrees of shock.

"Do I have to?" Fishlegs whined, eyes flitting to the dragon for a brief moment before flitting back to the ground.

Ignoring the husky teen, Astrid took command. "Dragons! Everyone!"

She, Fishlegs, Snotlout, and the twins ran to their dragons, throwing themselves into the saddles without hesitation. Jack and Hiccup, meanwhile, retreated to Gobber's side. Wodensfang hissed and spat from his perch while the large dragons roared in unison, ((Us-together-nest-fight-protect-fight-fight!))

((Wrong!)) the new dragon screeched. ((Wrong-wrong-not-you-not-you-not-you! Where-he? Where-Earth-Horder-black-evil-cousin-NOT-COUSIN! Me-hunt-him-fight-him-KILL-HIM!))

Gripping Hookfang's horns tightly, seeking comfort, Snotlout threw a glance to the other riders and cried, "Uh, I don't like the way it's eyeballing me."

"Oh, don't worry, it's not just you," Fishlegs called back, swallowing thickly.

"Thanks," Snotlout replied with a roll of his eyes. "Big relief."

The dragon screeched HATRED and FURY and RAGE before spinning in the air and diving back beneath the earth. The riders all stared at the spot where it had disappeared. Jack felt like his heart might burst from his chest at any moment.

Astrid was the first to break the silence. "What was that?"

"Whatever it is," Tuffnut breathed, a wide grin splitting his face, "I want one!"

Ignoring the twins, Fishlegs wracked his brain for the answer. His tongue peeked just past his lips as he played with his fingers. "If I had to take a guess," he started, eyes furrowed and shudders working their way across his skin. "I'd say that was a whispering death."

"Can't imagine why," Jack murmured, eyes still on the spot where the wild dragon had disappeared.

"Whoa, great name!" Tuffnut clapped his hands over the small, hollow spaces behind Belch's horns that served as his ears. Turning to his sister, he whispered, "So much better than zippleback."

Bucket groaned and fidgeted, clambering up onto a barrel in a vain attempt to put some distance between himself and the whispering death's domain. His eyes were nearly bulging from their sockets and his braided beard swung this way and that as he whirled around atop his post, searching for some sign that the wild dragon would resurface. "Where'd it go? Why's it here? What's it going to do to us?" he moaned. Then, almost violently, he rounded on the figure next to him and roared, "Why aren't you slapping me to snap me out of this!?"

Mulch swallowed thickly, stealing a quick peek down at the new tunnel before turning to meet the panicked gaze of his housemate. "Because I'm scared too, Bucket." He had also climbed atop a barrel, and had no current intention of climbing down.

Another tremor hit. Before anyone had gotten a chance to react the earth exploded upwards once more, collapsing a stone dragon perch on top of someone's hut, and in a spray of dirt and rocks the whispering death had surfaced once more, creating a second hole the size of the first in its wake.

It roared, pouring its HATRED and ANGER into its cry and causing the few who remained to shrink back.

"It looks angry." Gobber turned to Hiccup. "Why don' ya do tha' thing where ya touch its nose an' feed it grass?"

Not bothering to correct Gobber, Hiccup cried, "Okay, uh, Fishlegs, what do we know about the whispering death?"

"Boulder class, razor sharp teeth, incredibly strong, hunts from underground."

Tuffnut leaned forward in his saddle and clapped his hands over Belch's ears again. "Now I really want one."

"So? How do we deal with this thing?" Snotlout called above the whispering death's continuing roar.

"STAND BACK EVERYONE!"

The teens cast their eyes to the sky as Stoick descended towards the village plaza atop Thornado. Strange; none of them had noticed him leaving to fetch the cobalt thunderdrum. Stoick and Thornado came to hover in the air above the village, both glaring daggers at the invading dragon. The whispering death hissed at them, displeased with their interruption.

"Thornado's got somethin' ta say ta this beast!" Stoick declared, placing his hand on Thornado's muzzle. In response the thunderdrum opened his jaws wide.

((LLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAVVVVVEE!))

The concussive roar shook the whispering death, but did not knock it from the sky. Shaking off the attack, the wild dragon snarled and spat at Thornado and Stoick.

"I don' nae think it's go' it's listenin' ears on," Gobber snarked.

"All right!" Astrid called over the bellowing of the two hostile dragons. Tugging on the saddle, she directed Stormfly into the air. "Let's run this thing outta here!"

The other dragons fell into formation behind the chief. They and the whispering death circled one another, the Berkian dragons growling, ((Protect-nest-home-OURS-you-danger-bad-bad-leave-you-leave-we-fight-protect-protect!))

Before they could come to blows, however, another cry cut through theirs.

((MMIIIIIIIIIIIINNNE!))

Jack's eyes widened as Toothless burst from the underground tunnels, placing himself between the Berkian dragons and the whispering death. His head-fins were raised and his pupils had narrowed into thin slits. He bared his teeth at the whispering death, screeching, ((You-bad-Nest-Killer-bad-bad-evil-DIE!)) Turning to face the Berkian dragons, Toothless continued, ((My-prey-hunt-mine! You-back-no-steal-you-my-prey-my-hunt!))

The dragons reacted immediately, pulling back so as to give the two dark dragons a wide berth. Their riders struggled and failed to keep their dragons under control.

"What's Toothless doing?!" Snotlout griped as Hookfang pulled away.

"He wants the whispering death to himself!" Jack called above the din. Hiccup stared at him, then at his dragon.

"Well, he can have him," Fishlegs whined as he and Meatlug backed away.

The whispering death's spikes rotated towards Toothless as he snarled, ((Me-your-prey-HAH! Me-hunt-kill-tear-shred-your-bones!))

"Toothless!" Hiccup started forward, reaching for the nightfury, but Toothless did not acknowledge him.

The whispering death launched himself at Toothless. Everyone watched, horrified, as the two dragons began to tear at each other in a flurry of teeth and tails and claws. Eventually Toothless managed to break away and launched three plasma blasts at the whispering death in rapid succession. The whip-like dragon weaved in the air, avoiding all of the missiles and hissing at Toothless. With a furious snarl Toothless beat his wings, attempting to go airborne. However, his prosthetic tail remained locked in place and he was unable to get up more than a few feet before he was earthbound again.

The whispering death glowered at Toothless, milky eyes zeroing in on his tail. ((Hah! You-grounded-flightless-prey! Me-kill-shred-tear-easy! Hah!))

"Gobber, man the catapults!" Stoick boomed as he and Thornado set down next to the blacksmith. "And when that thing is clear of Toothless, fire!"

"Dad, wait!" Before anyone could stop him, Hiccup ran straight into the fray, unheeding of the spike-clad dragon circling overhead. "Toothless, let me help you bud." His hands had only just made contact with Toothless's leather harness when the nightfury butted him away with an agitated hiss.

"Hiccup!" Jack called, racing forward. Hiccup sat in the dirt, dazed but unharmed, staring after Toothless with a bewildered and hurt expression. He hardly even registered Jack's touch as the white-haired teen pulled him to his feet.

"What? Toothless, what- What's wrong?"

Toothless bounded several paces ahead before he paused, rapidly throwing glances at both his rider and his opponent. After a moment he settled on Hiccup just long enough to roar out, ((My-prey-my-fight-you-back-you,)) before running off again.

Astrid jogged up behind the two boys, brows furrowed and heart pounding. "What was that all about?"

"Those two know each other," Jack explained, eyes still trained on Toothless. "The other dragon called Toothless 'Earth Hoarder' and Toothless called him 'Nest Killer.'"

"Earth Hoarder?" Hiccup parroted. "Nest Killer?"

Suddenly the whispering death flicked his tail, sending a spray of quills towards Toothless. Toothless attempted to dodge into the air, but his tail gave and he fell right into the whispering death's line of fire. A single quill sank several inches into Toothless's leg, drawing a cry of pain and indigence from the nightfury and a strangled gasp from his rider.

"GOBBER!"

At the sound of the chief's thunderous roar Gobber released the lever on the catapult, propelling a boulder the size of his head at the invader. The projectile knocked the whispering death off balance, staggering him in mid-flight. Furious, the dragon turned on Stoick and Gobber and released a strangled hiss.

The two men had wasted no time in reloading and resetting the catapult. "Fire!" Stoick roared, and Gobber released a second projectile at the wild dragon, striking him square in the face.

((DIIIIIE!)) he screeched, loud enough that his voice seemed to pierce the clouds. Gobber hefted a third boulder into the cup of the catapult, but never got a chance to fire it. The whispering death whipped and thrashed in the air suddenly, as though in pain, and dove straight towards the ground. Many sets of eyes watched as the earth sank in a snaking line through the village as the whispering death retreated, weaving between two rows of houses before vanishing altogether.

Toothless started after it, gliding towards the mangled earth. As he pawed at the ground, however, it became apparent that the whispering death was not coming back. Cautiously, Hiccup approached the nightfury from behind, eyes on Toothless's injured leg.

"Oh no. You're hurt." He reached for the whispering death's quill, only to freeze when Toothless jolted suddenly. Toothless hissed, teeth bared as he turned towards his rider. As his eyes landed on Hiccup, however, the slit pupils grew and rounded out and his hiss turned into a purr. Emboldened, Hiccup placed his hands on the quill. At the same time Jack approached Toothless and placed his hands on his head, rubbing slow, soothing circles as Hiccup removed the foreign object.

"There we go," Jack said as the blood-streaked quill slid out. "Are you all right big guy?"

Toothless did not answer. Instead he bounded away, racing away from the gathered vikings and following the winding path that ran through the village. He did not seem to notice or care about the blood streaking down his leg, staining the soil in his wake.

"Toothless, wait!" Hiccup called.

"Where is he going?" Astrid asked as she and the rest of the Riders joined Hiccup and Jack.

Snotlout snorted. "Probably running away to lick his wounds."

"It's not funny!" Hiccup snapped as he rounded on his cousin, Toothless's blood warm and sticky on his fingers. "Toothless could have been killed. He can't fly, remember?"

Snotlout did not look concerned. "And whose fault is that?"

Astrid, Hiccup and Jack all glared at him venomously while the rest of the Riders continued to stare after Toothless.

"Seriously? Did you just go there?" Astrid spat. The burly teen shrugged.

"Hey, I call it like I see it."

Before the two of them could come to blows, Fishlegs interjected. "Um, does anybody want to talk about what in the name of Thor just happened!?"

Tuffnut was the first to respond, looking rather unimpressed with the turn of events. "Uh, dragon fight. Just another day on Berk."

Fishlegs shook his head. "Uh, not really. It seemed like there was way more to it than that."

"Because there was," Jack replied. "Toothless and that dragon knew each other. They had names for one another, and Toothless didn't want anyone else trying to fight it."

"But why?" Hiccup breathed, turning back around to watch Toothless, who had finally come to a halt atop the hill overlooking the plaza. The nightfury was gazing wistfully into the distance after the trail the whispering death had left. "How do they know each other? Why were they fighting like that?"

"Uh, are we gonna be tested on this?" Tuffnut drawled. "'Cause I'm completely confused." He turned to his sister.

"Well don't look at me," she mumbled, offering her brother a shrug.

Tuning them out, Hiccup turned to once again face his best friend. Toothless continued to stare out at nothing, occasionally kneading the earth beneath his claws as though prepared to fling himself from the cliff edge and give chase. When Hiccup felt a hand on his shoulder he relaxed a bit, suspecting it was Astrid offering comfort. When his gaze shifted, however, and he caught sight of Jack he jolted away from the spirit with a strangled cry, drawing stares from everyone around.

Jack blinked, bewildered by Hiccup's violent response. Quickly he regained his composure and suggested, "I think we should have someone take a look at his leg."

Hiccup nodded, all the while avoiding eye contact.

By the time the sun had set that evening, Toothless still not calmed. He continued to pace and growl and paw at the ground, even when Hiccup led the nightfury to his second-story bedroom.

"I-I really wish you could just tell me what was going on out there today," Hiccup sighed as he finished retying Toothless's bandage for the third time that evening. Jack would probably be able to get the answer from him, but at the thought of approaching the white-haired teen Hiccup's heart began pounding and his stomach began cramping painfully. Hiccup groaned. No doubt Jack and the others knew something was going on; he had spent the entire day ensuring someone else stood between him and Jack at all times and flinching and jumping away whenever they accidentally touched. He hardly spoke to the white-haired boy, and whenever Jack tried speaking with him Hiccup replied in monosyllables.

Astrid had pulled him aside earlier and asked (demanded) to know what was going on with him. Fortunately she had been willing to accept that he was just rattled by the fight that had occurred that morning. It was, after all, partly true.

Suddenly Toothless huffed, a low growl rising in his throat, drawing Hiccup from his thoughts, and turned his attention to the stairwell just as a large shadow appeared on the wall above it. Hiccup relaxed as he recognized the shape of his father's silhouette.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, easy bud," Hiccup whispered, stroking Toothless's scales lovingly as his father ascended. "It's just my dad."

Stoick smiled at the pair as he entered his son's bedroom, offering a light chuckle. "Son, you have a visitor."

Hiccup's heart dropped into the pit of his stomach as he caught sight of the second, much smaller figure as they stepped out from behind Stoick.

"Hey Hic!" Jack offered him and Toothless a friendly wave, Wodensfang chirping at them from his post on Jack's shoulder. "How're you doing, Toothless?"

Toothless huffed dismissively as the white-haired teen approached him and began to scratch his head.

"He's still a little on edge," Hiccup answered in the nightfury's place, keeping his eyes firmly on the bandage wrapped around his partner's leg.

"Don't worry Toothless," Stoick said, following Jack's lead and offering the nightfury a gentle pat on the muzzle. "I think we showed that dragon a thing or two about uninvited guests on Berk. I don't think he'll be coming back anytime soon." The chief paused. For a moment Hiccup thought he might have something more to say on the matter, but instead Stoick turned to Jack and said, "Will you be staying the night, lad?"

Panic seized Hiccup's limbs and he went rigid as he waited for Jack's answer. What should he do? What could he do? If he told Jack not to sleep here, he would definitely be suspicious, but if he did let Jack sleep in his room and had another one of those dreams...

"No thanks." Hiccup bit back a relieved sigh. "I kind of feel like sleeping under the stars tonight."

"...Are you sure lad? There's a rather fierce wind tonight."

"I'm sure," Jack replied. "Don't worry, the cold doesn't bother me that much." He paused, and then added, "And wild dragons don't either."

Stoick sighed. "Very well then."

With that the Hooligan Chief turned and walked out of the room. Hiccup imagined that every heavy footfall he heard from his father going down the stairs his heart was pounding harder and harder.

Perfect. He was alone - nearly - in his room with Jack. So far Jack was not paying him much mind, attention solely focused on Toothless. With Stoick's absence Baby Tooth dug herself out of Jack's purse. Her wings thrummed as she took to the air, giving Toothless a series of agitated chirps and squeaks.

((I can't believe you tried to fight that thing alone you absolute MORON!)) Baby Tooth scolded, earning an irritated glare from the nightfury. Jack smirked as he felt concern-worry-care-fear-relief rolling off of her in waves. ((You're lucky you got hurt, otherwise I'd punch you in the nose!))

((Nest-Killer-BAD!)) Toothless growled. ((Threat-enemy-prey-threat-hunt-he-mine-me-his-we-fight-fight-kill.))

"It doesn't have to be that way," Jack said, stroking the back of Toothless's neck. "We can help."

Curiosity piqued, Hiccup asked, "What are they saying?"

"Baby Tooth was yelling at Toothless for fighting Nest Killer alone," Jack explained. "And Toothless said that he and Nest Killer... belong to each other. That they have to kill each other."

((Does!)) Toothless hissed. ((Nest-Killer-evil-fight-must-kill-claw-tear-fight-Nest-Killer-threat-worry-threat-bad-bad-bad.))

Baby Tooth pouted. ((If he's that bad, we should all fight him.))

Toothless's pupils narrowed into slits and he bared his teeth. Baby Tooth shrank back as he snarled, ((NO! My-fight-MINE-Nest-Killer-hurt-me-fight-my-prey-mine-MINE!))

((You-die,)) Wodensfang hummed. ((Nest-Killer-big-prey-too-big-you-hurt-killed-die.))

((No-strongest-me-fastest-me-not-die-hunt-kill-fight-fight-defeat-Nest-Killer,)) Toothless huffed.

Jack translated it all for Hiccup.

"Toothless..." Hiccup moved his hand from his partner's injured leg to his back. Toothless turned to him, slitted pupils widening and a sad croon rising from his throat. "Why do you have to fight it alone? And do you really have to kill each other? I want..." His voice faltered. "I just want to help you, bud."

((Love,)) Toothless crooned. ((Hiccup-Love-no-fight-my-prey-you-Love-not-your-prey-not-your-hunt.))

"He says it's not your fight," Jack translated. Hiccup sighed.

"I don't care if it's not my fight; Toothless, you're my best friend, I want to protect you."

Toothless rolled his eyes. ((Me-strongest-fearless-no-weak-soft-skinned-hatchling.))

"I know you can take care of yourself," Hiccup replied as Jack finished translating. "But I still want to help you."

Toothless huffed and turned away, apparently not caring to carry the conversation any further. Hiccup watched, helplessly, as Toothless heated his stone slate, pacing in tight circles as his flame poured from his mouth, before plopping down on the fresh scorch mark and wrapped his wings over his head, effectively shutting his rider out.

((Stubborn oaf...)) Baby Tooth sniffed. Jack chose not to call her out on the hurt-worry-concern she was feeling.

"Well, at least it was only one spine," he sighed, leaning on his staff. "All things considered, that could have turned out a lot worse, right?"

It took Hiccup a moment to realize Jack was addressing him. "Er, right." He tried not to act any differently than he normally would, but he found himself unable to meet Jack's eyes. He wished all of this had not happened at once. In fact, he wished it had not happened at all. Between his horrifying, disgusting realization the evening before and the whispering death's attack that morning Hiccup was beginning to go mad.

"Hey." Hiccup went rigid when he felt Jack's hand on his shoulder. He tried not to jerk away this time, even though Jack's touch was sending a searing heat through his skin. "It's going to be all right," Jack assured him, offering a gentle smile. For one horrifying moment, Hiccup imagined covering Jack's lips with his own. "I'm sure Nest Killer's long gone by now."

Jack withdrew his hand, much to Hiccup's relief, and spun on his heel to face Toothless. The black dragon continued to ignore them, even when Jack gingerly placed his fingers on the wounded leg and said, "G'night Toothless. Take it easy, 'kay bud?"

Toothless huffed, but said nothing.

"G'night Hic." Jack turned to face him once more. "See you at the academy tomorrow."

Hiccup only barely managed to mumble out a 'mm-hmm.'

Jack quirked an eyebrow, wondering not for the first time that day what was wrong with the brunette. With what had happened to Toothless that morning, he supposed it was not surprising that Hiccup had been out of it, but the expression on Hiccup's face at the moment struck him as one of guilt, not worry.

"You don't have to be so hard on yourself." Hiccup flinched, and Jack smiled softly, thinking he had hit the nail on the head. "It's not your fault Toothless got injured."

"Uh, um... Right..." Hiccup rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Thanks."

Jack beamed. He plucked Wodensfang from his shoulders, earning a tiny squeak of protest, and handed him over to Hiccup. "No problem."

Hiccup wordlessly accepted the blue terror, not at all minding when Wodensfang's talons dug into his tunic as he scrambled up onto his shoulders. It was a distraction; from the clueless, innocent spirit flitting out of his window, frost fairy in tow, from the stubborn, proud dragon sulking in his room, and from his own hectic, confused, messed up life.

Once Jack and Baby Tooth were long gone Hiccup flopped down on his bed, earning an indignant squawk from Wodensfang. The terror climbed off of his stomach and crawled over Hiccup's furs. Lolling his head to the side, Hiccup found Wodensfang's face inches from his own. "Do you ever have days like this?"

Wodensfang blinked, tilting his head to the side and humming.

"No, I didn't think so."

Sleep did not come easily to Jack that night. Curled up in his snowbank, staring up at the slate sky - the clouds overhead had yet to break - he kept replaying that day's events in his mind and attempting to decipher them.

Hiccup had been acting strangely since the night before. Jack had been shocked when he slammed the door in his face, but eventually managed to rationalize it as Hiccup being eager to return to the warmth of his hut; Jack had not meant to fall asleep against the lanky teen and was feeling a bit guilty for chilling him like that. He had meant to apologize that morning, but then the whispering death had attacked and Jack forgot all about it.

As Hiccup's bizarre behavior continued, however, Jack was becoming less and less certain that it had anything to do with him accidentally falling asleep on the shorter teen. All day Hiccup had been avoiding eye contact with him, flinching every time he came close to touching him... The longest sentence Jack had managed to wrest from Hiccup all day had come when he was translating for Toothless after Hiccup fixed his bandage. Jack seriously doubted that his little slip the previous evening could have offended Hiccup that much...

Could it?

A tightness formed in Jack's throat and he rolled over onto his side, half-burying his face in the snow. He knew ranking friends was not polite, but in the privacy of his own mind - or to Baby Tooth, from whom he kept no secrets - he would admit that he liked Hiccup the best out of all of the dragon riders. He was smart, brave, funny, kind and, despite how down-to-earth and serious he tried to be most of the time, the kid knew how to have a good time; never before had Jack met anyone who could keep up with his aerial antics.

It hurt to think that he might have offended Hiccup so much that the dragon rider no longer wanted to have anything to do with him. Jack did not usually worry about offending others, but that was mostly because for three centuries there was hardly anyone for him to offend. He really had no idea whether or not he had crossed a line. Maybe falling asleep on someone was a grave insult in viking culture. Or maybe he just drooled on Hiccup.

Jack hummed thoughtfully. He wished North was there, or Tooth or Sandy. As much as he loved Baby Tooth, she was not much better at social interactions than he was. With a sad sigh, Jack allowed his eyes to slip closed as he attempted once again to fall asleep, despite his aching chest.

Hiccup was thankful to wake the next morning with dry sheets. The very last thing he wanted to do first thing when he woke up was beg a terrible terror to keep its mouth shut.

"Morning Wodensfang," he groaned as he lazily rubbed his sleep-fogged eyes.

A chirp came from somewhere to his right.

"Morning Toothless."

Silence.

"Toothless?"

Again, he was met with silence. Suddenly Hiccup was wide awake. He threw himself from his bed, nearly tripping over his own prosthetic foot. Wodensfang watched as he scrambled, donning the familiar appendage clumsily in his haste. Half-sprinting and half-limping, Hiccup rushed out of his house, praying to the gods that he would find Toothless on the roof, eagerly awaiting their morning flight.

The gods did not hear him, or if they did then they were ignoring him outright. Toothless was gone, and Hiccup had no doubt about where his best friend had gone.

"He went after him," Hiccup lamented, eyes on the sunken trail Nest Killer had left in his wake the previous day. "Alone."

With Astrid's help, Hiccup had managed to gather the rest of the Riders and Jack in the academy ring. Most of them had been sympathetic... most.

"Maybe Toothless just went for a morning flight," Snotlout teased, a goading smirk plastered on his face. "Oh that's right, he can't!"

Snotlout's derisive laughter was cut short when a snowball exploded across the side of his head. Now the twins were howling and he was left sputtering and cursing as he swiped clumps of snow and ice out of his hair and stinging ear.

"Hey!"

"You deserved it, mutton-head," Jack growled, stepping forward to meet Snotlout's glare as the burlier teen attempted to tower over him.

"Guys, this is not the time for this!" Astrid snapped, stepping between the two. "We need to focus on finding Toothless right now. Snotlout can get his butt kicked anytime."

"Hey!"

"Toothless must be looking for Nest Killer," Hiccup mused aloud, ignoring all three of them. "We find him, we find Toothless."

Nervously, Fishlegs raised his hand. "Um, what do we do if we find Nest Killer first?"

"Well," Hiccup replied with a shrug, "We train him."

"You know he's got 'Killer' in his name, right?" Tuffnut asked.

"Yup." Turning to Fishlegs, Hiccup asked, "Fishlegs, is there anything about the whispering death in the Book of Dragons that can help us?"

Fishlegs hummed, poked his tongue out a bit, and flipped open the tome. The new cover cracked as he flipped through the pages, searching for the section regarding the ground-dwelling dragon. "It can shoot razor-sharp spines from any part of its body."

"And how's that gonna help us?" Astrid snapped.

"Well, it would help if we stayed away from those," Fishlegs snapped back.

"Or," Tuffnut offered, "We could get near them and use Ruffnut as a human shield." He trailed off into a snicker, which was cut short as Ruffnut slammed her heel into his knee. "Ow! My knee cap!" Then, still holding his hurt knee and hopping on the opposite foot, "That's new. I like it."

"...No wonder the boars didn't want them any more," Jack murmured.

Hiccup rolled his eyes and turned back to Fishlegs. "This dragon must have a weakness."

"Actually, no. Yeah, it says right here: No known weaknesses."

Tuffnut leaned over Fishlegs's shoulder, admiring the illustration on the page. "Ha. I really love this thing."

"Do we really need to find a weakness?" Jack asked. "Couldn't we just, you know, talk to him?"

"Maybe you can," Snotlout growled. "The rest of us don't have freaky spirit powers."

Baby Tooth began chittering at him, shaking her tiny fist as she swore in hummingbird.

Looking around, Jack asked, "Would anyone be opposed to me turning him into a Snot-cicle?"

He received a mixed reply of 'nopes,' 'nuh-uhs,' shrugs, and head shaking.

"Cool." Jack pointed the crooked end of his staff at Snotlout, who immediately put up his hands in a disarming gesture and began to back away.

"Okay, Frosty, let's not do anything too hasty..."

"Okay, that's enough," Hiccup snapped as he climbed into Stormfly's saddle. "Can we just go, please?" He took Astrid's hand as she reached for him, helping to pull her into the saddle. "We don't know how much time we have."

"Don't worry Hiccup," Astrid assured him. "We'll find him."

With that she directed Stormfly out of the arena, the others following close behind.

The trail left behind by Nest Killer lead the group to Berk's vast forest. They were forced to fly low most of the journey, so as not to lose sight of the sunken terrain amidst the evergreen trees. Eventually their journey led them to the northern part of the island, at the line where the trees had begun to thin somewhat. There they found two massive holes in the earth, not unlike the ones Nest Killer had created in the center of the village.

Hiccup was the first one on the ground when the riders landed, with the sole exception of the Jack. Without the slightest bit of hesitation Hiccup was at the edge of the hole, peering down into the tunnels.

"Uh, Toothless? Toothless!" he cried, voice echoing through the whispering death's domain. An owl hooted somewhere not far off, but that was it; Hiccup received no answer from his dragon or from the whispering death.

Snotlout eyed the shredded soil skeptically. Then, crossing his arms and rounding on the others, he said, "How do we even know the whispering death made these holes?"

With a roll of her eyes, Astrid replied, "So you think it might be the other twenty-five hundred pound rock-eating dragon we're following?"

Jack had to fight to keep from laughing at the stupefied look on Snotlout's face.

"I know what you're-" Snotlout stopped, unsure. "Don't try to confuse me!"

"But it's so hard not to," Jack mock whined, Baby Tooth snickering alongside him. Snotlout shot him a dirty look.

"Shut it, Frosty."

"Look at this." Hiccup's voice drew everyone's attention. All eyes were on him as he rose from where he had been kneeling at the edge of the hole, holding a small, yellow fang in his fingers. "He must have lost a tooth."

"Is it sharp?" Tuffnut asked, buzzing with excitement. "If it is, I want it. I like sharp."

His sister grinned and clapped her hands together. "Yeah, sharp is good."

"Think about this," Fishlegs moaned. "Hundreds of those spinning together, ripping through dirt and tree roots, discarding rock like it's not even there."

((Where?))

Jack's head snapped up. Turning to the closest person, he asked, "Did you say something?"

Snotlout raised an eyebrow. "Uh, no."

Suddenly Stormfly's head cocked to the side. She squawked, clawing at the dirt beneath her feet in agitation. ((Run-danger-fear-hunted-bad-fear-bad-bad!))

Noticing her partner's frantic pawing, Astrid spun on her heel, facing the deadly nadder. "Stormfly, what's wrong?"

((Danger-us-in-hunted-fear-bad-danger-bad-run!)) Barf-and-Belch hissed, much to the bewilderment of his riders.

((Wheeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrre-hhheeeeeeeeeeeee? Ssssssmmeeeeeeeeeeelllll-hhhhiiiiiiiimmmm!))

Suddenly Jack knew what was going on.

"Guys, get away from the hole."

"What? Why?" Snotlout growled.

"Nest Killer's coming back! I can hear his voice!"

As though on cue, the ground beneath their feet began to quake. Baby Tooth landed on Jack's shoulder, balling her tiny fists in the coarse material of his tunic. The riders scrambled back, putting some distance between themselves and Nest Killer's lair. The rumbling and the hissing grew louder, pebbles on the surface began to bounce and quake, and the dragons' agitated crowing and pacing became frantic.

Fear-stubborness-pride-Love-protectiveness-anxiety rolled off of Baby Tooth in waves, even as she clung to Jack for dear life.

((Yyyoooooouuu-ssssmmeeeelllllll-Eeeaaaaaarrrrrrrrtttthhhhhhh-Hhhhhooooaaaarrrrdddeerrr! Iiiiiiiiiiiii-sssshhhhhrrrreeeeeeeedddd-yyyoooooouuuuuu!))

"Looks like we beat Toothless," Snotlout whimpered nervously.

"Yeah," Astrid whispered, "We win."

The ground exploded upwards, and in a spray of discarded soil and shredded tree roots the rogue whispering death appeared once more. Right in front of Fishlegs.

"I'm not feeling like a winner," he squeaked.

((What-you?)) Nest Killer roared as he brought his bulbous head down towards the husky viking. Fishlegs flinched, shying away from the spines as the whispering death examined him. ((You-fat-juicy-wingless-you-not-prey-you-not-Earth-Hoarder.))

"H-hi, sir," Fishlegs offered meekly. "Love the teeth."

Nest Killer reared back, and Fishlegs immediately took the opportunity to scamper away. ((Not-you-not-you-not-younotyounotyou!)) the whispering death shrieked. Once again he reared back, spiny tail whipping back and forth as he plowed into the earth below him. A huge cloud of dust erupted from the ground in his wake, blinding the teens and sending them into a coughing fit.

"I-" cough "-hate it when he does that!" Snotlout growled. "Can you at least tell my why he does that!?"

((Earth-Hoarder-hunt-kill-HATE!))

"Maybe to hunt?" Fishlegs offered, receiving only blank looks in response. "Maybe because it's cooler?" Still only blank looks; blank, expectant looks. "Maybe to look for water?" The ground shook again and suddenly nobody's attention was on Fishlegs, though the husky teen did not seem to notice. "Or maybe because he can't stand the pressure of everybody always expecting him to have the answers!" he wailed, arms flailing.

"He's losing it," Tuffnut whispered in a sing-song tone, leaning towards his sister.

"I know," she chuckled. "It's awesome."

The ground exploded again and Fishlegs ran shrieking as Nest Killer surfaced once more. Tuffnut, on the other hand, had to be held back by his sister before he could attempt to run up and pet the very hostile creature.

Hiccup stared at the angry, hostile dragon resolutely.

Then he took a step towards it.

"Do you actually have a plan?" Astrid called. "Or are you just trying to get yourself killed?"

Hiccup paused mid-stride and turned to face her. "If I can train it, it'll leave Toothless alone."

"Right," Snotlout smirked. "So you are trying to get yourself killed."

Hiccup was given no time to counter. He suddenly heard Nest Killer's roar right behind him and the moment he whirled around he was met with a spray of dirt. Instinctively, he held out his hand to the rapidly approaching dragon and turned his head away.

The others watched with the same kind of morbid fascination that came from watching a shipwreck. Hiccup's form was completely swallowed by a cloud of dust, and all that was visible of Nest Killer was his whip like tail.

Jack felt his heart clench as he stared at the spot where Hiccup should have been standing, Baby Tooth trilling from her perch on his shoulder. When the smoke cleared, however, he let out an audible sigh of relief as he saw that Hiccup had not been eaten and that Nest Killer was lying on the ground right in front of him, sightless eyes trained on the brunette and muzzle just inches away from his outstretched hand.

((What-you?)) Everyone stared in amazement as the whispering death neared Hiccup, nostrils flaring as he took in the viking's scent. ((You-wingless-you-smell-strange-dragon-scent-dragon-you-what-caution-strange-EARTH-HOARDER-not-Earth-Hoarder-what-you?))

Hesitantly Hiccup looked up, meeting the milky eyes of the whispering death. Neither of the two moved for several tense moments. Then, without warning, Nest Killer pulled back. Once again he dove into the ground, ripping a new tunnel through the earth and ignoring Hiccup as he ran after him.

"Okay..." Hiccup hummed as he came to a stop beside the new hole.

"Um, I know what you're thinking," Astrid said as she approached the brunette, drawing his attention for all of two seconds. "And the answer is no."

Hiccup jumped into the hole. His prosthetic squeaked as he landed at a crouch at the bottom.

With a scoff, Astrid asked, "Why does he always do that?"

"Oh man..." Fishlegs shuddered, nervously approaching the edge of the hole and throwing glances to the other teens. "I'm so glad I'm not down there with him right now." Suddenly he was shoved forward. "Whooooaahhh!"

Astrid shot Snotlout a disapproving look as he grinned remorselessly at her. "Oops. Whoa!"

The look Astrid gave Jack as he shoved Snotlout was only slightly less disapproving. Offering her a nonchalant shrug, he imitated the burly teen. "Whoops."

Snotlout and Fishlegs landed in a tangled heap behind Hiccup. The lanky teen shot them a bemused look as they struggled and shoved one another and pulled themselves gracelessly to his feet.

"Ah, thanks guys." Hiccup turned his back on them, eyes scanning the tunnel left behind by Nest Killer. "Kinda surprised you two were the first to volunteer."

"Yeah." Fishlegs laughed nervously. "W-we didn't want you to have to face that thing all alone, right Snotlout?"

Snotlout ignored them in favor of pounding on the dirt wall with his fists and glaring at the white-haired figure peering over the edge of the hole. "When I get outta here I'm making you eat that staff ice brain!"

((Hunt-where-he-find-track-hunt-Earth-Hoarder-where-find-where...))

Snotlout whirled around and Fishlegs flinched, a whimper escaping his throat as Nest Killer's hiss echoed through the tunnels. Hiccup's eyes scanned the area ahead of them; the new tunnel the whispering death had carved cut right through several already existing tunnels. Torn tree roots sprouted from the uneven walls, illuminated by the sparse sunlight filtering down from the entrance.

"This thing's been busy," Hiccup muttered, mostly to himself, as he began walking.

"Quick question: why are we down here again?" Fishlegs asked.

"Well," Snotlout answered in his cousin's place, "This idiot jumped and we fell."

Shooting Snotlout a glare, Fishlegs said, "Um, we were pushed, and you're the one who pushed me."

"This is where Nest Killer spends all of his time," Hiccup said, in answer to Fishlegs's original question. "There's gotta be something down here that can help us."

Snotlout eyed his surroundings skeptically. "Like a rope?"

((Smell-strangers-wingless-here-smell-Earth-Hoarder-not-Earth-Hoarder-where-you-where?))

The three teens jumped as Nest Killer's hiss came again, much closer than it had been a few minutes ago. Whipping around to his right, Hiccup caught a glimpse of a thorny tail disappearing around the corner.

"There it goes," he hissed, gesturing to the others. Ducking his head, Hiccup climbed into the second tunnel, prosthetic squeaking in protest as he traversed the uneven ground. "Let's follow it."

Snotlout and Fishlegs remained where they were, both staring innocuously at the walls and the ground. Hiccup turned, shooting them a raised brow. Fishlegs was the first to catch it.

"Oh, you were talking to us?"

"Fishlegs, new dragon," Hiccup argued, gesturing down the tunnel. "You love this stuff."

Fishlegs grumbled and reluctantly began to trudge behind Hiccup. "I hate that about me."

Giving up on escape, Snotlout huffed, crossed his arms, and followed the two geeks as they descended into the lair of the whispering death. "I hate that about you too."

"I hope they're all right down there."

Jack tossed a glance to Astrid. The blonde appeared uncharacteristically nervous, and not without reason. Turning his own gaze back to Nest Killer's tunnel, he wondered whether or not Hiccup actually had a plan in mind for if he came across the whispering death again.

"They'll be fine," he said, sounding surer than he felt. "They've got Hiccup."

"Right." Astrid rolled her eyes. "They've got a reckless idiot whose first thought when he sees a giant hole in the ground is 'let's jump down there and chase the giant spike-covered dragon that lives in it.'"

"Says the girl who rides a spike-covered dragon," Jack chuckled. Baby Tooth nodded, wings trilling as she hovered between the two. "Just watch; he'll come out of there riding on Nest Killer's back."

((I think he's gonna get eaten.))

"Shush."

Despite the heavy atmosphere, Astrid laughed. Even if she was unable to understand Baby Tooth's language she was able to figure most of it out simply through context. Crooking her finger, she offered her hand as a perch for the frost fairy, and smiled when Baby Tooth touched down, wings giving an occasional flick. Astrid stroked the silver feather atop her head and received a delighted coo in response.

Silence passed between them; it was not an uncomfortable one, exactly, but it was not comfortable either. Vaguely Jack was aware that the twins were roughhousing again, tumbling in the dirt while Barf-and Belch hissed, ((Annoyance-exasperation-you-hatchlings-you-calm-together-you-stop.))

"Hey Astrid?"

"Yeah?"

"Um, this might sound like a weird question, but do you, uh, do you know if I've done anything to piss Hiccup off?"

Astrid blinked. "To do what?"

"Did I do anything to make him angry?" Anxiously, he twisted his staff in his hands. "He's been acting weird since last night and I thought he might have said something to you."

Sadly, Astrid shook her head. "No. I tried to ask him about it earlier, but he just said he was worried about Toothless."

She sounded unconvinced.

Nodding, Jack replied, "That makes sense..." In truth, he did not believe it any more than she did, and she knew it. Baby Tooth took to the air once more as Astrid gingerly placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Don't worry about it so much," she said, offering him a small smile. "Once we get all of this sorted out he'll go back to normal. And if he doesn't I'll have a word with him."

Jack laughed as she removed her hand from his shoulder in order to pound her fist into her open palm.

The sound of frantic footsteps below drew their attention. Abandoning their argument, the twins ran to the ledge, joining Astrid and Jack as they stared down into the tunnel. Seconds later Hiccup appeared from the shadows, followed closely by Snotlout and Fishlegs.

"Are you all right?" Jack called down. He had been addressing Hiccup, but Snotlout was the one who answered.

"We're about to get eaten!"

The twins grinned like lunatics.

"Did you see the whispering death? Was it cool?" Tuffnut asked. His sister elbowed him roughly to the side, leaning down where he had been a moment ago.

"Did you touch it?"

He elbowed her back, and slapped her for good measure. "I wanna touch it!"

"Can we talk about this later?" Fishlegs cried before they could resume their earlier brawl. "We really need to get out of this hole."

As though to emphasize this, the crumbling of earth reached their ears and when Astrid looked up she saw two massive pines collapse into the ground. The earth bulged and then sank in a winding trail as Nest Killer closed in on them.

"Yeah you do!"

Without waiting, Jack dropped himself down into the hole. He grabbed hold of Hiccup's wrist, not missing the way the brunette tensed at his touch, and then propelled the both of them out. Fishlegs and Snotlout wasted no time either. Even before Hiccup had been set down at the top of the ledge Snotlout had dropped to one knee, cupping his hands for Fishlegs to use as a foothold and hoisted the hefty teen up. Astrid grabbed hold of his hand and the twins each grabbed hold of her, helping her to lift Fishlegs out of the tunnel.

((YOU-SMELL-YOU-INTRUDER-IN-MY-NEST-OUT-OUT-GET-OUT-WINGLESS-MONSTER-SMELL-YOU-GET-OUT-OUT-OUT!))

Snotlout spun on his feet, going pale at the sight of the whispering death's teeth emerging from a cloud of dust down at the far end of the tunnel, but growing nearer with every passing second. Taking a fearful step back, his lips began to move in a soundless prayer to Thor. Before he could finish, however, he was tugged up by the back of his bearskin vest, and the world around him became a blur of brown and gray, and then of green.

"Oomph!" Snotlout grunted as Jack dropped him gracelessly on the forest floor.

"We should run." Jack was already bounding away from the hole, as were the other teens.

"No arguments here!" Snotlout cried as he scrambled to his feet and ran after them.

A geyser of soil and pebbles and torn tree roots shot up from the hole. Everyone turned and stared as Nest Killer emerged, howling ANGER and PRIDE and RAGE at them. Baby Tooth trembled on Jack's shoulder, half from fear but also from fury. How dare this beast threaten her Love!

Tuffnut smirked. Leaning towards Hiccup he teased, "I don't think Nest Killer likes you in his hole."

"Yeah, I got that," Hiccup spat, narrowing his eyes at the male twin.

"Can we get out of here?" Snotlout growled and then, after locking eyes with Nest Killer and in a much more pitiful tone, "Please?"

"No!" Hiccup insisted. "I know I can train this thing. Anybody got some dragon nip?"

All of them did. The others rushed to shove handfuls of the herb into Hiccup's open hands. Even Jack had a small wad that he kept in the bottom of his purse for Wodensfang and Toothless. Shooting them all exasperated looks, Hiccup started towards the hostile dragon, holding out the clump of herbs in his cupped hands. "Don't be afraid. I'm a friend."

Nest Killer hissed, ((Caution-curiosity-anger-what-this-threat-trap-caution-bad-what-you-smell-wingless-invader-trap-trap-anger.))

Jack stepped forward, not wanting to interrupt before Hiccup had a chance to try, but wanting to be ready to intervene if things went south.

"You'll love this," Hiccup continued, offering the dragon nip to the whispering death. "All dragons love this."

The dragon sniffed at the herbs curiously, sightless eyes narrowing. ((Useless-weeds!)) Nest Killer snarled, flicking his tail at Hiccup and causing him to jump back. The herbs went flying, scattering in the air and raining down on the Berkian dragons. The riders watched, horrified, as their dragons immediately succumbed to their effects; Hookfang slumped down on the ground, purring contentedly, Barf-and-Belch began whirling in circles as they snapped individual leaves from the air, Stormfly began rubbing her cheek on the ground where the dragon nip had fallen, and Meatlug simply rolled on her side, eyes going lipid and nostrils flaring as she basked in the scent.

Snotlout blanched. "Oh, great. Now we're defenseless!"

((Go-go-invaders-leave-me-shred-tear-kill-shredtearkill-want-Earth-Hoarder-kill-you-no-leave-kill-you!))

"Any ideas?" Hiccup cried. "I'm throwing it wide open to the group!"

"I've got an idea," Snotlout replied. "RUN!"

The teens immediately turned and fled into the thick forest, save one.

Nest Killer hissed and lunged forward, crying out as he did, ((Shred-tear-kill-go-run-run-ru-))

The deafening, crackling sound of Jack's magic cut off Nest Killer's cry. His body hit the ground with a loud thud as he dropped from the air, tail encased in a thick block of ice.

((TRAAAAAAP!)) Nest Killer roared as he hissed and struggled and writhed in his prison. ((You-dragon-look-like-wingless-trap-you-Icicle-bad-trap-trap-free-me-want-free-please-please!))

The whispering death's cries became ever more frantic and pitiful as he realized he could not break free of the ice himself. The weight grounded him, making it impossible to go airborne. His spines tore up chunks of earth as he flailed uselessly. Finally he went limp, panting as exhaustion seemed to take hold of him.

Hiccup froze, watching from the edge of the treeline as Jack took several slow, cautious steps towards Nest Killer. His heartbeat pounded in his ears and before he knew it he was running back towards the whispering death and Jack.

"No, not yet," Jack said, struggling to keep his voice firm.

Fearlings and Nightmares he had no trouble attacking, as they were less living creatures and more physical representations of evil and fear itself. Hostile vikings he was a little more hesitant about fighting, but not when they were running towards him with their weapons raised. Nest Killer had only been trying to run them off, and only because he thought they were invading his home. Pushing that aside, Jack held his guilt at bay by remembering why they had come searching for the whispering death in the first place.

"Yesterday you attacked a friend of mine; the dragon you call Earth Hoarder." Nest Killer hissed at the mention of the name, but did not interrupt. "I want you to leave him alone. If you promise me that, I'll let you go."

((And don't come back to Berk,)) Baby Tooth added, glaring at the dragon from her perch. ((You're not welcome here anymore.))

((You-Icicle-Earth-Hoarder-flock-you-me-understand-me-go-go-free-me-please-please...))

Jack nodded, and then prodded the ice with the end of his staff. The ice immediately became brittle, spiderweb cracks forming deep down beneath the surface. With a final twist Nest Killer wrenched himself free, sending splintered shards of ice flying everywhere. Immediately he took to the air, hovering above the ground before Jack. For a moment all Jack felt was relief; the situation had been resolved, Nest Killer was leaving, and hopefully Hiccup would go back to normal, but then Nest Killer roared HATRED and DIE!

The spirit did not move for several tense moments, not quite processing what was happening. The whispering death seemed to move in slow motion, body arching as he raised his tail with the intent of firing his quills at the white-haired spirit who had trapped him. Frozen in shock at the unexpected betrayal - it had not occurred to to him for even a moment that a dragon would understand the concept of lying, as he thought of them as more or less innocent creatures - Jack could do nothing as the spine-covered tail came down on him. Thus he was completely caught off guard when he was tackled from behind. Together Jack, Baby Tooth, and Hiccup crashed to the ground, just underneath the spray of quills that Nest Killer fired at them.

((Die-die-trap-monster-hate-die!)) Nest Killer roared as he whirled around, prepared to launch another attack. He never got the chance.

((Nest-Killer-evil-bad-DIE!))

A black blur rocketed from the tree line. Jack scrambled up, pulling Hiccup after him as he put some distance between them and the two wrestling dragons.

"Toothless!" Hiccup called, but his partner ignored him. The nightfury's claws dug into Nest Killer's hide as the whispering death took to the air, flailing in a desperate attempt to shake him off. Toothless's more powerful wings beat against the air and with a forceful kick he sent his opponent flying. Nest Killer skidded across the ground until he struck a tree, stunned but not down.

((Earth-Hoarder-you-here-threat-bad-bad-danger-me-kill-shred-tear-you-your-flock-your-wingless-your-Icicle-you!))

((You-die-die-I-fight-claw-kill-tear-you-hate-hate-fight-hunt-you-kill-you-die!)) Toothless snarled, clawing at the ground and baring his teeth. Behind him the rest of the Berkian dragons reared themselves, coming out of their dragon nip-induced daze. In unison they snarled, ((Us-flock-fight-protect-protect-love-fight-you-fight-together-us-fight-win!))

Nest Killer shrank back, an agitated hiss sounding in his throat as the dragons' cries assaulted him. He whipped around and plowed headfirst into the earth.

Jack cried out as Hiccup bolted to Toothless's side. He placed his hands on the nightfury's saddle, prepared to mount him, but Toothless jolted at the unexpected touch and rounded on him, teeth bared in a warning snarl.

"Hey bud, it's me!" Hiccup cried, holding up his hands defensively. Toothless's snarl immediately died, a whine taking its place. "Look, I know what's going on with you and Nest Killer." Toothless's slitted pupils dilated. Emboldened, Hiccup reached for Toothless once more. "Let me help you..."

Toothless drew back, flaring his wings as he bounded out of his partner's reach.

"Toothless, come back!" Hiccup cried, immediately giving chase. "Toothless!"

Suddenly Toothless stopped, whirling to face his rider. A hiss rose from his throat and without warning he shot a plasma bolt at the earth between himself and Hiccup. Hiccup froze, bewildered and hurt as he stared first at the smoking crater separating himself from his best friend, and then at the proud dragon standing across from him.

((Sorry-sorry-Love-sorry-my-prey-my-hunt-not-yours-sorry,)) Toothless crooned. A moment later he had turned his back again and run off, leaving Hiccup far behind him.

"Hiccup..." Jack started to reach for the brunette, only to flinch and pull his hand away as he realized that the smaller boy would probably reject his touch anyway.

Tuffnut appeared behind them.

"Awkward."

Both Jack and Hiccup turned to shoot him a dirty look.

The Riders and Jack had taken to the air again in search of Toothless and Nest Killer. As they flew, Jack explained to them what he had heard of the dragons' conversations. Coupled with what Hiccup, Fishlegs and Snotlout had seen in the whispering death's tunnel, each of the teens drew the same conclusion.

"So Toothless has an archenemy," Snotlout mused, shooting Hiccup a look. "Just like you and me."

"Snotlout, you're not my archenemy," the exasperated teen called back. As before, he was riding with Astrid atop Stormfly.

"Well you're mine." Snotlout sent Hiccup what was meant to be a threatening look; the others just thought he looked buffoonish.

Ignoring him, Astrid turned to Hiccup. "So, what are you going to do now? If Toothless won't let you help him then..."

"I have to do something. It's not a fair fight. If Toothless is gonna win he has to fly, and he can't fly without me."

"But he doesn't want anyone's help," Jack shouted. "Whatever happened between those two, it's personal for Toothless."

"Right." Snotlout was surprisingly quick to agree. "This is between him and the other guy."

"But whether he wants it or not, he needs my help." Turning his eyes back to the land below, he continued, "We need to find him, and soon."

The wind whistled over Toothless's scales as he raced along the forest floor. His wounded leg ached, the bandage had come undone and flown off long ago, but he paid it no mind. Only one thing concerned him at the moment.

He came to a stop at a depression in the earth, the center of which was another of the whispering death's tunnels. Lowering his head, he breathed deeply of the stagnant air underground. He could smell Nest Killer, along with faint echoes of his hatred-fury-pain-rage-fear.

((Follow-anger-hunt-rage-hunt-find-anger-claw-kill-tear,)) he roared into the depths. He would not descend, though. That was his prey's territory, and he did not want to fight Nest Killer where the whispering death would be most in his element. Instead he bounded over the hole, following the distorted earth the whispering death had left in his wake.

The smell of salt and fish and sea grew stronger as he followed Nest Killer's trail. Ahead Toothless could see a break in the tree line where the forest ended, as did the land. If Nest Killer continued this way he would tunnel right out of the cliff face.

"There he is!" a familiar, but unwelcome voice called from the sky. Toothless did not have to turn to see what had happened. Though the wind blew his scent in the wrong direction, Toothless knew that Hiccup-beloved had found him again. He was aware when Hiccup and the rest of their flock set down behind him, the others remaining seated on their dragons while Hiccup alone dismounted, but resolutely he kept his senses to the hunt ahead. This was not a fight for his beloved.

Yet when Hiccup approached him, smelling of Love-worry-concern-hurt-sad-Love Toothless could not stop himself from turning around, growl dying in his throat. Hiccup approached him cautiously, clawless paw outstretched.

((Guilt-sorry-Love-sorry-sorry,)) Toothless crooned as he pressed his head against his beloved's outstretched paw.

Instantly relief-happy-safe-Love-relief-Love washed over Hiccup. He smiled, placing both hands on the underside of Toothless's jaw and pulled him into a warm embrace as he breathed, "Hey bud. You had me so worried there for a while. You haven't been yourself lately." Hiccup pulled away and looked Toothless in the eye. "Good to see you're still you."

Jack smiled at the exchange. For the first time all day Hiccup looked genuinely happy. Baby Tooth hummed relief-happy-warm-good along with her larger-half.

The moment was ruined by a sudden, fierce tremor.

Nest Killer emerged from his tunnels yet again, hissing, ((Found-you-hunt-you-kill-you!))

Toothless's pupils narrowed into serpentine slits as he bared his fangs at the whispering death. ((Hatred-anger-kill-hate!)) he snarled, muscles bunching under his scales as he prepared to launch himself at the other.

Hiccup tensed, drawing himself closer to his partner. "You could just walk away from this, bud."

Nest Killer screamed ((HATRED-KILL-TEAR-SHRED-RIP-DIE-DIE-DIE!)) at them and Toothless knew he could not; if he turned his back on his prey, Nest Killer would continue to pursue him until one of them had finished the other. Even if that were not the case, he had no desire to show mercy. Nest Killer was evil. He was destructive and remorseless and he cared nothing for innocent hatchlings.

((Stay-back-back-you-not-yours-my-prey-my-hunt-MINE!)) Toothless snarled. He flared his wings and hissed at Nest Killer, ((Hatred-fury-disgust-hate-hate-claw-tear-kill-you-you-prey-die-die-DIE!))

"Let's just go home!" Hiccup insisted, attempting once more to climb into Toothless's saddle, only to be shaken off.

Toothless leaped forward, able only to glide short distances. The rest of the teens ran to Hiccup's side as the nightfury took off once more.

"Oh, you were so close!" Fishlegs cried, fully aware he was stating the obvious. "I thought you had him."

Toothless screamed and launched a plasma blast at Nest Killer. The whispering death weaved fluidly around the attack, and when Toothless leaped off of the ground, attempting to take the fight airborne but wavering and losing his mobility within moments, Nest Killer lashed his thorny tail down, catching Toothless's side and sending him sprawling back to the island below.

He recovered quickly, rolling back onto his paws and screeching at his opponent. Once again Toothless tried to go airborne, but as he swerved his tail he felt his balance disappear and he plummeted back towards the ground. Taking advantage, Nest Killer released a geyser of red-orange flame at his grounded opponent. The heat did not bother Toothless so much, his fireproof scales protecting him from the worst of it, but the force of the blast knocked Toothless on his back. Nest Killer called out ((Mockery-power-pride-hah! Earth-Hoarder-weak-grounded-flightless-weak-prey!))

Finally Toothless managed to flip himself upright and screamed, ((Strong-fast-fierece-strong-me-no-prey-no-weak-hunt-hate-kill-claw-tear-you!))

Hiccup and the others watched all of this, horrified. Jack's staff glimmered and crackled with magic just barely held in check, but he did not fire for fear of hitting Toothless. The hum and buzz of Baby Tooth's wings was a constant in his ear as she felt fury-fear-worry-anger-helplessness-protectiveness all at once.

"He need our help." Hiccup wasted no time in clasping Astrid's hand and pulling himself into Stormfly's saddle. They and the other dragon riders started forward, hissing and squawking and growling in unison. Before they could interfere, however, Toothless rounded on them.

((Back-back-you-thieves-you-my-prey-fight-hunt-MINE-you-no-steal-you!))

Instantly the Berkian dragons backed off, much to the bewilderment and frustration of their riders.

"Come on girl," Astrid urged as Stormfly pulled back from the two combatants and began pawing at the ground.

"Hookfang won't budge!"

"I think ours is broken!"

Only Fishlegs was able to figure out on his own what was happening. "They know this isn't their fight, guys!" he called as Meatlug backed away.

Nest Killer lunged for Toothless. The nightfury nimbly ducked to the side, but was caught off guard by the spiraling jet of flame his opponent launched at him a moment later. The blast knocked Toothless out of the tree line. He skidded to a stop a few feet from the edge of the island. He snarled hatred and fury at Nest Killer as he once again plowed into the earth. The resulting tremor seemed to shake the whole island and to no small amount of horror Hiccup realized what the whispering death was planning.

Rock and dirt collapsed between Toothless and the rest of the island. Nest Killer bellowed TRIUMPH and HATE as he carved a deep crevice into the earth. With a wide canyon ahead of him and the ocean at his back Toothless was left completely isolated, and could only barely dodge when Nest Killer resurfaced and blasted a ring of flame at him. His back claws scrabbled over the edge of the pillar of rock. Pebbles and bits of earth plummeted down into the sea below.

"Toothless!" Hiccup cried, running as far forward as the crumbling earth would allow him to go. Toothless barely dodged another attack, and for a moment he looked up, locking eyes with Hiccup. "Buddy..."

Another jet of flame blocked Toothless from view. ((Hah-I-win-I-win-you-trapped-pitiful-prey-weak-weak-helpless-Earth-Hoarder-you!)) Nest Killer taunted as he circled the air overhead.

"He's going to knock him into the canyon!" Hiccup cried.

Jack stared, horrified. Tightening his grip on his staff, he started forward. Maybe if he got between them he could-

"Stop!" Suddenly a calloused hand grabbed his, jerking him back. Whirling, he found Hiccup staring at him, his eyes resolute and his grip near-bruising. "You'll get yourself killed."

"I'm immortal," Jack countered, tugging his hand away, but he did not follow through with his plan.

Training his eyes on Toothless, Hiccup took a step towards the ledge.

Toothless's head fins perked. He turned to his rider as he felt his determination-fear-Love-resolve. Keeping his eyes locked on his rider, he watched as Hiccup took another step towards the ledge, and then another.

Holding his arms out, Hiccup fell forward, throwing himself into the chasm below.

"Hiccup!" someone, he was not sure who, cried.

((Love!))

Toothless hardly noticed when Nest Killer launched another spiral of flame at him; he threw himself from the pillar, wings beating furiously as he propelled himself towards his partner. Loose earth and soil left behind by Nest Killer whirled around them with every stroke.

Fear gripped Jack's heart in a painful hold as he stared down at the bottom of the cliff, where Hiccup and Toothless had disappeared in a cloud of dust. When a black blur raced from the cloud, crying out ((Brave-brave-fierce-us-together-us)) relief washed over him and a silly grin split his face.

"Yes!" Astrid cheered, pumping her fist into the air at the sight of Hiccup and Toothless flying together from the crevice below.

Hiccup grinned, placing his palm on Toothless's head. "You save me, I save you." His prosthetic shifted in the stirrup and together the nightfury-pair turned on Nest Killer. "That's the way it is."

The air around them screamed as they raced towards Nest Killer. The whispering death roared, ((Hate-hate-kill-rip-tear-shred-you-BOTH-you!)) and fired a ring of flame at them. They weaved around the attack, barely feeling the heat, and when several whistling quills flew through the air towards them Hiccup shifted Toothless's tail fin and they danced out of the way of those as well.

Hiccup and Toothless shot straight up into the sky. Opening his wings, Toothless halted their ascent and whirled around, firing a plasma bolt at Nest Killer. Nest Killer roared HATRED and FEAR and INDIGENCE as he dodged the attack. For the first time in a week, the clouds overhead parted, allowing pale sunlight to warm Toothless's scales and the back of Hiccup's neck.

A pained screech erupted from Nest Killer's throat. Toothless and Hiccup shot towards him, but already he was retreating underground, leaving nothing but a cloud of dust in his wake. Eying the area for some sign of the whispering death, Hiccup wondered what had caused him to suddenly retreat like that. Then it hit him.

"The sunlight Hiccup!" Fishlegs cried as he and Toothless hovered overhead. "That's his weakness!"

Hiccup smiled and turned to Toothless. "Okay, bud. Let's keep him above ground."

Toothless huffed in agreement. Nest Killer may have ruled the underground, but together he and Hiccup-beloved ruled the sky. If Nest Killer wanted to threaten them, he would have to do it where they had the advantage.

The night-fury pair rocketed through the forest. A hiss rose in the back of Toothless's throat and using all but the very last of his shots he fired off several plasma blasts into the gaping holes left behind by the whispering death. Pillars of violet-white light shot up from the tunnels as they collapsed, sinking mounds of earth and pine trees as they did.

((Come-out-come-out-coward-Nest-Killer-prey-fight-us-we-together-Hiccup-Toothless-fastest-strongest-best-hunt-hunt-fight-defeat-you!))

"This. Is. Amazing." Ruffnut breathed as she watched the forest light up. Her brother patted Belch on the back of his neck.

"We've got to find you an arch-nemesis."

Finally Nest Killer emerged from his lair, dazed by both the intense light and the sound of the blasts. ((Hate-hate-kill-you-kill-Earth-Hoarder-wingless-grind-tear-shred-your-bones!))

He opened his maw to release another jet of flame, but Toothless was too fast. Rocketing forward, he plowed into Nest Killer, slamming him into the ground where he kept him pinned. A low hiss rose in Toothless's throat as he prepared to fire off his last shot.

"Toothless, no!" Hiccup cried, feeling Love-fear-worry-tired.

Toothless swallowed the shot, locking eyes with his rider and then with Nest Killer.

((I-find-you-find-you-both-hunt-hunt-track-shred-tear-kill-you!)) Nest Killer hissed. Toothless bared his fangs. This dragon was evil. Icicle had already shown him mercy and Nest Killer had betrayed him. He deserved death.

((DDDOOOOONNN'TTT-CCOOOOOOOOOMMMEE-BBBAAAAAAAAAAACCKKKKK!))

Then he pulled back, settling on the ground next to his defeated opponent. Immediately Nest Killler was up, tail whipping frantically behind him as he fled back under ground. Feeling the vibrations in his paws, Toothless knew that Nest Killer had left for good this time. He did not deserve mercy, but Hiccup-beloved was kind-hearted and did not like to kill.

The sound of beating wings reached his fins. Turning away from the sunken trail left behind by his opponent, Toothless found that his cousins had reuinited with their riders, and were now settling on the torn earth around him and Hiccup.

"Oh man!" Snotlout cried as he and Hookfang set down. "Toothless could have finished him off!"

"Well, I guess all dragon grudges aren't to the death," Hiccup replied with a relieved sigh.

Fishlegs smiled. "I guess I'll have to change that in the book." And with that, he took off, Meatlug's wings vanishing into a blur. The other riders followed suit, taking to the air beside him. Only Hiccup and Toothless hung back... and Jack.

"Hey."

Hiccup flinched at the sound of Jack's voice. For a moment he avoided the other's eyes, but then he realized that would be suspicious so he forced himself to look at Jack. There was nothing in the ice elf's expression to indicate he had noticed anything weird; for a moment Hiccup had been fearful that he had somehow given himself away when he grabbed Jack's hand. He had not been thinking at the time, his body had simply been moving on its own.

The expression on Jack's face was not hateful or disgusted or frightened, however. He looked... concerned, and suddenly a second pool of guilt settled right beside the first in the pit of Hiccup's stomach.

"Are... are you going to be all right?"

"Y-yeah of course!" Hiccup replied. Scratching the back of Toothless's neck, he continued, "Nest Killer's gone for good this time, I'm sure of it."

"Okay..." Jack looked... hurt. Disappointed. Hiccup knew the feeling. "You know you can trust me, right? If anything's bothering you..."

"I know," Hiccup replied. 'You're the one who can't trust me.'

"Okay."

Silence settled between them, and Hiccup thought that was it. Suddenly Jack moved forward, catching Hiccup by surprise and drawing the him into a hug. "Thanks for saving me," he whispered before abruptly letting go. Not giving the brunette a chance to respond, Jack took off, rapidly closing the distance between himself and the rest of the riders. Frozen in shock, Hiccup stared after him with a blush forming on his cheeks. He was bewildered and frightened but also strangely happy.

Toothless shook, rattling Hiccup in the saddle and goff goff goffing when Hiccup glared at him. "All right, all right, I'm going."

It was another sleepless night for Hiccup. Toothless snored quietly nearby on his slate, chest rising and falling with every slow, even breath. His injured leg had received a new dressing the moment they returned to the village, and the next day they would be plugging up the holes left by the whispering death. Hiccup's mind was elsewhere. Staring up at the ceiling, Hiccup continued lacing and unlacing his fingers together, remembering the feel of Jack's cool skin against his own. He wished he could want it without feeling disgusting.

Maybe he could still be close to Jack, though. As long as he never acted on his desires, perhaps he could continue to have a normal friendship with the white-haired teen; he would continue to stay near him, he would continue to protect him, and he would never, ever allow himself to hurt Jack. In the privacy of his own mind, he promised himself this.