Chapter 42: Beyond What We Know (Part 2)
"Idea! What if we made an outpost here? This place could be our base!" Snotlout suggested enthusiastically.
"Hiccup and I-" I started, but was rudely cut off by Astrid.
"It would need to be functional and operational. There is no way in the Nine Worlds we are going to have a chaotic base."
"Uh, guys? Could you let-" Hiccup tried, but was also cut off by Fishlegs.
"While I agree with Astrid, we also need a place for rest, relaxation, and replenishing after a hard day's work."
"Guys would you just-" Both Hiccup and I tried simultaneously, but were yet again cut off by the twins.
"Okay hear us out." Ruffnut started.
"Boar pit." Tuffnut finished with a triumphant smirk, his other half matching with her own.
"GUYS!!"
Everyone looked towards Hiccup and I, going completely silent.
"Thank you." I said.
"Like we were trying to say before all of you butted in with ideas. Kala and I were already planning out how we would build a home here." Hiccup explained.
"Since we didn't think you guys would rush after us, we didn't consider making an outpost. But we could add onto our idea that way everyone is happy." I continued.
"Enlighten us then Ms. Stealer of Men." Astrid retorted with her arms crossed as she glared at me.
I glared right back at her and restrained myself from growling. "Well, Hiccup and I were gonna build our hut high up so that way it would be easier to keep an eye out for enemies. We were also gonna make stables for dragons in case anyone came to visit us or something."
"We also planned on building a dragon training area. From that we could add on all of your ideas and connect all the huts by bridges, ziplines, and gangplanks. You can have them wherever you guys see fit. We can add a clubhouse in the center for planning and just hanging out as a group." Hiccup added.
"Sweet! Can I have my hut be S-shaped?" Snotlout asked.
"Well..no, but you can go S-crazy with decorations." Hiccup decided.
"Awesome." Snotlout said with a smirk, arms crossed.
"And before you two ask, yes you can have a boar pit under your hut. Just make sure to lock them up after you're done with them, alright?" I stated as I looked directly at the twins.
The twins smiled and hugged me tightly. "Thank you!"
I smiled slightly and pushed them off. "Yeah, yeah."
"Could we add in lookout towers Hiccup?" Astrid asked, pushing me away rather harshly from him and sending me to the ground.
This earned growls from Hiccup and I, but they both went unnoticed.
"Sure, why not?" He monotonously answered as he came back to my side, clearly not happy with how harsh Astrid pushed me as he helped me up.
"So where on this island would we build it all?" Fishlegs questioned and Hiccup and I looked at one another in thought.
"Well there's that cliff formation that's on the eastern side of the island that could work." I reasoned as I thought back to the view we got when Hiccup and I chose this place as our new home.
"I agree. It faces the uncharted areas and would be easy to defend." Hiccup added, neither of us aware that chaos was about to commence.
~~~HTLANF~~~
Later that day, everything went downhill. Everyone fought over where their huts were going to be and over materials to build said huts. Kala and I were able to finish our hut in no time, but as soon as we went to go check on the others, there was nothing but a mess of materials and everyone fighting over who got what.
Kala looked at me with a tired expression. "Leave them to fight amongst one another while we explore?"
I nodded and the both of us left the others to their fighting to explore our new home.
The island was breathtaking. It was covered in forests that were decently sized and there were many cliffs. Kala and I even came across some lagoons.
We were on the other side of the island once the sun began to set and the view was gorgeous.
"This island is absolutely perfect. If only the others didn't follow after us.." Kala said a bit downcast at the end.
I sighed and nodded. "Yeah, but there's nothing we can do about it now. All five of them are as stubborn as ever. So we'll just have to deal with it for now."
Kala nodded as we continued to venture through the forest, but we both froze in our tracks when we heard a rustling noise. We looked towards where the rustling was coming from and waited to see what was hidden in the brush.
After a couple of seconds, a small black dragon popped out and tilted its head. Kala and I relaxed and she let out a relieved sigh.
"Oh good. It's just a Night Terror."
"Night Terror?" I asked with a raised brow.
"They're nocturnal dragons that defend their home in large groups. The last time I came across a flock was when I was eight winters old. I wonder what this one is doing alone.." Kala explained as she looked at the small dragon.
"You never cease to amaze me, milady." I sighed out lovingly.
She smiled at me with a light blush and pushed a strand of her midnight locks behind her ear.
The Terror crooned and rushed back into the brush, then peaked its head out and signaled us to follow. We looked at one another confused then followed after the small dragon, curiosity bubbling under the surface.
We followed the Night Terror for what felt like hours, but it was actually just a few minutes. The Terror then came to a stop in front of a cave and its flock appeared and started to form into a big arrow in the air directed at the cave entrance.
"What the?" I asked, not understanding what the Terrors were trying to get at.
The flock then repositioned into a large Night Fury, then went back and forth between the arrow and Night Fury, still pointed at the entrance of the cave.
"I think they're wanting us to get something from the cave..but why do they keep making a Night Fury?" Kala questioned.
"No clue..maybe whatever is in this cave is related to your species?"
"Maybe.."
"C'mon. Let's check it out." I said as I took Kala's hand and guided her into the cave.
When we entered, it immediately lit up with a dim blue glow from crystals and other types of rocks. It wasn't that deep of a cave, but it was deep enough to house a few Monstrous Nightmares. There wasn't anything carved into the walls, just the crystals and rocks that emitted the dim glow.
"Hiccup look." Kala said as she pulled at my sleeve.
I turned my attention to where she was looking and my eyes widened.
"Is that a journal?"
Kala nodded and made her way towards the pedestal that harbored the journal in question. I followed after her as I looked around the cave to see if there were any hidden carvings to indicate the importance of the journal, but there was nothing. I shook my head and looked at the journal.
The cover was made of leather and had what seemed to be Night Furies flying about as the design. The writing on it was hard for me to read, but I assumed it was in the dragon tongue.
"Can you make out what it says Kala?"
She nodded as she traced her fingers along the cover. "It says 'The Journal of the Night Furies'. It's in dragon tongue. I didn't even know there was a written version of our language.."
I looked at her and saw that there were tears forming in her green orbs. "You okay love?"
She nodded and wiped at her eyes. "Yeah..just..didn't expect to find something like this..what..what if this is just full of ways to kill Night Furies..?"
"Well we won't know unless you open it, now will we?" I rested my hand on her shoulder and smiled softly.
She took a deep breath and nodded. "You're right."
Kala picked up the journal and slowly opened it, scared of what could be inside. I looked over her shoulder in curiosity. The pages were very detailed and had writing and illustrations, but none of it was in Norse.
"What does it say?"
"It's..everything about my species. Where they're from..how they age..how they mate..and how they bond..Hiccup this is a full on manual on Night Furies."
"Wait. Did you say how they bond? What does that mean?"
"I'm not sure." She said, flipping through the pages to get to the proper section.
I waited patiently for her to read through it before explaining. Her eyes widened as she read and she froze in place.
"What? What is it?"
"Hiccup, do you remember what happened when we first met..?"
"Why wouldn't I? I went searching for you after I shot you down, set you free, you roared in my face and flew off, then I went looking for you again the next day. Why?"
"What happened when you saw me transform..?"
"I couldn't take my eyes off you. You were and still are the most beautiful girl I have ever laid my eyes on. I got a nosebleed from seeing you and passed out, then I woke up at the bottom of the cove with you hovering above me. What does this have to do with the whole bonding thing?"
"Hiccup..that was the bonding thing.."
"What do you mean?"
"Apparently if a human sees a mature Night Fury transform into their human form..that person will bond to the Night Fury in question..falling head over heels for the dragon or dragoness and forgetting any other romantic feelings they had towards others.." Kala looked at me with tears in her eyes. "Hiccup, what if what we have is all a lie..? What if you just think you love me because of this stupid bond..?"
"Woah, woah, woah. Calm down love." I said, cupping her face and wiping away tears that escaped. "I can promise you that my feelings for you are genuine. No magical bond will change that, okay? So what if it erased any other romantic feelings I had for other people? I have all I need right in front of me. This bond actually helped me see the truth and I wouldn't have it any other way."
She sniffled a few times, a few more tears slipping out. "You mean it..?"
"With all my heart milady." I reassured, resting my forehead against hers.
I felt her relax and press her forehead against my own, soft purrs escaping her throat. I smiled as I wiped away the rest of her fallen tears.
"There's my love. Just because we're bonded, doesn't mean my feelings are forced, alright?"
Kala nodded. "Alright."
After a couple more minutes we separated and I kissed her cheek.
"What else does it say?"
"Oh, um.." She went back to reading through the section and froze once more. "What the?"
"What?"
"That can't be right..it's not possible..is it..?"
"What's not possible?"
"I..it says that once a human is bonded with a Night Fury they.." She trailed off, not knowing how to word what she was about to say.
"That they what Kala..?"
She took a deep breath and locked eyes with me. Determination glimmering in her beautiful orbs.
"They slowly start to become a Night Fury themselves.."
"Wait, what?!"
~~~HTLANF~~~