Chapter DDD (and you don't need special glasses to read it)

Disclaimer: Don't own these characters. Oh, and also... please read the following without glasses:

E

F P

T O Z

L P E D

P E C F D

E D F C Z P

F E L O P Z D

(If you have trouble reading this, please contact your nearest eye doctor. If you are a dragon and have trouble reading this, please stop chewing the dragon grass)

Also, a grateful "Thank you" to Catnip-Packet for her movie rendition of the story that you can find here on this site. It helped to read her story for the dialogue and plot as a way to make sure I captured the essence of the story the right way. I had to watch the DVD story again for this, and being able to match what I heard against her accurate retelling was a nice way to make sure I heard things correctly. All mistakes in this story, though, are mine.

Chapter 3, in which the following aspects are examined:

* Therapeutic target practice

* Riders as opposed to riders

* Summer memories and relation to squirrel nut hoards

* Tracking escaping Blacksmiths, methods thereof

* Motivations for altruism/Lack of motivations for altruism

* Alpha male is not equal to big and strong

* Evidence that Vikings used detail art on their sailing boats

* Imposters ahoy!

* Alone again, naturally

* Kidnapped!

* A most curious paradox

I stretched my neck out and yawned , letting my tongue loll out.

Then I closed my mouth and snorted softly, flexing my neck and shoulders.

:: Bring it on,:: I said with soft determination.

A rock soared into the air, higher and higher. I watched it, tensing, my eyes narrowed to set my coordinates.

SWWWZZZZFZZZZZZZZZWAAAAAAP ! my indigo plasma bolt shot upward and smashed the sizable rock. The poor thing exploded into powdery bits that drifted to the ground. It never had a chance.

Since I was doing it from short range and not using a lot of energy, there was none of my trademark banshee call that impresses the Viking Firemakers so much.

::I must say you're taking this very well, Toothless,:: Skybird said. She was crouched into herself, fighting off a doze caused by from the solid, rapidly warming sunlight.

:Very good,:: added Gracie, flicking her long, ridged tail around her legs as she assessed the rapidly growing pile of dust and small pebbles, ::Want another one?::

::Maybe another round of ammunition, thanks.:: I sent calmly, ::Then that should do it.::

Actually, there weren't enough hours in the day to contain the amount of rocks I wanted to blow up. There probably not enough rocks on the planet to contain the amount of rocks I wanted to blow up.

Gracie must have picked up on how much effort it was taking me to keep calm, for she collected five more rocks. She wrapped her prehensile tail around one. With a sharp flick of her well muscled tail, the rock shot up into the air.

She immediately followed it with the other four with the staccato of driving rain.

Ahhh… a challenge was what I needed!

I positioned myself and leapt upwards, wings out, following the rocks. I managed to crack all of them in one plasma bolt as it swept in an arc towards them.

When I thudded back to the ground various dragons roared and chirped in admiration of my acrobatic skills and firepower.

::Beautiful, Toothless!::

::Go Firedrake, go!::

::Good on you!::

Their honest joy at my skill warmed my heart and pushed the anger down a bit more. There they were, a collection of large dragons, well-armed and powerful. I was smaller than all of them except for the Sticky Fire People, and I had an amputated limb.

Yet, I had just done something most dragons would not have had the agility or precision to do. Unlike Firemakers, who equate height and strength with power and competence, we People know it's the smaller People who are the most dangerous of our kind.

I was done for a while, so I moved towards Skybird and sat down next to her.

The energetic, beautifully patterned Magnesium Person nudged over a wooden platter of freshly caught fish given to her by Ástríður's mother in the girl's absence.

Nodding my gratitude, I selected a plump, sweet smelling sea bass and tossed it down my throat. Rich hints of the sea complemented the savory, deep taste of its flesh. The pleasant flavors soothed me a bit.

Well, a supremely gnat -sized bit of a bit, anyway.

I then licked my paw and began cleaning my leopard-shaped head and sensors, ::Thanks, Skybird. That was delicious::

::You're welcome, Toothless-Fire Drake. You've shared more than a few fish with me, so I owed you one.::

The Magnesium person opened her eyes fully and caught my gaze, ::I wish there were some magic words or thoughts I could give you to put your heart at ease. Your Rider will return to you. All will be well.::

I snarled in irritation and let myself flop to my side, the intensity of my fall causing some wet dirt clods to shower up around me.

::I was supposed to go with the Firemaker teens and Gobber! But I got left behind! How can I relax knowing Hiccup's out there, crippled, possibly in danger? We're a team, scorch it!::

::He's not alone,:: Skybird tried to soothe me, ::Our riders are all very good fighters, and they look up to Hiccup's leadership. They're not going to let him get hurt.::

::But they're searching for a very dangerous type of Person, a Boneknapper as they call it! They're going in over their head!::

And another plasma bolt shot out from my muzzle, sizzling the newly emerging moss and grass around me.

::Oy! Hey, Toothless! Contain yerself, laddie, will you?:: Gracie leapt in the air, barely missing my plasma blast, ::Sure, and I'm a beautiful and attractive dragoness and whatnot, but I prefer more subtle and gentler compliments.::

::Whoops. Sorry, Gracie! Honestly, I did not mean to hurt you!.::

:: Only just to kill me.:: Gracie grumped.

::Why aren't the rest of you upset about this?:: I asked the cluster of dragons who now had started to form around Skybird and me, ::Skybird, Oakheart, Firewyrm, Gracie, Cloudspinner- your riders are there with Hiccup! Aren´t you scared for them?::

There were no responses to my inquiry. Just an array of cat-hued dragon eyes: gold, green, topaz, gray, orange, beryl, bronze.

::Errm:: The normally brazen Firewyrm finally, said softly, ::Well, Toothless... um, of course we are worried. But they are Viking Firemakers. They've been fighting and laughing at danger since they lost their milk teeth. I think they'll be all right for the most part cons-...::

::Except for Hiccup!:: I shot back, before she could continue.

::I did not imply that,:: Firewyrm flattened her antennas in slight irritation, ::I fear and respect him more than I do the other Firemakers. I can defeat any Viking's sword and strength. I cannot defeat Hiccup's keen intuition.:: She thumped her long, beautifully-ridged tail against the spring ground, ::And, if that beast has any intelligence, so should the Boneknapper they pursue.::

::Please, Toothless?:: Skybird asked softly, ::Trust your Hiccup. He will be all right. He can hold his own, and the other younglings will shield him. They fight as a team, and he's their leader. ::

I shot out my teeth just so I could hiss against them. I admit it makes me look a bit dorky, but it just felt so good to make that rattling noise against my teeth. It summed up my anger quite well.

I snarled, :: But doesn't it upset you? Don't you feel an ache of loss? You've been disconnected from your Riders! You must feel an ache of separation, a longing?::

They all glanced back at me, eyes level with mine, serious and truth-filled.

::Uhm, well, actually, no:: Skybird finally thought-sent solemnly, ::The only thing I feel is a wish for Ástríður to have a good adventure and be safe. And I look forward to her return. But, no, Toothless, I feel no burning ache of loss. I´m sorry, Toothless, but I cannot say something I do not feel. The only internal longing I have is a need to chew some more magnesium for my fire chamber. And for Ástríður to give me a good scratch under my chin where it itches so much!::

::HOW CAN YOU THINK OF SUCH TRIVIAL THINGS? :: I roared now, good and loud. It was a definite cave cleaner of a roar! I think even the cave's stalagmites would have fled in terror.

::These are our RIders! Our partners! We're a team! How can you just let them leave and be so casual about it? Is this some sort of holiday for you, some "Dragons' Day Out"? Oh, Goody: you get to have some time off from your pesky Riders! :: I snorted vilely, ::It's good your Riders cannot understand your thoughtspeech, otherwise you'd break their hearts!::

::Peace, brother Firedrake! Dear Nightfurygetdown, I beseech you to curb your inner nightfurygetdown,:: Oakheart purred, his soothing voice rich and deep, ::We long to share with our Firemakers the bond you feel with your Dragon Master. The truth is we do not feel the same thing towards our Firemakers as you feel towards your noble Hiccup. We , indeed, all are honored to carry our good riders. You, however, are the only one of us who bears a Rider.::

That was news to me! I had assumed they were as closely connected to their riders as Hiccup and I were connected. Of course they would not understand my worry! It filled me with a surprising disappointment in them.

I snorted again and shot up to my feet, trying to keep my thought sendings calm.

::I see. Well, thank you for the explanation, Oakheart. That gives me some thing to mull over while I wait for my Rider to come home- or, more likely, what's left of him.::

::Toothless!:: Gracie barked sharply, ::Don't be getting your undies all twisted in a knot!.:: she hesitated for a moment, staring down at her green chest in surprise, ::Ah, begorrah, now! I really have been hanging around my Firemaker for too long, I have!::

::Well, then, you should enjoy having some free time from him,:: I said snidely, ::I need to be alone. I don't like how rude I am getting right now. And I don't want to hurt someone.::

No one stopped me as I moved away, half flying, half jumping. I could feel their annoying eyes on me, though, along with their annoying concern. And they were right to be concerned. Like any self respecting Lightning Person I can be rather moody. It´s as much of our nature as our plasma bolts. That doesn't mean I like being surly and moody. I actually hate when I am that way, yet it still happens from time to time.

That's when I know I need to head out on my own to an isolated area and let my feelings work their way through. My Rider can be just as moody. It's the flip side of being gentle natured. The anger piles up and Hiccup has to let it explode from time to time. It's rare, but it still happens. Luckily, the Birch Islands and the surrounding hundreds of skerries allow plenty of space where a frustrated Firemaker or his frustrated Nightfurygetdown can go to cool off an angry head.

The harness was still on me, its empty saddle seeming emptier than ever. I ignored the feeling as I made my way back in my hop and skip fashion to the edge of the canyon where Hiccup and I had bonded.

Curling up on canyon edge into my favorite dragonloaf configuration, I stared into the valley and its sparkling lake. The trees on the rims and in the canyon were now lightly fuzzed with leaf buds and with newly "born" golden-green leaves. I heard the calls of early spring birds and saw a pair of ducks drifting in the lake.

Pine needles on the valley floor shifted as a pair of adult squirrels bounded across the ground. One of them halted and started to dig, eventually retrieving a store of nuts hidden away late last summer.

Ah, last summer. It seemed so recent and yet so long ago. Those were the days my Rider and I had come to be warily trust each other and then to partner together in order for me to fly again. I sighed in memory of that season. Those were the worst and best days of my young life. In this valley, under a late summer sun, we'd danced, swum, chased after imaginary foes and played tag. It had been almost like a sanctuary for me, a chance to deal with the loss of my tail fin. But also a chance to discover a new purpose in life. I had been transformed from a cocky, overconfident rebel to the best friend and protector of a compassionate, brilliant Firemaker who was deemed worthless by his own people.

I watched the squirrels, now both at their treasure trove and arguing in squirrel fashion over who got to eat first. I am sure they were using vocabulary their mother would never have taught them. My sensors cannot pick up animal thoughts in detail other than general concepts, but their chattering hisses sounded quite naughty.

I sighed miserably. If Hiccup did not return from his mission, then all I would have left of him would be the memory-ghosts of our too brief time together, buried in this valley like those squirrels had hoarded their store of nuts.

Just memories and both our harnesses on my back. I sighed let my head drop a bit, cat-like as I thought about the incidents that led up to me being left behind while my Hiccup went in search of the Boneknapper.

Earlier...

"Vikings, grab your shields!" Hiccup said softly but firmly into the smokey night air.

It was the preordained signal he and the other teenagers had worked out some time ago to indicate a meeting. He and I had moved swiftly from house to house on foot. Hiccup would thump the door with a special tap code, say that special phrase, and then move on to the next home.

Everyone had been sleeping lightly. They were still filled with high-strung adrenaline from fighting Gobber's fire, so it took little effort to get the other teenagers awake.

Now they ringed around us, fully dressed and lugging the aforementioned shields. The five teenagers were: Snotlout (Firewyrm's rider), Ástríður (Skybird's rider), Fishlegs (Oakheart's friend) and the twins, Ruffnut and Tuffnut (Cloudspinner's riders, each bonded with one of the Double Head's minds. It's hard for me to explain how this works. Double Heads defy logic in general. I don't think about it much because it gives my one head one big headache).

I was the only dragon Person at the gathering, but that did not surprise me too much. The teens did not want to wake up their dragons until they found out more about the meeting. My allies had fought hard against the fire, and the teens wanted them to sleep.

The teens were giving a heroic try at being bright eyed and bushy tailed. They got the bright eyed part down tolerably well, though all their eyes were red-rimmed with lack of sleep. The bushy tailed part was harder to accomplish since Firemakers seem to have forgotten to evolve tails. But Snotlout and Fishlegs did have a growing bristle on their faces, so I guess that would have to do.

Hiccup was now moving his hands skillfully over my harness, double checking that everything was fastened well. He and I had slipped it onto me swiftly the moment we heard Gobber stirring. The middle aged blacksmith had strapped on his artificial leg and arm, both designed to be mounted easily by a man who only had one working flesh and blood hand.

Hiccup had also dressed quickly and quietly,then strapped on his artificial leg, Then he had turned to me to help me finish with the harnessing.

::Careful there,:: I had warned him as he got the wrist straps tangled up under my harness, ::Move the straps out of the way, please.::

He had not heard me and continued to tighten the harness with my wrist straps trapped beneath the neck collar. I had thought-sent again with no results. Finally I had growled and shifted my shoulder, lightly tapping his head with my wing to make him see the actions.

"Sorry, Toothless," he had whispered and had set the harness back in place again so the wrist straps were free.

I had purred softly and bumped my muzzle against his face. Hiccup's ability to pick up my thought speech is getting better and better, but it is still not so strong, and he often does not receive my messages. So I still have to use non verbal behavior to get the idea across.

We then had heard Gobber gather some supplies near his bed into a spare basket and then whisper softly into the dark. I heard a sheep bleat quietly outside in response and, from the blacksmith´s bed roll, a Sticky Fire person purred.

"Good," Gobber had whispered softly, "They're sleeping. Well, they can rest all they want. I'm puttin' an end ta this Boneknapper business. C´mon, Phil, and you, too, Gracie. We don' need their help, anyway. "

Hiccup had still been shaking out his harness to slip over his shoulders as Gobber opened the door, a travel basket slung over his shoulder and Gracie prancing after him.

Phil, outside, had let out another baaa of joy, and I had heard his hooves clatter as he ran up to join Gobber and Gracie.

Our prey was getting away from us!

Hiccp had hissed in irritation, since he was still trying to get his harness ready to lace on.

"Djöfulsins! Well, there's nothing for it! We hafta move, Toothless!"

He had thrown the harness on his bed and slid into his bearskin cloak, angry at not being able to finish his preparations.

Good thing I had snapped up his harness in my teeth as we exited the house, following our prey.

We moved down the hill from Stoick's house, keeping track of the blacksmith and his dragon and sheep companion.

Smoke still was drifting through the dawning sky, clouding my sensors with its intrusive, sharp odor. It also caused both Hiccup and I to blink our eyes. Hiccup scrubbed his eyelids with the heel of a hand. I blinked and then used my Rider´s bony shoulder to rub my head and clear my eyes. He laughed and hugged me, punching me playfully on the side of my neck.

Gobber and his companions were now down at the harbor, stashing their supplies on the small longboat. The blacksmith gave the boat the old once over inspection, including the mandatory Rubbing of the Carved Dragon Prow´s nose To Insure Good Luck on the Journey.

As he did this, the other Viking teen Firemakers finished gathering around Hiccup and I. Red-gray strips of dawn now began to stain the sky. The Sky Lady was lighting her embers for a new day. It was the red hue that indicated there might be rain later in the day.

My Firemaker now noticed I had grabbed his riding harness and now gripped it in my impressive teeth. Laughing and rubbing my nose in appreciation, he gently pulled the harness from my muzzle. He quickly rolled and clipped it to the hooks and straps behind my saddle cantle where packs and extra clothing could be stored.

The powerfully built, handsome Snotlout broke the silence, "So, hey, Hiccup, why get us up after our beauty rest?"

The dark haired teen rubbed one side of his stubbled jaw, "You know I need my eight hours of sleep in order to be at my most effective for hunting missions. And I am not referring to hunting pheasant or geese. Though the prey is two legged."

"AHEM" both Ástríður and Ruffnut coughed and glared at Snotlout. Two hands went to two dagger sheathes and two SNIKKTS filled the air.

Snotlout laughed nervously and stepped back.

"Sorry. Take it easy, would ya, ladies? Can't a guy have a sense of humor around this backwater island?

Apparently he had some sort of illusion that he was an alpha Firemaker, so he needed to strut before unmated Firemaker females. It probably works on the average teenage Norse woman, but Ruffnut and Ástríður had grown up with Snotlout, and they were not impressed. They knew all his dark secrets.

They also had an exact count of how many times they had succeeded in beating him up by taking advantage of his blinding arrogance.

I found the dark haired young Norseman´s preening hilarious, if not a monumental waste of the boy's time and energy. Everyone knew Hiccup was the alpha teen dragonrider of the Birch Island Firemakers. Based on his Lightning Person-like small size, speed and intellect that was obvious.

Still, Snotlout seemed to function under an illusion that he was the (and, let´s see if I remember this quote right-) the gods' gift to the desperately deprived young women of Berk.

Tcha! I failed to see why Firemakers prefer electing the big, lumbering, aggressive and boastful members of their kind as their alpha males. How in the name of the Sky Lady were they able to make it that far as a species with that kind of backwoods attitude? Especially considering every great advance they made in their evolution was due to their brains, not because of their, "ME BIG! ME GO SMASH!" attitude.

Without their more brainy, Hiccup-like Firemakers, I think they would have clubbed each other to death with the leg bones of their recently killed victims way back when they roamed the grasslands of Africa in hairy packs.

Luckily, the Berk Islanders now have not only Hiccup but the shining, guiding influence of my dragon People (especially we Nightfurygetdowns) to keep them out of trouble.

Hiccup's nasally yet confidant voice interrupted my rather jingoistic thoughts, "Hey, Snotlout. Happy morning to you, too. You look just fine. Don´t change. Ever. Well, at least not in the next few hours. I need your Viking courage and strength."

Snotlout grinned and hefted his shield, "But, of course! Right here, Hiccup! Viking courage and strength at your service!"

"Excellent, ´Lout. Glad to have you on our team! Well, we're going to help protect Gobber. He's just below us on the purple dragon headed small craft at the docks. See him stashing his gear? He´s trying to sneak out of the village. He wants to take on the Boneknapper he thinks burned his house down."

"I think he should take on the hair of the dog that bit him, instead," Tuffnut said casually, gracing his kind words with a sharp-toothed yawn.

Behind him his sister snickered with a soft, growl-like laugh, "Yeh, but it would be an awful lot of dog hairs given his weird behavior. Heh. He has to lay off the brennivín. I knew there was a moonshine still under the blacksmith shed!"

"Yes! Hey, wait, Ruffnut! If you knew it, why didn't you tell me about it? We could have done some creative moonshine liberation! It´s been ages since I tried to pick a lock. And this dull, sheep-infested island could use a good party!"

Next to the girl twin, Ástríður shook her head and looked up through her wayward blond forelock at the dawning sky. I could see her mouthing what seemed like a series of Firemaker numbers, a long suffering expression on her face.

Hiccup shook his own shaggy head in eagerness to get ahead with the mission.

"C'mon, guys. Where's your sense of Viking pride? Gobber´s our friend! We can't let him go on his own and get hurt! It's our job to protect him. My dad is behind this all the way, so this is our chance to be a team again!" Hiccup sighed and tossed his long hair from his eyes. He had forgotten to put on his head band in his haste to get going. The crazy hair was not lending him a very brave and bold leader look.

Useless Firemaker hair. They forget to grow tails and fur. Instead they cultivate soft but useless scalp hair that grows into long and useless ropes they have to tie back in order to see clearly. They really have no idea about how mammals are supposed to function.

Hiccup continued, "We haven't had any real sort of adventure all winter beyond a couple of hunting trips, so it'll be good for us all to get back in shape. Much more fun than keeping in shape by running laps in the snow with baskets of stones on our back. And, even more... we might see a Boneknapper! What if they are real? Think of the Sagas the skálds on in the Norse Lands would tell about us, the ferocious teenage warriors from the outlands who saw the first Boneknapper in the flesh- uh- er- skeleton!"

Four pairs of Viking Firemaker eyes flashed. Nothing gets a Viking motivated like the chance to be remembered in a Saga tale.

And finding a Boneknapper would be pure Saga gold!

One pair of grey Viking eyes did not flash as Snotlout sighed and laid his shield on the ground. He crossed his muscled arms across his broad chest, his attitude showing he was not impressed.

"I think I´ll pass on this venture. I like fighting as much as the next barbarian, Hiccup, but going out in search of a deadly dragon on the drop of a helmet with no preparation? And I obviously won´t be able to bring Firewyrm on that dinky little excuse of a boat. So that means we'll take on a dragon without our dragons and possibly trapped on a boat in the sea? We'd do better to pour cooking oil on ourselves and stand in front of the watchtower fires. Same result and we don´t have to leave home. Nuh-uh. Alls ekki. No way…."

"Yes, way, Snotlout!" the sturdy Fishlegs said, waving his meaty fists in excitement,"It'll be awesome, and think of all the girls who will be impressed by you when we go to the Alþingi Meeting in Iceland this summer! You'd be the man! And I´d be the one who could get to update the Dragon Manual section on Boneknappers! And we'd learn how they get those bones on them and if their roar really melts the…"

Gobber heard the soft whispers and called up from the ship, "Who´s there? And be careful how ya answer! I have one arm and a very, very, nasty hand-hook that´s pleased to meet you face ta face. "

"It's me! Hiccup!" Hiccup said firmly back to his mentor, "I'm here with Toothless and Snotlout, Ástríður, Fishlegs, Tuffnut and Ruffnut. We've just elected to join your Boneknapper mission. And you can´t say no, Gobber. You've been outvoted."

For a moment there was silence, then Gobber stood straight up in the boat, Gracie and Phil looking on from the nearby dock, "True Vikings y'are," he said finally, his voice strangely gravelly, "I just want ya kids to know it touches my heart, ye all helpin´me ta slay the Boneknapper."

He swept a finger from his good hand across an eye and looked away for a moment. Then he looked back, his face split in a grin, but tears shining in his blue eyes. Just for a moment I saw the familiar, impish blacksmith I liked. Then his eyes glazed over in that weird, dazed stare.

"What are friends for? We stick up for each other, and that includes you, Gobber," Hiccup said with his oddly endearing, horse-toothed smile.

Behind him, the twins, Fishlegs, and Ástriður called out "YES!"

I gave a soft purring rumble to add my support.

Ástríður smiled and pat my shoulder. I nudged her shoulder in return. We´re good mates, she and I. Even if she can be a little bit of a sobersides crossed with an Amazon warrior at times. She's been a loyal best friend to Hiccup and adamant about making sure I am treated well by the village Firemakers.

Snotlout calmly declared, "Uh... no. Not me! There's no way I am getting on a boat to go after a fake dragon!"

"An´ yer absolutely right, Snotlout, me boy. Ya shouldna´ go on a boat after a fake dragon," Gobber said cheerfully as he retied a knot on one of the sail masts, "I agree with ye totally on that. However, in our case, we're goin´ on a boat after a real dragon!"

My keen sensors heard the sound of Snotlout´s facepalm very clearly.

He continued to be surly and adamant about not joining the mission. He sat on a barrel of pickled herring near the harbormaster´s shed as the other teens helped Gobber stash some supplies into the boat. Hopefully it would be a short mission, but still one could never take any chances, so the Vikings could not skimp on the supplies.

I had not really paid much attention to this type of boat before, since it was overshadowed by the larger merchant knörr vessels and warrior longboats. Oh, I had seen them- they were the most numerous type of boats in the harbor- but I´d never really taken the time to record information on them. This type of boat was smaller and flatter than the other Norse ships, but the construction of it still followed the curvingl lines of the other Viking boats. It had a small sail and six oars. Supplies could be stashed in holds on either end of the ship.

I crouched on the dock and nudged at the bobbing prow, breathing in the spicy smell of the wood, the lovely salt of the sea and the primal scent of barnacles.

"Is this the first time you've ever been up close to a færing, Toothless?" Fishlegs' soft, gravelly voice spoke behind me.

I looked back to see him with a barrel of water secured over one of his powerful shoulders. The look he gave me was respectul. He always approached any of my People with respect and awe. He was one of the few Berk Firemakers who spoke to we dragon People as equals, and his ways were encouraging other villagers to do the same.

Deliberately I nodded and gave him my trademark gummy grin.

The young blond teen cracked a grin, "Yeh, the færingar are small ships, but they´re good. They can pull into tight, coastal areas for fishing the big ships can't", He jerked a head at the bobbing knörr and longboats nearby, "I give the færingar plus fifteen for speed and agility. And this one will get us where we need to go, I think. Ástríður´s dad makes the best færingar this side of Norway."

Fishlegs moved gently by me and lowered the barrel into the boat. It thudded against the bottom, "Though I still cannot understand why Hófgeir the Shipwright has to paint his dragon head prows such hideous colors." He wrinkled his nose at the bright purple dragon head prow where Hiccup was running a hand over the brim to check for any possible ship damage that could affect our journey.

Finally the tall, broad fisherman´s son shrugged, "Well, I guess you would expect that from Vestfold Vikings. They tend to be more fashion conscious in Southern Norway. I mean, they are so obsessed with putting all that weird detail work on their boats."

That was something Hiccup and Ástríður often joked about. Her father, Hófgeir, did indeed love to do what he called detail work. It was apparently very popular in the more urbane Vestfold region, but it did not fit well with the more conservative and isolated North Atlantic Vikings. Hófgeir´s family boats were all very easy to spot in our harbor. They were the only ones that had bright yellow and red stylized, horizontal flames painted along the sides.

Ástríður, surprisingly, loved the designs and enjoyed teasing Hiccup about not understanding the manly art of detail work on sports longboats. Hiccup and I didn't get it, but then we are not from the more trendy Vestfold region.

Hófgeir had kindly offered to paint blue and violet flames on my harness and also suggested that Hiccup might want to hang some interesting, soft-textured, Asian good luck talisman items from the hand grip. I believe he called them "fuzzy dice."

That may have been the first time I have seen my Rider totally incapable of firing off a sarcastic remark. As a matter of fact, he could not say anything for half a day afterwards he´d been so flabbergasted.

The big question in my mind was if the ship could hold me. It was not a big ship. I know for certain it would not hold any of the other People except Gracie. There would not be a lot of room for me, especially since Gobber insisted on bringing along that scorching four-horned sheep. But if Hiccup took the front bench then there was some good space between that bench and the prow that I could lie very, very flat on the deck. It would be quite uncomfortable and I would be wedged in with bundles of flatbread and dried meat and fish, but at least I would be near my Rider.

"So, what's the travel plan?" Ástríður asked Gobber as she helped him stow some tackle equipment under the second bench.

Gobber grinned back at her, "We sail and sail and sail until we find the Boneknapper."

I heard a sarcastic snort from Snotlout on the herring barrel.

"Yeh, man, but how do we know when we find the Boneknapper?" Tuffnut asked, pulling Fishleg's barrel of water over to one of the ship's keel gunnels so he could secure it in place with leather straps. (I had been learning these definitions of ship terms from my constant data collecting. Being the nerd Person I am, I enjoy collecting information and hoarding it.)

"Easy, " said Fishlegs as he climbed into the ship to help Tuffnut, "You'll know we're close when your ears explode from its piercing screams. Legend says this dragon's roar is so fierce, it can melt the flesh right off your bones!"

Fishlegs had the joyful expression of The Nerd in Paradise as he made a hand gesture that eloquently simulated flesh and skin trickling rapidly down like rain.

Everyone else glanced at him with revulsion. That made Fishlegs mightily pleased with himself, so he added, "I think it would be something like a plus 10 agony for Death Throes. Just epic. Well, maybe not if you were one the dying, but in theory it would be just epic."

Everyone glanced with revulsion... except for one Firemaker.

"Not so, Fishlegs." Gobber said firmly as he lifted Phil into the boat. The sheep showed his fascination with this adventure by flopping down, closing his eyes and chewing his cud. He released some stress by yawning.

I rolled my eyes as Gracie flew onto my saddle and watched the proceedings.

"Huh?" Fishlegs now said and let his jaw hang open in surprise. It was not a pretty sight, "But, the manual says..."

"I've seen a Boneknapper, and I know better!" Gobber interjected firmly, "And I'm here ta tell ya, laddybuck, that the Boneknapper has no roar at all!"

All of us- including me- leaned forward, gasping in surprise. Gracie chirped in wonder.

Even Phil was surprised. He opened his eyes for a quarter of a second and then closed them again.

Gobber loomed over us, spreading his arms, inviting us to share his awe of this mysterious Boneknapper Person.

"Indeed, kiddies. The Boneknapper canna´ roar. Tha's why it's so terrifyin'!"

The blacksmith lowered his voice so that it matched the deep hum of the wind blowing through the harbor, "The Boneknapper is a silent killer."

He allowed us all a moment to gasp in respect (and Phil to yawn in boredom) before gesturing, "Well, we canna' wait. We must move on it if we are ta bring the vile beastie down!"

Last arrangements were made. Shields were strapped along the sides of the boat. The sail was raised. Viking teens took their places at the oars.

Snotlout continued to protest about participating, and Fishlegs politely offered to move him and the herring barrel onto the ship.

It was time for me to board. I watched as Hiccup slid onto the bobbing boat. I pretended not to cringe at the twin sounds of a boot and a metal prosthetic hitting the deck.

Hiccup flailed his arms for a moment as he adjusted his body to the pitch of the boat. Having only one working leg made it harder for him, bit he did recover his balance tolerably well, grabbing at the nearest gunwale for support.

"I may be a Viking, but I´m not built for this, Toothless," he joked with me as he managed to balance himself, "I'd rather be flying anyday."

I could not agree more.

He stuck out his right arm and scratched me under the jaw, "Well, now's the time, Toothless. Hop aboard!"

I glanced at the boat and felt a surprising lump arise in my throat. An unexpected shiver ran up my spine as my sides clenched in fear.

The last time I had been on a Viking Firemaker boat I had been a prisoner, chained and bound into a barricade of wood. It had been a horrifying experience of seasickness, loneliness, fear. Then I had been trapped as fire billowed around me and I could not escape. After that, I had been cast into the frigid ocean to float downdowndown to the bottom, imprisoned in my wooden bindings. And my lungs burning with no air, spots dancing in my eyes, my view of the sky high above the rippling sea fading as I slowly drowned...

I actually felt my legs trembling. I growled softly, chiding myself to buck out of this silly emotion.

"Toothless," Hiccup´s gentle voice warmed my heart and his small, capable hand warmed the side of my face, "What's the matter, bud? Are you okay?"

Come on, Nightfurygetdown! You can do this! You helped to defeat the Lady. Surely you can sit on a stupid little færing boat or whatever it's called. It's a lifeless boat. It can't bite you! It can't breathe fire. Why are you scared of it? Toothless, ´fess up, now, drake: are you a dinky little lizard or a proud dragon Person?

That's when the new thought voice slid through my sensors.

::Are you leaving the island so soon, Lightning Breather? Did I scare you away? How rude of me! I was hoping we could spend some quality time chatting about Signaling together!::

It was the same voice who had intercepted my Signaling last night.

::YOU! How dare you intrude on my Signal territory!:: I snarled and heard Hiccup, Ástríður, Fishlegs and Ruffnut all gasp in surprise.

"Toothless?" Hiccup asked softly, his hand still stretched out in invitation, "Are you coming?"

::I'm right here, so close to you I could spit on you, little Lightning Person-Signaler. Come and see. We have so much to talk about. Let's chat, shall we? Oh, and do let me know how well I have been doing when I imitate your Signals. I'd love to hear your opinion!::

"Toothless? What's wrong, bud?" Hiccup asked again.

::Now, be nice to the Lightning Person-Signaler, Self number One. He was here before you were. Don't tease him.:: another thought message sliced across my sensors but in the very same frequency, ::You're being very condescending to him.::

::Sorry, Self Number Two. I can't help it. I take pride in my work, and I do think the Lightning Person needs some improvement in his style. Right, Lightning Person? I really do think I could take over for him and do much better, just between you me, Self::

::No you can't.::

::Can, too.::

::Impostor!:: I roared, just as I realized both conflicting thought voices were coming from the same Thought voice. Was the creature arguing with itself?

I was used to Cloudspinner, the Double Head who had bonded with Tuffnut and Ruffnut, and his odd way of voicing opinions from each of his heads. In his case, I always had the impression he was one entity with two minds. This voice seemed to be one mind with two entities!

I glanced at Hiccup as he watched me from the swaying boat, his green eyes widened in bewilderment. No doubt, my green eyes were the same level of bewilderment. Behind him I could see Ástríður and Ruffnut watching me in quiet anticipation of my response.

I was in a real dilemma. Here was Gobber, sailing off to find the Boneknapper. And also here was the strange being who had stolen my identity and put me and my Signaler colleagues at risk.

::This is boring. I´m leaving, Lightning Person. Catch me if you can!::

::Awww, you're being mean, Self Two. Let him have some time to decide.::

::No! And shut up. I'm in charge.:: A dragon laugh, ::I'm out of here! Don't worry, Lightning Person. I'll take good care of your territory and Signal for you while you are on your mission. Have a nice voyage.::

::You're mean, Self Number One::

::Shut up, you annoying nemesis! When I want your opinion I´ll give it to you, Number Two! Well, bye, bye Lightning Person!::

That did it! I was facing not one intruder, but several, it seemed.

I tossed Hiccup an apologetic look, ::Sorry, Firemaker. I have to take care of this. But I'll be right back! Wait for me!::

Then I turned and leapt in the direction of the thought voices.

"Toothless! What are you doing?" Hiccup's fear-laced voice floated after me as I galloped up the harbor embankment and followed the voices.

::I'm okay, Firemaker! Just wait for me!::

I chased the voices, cursing how close they rang to my sensors and yet how I could not close in on their location. I galloped along the shoreline, my sensors and memory stone open to the fullest,as were my wings.

A few times I leapt into the air and coasted on breezes, quickly scanning the landscape for intruders.

But I smelled nothing, heard nothing, saw nothing. My only clues were the taunting thought voices that thrummed along my sensors.

I pursued the calling, laughing, mocking thought voices diligently. I needed to catch this being who was posing such a threat not only to me but to all of us North Atlantic Signalers!

My mind seemed to narrow in on itself, surrounded by a haze of red and of mocking voices. It helped me to concentrate better as I followed the voices, charging up a slope, higher and higher. Time seemed to fade away as I focused only on the Chase.

And then fresh air hit me, clear and pure, moist with clouds and sweet with the scent of sea. Golden light tinged the air from the emerging sun.

I realized I was now perched on the highest point of Birch Island and I had galloped up here in record time. The high winds kept vegetation from growing up here except for grasses and mosses, so I could see there was absolutely no strange dragon Person mocking me in the area.

I could also see a small Viking færing boat sailing steadily out to sea, sails hoisted and six oars plying the water.

It danced on the sea amid sparkling waves as the sun broke above the ocean and moved from dawn into morning.

Gobber, Hiccup and the others had set sail without me.

I had just been parted from my Firemaker for the first time since our bonding. He was sailing into danger, and I had let him sail on without me.

I tilted my head back and roared into the sunrise, my cry echoing along the rocks.

The other People had come to me, all offering comfort.

Hiccup had been torn in two, Gracie assured me. He wanted to wait for me, but Gobber suddenly pressed harder to take off on the journey and had hauled up the anchor. Besides- and I had to agree with this reluctantly- my actions had looked as though I had run off suddenly, as if I were gripped by fright and fleeing from the boat in terror.

What else was my Rider to think? I had tossed a thought to him to wait, but he was still not that good at reading my thoughts. What if he had not picked up on it? From my nonverbal behavior, I sure had looked like I was bolting in fear, indicating I did not want to take part in the mission.

It had been hard on Hiccup, but he was forced to pick and choose. And, since I had run off as though I chose to stay in the village and Gobber was choosing to leave in search of the evil Boneknapper, he had to go with the one who faced more danger at the moment.

And that was Gobber.

I cursed myself a thousand times for this. Poor Hiccup. He had chosen the way I would have in his position since he did not know my mind speech well enough to know why I had run from the boat.

The other dragons surrounded me, purring in support as I glided and walked back down into the village. A numb ache was in my heart. If I had been a whole Lightning Person I could have sailed after the boat, still perched on the distant horizon. But without Hiccup I could not fly that distance without being knocked off balance and tumbling into the ocean.

It was so hard to watch! I had let Hiccup down! But yet I needed to help my People.

Why does life have to have such difficult choices?

Gracie was my biggest salvation. At the last moment several things had happened. I had run off. Fishlegs and Tuffnut had manhandled Snotlout aboard. Gobber had lifted the anchor and pushed the boat into motion. And Gracie, with a little trill and head rub against Gobber's face, had flown back to shore. He had apparently stroked her neck and let her go. Like Hiccup, he knew his little dragon Person was an intelligent being. If Gracie chose to stay back on shore, he would not keep her.

His glazed eyes still did creep out Gracie, though. While he was as kind to her and Phil as ever, something about his unfocused attitude unnerved her.

::Something is making him act odd,:: she had told me just before I started blowing up stones she tossed at me to help me curb my anger, ::I came back here to comfort you, boyo, but I´m wonderin' if that voice you mention and me Rider's odd behavior is somehow related. It's all banjaxed if ye ask me, Toothless.::

She snorted in anger, ::Makes me realize if I stick with you, then I'm gettin' some answers to this mystery. So, yer stuck with me, ya darlin' eejit.:

So, now you know why I was here and Hiccup was there and why I was so upset.

I sighed and looked into the valley. The squirrels were still having their argument, but then they both looked up at the sky and cried out in shock.

I must have been tired from the long night fighting the fire and launching the boat. And, like Hiccup, I was still mending slowly from our near fatal battle with the Red Death. I was off my game, let´s face it.

That's the only excuse I can give for what happened next.

I did not sense the Person until it was on me. My only signs were a loud THUMP on my shoulders and then seeing the ground drop away below my feet.

Wind gusted up along my belly, blowing the straps of my harness into the air. I heard claws digging tighter into the leather of my saddle as I was lifted higher and higher.

The saddle's straps and belts pressed against my chest as the Person used it to pull me higher. It was painful and kept me from drawing a deep breath.

I roared in anger and struggled, not able to draw in enough air to fire off a blast of plasma above me.

Besides, if I hit the Person and he/she let go of me, then who would be there to help me to fly before I went splat on the ground below?

::Brilliant, Toothless!:: I cursed myself. I tried to bite at at the hard-ridged dragon chest above me, but my sharp teeth just glanced off of a strange, hard object encasing the legs.

Bone. The dragon's legs and chest were encased in a webbing of bones. And bones that gave off the smells of dozens of my People. I scented Lava People, Sand Spitters, Sticky Fire People, Self Burners, Magnesium Burners, Thunder People, Tree Shearers, Double Heads... so many, many scents wound into a confusing miasma.

Somewhere in all that mess was even the scent of a Lightning Person´s bones.

I struggled and struggled, reaching, biting, kicking, thrashing my tail. It was not my nature to accept my fate blindly. Somewhere in my struggles my teeth managed to sink into a bit of flesh that was uncovered by bone. I dug in, trying to ignore the salty blood taste that filled my mouth.

Even the blood seemed to bear the scents of many, many types of dragons.

I felt one of the legs loosen from my saddle. A heavy, bone capped paw smashed along my head.

Bright lights burst along my head from the impact. I moaned in anger and looked at the ocean waves beneath me, watching as a dark fog crept in from the sides of my vision and covered the view.

Then I knew nothing more.

Aching head and chest. Waves crashing against shore. Seabirds calling in cries that my sensors could not translate. Wind buffeting through holed rocks, creating whistles not so unlike Firemaker flutes.

::Scorch it. I have to lay off the late night celebrations. Was Skygrass involved? Oh, crud.:: I cracked my eyes open

A wind scoured, rocky beach lay in front of me, waves dancing over the stones. The waves left behind lacy sheens of sea-foam and bits of seaweed and shells.

All memories of the previous day rushed back to me.

I blinked, forcing each eye´s gummed three lids to open fully.

Where am I?

I lay on my left side, my wings crumpled around me, as if I had been dropped on the shore. I flexed them; they were sore, but nothing more serious than some muscle aches. My head ached and the saddle itched. Other than that, I was fine.

I sighed in relief and then sneezed. Droplets from my nose struck against objects on either side of me- large ivory barricades that cradled around my sides and back half like a protective shelter. They were oddly leg-shaped.

A huge paw cased in a web work of bones lay in front of my nose, effectively blocking me from trying to run forward. I could see patches of a beautiful deep emerald green poking in and out of gaps in the bone webbing, but they were few and far between.

Then I realized what sort of Person was holding me caged with its body and front legs.

::You should have stayed with me, HIccup,:: I thought sent wearily, knowing there was no chance my lost Rider would ever hear my thoughts, ::Turns out I was the one to find the Boneknapper, in the end.::

"G´mornin, dragon!" A cheerful Firemaker's voice floated to my ears, "And it's a lovely day, no? Rise and shine. Wakey! Wakey!"

What?

I snarled softly.

I felt a dragon's chest now behind my body, and it rumbled back with a growl, as well. It was a friendly reminder that I was pretty much surrounded in case I decided to attack the friendly Firemaker.

Halting, limping foot steps rang out against the sea stones of the beach as a Firemaker approached. Above me, the bone clad Person rumbled and then purred.

I could pick up no thoughts from him or her, but the purr indicated pure contentment.

Well, good for you, dragon. If you're so happy, why not let me go so I can be happy, too?

"Who's a good dragon, now?" the Firemaker's voice crooned in Norse, and I heard Firemaker hands scratching against bone and hide and an even deeper purring response from the dragon Person," You brought the black dragon to me and ever so gently, too. You're a good one, you are."

The Person holding me hostage purred louder and louder.

I sighed and rolled my eyes. I do hate over-sentimental, fluffy moments.

Then the foot steps stopped in front of me.

"There you are, young blue-black dragon-Person Right on time. So nice you could join us." the Firemaker said in a gentle voice to me.

I blinked my eyes and focused.

When I saw the Firemaker, I could not help but growl in surprise.

It was Gobber.

A/N:

I like to be historically accurate, but I sometimes like to spoof history, too. I am pretty sure Vikings did not paint auto detail work flames on their boats- or use fuzzy dice, but I do know they liked to decorate most of their furniture and boats with macho carved geometric images. But Astrid's father is ahead of time, like Hiccup, but in a sillier, more NASCAR sort of way. Dice- well, Vikings used animal bones to toss for their fortune, but I went with the dice joke. Writing this chapter, I learned dice are very old and originated in Asia. I do love trivia. It helps keep that image of me as insane alive and well.

It took forever for uploading this chapter, and I feel bad about that. It took longer for things to slow down for the summer at work compared to this time last year- special offers and all to encourage more people to visit Iceland in Sep and Oct so I had less free time than I anticipated. My brother the Jesuit priest came to visit for a few days, so I was going with him to visit some pretty cool places in New England, especially in Maine. And we saw a wonderful, hilarious Pythoneqeue performance of SHakespeare's "As You Like It" performed free of charge on the Boston Common. Beantown's a great city for offering such wonderful entertainment in its parks free of charge. Also had to get some furniture set up in the apartment. And I got a case of writer's block on top of that, courtesy of hot and humid days that wore me out. (I hate heat. blargh)

Hope I am better about uploading the next chapters as the days get cooler again. I'm also looking forward to getting back to Iceland again, and also the Faroe Islands next month. Go Sheep Islands! If it's not Faroese, it's crrrrap.

Thank you, all of you, for supporting me. I've enjoyed your reviews, comments and your PMs with suggestions on scientific theories. I feel priveleged you are reading my story. Hope I can get the next chapter up sooner.