Chapter 2- Those Who Were Left Behind

Calls were echoing across Berk, as the day of Trader Johann's arrival had come. He pulled in, smiling and friendly as always. Astrid Hofferson was particularly excited, since Johann had started carrying strange tools in recent trips. Rumor on the island was that he might soon start bringing weapons and armor made from the odd new metal. The various gardening tools made of the stuff had become extremely popular, as they made the work so much easier on the tough ground of Berk. Oddly, when Johann had demonstrated the metal three years ago when it started to show up, a small hand sickle had broken a regular sword in half like it was nothing. Astrid just hoped to get a new axe made from the stuff. As Johann let his docking plank slide over, Astrid was the first one on board. "Johann, did you get anything new made with that special metal?"

Johann laughed. "Calm down, Miss Hofferson. I have some shields of the stuff fresh for you. I heard from my source that it can even withstand Nadder fire."

Astrid quickly shelled out her saved up money for the new shield. As she walked off the ship, she overheard Gobber and Chief Stoick talking to the trader. "This is such high quality work, Johann. Ye have ta let me meet yer smith someday."

Stoick spoke up after that. "If he would just make some weapons for us, we could end the war with the devil beasts once and for all, and avenge my son."

Johann shook his head. "He refuses to make weapons, and I will not force him to. We've been over this, gentlemen, but I will not reveal who my source is. Ever. Just, trust me, the tools are enough."

Gobber glared at him. "Well at least tell me what this metal is. If I can find a source, I can make the weapons for us. If I have time with all the repairs I have to do."

Johann again shook his head. "There would be no business sense in that, so no. I will just tell you, it would require cooperation that you would be unable to achieve."

After much grumbling from the bulky smith, Johann went back to peddling his wares as the Chief and his best friend walked away. Astrid followed after, and caught the two talking in front of the Chief's house. Astrid walked up to them as they talked. "If we follow him, we could find where it is."

Stoick shook his head. "I would worry too much about Valka to leave. And besides, if Johann spotted our fleet, he would cut off trade with us. We stay here."

Astrid thought for a second. She was fifteen now. She could easily snag a boat and follow behind, her father had taught her everything she needed to pilot a ship. She decided that, once Johann left, she would follow him. If she could just meet this smith, she could probably convince him to make some weapons for the village. If he only heard about their struggles, he would obviously help out.

Astrid was lost. She'd snuck a ship out of harbor, and while she followed Johann relatively well for a couple of hours, a sudden storm had blown in. Her ship was being pounded around in all directions, it's cold, and her sense of orientation was completely wrecked. She was currently scanning the choppy seas in hopes of finding Johann, but there was no sign of him. "Great job, Astrid. Try to impress the village, secure us better weapons, and all you do is get lost."

With a sigh, she shivered and drew the soaked blanket closer to herself. It didn't help. For all she knew, she was stranded at sea. Nobody knew where she was. The people of Berk wouldn't even know she left until morning. She felt tears start to gather in the corners of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She could do this! Just as the thought passed through her head, a particularly large wave sucked up her ship and capsized it. She was dunked into the frigid water and sank like a rock. She started clawing at the clasps to her shoulder pauldrons, but she was sinking to fast and the wind had been knocked out of her. As she sank to the bottom, her vision started to darken. As her eyes were about to close, a shadow fell over her, and then she remembered no more.

Stoick was making his morning rounds, Valka at his side, when Asmund Hofferson startled the husband and wife out of their conversation. "Stoick! My Astrid! She's gone!"

The chief of Berk was moving in an instant, Valka hot on his heels as Asmund raced with them off towards the docks. As they arrived, they found Bucket and Mulch pulling an upside-down ship out of the water. Some blonde hairs still clung to some of the damaged hull. Mulch shook his head. "I'm sorry Asmund, but there was no sign of her. We only know she took this boat because of the hairs. It had been capsized. She's gone."

A strangled cry tore from Asmund's throat. He fell to his knees, and all Stoick could do to comfort his friend was be there. He turned to his wife as he patted his friend's shoulders in the most comforting manner he could. "Dear, go find Trisha. She needs to know. And send a letter to Meathead. I think Finn needs to come back from his self-imposed exile. His family needs him."

Astrid was cold. Still. She was just coming to consciousness, and in the dim light of a cave she could make out a dark shape at the far end. A pair of bright green eyes shone out of the darkness, and soon a small black dragon prowled out from the darkness, looking like a panther. Astrid's first reaction was to reach for her axe, but she soon panicked when she realized it wasn't there. In fact, she wasn't currently wearing anything. Her clothes were gone, as were all of her weapons. She had never felt so vulnerable, and she quickly shoved herself up against the wall. The dragon just kept creeping closer. She opened her mouth to scream when it died in her throat. In the dragon's mouth were some new clothes, clearly just made. The strange beast put the bundle of clothing down in front of her, and she realized its eyes were dilated. It motioned towards the clothes, as if to tell her to put them on. Warily, she moved her hand out and looked through the pile. She let out a relieved sigh when her undergarments were in the pile still. Sure, she would need to find a way to make a replacement, but maybe whoever had… and then it hit her. Some person, an actual human, lived on this island. And apparently, they lived in harmony with dragons. She quickly dressed, feeling the new leather skirt and blouse. They were rough and rigid, but it would do until she could find some wool.

As she finished dressing, the dragon let out a strange-sounding growl. It echoed down the cave, only to be answered by a responding growl. Once again, she found herself reaching for an axe that wasn't there. She covered her eyes and cringed against the wall when she heard footsteps, and then a sigh. A nasally voice broke through. "Look, lady, I'm not going to hurt you, I just didn't feel comfortable with you being around the others with weapons. I mean, Uncle usually carries a dagger, but we all trust him. Now come on, look at me. I can't be that scary."

Astrid slowly opened her eyes and saw a scrawny fishbone of a boy standing before her. His auburn hair was a little messy, and he had piercing, forest-green eyes not unlike the dragon next to her. It took her a second to find her voice. "I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to arrive here; I was just following somebody and got lost. I don't want trouble, I just want to get back home to Berk."

The boy cocked an eyebrow. "Berk?" Then he did something incredible. He turned to the dragon and growled. It sounded so like a dragon that Astrid had no idea what he was. Clearly, though, he was not human. The beast growled back at him, and he sighed. "That's quite a way from here. You're lucky Shocks found you where and when he did, or you likely would have drowned. Look, it will take some time, but we can build you a boat to get you back there, and I can even escort you within a couple hours, but the rest will be up to you."

Astrid thought for a second. "That could be okay. My name's Astrid. What's yours?"

The boy flashed a crooked grin at her that, for some reason, made her heart skip a beat. "I'm Skarp. It's nice to meet you. Now come on. I think the King would like to meet you."

AN- And here's chapter 2! for those wondering, Astrid's rather lukewarm reaction is that she's so weirded out she can't even really comprehend what's happening. Between Skarp talking to dragons and the way Toothless is acting, she just kinda can't get her brain working. Next chapter, she will have a...stronger reaction once her brain finishes processing. Anyway, I hope you enjoy!

Simonjamesroger