Chapter 61

08:33, 19 July 2023

( A/n: Part 1 of Defiant One. There will be some changes in this episode, I'm not spoiling what. Also, I just found out that apparently Snotlout is Hiccup's cousin, I don't remember if they have mentioned this in any of the movies or series, or the book, but now I know. )

The Dragon Riders were on the search for the missing fishing boat.

Snotlout: This is so lame! Why are we even out here?

Hiccup: Because this is our first dragon search and rescue mission.

Snotlout: I see a lot of searching but not much rescuing! Do you even know where we are?

Hiccup: My dad said the fishing boat was last seen heading South.

Snotlout: You don't know what you're talking about. There's nothing down there! I saw we go North!

Onyx: ( to Snotlout, a bit annoyed: ) And if Hiccup said to go North?

Snotlout: ( to Onyx: ) Are you trying to mess with my mind? Because nothing gets in here, nothing!

Astrid: What does our map say, Fishlegs?

Fishlegs tried to read the map, but the wind made it hard for him to do so.

Fishlegs: Kind of tough to read from this angle.

Snotlout: You know what, Hiccup? I'm done listening to you! I said North, and North is where I'm going.

Snotlout tried steer Hookfang away, but the dragon was reluctant in leaving the group.

Snotlout: Hey! You work for me!

Meryl: ( to Snotlout: ) Actually, he doesn't, he works with you, because he's a living being.

Snotlout scoffs before he finally managed to get his dragon to steer away from the group, and the two began flying North. Meryl watched with a frown, as she had a bad feeling about Snotlout separating from the group.

Ruffnut: Are we just going to let him go?

Tuffnut: Works for me.

Meryl: ( to Tuffnut, sternly: ) You better pray that you are joking, Tuffnut.

Meryl then heard a sigh of relief coming from Hiccup, and she gave him a stern expression.

Meryl: Hiccup.

Hiccup: Ugh. I'm going. I'm going. Lead the others back, Mery. We'll get him. Come on, bud.

As Hiccup was about to leave, Meryl looked at him with a sad knowing expression.

Meryl: Hiccup.

Hiccup: Hm?

Meryl: As much as Snotlout can be a pain to everyone. He's still apart of your family. Have more patience with him.

Hiccup didn't say anything, he and Toothless just left to get Snotlout and Hookfang. Meryl then let's out a tired sigh, before looking at the rest of the group with a smile.

Meryl: Come on, guys. Let's head back.

As they turned to begin the journey back to Berk, Onyx decided to break the awkward silence.

Onyx: So... How's Liv?

Meryl: I... I honestly don't know. Ever since Dagur's visit to Berk, various kinds of dragon made wounds started appearing, thankfully none of them are fatal so far. I keep telling Hiccup that we need to make a plan to free her from Alvin, but he's so hellbent on making the plan foolproof, meaning that it takes longer. Gothi has been helping treat Liv's new wounds, but...

Onyx: Whatever Alvin is doing to her, it's obviously not good.

Fishlegs: Oh, I hope Hiccup comes up with a plan soon, before its to-

Astrid: ( whisper shouts: ) Fishlegs, don't even finish that sentence. ( To Meryl, trying to keep her hopes up: ) I'm sure, Liv is okay, she's a lot stronger than she looks, trust me. I saw it with my own eye, she's a feisty one.

Onyx: Yeah! I'm sure Hiccup will figure something out very soon.

Meryl smiled slightly at her friends.

( Meanwhile, On Outcast island )

Mistake was chained to a wild dragon infested around, as a way for the Outcasts to toughen her up. The monstrous nightmare scratch on her cheek, has now became a scar, and she now a few new scratches and some burns on her. Alpha ran to her with a fish that he had caught for her, as the outcasts hadn't been coming to give Mistake any food. Mistake had taken this time away from Alvin, to mentally teach herself some more words and sentences in the viking language, that she heard the outcasts say near or in front of her, even the words of that Astrid said when Astrid disguised herself as Heather to get the book back from Alvin. When Alpha tried to give the fish to Mistake, a wild Terrible Terror swooped in and took the fish, Alpha growled in anger and was about to go attack the terror for stealing the fish he'd caught for the young Scalewalker, but Mistake blocked his way with her right front talon.

Mistake: ( her voice sounding less raspy now: ) No, Alpha. Not worth it.

Alpha growled in response, but decided to not fight with her, and he told her that he was going to go catch more fish for her to eat.

Mistake: ( with a slight smile: ) Okay. Thank you, Alpha.

Alpha nods his head and ran off, leaving Mistake by herself, by now many of the wild dragons were somewhat too scared to try to mess with her, as there are several wild dragons with somewhat identical scratch scars to the one on Mistake's cheek. Mistake then saw a glimpse of a waterspout in the far distance of the island, even she could tell it was a dangerous one by how big it was. Mistake then saw that there were small moving specks close to the waterspout, but she brushed it off, thinking that it was just a few birds that flew too close to the waterspout, but then she thought she saw something crash land on Outcast island at the direction Alpha went, but she once again brushed it off.

( Meanwhile on Berk )

Meryl and the other five dragon riders landed on the docks of Berk to see Stoick and Gobber pushing a cart towards the village.

Stoick: Push, Gobber!

Gobber: I'm pushing, Stoick.

Stoick: Well, it certainly doesn't feel like it. Push harder!

Gobber then noticed the riders.

Gobber: Oh, there they are.

Stoick: I'm glad you're back. The boat has returned.

Tuffnut: Could've told us that before we left.

Stoick: Excuse me?

Tuffnut: Um, nothing, sir. That was her. ( Points to Ruffnut )

Ruffnut: Hey!