[Hey guys sorry for the long wait, been busy this week. Anyway hope you have fun reading and looking forward to the next chaps. Take care, hope to c ya around.]
"You're up already?"
Neil turned around and found Stoick coming out of a room with a very serious case of bed hair.
He nodded and finished folding the blankets that he was given. For the past 8 days, he had been offered a place in the Chief's living room where Cryo, the Woolly Howl's new name, could see him.
"Yes, last night Gobber and I finished making my saddle and I've been wanting to test it out."
Stoick smiled and nodded, "I see, how about taking Hiccup with you? That boy needs to learn more of what it means to be a future Chief. I hate to admit it but I have been too lenient on my boy, as long as you stay here I would like you to show him where he could improve. Don't make it too obvious of course, anyway in the end the two of you might learn from each other. After all, what my son lacks in social skills he more than makes up for with that head of his.
Neil was a little taken aback by the request, 'Teach him what it means to be a future Chief? While I tried to do my best to learn from my grandpa most of what he said came in one ear and out the other. As for social skills, I can't say mine are good either the only reason I'm being so social here is because I'm on the lookout for any kind of clues.'
"I'll try my best Sir, first I'll go get the saddle from Gobber's shop and then I'll wake up Hiccup."
The Chief gave him a short nod, "Sounds like a plan."
.
.
.
When Neil reached Gobber's place near the edge of the village he was surprised to hear the pounding of metal. When he opened the door he found Gobber pounding an iron skeleton of something that resembled a handbag of some kind.
The 51-year-old man stopped doing what he was doing when he saw Neil enter.
"Well, hello there Neil, you're earlier than I thought you would be haha."
'Does this man not sleep?! I left here after we finished the saddle and that was pretty late already. I don't remember seeing this project either meaning he has probably been working on this since I left.'
When Gobber saw him inspecting the iron skeleton of the bag a smile appeared on his face.
"I know you are curious but it'll have to wait, oh and I'm afraid that you can't take the saddle yet, it isn't done."
'What do you mean it isn't done? I'm sure we finished it last night.'
Though he wanted to ask what was going on Neil kept his mouth shut and left with a smile as he was being pushed out of the smithy. Since he was getting the free iron, labor, and equipment it didn't make sense for him to make a fuss. Besides the old man clearly had good intentions.
'I just hope that he doesn't come up with any crazy saddle designs like the ones Hiccup talked about.'
By the time Neil went back to the Chief's house the Chief was nowhere to be seen. He went up the stairs and found Hiccup still sleeping and Toothless with his head tilted as if asking what he wanted.
After giving Hiccup a small nudge on the shoulder and being pushed away, he turned around and began walking back down.
'Can't say that I didn't try.'
From what he had seen Hiccup had many interesting ideas and when one hit him he would do all-nighters which was one of the reasons he would occasionally sleep all morning.
He got on Cryo and flew off into the forest in a slow smooth flight. The sun had yet to come up which meant that the surroundings were still fairly dark. As they flew he continued to stare down the treetops hoping to see anything strange.
"So far there is no one strange from Berk that would have reasons to summon me. We'll there's Mildew which is an old man Isolated by Berk but I doubt that has anything to do with me. Gothi is also a no, while she seems like a witch I doubt she can do anything magical. There were no spacial cracks or anything that would cause my soul to drift into this world. At least I didn't find any during the day which is why I'm here now."
'So that's a no for to a summoning, dimensional incident, magic circles of some kind, definitely not a truck-kun incident, so what was I summoned by a god? Did I enter some kind of Coma during my sleep? How and why was I sent here? I really am desperate if my thinking has become like this haha.'
As he was lost in his thoughts and focused on the treetops he had failed to notice someone closing in on him. Cryo emitted a low-pitched noise which wasn't his usual danger warning, it actually sounded somewhat happy.
"Hey there! You're up earlier than usual."
When he looked beside him he found a blonde girl riding her blue Nadder. They had bumped into each other during his last flights around Berk.
"Hey there Astrid, sorry I was just lost in thought for a bit.'
Astrid smiled and nodded as she looked down on the tree tops, "I know what you mean, I also like to go for early morning flights to clear my head. So have you been able to catch anything?"
As she asked she looked at the sack that he was carrying on his side. In order to explain his recurring flights around Berk he used his hunting experience. Since he was receiving free lodging the least he could do was help with the village's food. It also helped him get to know some of the people who thanked him for his contributions.
"Not yet, I'm actually heading to one of my traps now, wanna come with?"
Astrid shook her head and began to fly in another direction, "Maybe some other time, for now, Stormfly and I have to train for our flying competition today. You should come as well."
Neil smiled and gave her a thumbs up, "I'll join in the next one once my saddle gets done. But good luck"
She gave him a short nod and sped up her flying speed.
'I wonder if she is still suspicious of me.'
During his first days, he had noticed that she followed him around. He wasn't sure if she was doing it out of her own worry or if the chief had asked her but it didn't really matter. In the end, he wasn't doing anything that would get him in trouble.
He continued to look around as he collected the unfortunate critters that became prey to his traps. Sadly he didn't come upon anything and other than for a rabbit and a squirle his trip was unsuccessful. As he headed back to Berk following the Islands shore he came upon something that was out of place.
On the sandy beach, a small boat was flipped over, from what he could see it had been washed to shore. He and Cryo dove down and looked around for any signs of anyone having camped nearby but there was nothing.
He crouched and looked under the flipped ship and there he found a back haired girl lying face down on the sand.
"Hello…..Are you okay?"
After waiting for her to respond for a few seconds he sighed grabbed her hand and dragged her out from under the boat.
'Is she dead?'