Winter Moon (Jelsa)

Chapter 9: Jack

"Is it just me or is that a dragon on the horizon?" Jack asked nervously.

"Dragon?" Hiccup leapt excitedly to his feet and hurried to join Jack at the prow of the ship.

"That's a dragon alright," Astrid confirmed.

"Are they normally this far out?" Elsa queried. "We're still a few miles from Berk's coast."

"That one's probably on patrol," Hiccup answered.

"They're friendly, right? The dragons, I mean," Kristoff called timidly from the helm.

"Nothing to worry about," Astrid promised. "They usually don't mutilate strangers on sight unless you show outright hostility."

"No outright hostility," Jack mumbled, not feeling entirely reassured. "Got it."

Two large creatures circled overhead, descending closer and closer to the skyship. Elsa squared her shoulders, chin raised, the portrait of confidence. Jack could feel a tremor of uncertainty down the bond. He did his best to quell it, reassuring her that everything would go fine, even though he wasn't entirely sure himself.

One of the dragons landed on the deck with a loud thud. Kristoff made a squeaking noise and shrank behind the steering helm.

"Fishlegs!" Hiccup shouted happily. "Meatlug!"

Who's Fishlegs and who's Meatlug? Elsa wondered down the bond.

"These are our friends — Elsa and Jack," Astrid explained to the Viking. He looked as if he had had one to many meals.

"And that's our pilot. His name is Kristoff," supplied Hiccup.

"And you are?" Elsa prompted, her icy blue eyes were hard as she surveyed the mysterious Viking.

"Fishlegs, Miss Elsa," the Viking — Fishlegs — answered.

"Pleasure," Jack interjected. "You wouldn't mind escorting us the rest of the way to Berk, I trust?"

"No. Of course not," Fishlegs stammered. "This way."

We flew the rest of the way to the island, which was shrouded in early morning mist. Jagged pillars of stone, coated in moss peeked above the pale shrouds of fog. A statues of a long-dead Vikings flanked the entrances. Rickety wooden houses, stacked atop one another, swayed precariously in the breeze.

An astounding lack of organization, Elsa noted duly.

Just my kind of place, Jack answered.

She cracked a smile. It's beautiful, in its own way.

Of course, Jack thought. I understand why Hiccup and Astrid love their home.

He could feel Elsa's remorse at that. Despite everything, Arendelle was still her home. And her sister's. With everything that was happening to it though, the kingdom seemed to become more of a living hell than anything.

"Lots of dragons," Kristoff mumbled, interrupting our small conversation.

There was a loud thud, and the skyship bobbled in the air as another dragon landed on deck.

"Hey Toothless," Hiccup grinned.

~ ~ ~

Jack decided that if he ever wanted to buy a summer vacation home when he graduated from school, Berk was prime real estate. There were plenty of exotic animals, a 360-degree view of ocean and more ocean, and a rather intimidating chief.