A New Chapter in Httyd

Chapter 3 - Ruffles

Ruffles had no interest in this dragon visit whatsoever. He had never known a dragon and was in no mood to change that. According to mom, dragons were vicious fire-breathing lizards with huge wings and spikes decorated on their entire body. Each dragon had it's own deadly talent- spitting acid or boiling hot water, screaming so loud it would kill their target, controlling lightning, barfing gas and then igniting it- so why the heck were they going to visit dragons? Ruffles had zero desire of turning into burnt meat. 

But his parents insisted on him to come with them. Okay, dad insisted. Mom was simply whooping around, eager to see dragons. He wished he could have stayed back.

Until he saw who was accompanying them. Yes, there were the Haddocks. But there were the others- Tuffnut, Heather and...

...And Honora. 

The second he saw her his stomach did a few flips. His hand instinctively shot to his hair, trying to smooth it out, but it was already made. 

"Honora!" He tried calling. He began walking in her boat's direction, but a hand grabbed his shoulder. 

"Our boat's this way, Fluffles", Mom said.

"It's Ruffles", he growled. "Can I sit with Honora?'

"Oh, no", dad said. "You're coming with us." Dad would agree with mom no matter what she said. It shouldn't be a surprise since he agreed on keeping Ruffle's name. Sometimes Ruffles wondered why mom named him that when she couldn't even remember it.

"All ready?" Hiccup asked when the Haddocks had got into their boat.

"Yesss!" Tuffnut exclaimed. "Let's go meet Belch!" 

Everyone ignored him.

Dad set to unraveling the rope that docked the ship to the shore and Astrid and Heather did the same for their boats. The the boats slowly floated over the calm water, away from Berk. Everyone one began rowing their boats. The whole time, Ruffles had his eyes fixed on Honora.

The way her hair swayed in the breeze. The way her blue eyes reflected the ocean. The way her strong arms controlled the oars. The way she was a perfect girl through and through. Luckily, the Thorston family boat was quite near the Ingerman family's and the Haddocks had moved to the other side of the Thorstons so Ruffles could enjoy the 'view'.  

"Hey Honora", Ruffles said dreamily. "You look beautiful today. Like a black rose with a blue stem." 

Honora narrowed her eyes at Ruffles but said nothing. It was no secret to anyone that Ruffles liked Honora. From the Haddock's boat, Ruffles caught Nuffink glaring at him. Ruffles stuck his tongue out at him.   

As they sailed, the sky got noticably darker and the tides got stronger. 

"Umm... Hiccup?" Dad called Hiccup. "Do you think a storm's brewing?"

"Yes Fishlegs", Hiccup said. "That's exactly what I was thinking."

"Do we turn back?" Heather asked. 

"The hidden world is closer to us than Berk. We should be able to get there faster. Everyone, row faster!"  

Hiccup's orders, with him being the chief and a naturally leader, were hard not too follow. Ruffles rowed faster. The hidden world was still quite far away, but like Hiccup said, it wasn't as far as Berk. At the same speed, it would take them about about half an hour more to reach the island of the dragons. 

The waves got higher and the sky was almost as dark as night. 

"LOOK OUT!" Astrid yelled. When Ruffles looked ahead, he saw why. 

A thirty four tall waves way about to boot them. The Ingerman family got the message and steered clear. So did the Haddocks. 

But the Thorston family wasn't as lucky. They got the message too late. Tuffnut and Heather managed to get themselves and the boat out safely. But when the boat sailed over the wave, Honora, who was seated at the end, fell off the ship into the dark, murky sea.