A New Chapter in Httyd

Chapter 4 - Nuffink

"No time to think", Nuffink thought. He took a deep breath and dived into the water. He pushed himself deeper, trying to ignore the icy chill of the sea. Keeping his eyes open was difficult but he managed it.

He saw what he was looking for. Or rather who he was looking for. He swam towards her and slipped his hands under Honora's waist and shoulder. Using all his strength, he hauled her and himself to the surface. 

Once he was up, he made sure Honora's face remained outside the water. Her eyes were closed and she wasn't moving but a quick pulse check assured Nuffink that she was okay. The boats were a little further than them, so he moved towards the closest one- the Thorstons'. At the end of the boat was Heather, one of her hands stretched out. Nuffink handed Honora to her and climbed into the boat after her. 

Since he was doused in water, he shivered as the north wind blew. He plopped down at the end of the boat, facing the south as he attempted to catch his breath. He felt a blanket being wrapped around him. He turned around and saw Honora, also draped in one.

"Thank you, Nuffink", she said. "My mother told me what happened".

Nuffink smiled shyly. "Any time". He caught Ruffles glaring at him from the Ingermans' boat. Nuffink stuck his tongue out at him. 

"Anyone could've done that", Ruffles grumbled.

"Then why didn't you do it, Muffles?" Ruffnut asked.

"Ruffles!" 

"Either way, his name is weird", Nuffink thought. Honora sat on the last wooden plank of the boat, right below Nuffink and faced the wind too, like she found the burning chill enjoyable. 

There was a long stretch of silence. Nuffink was rather surprised, since they were on the Thorstons' ship and Tuffnut wasn't the best at being quite. But when he turned around, he saw that Heather had silenced him somehow and was purposefully being quite. When she caught Nuffink looking, she winked at him. 

She couldn't be... Encouraging him, could she? 

"How do you feel?" Honora asked. "About seeing dragons, I mean".

Nuffink shrugged. "I think it would be good. Our parents seem to like them".

"The giant, fire-breathing beasts who have a hundred different ways to kill a Viking". 

"You don't like them?"

"Well... If they really were dangerous then our parents wouldn't survive riding them, would they? Mom says that if you earn a dragon's trust... They will remain by your side forever". 

"Would you... Like to get a dragon of your own?"

"I don't know. I don't really like heights".

"Oh". 

Nuffink was disappointed of the ending of the conversation. 

The Haddock's boat neared the Thorstons'. 

"Common Nuffink!" Mom called. 

Nuffink didn't want to leave Honora's side. But when he rose, she pecked him on the cheek and whispered. "Thanks again". She moved towards the front of the boat. Nuffink didn't realize he was staring till his mother called him again. Using a plank dad had placed between the two boats, he walked into the Haddocks' ship.

"What was that about?" Zephyr asked, one of her eyebrows raised.

Nuffink blushed. "What do you mean?"

Zephyr grinned and nudged him. "You're winning, you know". She strode toward mom to help her with the sails.

Nuffink smiled faintly and sat down, pulling the blanket Honora had given him tighter around himself. 

Soon dad announced, "Hidden world ahead!"