Life on the Edge

1.04 When Darkness Falls

"Okay. Check that island off the list," Hiccup says casually, not even fazed by the wild boars he and Snotlout just finished running from.

Choosing their own island is not as easy as they might have hoped. Still, their spirits are high as they continue searching.

"Ooh, this is so exciting!" Fishlegs says happily. "Searching the high seas for an island outpost to call our own!"

Ragnar raises his eyebrows with an amused smile. "Hiccup, I think your dramatic flair might be contagious."

Hiccup rolls his eyes. "Ha ha. Very funny," he says over Astrid's own genuine laughter.

"Yeah. I like this idea," Ruffnut says, arms crossed behind her head as she leans back in her saddle. "Move away from Berk. Get my own place." She gives her brother a pointed glance. "Away from you-know-who..."

Tuffnut nods in agreement. "Yeah. You're telling me, sister. I am so sick of you-know-who," he says obliviously. "He never knows when to shut up. I want him outta here."

"Who's gonna tell him?" Ragnar asks with a smirk.

"He'll figure it out," Astrid says. "Maybe."

"Guys, let's focus," Hiccup calls. "Alright. We need to find an island that's safe, secure, and habitable for both us and the dragons."

Snotlout rolls his eyes. "Blah. Blah. Blah. How many times do we have to hear that?"

"Uh, until we find what we're looking for?" Hiccup tells him. He looks down when another island comes into view. "Let's check this one out."

They fly down to the island in question and start to look around as soon as they land.

"Not bad. Not bad," Hiccup says with a nod. "Lots of fresh water, seems like a plentiful food supply..."

"And lots of cool blue flowers," Ruffnut says. She holds up two handfuls of the flowers in question. "I'm in."

Ragnar holds up one hand when he realizes what the flowers are. "Not so fast, Ruff."

"Wait," Astrid says when she notices the same thing. "Aren't those...?"

"Blue oleander," Fishlegs says with a gasp. "Deadly poisonous to dragons."

"So, we're not staying?" Tuffnut checks.

The next island isn't the one either.

"Woah! This island is beautiful," Fishlegs says as they fly over. "I even like those weird black dots all over the-"

"Those aren't dots," Hiccup interrupts. "They're Whispering Death holes!"

A few Whispering Deaths poke their heads out as if to prove his point.

Ragnar shakes his head. "Nope. Not doing it."

"Been there. Done that," Snotlout adds with a shake of his own head.

"Next!" Astrid calls.

At one point, they somehow get turned around and end up on the boars' island again. Once it's properly crossed off the list, however, they move on and eventually come to what seems to be the most promising island yet.

"This looks pretty good," Hiccup notes.

"Those cliffs could work," Astrid says. "Good sight lines, easily defendable..."

Ragnar trusts Astrid to handle the defenses of their potential island, but he has his own priorities in mind.

"Dense forest means plenty of variety in vegetation," he tells them. "I'll have to see what's available, but I should be able to find most of the plants and barks I'll need."