The Soul of a Dragon

Chapter 8

Hiccup

"Todayyyy is Barf's dayyyy! Everydayyyy is Barf's dayyyy!", Ruffnut is singing loudly (and might I add: terribly off-key). She is standing on a rock overlooking Berk's cliffside and theatrically swings her arms to some sort of a made-up rhythm. She looks like Tuffnut's chicken trying to fly.

Tuff frowns and picks at Ruff's sleeve. "I thought we agreed that today is Belch's day and tomorrow is Barf's day."

"I don't know what you mean, my beloved idiot brother. I don't recall ever talking about that particular subject", Ruff says in a serious tone whilst holding up her index finger.

"Belch is clearly superior to Barf on any day. No, better yet: in every life time!", Tuff crosses his arms and doesn't give up.

Only sparing him a side-eye, Ruff turns towards me and flutters her eyes. What the...?

"Oh, Hiccy." Did she just call me Hiccy? "You're the most handsome and talented dragon rider and trainer on this entire planet!"

"Hey!", Snotlout interferes insulted. Him and Fishlegs are still competing for her affection. So much so, it's sickening.

"And if it weren't for Astrid, I'd totally pick you", Ruff continues. She's now leaning against me and bats her eyes at me. Please, someone make her stop.

"Would you be a dear and tell my less talented and less attractive blood relative that we celebrate Barf today and not...the other one?", she whispers seductively. Her breath smells like a mixture of foul apples and bread that has gone sour.

Suddenly, Tuff grabs his sister and shoves her away. Now, the other twin is leaning against me. Great. If he starts to flirt as well, I'm going to jump off this cliff.

"Hicsy, my brother from another father...", he says and throws his left arm around my shoulders.

"That's not how that saying is supposed to-"

"Sshhh", he puts his index finger on my lips, "don't talk, Hicsy. We've always had this brotherly connection. I can read your thoughts at any time and I know what you're thinking...", he gestures towards the sky and shouts, "today is Belch's day!"

I don't get the chance to come up with some kind of an answer, because Ruff has tackled her brother and they start battling each other like always.

"Have you two muttonheads ever realised that both of your dragons are just heads of one dragon?!", Snotlout yells and impatiently points at the oblivious green Zippelback. One of the heads (I can't tell if it's Barf or Belch) opens one of its yellow eyes to assess the severity of this discussion. Clearly, it's not interested because it closes it again and goes back to sleep.

The twins stop mid-fight, Ruff locking her brother's head between her arms and Tuff clinging to her legs. They exchange confused looks and blankly stare at Snotlout.

„What do you mean?", Ruffnut asks.

Snotlout doesn't answer. He simply growls in frustration, turns around and walks way.

This entire conversation is giving me a headache. "Ruff, Tuff. Celebrate whatever you like, but keep your distance, please. I have other matters I need to concentrate on."

"Can we make a new boar pit?", Ruff and Tuff creepily ask in unison. Sometimes the way their minds work makes me actually believe they share one soul like their dragon.

"Yeah, yeah. Fine", I wave them off and head for my hut where it's quite and nobody's trying to celebrate their dragon for whatever reason.

"YES!", they both exclaim and look at each other in victory, which earns them annoyed looks from the crowd. Heck, even the sheep roll their eyes. Only Fishlegs and Snotlout are trying to get in Ruff's good graces again. Like I said, it's sickening.