Chapter 10

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Raven point trappers' fort

(Grimmel is looking down at his map, trying to concentrate)

Ruff: Why the long face?

(She snickers)

Ruff: I mean, mine's long, but yours isreally long. All face and no brain.Like you got stretched at birth. Doyou have a twin too? Tuffnut tookup all the room in Mom's belly.Otherwise I'd have a rounder headand more brains. That's science.

(Grimmel sneers, trying to ignore her. The silent Warlordsexchange glares of exhaustion.Ruffnut toys with her braids, weaving them around likesnakes)

Ruff: My braids are like littleZipplebacks, see? Rawr rawr! Eventhe mold spots look like eyes. Socute. They even have little hornsand everything, just like Barf andBelch, except me and Barf can'tstand Belch, so they're really justBarfs. It's warm in here.

(Grimmel shakes his head, unable to concentrate)

Ruff: I know what you're thinking. You'venever had a prisoner this hot. Allthe boys love me. Except Eret, whototally lost his chance. That shiphas sailed, boy. Sorry! And y/n is practically married to those round heads, Astrid and hicca. But Snotloutand Fishlegs, they're basically myharem.

(Grimmel breaks his pencil and groans)

Ruff: I just can't choose. Snotlout's abeefcake, but almost too pretty,you know? Sometimes I think he'smore in love with himself than me.There's only room for one beauty inthis relationship. Fishlegs wouldkeep me alive longer if I had toeat one of them, stranded on someglacier somewhere, but he nevershuts up about dragons. Don't youhate when people never stoptalking?

Grimmel: Yes. I do.

(Grimmel's captured dragon backs away from Ruffnut slowly,uncomfortable and slightly afraid)

Ruff: They just keep going and goingBLAH, BLAH, BLAH. It's so boring.

Griselda: Can't we just feed her to yourdragons?

Ruff: Hey, what do you have to eat aroundhere? I'm allergic to fish. Youshould know that. That's all theyhave at that stupid new island.

(Grimmel raises his head from his hands, an idea suddenlydawning)

Ruff: Do you have any clams? They're likelittle mouths with slimy foodinside that's already chewed likethe way Mom used to do it --

Grimmel: -- ENOUGH!

(Grimmel swipes the maps off of the table. The Warlords jumpback.The compass sinks its spike into a mast, narrowly missing oneof the Deathgrippers. Grimmel stomps over to the cage)

Ruff: Until I turned twelve, and she waslike, "chew your own food!" And Iwas like, "No, I kinda like it!"

Grimmel: Most annoying creature ever tocross my path.

Ruff: Aww.

(He throws open the latch and swings the cage door wide.Ruffnut snaps at him with her dragon-headed braids)

Ruff: Oops, you let the dragons out. I'mgonna get ya, I'm gonna get ya. Nothis one's gonna get ya!

(He opens the adjacent cage. A timid dragon peeks his headout. The Deathgrippers scuttle over hungrily)

Grimmel: Take him and go. Please. I beg you. The Deathgrippers will have toforgo dinner.

(Ruffnut saunters out, sizing up the dragon)

Ruff: Eww. You feed your dragons...dragons?

Grimmel: GO!

Ruff: Where's your bathroom? I gotta...

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