Left In The Night

Chapter 12

The next morning, Toothless looked for one of Hiccup's sketchbooks where he kept information about past and current enemies, and he would often include the symbols as well. He finally found it, gently using his teeth and nose to get through the pages without damaging them.

Over his five years of living with the Berkians, he'd been blessed to learn to read runes, but right now, the symbols were more important.

After getting through the pages, he located the symbol of the trappers, the same symbol that Eret, son of Eret had branded on his chest. Finally! Now it was about getting Hiccup's attention. It was still early, so Hiccup and the others were still asleep, but this was important. First, he had to go see if that ship was still there.

The forest looked different in the early morning haze, but he was able to retract the path he took with Blueheart yesterday. Keeping low, he was able to locate the small beach, and sure enough, the hunter's ship was still there. Additionally, there was evidence that they set up camp, with the remains of a small fire having been extinguished, with the smell of cooked fish or red meat.

He didn't see the man and woman, but he knew they were most likely still on the ship.

With his evidence, he made his way back once more, now that dawn was onset, providing more light. He passed by what he was sure was Zyrah's house, and he could hear some activity inside and the chickens waking.

He made it back to where Hiccup and the other Berkian riders were staying, making his way up to Hiccup and nudging him away.

"...huh? Toothless...?" The young chief grumbled. Toothless nudged him again, this time the nudge subsequentially nudging Astrid awake.

"Whu..."

"It's Toothless."

"This early?" Ugh, humans. Toothless gently grabbed Hiccup's notebook, tossing it onto his abdomen.

"Toothless what are you doing?" Hiccup sat up, running his hand through his bedhead, trying to process what was going on. Then he noticed the weight of his notebook that now rested on his lap. Through a yawn and rub of the eye, he glanced down to look, "You grabbed my notebook...?"

"What'd he do?" Astrid mumbled, now also starting to wake up.

"He got my notebook. It's turned to... my page about the hunters..."

"Huh?"

Ana, who was sharing the room, woke to their early morning chatter.

"What's going on?"

"Toothless somehow got to my notebook and it's opened to my page about the hunters and their insignias."

"Really?" Hiccup nodded in affirmation, looking back to Toothless to figure out what he was up to. Well, at least he'd gotten their attention, aggravating for them, but it was important. In an attempt to get the message across, Toothless nudged the specific insignia and then turned to face out the window, in the vague direction of the forest.

The three riders all shared a confused look. So he tapped the symbol with his paw this time, and then directly pointed out the window.

And that somehow helped Hiccup put the pieces together.

"Toothless... bud. Are you telling me what I think you're trying to tell me?" Hiccup slid out of bed, holding his notebook.

"Hiccup?" Came Astrid.

"We need to get the rest of the group, and then get Zyrah, her brother, and their friend." He said, putting his boots and a leather overshirt on, "I think Toothless is trying to tell us that there're hunters in the woods." As soon as he mentioned hunters, the girls scrambled to get ready, making their way out of the house to get the others.