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As she followed Tuff out with her eyes, she was able to catch a glimpse of Hiccup and Astrid off the side of the Clubhouse building. It didn't seem like they were arguing; she looked far less angry than she did this morning after falling in the non-disclosed boar tunnel. Her head was hung low, eyes downcast, even while he pulled her in for an embrace.
Fishlegs and Snotlout were done eating and headed outside, right as Hiccup and Ruffnut separated. Ska'i made to follow right behind them, but that was when Hiccup headed in, locking eyes with her. "You're gonna be with me for the day, Ska'i," he forced in a cheery tone. But she couldn't if it was because of the stress from the morning, or what looked like a pretty serious goodbye with Astrid.
She tilted her head in curiosity, "What?" It wasn't as if she didn't trust Hiccup. With a sudden shock, she realized she trusted him entirely. She was sure everyone in the group would save her life in an instant if it ever came to that. But again, what, where was he taking her?
"Annnd that probably came out sounding a lot more creepy than how I meant it," he let out an awkward chuckle. "To be honest, I don't really like talking about going home around everyone more than I have to," he explained. "We have important things to do here at the 'Edge," and he gestured around. His emphasis losing a bit of the point, considering they were still inside. But Ska'i got the picture, and he went on. "We're not sure if there could be more Dragon Eye lenses -."
What, "lenses"?
"- And there's the high probability there's more of those elemental stones floating around! Look, when we first decided to make this our base, it started off feeling like one, continuous sleepover! An entire island, all to ourselves - we had even more freedom than when we first had our dragons! And it's not as if we're any less excited. At least, no one has come to me about it, and I haven't heard anything," he confessed. "But I don't want the feelings of independence and adventure, to fade. So other than the occasional letter from a Terrible Terror, I try to keep news about - and visits to - home to a minimum. I'm sure there are times when we all miss aspects of home; our old haunts, its people, and yes of course our parents included."
Ska'i nodded in slow understanding. She couldn't quite completely get on her father's side when she discovered he'd tell the village half-truths. And he withheld information from them on purpose, on occasion. But now, she saw where he was coming from. And this only proved to her, that she made the absolute right decision in leaving her little island, and not becoming chief.
"So, I'm taking you to New Berk!" Hiccup concluded. "You know, to . . . introduce yourself to our village and its people, the chef - maybe even propose a future alliance!"
Ska'i didn't disagree, but confusion still clouded her. "And New Berk is your . . . ?"
"Oh, right! Sorry," he apologized with a laugh. "Yes! New Berk is our home!"
Before they left, Ska'i decided to spend the few precious minutes she had with Tuff before she and Hiccup left. Ska'i went outside and turned toward the boar pits when she exited the Clubhouse doors. Ruffnut and Tuff were bouncing ideas off each other, as they did their best in trying to fence off the pit by setting up a base of rocks around the edge. She figured they'd later get Meatlug to melt them together or something, and she hoped they'd remember to build a gate instead of welding it all shut.
"Okay, what if," Ruffnut was suggesting when Ska'i got into earshot. "We leave a trail of crumbs from the pits to our houses, so the boars can get comfortable around us?"
"Yeah, but I don't want to waste precious crumbs like that," Tuff shot it down. "What if they don't even like banana bread?"
"They're boars, they'll eat anything."
"Well, I love banana bread, and I don't want to share!"
"I could always make more, Tuff," Ska'i interrupted the argument with a smile she couldn't stop from spreading on her face. She was pleased he liked her baking so much; she'd tried a hand at it a couple of times on the island, but it was never really popular. "And what might work," she pitched, "is taking something from each house, and exposing the boars to it every week or so." While the twins merely looked at her, she couldn't quite read their expressions. "You know, because of their scent," she added lamely.
"That. Is-." Ruffnut started.
"Ingenious!" Tuff finished and rushed over to her, lifting her and swinging her around in exuberation. "My girl is a genius!"
Ska'i laughed, and she hated to kill the mood, but she had to break it to him one way or the other. His hands slid down to her waist, while hers came to rest atop his shoulders.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
Surprised, she answered with a question of her own, "How were you able to tell?"
With a chuckle and a blush, he explained, "You chew your lip."
Oh! Unawares, but grateful Tuff was the type to notice something like that in the first place. With a little preparational sigh, she exhaled in one breath, "Hiccup is taking me to New Berk, so . . . you know, so the village can meet me, and his dad, and maybe form an alliance?"
An unhappy little frown formed "Well, why can't I come with you guys?"
"I don't -."
"Because - I mean - I'd love to be there, when you meet my dad, too," his voice was starting to raise, causing Ruffnut to look over. A full look of alertness was on her face, and Ska'i interrupted him before he could get any more agitated.
"I'd love for you to be there with me, too! This isn't my idea, Tuff. Hiccup gave an order," Ska'i mumbled toward the ground.
"Hey," Ruffnut couldn't seem to stand it anymore. She flung down a rock, which wound up tumbling into the pit and knocking out a boar. Ska'i assumed anyway, based on the squeal that sounded out. "This isn't a dictatorship. You can bring it up to Hiccup that you want to tag along or whatever, and see what he says. You can even ride Barf."
"Wait, did Ruff just use the word 'dictatorship' currently?" Hiccup asked as he strode up before Ska'i could suggest her idea.
Ruffnut scoffed, crossing her arms. "That is so insulting. I know words."
"I was going to suggest," Ska'i jumped in. "That I ask if Hiccup could arrange a way for your father to not meet me when we arrive. But I don't know how pragmatic that would be. . ." and she trailed off lamely.
"No. You guys are right," Hiccup holding his palms up in surrender. "I agree with Ruffnut; this is a democracy, after all. Toothless could have of course handled the extra bit of weight, but it would be easier on him. And so long as you two want to be together when Ska'i meets your father for the first time," he gestured from one to the other. "Then I don't see anything wrong with Tuffnut joining us."
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