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If Hiccup hadn't told Ska'i about trying to keep news and visits home on the down low, then she might have asked why he didn't bring that up in the first place. But then he went on, "I only didn't suggest it in the first place, because we're just going for the day. And I figured you'd want to be the one to introduce Ska'i to your father yourself, in a more formal setting. You know, other than a quick introduction."
Tuff and Ska'i thought about it for a minute, but he wound up shaking his head, and she agreed, "No, nothing has to be perfect. But this opportunity is." Ska'i could feel the admiring gaze Tuff was giving her, but she refused to even glance at him, determined to stop blushing.
Even Ruffnut made a gagging noise, and Hiccup commanded, "Just keep working on that, Ruff! And I hope you guys are planning on adding a gate to that boar pit fence.."
"Yeah, how about some help?" She looked pointedly at her brother. Then rushed to add, "Not that I blame you, Ska'i."
She responded with an awkward smile, "I hope not."
"Hey, why not have Snotlout help her with getting the boars used to our scent, and have Fislegs help Astrid?" Tuff suggested.
"That," Hiccup shook his finger at him. "Is a great idea, Tuffnut."
"You're welcome."
"Now!" And he clapped his hands together. "I'm going to let Astrid know about this light change of plans, and I'll meet you guys out by the Training Arena. We can take off from there?"
It was a habit Ska'i had noticed Hiccup does; try to give out a command, then end up phrasing it like a question. Almost as if he was asking permission it was okay to be giving out the command in the first place. She wasn't at all hinting at making him a weak leader! No, it was more like what Ruffnut had said; he was a democratic leader. Not at all like the aww things were run back at her village. Even more proof she made the best decision for herself in leaving.
"Goodbye, sister!" Tuff yelled, but Ska'i held back a little, causing a look of confusion to momentarily cross his face. "I'm just going to talk to her real quick."
"Okay," he gave her a small smile and squeezed her hand in parting.
Ska'i turned toward where Ruffnut was still hauling rocks over to as close to the edge as she could get, without letting them fall in. And most likely knocking out another boar. She picked up a couple of rocks of her own and added them into some crevices.
"Hey, thanks, Ska'i," Ruffnut shot her a grateful smile. "At least someone's helping me!" She shouted in the direction Tuff had walked off. "Hiccup had better be serious about sending Snotlout over here to help me with this," she mumbled.
Concerned, Ska'i asked, "Why is he usually not?"
"Oh no, he is," Ruffnut reassured. "I just want to sucker someone else into doing the hard work," she smiled, then asked, "What are you still doing here?"
"I just wanted to make sure it's okay that I ride Barf," she burst out. "I realize I don't have a dragon of my own yet, but I don't want to intrude or anything. I mean, you know, I of course understand if it's not. He is your dragon, after all! Well, partly yours anyway. You know, because he has two heads. And the other head belongs to your brother. Not that dragons strictly belong to anyone! They are living beings with their own emotions and everything." She couldn't stop rambling; she suspected it was because her father chief was adamant about raising a blindly obeying army. And the only reason why he'd allow her to pitch the occasional idea to him, was when it was only the two of them. So since she was suppressed all those years, when she was presented with the opportunity to talk, she took it and ran. With no sign of stopping.
"Whoa, Ska'i girl. Hey, sky-girl! That works - can I start calling you that?"
"Yes, you can call me that," she answered with a smile.
"Alright, awesome, sky-girl. " Ruffnut slung an arm across her shoulders. "Yes, you can of course ride Bark for this quick visit to our homeland. Just be sure to tell him that I love him, and -." A serious look crossed her face, as she forced her to look her in the eyes, hands on her shoulders. "Take care of my brother, okay?"
Ska'i easily matched her serious energy, promising, "With my life, Ruffnut."
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