Captain Fury: Pirate of Berk

35: The Eye of the Dragon

Thirty-Five: The Eye of the Dragon

The explosion resounded across the bay and the Night Fury lurched violently. Hiccup's head snapped up and he staggered to his feet as another impact slammed into the ship. Arild's green eyes were wide with fear as he sat up.

"Wh-what's h-happening, Dad?" he whimpered. Hiccup lurched as the ship jolted again.

"Stay here!" he growled and stumbled towards the door as another explosion sounded.

"Captain?" It was Mulch and the little man sounded worried. That in itself was a concern because Mulch was generally very amiable and easy-going...so that he was worried was a bad omen.

"Lover-boy...you really need to see this!" Camicazi shouted and he grabbed the door, wrenching it open as the ship lurched again...and then he staggered onto the deck. And gaped.

The volcano had an enormous monster emerging like a chick from a particularly huge and rocky egg. The ugly, snub head with six eyes on each side and a mouthful of fearsome fangs was attacked by a short thick neck to a greyish body maybe a hundred feet high, with four solid trunk-like legs smashing rock like paper. Breathing hard, staring wide-eyed and shocked, Hiccup frowned as another huge chunk of mountain erupted and crashed into the bay. And-most horrifically-he could see shapes scrambling and running from the monster as it continued to hatch from its mountain prison.

"Maybe you'll be looking for that new harbour after all," Cami commented and he spared the energy to glare at her, then looked at his shocked crew. This was impossible! Dragons had been extinct for hundred of years...the last ones had died out when Berk was still a Kingdom... He shook himself.

"MULCH! BUCKET! Get shot and powder! ROAR! Take us closer to the shore! Elias-get the mainsail! And you...either help me or get outta my way!" Hiccup barked, glaring at the female Captain and grabbing the nearest cannon, expertly adjusting the aim.

"Cap'n..." Mulch protested as Bucket dashed down to hand up ammunition. "I don't think our cannons will be much use against such a monster!"

"They're not meant to be!" Hiccup growled, grabbing the shot and loading urgently. "It's to get his attention!" He stabbed his finger at the shore. "They need a chance to get away!" And suddenly Cami was at his side, grinning wildly as she swung the cannon round to aim at the monster.

"Y'know, I'm not the greatest gunner," she told him cockily.

"Really? I thought you claimed to be the best at everything!" Hiccup scoffed back, raising his aim again. "Luckily for you, I don't need twins-level gunning. I just need to annoy it. Lift your sights-you're too low and you may hit the crew!"

"I may have to offer them the chance to join my crew, lover," she purred, adjusting her aim.

"They come as a pair-and Tuff is definitely a boy!"

"Really? You keep telling yourself that, lover!"

"Will you STOP calling me that!" he snapped and fired. The shot impacted directly between the monster's eyes and Cami paused to stare at him.

"I thought you didn't need twins-level gunning!" she accused him.

"Doesn't mean I don't have it, though!" he rasped back, coughing slightly. She tossed her long blonde hair and gave a cocky grin-then she fired: her shot landed almost where his had.

"Same here-lover," she taunted him and he groaned before reloading.

"You know there is a penalty for disobeying a direct order from the Captain!" he reminded her.