How to save a Pirate

Comfrey

Josh is startled when he wakes up the next morning, in a stiff bed, in a tiny strange hut that is not even rocking like a ship, in new clothes. The only thing that was feeling normal was, he felt tired, and a lot of stuff was hurting. He wasn't even feeling that hungry, but then, all of a sudden, all the memories from the previous day came rushing back at once.

"A lot can change in one day..." Josh mutters to himself as he pulls back the sheets and gets out of bed.

Josh is on his way out the door when he spots his old clothes piled up on the wooden chair. He makes a mental note to clean them and use them to sleep in.

Josh decides just to take a quick walk around the village before he goes to the mead hall, where Gobber said to go in the morning. Apparently, the villagers eat together most of the time. There were still a lot of people around though. People walking around, people pushing carts, people talking and carrying things around, kids were playing and fighting, one guy was fixing his roof...

It was so peaceful, so nice, so... So spacious, and free... 'Six years on a ship can really change the way you look at things...' Josh thinks.

When Josh eventually makes it to the hall, he immediately starts to search for Gobber, but seeing him nowhere, he decides instead on sitting with the dragon riders.

"Hey guys, this seat taken?"

The group all look up at him.

"Nah, go ahead." Snotlout shrugs.

Josh is about to sit down when Astrid stops him. "Hang on, you haven't got anything to eat yet." She points out.

Josh opens his mouth to say something but then shuts it again.

"Do you know where to get the food?" Snotlout asks. Everyone stares at him. Since when was Snotlout considerate?

"What?" Snotlout snaps at them before standing up. "Come on." He says lightly backhanding Josh's arm, and walking away.

Josh follows him.

"What was all that?" Astrid asks, once the two boys were out of earshot.

"I know right?" Tuffnut says. "It was so weird."

"You don't know what you're talking about do you?" Ruffnut asks quietly, leaning toward her brother.

"Ew! Get away from me!" Tuffnut shoves his sister aside. "I can smell your breath."

"So what? Your breath smells the same as my breath. We're twins." Ruffnut tells him.

Tuffnut gasps dramatically and gets up from his seat. "No, no, no!!!" He screams, dropping to his knees and gripping his forehead as he stares up at the ceiling.

Everyone stares at him for a moment, before Fishlegs clears his throat, and continues their previous conversation. "So, anyway. You were saying, Astrid?"

"Ahh... Yes..." Astrid says, tearing her eyes from the twins. "I was saying that–

"I gotta get away from it!" Tuffnut shouts, standing up and running around in circles.

"Tuffnut! Come here, and I'll tell you how to get rid of this terrible, terrible disease." Ruffnut says shaking her head.

"Anything!" Tuffnut declares getting back on his knees in front of Ruffnut.

"Come a little closer."

Tuffnut shuffles forward a little bit.

"A little more..."

Tuffnut shuffles forwards again.

Ruffnut leans down towards her brother, takes a deep breath, and blows as much air as she can into his face.