Secrets of the Wilderwest (Httyd fic)

Chapter 13

Astrid POV

I just stood frozen on the spot when Silvy showed us. The others has similar reactions. Inside the healer's hut a lot of villagers lay sick. Most of these villagers were children who were being tended to by their mothers.

None of us could utter a word as we took in the scene. Toothless who had followed let out a sad croon.

"What happened to them?" I ask but Silvy just gave me a sad look.

"We don't know. They became ill a few months ago and many more begin to show symptoms each day." Silvy answered. "So far no one has died yet, which is a miracle itself. They are all running high fevers and we have no idea how to treat this. We can only keep the fevers down but it's taking a toll on the village."

"But how can we help?" Fishlegs asked.

"I don't know but the elders might." Silvy said. "This village adheres to the old ways which considers dragons as messengers from the Gods. If the Night Fury brought you here then it was for a good reason." Silvy explained. "After you've seen our healer and cleaned up I would like to take you all to see our elders. They are thought to possess the gift of clairvoyance and may be able to explain more."

One of the healers came and escorted us. It didn't take long to clean up the scrapes and bruises and have Toothless' tailfin seen to. We were all given curious stares by the children and Toothless even tried to cheer some of them up by acting cute and making faces or playing peek-a-boo with them.

Afterwards we were shown the bathing area and were given some new clothes and assured that our wet ones would be washed and dried for us.

I had on a simple off the shoulder dress while the others wore tunics and pants.

We were even given a hut to rest in and told by Silvy that the elders would see us in the morning.

"It's amazing." Fishlegs said as we all laid down to sleep. "A whole village still following the old ways. I'd thought for sure that it wasn't practiced anymore."

"What exactly are the old ways? Silvy said that they consider the dragons as messengers from the Gods." I ask curiously.

"The old ways actually date back to the reign of first King of the Wilderwest." Fishlegs explained and we all listened to the story. "The first king had found a dragon's egg abandoned and made friends with it when it hatched. They formed a bond rarely seen between human and dragon. Those believing in the old ways treat the dragons with respect and kindness. Some even think that the dragons were send from the Gods as protectors. These ways have largely been forgotten, especially during the Dragon wars when Grimbeard reigned. We now live in peace with these creatures again but there has rarely been any interaction between the two species."

"Dragon wars?" Snotlout asked Fishlegs.

"Not much is known about it. They say that Grimbeard made the dragons angry which cost him dearly in return. No one really knows how the war ended as no written accounts were ever found." Fishlegs explained.

As we laid back down to sleep Toothless bounded into the hut and jumped on Hiccup, giving him a big lick.

"EGH" Hiccup groaned as he tried to wipe the slobber off. "I have a feeling that this stuff doesn't wash off." Which caused us all to laugh.

Toothless let out a draconic version of a laugh and then curled up near us. "Crazy reptile." Hiccup muttered before laying down. "I'm never giving you chocolate again."

The following morning I woke up and saw that Toothless and Hiccup were already gone. Snotlout was cuddling with a pillow and mumbling in his sleep while Fishlegs rolled around in his cot.

There was a knock on the hut door and I went to open it. Silvy stood on the other end and she gave me a smile when she saw me.

"Good morning Astrid." She said. "The elders will see you and your friends after breakfast."

"Good morning Silvy. Thank you for telling me. Have you seen Hiccup around?" I ask as I heard Snotlout and Fishlegs wake up.

"Yes he was up a little after dawn and he was seen following the Night Fury." Silvy stated. "I saw him as I was heading to the healer's hut to help out."

We went to take out baths after Snotlout and Fishlegs were fully awake and by breakfast time Hiccup hadn't returned.

"I'm worried." I mutter.

Snotlout who was munching on a drumstick replied. "He always wanders off. But that dragon is with him so I don't think he can get into too much trouble."

"That's not really reassuring Snotlout." Fishlegs stated.

Breakfast carried on mostly silently afterwards except for when Snotlout tried to take Fishlegs's corn. Afterwards one of the village guards came to our table and asked if we were ready to meet the elders.

He led us to a colorful decorated house. As he pushed open the door he gave a bow and ushered us in.

Inside I saw two elderly ladies sitting next to each other. They gestured to the empty seats for us to take. Surprisingly there were only three not four.

As we took our seats the elderly women introduced themselves. "Greetings to our most honored guests. I am Mia and this is my sister Ami."

All three of us gave a greeting and then silence reigned until Mia spoke up. "A difficult quest you all have undertaken." She said.

"Yes, you seek what has been lost for so long." Ami added.

"When your journey is over it will be but the beginning." Mia stated.

"What?!" I asked shocked. 'They couldn't know about the King's lost things could they?' I asked myself when their eyes turned to me.

"You are afraid girl." Mia stated.

"Wha..." I let out before Ami interjects.

"You fear the Dragontime." She states and I gape at her.

"You must not fear the Dragontime, for you yourself will crown the true King." Mia stated.

"No that can't be possible." I say.

"Not all is as it seems child. The Dragontime will come about. There is no stopping it, whether the Dragontime shall usher in an age of despair or prosperity is up to you."

"Your group is not complete." Ami states.

"There are two more you must seek." Mia adds.

"A trial you must still face." Ami says.

"Please save our village from this horrible fate." Mia adds sadly.

After the elders said this we were ushered outside looking far more confused than when we went in. We decided to walk through the village while thinking about what the elders said.

It wasn't long before we heard yelling and I looked up to see Hiccup running down the hill with Toothless following. When Hiccup reached us he had gathered quite a crowd of curious villagers.

Still out of breath Hiccup rasped out. "I.........know......what's.........making......the villagers......sick."