When I Come Back

Anxiety

Astrid

   I set the note down and slowly changed, wincing every few seconds due to my headache. Slowly, I made my way downstairs and drank a cup of water before opening my front door to start the day. Only to find the Gang staring back at me.

     "What are you guys doing here?"

     " Waiting for you to finally drag your lazy ass out of bed!" Snotlout exclaimed, his patience having run out long ago.

     "Why?" I rubbed my eyes, mentally begging my eyes to finally adjust to the light.

     " All of our chores have been taken care of again." Heather replies softly.

     " Yeah, and whoever it is, knows what they're doing. Not a single chore was left undone and each one is done just the way Stoick likes it." Fishlegs adds.

     " Its like they've been watching us!" Tuff exclaims.

     "Nah, if they were watching you, they would've been done a lot worse." Ruff joins.

      "Hey!!" Tuff exclaims, "I am a creative person and chose to do my chores the same way!"

     Snotlout snorts, "Yeah the wrong way."

     "You guys are just jealous of my creativity."

     "Guys!" I yell, "Can we please focus on the task at hand?"

   Suddenly, a horn sounded. The one everyone on Berk had been waiting a long time for. It was a sound that signaled an identified ship was making its way to Berk. 

   All conversations were dropped and the bustling island turned quiet. Each viking exchanging looks with those around them. The same question silently being asked repeatedly. 

Is Hiccup finally home? 

   All at once, as if a command silently given to the whole island, everyone started to make their way towards the harbor. The Gang and I climbing onto our beloved dragons and racing to see Hiccup first. 

   When we arrived, the only people there yet were Gobber, Stoick, and Toothless. 

That traitor!

Who does he think he is? 

Being loyal to a person he doesn't know, protecting him against us, and then showing up to greet his original owner who never did anything but love and care for him. 

Who was disowned by his own father for him.

Who was stripped of every title for him.

Who almost died trying to prove that dragons weren't what we made out to be.

Unbelievable.

   I was woken from my thoughts as multiple groups of people engaged in deep and friendly conversations with each other, waiting for the boat to make its way to the mighty docks of Berk. 

   As the boat got a bit closer, we noticed something unusual. The sail was not the normal dingy tan color, it was red. A rich color of red. Dark, almost to the color of maroon, but bright like a Monstrous Nightmare's liquid flame. No symbol. Just red. 

   This caused conversations about family, new weapons, dragons, work, and anything else that occurred to daily life, changed to the red sail. 

   Those who weren't paying attention or simply didn't care and kept their random conversations going were easy to hear. They used a different tone, not confused or awed by the magical sail. 

How did they turn the sail that color?

What did they do it with?

How long did this take?

What does it mean?

War?

Does red mean war if white means surrender?

Should we be preparing for an attack?

What if the boat is filled with a disease or plague like The Scourge of Odin and the second that the boat touches the dock it will be transferred to the whole island and everyone dyes?

Ok. I need to calm down.

Take deep breaths.

I can't let my anxiety get to me right now.     

 The chief ripped me from my thoughts with his gasp. 

Uh oh.

HEY GUYS!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING AND SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING SOONER. HAVE A GOOD DAY!!