(COMPLETED) Once their time in the Great Beyond had come to an end, the riders returned to Berk for good. But thier search for new islands and dragons was far from over. Everything changed when they discover a colonie of people living with a new spe...
With a gasping voice, Tuff wheezed, "I didn't know..you're so strong."
"Oh, sorry," Iris loosened her arms but didn't let him go. She looked up at his face with an innocent smile, "I guess I got caught up in the moment." Tuffnut laughed and finally returned the hug.
Stoick, who was still standing at the top of the arena with Gobber and a few other vikings, stared down with wide eyes. "Is that, Tuffnut?" He asked in disbelief, "with a girl."
"It would seem so," Gobber confirmed, "and not just any girl, that's that dragon girl; Iris."
The two released each other at the sound of Ruffnut pretending to gag, "sometimes, I wish I was blind."
The other riders soon landed as well. Snotlout and Fishlegs both rushed over to congratulate Ruffnut. "Of course, I let you win," Snotlout told her, "because I care so much about you."
"Ugh, now I wish I was deaf," the twin groaned in agony.
Hiccup made his way over to The twins with an impressed grin, "good job; you guys really pulled through in the end."
"Yeah," Astrid added, "for a minute, it actually looked like you had a plan."
"Hah! Plans are for the unprepared," Tuffnut insisted, still hyper from the adrenaline of the win, "that was pure skill you witnessed."
Snotlout laughed obnoxiously, "skill? Maybe on Ruffnut's part."
"She is the one who sunk the black sheep," Fishlegs complimented, "so beautifully."
With that, everyone began to go back to their daily business. Iris walked with Tuff to a nearby river to wash his paint off. It was still in view of the village, but remote enough that no one else was there.
However, when they arrived to the river bank, Tuff plopped down in the grass and frowned. "Hey, what's wrong?" Iris asked as she sat infront of him, parallel to the river.
"Snotlout and Fishlegs are right," he pouted, "Ruffnut got the most points out there, maybe I just got lucky."
Iris sighed and smiled sideways. It was upsetting to see him sad, but she couldn't help but find his pout adorable. Dipping a cloth into the river, Iris told him, "don't listen to them, they're uh..what's that word, again?"
Tuff looked up from the ground and asked, "mutton heads?"
"Yeah, that's it's," Iris smiled. She wrung the cloth out and began to wipe the paint from Tuffnut's frowning face. "I was watching you the whole time, you did amazing" Iris assure him, "and no matter what Snotlout and Fishlegs say, I'm proud of you."
Finally, Tuff was able to smile again. He looked down into her light purple eyes as she wiped the last bits of paint from his face. "There," she said with a small grin.
"Thanks Iris," his voice was sweet and sincere, and his eyes stared right into her soul. The idea that something so simple could make his heart pound was new and nerve-racking, but no less exciting.
Iris stared back, captured by his gentle features. She watched his eyes travel down to her hands and he took then into his. For a moment, they sat like that. Iris watched Tuff's thumbs move gently over the backs of her hands. But the sudden fly-by of a flock of terrible terrors brought them back to reality. Tuff stood and offered his hand to Iris. He hoisted her up, and the two walked back to the village together.
***
This day marked Iris being in Berk for two weeks. She had just gotten back from being at the beach with Arrow all day when Stoick beckoned for her. "Iris, over here," he called.
When Iris approached, she noticed all of her new friends standing with him. "Iris," Stoick began putting one of his large hands on her shoulder, "you've been a huge help around here in the past couple of weeks. Introducing new skills, helping us repair hazards." He then began to walk with her, the small group of Vikings following closely.
"I'm honoured that you've chosen Berk to be your new home," he continued, "and as thanks for all of the work you've done, and will come to do..." He trailed off and gestured forward.
In front of them stood a newly built cabin. It matched all of the others in the village, except for the occasional accent of yellow paint around frames and in designs on the roof. It was definitely on the smaller side, probably half the size of Hiccup's home, but it was more than enough.
Iris was speechless, overwhelmed with joy. Seeing her difficulty in trying to find something to say, Stoick chuckled lightly, "you don't need to say anything." He then gently pushed her toward it, "why don't you go check it out?" With those parting words, the chief left.
Hiccup and the other riders all gave her a tour of the home.
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It was long and skinny, all one floor. The home was equip with a bed and yak fur blankets, a table and chairs, and a fireplace for warmth and cooking. There was even a sand pit built into the floor for Arrow to sleep in. Along with this, it was filled with gifts from her friends.
