To The End - A Tuffnut Love Story (HTTYD)

17. A Whole New Berk

"Tuffnut," Iris spoke as she looked up at his worried face. She smiled to show that she was alright, "it'll take a lot more than sleep to kill me, I promise."

Tuff gave her a half smile, then leaned down and kissed her forehead. "I know," he told her, "you're gonna be back to yourself in no time."

Placing a hand on his neck, Iris pulled Tuff down into a deep kiss. It was more intense than their first kiss; instead of shy and unsure, it was alive and full of emotion. Until he felt her hand fall from his neck, and her lips become loose; she'd fallen back asleep.

***

A week had gone by. Gothi was able to keep Iris alive with her many healing herbs, but she would not wake. However, after the war with Drago, the riders were able to save Arrow. And that's where they all were right now; Hiccup, Gobber, and all of the other riders had gathered around in Iris's cabin. They watched Gothi collect the wraith's venom and gently pour it into Iris's mouth.

Within just a few seconds, she began to show signs of waking up. And finally, her eyes opened. Everyone was dead silent in suspence, so quiet that Iris didn't even know they were there. When she sat up, she jumped back a bit in surprise, "ah!" Doing so, she hit her head against the back wall, "ow.."

Immediately, she was crowded by her friends, all smiling and expressing their relief and doubts. "Everyone, back off," Gobber's voice boomed. Once there was quiet again, he looked to Iris with a smile, "you're probably starving."

Now that he'd mentioned it, Iris was quite hungry. But before she could speak or move, Arrow hopped ontop of her and gave her a big, long lick up her neck. Iris laughed and hugged the dragon tightly. She then looked to her friends and wondered, "how long was I out?"

"About a week," Hiccup responded.

"And you won't believe what you've missed," Tuffnut added with an excited grin.

A woman she'd never met before breathed a deep sigh and confirmed, "that you won't." She turned to Hiccup and the others, "and you can tell her all about it in the great hall while she fills that empty belly."

Then Gobber spoke up, "I guess that only leaves one question." Everyone gave him a confused look. "What--am I really the only one who noticed?" He questioned. When no one answered, Gobber sighed and rolled his eyes, "why didn't Gothi's cure work? I get that Iris is a little different from the rest, but that medicine should've helped."

"Ugh, I told you guys," Tuff began dramatically, "only the venom works on her because only the venom works on sand wraiths." He then leaned over to Iris and muttered, "they never listen."

"Yeah, but she's still a person," Gobber argued

This time Hiccup answered with a smile, "well, like you said, she's just a little different."

On that note, Iris swung her legs carefully over the side of the bed and stood. It was difficult, due to her lack of nutrition, but she stood without wobbling. With help from Astrid and Tuff, she walked to her door and went outside.

However, the scene before her made her freeze in place. Spikes of ice stretched taller than the homes, new species' of dragons were everywhere, and to top off all of the crazy... "Mora?"

Upon hearing her name, the scale clad woman turned. A smile lit up her face when she saw Iris. "Iris, you're awake!" Mora raced over and hugged her.

"What are you doing here?" She questioned, "and what happened?" Iris was overwhelmed and felt as if she'd woken up in an alternate realm. For a moment, she even considered that she might have died and gone to Valhalla.

Tuff took her hand, getting her attention back. Iris looked up at him with a baffled face, "told you that you would believe it."

***

"So that's why it took so long for you guys to cure me," Iris observed as everyone took turns filling her in. She was told every detail, from Stoick's death to Valka being found. And how the riders rescued her tribe after crescent island was destroyed.

Mora frowned in shame as she looked at Iris, "we were wrong to blame the pirate attack on you; on any of you. When your viking friends came back to save us and our dragons, we saw just how selfishly we'd been living."

"All is forgiven," Iris responded respectfully. She then asked, "but if the island is gone, where will you be staying?"

"There are only a few of us left," Mora explained, "I figures we might stay here, if it's alright with the new chief."

Hiccup raised his eyebrows, "of course, we could use the help in rebuilding Berk, after all."

"For saving our people, and allowing us a new home here with you," Mora took a respectful bow, "thank you. We will be more open minded in the future, and so will the wraiths."