To The End - A Tuffnut Love Story (HTTYD)

18. Starry Nights

***

The sun was setting when they left the great hall. Iris told the others to go on, wanting to talk to Mora in private. They both stood just outside of the large building, watching the sun sink into the ocean. "This place," Iris began, "is going to be very different from what you're used to."

Mora sighed as she nodded, "our old way of life has died with this war. There is no way we could go back to living in solitude, not after seeing the world. We can't abandon every person who is not one of us."

With a smile, Iris looked over the village at the tribal people mixing in with the vikings. "You have changed much," Mora observed with a sideways grin, "or perhaps, you were always meant to be this."

***

A few days after Iris had awake, Hiccup came to her with a proposition. He walked over to her while she helped repair one of the damaged homes. "Hey, Iris," he called.

"Hiccup," Iris greeted, setting down her hammer to talk.

"I just had an idea, and I think you're gonna like it," he began, "I want to make a special unite for you and your tribe. I know, Mora said that she was willing to give up all of her customs, but I'm thinking we could just merge them instead."

Iris raised her eyebrows and smiled, "that's great! What do you have in mind?"

"Your people have fighting techniques that top even ours," he reminded her, "just like we have the dragon riders, you and your tribe can become your own group of warriors." He grinned as he went on, "that way you can keep at least a few of your customs alive."

For a moment, she couldn't speak. Iris thought deeply about the idea and finally smiled, "I think that will work. I can't wait to tell the others."

***

Iris was collecting fresh water from the river by the light of the full moon. The ten remaining members of her tribe were given shelter in an abandoned cabin until their own homes could be made. Most of the vikings were asleep by now, with only a few still out. After filling her bucket, she felt something grab her from behind.

She jumped away, spilling the water, and turned to meet her attacker with her spear. The person fell to the ground and she knelt onto their chest, spear to their throat. But when she realized who it was, she relaxed and roller her eyes.

"Heh, this brings back memories," Tuffnut chuckled as he looked up at Iris, her spear still at his neck.

Iris removed the spear and stood back up, helping the viking to his feet as well. "You know, I could've just killed you," she told him with an amused smile.

"I know, it was awesome," Tuff admired.

Shaking her head, she knelt back on the ground to refill the bucket. "What are you doing out here?" She asked him curiously.

When she stood, she felt Tuff's arms wrap gently around her waist from behind. Iris was so shocked by this that she dropped the bucket yet again. "I wanted to see you," Tuffnut explained, then went on dramatically, "you were asleep for so long."

Iris twisted around in his embrace and snaked her arms his neck. She smiled up at him and planted a sweet, quick kiss on his lips. "Well, I'm awake now," she responded with a soft look in her eyes. She wiggled out of his grasp and filled her bucket yet again and stood carefully. "Just let me get this water back home without spilling it again," she said in amusement.

So together, they walked back to Iris's cabin. After setting the bucket on her table, she took Tuff by the hand and raced back outside, "come on!" She ran quickly, dragging Tuff along, all the way to a clearing in the forest.

There, Iris finally stopped. She laid down in the grass, followed by Tuff laying beside her. Once he'd laid down, however, Iris turned on her side to face him. She wrapped one of her legs over his and an arm on his chest, her head falling perfectly into place on his should.

"Well, somebody's feeling touchy," Tuffnut teased her, then proceeded to wrap an arm around her back. With his other hand, he took the one she'd placed on his chest. He watched their fingers close together with a satisfied grin. "Not that..it's a problem, or anything," he added quietly. They laid under the stars, eventually falling asleep together.