To The End - A Tuffnut Love Story (HTTYD)

32. Fun in the Snow

"I've never seen the people here so, happy," Iris remarked.

"Yeah, Snoggletog'll do that to you," he told her with a grin, "gets even the meanest vikings in a good mood."

Iris laughed and wrapped her hands around his arm as they made their way to the Great Hall. "So, when are the dragons supposed to return?" She wondered. They'd already been gone for two weeks.

"Usually on Snoggletog day, so tomorrow," the twin explained. He then raised his eyebrows in excitement, "hey, wanna do something fun?"

"Always," Iris replied ith a laugh, and the two raced off into the forest. They finally stopped at the top of a tall, steep hill. "Uh, Tuff?" Iris questioned a bit nervously.

"Relax, babe," he cooed to her, "this is gonne be epic."

Iris smiled a bit weakly up at her love. He was crazy, and he put them into pointless near-death situations like this often, but she loved it. So she trusted that he knew what he was doing as he tore a large slab of bark off of a fallen tree. The two sat on it together, then began to speed down the hill.

The fluffy, cold powder brushed Iris's cheeks as she squealed in excited fear. She sqeezed Tuffnut's middle as their speed accelerated. Her heart dropped as she realized they were losing balance. Before they knew what was happening, the two were tumbling through the fresh snow together; they'd fallen off the tree bark.

When they finally stopped rolling, the two laid beside eachother laughing and out of breath. "That..was fun," Iris giggled.

"I know, right?!" Tuffnut sat up and threw his arms out in excitement. "You've just gotta remember to roll off before you slide right over the side of the cliff," he explained expertly.

Iris grinned in amusement and teased, "oh yeah? How many times have you done that?"

She watched her husband think, counting on his fingers, "uh, forty-seven....or was it seventy-four.."

Another laugh erupted from Iris's throat, making Tuffnut smile down at her. Without warning, he lifted her and stood, placing her onto her feet. "Thank you," she spoke sweetly, kissing him softly on the cheek. Then a sudden pain shot through her back, causing her to double over, "ah!"

"Iris! Are you okay?" Tuff's smile immediately faded into a worried frown as he put a hand on her shoulder.

Straightening back up, Iris scrunched her nose up in confusion; the pain was gone. She twisted her body around a bit, but everything felt fine once again, "I'm okay..I don't know what happened."

"Maybe you pulled a muscle," Tuffnut suggested. He then bowed to her dramatically and offered, "allow me to escort you home, m'lady." Standing back up, he smiled down at hee charmingly and held out his arm to her.

With a sideways grin, Iris latched onto his arm and the two walked back to the village together. By the time they were back, Iris had to sit down and catch her breath on the steps of the Great Hall. "You sure you're okay?" Tuff asked her in concern.

"I'm fine, Tuff, just tired from hiking around," Iris assured him as he sat beside her, "besides, my body isn't used to such brutal cold; I've never been in snow before."

She laid her head on his shoulder as he wrapped an arm around her. They spotted Arrow and Toothless napping together in a pile of powery snow. "Why doesn't Toothless leave with the other dragons? Is it because of his tail?" Iris wondered aloud.

"Nah, T's never really been driven like the others," Tuff responded, "I guess he's more like your sand wraiths when it comes to egg laying...though, he's never laid an egg."

Iris giggled a bit, then stood back up, pulling Tuff up after her. "Well, let's get back home," she suggested, "I'm freezing."

"Don't worry," Tuffnut responded with a determined grin, "I'll make a fire when we get back, and wrap you up in our biggest yak fur blanket, and I'll make you some hot tea."

"You're the sweetest," Iris complimented him as her face blushed over.

"Not as sweet as you," Tuffnut responded kissing her temple. The two then made their way home. There, Tuff did everything he'd promised. They sat together by the fire for most of the night, until they decided it was time to go to sleep. The next day was Snoggletog, and the young couple had no idea what a surprise they were in for.

***

Iris woke to the joyous shouts of, "happy Snoggletog!" that took place outside of the cabin. Rolling onto her side with a sleepy groan, she nudged Tuff.

"No..that's my...stuffed yak....." He mumbled in his sleep. Rolling her eyes, Iris shook him harder. Finally, he woke with a start, shooting straight up into a sitting position.

"Ow!" Iris yelled as his head colided with hers.

Tuffnut looked at her with a nervous smile, "whoops, uh...happy Snoggletog..?"