To The End - A Tuffnut Love Story (HTTYD)

44. A Day on the Beach

***

"Careful, Soul," Iris warned the baby dragon as she hopped around energetically in the sand of Berk's beach, "Arrow is still healing." Her sand wraith sibling laid in the sand beside her, watching the waves calmly.

Toothless called to Soul and the two began to play in the water together. Tuffnut sat at Iris's other side, holding her hand gently in his. It had been a two months since Victor's death and the end of the dragon war. "It feels so strange, having to wait for wounds to heal now," Iris admitted.

Tuff glanced down at her, her peaceful gaze resting on the sand wraith. "Right, guess I never realized that," he observed, "you guys used to heal immediately."

Iris returned his smile, but winced as she felt something move in her stomach. "Oh!" She stated in shock, putting a hand over her middle. A smiled then spread across her face as she took Tuff's hand and placed it on her belly.

Tuff grinned as he felt the small bit of movement. "Feels like we got ourselves a fighter," he exclaimed proudly.

"Definately," Iris responded, and the kicks stopped. Then, a large shadow sheilded them from the sun. The two looked up to see Eclipse had landed behind them. He dropped a few fish at Arrow's head and gurgled. He'd been taking care of the injured sand wraiths ever since his arrival; it was his way of appoligizing for his past actions.

Arrow groaned her thanks and gobbled up the fish. Tuffnut laughed and stood, holding a hand out to his wife, "come on, we should get back for dinner."

Iris frowned, looking down at Arrow, "but.." Arrow clicked a few times at her. Raising her eyebrows, Iris answered, "well then." She laughed and stood with Tuff's help.

"What did she tell you?" Tuffnut asked curiously.

"Words that I will not repeat," Iris shot her sibling a playful glare, "in summary, she's telling us to go."

Tuffnut laughed and the two began to walk back to Berk. There walk, as usual, consisted of Tuff explaining his wild imagination and idea's to Iris. She laughed and listened the whole time, enjoying every second of it. And by the time they got back, her abdomin hurt from laughter.

Upon their arrival back, Fishlegs spotted them. He smiled and made his way over. "Oh, look at you, Iris!" He exclaimed, gesturing to her stomach, "that little guy's growing every day!" Iris blushed and smiled in amusement as he went on to ask, "where's Arrow? And Soul?"

"Still on the beach with Toothless and Eclipse," Tuffnut answered, "they wanted some dragon time."

"Fishlegs, have you seen Ariel around?" Iris asked politely.

The larger viking nodded, "she's in the arena with the others."

"Thank you," Iris responded, then began to walk that way with Tuff. When they made it to the arena, sure enough, the dragon warriors werewinside training with the sand wraiths. Tuffnut caught a glimpse of a longing look in his love's eyes. She'd had to stop training a few weeks back do to her pregnance. After seeing Gothi, it was confirmed that Iris was in far too a delicate state to be battle training.

He put a hand on her back as they entered the arena, "don't worry, you'll be back in here before you know it."

Iris gave him a thankful smile. All of the warriors stopped what they were doing at the sight of their leader. "Ariel, I need to speak with you," she called, "everyone else, as you were."

The others continued as Ariel rushed over to Iris with a nervous look, "i-it wasn't my idea! Gustav said that it would be funny, and I didn't--"

"Ariel," Iris interrupted with a raised eyebrow, "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear any of that." She smiled in amusement as Ariel flushed, "I have something much more important to discuss with you."

Ariel cocked her head and wondered, "oh..what is it?"

Iris took a deep breath and sat down on a closed crate of weapons, holding her stomach. "Oof," she mumbled.

Tuff's eyes widened, "are you okay? Is our little one being a little pain again? Do you need some water?" He asked these questions without taking a breath, kneeling infront of Iris and taking her hand in his.

"I'm alright, Tuffnut," Iris responded with a sweet smile, then turned to Ariel, "how is Mora?"

"She's doing great," Ariel answered with a bright grin, "almost back to herself."

Iris sighed in relief, "I'm glad. You've done well with keeping her stong. And now, I need you to keep all of the warriors strong."

Ariel's heart jumped; was Iris saying what she thought she was? She listened intently as the leder went on. "Ariel, I want you to take charge in training while I'm unable to," Iris told her, "you're sixteen now, and need something to teach you responsibility. Besides that, we need someone energetic to lead in training; you're the only one I would want to take on such a task."

Ariel grinned from ear to ear and leaned over to hug Iris, "oh, thank you thank you thank you! You won't be disappointed, I promise."

With a lighthearted laugh, Iris hugged back, "I know that. Now, go on and dismiss everyone; you've worked well today."