Riders of B E R K

Part 76: The Eye of the Storm

Seventy Six: The Eye of the Storm

The Riders were all sitting in the Recreation/Mess when Gobber walked in, looking extremely self-conscious and fidgety. Stoick followed him in, pushing Snotlout in a wheelchair and the gang all brightened up at the sight of the sergeant, crowding around him and sharing high-fives and friendly banter.

"Alright, enough," Stoick said after he had judged enough pleasantries had been exchanged and helped Snotlout to sit in the most comfortable armchair before standing back beside Gobber. The two-limbed Colonel looked over at his friend in shock.

"Aren't you doing this one?" he asked. Stoick grinned.

"No, Gobber," he said cheerfully. "This one's on you."

"But I thought ye would do..." Gobber protested. Unsympathetically, Stoick laughed.

"I'm still only here in an advisory role," he reminded his old friend. "And Hiccup has gone..."

"Say what?" Snotlout demanded instantly. "What's happened to Hiccup?"

"He thinks that he's found a way to get to Astrid," Gobber announced. "Yeh all know she was drugged and captured..." There were universal nods. "Well her tracker is off Iceland-and so is Stormfly's. Together. They've reached the Faroe Islands..."

"About three hundred and fifty miles away," Fishlegs offered helpfully.

"We can do that in a couple of hours," Gustav said brashly.

"Not all of us," Eret reminded him and cast a pointed look at Fishlegs. The Husky rider looked unhappy.

"My dragon has other qualities," he protested.

"But perhaps not suited to this mission?" Snotlout suggested.

"Well, you're not going anywhere either," Fishlegs put in snarkily. "You're still wounded."

"I'm perfectly..."

"Grounded," Stoick sighed. "Gothi's orders, Sergeant."

"So where's Hiccup?" Ruff asked as Snotlout huffed and folded his arms, trying to smother the wince he gave.

"He's gone to find out if she is herself...or if he's lost her," Gobber explained. Stoick cleared his throat pointedly. "Oh yeah-there was something else," he added sheepishly. "Colonel Mildew has been arrested as a traitor-possibly also under Drago's influence while the Fliers have invaded and annexed Greenland. That will be all."

There was a stunned silence.

"WHAT? You can't just drop the big news on us and run away!" Snotlout protested. "What do you mean Mildew is a traitor?"

"We caught him!" Tuff added proudly. Ruff rolled her eyes.

"Idiot," she grumbled "WE didn't anything. I think you got Smidvarg stoked up on chocolate and he attacked Mildew. And then Toothless swatted him unconscious."

"And then Throk tranked Smidvarg," Tuff added sourly. "I'm sure it will damage his confidence being tranked so often."

"Muttonhead-he wouldn't need to be tranked if you did drive him crazy with chocolate!" his sister scolded him. Immediately, the twins were standing nose to nose, yelling insults as Eret leaned forward.

"Drago has invade Greenland?" he checked as Stoick nodded, scowling at Gobber, who was trying to look like the briefing was meant to be nothing to do with him. "How did that not get out? That's an invasion of another country's sovereign territory. An International Incident! I'm sure Denmark would be furious!"