In Lieu Of A Tail

30. Aurora Wants To Camp, She Torments Her Brother Instead

"So, are we camping tonight?" Aurora asked, once Hiccup had finished his freak-out over what happened in the forge.

"Why are you asking that right now? I just told you Astrid is meeting me here at sunset and I need another dragon!" Hiccup exclaimed.

"Because the solution is obvious?" At his confused expression she continued. "Wait, you seriously don't see it?"

"C'mon Hiccup even I see it." Trez commented.

"Well I don't so can someone please explain?!" Hiccup cried.

The cove was filled with laughter, draconic and human. Camicazi and Heather were sitting together by their dragons, watching Barf and Belch try to catch their tails – it was surprisingly entertaining – Windshear and Tracer were lying down with their riders leaning against them, Misty had been napping on Cami's lap. Alvin had not joined them, something about it being a kid's club and wanting to stay with the boats – no love lost between the Berkians and the Chief of the Outcasts, or trust in this case – Mala and Dagur were off somewhere with Sleuther, presumably doing couple-y things that nobody really wanted to think about. Aurora was leaning against Astra and taking considerable pleasure in watching her brother agonise on what to do about spending some time with his childhood – and current – crush, Astra had been trying very hard not to laugh but couldn't stop the guffaw from escaping, Toothless had given up following Hiccup's pacing and was also watching, it was funny.

Eventually Camicazi took pity on him. "Just go to Dragon Island, dumbass! There are loads of dragons there, I'm sure some will be interested in having a rider!"

"Awww, Cami that was funny! You ruined it!" Aurora pouted at the Bog-Burglar, before turning to Hiccup. "Yeah, come on let's go! I'll come with!"

"Are you sure that's a good idea I mean-–" Hiccup was cut off by Heather.

"Hic, let her come with you, please. Or she'll find those twins and wreak havoc again." She begged.

They all joked that they were scared of the destruction that the twins, Barf 'n' Belch, Aurora and Astra might cause, but really they were indebted to the twins. They were, after all, the reason Aurora had begun to use a little Norse.

"C-come on b-bro!" Aurora added, staring at him with big sad eyes.

He couldn't say no now, damn wolf-cub eyes, so he groaned, facepalmed, and nodded in defeat.

"Yay!" Aurora jumped up and pumped a fist in the air. "Thank the Gods! Let's-go-lets-go we only have three hours until sundown!" She smirked cheekily as she mounted Astra – who was equally excited – turning in the saddle to glance at her brother. "You don't wanna be late for your date!" They shot up to the clouds.

"It's not a date!" He shrieked over his blush and the raucous laughter that had once again overtaken the cove. He mounted Toothless and they followed suit.

"Oh, it's definitely a date." Astra called back, loop-de-looping and causing heart palpitations in both her brothers.

"Is not!" Hiccup argued, face still flushed, from embarrassment and fear.

"You aren't gonna win this argument, Hiccup." Toothless remarked. "Just accept it, everyone knows you have a crush on her anyway."

"Shuddup." Hiccup muttered, at which Toothless laughed and sped to catch up with their sisters.

They landed on Dragon Island about half an hour later.

The island looked, alive. A far cry from when the Dragon Queen reigned over it. The quartet greeted several dragons as they passed through the now-lush landscape, looking for a dragon that would be more amenable to having a rider. Many wanted very little to do with humans at all, as a result of having been previously enslaved by people – they only tolerated Hiccup and Aurora because they understood and were more dragon than human in many ways, it probably helped that they rescued them too.