บท 27: chapter 6

After Astrid left, I double checked the automatic prosthetic to make sure it was finished. I tested it a couple times then smiled when I was satisfied.

It wasn't that different in appearance compared to the manual one. It was the exact same design with the added features that, hopefully, made it automatic. The tailfin was red with a white Night Fury design adorning it. Kala and I had decided that this design was better for us than the Viking skull that Gobber had put.

Once I was sure the new prosthetic was done, I left the forge and made my way home.

When I got to the hut, I saw Kala jumping on the roof again and I stifled a laugh. She must not have realized I got up early to make the tailfin.

"Toothless! Why don't you come down and come inside to warm up?!" I asked, and that got her attention.

Kala smiled and hopped down from the roof, then ran over to me and nuzzled me purring happily. I smiled and nuzzled back, then opened the door for her.

Kala dashed inside and lit the hearth to get the living room nice and warm. I went inside after her and closed the door.

I set the tailfin on the table then took a deep breath.

"Astrid found out."

Kala froze in place and looked at me with wide eyes. She then transformed and had a worried look on her face.

"How?" She asked nervously.

"Apparently, the twins decided to go around telling people you could transform into a human for kicks. Which means Snotlout kept his word. But Astrid found out because of her mentioning that to me." I explained as Kala began to pace.

She held her arms as she paced back and forth, her hair falling into her face as she stared at the floor.

"What are we going to do Hiccup..? She's gonna tell the whole tribe..!"

I sighed heavily. "I know. I was actually thinking about that on my way home. I think it would be best if we just told the tribe the truth. I could talk with Stoick and see if he can call a town meeting tonight before dinner and you can get going after."

She paused in her pacing and looked at me with a small nod. "Yeah, that'd probably be best. Did you get the new tailfin done?"

I smiled and grabbed the prosthetic off the table, splaying it to show her.

"Sure did. Didn't take me as long as I thought since there was a spare prosthetic in my work room."

Kala smiled and took the prosthetic, looking at the new functions curiously. "It looks cool."

"It should react to your muscle movements. Hopefully." I said as I rubbed the back of my neck.

"Guess we'll see tonight then, huh?" She said with a small laugh as she put the prosthetic back on the table.

I chuckled and nodded. "I guess we will."

She kissed me softly and rested her forehead against mine with her eyes closed. "Thank you Hiccup."

"You're welcome, milady." I said as I closed my eyes with a soft smile.

We stayed like that for a couple minutes, then we pulled apart.

"Okay! I'm gonna go help around the village. You gonna be okay here by yourself, love?" I asked and Kala nodded with a soft smile.

"Yes, I'll be fine."

I smiled and kissed her cheek before I left to go help with preparations.

~~~HTLANF~~~

As Hiccup was heading down the hill to go to the plaza, Astrid came out from behind the hut with her axe in hand and smirked.

"Don't worry Hiccup, I'll break you out of this demon's control and get you back to normal." She said before she entered the hut.

~~~HTLANF~~~

I raised a brow in confusion when I heard the door open and close again.

'That's odd. Hiccup just left. Did he forget something?' I thought as I made my way back downstairs.

"Hiccup did you for–" I began to say, but cut myself off as I froze in place on the stairs with wide eyes.

Astrid smirked at me and rested a hand on her hip, her axe in a firm grip in her other.

"You're Kala, right? That demon that put Hiccup under a trance, yeah?"

My breathing grew heavy as I looked between her and her axe, nervous about what she was planning on doing.

"Aww, is the demon getting nervous? Are you scared that your charade is up? Good! Because I'm going to make you pay for using Hiccup like this!" Astrid yelled in anger as she gripped her axe with both hands and prepared to throw it.

I quickly turned and began to dash back upstairs, but before I could make it that far, my cloak got lodged into the wood by Astrid's axe. I pulled at it to try and get it free, but then gave up and unclipped it right as she grabbed the hilt of her axe with a deranged look.

I bolted the rest of the way upstairs and jumped out the window as Astrid began to chase me.

"You can't get away that easily!!!" I heard her exclaim as I tumbled on the ground.

I fumbled as I got up, not bothering to dust myself off as I dashed away from the hut. I didn't pay attention to where I was going as my heart beat rapidly in my ears.

~~~HTLANF~~~

As Snotlout was walking to the Great Hall, he spotted Kala dashing away from the chief's hut in her human form looking absolutely terrified.

He raised a brow in confusion as he saw her run, but then his eyes widened when he saw Astrid jump down from Hiccup's bedroom window and rush after her with her axe.

"Get back here!!!" Astrid shouted angrily.

"Oh Thor…" Snotlout breathed as he quickly turned around and bolted in search of Hiccup. "Oh Thor, oh Thor, oh Thor! Hiccup!!"

Hiccup looked up from the decorating he was helping with and looked at his cousin as Snotlout came to a stop in front of him to catch his breath.

"What's wrong Snotlout?" He asked, confused.

"I…it's Kala…" Snotlout breathed out then looked up at Hiccup worriedly. "Astrid's chasing her..!"

Hiccup's eyes widened in fear and he began to rush off to find her.

"Go get Stoick!!" He yelled over his shoulder to Snotlout.

Snotlout nodded and ran off in a different direction to find the chief.

~~~HTLANF~~~

I looked around frantically for Kala as I ran, my breathing growing heavy from worry the longer it took for me to find her.

My head snapped to the right of me as I heard Astrid yell something in that direction. I dashed that way, looking in every gap between the huts as I went to make sure I didn't dash past them.

"Shut up, demon!! After this I know that Hiccup will come back to his senses and be glad I killed you!!!" I heard in a gap just up ahead.

That pissed me off.

I sped up and skirted to a stop as I found the gap Astrid had Kala cornered in. She had her pinned against a wall with her axe against her throat. I noticed that there were scales coating Kala's throat to protect her.

"Get away from her!!!" I shouted, seething in anger.

Astrid looked over at me and smiled. "Hiccup! Come to see the demon die have you? Trust me, once she's dead, you'll be your old self in no time."

"Didn't you hear me?!?! I said get away from her!!!" I yelled as I rushed over and forcefully took Astrid's axe from her grasp, jabbing her in the stomach with the hilt before I tossed the weapon out of reach.

Astrid groaned as the wind was knocked out of her and she stumbled back as she held her stomach. I caught Kala as she began to fall once she was free and I held her close. She clung to me while hyperventilating, tears streaming down her face and soaking my clothes. I paid little mind, though, as I rubbed her back.

"It's okay..you're alright..I'm here.." I whispered as my grip tightened slightly.

My attention was torn away as Snotlout and Stoick came around the corner.

Stoick looked between me and Astrid. "What in Odin's name is going on here?!"

"Why not ask Astrid?" Snotlout said with crossed arms as he glared at her.

Astrid glared right back, still gripping her stomach as she panted. "Stay outta this Snotlout..!"

"Astrid, care to explain?" Stoick asked sternly.

She glared at Kala and I then looked at Stoick with determination as she stood straight once she could breathe again. "I was trying to protect the tribe! That girl is a demon! She manipulated Hiccup into protecting her and posed as a dragon!! I was trying to kill her to break him out of the trance!!"

"Is that so? Because from what Snotlout has told me, it's the opposite. Unless you have proof of this, then I'm afraid your reasons are unjustified." Stoick said as he crossed his arms.

"But–!" Astrid tried, but I cut her off.

"Oh just give it up already! You lost Astrid!!" I said as I glared at her harshly.

She growled and picked up her axe, but before she could attack, Stoick took the weapon from her and picked her up. She struggled against him as he threw her over his shoulder.

"LET GO OF ME! I NEED TO TEACH THIS DEMON A LESSON!!" She screamed as she flailed, kicking and punching the chief as she did.

"We'll talk more once I've dealt with this. Take the lass back to the hut." Stoick said and I nodded in understanding.

Stoick nodded back and walked off with a screaming Viking girl thrashing about on his shoulder.

~~~HTLANF~~~