I'll Find You

Chapter 29: Calm Before The Storm

It was the day after Stormfly's funeral and everyone was in a state of limbo. Nobody knew quite what was going to happen next or when Grimmel would strike again - if, indeed, that was even his plan at all.

However, certain members of the group - namely, the twins - brushed through the down feeling and were up to Loki only knows what, letting the boars out, tapping people on the shoulder before running off, not to mention teasing Fishlegs relentlessly about a certain Beserker warrioress.

Steffan seemed to respect the twins' ability to cause chaos and confusion, following them around and even joining in on occasion, despite Hilda's attempts to prevent him from doing so.

At this moment, the troublesome three were attempting to prank Dagur by stealing his axe, which didn't make the Beserker chief happy in any way, shape or form.

"Ok, first  off - which of you is the girl?" That's right, even after all these years Dagur still couldn't tell the twins apart, "Second, what exactly where you planning on doing with my axe?"

Tuffnut gulped. He knew he hadn't thought that part through, "It was Ruff's idea. I just approved it, came up with the plan, stole the yak, used the catapult and fired the spoon. So really, if you think about it, it's all her fault."

Ruffnut immediately took offence, "My fault? You're saying this is my fault?! So the fact that I was the one distracting Alvin when you stole the yak, I was the one who made sure the coast was clear when we used the catapult  and I volunteered MY SPOON FOR THIS WHOLE ENDEAVOUR?!"

It was at this mmoment that Hilda arrived, "Steffan! There you are!"

Steffan smiled up at her, "Mummy, why would you put a dog on your head?"

"What?" It was not the welcome that Hilda had been expecting at all.

"Well, Uncle Tuffnutt did somfin to Aunty Astwid, and Aunty Astwid called him a mutt-on-head. But Uncle Tuff didnt have a dog on his head Mummy!"

Hilda looked at a loss for a second, "Well, it's not a mutt, as in a dog, it's mutton, as in sheep."

Heather walked up to Dagur to tell him something, but was diverted by Steffan and Hilda's conversation.

Steffan didn't look convinced, "But Uncle Tuffnutt didn't have a sheep on his head either Mummy!"

"I'll explain it to you later, ok?" Hilda was getting desperate now, "I'm so sorry Dagur - I had no idea he was involved in the attempted theft of your axe."

Something that had been in the back of Dagur's mind suddenly clicked, "Hilda, would you mind humouring me for a second and take off your hood?"

Hilda raised an eyebrow, but slowly lowered her hood, failing to notice that the twins had taken Steffan's hands and were making their exit.

As Hilda's hood revealed her face fully Dagur inhaled sharply, but no-one understood why. He barely even registered her apology he was so taken aback by what he saw in front of him, instead murmuring, "So Dad was right."

Hilda heard it, "What do you mean?"

Dagur began pacing back and forth, trying to find the right words to say what he wanted to, "When I was little, my dad - Oswald the Agreeable - also had twin girls. I was kind of focussed on killing Hiccup at that point so I ignored them. Then, Dad disappeared when I was an early teen, taking one of the girls with him. I never saw him alive again, but when Hiccup, Fishface and I found his hut on Vanaheim, there was a letter saying that he had been shipwrecked, but only had enough resources for one person. He made a small boat from the remnants of his ship, put his daughter in it, sent it off and prayed to the Gods that someone would find it."

Heather looked at Hilda, "When I went to see my father's final resting place, there were drawings on the walls of three children - Me, Dagur and a third one called Hilda."

Hilda had been silent all along, listening to what he was saying, "It was only a matter of months before I was taken that I was told I had been found on a beach and taken in by the Tribe of the Whispering Trees, who raised me as their own. Apparently around my wrist was a note with my name on it, but nothing else. They decided that a married couple who hadn't been able to have children would bring me up as their daughter. We looked similar enough that I never even though about it until they told me."

Hilda took a deep breath, "Astrid also said, the first time we met, that I reminded her of Heather."

It was true. Seeing the two next to each other, they were almost identical, the same green eyes, jet black hair, even similar clothes, embellished with Razorwhip scales. The only obvious difference was that Heather's hair was braided over her left shoulder, while Hilda's was braided over her right.

"So..." Heather was struggling herself to put all the information together.

"...We're..." Hilda was hesitant,

"Sisters?!" The two finished together, before hugging. Hilda finally felt, after a very long time, taht she had found her family. And hey, having a slightly deranged older brother w as always  fun!

What they didn't know was that the twins and Steffan had run slap bang into Hiccup, on his way to check on Luna.

"Tuff! Ruff! And.... Steffan?" Hiccup was a little nervous about seeing Steffan with the twins, predominantly because he knew what sort of an influence they would be having on him.

"Uh, Hiccup! Hi Hiccup, hi Hiccup," Tuff stumbled over his words, trying to look like he wasn't doing anything.

"Might I ask what you're doing with Steffan? And also why the Outcasts are down one yak?"

Tuff turned to Ruffnut, "Is that a retalkrical question? I feel like it is..." Turning back to Hiccup, he continued, "As for the squirt, we're in the process. The process of showing him the ways of the truly DISTURBED!!!!!"

Ruff butted in, "Also known as 'Keeping an eye on him so that his Mom can have a break', which is how we're selling it."

Hiccup shook his head in disbelief as the three walked off, rambling about the boar pit.

Then, Snotlout came running up to him, "I think I may have spotted something happening in Grimmel's base!"

Hiccup's face turned grim, "Show me."

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Aaaaaand another one :-) Slightly happier than the last couple (sorry not sorry!) And Hilda is Heather's twin sister! Did any of you see that coming? Please let me know if you did :-)

Was it good? Bad?

See you next time,

SomeRandomHTTYDFan