Ch. 23- Occupational Hazard

AN: I changed Slice to Stoick II

~~~~~~~~~~~

There was a short period of time when I thought my life was perfect. Sure, it was great before, but waking up beside Emerald every morning and not having to hide her from my family was perfect. Just perfect.

I was so happy. Dad and I went for a morning flight every single morning. Sometimes mom or Bard would join us, which was even better (if you excluded the overprotective mom stuff). Dad eventually got used to watching me do the more dangerous stuff, but mom never did. I was glad when she didn't ban me from doing the dangerous stuff entirely, but she did tell me to not do them in front of her and to have dad supervising at all times (not that I took the last one to heart).

And my eleventh birthday passed, just a month after Dragon Day. I got a new saddle from dad, an axe from mom, a drawing from Blade, and a shield from Bard.

But it all changed. It was a day dad took off to spend with us, so we were all sleeping in. Blade woke me up a few hours earlier, but I silenced him by letting him crawl into bed with me. So, I was back asleep by the time the ground shook everyone awake.

Blade and I bolted into a sitting position at the exact same time. The ground shook again, and Blade clutched onto me. I hugged him back. All I wanted to do was to scream for mommy and daddy, but I knew I had to be brave for Blade. At least for the moment.

"Star, I'm scared," he admitted, hiding his face in my tunic.

I rubbed his back in a calming motion. "I know, Blade. I am, too." The ground shook again, knocking some things off my desk. Emerald slowly moved towards us as Blade let out a cry. I went to soothing him, trying my best not to spread the tears in my eyes. "Shh, it's okay. Everything will be alright."

"Stoick II! Blade!" we heard mom cry out. I heard her scurrying up the stairs. "Star! Bard! Kids!" She sounded so scared, as scared as Blade and I.

"Kids!" I heard dad call, rushing up the stairs behind her. The door to Stoick II's and Blade's room slammed open. "Blade!"

"Blade!" mom shrieked, panicking at her out- of- sight- son.

I hurriedly yanked Blade up and dragged him to my door. Right as I was about to open it, the door swung open. Dad released a relieved sigh and scooped us into his arms, Bard right behind him.

"Thank the gods. I've got them, Astrid! Both Blade and Star."

Mom rushed into my room with baby Stoick II in her arms. "Oh my, Blade! My baby boy." She pulled him into her free arm, cooing. Blade wrapped his little arms around her neck, weeping into her shoulder.

"Mommy, I scared!" He let out a scream as the ground shook again. I could hear the chaos outside, and people shouting for the chief.

Dad tightened his grip on me at the sound.

I hugged him tightly. "Daddy, don't go," I begged. He handed me to Bard, who set me to stand on my own two feet. "Daddy!" Bard held me back as I reached out for him. The ground shook again, and I cowered into my older brother's arms. For once, he held me tightly, as if he never wanted to let go.

"I'm sorry, Star. Daddy has to go. It's his job." He kissed Blade and Stoick II on the top of their heads before mom handed them off to Bard. "Bard, protect your siblings!" dad called, running outside.

Mom lingered to kiss us all on the cheek or head. "I love you. Every one of you. Bard, be brave, my little warrior."

"Yes, mom. I promise." His voice broke, and I looked up to see him spread a few tears.

Mom kissed his forehead again before following dad out the door. "I love you!"

And it felt like goodbye.

We didn't even know what was going on, just that we might never see our parents again.

"Come on," Bard hurried. He had Stoick II in one arm and pulled Blade along with the other. "Star, come on. We have to go."

"Go where?" I asked, following him down the stairs. "Emmy!" I called, going out the back door.

"Spikestone!" Bard called his dragon over. "Taking our dragons will be faster. Blade, go with Star. Starfire, follow me."

"I'm following," I retorted, helping Blade on Emerald after climbing on myself. I wouldn't put my baby brother in harm's way. Bard knew that, too, which is probably why he put Blade with me.

I followed Bard to the mountains, where he led us to a place I had never been.

"What is this place?" I asked, pulled Blade along.

"A place dad and his sister used to hide and play when they were little. Dad took me here a few times before you were born, and a handful of times when you were a baby. It's the place dad told me to take you if something ever happened, which it just did. Now, crawl." He pointed to a small opening in the cave wall.

"Emerald won't fit," I noted.

"Emerald isn't going in there. Emerald, go hide. Go, deeper in the cave. We'll come get you when everything is fine." Emerald looked at me, and I nodded. She called for Spikestone to follow her, but Bard stopped his dragon from leaving.

Bard would have trouble squeezing through. I gently took Stoick II from him and crawled through the small opening. Blade followed.

Inside our hiding place was amazing. I wished dad had shown us this place earlier, for I definitely would of come many times over. The ceiling listened like the stars, despite it being the middle of the day. Old blankets were casually tossed on the floor. A few baskets of old toys leaned against the wall. There were even old, clearly aged drawings obviously drawn by children, though a few looked more sophisticated.

"Wow," Blade murmured.

I just nodded, too amazed to say anything else.

"Star, Blade?" Bard called.

"Yes, Bard?"

"Stay here. I'm gonna help mom and dad." We heard his feet pound against the echoing cave floors before we could respond.

"Wait! What?" I shouted, hurting my own ears as the sound bounced around the small, enclosed space. Stoick II started wailing, which wasn't helping our situation. "Ugh!" I quickly lulled Stoick II back to sleep and laid him down in a nice, soft pile of old blankets. He was wrapped up in his own blanket, which would keep him warm in the cool room. "Blade, stay here. I'm gonna follow Bard and help mom and dad, too."

"You heard Bard, it's dangerous."

"We're vikings: it's an occupational hazard," I quoted dad.

"But, Star!" pleaded Blade.

"No, Blade. No matter what, stay here. Don't come out for anyone other than mom, dad, Bard, or myself, okay?" He hesitated. "Okay?"

"Okay! Okay, promise. I promise I won't leave, but Star-"

"No, Blade. Emerald and I can help. We will help. You and Stoick II should be safe here." I shoved off the bag Bard had shoved to me before we left home and opened it. Yup, food and water. "Here. Use it sparingly. You don't know how long it will be till somebody comes. If need be, there's a small stream and a bunch of berry bushes that way," I pointed east. "But don't come out of the cave unless it is absolutely necessary or someone comes to get you, okay?"

Blade nodded. "Okay." I started to leave, when I was attacked with a tight hug. "I love you, Star. You're my best friend."

I smiled and hugged him back. "I love you, too, Bard. Take care of Stoick II for us. Take care of yourself, too. I'll try to be back by nightfall." I crawled out of the hiding place and called Emerald. "Emerald! Come here, girl!"

Without wait, Emerald bounced back into sight, eager to take to the skies. She glanced at the opening that protected my brothers then followed me out of the cave. Once outside, I climbed on, and she took to the skies.

From above, I could see hundreds of ships just off of Berk's docks. Some even at the docks. Dragons flew over the sea and the village, firing from a distance. And I swear I could faintly hear swords clanking.

It was a battle.

I looked back towards Blade and Stoick II, praying to Thor that I would see them again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~