Ch. 8- Meetings Greetings

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When I got back home, it was still before dawn. So I wasn't expecting what was waiting for me.

"Dad?" I asked, as I opened the front door. He had been waiting on the other side, arms crosses, frowning.

"Come with me, missy," he grabbed my arm and made me sit on a chair. "Where were you when I woke up, and why wasn't Stormfly in her pen?"

"Is anyone else awake?"

"No. Now answer the question."

"Wasn't that two questions rolled into one?"

"Starfire! Answer the question! Now!" he added when I didn't.

"I- I can't tell you," I said, feebly.

"Starfire Haddock, tell me this instant!" He gasped, "You were with Emerald, weren't you?"

"What?" I asked, shocked he came up with that so fast.

"Weren't you?" he asked, louder.

I sighed, "Yes. I was."

"You are going to take me to her. Now! Toothless! Come on, bud." Dad grabbed my arm as Toothless came bouncing down the stairs. Once Toothless had his gear on dad told me to show him where Emerald was.

"I can't do that," I told him.

"Why not?"

"I don't know where she is, daddy," I lied. "Please believe me."

"Starfire," he warned.

I forced myself to cry, he always gave in when I cried. "Please daddy, I just want to spend the day with you! I only told her that I was busy today! Please believe me, daddy!" I cried into his chest.

He sighed, but rubbed my back with his hand, "Okay, fine. I'm sorry, baby girl. I believe you."

"Good," I said, stopping the tears. "Let's go have fun! Just me and you, okay, daddy?"

"Okay. Where do you wanna go?" he asked.

First we went back inside and pack breakfast and lunch, then we went to the cove for breakfast. After breakfast we ran around a bit. I also might have shocked him with another thing about dragons.

Later that morning, we went for a flight on Toothless, surprising dad with the tricks I knew, showing and telling him how and when to do something. Why did I show him? First of all, I love seeing his happy reactions when I tell him what I know about dragons. Second of all, I was getting bored with the simple calm flight and I wanted to have some fun.

"Where do you learn all this?" he asked.

"You think I just goof around all day? I told you I still learned about dragons. Did you not believe me?"

He left it at that.

I managed to keep us away from the island Emerald was at. Luckily, dad didn't notice.

Around lunch time we landed on a random island nearby where grandma Valka use to live and ate.

"Toothless, what's wrong bud?" dad asked, after seeing Toothless jump at the smallest sounds. Toothless suddenly started growling towards the forest nearby, trying to push us away from it.

"What?" I asked, scared.

"Starfire," dad said, looking at a certain spot in the forest, "Get on Toothless."

"Why?"

"Now!"

"Okay, daddy," I said, quickly getting on Toothless.

Dad slowly followed me. When he got on Toothless he turned me around so I couldn't see. He kept my head on his chest, his hand stopping me from turning around to look.

"What do you want?" dad asked something I couldn't see.

"I could ask you the same thing," a deep, scary voice said.

"Who are you?"

"Who are you?" the voice asked back.

"I am Hiccup. Chief of Berk, a nearby island. Now, who are you?"

"Shark. Ruler of the Sapphire Island. Now, who's the kid?"

"That doesn't matter. We'll be leaving now. Sorry to bother you. Toothless, let's go home."

"I don't think so, Hiccup."

When Toothless started flying a net went around us and we fell back down.

"Daddy!" I cried.

"It's alright, Starfire I'm right here," dad said.

"Daddy? Starfire? Ugh, I see now," Shark said.

Toothless shot a plasma blast and got us out of the net.

"So Hiccup, I'll let you leave if you hand over the girl."

"What? I'll never give her to you."

"Then I'll just take her by force. And you will not get to leave."

All of a sudden Toothless fell over, knocking us off him. Dad had me tightly in his arms though.

Dad quickly got up, and I finally got to see. Toothless' legs were tied together and his tail tied shut.

This Shark was an ugly person. He had long dirty blond hair that could use a wash. He had scars all over his arms and face. His evil grin wasn't helping me feel better.

"Daddy, I'm scared," I said, clutching to his leg.

"I know, baby girl. I'll get us out of this though, don't you worry."

""Baby girl?" Men, get the girl! I want that girl!"

"Why do you want my daughter?" dad asked. "Take me. Keep me captive just let my daughter and dragon go!"

"But daddy-"

"Hush, Star."

"I don't want you, I want your daughter. Don't worry, she'll be alright. Safe. Happy. I will make her my daughter."

"But I want my mommy and daddy!" I cried, holding on to dad tightly.

"Ouch, baby girl. Don't be scared, I won't let him take you away from me. Star, I need you to let go of my leg now, okay?" He slowly talked me out of holding onto him. "Good girl. Now I need you to close your eyes, okay?" he told me, without looking down.

"O- okay." I closed my eyes tightly.

"Good girl. Now, let's get this started."

I felt myself being picked up with one arm. I knew it was dad though. He ran somewhere then put me back on my feet.

"Come on, Toothless," he said, grunting. I guess he cut Toothless free.

I heard some fighting then felt someone picking me up with both arms then run off.

"Starfire!" I heard dad yell, and it wasn't next to me.

My eyes shot open and I saw someone else carrying me closer to Shark.

"No!" I yelled, hitting and kicking the stranger. Sadly, I was just a weak kid.

"Ouch!" he yelled as he dropped me, after I bit him. As he was holding his hand I grabbed his dagger and hit him with it. "Ouch! You little brat!" he yelled, and I ran towards dad.

Most of the other people were knocked out or wounded. Toothless had a small cut on his leg but dad hag a large one on his arm and a smaller one on his forehead.

"Daddy!" I yelled, hitting someone in the back with the dagger.

"Starfire!" he said, taking me into his arms. "Oh, my sweet baby girl. I'm so sorry! I didn't realize he had taken you! I'm so sorry!"

"Say sorry when we get to mommy! Hurry, daddy! Hurry!" I told him. He nodded once and hopped on Toothless. Toothless quickly shot into the air and flew off.

"I will get that girl!" shouted Shark. I winced and hugged dad tighter. He tightened his grip on me, using one hand to steer Toothless.

"I won't let him get you, baby girl," he told me. "I promise."

"It's hurts," I said.

"What hurts?" he asked, quickly holding me back a little.

"My leg and cheek."

"Your cheek had a small cut, not too bad though." He looked at my leg, which had a big bruise from where I kicked the guy who tried to take me. "You're fine, baby girl," he said, although I could see pain, regret, and worry in his eyes.

"Are you fine?" I asked.

He didn't answer me.

After a while we landed outside our house. A few villagers stared at us, and I heard a few mumbles.

Dad carried me inside and immediately mom cried out, "Oh my Thor! What's happened? Are you two alright?"

"What did you do, boy?" grandma asked, taking me from dad and setting me on the table.

"We went for a picnic on the beach when Toothless started growling. I realized something was wrong, so we got on Toothless. This guy came out from the woods, and we started talking. He was real interested in Star. When we started to leave this net shot us down. We had a small talk, I told Star to close her eyes, and then the battle started. Next thing I know this guy has Star and is- Ouch!" he yelled as mom started caring to his wounds.

"Sorry, babe," mom said. Grandma started cleaning my cut.

"Well, this guy had Star, and I was trying to get to her. Apparently when I shouted her name she realized something was wrong and freed herself. She ran over to me, and Toothless flew us back here. Ouch, Astrid! That hurts!" he pulled his arm back.

"Stay still and let me clean your wound, mister."

"Fine. Ouch! Astrid," he whined.

"Hiccup, our nine year old daughter is behaving better than you right now," mom pointed out.

"But it hurts," he whined.

"I don't care if it hurts or not. I care that my husband and daughter are healthy and safe. Now stay still before I make you."

"Grandma," I said.

"Yes, baby?"

"Why does it hurt?" I asked, as she finished cleaning my cut.

"I don't know, dear. I don't know."

"Daddy?"

"Yes, baby girl?"

"Why did he want me?" I asked him.

He sighed, "I don't know, sweet girl. But remember, I will not let him take you, okay?" I nodded. "Speaking of which, don't leave the village, Star."

"What? Why?"

"It'll be easier to keep you safe if your in the village. Do not under any circumstances go to the forest without my say so, understand me?"

"I understand," I said, sadly.

He walked over to me, "I don't want to be mean, but I do want you safe. Okay, sweet girl?"

"Yes, daddy," I said, looking at the ground, watching my feet swing back and forth from under me.

His fingers gently caught my chin and gently forced it up, "Look at me." He waited until I looked in his eyes. "I love you. I want you to be safe. I know you and Emerald love to play in the woods, but don't go in there until I say so, okay baby girl?"

"I understand, daddy." I felt like crying. I guess everything that happened suddenly just hit me all at once. "Daddy?" I asked as he started to walk away.

"Yes, baby girl?"

I reached my arms out to him, and he picked me up. I started to cry. "I was so scared! I thought he would take me away! I was so scared, daddy!" I cried and cried as he soothed me. I don't know how long I cried for, but I eventually cried myself to sleep.

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