"Are you sure you're okay to be up?" I ask Asher for the millionth time. A while after he woke up, he decided he was well enough to wander aimlessly around Gothi's hut.

"I'm fine, really," Asher assures. And, aside from the bandages across his torso, he doesn't look nearly as bad as any human would in his same situation. Then again, we're all living examples that appearances can be deceiving.

"Can we get back to the part where we're in a human settlement and they're catching on to us?" Asher requests. "What are we supposed to do about this?"

"I don't know if Hiccup's brought up his theory to anybody else," I run through the situation. "I have a feeling he won't be discussing things with me much longer, I've got a pattern of shutting him down. He'll be looking for enablers like Fishlegs to come to his defence."

"Fishlegs seems nice enough, though," Adriana notes. "He is," I agree. "But that doesn't change the fact that he and Hiccup are very similar; they'll both do anything to satisfy their curiosity. The only difference is that Fishlegs is a people pleaser whereas Hiccup doesn't often care what other people think about his actions so long as he can justify them to himself."

"So what do we do to convince Hiccup we're not Morphwings?" Adriana frowns. "We give him something else to theorise?" Asher suggests, catching my attention. "Like what?"

"I don't know. Maybe if he gets a different idea in his head about Morphwings, he'll put the truth to rest," Asher shrugs, moving his hands behind his back. "I didn't really think it through."

"No, no, that could work," I hum thoughtfully. "But we need some kind of idea as to what Hiccup's new theory should be. It's got to be far enough from the truth that he won't work it out, but it can't be baseless, either."

We fall silent as we consider this between us. Keeping Hiccup from nosing around is always a painfully challenging chore. At least I have these two to scheme with this time around.

"... We could always figure it out later," Adriana suggests after a minute. "I guess so," I hum, though it's clear I don't really like that idea. I don't bother to hide my nerves at the thought of leaving Hiccup even more time to work out the truth and attempt to prove his theories. And how long will it take for him to connect one of us to the Morphwings? Especially since Gothi has those scales?

"He'll shut up for a day or two now I'm up, I'm sure," Asher states confidently. "From what I've heard of him, it sounds like he'd be the type to try and find out how much I'll share with him while he thinks I'm still out of sorts."

"I think she's more worried than he is," Adriana notes, gesturing to me in amusement. "Most likely," I agree, not arguing. "Though there is one last issue."

"What is it?" Asher frowns, his voice cutting off in a tired sigh at the end, understandably fed up with all the issues right after he woke up. "There's only two ways we're getting off this island," I point out. "Either we sneak off and fly away on our own steam or we find a wild dragon and get a ride. Regardless of what we do, it's possible and, given the track record Berkians have with this sort of thing, concerningly likely that we'll be followed. We'd have to be very careful."

"Seriously?" Asher huffs, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Of course. Of course. Why not?"

"I know," I hum in agreement, admittedly feeling rather vindicated that others are having the same reactions I do. "At this point, I don't even know what I'm going to do with these guys. They're becoming more of a hinderance than a help."

"Then cut them off."

"After they just healed you?" I look to Asher incredulously. "Yeah," he shrugs, as if it's no big deal. "They're not as loyal to you as they make out they are. They helped me when I was badly injured, sure, but they've also disrespected you and your boundaries repeated. Short of Gothi, I see no reason to hold any of them in high regards."

"Hiccup is the son of Valka," I inform him. "And he and his betrothed, Astrid, are aware of who I am. Both of them have been checking on the Sanctuary for me, though what this means for the place I can't be sure."

"Can your Alpha not communicate with you if there is trouble?" Adriana asks. "Or are you not part of the pack officially?"

"I am, and he can," I confirm. "But by the time he contacts me, it would be too late. At least with Hiccup and Astrid there, they'd be able to defend my pack."

"Whatever you say," Asher doesn't seem convinced, but he doesn't push the subject. "Right. Anything else? I'm starving."

"That should be it," I chuckle. "Let's get you something to eat."

~•~

The village seems very curious about the new person in my ranks. They'd been intrigued enough by the fact that I was close with Adriana, but now Asher, too? It's certainly caused some murmurs, to say the least. And Asher seems rather uncomfortable with this, his eyes darting between them all cautiously.

Adriana also seems to notice, because she takes his hand to reassure him. He seems a little happier from this, though he's still very tense.

Arriving in the Great Hall and getting some food for Asher remained an interesting activity, to say the least. Hiccup and his group were there and, upon seeing Asher awake and moving around, they immediately invited themselves to sit with us, showering Asher with questions.

"Full me in on what they know about me," Asher requests of me, blatantly ignoring the others. "They know you're my brother and that you're betrothed to Addie," I reply. Asher nods, satisfied, and returns to his food. "Fair enough. That's all they need to know."

It's honestly quite surprising to see Asher so cold and dismissive to others; he's normally so... I don't know, friendly. Warm. Even when I was a stranger to him. Adriana didn't really change around the humans, so I wasn't really expecting it from Asher. I suppose I'm one to really talk.

"Are you feeling okay?" Fishlegs asks Asher. "I heard about what happened, a Typhoomerang attack sounds really bad."

"I'm fine, thank you," is all Asher answers with. It's the only thing he's answered. "Now if you wouldn't mind, I'd just like to eat with my family in peace. I'm sure we'll be out of your hair shortly."

Eventually the others realise that they're fighting a losing battle and leave Asher be, instead trying to spark up a conversation with Adriana and me. I follow Asher's example, but Addie, out of politeness, I suppose, maintains a half-hearted conversation.

I spend this minute of quiet to consider our options with the Hiccup problem.