With you ~ ?????? ????????? ? ???! ??

27. Slime! Yuck!

Hookfang Chip, and the Fireworm Queen screeched and roared (and chipped) at each other, talking. Hookfang lit himself on fire, surprising Snotlout. "Woah! Hookfang, watch yourself."

The Queen screeched frantically. "Hiccup, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Fishlegs looked at my brother.

"Yeah. Something's off." Hiccup said.

"What is she doing way out here, away from her island?" Fishlegs asked.

"I'm not sure." Hiccup replied. He landed near the Queen, causing her to back away slightly. "Woah, woah, woah. Take it easy, girl. Just tryna figure out what's going on."

She turned around and ran slightly before running back to us frantically. "Being a dragon expert, I can tell that she wants Hookfang to follow her." Snotlout said.

"Follow her? Where? Why?" Fishlegs questioned.

"Maybe it has something to do with these." Hiccup motioned to the cuts and scars that littered the Queen's scales.

"Oh, poor girl." I muttered. Chip flew up to the Fireworm Queen, nuzzling her.

"Dragon Hunters?" Astrid offered.

"If I had to guess, she needs help defending herself." Hiccup concluded.

"And, since the Fireworm Queen and Hookfang have a history, he and Chip the only dragon she trusts." Fishlegs added.

"I'm guessing her and Chip have a history to. I mean, she's his queen." I shrugged.

"Well, if she's looking for back-up, she came to the right dragon." Snotlout said confidently. "Those Hunters want to mess with the Queen? They're gonna have to go through me and Hookfang."

The Monstrous Nightmare roared in agreement. "Come on, Your Highness. Lead the way." Snotlout looked at the Queen.

We followed Hookfang, who was following the Fireworm Queen. "Stay close, Hookfang. Come on, on her tail, come on." Snotlout said.

"Snotlout, wait up!" Hiccup called out.

"I told you, Hiccup. She came for me and Hookfang. We got this." Snotlout looked back at my brother.

"No one is doubting your level of 'got', Snotlout." Hiccup sighed. "But if Viggo and the Hunters are here, you might need a little back-up."

"Okay." Snotlout finally agreed. "But just remember you're back-up, and we're...front-down. Which is the opposite of back-up." He sped up.

"Uh, do you guys feel that?" Hiccup looked at the rest of us.

"Feel what?" Dahlia asked.

"I don't

feel anything." Fishlegs shrugged.

"Why must he speak in riddles?" Tuff asked in a dramatic accent.

"It's too calm." Hiccup explained. "No sign of any Dragon Hunter ships."

I watched as Chip flew up next to his Queen as she stopped in front of a cave. She roared before flying in. "Whatever she need help with is in there. Let's go, Hookfang." Snotlout said, following the Queen.

"Everyone, be on alert. We have no idea how at could be waiting for us in those caves." Hiccup reminded as we all landed, sitting on our dragons as they walked.

Tuff scoffed. "Says Hiccup the Obvious."

"Sometimes I feel like we're the normal ones." Ruff added.

"I know, right?" I smiled, loving to tease my brother.