22 {Berk’s Bouquets PT:2}

"So Neil, how were you able to tell what type were in the village? Even Fishlegs seemed surprised and that boy makes it his business to know all." 

'Fishlegs?...Oh, the fat one that read the dragon book and kept muttering in the movie.'

"My village once tried to plant Blue Oleanders after our healer found out about their properties. They believed that it would protect us from the dragons, however, they didn't really survive on our island. The ones that do manage to survive end up becoming a problem for our animals that end up eating them. Their effect is also reduced since dragons don't really stay for long so there's no real point in wasting resources on procuring them."

"My people went as far as to try to use them to make poison arrows. The flowers however are extremely toxic and made the people who processed them very sick." 

The Chief nodded as he rubbed his chin "I see, would you happen to know if there is a cure? Will they start to feel better after the flowers are removed?"

Neil shrugged and responded to the Chief's question, "Sorry but I don't really know. My Village was just focused on its dragon-killing capabilities. They never really had to think about curing one. The people who got sick did get better after some time."

"I see, it was the same here at least it was until my son showed us that we could cooperate with dragons. To think….that I who once killed them would ever be worried for their safety. Time really does change a man."

Neil sighed and thought of a way to try to cheer up the large man, "I wouldn't worry too much sir, our dragons weren't exposed to the pollen for that long. It takes a good amount of exposure to be able to become deadly enough to something as large as a dragon."

"Aye, that may be right but what about my son's dragon….We have to find a cure for them and then find out how those flowers appeared on my Island."

After walking for quite a bit they finally arrived at the village where Cora went wild trying to get out of her bag to explore all the new scents.

"Yeah I know that you've been stuck there all day but right now isn't the best time for you to be out."

 When they got to Chief's hut they found the group of teens and an older man waiting outside. The moment that they saw their Chief they all came running to him. 

"Dad! We found a possible cure for the dragons! Fishlegs found out that the Scauldron is a dragon that actually eats Blue Oleanders. We are hoping that it has some kind of defense mechanism against the toxicity inside its paralyzing venom. Now all we have to do is find a Scauldron"

After hearing that they had a battle plan, Stoick seemed to have had a set of weights removed from him. On the other hand, the name Scauldron sent shivers across Neil's body. It was the very same dragon that caused him to be stranded on an Island for a ¼ of a year. Granted it had led him to meet Cora and the Woolly Howl but still.

'And something tells me I'm going to be asked to participate.' 

The group of teens who seemed to be so focused on saving the dragons that they almost completely ignored Neil all nodded. After their plan to save their dragons was said a look of anger swept through the group. 

"That's not all Dad, the one responsible for all of this was Mildew. The twins saw him planting these flowers during the night." 

The Chief became angry upon hearing the name Mildew. Neil wasn't sure whether it was because he hated the person or what the person had done. After some time Stoick took a deep breath and calmed himself down. 

He turned to look at the old man who was missing his left hand and right leg, "What do you think Gobber? While it does sound like something Mildew would do have you seen anything strange lately?"

Gobber didn't even hesitate before answering with a mischievous smile, "You bet! I haven't been bugged by that old man's whining these last few days. Bet it's because that old bat has been doing his evil deeps during the night and sleeping during the day." 

"Is that so, well sounds to me like I need to have a word with him."

Stoick turned to look at Neil and hesitated before beginning to speak. 

'And here we go.'

"Neil I know the experience you had with a Scauldron before and you are also a guest to whom we are indebted. As a Chief, I find this hard to ask but could you help us catch a Scauldron? Our dragons are the only ones who as far as we know haven't been affected by the flowers and…."

Neil was a bit troubled about risking his safety for someone who he had just met. 

'Well if I think about it I have done nothing but risk my life just to get here. Helping them now would get them to trust me even more. Which would prove useful when I start to search this Island for clues..'

"I'd be lying if I said I'm not terrified by facing such a large and dangerous dragon but I'm in. I couldn't imagine what I would be feeling like if my own dragon were that sick."

The expressions of the teens eased up a bit and they thanked him repeatedly. 

Stoick smiled for a second and then his face became serious, "Well then let's get prepared. Hiccup I want you and Neil to go back up the Northern Dry Mountain and get our dragons. If they are well bring them to the docks. Gobber you prepare a boat and crew to set sail as soon as possible. The rest of you will dig up all of these monstrous flowers from our Island and hand them over to the ship. After your done go and look after your dragons and await our return."

After seeing that they all understood their orders the chief smiled and began walking away, "Good, and leave Mildew to me."