Relief flooded the clan and released outcries of joy and nervous laughter. āMy people, my childrenā, Hog Morsan exclaimed, āwe can stay hereā.
Hog Morsan had come to a tentative truce with the Alpha. With the one look they shared, terms were exchanged:
- No killing and eating humans, no killing and stuffing dragons.
- No stealing of dragons eggs, no stealing of babies and human stuff.
- Eat vegetables besides meat, so the local wildlife can provide both Vikings and dragons of enough food.
- Just be good neighbors ā you can do it!
So, with that out of the way. Weāre re-building the stronghold, drive away the death people smell, sweep some skeletons out and start our new life here.
After the first elation of the moment lessened, people started to investigate their surroundings.
The more grumpy members of the clan moaned about missing roofs, holes in the walls and dragon poo in the sleeping quarters, not to mention the skeletons in closets - and everywhere else. Ah well, thereās always room for improvement. The majority of clanspeople was a bit more adventurous and enterprising. They had to admit that the bones of the buildings, which made up their new home, were still strong.
As the Hjarn Knackars rolled up their sleeves, the settlement quickly started to show signs of improvement. The truce with the dragons offered a peace of mind, which freed up energy. Energy which earlier was burned up in fleeing and worrying. The tribe had never been this productive. Their industrious activities were observed with great curiosity and wonder by the dragons. Dragons, big and small, which kept getting in the way, as they smelled the freshly cut timbers, snapped at the moving brushes, pushed down a newly built wall and āaccidentallyā ate one of Mus Rattansonās sheep. This might be annoying, but didnāt slow the clan down much. Within a week the settlement was transformed beyond recognition.
A pretty large clan mustāve preceded them here, as houses stood empty even after all clan members had claimed one for themselves. As the one legged rooster, you know the one which compensates by being up earlier than any other rooster, starts cackling at the rising sun, the village slowly wakes up.