Snotlout was trying to pretend that he wasn't flying the circuit of the island with Fishlegs as his partner. But, the fluttering, sputtering of Meatlug meant that Hookfang had to keep on slowing down, and it was getting irritating. Besides, he and his dragon were more than enough to challenge any intruder without the 'help' of the slow gronkle, and his overweight rider. Moreover, it he wasn't he could alert the village faster on his monstrous nightmare, without his companion.
He tuned out Fishlegs, and his conversation. A blessing usually, as he was obsessed with the boring details, and if he felt he had an audience would happily talk for hours.
Frankly, he was doing Fishlegs a favour by breaking him of this behaviour. But, he felt the difference more than saw it. Looking back, he saw the gronkle and his rider were sinking, heading down towards the stony beach. They weren't in trouble, just investigating.
A grim smile on his face, Snotlout's teeth locked together, he had to sweep lower, too. Allowing the wide span of the Monstrous Nightmare's wings to gently guide him down. Cursing not having heard what Fishlegs had said, he couldn't rule out that it was important.
- - - - -
Lazily, he glided lower and lower. Then he saw it... There was a glimmer of something in the rocks that didn't belong. Amongst all the plain stones, smoothed with eons of tides ebbing and flowing, a distinct green glow was visible. It wasn't merely catching the Sun, as it seemed to have its own internal light.
With a command, Hookfang tucked his wings close, and dived for the target. Suddenly determined to be the first to 'discover' whatever it was.
An outraged cry of "Hey!" reached his ears, as he sped past Fishlegs, buffeting them. Extending his wings, the dragon slowed, just in time. His claws raking through the stones as he settled on the ground.
Fishlegs and Meatlug landed a minute later, to find Snotlout clearing away the pebbles from what appeared to be a small emerald idol.