Ruffnut however didn't get the message that this was Astrid's turn to speak, because she sat up with a curious expression on her face. She was not used to knowing things Hiccup didn't know.

"Uh...yeah about that twelve tribes thing...there used to be another one before the war. They kinda wiped it off the map. One of my whatever-ya-call-ems told me. The people who tell you where to go and what to do?"

After a moment she added "And they took another one out not too long ago. Something about a plague. So how many does that leave?" Again the Thorston's natural enemy...math.