Okay, so this is a rewrite of my fanfic "How to Run", I wasn't too pleased with how I wrote it and so I decided to rewrite it to include more Hiccup and Astrid and develop my OC a little bit. I have some oneshots in store that include Tristen, I'm actually quite fond of this OC. But, I wanted to give this a shot and see if Tristen is well-received enough to continue my plans for her. I hope you enjoy this story and yes, there is plenty of Hiccstrid. Thanks!

Disclaimer, I own nothing.

~Soldier78~

How to Run

Chapter 1

The attack-now-ask-questions-later strategy encompasses the fighting style of the Viking culture. It is the Viking Way. We did it when we were fighting dragons and, sometimes, when we were fighting enemies from other tribes. Even when I sometimes disagree with it, they still do it. Now, running from a fight was something Vikings didn't take lightly. We are supposed to face things head on and not back down, otherwise, we wouldn't be warriors and wouldn't earn an honorable death. Running or frozen in fear even was deemed unworthy and so, that Viking's name was trashed, ruining the family honor.

However, I will move on to my traditional introduction. This is Berk. This is the home of Vikings and now, dragons. Located on the meridian of misery, north of Hopeless and south of Freezing-to-Death, the island is filled with people just as tasteless as our food. The isle has such a wonderful variety of weather. Nine months of our year are dazzled with snow and the other three months filled with sleet, rain and limited sun.

Very rarely, we get visitors who aren't traveling merchants or from visiting tribes. Even more so, it was the most unusual thing and I use unusual very loosely when referring to an island of Vikings who ride flying, fire-breathing reptiles.

It was a girl I found floating in the water. She was unconscious when I urged Toothless, my Night Fury, closer. She was hanging onto a piece of driftwood with two arms. One of those arms was painted with blood from a nasty cut on her forearm. I picked her up and flew her quickly to Gothi. I reported the girl to my father, the Chief and really, all I could do was wait.

There were a lot of questions running through my mind. Who was she? Where did she come from? Why was she out in the sea?

All I could do was wait.

"Da," she mumbled in her sleep. Gothi heard the quiet whisper. It was the same whimper she had heard for the past six hours. The girl in the bed, already treated for the injuries sustained, turned her head right to the left, eyes scrunched up in agony. "Da, nil!"

Her eyes finally snapped open as if whatever plagued her young, wounded mind finally shocked her into reality. The girl breathed, panting as she recovered from the knee-jerk wake. Gothi watched her, ready for the stream of questions that would pour from this girl's mouth. She studied her careful movements. She picked up her head and whispered in some undecipherable utterances. She mindlessly lifted the bandaged arm to her forehead and she jumped again. Without even regarding her body, she snapped upright in bed. She winced from the headache she was most likely sustaining. Her eyes reopened again from the grimace and she stared at the bandaged arm.

Her gaze finally fell upon the old woman across the floor from her and she clutched the blanket up closer to her body.

The girl spoke up in her native tongue with a harsh question. She was trying to keep from panicking. Gothi cleared her throat and took her steps towards the bed. The teen loosened her grip on the blanket and Gothi carefully pointed to the window with her cane.

The teen raised a brow in confusion. Gothi shook her head and pointed from the window to the girl. The teen craned her neck to look out the window and spoke, trying to understand the old woman's interpretation.

Gothi then had to make this girl realized that she wasn't among natives anymore. She gently gestured to her helmet and the girl gasped, sliding back in the bed until her back hit the headboard. She moaned from the sudden pain and looked at Gothi.

"Nil, nil, nil." She had muttered. Her good hand came to press against her forehead as she processed this. She then looked at Gothi. "Yeh er Vikin'?"

Gothi, a bit impressed at the girl's grasp of Norse, nodded her head. The teen muttered 'Nil, nil' over and over again. Gothi finally had enough with the girl's consistent denial and abruptly knocked her cane against her head. The teen winced and howled, clutching her head.

"Ow, oi!" She shouted right at her with a furrowed brow. Her hand clutching her now throbbing head. Gothi smirked. "Fine, speak Norse."

Gothi gave a nod, satisfied with the quick agreement. The teenager looked at the old woman and Gothi was able to study the mysterious girl up close.

Her hair was a chestnut brown. It was messy, thick, dirty and bristly from the salt water. When she was found, her hair was in a messy ponytail and now it hung down, passed her shoulders, the bangs swept to the side by her hand. Her eyes were an ocean blue and were very expressive. Gothi saw the surfaced worry and panic but also could see the submerged expression of despair and confusion. Just across her left eye, in a jagged line, was a pale pink scar that kept her left eye just partly open. Her forehead had creases that were supposed to wait until she was aging. Her cheekbones were high and it was for certain that the girl hadn't been fed a decent meal in a long time.

Gothi's eyes slowly traced the contours of her thin face down to her neck which had another scar striking from the jaw to her collarbone. Her shoulders were a little broader than most women and Gothi's eyes fell upon the arms of the teen. When she wrapped the forearm, Gothi could tell that this girl was strong. She could feel the sinewy muscles that graced her forearms and upper arms when she tended to the grim slash on her forearm. Gothi deduced that this child had been through labor, what kind remained unanswered, and that whatever came with that labor, caused her despair. This was going to be an interesting task for the Village Elder.

However, the teenager was less than pleased to be examined by this stranger and she narrowed her eyes at her.

"Wha'?" She hissed, bluntly. Gothi shook her head, disregarding the girl's contempt, and quietly hobbled across to the hearth where she picked up a bowl and scooped something warm out of her cauldron. She brought it over to the girl and held it out to her. She looked at the old woman with a raised brow, taking the bowl after a little prod from her. She looked at the bowl, her hands slightly trembling. Slowly, she licked her lips and brought the bowl to the chapped skin. The salty broth stung the dry rims but nonetheless, she felt the warmth trickle down her parched throat and settle into her groaning stomach. She nearly moaned at the deliciousness of a simple broth but kept it contained when she remembered the stranger's presence. Gothi gave a satisfied nod as the girl continued to slowly slurp the soupy mix.

Eventually, Gothi picked up the empty dish and watched the girl fall into another slumber. Another time it would be appropriate to know this child's name and she will definitely ask. But for now, she helped ease the groggy girl to lie against the wooden frame. She tenderly brought the blanket up to the girl's pointed chin as if she was putting a little toddler to bed. Carefully, Gothi placed her hand against her forehead to check for a fever. The skin was a little warmer than normal but in a few days, the girl would be healthy enough to move around. Her hand stayed there for a moment longer, taking in the sight of this mysterious human. Eyes were closed, loose hair framing her small, scarred face. She looked at peace at this moment and Gothi couldn't help but allow a sweet, tender smile grace her old face.

She slept undisturbed until that next morning. She woke up abruptly, not from a nightmare, but from a pounce on her stomach and something biting at her nose.

"ACH!" she shouted very loudly. It startled the beast that had taken a nip at her bruised noise. She swatted her hand at the scaly creature. "Oi!"

The creature chortled, angry at the girl's dismay. The girl finally got around to fully realize what exactly chomped on her nose.

"Wha' the 'ell're yeh?" She inquired, brow raised as she picked up the beast like picking up a stray cat. She held it up with her two hands and gazed, perplexed at it. The thing's tongue lapped out and up, licking his nostril. She grimaced, disgusted and set it back down on the bed. "Ugh."

The footfalls of the old woman drew her attention away from the beast. The thing happily gurgled at the arrival of her. The woman chuffed and used her staff to point to the floor as a command for the creature. The thing jumped off and waddled towards the fire. The girl looked at the old woman, brow still arched in confusion of the identity of that thing.

"Wha' is tha' thin'?" She inquired to the elder. The old woman sighed and pointed to the window right next to her. Calmly, the girl raised her neck again and saw something flying right passed. She blinked and started to rise out of bed. She carefully stood onto her two feet, feeling wobbly at first from the lack of mobility. She grasped the headboard and steeled her jaw, crossing the chilly floor with her blistered bare feet. She walked up to the window sill and peered out. Right there, she saw a collection of flying beasts. She gasped when one shot fire.

"Fire-breathin', scaly…" She looked at the little creature over her shoulder and then at the elder. "Drag'ns."

The old woman nodded in affirmation. The girl went back to sit on her bed and she blinked twice, shocked.

"But…it was only stories." She whispered to herself as if completely blown away that such a creature existed. She looked at the old woman. "Yeh live wit' 'em?"

The old woman nodded, again. The girl bit her tongue for a moment, processing this situation.

"Yeh really don' speak much, d'yeh?" She asked the elder. The woman nodded again and the girl sighed. The old woman then approached her and she looked up at her. Young, blue eyes connecting with old, silvery ones. The woman pointed her stick at her. She raised a brow, perplexed until it tapped her in the chest. She grimaced in slight discomfort. "Wha'?"

She poked again and used a bony finger to gesture to her.

"Me?"

The woman nodded.

"Me name?"

She nodded again, still patient with this child. She cleared her throat.

"Tr-," she paused and swallowed as if completely nervous in revealing her name. The second attempt was strong and blunt. "Tristen."

The old woman nodded and placed her cane back onto the floor. The girl, Tristen, had her eye fixed on the elder.

"Who're yeh?" She asked with an arched, skeptical brow.

Gothi gestured with open arms to the environment that surrounded this girl. Tristen's neck craned, twisted and turned as if piecing together a none-too-hard puzzle.

"…a priest?" She figured out after some few minutes. Tristen looked right at her for the nod of confirmation which Gothi gave. Tristen gave a low, sardonic chuckle.

"Aye, o'course." She muttered, derisively.

Gothi paid no mind to the girl's rude response.

"So…d'yeh 'ave name?"

Before Gothi could reply, there was a sudden knock at the door. It made Tristen jump and Gothi only narrow her foggy eyes. She walked towards the door in her slow, wobbly stride. She opened the door and looked up at the face of the Chief's son.

"Good afternoon, Gothi. May I come in?"

From the bed, the girl's breath hitched and she thought to feign slumber but it was too late when she looked into the piercing green eyes of the afternoon visitor. He looked none-too-older than herself. He was lanky, really thin but…she saw the hints of maturity in his face and in his torso. He himself regarded the guest.

"Hi," he said with a lopsided smile. He walked closer to the bed. Her eyes fell upon the metal contraption on his lower left leg, acknowledging it and when he spoke again, her eyes snapped right up at him. "I'm Hiccup, I'm the one who found you."

"'Iccup?" the girl asked, brow raised. She wanted to laugh at the ridiculous name. Hiccup even seemed to notice her stifled chuckle.

"Yes, yes. A very unusual name." Hiccup commented, sarcastically. The girl released a breathless amused laugh. Hiccup continued to grin at her. "So…what's your name?"

The girl took a few moments, hesitant obviously. Her eyes wandered to Gothi and then back at the boy. She cleared her throat and answered firmly.

"Tristen."

"Hm, Tristen." Hiccup hummed. "You know, that's different too."

Tristen chuckled and rolled her eyes.

"So…at least yeh talk. Tell me where in the 'ell I am?" Tristen questioned, hinting the inner frustration of how confused she was. Hiccup nodded his head.

"You're on Berk." Hiccup answered her with his slanted grin. "Home to Vikings and Dragons. My dad is the chief."

Tristen didn't react flustered about that statement. She just nodded her head.

"So…yeh found me in water?" Tristen asked.

"Yes, actually." Hiccup said, rubbing the back of his neck. "On a piece of driftwood."

Tristen gave a slow, understanding nod. Her eyes full of unmistakable despair and weariness. Hiccup noted that somber look and cleared his throat, trying to cheer her up.

"Hey, think you'll be able to walk sometime soon?" He asked. Tristen looked right at him, pointedly. "I think you should get a tour of this place."

She noted how slanted and goofy his grin was. He sure was a looker and his sparkling green eyes alit with excitement made even the smallest of smiles appear on her tired face. Yet, something else crossed her mind that made that genuine smile short-lived but she nodded to him anyway. Hiccup took that as an answer and Gothi began to shove him out the door.

"Right, I'll be…on my way then." He chattered to her. Tristen arched a brow. "Nice, um, meeting you Tristen."

And Gothi slammed the door in his face. She turned away from the threshold with a great eye roll and Tristen released a bit of a laugh.

"The welcomin' party, eh?" She asked the Elder. She smiled at Tristen's rhetorical question and went about her own business. Tristen reclined against the headboard of the bed. She closed her eyes briefly until she felt a weight wiggling through the space between her arm and the bed. She opened her eye to see the same nippy dragon settling down next to her as if cuddling. She gave an amused chuckle.

"Berk…" She whispered, absently scratching the scaly beast's head. He was curled next to her hip, his head resting on the blanket against her thigh. Her head fell against the board and she looked up at the ceiling. "Christ almigh'y."

To be continued.

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