Hey everyone! Ya so this is my very first story, ever. I'm super excited about it and hope you all like the first chapter! If it gets at least one review I'll post the second chapter right away :) The story takes place a couple months after How To Train Your Dragon 2, after everything is rebuilt and the characters have settled in. But anyways, enjoy xx
Chapter One
The silence was deafening. Outcast Island was never this quiet, at least it seemed that way; paranoia sometimes messed with your senses.
I had my reasons for being so on edge. Even cloaked in the inky darkness, able to squeeze into the smallest of places just in case anyone happened to walk by, there was one large factor. And by large, I mean a 28 foot long dragon.
We turned the corner, hugging the wall as closely as possible, sure to stay out of the warm yellow glow of the torches that lit the alleyways.
Strike gently nudged my shoulder from behind and I turned to look at him. His dark grey scales were almost invisible in the shadows. He could of blended right in if it weren't for his gleaming purple markings and the fact that he was a fully-grown Skrill.
He gave a low growl, slightly turning his head to the right.
I lightly laid a hand on his nose, silencing him, and turned in the direction he motioned to.
"...And then me says oi! If ye doesn't want meh to chop yer head clean off, then don't make eye contact with meh again ye here?" The voice said. His partner chuckled.
I recognized the voice of Jarl. He must be on guard duty tonight, alongside whoever's laughing voice that had been.
We needed to get out of there. The voices sounded close. If it had been just me, I could have squeezed my petite frame into some small place nearby. But Strike on the other hand...
I took a step backwards, hand on the wall. My finger nudged a tiny loosened stone out from the base and it fell to the ground. The sound of it bouncing off the rocky pathway was like a bomb to me.
"Hey.. Did ye hear that?" Jarl whispered, his voice echoing down the alleys.
My heart stopped. I needed to think of something, and fast. I couldn't be caught again, Strike locked back up and I dragged back to that cold, damp... No. I shook my head trying to clear my thoughts.
I heard approaching footsteps coming from ahead. I glanced at my surroundings, behind me all houses, to my left the harbor where the ships were docked. Navy water wetting the grainy sand of the beach. I couldn't make it to the beach in time, but Strike on the other hand was fast and silent.
I quickly turned to my friend and looked into his bloodshot eyes that anyone else would think of as 'monstrous' or 'terrifying'; but I saw only kindness, and at the moment: worry. I pointed to the docks and whispered
"Go, under the docks in the water, hurry."
He nudged his head under my hand and made a grumpy purring sound. He wasn't about to leave me here, but I pushed him away.
"Please, I'll meet you in the forest after the coast is clear."
Strike readied himself to protest yet again, but our alley suddenly lit up with the muted yellow of a single torch, two black shadows of large men were projected on the wall, close to turning the corner.
I stared at Strike with pleading eyes, and he was off in nothing less than a draft of air. I waited until he was where I had told him before I myself lurched into action, scouting for somewhere to hide. My eyes landed on a crack in the wall. This beat up island had many flaws, and I was happy that falling apart foundation was one of them. I ran to it; my footsteps barely audible, and wiggled into the tiny gap. It was just big enough to inch into the very back.
I stopped and listened. "I swore I 'eard somethin down this way" Jarl muttered annoyingly
"Musta just been the wind.. T-that's all" his partner replied with a hint of fear in his voice
At that moment I realized my hiding spot wasn't as deep as I let on. If one of the two even turned their heads to look over I would be spotted for sure. My heart raced at a million miles and hour as they came closer, and closer..
The light lit up the crack as they walked by. Luckily, both staring straight ahead. I let out a sigh of relief as I listened to the sound of their footsteps clamber down the alley.
I waited there until all, again, was quiet. Then pushed myself back out and onto the rough road. I glanced over to the docks trying to look for Strike, but even if he was still there I knew his dark figure would be impossible to see. It was best to get to the forest as soon as I could before he started to worry and end up coming back to look for me. I knew the stubborn dragon would defiantly not leave without me; this I knew from experience.
In just a few minutes, the forest was in my sight. The gray-green pine trees rustled in the summer breeze. I was almost free. Free from this terrible island, all the pain, and Alvin the Treacherous. Even when I closed my eyes I could see his smug grin, laughing, taunting me...
I looked around to see if anyone had followed me, then, after no signs, I bolted. It felt so good to run again, the wind flowing through my tangled hair, the feeling of the soft grass beneath my feet; even though it was basically for my life.
Moments from the tree line Strike bounded out, scaring me half to death, wrapping me in his wings with delight I was okay. He would be free too.
"Okay boy, just as we practiced. Let's get outta here shall we?"
We only had tried flying together once. That had ended very, very badly.. But we were bound and determined this time, and we both completely trusted each other, so.. Here goes nothing.
Strike lowered himself down and tilted to one side. I gently put a foot on his wing and he boosted me up into his back. I was careful to avoid his large black spines and nestled myself in front of the first one, right behind where his shoulder blades would be. I leaned forward and wrapped my arms as tight as I could hold around his scaly neck.
"Okay Strike.. Let's go!"