I blinked, not sure whether or not I was dreaming. A blurry shape hovered above my bed, shifting back and forth rhythmically. I rubbed my eyes out of habit, then smiled. My Timberjack, Wink, was hovering above my bed, her long tail poking my stomack in an effort to wake me. I reached out sleepily, determining her location, then felt around to between her wings. I began scratching, and she trilled ecstatically. I laughed, and got out of bed. I knew my way out of the house by heart, so I didn't even pause as I grabbed my cloak and ran out the door. I always slept in my clothes, as most Vikings did, and I even wore my boots to keep trolls from stealing my left socks. I heard a cracking sound, then a squeak. Wink had once again cut through my wooden doorframe in her haste to get out. I'd made slits in the frame already, hoping that she'd learn to fly through the gaps. Instead, she routinely added new gashes every time she flew in and out. I sighed, but smiled, and continued up the path from out house to the square.

People passed by me, their heavy boots muffled by the thick layer of snow everywhere. Snoggletog had only just passed by, and the snow was due to stick around for a while yet. A few of my neighbours shouted in greeting, but I was too out of breath from sprinting to respond. The clamor of the village square echoed from above, and I wanted to get there as soon as possible.

I wished, not for the first time, that I could ride Wink up the cliff, catching drafts and soaring like birds. She was too small as of yet, being only about a moon old. Her egg had been a Snoggletog present from my parents, for lack of a better idea. They were both fishers, and since I had no wish to join their profession, they had been unable to think of any way to please me. I was extremely grateful to Hiccup, the island's hero, because of his suggestion of a dragon egg. Wink was my pride and joy, and I made sure that she knew it.

As if knowing that I was thinking of her, Wink flitted down beside me, squeaking her happiness. I laughed, and held out my arm. Her tail wrapped around it securely so she could perch on my arm. She squawked as we finally reached the square. The smell of fish struck me, soothing me with it's normality. I turned towards my parent's stall, where my father was evidently arguing with someone.

"No! Birg is NOT going to join your silly little beast-training class!"

I started at the mention of my name, and took my father's words into account. My parents were traditionalists, preferring the old, non-dragonized style of living. They still used a boat to fish, even though a dragon can catch much more per day than any boat. That's why my egg had been such a surprise. My parents still loudly declared their dislike of dragons, sighing dramatically whenever Wink messed up. My egg's explosion, which burnt Father's beard right off, did nothing to endear them to my little buddy. I ducked down beind a scraggly bush, hoping to overhear the rest of the loud conversation.

"I said no, Hiccup! No way, not for all Valhalla!" Father was shouting, his Viking stubbornness echoing in every letter. I could practically hear his veins popping out of his neck.

"But Mr. Bloorgensen-" Hiccup replied, his voice calmly exasperated.

"No! I mean it!"

"Sir, Birgitta needs this training. You know perfectly well how much she needs it."

Father paused, weighing his words. My heart leaped; could Hiccup save me again?

"Birg is perfectly fine, Hiccup.She's just got to get rid of the dragon." His voice was soft, which was even scarier than his yelling. I jumped up, running towards the stall.

"No, Father! You can't!" He grunted slighty in surprise at my appearance. I tried my hardest to glare at him. I tried my best to look fierce, letting all my raw Vikingness show. I had my mother's fine, blonde hair, but my father's firm jaw. Apparently, I was attractive, but I obviously couldn't tell.

"Birg, what are you doing here? Get back to-"

"No!" I couldn't let him take Wink away. As I continued, I held her closer, as if to prevent his words from reaching her.

"No," I continued more quietly, "you can't take Wink away. She's the best thing that's ever happened to me! She makes me happy, and you know it! I need her. She needs me. And she doesn't care about my flaws. She listens, and loves me. She is my everything. You can't take her!" My voice cracked with emotion. I could feel very non-ferocious tears pooling in my eyes. How would Father react?

He surprised me by giving me a hug, right in front of Hiccup. My father was not the affectionate type- he was the type who growled instead of laughed. For him to hug me, he must be thinking that I was going to run away at any moment.

"I'm sorry, Birg. I let my selfishness get in the way." Wow. Who was this, and what had he done with my father?

"Um… Okay?" I was so blown away that I couldn't even put a normal sentence together.

"And… You were right. You do need to go to dragon training." With that, he turned and trudged over to our fish pile, enthusiastically starting to do inventory. I was so relieved that I laughed, unneeded tears pouring down my face. Father knew now that I needed Wink to help me, be there for me.

Sometimes I actually felt glad to be blind.