It was a nearly cloudless night, the moon shone bright and the stars sparkled like a million tiny sapphires, crisp cool wind brushed past and a million scents were carried along with it. From her vantage point Cloudjumper could feel it all, she warbled softly back at the nighttime sounds, the rustle of the leaves as she flew overhead, the snap of twigs as some poor grounded animal scurried along, and the running creek. She could smell the damp earth and the pine woods, see the light as it glanced of the raindrops collected in the trees, and feel the world all around her. These were the nights that she loved, the soft wind, endless skies. It was truly peaceful. She had already traveled for the majority of the day and it was getting near time to find an island to settle on for the night, however Cloudjumper was intent on passing this island by and flying a bit more before landing for the night.
Around an hour after leaving the little island behind Cloudjumper's peace was shattered. Her peaceful night cut through with the sounds of two walker shouts and dragon roars. Sighing as the island in question came into view Cloudjumper began to veer to the right, she knew from experience that it wasn't worth trying to get through to the red queens Sparks, she had too tight a hold and interference only served to get the poor dragons injured or killed. It was just as Cloudjumper was about to fully turn her back on the little spit of rock that she heard the scream.
It was another midnight dragon raid and Valka was caught once again in the position of trying to keep both sides safe,Valka hated the raids, hated that they had to fight on a monthly basis and hated the seemingly inevitable bloodshed. She feared the dragons just as her people did but she did not think them to be mindless beasts or that slaughtering them was the answer. It was a rather unpopular opinion. The fact that nothing ever changed didn't stop Valka from trying, she would purposely step in front of axe swings, yell and shoo smaller dragons away, and once even barreled into a tribe mate before she could throw a net over a group of decidedly frightened looking Nadders.
Tonight was no different, with her child clutched under one arm and a small single bladed battle axe in the other Valka made her way across the battlefield that was her home. As she made her way down the slope from the mead hall she had to doge and weave between battling figures. At one point she weaved around a Gronkle that had its nose in a fish basket, which earned her a nasty look from a nearby Viking. However before he could say anything a Hobblegrunt landed nearly on top of him and his attention was understandably diverted. As Valka continued to skirt her way down the slight slope she cast around for any sign of Stoic. Maybe if she could show him in the battle how all the dragons wanted was food and nothing else she could convince him to make some kind of trade. She had mentioned before the possibility of simply leaving some food out for when the dragons came but no, every single one of these mutton headed vikings seemed perfectly happy to continue fighting tooth and limb in a war with no foreseeable end. Finally spotting Stoic Valka came to a halt, he was, of course, right in the middle of the biggest group of dragons. As Valka once again picked up the pace she could only watch as her husband simultaneously pummeled a Thunderdrum and a particularly large Gronkle. Rushing now she got there right as the two dragons gave a whimpering sound and flapped away. Stoic turned towards her with fire in his eyes, Valka knew that look, it was the same as everyone else's in the heat of battle. Valka's stomach turned as she realized for the millionth time how much of a thrill each and every one of her tribemates got out of this. She reached for her husbands arm but right as she was about to make contact her world exploded.
Fire surged skyward as Stoic lunged forward, making up the distance between himself and his family in the blink of an eye. He drew them close as he covered his wife and son with both his massive body and his fireproof cloak. After the fire dissipated Stoic wasted no time, he stood back up and charged the roaring Nightmare. He didn't falter for even a second as he yelled back to his wife, "Go!" he shouted just before bringing all his focus front and center. He was now squaring off one on one with one of the most feared dragons in viking history. Stoic just hefted his war hammer and grunted in challenge at the beast. As they circled he caught a glimpse of his wife running over the opposite hill towards their house and safety, he smiled. Good, this would take his full attention, then he charged.
The scream drew Cloudjumper's attention and despite her better judgement she changed course and headed for the island and the raging battle. It didn't take Cloudjumper long to spot the source of the distressed call, it was a two leg woman, and Cloudjumper spotted a small bundle in the woman's arms. Food maybe? No! It was her hatchling! What on earth was the two leg doing with a hatchling in the middle of a raid? Cloudjumper watched as the human woman ran down the side of a small hill and into the open area below. She also recognized the source of the woman's distress, they had been spotted by an angry looking Gronkle. While Cloudjumper had no love for two legs and knew it wasn't the Gronkle's fault she couldn't just watch as a mother and her hatchling were needlessly killed. After a short internal debate and with a resigned trill Cloudjumper dove down towards the battle to intercept the confused Gronkle.
Valka looked up as a huge Gronkle came crashing towards them, it was a giant from her perspective, taking up the whole of her vision and filling her head with thoughts of being crushed under a giant scaly body. Valka's stunned musing is what did her in, she lost half a step and, stumbling, fell to the ground. Clutching her little Hiccup tightly in her arms she looked up into the face of the snarling creature. But before it could take another step towards them another shape landed, cutting her off from the Gronkle. If Valka had thought the Gronkle was big then this creature was massive! Its head was as big as she was and its wingspan blocked off Valka's entire frontal view. Although Valka had never laid eyes on one herself she recognized this new dragon as a Stormcutter, "extremely dangerous kill on sight" she murmured to herself. Valka watched in stunned wonderment as the Stormcutter reared up and roared at the Gronkle. Valka continued to gape as the startled Gronkle roared back and after a short back and forth it finally huffed and flew away. Wait, huffed? Thought Valka. In fact that whole "conversation" seemed to prove that dragons were indeed intelligent and social creatures. She had always suspected as much, seen the pain in a cornered dragons eyes or noticed how one dragon would come to another's aid. But this, here, this was undeniable proof that they are not the mindless beasts they are always made out to be. In fact THIS dragon had just saved her, hadn't it? This dragon had just faced one of its own kind to save a viking. If that wasn't some kind of sign then Valka didn't know what was.
Valka was pulled out of her musings when the Storm cutter turned its attention on her, instead of looking threatening though it appeared curious and almost concerned. "Th-thank you" stuttered Valka. The dragon just tilted its head before making a soft warbling sound and gesturing towards the sky. Valka had no idea what it was trying to say and so just repeated herself, "thank you for saving us dragon." It only warbled again and bent down to nuzzle the bundle in her arms, Valka stiffened in a moment of fear but then relaxed as the dragon simply blew a gust of air over Hiccups face, she watched as her child giggled and reached out with his little arms to grasp at the dragon's snout. Valka couldn't help but smile, these creatures truly weren't what everyone saw them as. Suddenly the Stormcutter stiffened, Valka had a split second to wonder what was wrong before she felt something burning hot against her skin.
Valka screamed out in both pain and surprise as the Stormcutter launched into the air taking a now terrified Valka and Hiccup with it. Valka clutched the bundle in her arms tight and looked back to the spot they had been standing only moments before. She saw only a dark fiery scorch mark. Had it been the Stormcutter? No, that made no sense, plus she hadn't taken her eyes off the dragon the whole time. That meant that it had been a different dragon and this Stormcutter had saved them yet again. Valka's immediate sense of relief at her realization quickly turned to worry as she realized that despite being alive they were still climbing higher and higher into the air. As their altitude increased so did Valka's dread. She began to scream for help.
Stoic humphed in triumph as he watched his opponent draw away from him and flap off in defeat. It had taken Stoic The Vast less than three minutes to defeat a dragon that many vikings wouldn't even dare to challenge. As Stoic took a few seconds to recollect himself and look over the island he suddenly heard her screams. "Stoooo-ic! Stoic help!" Stoic looked up frantically towards the sound of his wife's cries and what he saw was worse than any dragon fight. His worst fears were being realized, for there, not thirty meters away was his wife and son being carried off. They were being held by one of the great beasts, a Stormcutter by the looks of it. They were already a good twenty meters away and disappearing fast. "Valka!" Stoic shouted up to her, he could see the fear in her eyes and didn't hesitate as he hefted his hammer and hurled it towards the fleeing dragon. He was a good shot and he had a strong arm yet his hammer did no more then bounce off the giant beasts armored underbelly. "Noo!" he shouted, "Valka!" "Stop that dragon!" His fellow warriors rallied at their chief's call and sent rocks and bolas hurtling towards the retreating form. Stoic's voice was hoarse and his arms exhausted from loading and reloading catapults but as his family got smaller and smaller and his wife's screams quieter and quieter he found himself to be the only one still working. He felt a calloused hand fall onto his right shoulder and half turned to see Gobber with tears in his eyes and a slouch in his shoulders. "I-i's too late" Gobber stuttered "They're gone." Stoic stood numb as the dragon flew further and further out of range, carrying his wife and newborn son with it. He dropped to his knees as he listened to the softening cries of his wife and shrill screaming of his distraught son. Gazing unseeing at the horizon Stoic came to a single conclusion, then and there, on that miserable spit of grass overlooking the sea that his life had just disappeared behind, he vowed to to track down and kill the beast that had taken his family.
Thank you all for reading! I love writing this story and am very happy with how the first chapter of my reboot turned out. I can't figure out how to get the line breaks to show up? I love the likes and follows and reviews are always welcome! I respond to any and all questions (story related) and am open to constructive criticism, admiration or flat out criticism. Tell me you love it, tell me you hate it. Thanks to you all and ill see you with the next chapter!