Book 2! Yay! Oh, and since this is more of Tora's story, I will be switching on and off with P.O.V's.
Chapter 1: Tora
I don't think Astrid likes me very much.
I mean, it's not that deep down, hate your guts and want to kill you hate, but it's still some form of dislike. I stare at the ceiling, hoping answers will come to my many questions. Why does she not like me? Can I fix it? Does it have to do with Hiccup and I being friends? I hope not. That would be awkward, with them dating and all. Maybe I should go talk to her, resolve the tension so that we could maybe, just maybe, become friends.
"What are you doing?"
I jump and prop myself up. "Don't scare me like that!" I snap, not bothering to check who it was.
"Okay, okay, sorry. I just thought that you might want to go flying. Toothless is getting antsy."
Oh, it must me Hiccup. "Sorry, but I have to go talk to someone."
Hiccup sits on the other end of the couch. "Are you feeling okay?"
"Yeah, why?" I answer plainly.
"Well, you've never turned down an oppurtunity to fly Toothless," He pauses. "Is it your side again?"
I look down at my right side, which is healing well. The bullet had been clean, thankfully, and Hiccup's mother, Valka, suprisingly knew what to do. "No. It's just..." I bite my lip, debating whether to explain or not. Well, he's going to find out sooner or later. "I want to go talk to Astrid."
He looks at me, concerned. "Why?"
"Because," I stare at the ceiling again. "I think she hates me."
I'm suprised to hear a laugh erupt from Hiccup. I lift myself off the couch again, glaring at him. "What's so funny?"
"Well, I'll have you know that she hated me, too." Hiccup smiles.
"Oh, really?"
"Yep. I used to be the Tribe failure." He smiled at the ceiling as if recalling the memories.
I smirk. "You? No way."
"Yes, go ask her. Maybe it'll help resolve your problems." I hear Toothless roar impatiently from outside the window. "I should probably go."
I wave as he disappears out the door, walking an exited Toothless away from the houses.
Hauling myself off the couch, I start towards the door. I pause at the doorknob, staring with disbelief down at my hand.
"What the heck?" I whisper, turning my hand over. As if a largr bruise was forming, my hand was turning a dark shade of black. I inspected the back of my hand again, noticing a black scale that had popped up. I pulled at it gently, shocked when i could feel my fingers touching it.
"Oh my God!" I said, my voice rising. Several black scales were appearing, climbing their way up my arm like vines. I quickly turned the doorknob, checking to see if anyone is outside. When I am sure no one will see me, I bolt to the forest.
The faster I move, the faster the scales appear. I suck a deep breath in and hold it. The scales pause, as if considering to disappear or continue taking over my skin. Slowly, they start their climb again.
"What the heck is going on!" I say, careful not to shout.
When I can't tell if my whole body is covered or not, a sharp ache appears and disappears on my back and tailbone. The urge to climb a tree, for some odd reason, swallowed me, and I pulled myself up the nearest conifer.
From my new vantage point, I scanned the forest below. I could hear conversations going on in the village, clear as if I was in the middle of them. Someone was asking where Hiccup was, and I immediately recognized the voice; Astrid.
Well, might as well talk to her now, I thought.
I jumped down from the tree, gracefully landing on my feet. I jog to the edge of the woods and scan for Astrid.
There, walking about thirty feet away. I walk over to her. "Hey, Astrid. Can I talk to you?"
Astrid turns around, suprised. "Toothless?"
"What? Toothless? No, it's Tora!" I say.
"Wait a minute... Valka! Oh my Gods, Valka come here!" Astrid is bouncing with excitement now.
"What are you so exited about?" I ask, trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice.
It takes a minute for Valka to come out of the house, but when she does, she freezes in place. "Astrid, is that..."
"Yes, it is!" She smiles, reaching out to touch my head. Then I suddenly notice I'm not my usual height. "Hey, are you okay?"
"Okay? Of course I'm okay!" I shout. Astrid steps back, recoiling her hand.
Someone's hand runs along my shoulder. "Oh, Hiccup is going to want to see this..." Valka sighs.
"See what?" I growl, not bothering to keep the annoyance out of my voice.
Astrid seems slightly afraid of something. "Why does it keep growling like that?"
"I don't know... I've never really gotten to learn a lot about Night Furies." Valka murmurs.
Then I notice whats going on. I place the pieces together in my mind, obvious signs that I couldn't see then. The black scales, the tree climbing thing, Astrid mistaking me for Toothless.
I can't bring myself to think of what has just happened.