Picking a dragon is tough, especially just a year after we were battling the scaly creatures. I can recall the village in panic whenever they attack and I wake up one morning and they are perching on buildings like we've been friends forever! This is so odd, so unreal. I need to pinch myself, adjust my glasses anything to make sure I wasn't sleeping.
Have the other Vikings been cooking the bread too long? Well, at least I am not alone in this whole thing. I kind of knew the other kids, sort of. I was always a top of the mountain person, and didn't really interact well with them. Either that or it was way too cold for me to step outside. I am kind of a wimp when it comes to cold. So my dad wanted me to go out and have fun with the kids.
They knew me I was infamous for being a so-called "house-wife." Our house didn't have a mother so it was my job to cook and clean. But now I was being let out into the open to actually find and train a dragon like a pet! There was this lump of excitement and sheer terror growing in my throat. I saw the other kids down the mountain side, in the village amongst the dragons. I stared each one down and studied them from afar. Dad was surprised when I came back running into the house.
"What're you doing ere again Gryphon?" He told in his burly, thick accent. He had a long white beard and a balding head. My Dad, you could tell he was going over the hill. I gave him a tiny smile, "I have to write stuff down if I want to pick my dragon dad."
"But why? Just go out, take one and start riding on the darn thing." I rolled my eyes as I opened the door with my foot, seeing that my hands were full of parchment, ink and writing feathers. "Dad it's not like that. I'm a scholar. I need to study!"
When I closed the door, I could imagine the embarrassed look on his face but to me that mattered less than getting this information. I sat on a rock, jutting out at a perfect angle and stared down. I instantly recognized the two-headed dragon by the ocean and the blonde twins. Ruff and Tuff had always been trouble makers The black one was a handsome little devil but he seemed way too fast for my needs. The armored one with wings like a bumblebee, it was just too ugly. The blue one with only two legs, just not what I was looking for. A Terrible Terror cuddled up to my side and I smiled, scratching under its chin as it fell asleep. "You're cute but I need something I can ride. Maybe my dad would like you. He's a home-pet kind of guy."
And then I saw what I wanted. It was what we called a Monstrous Nightmare. Those things, when we fought them, had this habit of lighting themselves on fire. I knew how stubborn they were, and could see it in the power it exerted as it lifted into the skies. He was wonderful to watch, even with a giant nose. It was almost cute in a way. I knew I had to have one.
These dragons, they liked to roost around the fire pits. We often had one or two visit around our boilers and pits outside. So right away I began to light the biggest fire, plucking all sorts of stick from the ground and throwing them on the flames. I ran down to the offering bin, grabbing a few fish that I nearly had to pluck from the Terrors, growling equally back at them. As I started to run back towards my house, there was a black plume of smoke where once there was flames. I began to think it had snuffed out and I ran quicker. But as soon as I turned the corner, I yelped. There was a giant, red Nightmare lying atop my pile. I gave a few deep breaths, holding my horned helmet up. My legs were completely numb. "Okay Gryphon you wanted this thing now you're going to go bond with it." Though I was attempting to move myself, it still didn't help my legs from shaking. I gave a cross look to them and snipped, "Bonding time! Go!"
Slowly they obeyed and my feet started to plod on the ground below. The Nightmare was in a relaxed state. "You can do this you can do this. If you do this, the other kids will notice you." I recalled the way Hiccup moved his hand to touch the dragon he faced and started to do the same thing. The Nightmare twisted its head around and just stared at me. There was this certain glare in its yellow eyes. Like it was both accepting me and wanting me to go away. "Easy " I told gently, holding my hand out. There were so many sharp, pointy white teeth sticking out of the long snout. My stomach twisted in knots, tears forming in my eyes. I tried not to panic, holding my breath.
Obviously the dragon could see my fear and in a way I think it both understood and respected it. I mean, it is the deadliest one Vikings have known. But with one rapid sweep it moved its nose to my hand. I felt the scaly skin. "Wow, you're warm." I told gently, looking up to it slowly. It seemed happy, the eyes a bit bigger and a very small smile protruding from the sides of its mouth.
I stared it down, looking at the features. It was easily three or four times bigger than I was, with no upper limbs but giant bat wings that it balanced on. There was a big scaly yellow belly that I moved down to. I just had this urge to scratch it. It gave a tiny but happy grumble as I moved my nails against it. "You like that huh?"
"What are you doing?" I yelped, hearing a voice behind me. It was Astrid, her long hair blowing about in the violent breezes. I couldn't hide the huge reptile behind me, looking like a cat sprawled on its back. "It uhh wanted some company?"
"You're picking the runt." She told, crossing her arms slightly, "Did you know that? And why don't we ever see you anymore?"
"I " a bit of a stutter came out, "I I didn't know it was a runt. But, maybe that's a good thing. It seems friendly enough." I emphasized by throwing a fish over my shoulder and smiled, watching it eat.
"The it is a girl. You can tell by the size of the horns." She told, pointing up towards them. I blushed, "Sorry I've been trying to write more information on the dragons. I like to watch them play around with each other."
She sighed a bit, "Just meet us up tomorrow. We'll see how well you can control the baddest dragon around." She turned around and started to walk back.
I gave a long, relieved sigh and looked to my new dragon. I mean, it seemed that way "Well do you mind? Would you like to stay with me."
She rose up on her belly and looked to me for a few seconds. When she opened her mouth, I expected flames. But instead I got a giant tongue covering my whole front in one huge lick. A tiny chuckle came from her, seeing me soaked in the saliva. "I guess that's a yes." I told, feeling both proud and disgusted. "Well you're going to need a name hmmm." I pat my chin and adjusted my helmet and glasses, handing her another fish. "You're a runt but yet that just doesn't fit. How about Ferocious?"
She blinked once, nodding her head and then giving a tiny laugh. Small sparks of fire came from her mouth and I giggled, holding it gently, "All right. Well we fly off tomorrow then Ferocious."