First Page Material
Hiccup moved his hand up to sheild his eyes from the light streaming in through the window across the room, announcing the start of Tuesday. He checked the alarm clock beside his bed side the see bright neon green lights announcing that it was currently 4:27 in the morning.
He groaned and tiredly rolled out of bed and stepped into the shower. As he stepped out of the shower and use his towel to clear the water off of his tan skin. He tugged his long sleeved green shirt over his head and slipped on his faded skinny jeans.
The smell off breakfest found it's way up the stairs into Hicccup's nose, causing him to smile as he heard his younger brother thunder downstairs to eat. He chuckled under his breath as he opened the door and quietly padded down the stairs and grabbed a plate off eggs and bacon, giving a small 'thanks' to his mother as he sat in his seat and ate, laughing occasionaly when his brother, Toothless, as they teased, made a joke.
"Hiccup, look, it snowed!" Toothless said as he caught sight of the frosted-over window.
"Yeah, sure looks like it. Should we build a snow fort later?" Hiccup asked, ruffling his little brother's hair. He already knew the response.
"Yeah, yeah!" his brother jumped exitedly. "We'll make a giant castle! With lots of dragons! And one of thos lake things that go around the castle!"
"A moat?" Hiccup suggested.
"Yeah, a moat!"
He checked his watch to see that the time was apparently later then he had estimated and he was late for the bus. He grabbed his favorite green knit hat and jacket and tore out the door, just in time to see the bus turn the corner of the long street. He let a small groan escape his lips as he began the long walk to school with the cold, cruel early December wind striking his face.
He shoved his hat on as his bangs were pressed against right eye. He started to look around and saw the three inches of snow that looked like frosting that was interupted by the imprints of small childrens' shoes, with the occasional sprinkle of dog paws. He smiled as he saw his neighbor, Merida, who was a year younger, walking her three sneaky brothers out in the snow.
"Oi, Hiccup! C'mere!" She called as she waved happily.
"Hey, Merida. Won't you be late? You're still in your pajamas!" he said as he neared her house.
"I'm sick, I can't go!" She said, as her mother waved at her to come inside. "I'll talk to you after school, we'll meet at my house!"
"Okay, see you then!" Hiccup said as she walked inside.
He went back to walking to the school, observing the winter-changed path. He saw crystalline trees, glazed windows, powdered grounds and small, carfree puffs of air he was breathing out. He gently blew out so he could see the cloud rise and fade into the sky. He laughed at himself, he would seem so strange if someone was watching him.
As he continued his walk to school, he noticed that the lake and tree behind the school had frozen over. He noticed then that the small area, that usually was avoided, was just as beautiful as the reason it was avoided. Hiccup sighed whistfuly as he recalled what he could remembered from the legend.
A long time ago, in the Viking Age, there was a young viking, whose name is still unknown, that was very different from his tribe. He was more peacul, quiet, insightful. He was smart, and was constantly fixing and making better inventions. He was often ignored for not being strong enough, so he would sneak off into the woods. When he was out there, he found a whimpering dragon. He noticed that the dragon was one of the most dangerous dragons alive or extinct. He decided to take shelter in a nearby cave and soon fell asleep. When he woke, he looked out to see the dragon trying to fly out, but falling. The viking saw that his half of the dragon's tail wing was torn off, but the strangest part was the cloth substituting as a bandage around the damaged area.
He walked closer to inspect the neat, clearly non-dragon work. He had a sword and decided to used that if he needed defense. He walked to the dragon with his sword at the ready. When he was close enough to touch the dragon, it turned around and saw the gleam of the blade and scurried away. "Wait!" The viking heard a new sound, one of leaves crunching and the whistling of an autumn breeze. When he turned to the direction, he saw a figure standing about a foot and a half away. The figure was completely pale, with white hair and pale skin. They say the only bright thing about him were his eyes, which were brighter than the ocean on a sunny day. "Don't hurt him!"
The pale man moved in front of the dragon with intentions to defend him. The viking raised his hands and tossed the sword to the ground. Both males watched the blade skid to the pale man's feet, where it stopped. Blue eyes looked up with confusion as he bent down to pick up the sword. Once it was in his grasp, he tossed it far into the forest. Both watched as the birds flew away from the noise of the blade getting stuck in the tree. The viking tried to make a sound of protest, but saw the pale man sitting at the dragons side. He was taking the cloth of the tail and gently wiping extra blood off. He walked over to him and reached a hand out to tap his shoulder. He gasped when the paler of the two men placed his hands around the new cloth and ice shot thtrough his fingers to seal the cloth and keep it in place. "You're a spirit! Stay away!" The man turned to see the viking's panicked look. He held his hands out to calm him. The viking backed away from the now-realized spirit, trying to get away.
The viking ran baack to his tribe to alert them, but when he returned to their camp, everything was burned down, he saw another group still lingering around gathering any left over items from the houses. He quickly ran back to the forest for cover. He decided the best place to keep was in a large tree. He climbed up to a high branch and waited for the other group to leave so he could look for anyone from his tribe. He notcied the group was leaving, but the were leaving through the forest. Right beside his tree. He held his breath as they passed, but luck wasn't in his favor. "Up there, another one of them!"
He jumped from the tree and tried to run from the group, realizing he didn't have his sword and couldn't fight. He was running as fast as he could and his breathing was getting heavier. He leaned against a tree to catch his breath. His breath promotly caught in his throat when he felt something go through his ankle, causing heat to pool around what he knew was an arrow wound. He looked down at his ankle and, sure enough, there was an arrow soaked in his blood. His breathing became faster than when he was running as he tried to keep quiet. He felt small tears form at thte corners of his eyes as he tried to block the pain. The viking saw the enemies approaching and tried to run, but his leg was stuck to the tree by the arrow.
When he looked up, he noticed the group aproaching, their matching grins reminding him much of a dragon with injured prey. He backed closer into the tree. He knew that his small structure caused him to look weak and he was currently as weak as he looked. He closed his eyes and waited for his death. He saw the images of today flash through his mind. He remembered getting picked on by some of the stronger men, but quietly ignoring them. He saw his father's face when he was able to pick up his sword with ease this morning, he was so proud. The viking was happy with his day and the good memories he now had. A small gasp of air was all he had to prepare for the tortue he knew was coming. He felt the blade that was circling the skin around the cut. One of the men pulled the arrow out and the sword was shoved in the bloody opening. He tried to stop the screams pouring from his mouth, but couldn't. Suddenly, the sword was pulled from his leg.
He fell to the ground with one leg broken to much to hold him, the other frozen in shock. Black dots began clouding his vision, but he still saw a figure moving in front of him. His last thought was 'Why is he helping me?'.
When he came to, he was sitting in the forest and his leg hurt like hell. He tried to sit up to see what was causing so much pain, but was instantly pushed back down. "Sit down, your leg is broken. Well, I guess you figured that out, from the arrow and sword."
The viking looked up to see who was taking care of him. His eyes widened when he saw the spirit from that morning gently putting his hands on his shoulders and push him back on to his back. He felt the man take hold of his injured leg at the knee and wrap a thick cloth around his leg. The weird thing was he couldn't feel anything from his midcalf down to his foot. He quickly sat up to make sure it was not as he feared. When he looked at his leg was completely gone from the place the sword had gone through and it was bleeding from his sudden movements. His sharp intake of breath gave Jack the clue that he had seen it. He whispered comforting words to the brunette male as he pressed his chest down.
He saw the viking hyperventalating and the spirit apoligized before he ripped part of his sleeve of and pushe it in his mouth. He didn't want anyone else coming to attack them. He went back to wrapping his leg so he could let the viking sleep. Once he finished, he noticed the man had passed out. He took the cloak from his shoulders and layed it over him before the dragon walked over to them and curled up around them, moving a wing above them to hide them.
The next morning the spirit woke up and began to gather food in a leather bag for today's journey. He turned back to where the viking was waking. The viking looked shy and had a small blush on his cheeks as he averted his eyes. "...Thanks..." 'He looks so cute when he's shy!' The spirit giggled.
The viking raised an eyebrow curiously at his giggling. "What?" He looked around and saw toothless laughing as well. "What!?" he yelled. Both dragon's and spirit's laughter died down slowly.
"I'll tell you later." The spirit waved it off. "Oh, we're going down to the river to clean your leg. I'm carrying you."
"What?! I can...Or I can't." The viking said looking at his leg.
"Yeah. Hold your arms up." The pale man ordered as he crouched down and held his own arms out. The viking quietly reached up as the spirit put one arm under his knees and the other under the middle of his back. He cautiously picked him up and shifted the viking close to his to his chest. The viking wrapped his arms around the spirit's neck, blushing so much he resembled a cherry.
"Toothless, your mother and I are leaving! Be good while we're gone!" The spirit joked as the viking man swatted his arm plafully.
After half an hour they were sitting at the lake and the spirit was unwrapping the cloth around his leg. He held the cloth under water until it was completely wet, then he moved over the other man and gently pressed it against the edge of what was left of his calf. He heard the viking hiss in pain and removed the cloth. He looked at the other male for permission to continue. He nodded and the cloth began cleaning the wound again. This continued for a while before they decided they were finished. The spirit carried the viking back to their spot the same way as they had gone there.
"I can probably make a fake calf and foot, if we find the right parts." The viking suddenly thought aloud as the other set him down.
"You can do that? I could probably find some parts around here. What do you need?" The spirit was happy to help his new companion to make up for throwing away his weapon.
"Metal, to start." The viking said, smiling.
For the next several months the spirit made several trips to the old camp to find metal scraps and tools. He watched as the viking carefully made plans for his new foot. His intelligance never failed to amaze him and his shyness was adorable. He suspected he was begining to like him as more than a companion or friend. The spirit's joy came from late nights with him telling jokes and the other laughing and adding on to his jokes every so often.
The viking's leg had healed into at where it had been cut. They had managed to keep it uninfected while it healed, so the skin had pulled over the open area and he hadn't lost to much blood, thanks to the spirit. He had gotten all the parts he'd asked for and had completed the foot and calf. He was currently fitting it on and trying to walk on it. The spirit was walking behind him, both hands holding onto his arms incase he fell.
He was beginning to get back into his normal pattern of walking. The spirit loosened his grip and watched the viking walk for himself for the first time in at least four months. His face lit up along with his friend's when he began to steady. The viking instantly turned to face the other man and charged at him. He wrapped his arms around the silverette's neck and buried his face in the place where his neck met his shoulder.
The spirit felt his tears soaking through his shirt, yet there was a smile pressed against his skin. He placed a hand on his hands on his friends and ruffled his hair. The other hand moved to the brunette's mid-back and pulled him closer to him. He felt small vibrations from the other's joyful laughter, which soon included his own small chuckles.
With his new foot, he was able to back to his tribe's campsite and find the items needed to fix Toothless' tail. Soon the dragon was able to fly just as high as he could with his normal tail and they had decided to relocate because of the nostalgia in that area. They found themselves in the town of Burgess, which seemed like a good place to spend their lives. They soon found a town where they could live and settled down there. Everyone accepted the two best friends, one a viking and one a spirit.
Until the attack came. A group of theives that destroyed their town and murdered the people. The two tried to run, but with hiccup's man-made foot falling apart, he didn't get very far. They made it to a sad tree that looked like it had been through to much. The lake beside the tree looked just as sad, with a dark tint to it and dead late November leaves swirling around. The spirit grabbed his secret love and pulled him up behind the tree next to him.
But he didn't do it soon enough, he realized, as he saw silver metal flash through the brunette's stomach and blood began to stream from his lips. His stomach was an angry red waterfall, bits of organs and bone sometimes getting caught in the tide. The spirit quickly froze the attacker and used the butt of the viking's sword to hit the iced man and, because he was frozen completely through, it shatered the man into unfixable pieces. He ran to his best friends side and propped his head on his knee and grabbed one of his hands with both of his own. "Hey, don't fall asleep just yet, we have to fix your stomach. Are you listening? We have t-"
"We can't."
"What? What are you talking abo-"
"You know we can't fix it." A cough with blood and skin tissue.
"...I know. There's something I haven't said though." Tears flowed down his face and into the ground. If they were caught by wind, they fell into the pond.
"You might want to hurry." The viking gave a hacking, bloody laugh that formed into a nasty cough.
"You know how the sky and the grass and trees are always together, always touching? They never left each other? Always seemed to affect and compliment each other in the best ways? How nobody ever saw one without the other unless they lived near the ocean? And when you live near an ocean, it rains? That's because the sky needs something quiet and stable, unlike water, to balance it out. And the land needs something weird and hyper to complete it. You're my grass and trees, and I wanted to be your sky. I guess it's a little late now isn't it?" Th spirit's tears began to fall even harder.
"No, it isn't. You've been my sky the whole time. You are my exact opposite and that's why I need you! It's why I need to talk to you and joke with you and make sure you're safe every single day! I love you, like the ground loves the sky!" The viking said, pulling all the energy he needed to stay awake from his fingers, toes and everywhere in between.
"That's great, besides the fact you're dying and we have only about thirty seconds before the forest turns into the abyss of the ocean." The spirit was flooded with happiness his love was returned and sadness from the fact it wouldn't be with him any longer than thirty seconds or so.
That's when the forest and the sky connected. The contact felt like nothing else, it was something both would keep as a last memory, for the second he felt the viking go limp and no longer react, he removed his lips from his found-then-lost true love's. He took the sword and proceeded to carve the paragraph 'This is the place where the spirit and viking lovers died. This is also the place where the earth and the sky connected through two very different people. If you are to kiss under this tree, you will know if you are soulmates. You will feel if it is right. Don't take this for granted. -Sky, Earth's balance and true love' Then he died right there, with red eyes and a dead lover.
Hiccup decided to come back to this place after school, to get a good drawing of it. Hiccup loved art and everything to do with it. He knew his dad had hoped for him to be an athlete, but he was a clutz and couldn't catch a ball if someone walked up to him and just handed to him. He walked around the area, keeping a good five foot radius the whole time, before begining to walk to school again.
Then when he was about twenty feet away from the school, the second bell rang. He was late.
Again. Damn.
Well, R&R. Tell me what you think.
