All good writers need side projects and I'm no exception. This "story" is my side project. Each "chapter" is an independent story based on song lyrics that I hear. Most of the time, the songs come up on my Pandora and I just write. The "chapters" won't be too long. Just short little stories to get your HTTYD fix. For me, though, these are my "warm-up writings" which I do before I write something more substantial. Anything goes here. I hope you enjoy!

"They say that all good things must end someday."
-A Summer Song, Chad and Jeremy

888

The elder looked out over the water. Berk, his home, stood behind him and he smiled at the fond memories held by this place. Many, many years ago, back when he was Chief, this village had been much different. Whereas it was quiet now, before there was always the joyful shouts of children and roaring playfulness of the winged reptiles who also called Berk "home". Those were the days, but they ended so suddenly that none of the Vikings had a chance to react. One day, their reptilian friends were there and the next day they were absent, vanished without a single trace. Even the elder's own dragon had found a way to leave this "wet heap of rock" as he, himself, had so affectionately called Berk.

Above him, the sky was cloudy and gray. It had been this way since that day. He could remember flying through the sky, the rush of feeling it had given him. He missed those days. It was sad to think that his own son, the current Chief of Berk, would never know such a feeling. They had already left by the time his son came into this world.

If not for his son, there was nothing left for the elder. His wife had passed on to Valhalla some years prior and the elder knew that his time was approaching. Some days, he thought he would welcome it gladly, but there were other days that he still held out hope, hope that he would again see his best friend one last time. That hope was short-lived; his friend could not fly, not without him….and he was much too old to fly now.

"Dad?" That voice belonged to his son. The elder knew what his grown boy would say, that he shouldn't be out here in the cold, but the elder was not bothered by the winter chill.

"Son," he began, in his creaky voice, cracked with age. He turned to face Berk's Chief. "Did I ever tell you…?" The elder stopped, but his son said nothing, waiting to hear whatever it was that his father wanted to say. "There were dragons…when I was a boy…"

As I said, nothing too long…just little warm-up stories, but I do apologize for starting off on such a sad note.

Stories in this collection will vary based on whatever I'm listening to when I decide to write. Length might also fluctuate too.

I will see you all again next time inspiration (and good music) strikes. I hope you enjoy the stories!

Posted: August 12, 2014