A/N: Some of you might know me from the digimon fandom or even my original dragons story, Riders of Bliz. If you are interested in a growing world of Vikings and dragons, this is the story for you! More on OC submission at the end of the chapter…

Aron knew that although it was far safer than the western side of the island. Danger still roamed the forests around Blitz's eastern side, specially since it was easily dwarfed by the winged threats of the west. Alas, when the massive brown bear cornered him, he knew better. The short sword on his waist may have been sharpened, so was the dagger on his boot. But the young man had seen victims of a territorial bear before. Besides he wanted to reach Valhalla with some glory rather than be the guy who died because he didn't realize he had entered a grown brown bear's territory.

Indeed, he had found a cave network on the Northern Woods a few days ago. Being the barely responsible young adult he was, Aron had followed his father through chieftain's duties without complaint in order to earn a day off. Little did he in his youthful rush realize one of the exits of the caves led him right into the territory of a grizzly. While he wasn't one of the unlucky youths forced to grow in the wilds he wasn't a walking mass of fat and muscles. The massive beast poked him with it's wet snout. So much like one of the hunting dogs back in the village, the same hounds that could surround a boar or sometimes scare a grizzly.

Seconds felt like hours with brief moments of near panic whenever the bear poked him. Due to his position, keeping his body in a tight ball the bear soon lost interested and roamed off. Aron remained still until the sound of cracking twigs and rustling of the bear making his way sounded far off. The Viking checked the cave entrance not far off and well hidden to the untrained eye by several bushes. He had only taken a few steps before meeting the mass of brown fur. Checking the woods he soon recognized the area.

He was fairly surprised to say the least. He had gone through the Northern Woods yet now he was on the edge of the Southern Woods right by the grazing fields. A bear making his territory so close to the cattle was bad news, as if there weren't enough predators already. Much to his dismay, the exploration of the cave network had cost him far more time than he had estimated and the walk back would be just as long.

In the distance he could faintly see the smoke rising from the forge. Sighing he checked his pocket, he had found some golden root near the cave. Although far from a herbalist or a healer, he knew Kelda would love them. Alas the traders were supposed to arrive today, and judging the time he wasted on his exploration, maybe they already had. The herbs were very effective on fighting off colds and increasing stamina, something any crew would appreciate and hopefully trade for. Shaking his head and gathering his focus on the present, he climbed over the fence that kept the cattle from wandering into the woods. His dark brown gaze traveled to the north, to his home, to a village named after the island itself, Blitz. Running through the empty fields, he grimly noted that the village's livestock was already being taken to the underground shelters. He was late.

"Hey Aron! Didn't see you at the harbor, what are you doing on the other side of the island?" Speak of the devil, the young woman was his age, 16. She pushed some dark sandy blonde locks of hair out of the way of her light green eyes. On her right hand she carried her argeit, it was similar to a spear, but with a longer curved cutting edge attached to the side rather than at the center of the weapon's wooden form. Men or women, Sea Reapers carried some sort of weapon at all times.

"Long story, did the traders arrive yet?" Aron asked adjusting his belt. It the scabbard had been dislodged when he had rolled into the ground. While his own dark brown hair didn't cover his vision, he did push it sideways away from his forehead. Kelda looked at him in disbelief, using her left hand to shield her eyes she looked into the skies, looking for the sun.

"They arrived like... Four or three hours ago give or take, where did you go?" Kelda questioned but Aron had already ran past her. Kelda just looked annoyed at his direction for a moment, then she ran after him. She had already helped her parents with the day's harvest and her sister was somewhere in the village, might as well see what her friend would find. Both of them ran past the wooden houses, often decorated with carved heads of animals like wolves or bears. Going through normal houses and special locations such as the smithy or the butcher shop without batting an eye. Finally, they reached the traders' location.

Blitz Harbor was formed from a bay on the northeastern part of the town. Aron looked past the smaller wolfships, soon catching sight of a new ship had docked. Wow, Viking ships were rarely big, but this one… he heard some of the elders describing it before, a galleon! The massive ship had been anchored but barely fit. Thankfully Blitz had a special docking area for ships larger than the usual ones. Aron's wonder soon turned to surprise as he saw the symbol painted on all three of the massive vessel's sails. A simple black bear head, painted black with the exception of the red eye and fangs. The Bearhides lived on an island not far away, but like the Sea Reapers, they only had wolfships. At least until recently.

"Amazing isn't she? The previous owners called it God's Will, I found a better name for it, Loki's Pride," A nearby laugh caught Aron's attention. Turning his gaze, he noticed the large man talking to some youths. A large man, definitely past his youth yet on the top of adulthood. Stormy blue eyes and a bright orange hair like a growing flame. A long two handed sword was strapped to his belt. The ornate weapon was very different from its rough owner.

"That's Beowulf the Vicious, I heard he had left Grizzly Island for a prolonged raid a few months ago, to think he actually captured such ship..." Kelda finally caught up. Her eyes going straight to the massive galleon. Whereas Aron wondered about it's interior, Kelda grimly took note of the people tied around the masts. Blitz didn't allow slavery, but many other tribes did, she couldn't help but pity the poor souls, Bearhide Vikings often claimed not often treasure, but the freedom of their southern victims. Before she could do something stupid like try freeing them, Aron took back her attention towards a more common wolfship. Going on the opposite direction of Loki's Pride, they soon found it. With the head of a ram carved on the front, the Battering Ram was slightly larger than raiding ships.

"Ah Aron! I wondered where you were, bartering with someone other than your favorite trader?" A plump man leaving adulthood waved with a hearty laugh. While the whitening beard and the mix of wisdom and humor in his eyes revealed his advanced age, yet, he was far from frail. Decades of holding sails, rowing and the far more than occasional brawls left him with a rough and powerful build. Even for Aron, who had reached 16 only a few weeks ago and was already considered to be growing swiftly, the trader towered over him.

"I was checking some recent discoveries back in the Northern Woods so you could say I'm late Hagar, can I interest you with Golden Root?" Aron asked, showing the herb. The trader, Hagar All Saw looked at the herb curiously. Truth to be told he would much rather have some old treasure or something he could trade in the next few weeks. Alas, he had a liking to the boy and the herb and to worsen his choice, a nearby crewmember sneezed. Kelda scowled, she knew how much Grisa, the village's healer, would appreciate the uncommon herb. Yet it was Aron's to trade, judging the recent sneeze, maybe it was for the best.

"Well lad, I got something a few weeks ago, it's no ancient treasure or map, but I believe your pa or Vikar might be interested…" Hagar decided as he walked to the other end of the ship, far past the usual odd weapons and trinkets Aron usually took an interest on. After a few moments, Hagar retrieved a long… spear? No it was even if just slightly shorter than one. Unlike a spear, it was made of a single piece of metal, with an arrow tip formed head and several barbs covering a fourth of it. A thin metallic wire was attached to the opposite end. The wire was then connected to a round object upon which it spun over several times.

"I got this from the far northeast, a harpoon they called it, used to hunt whales," Hagar revealed, rather than swing it like a sword or spin it around like a spear, he merely stabbed the air with it a few times. Aron and Kelda gave Hagar a cynical look, whales weren't that common, but the young man had been sure they were unstoppable. At least until a few moments ago. Kelda just wondered how a harpoon would be wielded in comparison to her own weapon.

"Trust me lad, I was in the distant east when I spotted an odd looking crew using some these. If I wasn't such a great dealer I doubt they would have given me one, when I saw it, I knew Blitz could use one considering your… pest problems," Hagar described as he offered the strange weapon. Aron took it, taking note of every detail, from the small rust marks to the tiny dents on the edges. Aron had never seen one before, if it proved as capable as Hagar said, maybe Vikar could try making more. The skilled smithy rarely denied a challenge. Before he could agree, an unmistakable sound caught not only his, but the attention of every Viking on the island. Aron realized that in his rush from the woods to the docks he had miscalculated. The sun had already fallen beneath the Guardian Peaks.

"I guess we're about to see how well this thing handles pests," Aron decided as he saw the mass of shadows flying over the mountains. There was no mistaking the scourge of Vikings, the beasts that raided the raiders. Dragons…

A/N: Well there is our protagonist, Aron Skarfsson. As I said on the start, I will be accepting OCs for this. If you want to submit one send me a PM and I'll give you the form. Next chapter we will start seeing the dragons that live in Blitz and SPOILER ALERT: While taming dragons will only come later, it won't be the cliché way either… Don't forget to drop a review! I really appreciate the support and display of interest!

PS: First OC from POMForever, Kelda!