Chapter 1

This is Berk. It may not look like it but this crowded rock is actually one of the best places to live in the entire world. Most places have tamed animals like hawks or horses.

Here we have tamed dragons.

"Now, when tracking Scuttleclaws, you must remember that they can spread themselves over a great distance," Eret was saying, "You must keep yourself aware of your surroundings at all times."

Dragons used to be a problem all over the archipelago, but over the last twenty years that has changed. We learned that dragons were not mindless monsters and have learned to get along. Many Vikings were still skeptical, but lots of them had started working on training their own dragons. And why not? Dragons can fly, breathe fire, and be the best friend you can ever have.

"Stoick, are you paying attention?" Eret asked. Eret was a former dragon trapper for the warlord Drago Bludvist, but thanks to the original dragon riders he changed. Now he and his men have taken up residence on Berk where they teach young Vikings how to track dragons in the wild. His dragon Skullcrusher gave me a deadly look. Skullcrusher was a green Rumblehorn, a Tracker Class dragon that could find anything for miles. Like most Vikings and dragons on Berk, the two of them were close.

I nodded my head. My name is Stoick Finn Haddock. I know that may seem like an odd name, but my parents named me for two of the bravest and strongest Vikings that ever lived on Berk. I may seem like a scrawny, blonde-haired, green eyed, daydreaming Viking lad, but I was soaking in every detail Eret had been saying.

Eret continued, "Then would you mind telling us what we've been discussing about Scuttleclaws today?"

I smiled. This was almost too easy. "The Scuttleclaw is a Sharp Class dragon with lots of energy and strength. Even as a baby they are strong enough to carry a Viking. Tracking them can be tricking as they tend to scatter themselves all over a given area,"

Eret smiled. "Good. Very good. We'll make a tracker out of you yet," he said as he resumed explaining how to tell Scuttleclaw footprints from those of the Deadly Nadder.

Mucklout scoffed. Mucklout was the son of Snotlout, one of the first dragon riders on Berk, and he lived up to his father's reputation. "Teacher's pet," He muttered under his breath. I ignored him.

"Now, does anyone have any questions before we head back?" Eret asked.

One of the young Vikings held up his hand. "Uh, Eret, what dragon is that coming towards us?"

Everyone looked to see a large brown dragon flying towards us. It looked as if all there was to it were those huge wings. It didn't have any legs to it at all, and it was roaring loudly. Even before it got closer I knew what was coming.

"Timberjack!" I yelled as everyone started running. The Timberjack roared loudly and began diving towards us. Normally huge wings would be a hazard in the forest, but the Timberjack's sharp wings sliced through the trees like a sword through paper.

Eret sprung into action. As soon as everyone realized the Timberjack was coming he mounted Skullcrusher and began flying towards the Sharp Class dragon. The Timberjack roared and breathed an oil-based fire at the two of them. Skullcrusher rose up and began firing his barrage of flaming rocks at the huge dragon. The Timberjack folded its wings in front of itself and deflected the attack.

I know I should be running, but this was so awesome. Here was a Timberjack fighting a Rumblehorn. I probably would've stayed anyway since Timberjacks are a rare species of dragon. Few Vikings have ever seen one.

The Timberjack roared and dived down, slicing more trees. As I watched I noticed that it seemed to be going in at an angle that could…of course. How could I have not thought about it sooner?

Using Mucklout as a boost I began climbing up the trees. Dad wouldn't have been able to do this without his dragon, but he never was athletic anyway. I got that skill from Mom. Jumping from branch to branch, and having to climb a few times to avoid the fire of both Skullcrusher and the Timberjack, I tried to get myself closer to the large winged dragon.

Eret may be a dragon rider now, but he didn't abandon his skills as a trapper. Taking out one of the bolas from his satchel Eret threw the weapon at the dragon. All it took was a slice from the wing and the bolas fell useless to the ground. Eret pulled out a dart blower next. Either this Timberjack had encountered all the tricks before or it was really smart because dodged them with ease.

I was close enough now. Breaking one of the branches of the tree I was in I used the branch to reach out and begin scratching the Timberjack on the back. The dragon stopped roaring and seemed to calm down. I imagined Eret was probably wondering what on Midgard was going on. The Timberjack's huge wings blocked us from each other's view, but I don't think it was going to be aggressive anymore.

It was then I heard a familiar dragon roar. Looking back towards the village I saw a Deadly Nadder and a Night Fury approaching. I probably should say the Night Fury as there was only one on Berk, if not in the entire archipelago, and his rider was none other than the Chief.

"Eret, what's going on?" The Chief, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, asked.

Eret shrugged. "I don't know. One minute the Timberjack was attacking us, the next it's calming down,"

I didn't hear anymore because I grabbed from behind and pulled up into the sky. "I think I might have an answer to that," said the Deadly Nadder's rider, Astrid. They flew up in full view of Eret and Hiccup, with me being carried like a pathetic little Viking.

I smiled. "Hi Dad," I waved to the Chief.

He shook his head. "Stoick, what were you doing?"

"Calming down the Timberjack,"

"From a tree?"

"It wasn't going to land anytime soon. Besides it looked as if it had a really bad itch,"

The Timberjack was looking up at us like it still wanted its back scratched. Astrid flew around on Stormfly to check out its back. I heard her gasp. She never gasps unless it's serious.

She flew back up to Dad. "It's got a really bad rash on its back,"

Dad's expression changed. He hates it when dragons are in pain. He gets it from Grandma. "Come on. We'll take the Timberjack back to the village where we can treat it. Eret, round up your class and head back as soon as possible. And you, young man," he was addressing me now, "you're coming with us." With that he and Toothless turned and began leading the Timberjack with them.

With a toss and a flip I found myself on Stormfly's back just behind her head. "Now hold on young man," Astrid said as she began following Hiccup.

"Yes, Mom,"