Welcome to my story, unwary traveler! This is my first solo story here, so be gentle, but feel free to leave comments and constructive criticism. All I ask is for you not to demand updates as I have a life and will only update if I have the time and inclination to do so. Well, enough talking and on with the story!

A Night Like Any Other

Most villages have been plagued by pests since the dawn of mankind; some deal with wolves,some deal with rats, and some deal with lions that come from the mountains to steal livestock.

My village, unfortunately, has to deal with a far deadlier pest than most other villages:

Dragons.

Now, why we didn't just pack up the village and leave at the first sight of a winged furnace is beyond me. Our ancestors must have been insanely stubborn as most Vikings are known to be, but now their stubbornness leads to me being dragged out of bed hundreds of years later by my mentor, Gothi, the mute town healer.

The day I was born, Gothi read my runes as she tended to do with most newborns in an effort to determine my fate. She claimed that I was destined to learn under her and become a healer for the village (personally, I think she just wanted an assistant), and so, when I reached my twelfth year, my parents sent me to live with Gothi so I could learn her craft.

Now, during the dragon's nightly raids, I am dragged out of bed and sent to bandage the unlucky Vikings that were too slow to evade a dragon's jaws, claws, or flames.

This night, however, is the night that everything changed, though I and most of the village won't find out till much later.

I woke to Gothi tugging at my arm and distant battle cries from the village below our mountain. The healer pointed at my herb belt and my satchel with her stick and then proceeded to shake her stick threateningly at me. Her affectionate way of telling me to get a move on.

I had felt the sharp sting of that stick enough times to know that if i didn't get moving soon then I would suffer her wrath once more.

With a grumble and a few curses, I grabbed my herb belt, which was a gift from a friend so my herbs wouldn't get crushed in my satchel, cinched it tight around my hips, threw my satchel over my shoulder and scrambled out of Gothi's hut.

Once I reached the village, my eyes stung from the smoke from multiple burning buildings as I made my way to the epicenter of the commotion.

Dragons and Vikings clashed in a terrifying display with claws and axes gleaming in the fires.

Once worked up the nerve, I immediately ran towards a downed Viking who greeted me with colorful curses and a rather intricate story about what he planned to do with the dragon that apparently landed on him as I bandaged his head.

As soon as I finished the man leapt up and sprinted off to join the fray and I was left to find the next unfortunate idiot. Something that didn't take long to find.

I dodged a Deadly Nadders spikes and barely ducked below a blow from a Gronkle's tail as I made my way towards the blacksmith's shop just in time to see a projectile strike an unfortunate man that was standing by the window.

Must be another one of Hiccup's inventions, I thought as I knelt to make sure the Viking didn't have a concussion.

Through the chaos around me, I could hear an argument between Gobber the blacksmith and his apprentice, Hiccup Haddock, the chief's son.

I glanced up to see Gobber dump a large sword in the scrawny boy's arms as he pointed to the large whetstone near the furnace, "Sword. Sharpen. Now."

I felt a bit of sympathy for him as he was a bit accident prone and wasn't even allowed to help the other kids our age put out the fires for fear he would either get hurt or somehow make things worse. And believe me it was a valid fear.

I shook myself from my thoughts and scolded myself for allowing myself to be distracted as I stood up from where I had been kneeling and turned towards where most of the fighting seemed to be. I straightened my shoulders and took a deep breath as I took a step forwards...only to be run over by a screaming Gobber with an axe on his prosthetic hand.

"Oops, sorry, lass."

He grabbed me back the back of my tunic and effortlessly placed me back on my feet before running off to join the fight.

Seconds later came a high pitched screech and a catapult just ahead of me exploded, sending splinters everywhere. Only one dragon was silent enough and quick enough for an attack like that.

"Night Fury!"

I groaned as I peeled myself off the ground where the blast had thrown me, already feeling the bruises forming as I got to my feet.

I sent a quick thank you to Thor once I made sure I wasn't struck by one of the splinters before running towards the next cussing Viking, not noticing Hiccup as he ran off into the fire and darkness with his latest invention.

Well, if you're reading this then you suffered through the end of the first chapter. I commend you. As I stated before, feel free to leave constructive criticism. This story will be in a near constant state of editing as I try to improve my writing. Thanks so much for reading and I will hopefully have the next chapter posted soon.