Too Many Words
Astrid disliked warmth. It was an odd thing to say really, especially with the lack of summer in Berk. But, in a paradox, that was exactly why Astrid hated warmth. The winters in Berk were harsh and frigid, and summers were just barely marginally less so, meaning that "warmth" meant "fire" and "fire" meant "dragon."
So when Astrid woke up to both the yells of folks the feeling of intense heat, between the two, it was the heat that made Astrid aware of the dragons raiding Berk.
Astrid didn't grab extra clothes or braid her hair; she slept fully clothed and hair in her tradition braid and band. Her only preparation was to grab her axe and bucket. Then she was off into the night.
It had been a few years since she had been off of water brigade, but the route was still familiar to her and she often took it to get to the forge. Astrid didn't like to get her supplies from there, but the safest Viking was the one closest to the forge, where weapons were on command. Within zone of safety was Stoick the Vast. He wasn't there because of safety; he was there to give orders and to receive information where he could be heard best.
Stoick the Vast used to be a kinder man, less commanding and unforgiving of mistakes, even take some mead down and dance, but it was all a thing a myth to Astrid and others her age (and younger). It was explained that Stoick had a wife and son, but both were taken on a dragon raid. Neither of the two and, surprisingly, the dragon was ever seen again. It was what made Stoick the man he was: cold and strict. And Astrid didn't mind that; she couldn't imagine the chief being a better chief without it. There were a lot of people, who disagreed with her, but Astrid stuck by the rules of strictness, something Stoick was.
Stoick was spitting commands very fiercely today, and villagers ran around with high adrenaline, in turn making Astrid both confused and excited; what was going on? What dragon was here?
At first, Astrid thought it was the dragon that took the chief's family, but she was wrong; it was a Night Fury. Not that Astrid was complaining. No one had seen a Night Fury in years. It had seemed to disappear along with the chief's family. It would have been more of a celebration if the chief's loss hadn't been only a few months fresh. The fact that the Night Fury was back was dangerous, but could also lead to ultimate honor.
Astrid ran over to a catapult that the twins, Ruffnut and Tuffnut, were fighting over.
"This'll be the one that— "
"I'll take that," Astrid said, not wanting someone in the village get shot instead of a dragon.
The twins didn't argue back; it was an unspoken rule never to argue with Astrid. You either had the choice of loosing or a broken nose. Astrid ran the catapult over to the edge where there weren't any people, where she could get a clear view of the other side of the Night Fury. It was slower than last seen, but still fast. However, in this time, it had slowed dramatically. It dodged shots, but it seemed almost... distracted. Astrid looked around it, trying to see if there were other dangerous dragons that had escaped notice. And she found it.
Well, not exactly. It had wings of a dragon, but it was slower. Much slower. If you looked closely, you could see pokes from the edge of the wings. And there wasn't a tail, either. Rather, two long points. Astrid stopped aiming for the Night Fury and began aiming at the Mystery Dragon. It was easy, only taking one shot. As the figure fell from the sky, so did the dragon, trying the reach the Mystery Dragon in time.
Astrid shot off to get her prey before someone else in the village claimed it. When she arrived, it was clear Snotlout, the heir, was trying for credit.
"And it shot out like this and— "
"What did I catch, Snotlout?" Astrid interrupted.
Gobber, Stoick's trusted friend looked over at her.
"Now tha' makes more sense. Ye shoul really see what it is!"
Astrid was pushed over to two figures; one the large black body of what presumably was a dragon and something else... something more... human. It had of black face, in which, once Astrid got closer, was actually a mask. There were large metal claws protruding from thick leather gloves, and it was growling at the people trying to attack his dragon companion.
The Night Fury was doing the same, but was getting more on coming attacks. Trying to get an advantage, Astrid went for the Dragon Boy, wrapping her hands from behind him. Stopping his airway.
Astrid could have hacked at him with her axe, but she wanted to test something first. As the boy was screeching, scratching at her with its claws, she felt it. Fragile bones, and, most of all thin skin, neither qualities of a dragon. When her hands were bloody, she let go, and the boy collapsed to the ground, gasping for air, swinging wildly as defense.
"Stop!" Astrid yelled.
No one had heard her over the excitement. Astrid tried again, with more vengeance.
"STOP! Right. Now!" She yelled.
Weapons dropped and grips on shields loosened. In return, to Astrid's curiosity, the dragon paused its attacks. Both of the creatures ran off as fast as they could, into the forest, causing groans from the ground.
Astrid's stomach only dropped, though, when she heard a deep rumbling voice of the chief, asking
"Where did they go? Why did you stop?"
Soon, Astrid was looking up at the only human face that could make Astrid tremble in fear.
"Explain. Now." Where the two words Astrid had to obey.
Astrid collected herself and looked up at the man.
"One of them, sir. The smaller one, he's..." Astrid trailed off, unsure of what to say. What was he? He had human bones, human skin, but moved and attacked like a dragon.
"It was what?" The chief commanded.
"... human," Astrid tried, knowing that "Dragon boy" would just lead up to that explanation.
"Human?" Stoick asked, "That thing with the dragon was human?"
"Yes sir, I checked," Astrid refrained from cringing at the weakness of that statement.
But Stoick believed her. Well, sort of. The look in his eyes held disbelief, but at least it wasn't doubt. The chief shook his head and Astrid braced herself.
"Well, either way, they got away. As punishment, fire brigade is in order for you. This is a disgrace."
Astrid's heart sank.
"But sir! This could be valuable. With the both of them alive, we could have the boy— "
"Astrid," Stoick interrupted, "We don't even know for sure if that thing is even human. I'm sorry, but there was no excuse for what you did."
People filtered out and anyone who tried to gloat at Astrid failed with a missing tooth. Astrid couldn't believe it. Why? Why hadn't the chief believed her? Or anyone else for that matter. Astrid swung her axe against the side of her house, leaving a chip off, just below the last one.
Astrid was going to prove what he saw. She was going to prove that consequentially rid the island of the dragons plaguing it.
A/N: Exposition! Drabble-like paragraphs! Pitiful length!
... but an update. This got a LEETLE more attention than it did last time, so I figured I was also a "LEETLE more" overdue for an update. Sorry...
Review= Update!
~ Sam
