Writers note: Soooo this is the second chapter. This is where the plot takes shape and really starts to develop etc. Hope you enjoy reading, leave a review if you want me to know what you thought, I'm happy to take constructive criticism if needs be. After all, it is my first story.
Alec had been walking for what seemed to be hours across plains of grass, and the occasional Cliffside. Strolling, deep in thought. Where am I even going? What am I going to do? Alec could see another forest, a different one this time, in the distance, and decided to avoid it. That was until he caught sight of smoke in the forest. He started to head towards the fire, picking up his pace as it was going to get dark soon and he didn't want to be out in the open at night.
The forest was less depressed than the one he had been in previously. There was more light and more signs of thriving nature. He looked up occasionally to make sure he could still see the smoke, to make sure he was going the right way. After about 10 minutes of walking into the forest, Alec spotted the fire that had been producing the smoke. He stopped and hid behind the nearest bush, keeping sight of the clearing. He started to look around. He noticed that there was no one there, just a spot in the clearing that had a few piled twigs on fire, not organised like a person would've made it. As if it had been thrown down and set alight.
Alec waited there, waiting until he saw someone, or something go into the opening. Remembering he only had his knife because he had left all his things back at the clearing in the other forest. He waited, and waited, and waited. It started to get dark as the fire started to dwindle, and Alec was almost ready to just walk onto the clearing and claim it for himself, when finally he heard a rumble in the bushes, instinctively he ducked down behind the bush, being careful not to make any noise or to be seen by whatever was about to emerge.
Alec slowly rose his head above the bush, just enough so that he could see what was there, there was food there now, but no sign of life. The rustling sounded again, but this time Alec decided to walk towards the clearing and he pulled out his knife as he did. He whispered to himself "come out come out whoever you are". As he drew closer, almost upon the clearing, the rustling noise sounded again as something pounded out from the bushes. Alec froze in amazement. He could not believe what he was seeing. Was he imagining? No, it was real, he had actually found a real Night Fury. The Night Fury jumped into fighting stance in front of Alec, bearing teeth and growling. "No, it's okay, I'm not going to hurt you" he said to the dragon beholding him. Alec saw not only anger of the intrusion, but fear in the dragon's eyes. "Look" he said, throwing away his knife into the shrubbery of the woods. "see, I'm not going to hurt you" confident that the dragon wasn't vicious, but just protecting himself. As soon as he did so, the dragon, stopped growling, and moved back, closing his mouth. Alec sighed in relief, and was struck by a sense of accomplishment. "I knew it" he told himself triumphantly.
The night fury In front of him was proof of everything the book said about dragons. The way that they wouldn't kill unless protecting themselves. But there was so much more Alec needed to know. "Hey buddy" he called out to the dragon as he slowly walked forwards. The dragon moved to the other side of the clearing, away from the human in front of him. "Come on now, don't be scared of me" he said smoothly, trying to calm the nerves of the Night Fury. The dragon stopped moving and looked cautiously at the teen. "that's it, nice and steady" he said to the dragon. As Alec grew closer, the expression on the Night Fury's face grew ever worried. Alec was so close to the Night Fury, the thing that kept him awake at night, the dragoon of legend, the dragon thought to be long extinct. He could feel its breath on him.
The Night Fury must have been too uncomfortable with the situation and it turned its back to Alec and readied for flight, but Alec didn't want this moment to end, he thought fast and just before the dragon leapt onto the air, he jumped onto its tail, the dragon must not have felt it in the heat of the moment because he didn't react to the teen jumping on him as he flew off.
This is incredible thought Alec who was mid-air on a Night Fury, never mind on his tail, but a Night Fury of all dragons! The dragon flew over the sea to a separate island, Alec didn't mind being away from his village, he just cared about riding a Night Fury. The dragon found a place for him to practice manoeuvres, but in doing so managed to make Alec lose his grip in the tight turnings and the boy fell from the dragon, plunging towards the sea. The dragon turned and saw Alec falling to imminent doom, and reacted instantly.
The Night Fury flew straight down as fast as he could, managing to catch the boy on his back just before Alec hit the water, and Alec clung onto the dragon's back for dear life as the dragon glided smoothly to a flat piece of land on the island and got close to the ground, doing a barrel roll, causing the boy to fall onto the ground. The dragon landed soon after, instantly turning to face Alec, who was already up and looking at the dragon in amazement. The dragon moved to Alec, so close to Alec, he had a very angry look on his face. "Y-you saved my life" Alec muttered to the dragon, taking a step back. The dragon let out a soft purr at Alec, his angered expression now leaving his face. The dragon turned and walked around the area a bit, then stopping and burning a circle into the ground, then gesturing at Alec. "What? You want me to sit in that circle?" Alec asked the dragon. The dragon nodded, somehow understanding what the boy had said.
Alec walked over to the spot and sat down. "Now what." He asked, as the dragon turned and readied for flight, at that moment Alec got up and was about to run to the dragon as the Night Fury turned and growled at Alec. Alec immediately sat down again. As he did, the Night Fury turned again and flew off in the direction of a nearby wood. Alec waited patiently for what he felt was a very long time, but eventually the dragon came back with some logs and sticks in his mouth. He landed near Alec and dropped the wood, and then lit it, making a sort of campfire. "Oh I see" said Alec with interest.
Alec got up and walked to the dragon as it sat triumphantly over the fire he had just made. The dragon looked at Alec, and Alec stared back into the dragon's eyes, trying to remember what was in the book. I know what to do Alec thought. He closed his eyes and looked away and slowly put his hand out, palm facing the Night Fury. Please Gods let this work.
It felt like years to Alec, holding his hand out to the dragon. He could feel the Night Fury's breath on his hand. But then it stopped, and Alec was about to look, but then felt the scales on his hand. He opened his eyes to see the dragon with his nose touching Alec's hand. Alec let out a long breath. The dragon opened his eyes and slowly moved his head away from the boy's hand. He walked over to the circle he made for Alec, burned another line, and curled himself up, read for sleep. He lifted his wing and signalled for Alec to go under it. "Hmm, you must trust me. Alright then" Alec said as he went over to the dragon, and laid himself under the Night Fury's wing, and as the dragon lowered the wing, Alec could feel a sense of security and warmth, he liked it.