3: Thunderstorm

"New record!" Cried an eccentric Snotlout as he halted and landed.

"Yup, new personal best for the fastest loop around the island," I replied not looking up from my book. I was perched cross legged on a barrel in the arena. Roughnut and Toughnut appeared around the mountain a few seconds later, bickering as usual. They skid to a halt after landing. They dismounted and continued to argue.

"It was your fault we lost," Roughnut demanded.

"Is not," Toughnut shouted.

"Have you two ever considered working together?" I looked up from my book and addressed the twins. "You know, like a team."

"He's losing it," Roughnut whispered to Snotlout.

"He lost it a long time ago," Snotlout replied when I returned to my book.

"Heard that,"

Gray clouds hung in the sky, threatening to storm.

"Hey, at least you came in second," Snotlout grinned.

"Third," I corrected.

"Forth, actually," Astrid emerged from the former Deadly Natter cage. "I was second, he beat me. Where's Fishlegs?"

"In fifth place," Snotlout replied.

Roughnut and Toughnut snickered. A lightning strike made them all jump. A storm (surprise, surprise) was rolling in from the west.

"I'm going to the Great Hall, I'm starving," Snotlout said in a overdramatic tone. He walked off towards the entrance, followed by Roughnut and Toughnut.

"You coming, too?" Astrid called over her shoulder.

"I'm going to wait for Fishlegs," I replied. "Just in case."

"If you're sure," She strode off, waving as she left.

I closed my book and looked off in to the clouds. They looked dark and heavy with rain. I waited a few minutes until I decided to go looking for Fishlegs.

"Toothless!" I called over to the edge of the arena to a large black animal. "We have to looking for Fishlegs."

He lifted his ears and rose on to all fours. Toothless swiftly bounded towards me, then halted and allowed me to get on his back. He dashed towards the door to the arena and slid through with ease. Once outside Toothless shot upward into the gray sky.

We made our way around two thirds of the island when I spotted Fishlegs stuck in a tree (again). Toothless landed quickly and I dismounted.

Meatlug was pacing around the base of the tree, whining at the incoming storm.

"I'm so glad you're here!" Fishlegs exclaimed. "I thought I would be stuck all day. Thank you!"

"Don't thank me yet," I replied. "Toothless, come here,"

The dragon joined me in front of the tree where Fishlegs was stuck in.

"What do you think?" I turned my head to one side.

Toothless made a rumbling sound in response.

"Good idea."

"Why did you ask your dragon?" Fishlegs puzzled.

"Why not?" I shrugged.

"I'm doomed," Fishlegs whined.

I circled the tree then gestured to the truck. Toothless bounded towards the tree and kicked the base with his hind legs. The tree shook, but Fishlegs remained lodged in it.

"Hmm..." I turned my head the way.

A sudden gust hit me, almost knocking me over. Freezing wind began whipping my face, stirring dust into my eyes.

Meatlug wandered over and nudged me with her nose, urging to think of something quickly. That gave me an idea.

"Meatlug, could you stand beside the tree?" I grinned, speaking over the wind.

He waddled to the right of the tree, and I pointed to the limb to Fishlegse's right. Toothless blasted the branch to bits with one fireball. Fishlegs fell from the tree onto Meatlug's back.

"Now you can thank me," I joked, but my words were lost in the wind.

Meatlug took off towards home as I got onto the back of my dragon. Toothless shot into the air as freezing rain began to pour from the heavy clouds and the winds were worse in the air. Winter coat or not, I was chilled to the bone. We were halfway home when a gust of wind pushed Toothless back a fair ways, not allowing him to move forward. He fought the wind until his wings buckled and we were sent spinning. Fierce winds whipped us around until it threw us upwards in to the clouds. My head was whipped forward suddenly and I blacked out.