Hi! Sorry this took so long! I've been busy with school work and stuff, and haven't had time to update n.n;; Anywho, on with the story!

Disclaimer: Are you kidding me? I wouldn't be writing fanfictions if I owned this!

Chapter 2

Astrid ducked beneath the shield in her hand as the beast in front of her gave a deadly blow.

The beast raised it's tail, spines smothered the length of it, then flicked it, sending arrays of sharp spines flying towards her at breakneck speed.

Astrid braced herself. Her body skidded backwards a little as a loud thud was heard from the other side of the wooden block.

Astrid adjusted her grip on her axe. She charged at the giant lizard. Dropped the shield. And swung the axe at the blue-coloured dragon, known as a Nadder, hitting it, in the snout.

The dragon gave a shriek of despair and stumbled backwards, giving Astrid time to see a leather harness strapped to it's chest.

Her eyes widened.

What on earth...?

Her trail of thoughts ended as she was caught off-guard. The Nadder pounced on her and opened it's mouth. Green-coloured gas began to fill it's throat.

Astrid closed her eyes. Fearing the worst.

The beast's chest rose, preparing to light...

A high pitched scream cried out and Astrid's eyes shot open. She saw the Nadder, still shrieking like a Banshee, trying to battle a burly man with a long, plaited beard.

The man gripped the dragon in a vice like hold, where it couldn't turn or thrash. He then began to spin, letting go of the dragon after a while, sending it flying towards the sea.

Astrid gasped. She had been saved by none other than the chief himself, Stoik.

"Thank you sir." She mumbled in awe. Stoik showed a brief smile before rushing away.

'Wow,' Astrid thought 'Wasn't expecting that...'

Line Beak You can get your refreshments at the canteen, the show will continue in 10 seconds.

Astrid looked at the drawing in front of her, she had drawn the harness she had seen on the Nadder.

She bit her finger nail.

What was it for?

Who made it?

How did the dragon get it?

Questions churned in her mind, her thoughts swirling around. New ones appearing, old ones fading away slightly.

Suddenly, with a click of the fingers and a loud thought that hid all others, Astrid whirled around, gripping the drawing in her hand, and dashed off to the place where she could get answers.

The workshop of Gobber the Belch.

Astrid sifted through papers, her eyes twirling form note to note. Fingers following sketches and blueprints of weapons and carriers.

"Looking for somethin'?" a friendly voice called out.

Astrid twirled and found herself staring at Gobber himself.

"I...I was looking for something," she began, fumbling with words "something like this." She carefully held out the sketch and Gobber took it.

The Viking's eyes scanned the picture, his face ashen with disbelief and dread. "where d'you get this?"

"I drew it Sir."

"Where'd you see it?"

Astrid hesitated. "I meself saw one on a beast." Gobber continued.

"I did too, Sir."

Gobber's eyes glazed over, deep in thought.

"Astrid,"

Astrid tilted her head slightly. The Viking was now fully paying attention to his surroundings.

"I want you to find out where the over-sized lizards are gettin' these things."

Astrid nodded. "Yes Sir."

"You don't hav'ta call me Sir."

Astrid smiled.

"Yes, Gobber."

Astrid settled behind a large stone, she was following a Monstrous Nightmare, various wounds scattered over it's body.

It seemed to know where it was going; a harness was strapped to it. A sheep bleating sadly had been roughly shoved in it with sharp talons.

"Get off me!" a voice hissed beside her.

Astrid spun round, finger to her lips, and shushed the girl beside her, Ruffnut.

The boy next to Ruffnut, Tuffnut, snickered, clearly enjoying his twins frustration. The more muscular boy, Snotlout, was holding back snickers to avoid a battering from Astrid. The largest of the group, Fishlegs, could be heard muttering facts about the dragon.

By the time her friends had noticed her disappearance, Astrid was already at a large stone circle, she began to climb down the ledges. The others soon caught up.

The teens watched as the dragon disappeared into a cave at the head of the circular shape.

Astrid slunk to the edge of the cavern; a small sound was heard inside of it. She fought the urge to cry out and ducked back, yanking the others with her.

The large dragon soared out the entrance and up into the darkening sky. Then with a thunderous roar, it disappeared over the horizon.

Astrid stared after the clearly completely healthy dragon. 'What's going ON?'

Then, motioning to the others, she began to walk into the darkness. Prepared to handle anything.

Or so she thought

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