Hey it's Vy! This chapter is actually quite long so enjoy! If you didn't read my last author's note I totally get it. I don't usually read them either. But please go read it and please review or something to tell me what you think. Thanks! Disclaimer: I do not own How to Train your Dragon
Stoic stabbed a knife onto a section of the large map in front of him.
"We need to kill them off. Right from the nest. One more search, before winter sets in," he said, determined.
"Those ships never come back," a Viking pointed out.
"We're Vikings, it's an occupational hazard," he said. "Now, who's with me?" Mumbles came from around the room full of excuses about having to do axe returns or something along those lines.
"Fine. Those who stay, have to watch Hicca," he said, and nodded when all the Vikings eagerly raised their hands.
"Then it's settled. We leave in the morning." The other villagers leave the hall, muttering about the useless search. Stoic walked over to Gobber who said, "Well, I better pack my undies."
"No, I need you to stay and train the new recruits," Stoic told his friend.
"Sure. And while I'm busy Hicca can man the forge. Molten steel, razor sharp blades, lots of time to herself," Gobber said, a little sarcastic.
"What am I going to do with her Gobber?" Stoic asked. "I take her fishing and she goes hunting for- for trolls!"
"Hey, trolls exist," Gobber said. "They steal your socks, but only the left ones. What's up with that?" Stoic groaned and started pacing.
"When I was a boy," he started.
"Oh here we go!" Gobber interrupted.
"My father told me to hit my head against a rock. And I did. I thought he was crazy, but I did. And you know what happened?" he asked.
"You got a headache," Gobber guessed.
"No. It split in two. It taught me what a Viking can do! They can level mountains, do whatever they set their minds to. Hicca is not that girl," Stoic finished.
"She can be," Gobber said.
"How exactly?" Stoic asked, not believing his friend.
"Put her in training with the others." Stoic laughed.
"She'd be killed before you let the first dragon out of it's cage," he said stubbornly. "
You think that, but she won't. That's what the class is about. Learning to defend yourself against the beasts," Gobber pointed out. Stoic sighed.
"Alright. But if she gets hurt, I want her removed from the class." Gobber agreed and they went their desperate ways.
I groan in disappointment and put an X on another section of my map. Then, out of pure frustration I scribbled out the map, snapping the book closed with my pencil inside it.
"How can I not find a dragon?" I ask out loud in annoyance.
"Some people lose their knife or their mug, but not me! No, I have to loose a freaking Night Fury?!" I continue, slapping a branch out of the way as I walked. Only to have it come back and snap against my face.
"Ow," I said quietly as I reached up to my head. When I pulled my hand back, I saw a few drops of blood and realized it must have been a harder hit than I thought. I thought about turning back for a moment, then decided against it. I had come home before with cuts and bruises from the others bullying, Dad knew I could take care of myself and wouldn't be too concerned. Shrugging off my idea, I looked at the tree the branch was connected to, and nearly dropped my book in surprise. The tree was split down the middle of the trunk! Like something ran into it. Something big and... heavy. The Dragon! I saw a trail in the dirt (more like a trench) and followed it to a small hill. Looking over the top, I saw a large black object on the ground and quickly ducked behind the hill again. I put my book in the inside pocket of my vest and took out a knife instead. Creeping towards the dragon I looked for signs that it was still alive. At first, there weren't any, so I laughed in relief.
"I- I did it!" I said.
"I shot down a Night Fury! Oh this, this fixes everything!" I had placed my foot on the dragon's side. Suddenly it moved, and I removed my foot quickly, scrambling back to the hill. It looked at me with now open eyes, that were a deep green. Like mine. I went forward hesitantly, and noticed that it just laid back down, accepting its death. I looked at its tail and stared. Half the fin was missing. And it was my fault. I knelt by the creature's head and whispered, "I did this." I looked at the knife in my hands and then back to the dragon.
"I'm sorry. Look, I'm gonna let you go, but on one condition." I told him. His eyes widened a little and he looked at me with curiosity.
"My condition is that you don't eat me. Or burn me or kill me at all." He gave what must have been the dragon equivalent of a laugh and even nodded. Did he actually understand?!
"Ok, let's go," I say, and start sawing at the ropes tying him down. When he was free he got up, shaking himself and stretching his wings.
"I'm sorry," I repeated, and got up, intending to go home. I felt something following me and turned to see the Night Fury. He was following me.
"You can't come with me! They'll kill you on sight if you entered the village!" I told him. He shook his head. I went towards him and reached out with my left hand. He came right up and nudged it and I giggled, petting his large head.
"Alright how about this, I come back tomorrow with some fish?" I asked. He nodded happily.
"Ok. Until then we need to find you a place to stay." So we began our journey. I found this beautiful cove that was pretty well hidden and he happily accepted it. I laughed as I watched him chase the birds, the butterflies, even his own tail. I winced as I saw the missing fin, and erased it from my sketch of him. I closed the book and called a goodnight out into the darkening cove, and heard him roar back in response. Then I turned and left, heading home for the night, and silently promising myself that I'd never kill a dragon. Never. I just hoped I could find a way to make Dad understand.