Chapter 4

"Hey, I just happened to notice that the book has almost nothing on the Night Fury." Astrid pointed out to Gobber in the Arena. "Is there, like, a sequel or maybe a pamphlet?" A blast melted off her spear's head. She hadn't really been paying attention.

"Focus Astrid!" Gobber yelled. "You're not even trying."

Astrid found herself face to face with a Deadly Nadder. A maze was set up because Gobber wanted to add further challenge. She scrambled to the left then the right then to the left again and finally choosing to go right.

"Today is all about attack." Gobber announced from the stands. "Nadders are quick and light on their feet. Your job is to be quicker and lighter."

Fishlegs ran right into the Nadder's line of sight and the spines from its tail was shot at him.

"I'm really beginning to question your teaching methods!" He yelped, bringing his shield up to prevent from being shot.

"Look for its blind spot," Gobber shrugged. He seemed bored. "Every dragon has one. Find it, hide in it, and strike!"

The twins seemed to have found the dragon's blind spot - right in front of its beak. From being behind Tuffnut, Ruffnut could smell her brother hygiene.

"Ugh," Ruffnut gagged. "Do you ever bath?"

"You don't like?" Tuffnut sneered. "Go and get your own blind spot."

"How 'bout I give you one?" Ruffnut snapped.

The Nadder must have noticed their argument and the twins barely had time to jump out of the way before fire was shot at them.

"Blind spot - yes. Deaf spot - not so much." Gobber shrugged.

"So, how would one sneak up on a Night Fury?" Astrid called.

"No one's ever seen one and lived to tell the tail," Gobber sighed. "NOW GET IN THERE!"

"Yes, yes, I know," Astrid groaned. "But, hypothetically…" she was shut up by a hushing nose. It was Hiccup. He gestured for her to get down and she obliged. The Deadly Nadder was right around the corner. Timing it just right, Hiccup somersaulted away followed by Snotlout. Astrid tried to mimic the action but the shield weighed her down. Again, it was a miracle that she didn't get eaten. The Nadder found Hiccup who was preparing to attack when Snotlout intervened.

"Watch out, cous," He warned. "I got this." He his mace at the dragon and missing it by miles. Hiccup rolled his eyes and darted back into the maze.

"The sun was in my eyes, Hiccup!" Snotlout groaned. "What do you want me to do? Block out the sun? I can do that, I just don't have the time…" Hiccup wasn't listening after that.

"Has anyone ever come across a Night Fury napping?" Astrid asked, not paying attention to her surroundings. Hiccup was trying to get away from the Nadder and was headed for Astrid.

"Astrid!" Gobber shouted. Astrid whipped her head around to see Hiccup jumping off the top of the maze which the Nadder was knocking over.

"Astrid!" Hiccup yelled. As the dust cleared, you could see Hiccup on top of Astrid, his sword stuck in her shield.

"Ooh, love on the battlefield." Ruffnut cooed. Hiccup cursed under her breath and struggled to get up.

"He could do better," Tuffnut shrugged.

"Here, why don't you…" Astrid tried to speak but Hiccup just stood up frustrated.

The Nadder was headed their way and Hiccup had no weapons. Thinking fast, and ignoring Astrid's yelp of pain, he yanked his sword and her shield out of her grip and swung it at the Nadder, bashing it against the head.

"Well done, Hiccup." Gobber congratulated. Hiccup turned around to Astrid, panting, his face red with anger.

"Is this some kind of a joke to you?" He growled. "Well, I've got a newsflash for you. Our parents war is about to become ours." He pointed his sword at her. "Figure out which side your on." The teens left, leaving Astrid thinking which side she should be on.


Whilst the teens began combat training in the village, Astrid ran to the cove, fish and shield in hand. Peeking through a small gap, she couldn't see the Night Fury so she tossed the fish in. Still nothing. Sighing, Astrid edged forward through the gap but her shield was to big. After trying to get it loose, she decided to forget about it and she went in.

She picked up the fish, and started to slowly walk in the cove. Little did she know that she was being watched.

From behind a boulder, the Night Fury was watching her, figuring out what to do with her. Slowly, it came into view. Astrid gulped and held out the fish. It was about to take it when it growled. At first, she was confused but then realized she still had her dagger. She took it out and dropped it on the ground. The Night Fury gestured for her to kick it in the lake. She did, pulling off a pretty fancy maneuver with her foot. Then the Night Fury did something different.

It perked up, almost like a cat. She held out the fish and it stalked over.

It opened its mouth but something was off.

"Huh, toothless…" She noted. "I could've sworn you had…" The dragon's gummy mouth was suddenly filled with razor-sharp teeth and took the fish. "…teeth." she squeaked. The Night Fury advanced, causing Astrid to fall backwards onto a boulder. "Uh, uh. No, no, no. I don't…I don't have anymore." She whispered. The dragon made a few weird noises. Oh no, no, no…yep. The dragon regurgitated half the fish into Astrid's lap. "Eww." She groaned. The dragon then leaned back and sat on its hind legs and silence fell on them.

After a few moments of silence, the dragon gestured to the fish. Astrid looked at the fish and then the dragon. Oh Shit she thought. She slowly lifted the fish to her mouth and took a bite. The taste was so bad it made actual crap look good.

She held the rest of the fish out to the dragon but it just made a swallowing noise. You've got to be kidding me she thought. She sagged and swallowed the leftover fish that was in her mouth. Gods, this was worse than Hiccup's cooking she thought back to the day Hiccup made, or at least tried to make, stew.

Astrid shuddered and the dragon licked its lips. Astrid grinned her signature lopsided grin and then…

…The dragon did a gummy smile back.

Astrid slowly stood up and stretched out her hand. This action made the dragon uncomfortable and it bared its teeth and growled before it shot off to the other side of the cove to rest.

Astrid followed and watched it burn a warm spot into the ground. It saw her and she waved. Annoyed by the vikings' persistence, the Night Fury covered its face with its tail. Astrid edged closer and tried to touch its tail, but before she could the dragon lifted its tail. She stood up walking away as the dragon walked the other direction.

Later, Astrid was drawing the Night Fury's face in the ground. She was clearly bored. Feeling a breath against her neck she sped up, avoiding eye contact with the dragon behind her. The Night Fury disappeared for a second but when she turned around, she saw the dragon had a huge tree branch in its mouth and it was drawing on the ground. It was twirling and twisting and even glanced at Astrid occasionally.

When it was done, Astrid looked around. She couldn't be sure what it was, it just looked like a bunch of scribbles. She started walking around until suddenly the dragon growled. Seeing where her foot was she lifted it up. The Night Fury perked up. Smiling to herself, Astrid made the dragon perk up and growl alternatively before she stepped over the line. She started walking around, placing her feet in between the gaps.

She felt so free. Like everything in the world was right. This felt like she was dancing. It felt like magic…and dancing…to her it felt like she was…flying.

When she felt air on her neck she turned around and was face-to-face with the Night Fury. hesitantly she lifted her hand to the dragon face but it growled at her again. Shutting her eyes and turning her head away, she lifted her hand again, just inches away from its face. The dragon hesitant. Could he trust this human? Slowly he put his nose on the hand. Feeling scales on her hand, Astrid turned her head to see the dragon. The Night Fury pulled back and snorted before flying off.

"Oh my Thor." Astrid said softly. She couldn't believe it. She had touched a Night Fury. but the Night Fury needed a name. She couldn't just keep calling it 'dragon' or 'it'. It just didn't feel right. Then she thought of what she first said to him.

Toothless