Can we trust each other?
Today ships have appeared, as I observe from the spot where I lie. Home is the word buzzing around. Stoick is out, commanding the humans. I observe him radiating power, his words spark waves of coordinated action. We all approach the ships. They lift the bundle with my friend up to the ship, someone hoists him aboard and he disappears from view.
I am tense, though I am careful not to show it. Ever since I walked away from my spot on the beach it seemed like I left a place of safety. As if the protection there had only be temporary and now vanished like fog in the wind. Things set me on edge: the milling crowd, humans passing me by closer than I am accustomed to in all the action. Sudden noises put me on edge, especially the clanking of metal as it reminds me of the chains that held me captive. It makes me eye the humans with apprehension again, keeping a close watch on the burly males and their strong hands.
The terror of my captivity assails me even more vividly standing next to the ship: how I shook with loathing and fear after they left me behind in prison. The repulsiveness of their smell all over my skin, strong enough to drown the smell of my friend, wiping out the little solace it would have been. The misery of being separated from him and maybe never seeing him again. Again I remember how I was ready to set my soul free and leave my body behind to die. I remember the humiliation on the ship and how they had used my instincts against me and my kind. It all comes back to me.
Fuelling my frustration. Angering me.
I eye the ship again that is pulled up the beach, I know I should jump in after my friend. I trott around the hull with teeth bared in silent snarls, to see if any spot will make it easier. I grow stiff with tension next to the solid wood, crusted with shells. When I notice that the humans nearby step back in apprehension, just irritates me more. Suddenly there is another loud clank of metal. It's the limit! My frustration explodes into a scream.
It clears the way. I let go and in a series of roars and howls I free myself of all defilement, hurt, and humiliation. I spit it out in a blast of fire. Away with the meekness, hardly daring to move; my claws rake trough the gravel. Away with crouching low, I straighten my body and unfold my wings. I open them wide and mightily beat the air with them! No wings like mine!
There⦠I'm back.
As suddenly as it started it is over. Done!
I feel purified, one and whole, my power being restored to me.
Feeling smug and satisfied, I take a look around, only to discover at some distance a wall of shields and weapons being raised against me.
Huh? A moment of realisation, and I freeze. So. Enemies after all. Either you're meek, or they kill you.
In cool deliberation, I put myself in fighting stance: feet wide, head low, wings slightly opened. I weigh my options: I cannot fly, but I do have my fireblasts ready. I will stand my ground here, close to my friend, but they will not put their hands on me again. I'll fight to the death.
A powerfully shouted STOP! snaps me out of it. Stoick jumps out of the crowd, signalling them to hold back. He takes a couple of steps in my direction, deliberates, and in a clear gesture drops his battle hammer and shield. Slowly but steadily he walks towards me. I watch him approach through slitted eyes. I will not attack you as you are the closest person to my friend, but you must not make one false move or come too near!
At some distance he stops, breathing hard. I see him struggle to calm himself down and level his breathing. It eases my aggression somewhat.
His body relaxes and his mighty shoulders drop. I find my body loosen up too.
Then he faces me with a clear, steady gaze and his eyes signal peace. That eases me further and my wings fold up.
After that he walks up to me, drops on a knee to be level with me, and starts talking. Amazed, I listen.
His speech is firm but also expresses understanding and regret. But no hostility. It makes the tension slowly slip from my body, until it is gone.
Again we gaze in each others eyes, like once before, probing each others soul. Again it is well. An understanding dawns and solidifies: peace!
He gives a small nod, gets to his feet and signals the crowd. They relax, and lower their weapons.
I decide to signal them too. I take a few paces away from Stoick, stand tall, then drop my eyes and turn my head to the side. A rush of surprise follows, even some cheers rise.
Stoick calls Gobber and a couple of males to him and discusses something with them. The males agree on something, turn to me and start to introduce themselves. One by one they put their weapons down and lower themselves on a knee to let me sniff their hand. How proper, dignified! Now the strong hands are no threat anymore. I rumble a greeting back. Gobber passes me by and boards the ship, signalling me to follow. It is easy now, I just hop in. The males follow behind.
Immediately I walk up to my friend and check him out. He is restless, mumbling, and twitching feebly. I look at him, blow soft breaths in his face and look again. One of his arms slumps down to the side. I catch it on my snout and rumble, enjoying the contact. He eases and falls silent again. Then I carefully shove his arm back. Several sighs sound behind my back. I turn my head to see the males with eyes full of wonder. It sparks some warmth in my heart.
More humans board the ship until it is filled to the brim. The smell of so many humans is overwhelming. Gobber and the males that introduced themselves sit next to me, more or less pressed against my body. I hush stirrings of aggression and fear.
I'll cope, even with your hands being so close. Even if some of you are pressed against my skin. I sigh deeply and look up at Gobber. He gives me a clever look and chuckles. I put on an indifferent face, only to make him cackle more. It tickles my sense of humour, but I refrain from showing that. With a small grunt I relax further. Once out at sea, the sway of the waves helps me to keep calm, as it reminds me of the gusts of wind high above when I soared in splendid solitude.
We reach the shore of their island and leave the ship. After a few stiff paces I calmly walk next to Stoick who carries his son. We climb all the way up to the meadows. Astrid and the other youngsters are there, together with the dragons they fly on. Several other dragons hover around hesitantly. Even more dragons arrive.
A stiff breeze distracts me, it is strong and steady. When I shake my wings and spread them wide the wind almost lifts me up. With eyes closed I relish the feeling.
Patience. You will not fly until your friend takes you up again.
It will not be long before he wakes up. I will continue to call him. I close my wings and hop on. Stoick and I pass all homes until we come to the one highest up.
He opens it and says "come in".
I enter in trust.
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Next scene is the one in the movie where Toothless wakes up Hiccup.
I still value this story, my first, as being the closest to the 'animal' nature of a dragon (in my perception), despite the overall success of my story 'Silverwings and Toothless'. In 'After the crash' Toothless lives in the 'here and now' which I express by writing in the present tense. He does reflect on the past, but hardly considers the future. He deals with things as they come. Also he is very much 'one' with his body.
In the movie it isn't clarified how the Vikings are being evacuated, but I can imagine that Astrid and the others flew back to Berk to summon the few remaining ships. To Toothless the ships just appear, he has too much worries to think about it much. These ships bring everyone back to Berk, the wounded first of all. So Hiccup goes and as they cannot separate Toothless from Hiccup, Toothless has to come along.
