IN NEED OF A BETA READER
He was almost too busy working at the forge the next day to slip away. He felt a little guilty, taking a few fish, but he didn't have time to fish himself. He checked the snares, finding three rabbits. The rest were empty. He reset them and headed to the cove. The sun's setting when he arrived. He's lucky his dad's on a raid. No one to notice he's not at home.
He climbed down and looked around. He couldn't see the night fury anywhere. It was invisible in the failing sunlight. "I'm back with more food. I got some rabbits for you." Glowing green eyes was his only warning before the dragon materialized, black wings hanging menacingly behind it. The dragon crooned at him, more relaxed than the previous visits. Hiccup opened his bag and dumped the fish out throwing the rabbits on top of the pile. "Here. I hope this is enough for you." The night fury seemed astonished, looking between the fish and him. "What?" The dragon let out a low gurgle and stepped over to the pile. Obligingly Hiccup stepped back. No need to accidentally get bit by a hungry dragon.
Interestingly the dragon's teeth only appeared in flashes when he couldn't swallow it whole. The dragon seemed wholly content sniffing for anything it might have missed before sighing with pleasure. "Glad you liked it 'toothless'." Hiccup chuckled. Ironic for such a fierce dragon. Hiccup's stomach growled. Viking and dragon froze at the sound. "Ah, guess I forgot to eat. Was in too much of a hurry to get out here." Hiccup ducked his head. A stupid mistake. Oh well. He'd grab some cheese at home.
The dragon made a choking noise. What was that? Hiccup watched, a little worried as the dragon heaved. Half a fish came out. Oh no! Was he sick? Did he overeat? The dragon didn't look very concerned. He stopped heaving and nudged the fish towards Hiccup. He watched warily. The night fury growled softly and pushed it so it touched Hiccup. "For me?" Hiccup cautiously touched the fish wondering if he was right. The dragon looked pleased and crooned.
It heard his hunger and decided to feed him. Strange. Why? The night fury was slowly starving. Hiccup reflected on the dragon's confusion looking between him and the pile. The dragon knew Hiccup was offering food it couldn't get. Maybe he thought Hiccup was going hungry because of him? Realizing he'd called the dragon a he Hiccup shook his head. He didn't know the dragon's gender. And he didn't exactly feel like checking. The dragon growled, interrupting his musing. "Right, fish."
Hiccup picked it up and smiled. The dragon continued to watch. Great, he actually wanted to see Hiccup eat it. Hiccup lowered his head and forced himself to take a bite of the raw fish. His stomach threatened to rebel against the slimy bite but he forced it down. "Good. Thanks," he mumbled. The dragon looked satisfied this time and backed off.
Hiccup left with the raw fish, discarding it as soon as he was far enough for the dragon to not notice. That went well. He still didn't understand the dragon, but there was...something...there.
Another day of dragon training, another day of being beaten into the ground and avoiding being charred. At least the nadder had a blind spot. Hiccup took full advantage of it until Astrid managed to take it out, saving him from even more bruises. Squawking the nadder arched it's wings angrily as the teens beat it back. Hiccup tried to help, but mostly avoided tripping the others up. He was relieved when the class was released.
Hiccup left on his now daily trek to the cove, looking forward to seeing his own dragon. Despite the night fury's fearsome manner he was much friendlier than the caged dragons they fought. Probably because he wasn't constantly being attacked by idiot vikings who didn't know what they were doing. And the night fury was a he. He'd managed to discreetly find that out a couple days ago. He slipped down into the cove and looked around.
"Hey! Brought your food! Come on, toothless dragon!" Hiccup watched as the night fury gracefully leaped across the boulders to where he was. The night fury was beautiful. Watching him Hiccup couldn't imagine how he had ever thought he could kill him. The night fury crooned happily as Hiccup emptied the fish and rabbits he'd caught for the dragon. They were getting along pretty well now. If he was brave enough to actually say it he might claim they were almost friends. Sad he felt closer to a dragon that had threatened to kill him than the vikings he'd grown up with.
He was starting to learn how to get along with the dragon. The night fury was much easier to figure out than the vikings he lived with. Certain things he mimicked made the dragon relax, others made the dragon tense. He just had to figure out the moods now. Today the dragon felt safe enough to settle down and close his eyes with Hiccup still there. Hiccup looked at the dragon he'd taken to drawing. He'd drawn a couple of the arena dragons as well, but never with the same detail, more analyzing than capturing them. He looked at the smooth black scales, wondering if they were as smooth as they looked. Thoughtfully he reached out to touch them.
The night fury's eyes snapped open. He roared at Hiccup knocking him back. The dragon took to the sky, circling desperately in an attempt to escape. Hiccup laid on the ground wide eyed as the dragon roared his frustration blasting the walls. The dragon glared at him, leaving him frozen before vanishing into a small cave. Shaking he sat up. Right. No touching the wild dragon. He liked all his limbs still attached. Hiccup watched the night fury pace, clearly frustrated at not being able to leave. Why couldn't he?
That night another raid hit. The sick realization of what he was doing hit Hiccup all over again. He was helping the worst dragon to ever attack Berk survive. It was a killer and destroyer. He might be getting along with it now, but that didn't mean that it was tame by any stretch. He'd be lucky if it didn't find a way to join in the raid somehow. Not wanting to think about it Hiccup obeyed for once, and stayed in the forge. At least he was somewhat useful there, and he didn't have to find out if the night fury had joined the raid.
He listened all night, but no cries of "Night fury!" were heard. Relieved he headed to the cove the next day with what he could gather for the dragon. The night fury hadn't joined the raid. Hiccup was surprised to find him studying the sky so intensely, almost nervous, but otherwise the dragon was fine. Soon the dragon relaxed and ate what Hiccup had brought. It only took a couple days for the terror of the raid to fade, Hiccup forgetting his worries once more.