No shout-outs today due to no new reviews since the last chapter. But enjoy anyway!

Chapter 6

At home we silently went to bed and still didn't really talk at breakfast the next day. After that we hurried to the arena to not be too late like the day before for dinner.

Today we had the Nadder against us. At first I was trying to focus on the training but I couldn't stop my thoughts from running back and forth through my head. When I couldn't bear it anymore I went to where Gobber was watching us from outside the arena.

"You know, I just happened to notice the book had nothing on Night Furies. Is there another book? Or a sequel? Maybe a little Night Fury pamphlet?"

I turned when I heard noises behind me and saw the Nadder coming straight at me. It fired but Hilja managed just in time to push me out of the way. The flame only hit my axe and the blade fell to the ground, ringing.

"Thanks." I choked.

"Focus, Hiccup! You're not even trying!"

Yeah, Gobber. How on earth was I supposed to concentrate when my thoughts were running amok and wouldn't let me rest? I wanted answers fro my questions!

„Today is all about ATTACK! Nadders are quick and light on their feet! Your job is to be quicker and lighter!"

That's funny, Gobber. Dragons were definitely quicker than humans.

Behind one of the barricades Fishlegs shouted something I couldn't understand. Gobber answered at that: „Look for its blind spot. Every dragon has one. Find it, hide in it, and strike!"

Now I heard Ruff and Tuff murmur, followed by a shriek and another of Gobber's comments.

„Blind spot, yes. Deaf spot? Not so much. Heh, heh, heh."

I tried again to talk to Gobber: „Hey, so how would one sneak up on a Night Fury?"

Gobber rejected me: „No one's ever met one and lived to tell the tale. NOW, GET IN THERE!"

„I know, I know, but hypothetically-"

„Hiccup! Get down!" whispered Astrid to crouched behind one of the barricades, accompanied by Snotlout and Hilja. I did the same.

Hilja nudged me. „Don't screw up, little brother."

„I'll try." I answered and prepared for the somersault.

The other three managed it without any problems, even Hilja. And then in was my turn. Halfway through the tumble by shield hold me back. Apparently it had befriended the floor. Quickly I got up but the Nadder had noticed me and now began to chase me.

Then it decided otherwise and chased after Astrid and Snotlout. I heard Snotlout say something, followed by an complain from Astrid and Snotlout trying to justify himself.

In the meantime I tried again talking to Gobber.

"They probably take the daytime off. You know, like a cat. Has anyone ever seen one napping?"

The others ran past me, bumping into me in the process.

Gobber warningly shouted at me: „Hiccup!"

When I turned around I saw Astrid jumping off the last falling barricade, coming directly at me. The Nadder was hot on her heels.

Astrid landed on top of me and threw me to the ground, her axe sinking into my shield.

The Thorston twins made some stupid comments, while Astrid jumped up and tried in vain to get her axe free from the shield.

I cried out in pain but wasn't able to help her due to the shield still being stuck on my arm. Eventually she managed to yank the shield off and wield both, axe and shield, against the Nadder. The shield shattered and the dragon stumbled backwards, slightly dizzy.

After that she turned towards me, fuming.

„Is this some kind of a joke to you?! Our parents' war is about to become ours! Figure out which side you're on."

When the others left the arena I stayed back, disappointed, until Hilja came over and helped me up.

„Isn't really your day today, eh? I shook my head.

„Not at all." Then I made a decision. „You already go home, I have something to do before."

„It's about the Night Fury again, right?"

I nodded, looking sheepish.

„Let me come with you!"

I shook my head determinedly. „I don't want to pull you into that. If I'll ever get any problems because of if, at least you're left out."

She looked disappointed, but agreed.

„Okay. But I want to come along sometime.

I nodded. Then I grabbed a shield and ran out of the arena.

Hesitating a bit I entered the cove about half an hour later. On the way I had grabbed a fish which I now held out before me, while hiding behind the shield.

Suddenly I couldn't go forward anymore. My shield was wetched between the rocks. I tossed the fish into the cove and tried to get the shield free. But no matter in what direction I pulled or pushed, it wouldn't move a tiny bit. Spontaneously I decided to leave the damned thing where it was and crawled underneath it into the cove. Without any cover I looked around searching for the dragon.

Carefully I walked through the seemingly empty hollow when I heard a noise behind me. I turned and saw the Night Fury, crouching on a boulder and watching me curiously. When I held the fish out it sniffed and nimbly pounced off the boulder. Alarmed I pulled my arm back. But when the sniffing continued I held the fish out again only for the dragon to snarl faintly at me. Something was bothering it.

I thought about what it could be when I remembered my knife. I pulled my vest back a bit and this time the dragon growled. Carefully I pulled the knife out from my belt and dropped it. The Night Fury pointed its head towards the lake as if telling me to sink the knife. Without having another possibility I lifted it with the tip of my boot and kicked it into the water. Immediately the dragon relaxed and approached me for the fish. It opened it's mouth...

„Huh. Toothless. I could've sworn you had..." I triumphantly declared.

Suddenly bright white teeth shot out of its jaw and the dragon swallowed the fish in one gulp.

„...teeth." I finished my sentence.

The dragon began sniffing again and approached me. Anxiously I backed away,

„Uh, uh, no, no, no. I-I don't have any more." I stuttered when my back hit against a boulder. Just perfect, it had managed to get me cornered.

The dragon began to retch and then dropped one half of the fish into my lap.

What was I meant to do with it?

The Night Fury looked at the fish. And then at me.

Great. It didn't mean for me to eat the fish, right?

Reluctantly I took a bike. After several tries I even managed to swallow it. I shuddered but that wouldn't help against the taste in my mouth.

Looking at me the dragon gleefully licked its lips. I shyly smiled at it and got a toothless dragon grin back. But when I reached my hand out for a touch, it growled and flew away to the other side of the cove.

It landed, burned a patch of dirt and lay down on it. I approached the dragon again and sat down a few meters away from it. Again I reached out my hand but the Night Fury noticed me and stood up to search for another place to sleep.

I stayed until dusk. After another few tries to touch the dragon I had given up on bonding with it this way. That was when I started drawing in the sandy ground of the cove. At first I didn't know what to draw but the dragon wouldn't stop haunting my thoughts.

I had almost finished its head when I heard steps behind me. I tried to not show that I noticed it and continued, as the dragon walked away.

Not far behind me I could hear rustling, followed by a cracking sound and more rustling. Then the Night Fury came back with an uprooted tree in its mouth and began to draw lines into the ground.

I watch this in astonishment and stood up to get a better look at the picture. I took a few steps forward, when the dragon suddenly started growling.

I looked down and noticed my boot standing atop the line. I lifted my foot and the growling stopped. Putting it down again I coud hear it anew. The little play repeated itself another two or three times until I put behind foot behind the line instead of on top of it.

When I looked at the Night Fury it seemes to not. Resembling a peculiar dance I turned in circles, always looking down at the picture to avoid steeping onto one of the lines unintentionally.

Finally I stood with in front of the dragon, my back towards it and turned around in surprise. The dragon had actually allowed me to approach it. I fully turned around now and attempted once again to touch it.

The Night Fury growled again and turned his gaze away. I understand and turned my head away from it, fully handing myself over to the dragon.

I stood like this for a few seconds, my hand still outstretched, when I felt the dragon's cool and scaly nose on my palm. Overwhelmed I turned my gaze at it again. The dragon snorted upon noticing my gaze and walked away.

We're about one third into the story so I thought it would be time to ask the following question: Do you want me to continue this fanfiction for the TV-series and the other two movies? I'm looking forward to your responses.

See you next time.