Hello again. This chapter begins with the sweetness of joy and ends with the briny taste of despair. Posting this chapter 9-6-2014. Next chapter to be posted in 5-6 days. Thank you and please enjoy.
…
Cloaked in a dense and semi-prickly black sheep wool sweater, Hiccup lightly swayed her legs back and forth as she sat on a chair by the kitchen table. Snoggletog was just around the corner, which meant cold weather and long rests by the fireplace for Hiccup. Winter wasn't her favorite season; it was frigid, the warmth of the sun was hidden away by bulky clouds and the streets were piled high with piercing snow. She mostly spend her time indoors where it was warm and only dared to venture out once she was properly geared for the clime.
"Mama?" Hiccup softly asked as she flipped through the pages of a small book she had found behind a shelf where the bread was kept. "What's yaknog?"
Valka nearly dropped the tray of tea and biscuits she prepared for her child at the mere mention of the accursed brew. It had been years since the very word was uttered out and it send shivers down her back.
"Why do you ask dear?" Valka snakingly questioned before seeing her old recipe book in her daughter's little hands. She thought she had hidden the book well but if it was a hardcover, Hiccup would find and read it.
"This page says: 'Snoggletog Yaknog', but I've never heard about it before now. Is it tasty?" Hiccup looked up to her mother with curious eyes, prying for an answer.
"Well…no. You see, dear…it wasn't really good to drink," the horrid memories of sick Vikings came back to Valka as she fiddled with her palms once she laid the tray of treats onto the table.
"Really?" Hiccup pressed on, taking a bite out of a sugary biscuit before her.
"Really. I was young and deeply in love with your father and wanted to make him something special for the holiday. Unfortunately, it didn't go as well as planned and from that day forth I vowed to never make it again," Valka smiled down to her little one as she munched on her snack slowly.
Hiccup was halfway done with the biscuit when an idea popped into her head. "Do you think I could make yaknog for Daddy too!? And uncle and Gobber!?" she pointed to the page, eager to try.
"Oh, Hiccup, you wouldn't want to do that. My recipe was a disaster," Valka chuckled softly.
"Then I'll try my own recipe. If yaknog brought you and Daddy together, then it must be good!"
A wide smiled couldn't help but form onto Valka's face. If only Hiccup knew the horror yaknog brought, but she wasn't one to stop something without trying; that's what made Hiccup special.
Taking her mother's smile as a yes, Hiccup hopped off the chair with book in hand, sat by the hearth and read over her mother's recipe carefully. After omitting several spices, balancing the ratio of egg, milk and adding a few touches of her own on a separate sheet of paper, she ran over to an old cookbook on the bookshelf that was thankfully at her eye-level. Once she was confident in her ingredient choices and how to prepare them, she handed the sheet to her mother who lovingly took it and began gathering her daughter's items.
Hiccup insisted on doing a bulk of the work, seeing how her mother was technically forbidden to make yaknog and went to work slowly as she warmed the yak's milk and sweetened yak's cream, mixed in the aromatic spices of the season and the seeds of a vanilla bean while she beat sugar and egg yolks until the mixture was pale and fluffy. Valka smiled as her little cook gently combined all the ingredients till the eggs were fully cooked before she strained the liquid through a cheese cloth and into a serving jug. She had to admit it smelled wonderful and she managed to do it all on her own. Valka couldn't have been happier with her sweet little chef.
After cooling the yaknog, Hiccup poured the liquid into several tankards before grating nutmeg over them, presenting one to her mother for a tasting.
Pressing her lips to the rim of the tankard, Valka took a slow sip before taking a hearty gulp of the decadent beverage. It was difficult for her to believe this was a revamped version of her own concoction, and tears began to fall down her face.
"What's wrong? Is it bad?" Hiccup whimpered. She wanted to make her mother proud and she truly tried her hardest to make the yaknog her own. Maybe it was a doomed recipe from the start, Hiccup hung her head low till the feeling of a tight hold came over her.
"It's perfect," Valka lifted her three-year old off the stool where she had been working on and twirled her in excitement.
This was truly going to be a wonderful new holiday tradition.
…
The village streets were festively decorated for the annual celebration of Snoggletog. All around, men and women were ornamenting houses and fire torches. Stoick and Alvin were adding the final touches to the large wooden tree in the center of the plaza with ornate shields when Hiccup nudged towards them from the busy crowd, bundled tightly in thick articles for warmth. In her palms, she held a rounded tray with a pitcher atop, a fresh batch of her new seasonal beverage within the container.
"Happy Snoggletog, Daddy, Uncle!" she smiled, lifting the tray up to them with two mugs already prepped and ready to serve.
Both men were hesitant at first. Something about this scenario seemed familiar to them.
"What have we got here?" Stoick kneeled down to her level trying desperately to not sound intimidated by the brew.
"Yaknog," she admitted with a grin and it was as if the entire village was put to a standstill. Men stopped hammering nails into wooden beams and women covered their mouths in horror. "I made it myself," Hiccup sweetly added, feeling the tickle of cold on the tip of her dainty nose.
"R-Really? Your mother didn't help you one bit?" Stoick questioned between his teeth with a trying smile. He never dreamed this day would come where his little girl would learn of the accursed drink. He knew he and Valka should have hidden that darn recipe book harder.
"No help at all," Valka said as she emerged from the paralyzed crowd. "She really made it her own. All it needed was a little of…" Valka paused before pinching her daughter's reddening cheeks. "This."
Stoick looked over to Alvin, who looked over to Gobber, who shook his head as he looked over to Spitelout who began to gag at the remembrance of tastes past. Finally, taking a deep breath of chilled air, Alvin stepped forward and placed his hand onto Stoick's shoulder as he leaned in close.
"I'll let her down gently, Stoick. I weaseled me way out of it in the past, and it's time I paid me due. It'll be better for everyone if she stays angry at me."
And with that, he bravely sacrificed himself forward to his niece, her expression that of confusion by his words as he took hold of the small cup. Everyone in the village gave a silence praise to Alvin as he took a tiny, slow sip of the liquid before quickly looking out to the mass as they awaited for the symptoms of yaknog illness. He took a second tasting, this one larger than the last to make sure he was tasting what he was tasting. A woman to the far right fainted at the sight of this, the dreadfulness too much for her to stand for. Looking over to Stoick, his eyes were wide as he gave the verdict.
"It's not bad," he guzzled the yaknog and gave a satisfied breath once it was finished.
Taking the tray from Hiccup's hands, Valka smiled as her brother scooped his niece into the air, holding her close as she giggled merrily.
Gobber limped forward to Valka for a mug after the village was still for a minute watching Alvin, whom they were sure had gone mad from drinking the yaknog. Settling the mixture on his tongue before swallowing, he allowed the flavors to mingle smoothly and gave a sigh of relief and joy. "Thank Thor, she didn't take after you in the culinary department, this drink is fantastic!"
Valka shot him a look before accepting it and chortled in delight. Soon everyone began whispering to each other before a man from the crowd shouted. "Well, I'd like some too!"
"So would I!" another joined in.
Filling a new mug, Valka handed it to Hiccup, still in her uncle's hold and extended it outward to her father. Stoick reached out to it and brought it to his lips to drink. As the smooth creamy liquid passed his throat and the lingering flavor of vanilla and nutmeg coated his tongue, he smiled brightly to his darling little girl. Taking her from Alvin's arms he nuzzled her nose and kissed her forehead.
"Happy Snoggletog, Hiccup."
…
Circling above the snow drenched mountaintops of Berk, the Night Fury wasn't going to admit he was worried about the Mist Runner or that he had spent a good part of his scouting duties patrolling around to find her when stationed on the isle. It's not like he cared or anything; that was what he kept telling himself as the seasons changed from autumn to winter and now spring. The thin sheets of white were beginning to melt on the forest floors, leaving behind fresh dewy meadows of young grass and moss. Even the pines, who were draped in fabrics of ice, were springing back to accept the warmth of the morning sunlight once their articles of snow slipped off their limbs.
The Night Fury didn't despise the new scenery, he just longed for the cold comforting snow to stay for more time. He loved the snow, how it cooled his body and the tingling sensation of frost on his snout made him smile, something he never showed to anyone, other than the Mist Runner that is. He shook his head violently to get her image out of his mind and mumbled under his breath how he didn't like her one bit. He wasn't supposed to be thinking about her, but thinking of a way to tell her she was in danger. At first he had thought her joining the hive wouldn't be so bad until he realized what it meant she'd lose. Her freedom. From the start he didn't have a choice in the matter, he was taken and born under the Red Death's reign. Could he really live with himself knowing she was to be enslaved for the rest of her life after having the light of liberty taken from her? In the end, it wasn't his choice.
Red Death always got what he wanted.
His eyes focused down to a copper figure hovering above the treetops. It was him, the Storm Cutter. This was the first time he truly looked at him and it sent a shiver down his body. This was the Runner's "brother" and he could see why she told them to leave. He certainly gave off this aura that demanded respect and the Night Fury could tell he was definitely a powerful dragon. Darting to the clouds above, the Night Fury held his breath and allowed himself to calm down. He had to tell him his sister was in danger, so why was a part of him too nervous to actually to so?
…
Four-year old Hiccup sat patiently as her father presented her with a plate of pancakes, eggs and ham.
"So, Hiccup, have any plans for today?" he asked as he sat down to enjoy his own breakfast.
"I was thinking I'd go out and see if I can go find some trolls," she stated as she took a bite out of her ham while going over a sheet of canvas. "I even made a map to help me navigate through the forest."
"Trolls?" he questioned before sighing and rolling his eyes. "Gobber and his socks again. I swear, if the man just put them away properly, he wouldn't lose so many."
"Well, you know Gobber, always assuming trolls or that Boneknapper are out to get him. At least he's good to Hiccup," Valka smirked as she rustled her daughter's short hair.
"In one of my books, it says they live in caves and hide in the shadows because the sun hurts them. If they did take his left socks, I'm getting them back," Hiccup managed while she took bites out of her buttery pancake. Finishing her plate, she placed her utensils atop of it and looked to her parents. "May I be excused, please?"
Valka gave her an approving nod, as did Stoick. With the approval, Hiccup thanked them and stormed out the back door to go searching for not only trolls, but her kind elder Storm Cutter brother, Cloudjumper. Last time she met him, he promised to help her with her mission after their training exercises. Once she was away from the villages' sight, she hid her clothing in their usual spot and allowed her body to change its shape as her pale skin materialized into scattering petals of almond colored scales before restructuring to create her other form.
She had grown over the course of the year. In human form she was a bit taller, though still the shortest of the other children; she was by far the fastest and brightest of them all. In Runner form she was about the size of a lynx and her coat was sleek and smoother than it was the year before. Her brother had told her it was a sign she was maturing healthily and that it opened up new abilities for her to learn like condensing water droplets in her mist into crystals but she still had a bit more training to do before that. Running off in search of him, she left a trail of dust behind her as she allowed her senses to guide her to her teacher.
After speeding to the far side of the island, Hiccup paused for a moment, letting the passing winds aid her on her quest. The soft spring breeze whistled into her perked ears before the feeling of heaviness approached. Assured of his presence, Hiccup ran forward, the Storm Cutter's large shadow drawing closer as she sprinted through the maze of pines. Seizing an opportunity near a clearing, Hiccup stiffened her fur and condensed the forest floor in a mask of mist, disappearing from her brother's sights.
Cloudjumper smirked, she had learned quickly in the art of concealment but still had many things to learn about strategy. Using his powerful wings, he cleared away a large portion of the fog and waited for any sign of her movement.
Her fur and concealed almond plates were moisture and fireproof, wicking them away, but in terms of combat, Hiccup wasn't much of an attacker. Mist Runners were nonviolent by nature and only attacked when necessary or provoked. What they lacked in aggression and brute force, they made up for in cunning and speed by finding ways to outsmart their opponents into surrender or retreat.
Seeing swift arrow-like movements going from a clouded spot to an adjacent one between the clearing he dove down to catch her in the blink of an eye, feeling a small pressure under his wings as he held her down.
"Nice try, sis, but you let your opponent see and capture you," he grinned in a smug manner before realizing the object in his hold wasn't soft and warm.
"Did I?" a familiar voice mocked from behind him.
Before he could lift his wings, a strange solid feeling crept up his tail and secured it onto the ground. Turning his head, he saw his tail completely covered in a thick layer of crystal, Hiccup right beside it with a smile on her face. He did a double take before retracting his wings, seeing a boulder he was so such was her. The Storm Cutter smirked contently. She really fooled him; he hadn't even seen the boulder when she clouded the floor.
Walking over to her brother's line of sight, she snuggled herself onto one of his wings, earning her a purr of praise as he nuzzled to her snout.
"Good move, Hic, I guess I'm the captured one," he softly said as he flexed his tail and pulled strongly, releasing himself and sending shards of crystals into the air.
"Does that mean we can go troll hunting now!?" she hopped eagerly with a bark and a wag of her sleek tail.
"Ha-ha, eager as always. Alright. Go get your clothes and I'll meet you by Raven Point."
"Yes!" she cheered before blitzing.
…
Aarne was feeling pretty good today. His uncle had bestowed upon him his very own axe. It was just the right size for his small hands and was slightly weighted at the top but he carried it around as if it was an extension of himself. He was four and a half already and had his shoulder length straw-colored hair in a loose tress to clear away from his face before he began his solo training, even though he still had long stands from his bangs that refused to move.
Even when he was small and not fully able to walk on his own, he and his uncle would sparred together. He never let his nephew do anything extreme because he said he was still a growing boy but allowed him to throw daggers at a makeshift target behind the house by the time he was three. As his aim improved, Finn felt it was the right time to upgrade him from daggers to a semi-blunted axe. Aarne had taken it proudly and was now off to the forest to practice his throwing skills.
As he progressed and found a suitable spot, he began his training. His hold on the wooden handle developed and soon he was able to fully toss it to a tree, though not quite yet being able to land a proper blow to the pine a few meters away from him. By the time he managed to land a hit, his brows were covered in a light sweat but he couldn't have been happier. One after another, he struck the tree with great force, relishing in the adrenaline of his advancement and even though he still had to work on his aim, he was at least grateful to have improved all on his own.
He was enjoying himself so much he'd run up to the lodged axe, yank it out of the bark with great haste and swiftly move to another tree to strike, perfecting both his aim and balance with his new weapon. A smile broke onto his face and he wondered if this was the same kind of feeling a Viking got when out during raids and hunting for dragons. Dragon killing was important to his people and he wanted to be a part of that legacy; to be able to protect his family and the people he cared about with all his strength and to show the courage of a true warrior in doing so. That's what he wanted most in life, to live up to the great Hofferson name and become Berk's greatest hero, just like his parents and Stoick the Vast.
It was during one of his spirited pitches, he pulled out his axe, front flipped to a lower section of the forest floor, somersaulted effortlessly before standing back up and was prepared to toss his axe once more till he saw something unexpected that stopped him in his track. His mouth was held slightly open and his eyes were fixated on the creature before him.
Aarne wasn't too sure how long she had been there or what the long sheet of paper in her hand was for but Hiccup shot him an anxious grin before slowly jogging away towards a large boulder and disappearing from sight. He reached his arm out to say something but couldn't find the right words to say and ran off to chase after her. As much as he thought she was odd at times, he still felt bad for upsetting her for what seemed like ages ago and still hadn't found a way to make amends. She seemed kind of shy towards others and he was beginning to see and hear the other kids do and say terrible things about her. He didn't think it was right at times, seeing how she had done nothing to deserve that kind of treatment but he was no better than them. At times when she'd pass down the streets, he'd glare at her, her bright smile setting something off inside of him and he hated not knowing what these feelings were or why they made him feel bitter in the end.
Maybe I should have accepted her friendship? He'd tell himself some days while he trained as a thought of her past his head.
He could have sworn it took him no longer than four seconds to get to the boulder but it seemed to be enough time for her to slip away from him. Scoping the surrounding of thick brush and trees, he grew irritable. He wasn't sure if she was hiding behind the foliage or not and simply pounded his balled fist to the stones surface, grunting lowly by her disappearance.
Why is it so hard to talk to her?
…
A malicious sneer swept across Red Death's fangs as he cleaned off the pillar that would soon house his exquisite little Runner. He had located the most perfect spot for her to be kept at. It was a small stack situated away from any other, he wanted to make sure she couldn't escape his sights. That was the other special feature about this pillar, it was low to the ground where thick clouds of steam formed below. This way he'd keep her radiance all to himself.
Oh, he had thought long and hard on the devious things he had in store for his new one of a kind trophy. His first order of action would be to have her become accustomed to his touch. He planned to trace his sharp claws over every inch of her body, starting off innocent at first but growing more lecherous as she matured fully. His body was already quaking at the thought of stroking her soft pelt.
It was during one of the weekly checkups with his Night Fury in early spring that sparked a sinister idea into his twisted mind. The dark dragon was growing stronger and more abrasive with every passing day and it translated into his form. Powerful, and full of raw natural aggression. His Night Fury was the perfect specimen for acts to be held in the future.
A sinful smile crossed his face as he lapped away at the salivation escaping his sword-like jaws. He wondered how loud his Mist Runner would whimper and wail at the claws of his prized warrior taking her until he was satisfied. Or what shame she'd feel knowing her Cutter sibling could hear her pleas of pain and could do nothing but listen? He planned to drink away her tears after every cycle he'd have her endure, tasting her surely sweet droplets of sorrow that would make him the god he deserved to be.
The Storm Cutter would become most useful indeed, using his spiraling cyclone of flames to demolish Viking villages just to the brink of total destruction and bringing him large catches of food for his own pleasure. It would be glorious.
As much as he despised the weak Viking humans, he couldn't help but applaud their stubborn nature that allowed them to so easily be raided from continually. Smart creatures would have left decades ago but not those insects. That's really all they were to him, insects. Tiny, pathetic, annoying things that were so easy to squish and easier to fool. For three centuries they desperately searched for his lair only to go off empty-handed if he was lenient that day. Thanks to the warm air and the cool sea, a condensed layer of haze shrouded the island covered in sea pillar mazes. The idiot Vikings would bump back and forth on these stone formations and end up on the opposite end, drawing so close but never reaching his shores.
Once he gained the Runner, she'd create more fog for him, furthering this timeless game of cat and mouse he controlled. By summer's end, his dreams would become reality.
"Soon, you will be mine, Mist Runner. I'll be a god and you my delicious little pet," he snickered loudly for all to hear as he trailed a claw over her future pedestal.
Turning their heads to one another, the blue Zippleback nodded to each other, knowing what needed to be done to set things right. They couldn't stand the fact that they knew what the Runner was: half dragon and half human. Whatever their insane ruler had in store for her would surely be traumatizing and humiliating for the little one. The head on the right motioned his neck towards the large opening off the side of the mountain and soon they both exited the prison unnoticed.
When at a safe distance, the head to the left gave a heavy sigh. "We're doing this, huh?"
"It's the right thing to do. She's just a child," his brother to the right looked straight ahead. He knew what they were about to do was the ultimate treachery to their overlord, but if it meant protecting the life of the dragon child, so be it.
"…Bro," the left said once Berk was within sight.
"Yeah."
"We're gonna be heroes," he smiled goofily, trying his hardest to not show his fears.
The head to the right silently closed his eyes, wishing he could shed a tear for the both of them. "You know it."
Within close range of the island, they circled the island's perimeter before spotting a deep cavern, the scent of atmosphere heavy within it. Slowly they flew in and could see the large intense eyes of the Storm Cutter, his growl deep and demanding.
Taking a breath and opening his eyes, the right head lifted his neck to the Cutter in respect. "We need to tell you something…"
…
The summer solstice was drawing near and no one dared to warn the unsuspecting Mist Runner for fear of being consumed. No one that is but the Night Fury. He had a difficult time tracking her down over the past few months. It was like she was there for a moment and then gone the next. There were times where he was close to getting her alone but right as he drew nearer her brother would spring out from nowhere and he'd tense up and hide. He knew he wasn't afraid of the Cutter, so why couldn't he just man up -so to speak- and tell them of his prince's plan to capture them?
On the days he was close enough to watch them from afar, he'd see her smile and could hear her precious howl as she frolicked around with her brother. There was something in the way the sunlight shined on her spotted coat and how her eyes brightened that made him feel bubbly inside. She looked so content with her life here on an island occupied by dragon killing barbarians, like they never existed and they had the island all to themselves. The moments he was able to spy on them he could really tell the Storm Cutter cared for her, treating her with kindness and patience.
Love.
That was something that would be taken from them if Red Death managed to gain them.
He managed to get lucky one summer afternoon when the Cutter seemed to storm off to the far north till he was nothing but a blur, leaving the Runner on her own near a small creek. Not wanting to miss his opportunity, he flew low to a tree branch and perched himself silently from the shadows until the right moment.
She seemed to be waiting for something or someone by the stream as she took a slow drink from the cool water. The Night Fury tilted his head to the side upon seeing her do the same thing while gazing at her reflection in the pool. She'd twitch her canine-like ears, making chirping clicks as she did so and his own ears couldn't help but mimic the behavior. He closed his eyes and shook his head, trying to stop his body from copying her every move.
I don't even like her, so why am I mirroring her?! He told himself before reopening his eyes.
She was gone.
His eyes were only closed for three seconds top. Swiveling his head around to the left of the forest, he couldn't find her but upon turning it to the right his snout touched her soft fuzzy one.
"Hello, again," she hummed seated right next to him on the sturdy tree limb.
There was a sharp quiver that spread down his spine from her contact and he leaned away from her slightly. This was what he had waited months for, to tell her about his ruler's evil tactics and now that he was face to face with her, he was drawn a blank on how to say it. She didn't make him nervous but something inside of him resisting from expressing these things.
"You know, you've got a bad habit of sneaking up on me," he sulked turning away from her. How did I not hear her climb up?
"Sorry. It's just been a while. How are you?" Hiccup asked as she backed away from him.
Lowering his head, he wasn't too sure he should tell her he'd been looking for her or that he was on edge trying to confess the dangers aimed towards her. He didn't want her to think he was some stalker or irrational and it hit him why he couldn't tell her. She was the only one outside of his life who knew who he really was. True she didn't know much about him, but she saw him as a regular dragon and not a trained soldier. It felt nice to just be treated with kindness and not resistance. This Mist Runner in a way, made him happy.
Looking back to her, he let out a heavy sigh. "I'm…getting by. You?"
"I'm alright. Are you hunting for fawns again?"
He was taken by surprise from her question. Yes, he was supposed to be hunting, but he couldn't tell her for what. He didn't want to scare her. "Um, yeah, something like that."
"Is something troubling you, Night Fury?" Hiccup tilted her head to the side. He didn't seem like the same dragon from months before. He looked saddened by something.
The way she said his name felt nice. It wasn't a command, it was a genuine question of concern. "Well, you see, I have this 'friend' who needs to tell this girl something very important... But the thing is, he doesn't know how to tell her cause he's not sure if she'll hate or not trust him anymore if he tells her the truth," he fidgeted slightly on the tree limb, rustling the loose pine needles to the ground.
Hiccup thought over his predicament for a long while. His friend was in a tight spot. "Hmm, that's a tough one. Does your friend care about this girl very much?"
His heart was pounding the same way it did when she licked his cheek and if he could blush his face would be tinted pink by now. "To an extent."
Musing over his friend's problem, she thought to her father and how she could never tell him about her other form. Would he find her hideous and disown her as his child or would he kill her for lying to him for so long? And what of her mother? Would she be punished because she was different and birthed her? She didn't like these thoughts and heavy beads of tears began to ball over her eyes before gliding down her face as she cried.
Hearing soft sniveling, he turned to her and panicked slightly upon seeing liquid fall from her eyeballs. "Hey-Hey-Hey, come on, don't cry! I didn't mean to… You're okay, I'm right here," he couldn't believe he had just said that and a small tinge of guilt formed over his heart. He couldn't let Red Death have her, she was too kindhearted to be thrown into the darkness and her weeps would only fuel the demon-like dragon's self-worth.
"I'm sorry," she forced out amid her sniffles. "I know how your friend feels," she paused to catch her breath. "I know how it hurts when you want to tell somebody the truth but you just can't. And I wish I had the strength to say those words, but I'm too weak to muster up the courage."
The Night Fury's expression softened hearing her words, his body relaxing for the first time in what seemed like forever as he leaned down to wipe her tears away. Instinctively she leaned away slightly but he kept lapping her face until she calmed down and her breathing steadied. After comforting her, he opened one of his wings and pulled her in close, both sharing the same space as he pulled her towards him.
"It's gonna be okay. I'll protect you," he said as he placed his cool cheek to her warm one. They were both the same. Albeit different on the outside but inside they were parallel. He'd do his best to protect her from the upcoming attack and if she was somehow captured, he'd do everything in his power to make sure she was unharmed.
Hiccup wasn't too sure what he meant, but it felt good to be told she'd be protected. She was never treated with the same kind of compassion the Night Fry showed her by the other children her age back on Berk. To them, she was different and strange. But to him, he either didn't mind or saw her as one of his own. She softly nestled her head on the crook of his neck, letting his heartbeat pulsate through her. As his heartbeat lulled her to sleep, she didn't feel alone anymore and little to her knowledge, he was feeling the same thing as his eyes shut to the rhythm of her soft drum.
…
Cloudjumper was flying as fast as he could. He knew he couldn't allow for Hiccup to be taken and hidden from the world, from him. She meant far too much to him. If it wasn't for her predicament with being a Viking human, he would have just taken her on the spot once the benevolent Zippleback told him of their prince's plot, but he couldn't just do that. He had orders under his Alpha to train her until she mastered her skills and was of suitable age to venture out to this domain and learn the ways of an Alpha; this revelation however changed things.
Further he flew to the north, where an icy fortress glowed by the light of the golden sun. Maneuvering to an opening, he let out a call to alert his king of his presence. The Bewilderbeast lifted his head, covered in baby Nadders and Nightmares before he swept them softly away with his chilled breath.
"Cloudjumper, welcome. What brings you here so early in the season?"
"Hiccup!" he was able to start between his panting speech. "She's in danger!"
The Bewilderbeast lifted his body from his watery home and made his way towards his friend by the cliff. "Please, catch your breath and then tell me."
After his heart rate returned to normal speed, he told him all he knew about this false king known as the Red Death and his desire to claim Hiccup as a prize. The Bewilderbeast tensed up by this news and his expression became firm.
"Then there is no other choice than to bring her here. If word spreads of her existence and true form, she may become lost once more. Go, before it's too late," he gave a shallow breath of sorrow as Cloudjumper raced off back to Berk. The Bewilderbeast was greatly troubled by not only her having to leave her life behind but by the utter shamelessness of the Death. He knew why he wanted her. It was not just for her rarity and tears, but for power. Mist Runners were an Alpha species of old; if gained and controlled for malice and greed, their hearts would grow dark and with enough torture or pain, they'd submit to their captors. If the Red Death broke her will and had her do his bidding, he would be unstoppable.
Hiccup had to be saved.
…
Waking from her nap, she noticed a black wing over her furred body. The Night Fury was still sound asleep but he looked much more relaxed and at peace than before. Noticing the sky, she could see the heavens turn ginger with long bands of clouds striping the world. As much as she wanted to stay, she knew she had to go home to her mother and father.
I guess there's no training today, she thought as she quietly slipped away from under the Night Fury's hold going unnoticed. Before leaving, she tenderly rubbed her snout onto his, watching as it wiggled slightly from her action.
With soundless grace, she climbed down the tree and ran off to go retrieve her clothing and transformed back into a human. She managed to make it home right as her mother was setting up her plate for dinner.
"Well hello there, Hiccup. You must have had a long day, you've been gone since daybreak," Valka smiled as she presented her with a bowl of mixed mushrooms and cabbage.
"I met my friend again," she said as she chewed on her steamed cabbage.
"The…um," Stoick thought as to what she could possibly be talking about. "Troll?"
She shook her head slowly. "The kitty-cat."
"Ah, yes, the black cat," he nodded. It seemed odd to him at first to hear she had seen a cat on Berk. He figured it must have stowed away onto the island after one of Trader Jaune's visits.
"Did you two have fun like last time?" asked Valka, holding her head up with her palms.
"We talked a bit. He wasn't feeling too well, but he seemed much better after our nap," Hiccup answered finishing her cabbage.
"That's good to hear. Now, finish your meal, take a bath and then it's off to bed with you," Stoick smiled as he finished the chapter in his book at hand.
"Yes, Daddy," she beamed before finishing her bowl of mushrooms and excusing herself from the table.
She was still tired from her cry with the Night Fury and managed to fall asleep quickly and with ease, her mind was in a state of total relaxation that her senses were unaware of the chaos that was about to unfold.
...
Stoick placed his book on the shelf to finish for another day and turned over to Valka. "I'm happy she's able to entertain herself and all, but she's already four and has barely said a thing to the other children. I know to her they may not be the liveliest of conversationalist like her, but I'd just like to see her play about with them for one day. Then maybe she'd stop talking to cats and looking for trolls," he sighed. He wasn't saying it for his sake but hers. With her always in the woods, Mildew had half the village believing she was bewitched. He knew his daughter was normal and so did the other rational citizens of Berk but it still didn't stop many of them from falling for the old man's tales.
"If she feels more comfortable chatting with animals than her peers then that's fine. At least she's not buck wild like the Thorston's troublesome twins," she smirked placing the clean dishes away.
"Trust me, I thank Odin for that… I just want her to be able to make friends who will look after her once we're gone. When my father passed, you all were there for me to relay on and helped me get me through my new role as chief. I'm not saying I'm leaving this world anytime soon, but I want that same kind of support for Hiccup."
Finishing the dishes, she walked over to Stoick and wrapped her arms around him, giving him a sweet kiss. "I do too, but she needs time to feel comfortable with them. It may take a week or even years, but I know she'll find her place in the world."
He was about to return the kiss when the sound of a heavy blow struck the earth, causing both to go into defense mode as they ran out the front door.
It seemed far too early for a raid and this one seemed different. They weren't stealing food but basically destroying whatever was in their path, many with their noses in the air searching for something.
"READY THE CATAPULTS!" Stoick shouted as he raced towards them, his trust hammer in hand.
Valka closed the door behind her and walked up to the second floor to see if Hiccup had awoken from the sound only to see the Storm Cutter over her as he tried to lift her limp sleeping body with his talons. This seemed odd to her, he never came into her room during a raid or tried to carry her when asleep. Something was wrong.
"Let her go, Cloudjumper," she walked up to the Storm Cutter and placed her hand over his back.
The feeling of her touch set him off. He was already in a protective mood and would not allow anything or anyone to interfere with him saving his sister, not even her mother. Using one of his wings, he forced her to the other side of the room with great strength. Valka cringed from the pain to her back but quickly got up and ran back to protect her child.
"Keep away from her!" she punched at his leg, only angering him more. He didn't want to hurt either of them but this mother was being unreasonable. Couldn't she see he was trying to save her child from a life of enslavement? Of course she didn't, he remembered she was human and couldn't understand his speech. What could he do? He could take both but that would prove to be more troubling for the Vikings. He was running out of time.
Valka kept punching at the Storm Cutter. She thought he was her brother, her guardian. So why was he trying to take her away from her? The sound of dragon calls rang loudly in the now night sky, hovering low in search of what was soon to be their ruler's possession. Cloudjumper held his wings up to the skylight to prevent any dragons from seeing him or Hiccup and it was then Valka knew.
"They're looking for her?"
Cloudjumper looked to the frightened woman and nodded his head.
He wasn't trying to harm Hiccup, he only wanted to help. The maternal instinct within Valka told her the safest place for her child was by her side. She needed to know where he was planning to take her and needed to be sure it was safe and warm. As much as she trusted the Cutter she couldn't just hand him her child. He was asking her to give up her precious little Hiccup.
"Please," Valka stood by Hiccup's bed, shielding her from her brother. "Don't take my little girl." There were tears rolling down her face. As much as she wanted Hiccup to be a part of two worlds, she wanted her to make the choice of which to side with when she was ready, not by force.
Cloudjumper looked to the human mother and sighed. He'd show her the Sanctuary, see that it was a suitable environment with a benevolent king that would protect her dragon child from any harm in the world. Once he did, he'd return back and make the trade, the human mother for the dragon child. He knew the Bewilderbeast would allow this, he was too kind and understanding at times.
Taking one of his clawed feet, he grabbed hold of Valka's waist and lifted her off the floor. He motioned his head upward, then to her, to Hiccup next and she understood what he meant. "Deal."
It pained Valka to have to do this, but it was what she needed to do as a mother to make she her baby would be well taken care of. Cloudjumper allowed her to bid a farewell kiss to Hiccup, who stirred up, thought thankfully still in a daze.
"Mama? Why is Cloudjumper carrying you?" Hiccup yawn.
"He and I…are going for a quick trip, that's all," Valka's hands were shaking as she reached for her daughter's.
"Can I come too?"
Valka's breath hitched as more tear cascaded down her cheeks, falling onto Hiccup's like raindrops. "… We have to go now, so go back to sleep."
"Where are you going?" she looked over to Cloudjumper, a sorrowful look in his eyes.
"I-I'm going away for a little while, darling," Valka took hold of Hiccup's sleepy face, focusing it on her and not her brother. She knew this was difficult for him.
"When will you be back?" she was having a hard time keeping her eyes open for some reason.
This was the scariest moment in her life. She had never left Hiccup for an entire day and even though it was a short while, to her it was an eternity. Tightening her grip on Hiccup's limp hand, she kissed her daughter sweetly. "I'll always be here for you, Hiccup," she tried so hard to say that with a smile. "When you wake up, I'll be right by your side."
"Promise..." Hiccup managed before sleep took her back in.
Biting her lower lip, Valka let go of Hiccup's hand and cheek, letting them fall slowly to her side. "I promise."
Not wanting to waste any more time, Cloudjumper sped out of the room and out into the night sky, a trail of tears falling down to Hiccup's face once more.
…
It was right when Stoick was ready to aim the catapult that he saw the Storm Cutter exit the skylight from his house, something limp held in its claws. His strong expression fell to that of dread at the thought of what it might possibly be carrying.
"No…" he whispered before jumping down the platform to the ground and raced back home. The figure in its grasps was motionless and small. He tried to convince himself it wasn't what he thought it to be, that his family was safe and secure in the comforts of home but he couldn't continue those thoughts as the silhouette of a woman came to view. It was uncertain if a smaller being was hidden from view and was being lifted away from his life forever.
"No, no, no, no," he kept running, passed burning barrels and houses, screaming villagers and wild dragons. Sprinting like lightening, the flames blurred from his vision as a faint film of tears spread over his eyes.
Not them! Not my family! he begged in silence to the gods for mercy, pleading for them to rather have the demon take him over his beloved wife and child. They were his everything. His life. His heart could not bare even the thought of losing one and his mind would surely shatter if both were never to return.
With flames branching engulfing his sights and the door to his house seeming to extend further from his grasps, the world around him looked a mess.
…
It was the blue Zippleback who looked over to the Storm Cutter first and gave a sigh of relief. The deed was done and now the two escaping dragons could continue on with their lives with freedom. The left headed brother nodded in the direction of the noble Cutter, wishing safe travels for both him and his sister.
"He's got her!" the left head shouted in joy.
"You idiot, we're not supposed to say anything!" his brother hissed in a harsh whisper but it was too late. The other dragons were looking to them and then to the large Storm Cutter flying off with a slender figure. Angered, the Whispering Death wiped her rotating tail to the blue Fear class dragon, scaring their belly several time in a fit of rage.
"Traitors!" she shouted before tailing after the Cutter hoping to not bring shame to the mission but by that time he had already disappeared into the clouds. Her vengeful scream shattered the silence, calling for all to return back to the nest empty-handed. In all her years, she had never failed a mission. She executed her tasks with pinpoint precision, every time, except this night. The most important retrieval of her life vanished before her blank eyes.
The Runner and Cutter were gone.
…
With a powerful kick, Stoick entered his house as all the dragons were retreating empty-handed. He scanned the main floor and then ran up the steps to the second, seeing only Hiccup sleeping soundly in bed, droplets of clear liquid over her face. She looked so peaceful, like the tragic events moments ago were nothing but a horrible nightmare. Her breathing was whisper like, her chest barely rising or falling. A new fear crept over him.
He took hold of her little shoulders and shook them lightly, hopefully and thankfully, stirring her awake.
"Is it morning already?" she rubbed her eyes in a grouchy yawn. It didn't feel like morning to her. The faint breeze of sunshine didn't enter her nostrils nor did the earth smell of few dew. Something wasn't right and something was missing. Turning her head to view the room, she only saw her father, hovering over her. He was moving his lips to speak and she could tell her was using his loud voice but the world around her remained silent as if trapped in a bubble of muteness. She tried as hard as she could but she couldn't sense her mother. She had a dream she was there a moment ago, telling her she'd be by her side once she woke and yet she wasn't. Hiccup's breathing hardened into harsh and fast gasp, wanting desperately for the world to start making sense again.
"Mama," she jumped out of her father's hold and ran down the stair to the kitchen.
She wasn't there.
She tried the bedroom.
Nothing.
"Mama," Hiccup said a little louder but there was no response.
Closing her eyes, she emptied her mind till the world around her turned white as if she was housed in a world of nothingness, fully allowing her bio sonar to navigate her surrounding until the feeling hit her, or lack of feeling to be exact. She wasn't on the island.
Panic set in as Stoick paced down the steps shouting for her to remain came. His daughter's body was still for a moment before she bolting out the front door, nearly tearing it from the hinges.
"Mama!" she ran out, looking around to make sure she was wrong. She had to be wrong. It was only a dream, right? Her mother and brother leaving her was simply a nightmare. It couldn't have been true. They would never do something like that to her. She was a good girl, a good dragon. So why would they abandon her like this?
People were speechless as they witnessed four-year old Hiccup frantically running around different places around the plaza where she and her mother would go to, just to make sure she was there. They said nothing as she screamed louder, calling desperately for Valka to appear as large droplets began to run down her face. The other children looked to her in a mixture of fear and pity as they held onto their own mother's close. Aarne was standing right beside his uncle, a bucket of water in his hands as he watched Hiccup walk over flames with her bare feet, her skin unharmed by the heat. Although he thought this was odd, he couldn't truly focus on that as the wails of her trembling voice echoed into his eardrums. It was as if the pain of a broken heart hurt far worse than any physical torture the body could endure. She wasn't smiling like she always had. Hiccup's expression was lacked with thick balls of glass-like tears and her flesh appeared paler than death. The look on her face was of utter pain and misery, Aarne's spine shivered at the sight of her anguish, his mouth slightly agar as her figure seemed to be eaten by infernos. He wanted it to stop.
"MAMA!" she continued to weep till the sensation of her mother's pull turned her towards the sea behind her. The howls of her voice stopped, leaving the world in an utter state of death. Her body was still as the air around her became thin, the fires blowing in the heavy wind and leading them to the north. Her eyes dilated to those of a feral animal, and not in control of her mind and body, her instincts sped her towards the pull. Towards the sea and to the cliffs were a vast drop separated Berk from the ocean.
Men and women tried to stop her as she ran towards the cliff side, thinking the loss of her mother was too great for her to bear. Left and right they pounced out for her but it was like her form was carried by the strong winds. They were unable to catch her as her body leapt over the earth and to the uncradled arms of gravity. Her body seemed to remain motionless midair, as if the world was not yet ready to let her go before time unpaused and her small body was sent plummeting down towards the sea. Hiccup's mind was trapped between human and dragon as the cold salty waters filled her lungs, drawing her into darkness.