Great turn out for the last chapter, especially since Astrid accepted Hiccup's feelings.

7: The Dragon in the Forest

Toothless

The day was warmer than usual for the island of Berk. There was barely a breeze, which meant the sun beat down on the frigid island with all its fiery might. It would still seem cold to most outlanders, but to the Vikings that called the island home, it was a beautifully warm day. The perfect day for a picnic. Which was exactly what to young Berkians were enjoying at the moment.

It was highly inappropriate for a courting couple to be left alone during their courtship, but Hiccup was trusted enough, as the chief's son, to know better than to try any funny business with his intended, and Astrid was by far the most responsible person her age on the island. And everyone figured that they owed it to the pair after all that had happened. Astrid especially.

The young woman was thoroughly enjoying herself as she laid her head against Hiccup's surprisingly comfortable shoulder while the two laid out on a blanket after finishing a small meal under the branches of a large oak tree. "So you really passed out?" She asked, a smile evident in her voice, "Like, totally fainted?"

Hiccup grinned down at her, "Well, I had just run into a Night Fury," he pointed out, "What was I supposed to do?"

Astrid giggled rising up to look down at him, "Well, if it were me, I'd probably have that dragon's head on my wall, right between the two Nadders." She said. Hiccup rolled his eyes at her, marveling at how the sunlight caught in her hair. "What?" She asked, having caught him staring.

"Nothing," he said, reaching up to cup her cheek, "You're just the most beautiful woman I've ever seen." Astrid hummed and leaned into his touch, covering his hand with her own.

"Always with the corny lines," she sighed, leaning over him, loose strands of her hair tickling his face, "But I love that about you." She leaned closer until her lips were hovering just over his.

Hiccups arms circled around her slim figure, "I always aim to please, M'lady." He leaned up, closing the remaining distance between them. It was the first real kiss they had shared since becoming a couple, not counting the small pecks he'd gotten, though he probably should have. But the kiss they were sharing now was something entirely different.

Astrid had always been a bit hesitant with her shows of affections, but that was all in the past now. Of course, she was still shy about openly showing her affections around other, including Stoick, but that didn't bother him at all. Every moment he could spend with her was precious to him, and he preferred to have her all to himself.

A soft moan escaped her as she felt his hands on her back through the material of her dress, yes, she had actually, for the first time in her life, worn a dress. Naturally, she had wanted to try them on when she first found them, and now seemed like the perfect chance. Hiccup certain hadn't seemed to mind, if his slack jaw had been anything to go on.

She leaned away from him, her cheeks flushed, and her breathing coming a little harder than usual, "You're also a really good kisser, you know?"

"Thank Freya for that," he breathed out, "I thought I'd be bad at it. You know, not too popular with the local ladies and all."

Astrid burst into a fit of giggles at this, and laid back against his shoulders, "Well, while I'm a little put off that I never had any sort of competition," she relented, closing her eyes and enjoying the warmth of the combined bodies, "I'm certainly glad I don't have to share you. I guess I'm a little greedy like that, huh?"

"I don't mind," he said, smiling as he wrapped one arm around her while he placed the other behind his head, sighing, "But, Astrid, about the dragons - "

Astrid shook her head, "They killed my family," she said, not willing to think about their fate, "I know you want to think of better ways to win this war, but please, Hiccup, don't ask me to look at them differently." She said, levering herself back up, "I'm not asking you to choose between your ideals, or ideas...just...please don't make me change...not with this."

Hiccup sighed, a slight frown on his face, "I don't want you to change, Astrid, I mean, I should hate dragons, too. They took my mom." He said, sitting up with her against his chest, "But it's different for me. I never knew her, so I don't feel the pain you do. And yeah, I've been trying to be a just like the others for most of my life until I realized I just wasn't cut out t be a dragon fighter." He said, scooting back against the tree with her following him, "And then...I find this amazing beach with all sort of metals I've never seen before, and find out that it's all been produced by Gronkles. And when I'm minding the village, I come face to face with probably the world's largest dragon, and I touch it, Astrid, actually touch it!" He gained an excited smile on his face that made Astrid smile in turn.

In truth, she thought it was amazing that he had been so brave, and that the dragon hadn't eaten him right there and then given how aggressive the one she had seen was.

"And then, when I'm out gathering metal again," he said, smiling down at her with those amazed green eyes she loved so much, "I put down my bow for not even five minutes, and there's a Night Fury sitting right behind me." He sighed, looking up through the branches of the tree, "A dragon will always go for a kill," he recited from his days in dragon training, "But there it was, and it was probably watching for the entire time, just sitting there, watching me, like it was curious about me, not five feet from me!"

"And then it flew away," Astrid put in, sighing. "You came really close to getting killed again, and doing something stupid."

"I know, but," Hiccup sighed, not knowing how to word it, "I know it sounds strange, but I don't think it would've hurt me unless I went for my weapons."

Astrid shrugged, "Maybe, maybe not. I'm still not changing my mind, babe," she said stubbornly, "You'd have to do something pretty spectacular to do that."

Hiccup chuckled, giving her a small squeeze around her shoulders. "Don't tempt me, Astrid," he smiled, pressing a kiss against her forehead, "You'll find that I tend to dream and dream big," he tipped her chin up, smiling warmly, "Every night I lie in bed, the brightest colors fill my head. Dreams of you by my side, of flying through the air on dragon wings. Seeing far off lands beyond the archipelago."

Astrid giggled, "Well, whatever dreams you have, and wherever they take you," she sighed, and snuggled back into his shoulder, "You'd better believe I'm gonna be right there with you. Just don't go sprouting wings on me, okay?"

"Only in my dreams." He sighed, closing his eyes, and leaning his head against hers. Within moments, both were sleeping soundly.

And both were unaware of the pair of eyes watching them in interest.

=x=

Stoick sighed as he stood among his people in the council room, "As ye all know, our recent venture tae search out the nest has yielded nothing more than failure," he said, "But, this last voyage did bring about a something new. As we entered the fog of Helheim's Gate, we were attacked almost immediately by a colossal dragon. A beast so large that its teeth were longer than I am tall," he looked at the varying reactions around the room as the information sank in.

"What do we do about a beast like that?" Bjorn asked loudly for most of the others wanted to know the same.

Stoick sighed, "We have tae prepare for the worst," he said, frowning, "The beast flew at us, so it may decide tae leave that island in search of food. Astrid figures that the raids happen because that giant beast is forcing the smaller dragons to hunt for it, like a bee hive. It's their queen, and they are the workers, and I bet she eat them just as well if they've not fed her enough."

Mildew thumped his staff, "And what would ye have us do, Chief," the man asked shrilly, "Are we tae make offerings tae this beast? Will we have to offer up our people as its food?"

Gobber rolled his eyes and shook his hook at the man, "Ye be the only one that would say such a t'ing, ye old sheep plougher!" His comment drew laughter from those that knew Mildew, and an angry squawk from the man himself, "Now, fer those o' ye that have half a brain, keep listenin' else I might just usin' ye as bait fer the beast m'self!

"Thank you, Gobber," Stoick growled, shaking his head, "Now there's not going tae be any offerings tae this beast. We've lost enough without turning on each other, again I might add," he glared at Spitelout, and some of the others gathered, recalling what he'd been told of the Hofferson home. "What I've done is I've called a meeting with all of the other tribes here on Berk. Snoggletod is fast approaching, and the raids are done for a few months. Together, we chiefs will decide how best tae deal with the dragon. If it dies, then I'm almost certain that the raids will be over for good, or at least be less frequent. But needless tae say, that giant has tae go, before it decides to go looking for food on its own!"

"Chief," Freydis Thorston said, "When you said you called out to all the chiefs, did you mean - "

"Aye, Freydis," Stoick nodded, "I called out to Alving and Olaf as well," he said, feeling slightly shameful. "The Outcasts and Lava-louts are just as beset by dragons as we are, and if they had the chance to end it, then they may help. If not, then to Hel with them. Those icy plains are for cowards and oath-breakers, and anyone that wouldn't want this war done with is just that!"

"Then explain why ye 'ave that whelp o' yers working on 'is contraptions again," Mildew shrilled, gaining murmurs of agreement, "When 'e was tinkerin' with those things 'efore, 'e nearly killed us all!"

Stoick turned to the man, who shrank back under the withering glare on the man's face, "Hiccup has grown since then, and he's quite capable with his inventions. Who do ye think services the catapults?" He said, sneering at the man, "And I heard about the crack ye made about the boy's mother...my wife if ye remember correctly, Mildew. Insult either one of them again, and I'll follow up on Gobber's threat, and feed ye tae that thing!"

"The boy is brave," whispered Gothi in her rasping voice, gaining all of their attention. "He has Valka's mind, yet he has his father's as well when he thinks of his people." She smiled at the chief, "All of us were present and watched as he bravely reached out to the Luminous Krayfin, and did what no other has ever done. And the Krayfin did not attack." She thumped her staff, "I do not have the sight, but I can tell you all that this boy will bring a great upheaval to us all."

"Ye see!" Mildew shrilled again, "The wise woman even thinks 'e's - "

Gothi thumped her staff loudly against the table, silencing the old sheep herder, "I think that he will make a good chief when Stoick thinks he is ready," she said, glaring at the man, "Do not let your hatred cloud your already dimming eyes. He is no longer considered a 'Hiccup'. He is strong, and just. Just as his father wished him to be. He is a dreamer. A thinker. Such people are sorely needed in these trying times."

Stoick inclined his head to the elder, "Thank ye for yer kind words, Elder Gothi." He said, turning to address his people again, "When the Lava-louts get here, we must watch them, even though we have extended the hand of peace, that does not mean they will act accordingly with that one-browed maniac as their chief." He said, "And as fer Hiccup, he's going to be coming up with new weapons tae combat that beast. Just catapults will not be enough. He already designed something that lookls like a giant bow that will launch spears at the beast - "

"Ballista, he calls it," Gobber put in, holding a role of parchment, "An' I have tae admit, the thing looks pretty damned powerful. And easy enough for someone half Hiccup's size tae use. Pull two levers, and the spear's away."

"That might work," Ack said, "Spears are always good. And with that new metal the lad's been scrounging up, they'll be sharper than dragon fangs."

"Now if he can only find a way out of Astrid's arms." Flay commented with a toothy smile, which amused everyone more than it should have, including the chief. He did not see his son away from Astrid any time soon. But Hiccup hadn't been shirking his duties, far from it. He seemed to be working doubly hard as well as making time to spend with the girl he had been pining after for the better part of seven years.

=x=

A familiar huff of hot breath began to rouse him. The sound of snuffling annoying him, if only because whatever it was that was doing it was doing so annoyingly close his ears. And then a snort right into his left ear had him snapping his eyes open to a familiar black rounded snout, and acid green eyes looking at him curiously.

The Night Fury was back.

Looking down at Astrid, he saw that she had yet to be awakened by the beast's noise, and smiled. As slowly as he had the first time, he raised his right hand to the beast's snout. He closed his eyes, having complete trust in the animal. The snorting came again as the beast's breath heated up his hand, so close...and then he felt the scaly, yet smooth hide of the dragon pressing its nose into his palm. He opened his eyes, and found that the Night Fury had done the same thing. It's eyes were completely closed with its nose against his palm.

Hiccup felt his heart take off like a Speed Stinger on open ground. Unlike the Krayfin, whose skin had bee smooth and slippery to the touch, the Night Fury's was slightly rough because of its scales, yet it fell warm, and smooth because the scales around it face were smaller, and closer to regular skin than the rest if its body, less armored, just like the smooth underbelly.

The dragon opened its eyes, and Hiccup offered the beast a smile as he drew back. The Night Fury cocked its head curiously, before the lips quivered, and parted.

The boy's eyes widened in wonder as teh dragon attempted what he could only call a smile...albeit a toothless smile as the mouth appeared to be nothing but gums. "Huh, I could've sworn you had - " Astrid shifted against him, startling the dragon slightly, and its teeth appeared right out of the gummy sheaths, "teeth!" He gulped, and nearly laughed, as the beast looked at the girl in his arms. He gave her a gentle nudge, "Astrid."

"Mm," she mumbled sleepily, "Hic, I'm not ready to wake up, yet."

Hiccup smirked, "Well, I think you'd better, because there's a dragon sniffing at you right now, M'lady." He said as "Toothless" leaned forward and gave a small sniff at the girl.

"Haha, very...funny..." She said, opening her eyes when she felt the dragons breath. Panic gripped her as soon as she saw the large black head so near her, "Oh, Freya..."

Hiccup's arm tightened around her reassuringly, "Shh, just don't move," he told her, reaching his hand up again toward the beast. Toothless turned his head toward the boy's offered hand, looking back and forth between it and the girl. Astrid fully expected teh beast to bite his hand off at any moment. But then she watched in pure amazement as the dragon gave a rumble in its throat, and rubbed its had against Hiccup's hand.

"This...this isn't happening," Astrid breathed out as the dragon purred and warbled while Hiccup scratched him. "This is a Night Fury!"

Hiccup nodded, "Yeah, and he's not even attacking us, is he?" He smiled as Toothless crooned happily, "You're not mean at all, are ya, bud?"

Toothless gave a shake of his head not unlike a dog, and looked to Astrid, who was still thoroughly petrified, "Uh, Hiccup, it-he's looking at me," she mumbled.

Hiccup smiled and took hold of one of her hands, hand slowly held it out to the dragon along with his own, "It's okay, Astrid," he promised, looking at the dragon, "hey there, big guy, this is Astrid," he said, as the girl allowed her hand to be stretched out in front of her, too stunned to refuse as the dragon sniffed at her, scenting both her, and the boy that he had taken a liking to.

He pressed against her hand, arching into her like a cat, and Astrid gasped, her body trembling, "It...It's so warm..." she breathed out, her eyes wide with shock as she slowly began to pet the dragon. "I...I always thought they were cold to the touch..."

"Some, maybe," Hiccup said, taking his hand away. "But not this one."

Toothless sat back when Astrid pulled her hand away, and began backing away as the pair of them stood up. He say on his haunches as Astrid stood stiffly while Hiccup went about gathering up their things, not even the least bit afraid of the legendary dragon no one had ever seen before outside of himself.

"Hiccup," the girl looked at the young man, "I don't understand...why...why isn't he attacking us?"

Hiccup smiled as he rolled up their picnic blanket, "Well, you don't have a weapon, and he already know's that I wouldn't hurt him," he said, admiring her slim figure in that dress, "It's like I thought before, he wouldn't attack unless he felt threatened."

The dragon sidled up to him, sniffing at the basket their lunch had been in, the boy laughing before reaching in and pulling out a chunk of leftover bread, and letting the dragon sniff at it before he gently took it in his mouth and ate it.

Astrid didn't know how to feel about this. On the one hand, though she knew all dragons could no longer be held accountable for their actions, she still blamed them for her parents' death. But this dragon was far from the monsters she had grown up fighting tooth and nail with. It was downright friendly when she looked at it closely, and strangely beautiful when she noted all of the darker strip patterns all over its body.

Giving Toothless one last scratch under his chin, he turned to the Shield Maiden, "We should be heading back," he said, "Toothless might be friendly, but who knows how that Nightmare would act if we ran into it?"

"Toothless?" Astrid giggled, looking at the beast, "Why name him that of all things?"

In answer the dragon gave a small croon, and showed her his gummy smile that had her covering her mouth with laughter. "Oh, Gods, I -" She sputtered at the ridiculous sight.

Hiccupt patted the dragon's head, "We've gotta go, bud, but I promise we'll be back." He said, looking at Astrid, who could only nod. He then reached his free arm around her waste, and the two strolled back toward the village. Toothless watched them go, his head tilted like a puppy's, a small croon coming from him. And then, slowly, he began to tail after them.

=x=

"So how was it?" Ruffnut asked as she helped Astrid out of her dress that evening, "Your little date with Hiccup?"

Astrid, muffled by the dress being pulled over her head, grumbled, something about nosy friends. But the girl couldn't blame her. Good gossip was good gossip. And that was rare on such small islands like Berk. "It was nice, I'll admit," she said before reaching for her night dress, "I always knew he was sweet, and all, but this is the first time I got to know just how sweet."

Ruffnut giggled, "I've been trying to tell you for years, Astrid," she said, grinning, "and just wait until you see him with his shirt off!"

"What?!" Astrid gave her a sharp look, "Oh, no you don't, Ruff! You had your shot at him! He's mine!"

Ruffnut sputtered out a laugh, "Oh, please! He's so not my type!" She assured her friend, "But Gods if he isn't nice to look at," she said, fanning herself a little, "He may not be the typical Viking, honey, but he does have nice muscles. Who knew non-bulging muscles could be so attractive?"

"Uh, you've met Snotlout, right?" Astrid said, sitting on the edge of her bed, "If anyone could turn you off big, bulging muscles, it's him."

The Thorston girl sat beside her, giving a slight nod, "Yeah, well, now that Hiccup's off the table, I don't have a lot of options, and I don't know about you, but Fishlegs isn't exactly my type, either, so Snot's my best bet, unless some cute sailor happens to wash up on our shores."

Astrid giggled, "We're never that lucky," she pointed out. "There's always someone from another tribe?"

"Nah, who'd be around to keep Tuff out of trouble?"

"Out of trouble?" Astrid asked, giving her friend a slant-eyed look.

"Okay, okay, so I'd cause half the trouble and blame it all on him," she relented, smiling a bit, "But I can't think of living anywhere else besides here. Who wants to go to another tribe where nobody knows you and you don't know anybody?" She said, "Besides, I doubt anyone else would appreciate the famous Thorston humor."

"I know I don't," Astrid smirked at her, "I'm still wondering how you convinced Camicazi to help you out that one time when the Bog-Burglars were visiting."

Ruffnut grinned, and started polishing her nails on her tunic, "Oh, that was easy. She claimed to be the best thief in all the tribes and I dared her to prove it by stealing Spitelout's favorite stuffed Nightmare head. Scaring the shit out of Gobber was just the bonus for us. An insanely hilarious bonus."

"Gobber still complains about ruining his favorite pair of undies," Astrid rolled her eyes, "As if we needed to hear that!"

"Speaking of hearsay, I heard from Mom that Stoick called a meetin of all the tribes, including the Lava-louts, and the Outcasts," the girl frowned, crossing her arms, "The Outcasts I can kinda get, but those Lava-louts are trouble, we've been fighting with them for years, now. And do you have any idea how they treat their women?"

"Not good," Astrid shook her head, "And I head that their leader is a real piece work. A giant, from what some of the others say."

Ruffnut shrugged, "And one huge-ass eyebrow across his head. Looks like one of those fuzzy worms you see around Spring time."

Astrid giggled, "I wouldn't let him hear you say that," she said, smiling, "He's not rumored to be the nicest of people."

"I don't plan to be around when he gets here," Ruffnut said, rising from the bed and heading out, "See you tomorrow, Astrid."

Astrid gave a small wave, "Goodnight, Ruff. Watch out on your way home." She smiled and went about blowing out candles until only the one by her bed was lit. Sighing happily as she settled into her soft, comfortable bed, she blew out the last light, falling asleep in moments, dreaming of the day she had had. And the dragon the had entered into her life along side the boy who had befriended him.

Shorter chapter, I know, but this was just an intro for Toothless. Now, some may think that Astrid's reaction was far too lax, but keep in mind that she no longer has a weapon, and Hiccup was as calm as a...Hotburple in the shade :p

Now, as for the tribes, the Lava-louts will all be OCs, and Alvin will be slightly different.

Anyway, Happy New Year, and please leave a review if you liked the chapter!