Oh, boy, this is really long. Longest chapter I've written for this thing.
Well, hope you enjoy it.
Hiccup's POV
I open my eyes lazily to the empty room. Irene's makeshift bed is folded at a corner and it's owner is nowhere to be found.
I sit up with a grunt. I really don't want to go to dragon training but if i don't Gobber will just drag me there. Thank you, but I'd like to keep my dignity.
I get down to find a bowl upside-down on the table with a note next to it.
Hiccup,
You were still asleep so I let you sleep. I went to the Greate Hall for breakfast and brought you some. I hope it's still warm.
Irene.
P.S. If you don't come at dragon training I'll drag you to the arena by the ear. I'm not kidding.
Even if she just threatened me, I can't help but smile. Ever since Irene came I actually had a friend who wouldn't tell me I have to change. It's a nice change.
After I ate my break fast I took the axe dad gave me and dragged it to the arena. Literaly.
Once at the arena, I saw everyone was already inside.
"I hope I get some serious burns" I hear Tuffnut say. Irene, who was walking with the others, turns her head around and smiles at me.
Is it just me, or does she always seem to know when I'm around?
"I'm hoping for some mulling. Like, on my shoulder or lower back" adds Ruffnut. Oh, come on! Why would some one want that?!
"Yeah, it's only fun if you get a scar out of it" says Astrid.
"Yeah, no kidding" I pop in. "Pain; love it."
Irene ckukles, thought the others don't react like her.
"Oh, great, who let him in?" asks Tuffnut.
Irene groans at him but doesn't get to say anything because Gobber butts in.
"Let's get started! The recruit who does best in training will get the honor to kill his first dragon infront of the entaire village!"
"What kind of honor is that?" whispers Irene at me without anyone hearing.
"Hiccup already killed a Night Fury, so does that disqualify him or...?"
"Oh, afraid you'll lose Snotface?" teases him Irene.
"Like I'd ever lose to him."
"Whatever you want" she says, raising her arms up in surrender. Snotlout smirks, thinking he won but then I rene continues. "But you've got my word on this; this little fishbone here is going to be a hero."
Right now I want her to just stop. It's uncomfortable being on the spotligh, but I can't help but wonder why she has so mcuh confidence in me.
"When that happens Vikings will fly and I'll eat my helmet" says Snotlout and I don't miss Irene's big smile, like he just said a joke only she could understand.
"Hey, you're not here to fight each other, you're here to learn how to fight dragons" says Gobber and walks to the cages.
We all stand lined up, waiting for Gobber to start the lesson.
"Behind those doors are just a few of the species you will learn how to fight."
"The Deadly Nadder" gestures Gobber at one of the doors. Terrible roars echo from inside.
"Speed 8, armor 16" says Fishlegs excited.
"The Hiddeous Zippleback."
"Plus 11 stealth. Tmes 2."
"The Monstorus Nightmare."
"Firepower 15."
"The Terrible Terror."
"Venom 12."
"CAN YA STOP THAT?!" yells Gobber and then continues. "And the Gronkle."
"Jaw-strenth 8" whispers Fishlegs.
"How does that help us?" whispers Irene back.
"Whoa, wait, aren't you gonna teach us first?" asks Snotlout. Gobber's hand is on the lever to the Gronkle's cage.
"He believes in learning on the job" points out Irene.
"What the lass said!"
And with that the Gronkle is free.
Irene, who was standing on her toes, jumps out of the way. The rest of us follow her example and get out of the way. Well, except for the twins, who rush right at it.
"Today is about survival. If ya get blasted, ya dead. Quick, what's the first thing you'r going to need?" shoots Gobber.
"A doctor?!" I suggest.
"That's for later!" yells Irene, never stopping running.
"Plus 5 speed?" asks Fishlegs.
"What the heck does that mean?!" yells Irene again.
"A shield" says Astrid confidently.
"Shields! GO!" yells Gobber and we all grab a shield.
"The most important part of you equipment is your shield! If you must make a choice between a shord and shield, take the shield."
I have trouble lifting mine, but Irene helps me, putting the shield in my right hand the axe in my left. It feels strangly better now.
As I run, I see the twins fighting for a shield and then getting blasted.
"Those shields are good for another thing! Noise! Make lots of it! Throws off a dragons aim!"
We all start hitting our shields with our weapons and the dragon infront of us flies dizily.
"Every dragon has a limited number of shots. How many does a Gronkle have?" asks Gobber.
"Five?" guesses Snotlout.
"No, six!" corrects him Fishlegs.
"Correct!That means only one will survive!"
"I really don't think my parents would-" starts Fishlegs but gets cut off from the Gronkles fire.
"Fishlegs, out."
In the meantime, I'm hidding behind a weapons rack, trying to not be killed. While I'm there I notice how Irene moves. No, not in a creepy way, it's just that it seems like she knows where the dragon will go, moving like this is some kind of choreography.
"Hiccup, get in there!" yells Gobber. I do as I was told, the Gronkle almost roasting me alive but thank Thor it missed.
Irene is bouncing on her heels, ready for an attack and so is Astrid. Snotlout is flirting with Astrid, and caught up on his failed atempt to charm her, he doesn't see the blast knocking his shield off his hands.
"Snotlout! You're done!" yells Gobber.
Astrid rolls out of the way and stands next to me.
"So, I guess it's just you and me huh?" I ask, trying to play cool and failing miserably.
"Nope, just you!" says Astrid and runs out of the way. I look at her confuced and-
BAM!
The Gronkle fired at me while I wasn't looking, making my shield fly off my hands.
"One shot left!" yells Gobber.
I run after it, really not wanting to be unprotected with a dragon in the room.
I peek over my shoulder and the Gronkle is chasing after me. My eyes go wide and I run faster.
But of course, I had to mess up running for my life, didn't I? I trip and find myself on the floor. I quikly back away but hit the wall.
And for second time in two days, I'm pressed against a wall with an angry dragon towering over me. I can hear my heart beating in my ears, I can feel the warmth emitting from the dragons mouth. I close my eyes, too scared to see the blast that will take my life hitting me.
BAM!
I open my eyes hesitantly. I don't get it; nothing hurts and I'm still at the arena.
A little ways away, the Gronkle tries to steady itself. What just happened.
And the I finally notice her. Irene is standing infront of me, her shield completly destroyed at her feet. She's holding her left shoulder hit her hand and even though she has maniac smile on her face I can see the pain in her eyes.
But I can also see the determenation.
"What's up you over-grown sausage? I thought you were tougher that that, I guess I was wrong" she teases the dragon. In responed, the Gronkle lets out a furious roar and chases after her.
Irene starts running, the Gronkle hot on her tail. We all watch speechless as she runs,making sharp turns that cause the Gronkle to hit the wall hard.
After about five minutes of running, she stands infront of the Gronkle's cage. Said dragon is at the other side of the arena, dizy after another run in with the wall.
"Aw, the big bad dragon is hurt? Ha, come and get me, fatshow!" she exclaims, moving her... rear at the dragons face.
I guess the Gronkle didn't like that. It charges at irene but she just stands there, not moving an inch.
Then, at the last second she falls to the floor right before the Gronkle hits angry dragon flies over her and hits the wall.
Irene jumps up and closes the door to the cage as fast as she can.
Wipping the sweat form her brows, she sights heavily. She sprints to me and helps me up.
"Are you alright?" she asks. Too stunned to speack, I nob.
"And, umm, that's six" says Gobber, as shocked as the rest of us.
"Good job Irene." Gobber pats her on the back and her tough facade slips off, cringing in pain and grapping her shoulder.
"But remember; a dragon will always" he looks sternly at me, "always go for the kill."
Then, why didn't the Night Fury?
Irene's POV
Man, that was tiring. I think as I move my wounded shoulder.
I don't know why I did it. I knew Gobber would save Hiccup, yet before I knew it i was rushing at Meatlug.
I'm really sorry for teasing her like that, guess dragon or human, no woman likes to be called fat. I'm going to apologise to her as soon as I can.
After the whole incident at the arena, Gobber incisted that I go to Gothi to check my shoulder. Hiccup was there the whole time, I could tell he was guilty that I got hurt saving his butt. I kept telling him that I was fine, and as Gothi, I only had a bruise.
Hey, I wasn't damn enough to hit Meatlug with my bare shoulder. I put my shield infront of my shoulder so I didn't break anything. Other than the shield.
When we finished with my little check up, I told Hiccup I was going to take a nap. Which wasn't true. It was as obvious as the sun that he wanted to go find Toothless so I left.
I was debating with myself if I should go with him to meet Toothless, but at the end I devieded not to. I know it must sound kind of wierd but I feel like the scenes when Hiccup and Toothless bond are sacred. It's just between the two of them and I want to keep it that way.
So now I'm walking through the forest aimlessly, my messanger bag bouncing on my lap as I walk.
I'm lost in my thoughts when I hear a silent whimper. I automaticly freeze and hear carefully. Letting my curiousity win, I follow the silent noise.
After a few minutes of walking I end up at a clearing. But it's not naural. The trees and bushes have obviously been demmaged.
And in the middle of the little clearing lies its creator.
Lying on the ground is a dragon. Since it's down I can't see how tall it is or how big its wings are. It's as long as a horse, with a round head and pointed snout. Its ears reminds me of Toothless' and it has four dark brown fins at both sides of its face. There's a serie of fins at the same color starting about an inch over its eyes and reaching the tip of its tail. The tail is pretty long a the tail fins are pointed, at the same brown tone.
This dragon here would have a really hard time hidding. It's whole body is bright orange with dark brown markings along its head, spine and at its knees.
But the most memorable thing about it would be it's eyes. Big, cat-like and yellow like the sun.
The whines I heard before are gone and the dragon looks at me scared.
"Shh, it's okay" I say as calmy as I can, moving closer. In respond, the dragon inches away, growling silently. "I'm not gonna hurt you."
The dragon stops it's silent growling, and looks at me curiously.
"I promise" I say, my left hand over my heart and the right on the air.
The dragon seems to relax after this and I walk closer. I'm in arms legnth from it when it starts growling again. My eyes widen, realizing what it wants and on a quick move I grab my dagger from my bag and throw it as far as I can.
"Happy?" I ask and it replies with a small nob.
"That's good" I smile. "Say, are you hungry?"
At that, the dragon moves its head up and down fast and looks at me almost pleading.
I gigle a little and reach in my bag, taking out a chiken leg I took with me to eat. I extened my arm, waiting for the dragon to take it.
I don't need to say anything, it has already extended its head and takes the chiken leg from my hand and gulps it loud.
"You.. ate all of it" I say in astonisment. "Even the bone."
The dragon looks at me apologeticly and spits the bone on my lap, a small patch of meat still on it. It gestures at it whith its head.
Ugh, come on. Do I have to? Well, at least its not raw fish.
I raise the bone to my mouth and eat the meat. I swallow it and my eyes go wide. This is good. Warm, but spicy.
I just enjoyed eating chiken coming out of the belly of a dragon. It's official. I've reached a new level of weirdness.
"That... was surprizengly tasty" I admit.
Infront of me, the dragon purrs but stops sharply, cringing in pain.
"Are you hurt boy?" I ask conserned.
It nobs, but growls at me.
"Um, girl?"
It- sorry, she nobs.
"Come on, show me where you hurt. Maybe I can help you" I tell her, moving closer, but she backs away.
"Do you trust me?" I ask, holding my hand infront of her face.
I can fell her eyes on me as I turn my head around and wait for her to do something.
And thankfully, she doesn't cut my arm off but rest her snout in my palm.
I look back at her, mesmerized by the sencetion. Its warm, like I'm sitting infront of the fire place but not uncomfortable at all.
We stay like that for a little while untill sh pulls back and opens up her right wing for me. The simple movement makes her hurt.
On her wing is the same dark brown patern that reminds me of lava. But that's not what has caught my attention. From the hem of her wing almost all the way up is a nasty cut.
"Ouch, that must hurt a lot" I mutter and she replies to me with a sarcadtic croon, like she's saying "No kidding, really Sherlock?"
"Okay, I want you to stay here and be as silent as you can. I'll be back as fast as I can."
With that, I run back to the village in top speed. When I reach it I head to the forge and grab a needle, threat and the bottle with mead I found under Gobbers workbench.
After that, I go to the healer's hut. Thankfully, Gothi isn't here, so I grab some bamdages and the cream she usedf on my cuts and run back to the woods.
When I reach the clearing again, I see her waiting there for me, wing stil opened.
"Alright, now stay still, this might burn a bit" I tell her and pour some of the mead on the cut to disinfect it.
I open the vaze with the cream and put som on the cut. After I dip both the threat and needle on the mead, I start sewing her up. She cringes every time I do but I keep calming her down.
"Well, that must be enough. Now, come on we need to find somewhere for you to hide. If you stay here the Vikings, might catch you."
She stands up and now is a head tallel than me. We walk together through the forest when we find a cave. We both get it. It's a little cold, but spacious.
"Okay, I want you to stay here and rest. I'll come again tommorow and bring some food" I say. In respond she nobbs at me and liks my hand.
"Haha, alright, see ya later..." I start saying when I notice how her eyes shine in the dark, like a pair of embers.
"Ember."
And in case you're intrested, I have a drawing of Ember at my acount at deviantART, I have a link in my profile.
