Okay, so it took me definitely longer than I planned to do this chapter, but here it finally is.
Shout-out:
Carry on: There you go.
Enjoy, everyone!
Chapter 8
When I arrived at the cove I showed the saddle to my dragon friend and he cheerfully ran away. Out of stubbornness I went after him until he was finally willing to let me put the saddle on his back.
Up in the air is was wonderful. We sped not far above the ground in case of a possible crash. As if on cue the crash happened when a turn didn't succeed and I slipped out of the saddle. We landed in something that looked remarkably similar to grass but according to the way Toothless rolled in it, it wasn't. Curiously I put a bit into my pocket to use in the next dragon training.
The next day this unusual grass helped me to subdue the Gronckle in training, which we were fighting again.
After training actually only wanted to talk to Hilja about Toothless and take her to the cove but the others were following my every step, everyone talking at the same time.
„Hey, Hiccup, I've never seen a Gronckle do that before!"Snotlout shouted excitedly.
I had to somehow get away from this situation so I made up an excuse:
„I left my axe back in the ring. You guys go on ahead. I'll catch up with you." I turned around and almost ran into Astrid who walked a few steps behind us. I was able to swerve just in time and again vanished into the forest unseen.
As soon as Toothless saw me he jumped onto me and wouldn't let me go until I started to scratch him. I got up from under him and continued, possibly touching a sensitive spot as the Nightfury suddenly collapsed, seeming to have dozed off. Astonished I looked at my hands and left the cove.
That night at home Hilja welcomed me with a fully prepared dinner.
„Ah, I already know what you want!"
She smiled.
„I actually wanted to take you today but when everyone was gathered around me after training I just wanted to escape that situation. It would have been too abvious to give you a sign."
„It's okay." Hilja embraced me. I hugged her back and then pushed her back a bit to look her directly in the eyes.
„I promise you to take you with me tomorrow. If I'm going to have to vanish again, then just follow me. But discreetly.
Hilja nodded.
„Now come on, otherwise the food will be cold when we finally start." she said smiling and sat down.
The next day we were once again up against the Nadder, only difference was that this time the walls were missing. When I got the chance I put the dragon down by scratching its chin. Shortly after Astrid ran towards me and angrily looked at me when the Nadder fell.
That afternoon when I made my way to the cove I finally had the chance to introduce Hilja and Toothless to each other. Both were hesitant at first but it only took a few minutes for them to trust one another.
I had taken a few tools with me to work at Toothless' harness. Suddenly the dragon started to jump everywhere. Hilja quietly told me the reason:
„It's your hammer. It reflects the sun and casts a spot of light into the ground." she explained with a giggle.
So then I crouched behind a boulder and sent Toothless all over the cove after the light spot.
In training Gobber introduced us to another new dragon.
„Meet the Terrible Terror!"
He turned the lever but instead of the gate opening I saw a little flash of green shooting out of a flap at the very botton of the gate. The dragon wasn't bigger than our chicken. Everyone around me started laughing.
Tuffnut stood in the front and pointed at the dragon: „Ha! That's like the size of my-"
He was interupted by the little dragon jumping into his face and biting his nose. Tuffnut cried out in pain.
„AH! GET IT OFF! OH, I'M HURT! I AM VERY MUCH HURT!"
I took the opportunity when a single sunray found its way into the arena. With my shield at the right angle I cast a light spot onto the ground like the day before. The little green dragon began chasing it and vanished into its cage after a few seconds.
His face still distorted in pain and holding his nose Tuffnut turned to Astrid: „Wow, he's better than you ever were."
She just cast him a glare, remarkably similar to the one she had given me the day before.
In the afternoon on our way to the cove Hilja and I were suddenly standing right in front of Astrid, who startled aimed her axe at me. I tried to stay unconspicuous despite the suspicious parcel in my arms and quickly vanished into the forest and hid behind a boulder along with Hilja.
„Are you sure she's not gonna find us?" Hilja asked whispering. Instead of answering I just put up my hand silencing her.
Above us I could hear a fist slamming into stone, followed by a disappointed sigh and retreating steps. I triumphantly looked at Hilja and we continued our way.
Arriving at the cove I put the harness onto Toothless and, under Hilja's observant eyes, tried out different tail positions on a hill. At a sudden gust of wind th rope tying Toothless to the ground snapped and we rolled down the hill together. Hilja ran after us, a bit worried.
„Everything alright?" she called breathless. I noddod and stood up, when I noticed something on the saddle. The hook was bent, making it impossible for me to undo the security lines.
„Oh, great", I mumbled. „Maybe not everything is alright ..."
Hilja examined the problem. „You need to go to the forge for this. We didn't bring any tools."
I nodded and started off towards the village, pulling Toothless along.
I hid between the houses near the forge with Toothless, waiting for Hilja to give me the sign that the coast was clear.
When I just started walking a viking came out of his house and greeted me.
„Hiccup." I tried to look naturally and greeted him back. When he finally vanished behind the corner I quickly pulled Toothless into the stall before anyone else would pass by.
Hilja already had a screwdriver ready and handed it to me to bend the hook back in shape.
I quickly started working while Toothless sniffed the items lying around and accidently knocked a bucket over. A few seconds later I could hear Astrid's voice from outside.
„Hiccup? Hilja? Is anyone of you in there?"
I looked at Hilja and handed her the screwdriver back. Then I quickly climbed out of the window and shut the blinds again.
„Astrid. Hey! Hi, Astrid. Hi, Astrid. Hi, Astrid." I could hear a slapping sound from inside but decided to ignore what had most likely been my sister facepalming.
Astrid came directly to the point.
„I normally don't care what people do, but you're acting weird."
Something seemed to distract Toothless because I was suddenly pulled back towards the forge. „Toothless, stop it!" I could hear Hilja hiss from inside.
„Well, weirder." Astrid took a few steps toward me, while I was first pulled onto the windowsill and then completely vanished.
I quickly got up and jumped into the saddle. Hilja had meanwhile managed to open the hook.
„Come on! Before she comes in!" I whispered to her. Reluctantly my sister got into the saddle behind me and firmly held onto me. We left the forge through the backdoor just in time as I heard Astrid opening the blinds.
Before taking off I turned around to look at my sister.
„What exactly was distracting Toothless?"
„Oh, there was a sheep standing in front of the forge and he implicitly wanted to go there. Look!" Hilja pointed at the sheep, while we took of in the cover of night.
