So... now that Auster has been named, should I put that for the POV? Or keep it as Auster? Because I realise that Auster sound's like a guy's name, and my main character is a girl...

Dry run, Maplefang

Normal Speech

Thought Speech/ Griffin's thought speech

Emphasis/ Dragon Speech

Maplefang's POV

Astrid and Hiccup were scratching me on my head and neck. It felt good, so I let them keep going. Until Astrid scratched the nape of my neck. I couldn't see her hand, and that area is where my scales are soft enough for a dull knife to puncture. I tried to stay calm, but my instincts were telling me to attack this now-threataning figure. I was able to resist it until I heard a voice. What are you waiting for?! That's an enemy! Attack her!

Of course, Griffin had to decide to speak at that moment and let my instincts win. So I growled and jumped at her, barely missing her hand. Hiccup scrambled back but seemed too shocked to do anything. I lunged for Astrid's hand again, but I knew that she would pull back. I put more power into my jump and when I passed by her hand, tilted my head so my spines grazed her palm. She screamed.

I snapped back out of my trance and looked at Astrid. Her hand was bleeding, cut in two places by my spines. I stepped back. What had I done?

Hiccup jumped in front of me, waving his fire sword, but this time he was trying to attack me. I jumped away and put my head in my paws, watching them. Hiccup kneeled down next to Astrid, who was now curled up in a ball. I knew what my venom could do. It takes effect within a few minutes. It causes a fever and other symptoms, eventually rising in temperature to a dangerous level. If the cure wasn't administered within a week, the victim would enter a coma.

Our species used this to keep other dragons away from vital areas on our wings and neck from bites and other claw-to-claw combats. Normally it wasn't so serious for dragons, since they heal quickly and are usually large enough where it doesn't effect them, so the venom usually wears off within a few days. But humans are small enough where it can get to a dangerous level. We needed to get the cure.

I started to walk to Astrid, wanting to comfort her and apologize, but Alpha Toothless (I decided to call him that, but only in my head) jumped in my way and growled at me, Stormfly right behind him. I stepped back a little and found myself suddenly circled with Nadder spines. I wanted to fly out, but it was too risky. The two could shoot me down any second, so I lay down.

Hiccup picked up Astrid and turned to Alpha Toothless, laying her on the front of his saddle and climbing on. He told Stormfly to follow him and looked over to me before taking off. I watched them for a few seconds before I realised something.

They left Snotlout behind. I didn't want to, but I ran back.

Hiccup's POV

I was back at the village within a few minutes, calling for a healer the second we landed. Astrid had to be okay. She had to.

Soon I was in the healer's hut with Astrid laying down on the bed, covered in blankets but still shivering. The healer said her fever wasn't too high yet, but I was still worried. Toothless was next to me, crooning and nudging Astrid. I sighed. Just when everything seemed safe, happy, all better, another thing had to come. My trust with that dragon was getting smaller the worse Astrid got.

One of the villagers opened the door. "Chief! Snotlout is here, with that dragon!"

"Give me a minute." I stood up and walked over to the door, glancing back at Astrid. I really didn't want to see Maplefang again. She caused Astrid's sickness. I opened the door to find Snotlout being taken away to the prison. I gestured for them to keep going. I didn't want to deal with him again. Maplefang was crouched down a few feet away from me, keeping her eyes averted and her posture low. I could tell she was trying to apologize. The only question is, could I forgive her?

I kneeled down so that I was eye level with her, and placed my hand on her snout. She looked up at me for a brief second before looking at the ground again. I rubbed her nose. "It's okay," I whispered. "I'm not the type that holds grudges." Maplefang kept her eyes on the ground, but started to scratch something on the dirt. I leaned back, waiting for her to finish. I KNOW WHERE THE CURE IS. MY HOME ISLAND, it said.

"Her home island," I whispered. The island with the man who tried to kill me, the man who could take control of Maplefang just as easy as any Alpha. Did I want to go there and risk my life again, when I just got back from the dangers of those people? It was obvious. I had to, to help Astrid. I stood up.

"Gobber!" I called. The man came lumbering up to me.

"What do ya' need?" He asked.

"Get Valka. Tell her to pack up for a journey. I'm not sure how long. Until I return, you're in charge of the village," I said.

"Hiccup, are you sure about what you're doing? You're leaving? I don't think I'm very Chief material, you know." Gobber said, looking worried.

"It should just be for a few days. Please, Gobber. I need to do this. The cure for Astrid is on an unknown island. I can't go alone, and I can't leave her here like this," I begged. He sighed, but nodded and walked off.

An hour later, the village was saying their goodbyes as we took off, following Maplefang south. I hadn't really gone this way before, and it wasn't on my map because I didn't see much in that direction. I guess it would take more than a few hours to fly to where we're going.

THREE HOURS LATER

"Hiccup?" My mother asked me. I looked over to my left where she was flying. It was dark now and took me a few seconds to find her figure. "I know you want to keep flying, but it's been a long day. Also, I think if we keep flying for much longer the dragons will tire out. We need to set down." I nodded reluctantly. We needed rest and food. I urged Toothless up to where Maplefang was flying, staring straight ahead.

"Maplefang," she turned her head to me. "We need to set down for the night. Any islands nearby that would be safe?" She made a rumbling sound and started to descend towards a shape I hadn't seen.

We landed inside a small cave. I walked towards the back and found it blocked by stones. I felt a cold wind blow in behind me and looked outside, seeing storm clouds coming in. Winter snows would follow us for a while.

"Looks like it's going to be a cold night," I said. Valka nodded, but the dragons grumbled as if to say we were wrong. I watched the three walk back to where the wall of stones was. They looked like they were searching for something, scrabbling against the rock as if to scratch off a secret. Cloudjumper made a "I discovered something" sound, and all of us crowded around what it was.

"Oh my," Valka said in wonder. I pushed through the crowd of dragons and saw what they did. I gasped.

A hole in the wall showed a huge cavern, lit up by an unseen orange light. All kinds of dragons were inside, sleeping, playing, eating. Toothless shot a small plasma blast and broke the wall down, allowing us to walk through. A wave of heat hit me, and as I reached the edge of the cavern and looked down I saw magma. We were inside a volcano!

"It's beautiful," Valka whispered, looking all around us. Not only was the cavern impressive, but there were all kinds of dragons inside. Nadders, Snaptrappers, Timberjacks, Monstrous Nightmares. Toothless walked out from behind Cloudjumper, obviously curious. As soon as the dragons saw him, they bowed down. We walked through the throng of dragons until we came to a more or less secluded area that still was hit by the warmth. My mother, Toothless, Cloudjumper and myself piled together, but Maplefang lay off to one side, watching the dragons around us.

I studied the Scorchspine. Since I had been surrounded by dragons for ten years, I learned to read the body language and find out the mood of dragons. Maplefang seemed downcast, probably still feeling bad about what she did to Astrid. I shrugged. Once a dragon made up its mind, it probably wasn't going to change it. Besides, the warm hand of sleep was closing in on me. I closed my eyes, feeling safe, and fell asleep.

What do you think? Enjoy? If you're saying "OMG HICCUP IS TOO FORGIVING" think again. He doesn't hold grudges, but his trust is broken. Tricky, tricky. Yes, he did forgive Maplefang, but he probably isn't going to let her come near Astrid any time soon.

Guest: I may have Auster and Griffin return to their normal bodies, but I don't think I'm going to make a sequel to this. Unless you guys say you really want one. I'm thinking of having the story wrap up around chapter 15.

Also, my winter break is almost over, so school will take some of my writing time. Be aware!

Leave a review if you have questions, comments, or just feel like saying something random.

Have a nice day everyone!