As soon as I got home I ran to my room blushing bright red and giggling quietly. He kissed me! We hadn't done anywhere near that for a while and I figured it was a mistake that he wanted to forget so I hadn't brought it up. But he kissed me!
I fell onto my bed hiding my face in the pillow, I was acting as if he'd asked me to marry him not just a peck on the cheek.
I forced myself to sleep once I got myself under control, curling in on myself and thinking though some topic I can't remember before falling asleep.
I could smell some faintly burning coming up the stairs and wrinkled my nose at the horrid smell. The clock in my room flashed that it was half eight as I forced myself up, unable to sleep more. Even if it was horrible my stomach rumbled at the thought of eating something non-fish related.
I got dressed quickly, running downstairs both for the food and to see why the burning smell was getting worse. What I saw was my father sat by the kitchen table slumped over it with food cooking behind him.
Turning the oven off before it caught fire I shook him awake.
"Dad, what are you doing?"
"Uh, what, who?" He looked up through tired eyes, "Oh, Sarah, I was just cooking breakfast."
"Breakfast is burned dad, why were you sleeping?"
"Well, I didn't sleep much last night, I was worried about you." A shard of guilt imbedded itself in my heart hearing that. I gave him a quick hug before turning the oven off and throwing the burnt food away, it resembled coal more than food at the moment anyway.
"I'm sorry."
"No, no, it's not your fault you got caught in the rain, I'm just glad you had somewhere to shelter." I glanced across at him watching as he took in a deep breath. Poor dad, I'd really been causing him trouble these past few days. I was so meek, mild-mannered and well behaved before, he probably has no idea what to do about me.
"I'll be here for as long as I can today."
"Sarah, tell me something and tell me straight." He took a deep breath. "Are you seeing someone?" My face flared red as Arden's face popped into my head, I didn't know what to say. Were we seeing each other? I wasn't sure, he kissed me but that doesn't mean we're dating. Does it?
"I-I, uh..." As much as I wanted and probably should say no the words couldn't come out, it was as though there was a block in my throat that held the words back.
"Sarah, you're getting older I can't change that, but, if that boy hurts you I'll kill him." From the look in his eyes I could see he was very serious about that. I wanted to laugh, to tell him there was no other boy, but I was never very good at lying and even if the two of us weren't dating he'd know I was seeing a boy regularly.
"Ok." A smile crossed his lips as he sat back in his chair, suddenly changing topics.
"Did you hear, last night three of our men were taken by that cat." My head whipped towards him painfully, a tug in the muscles at the base of my neck forcing me to grab them and hiss in pain.
"Taken?" I managed to ask.
"Yes, the hunters that came to deal with it are out there following the beasts trail. They say they think they cornered it. I'm thinking of speaking with them later." A shiver ran down my spine at the thought of them knowing where Toothless was, especially after we went through all that trouble to move and hide him again. It felt a bit like hide and seek.
"Well, I hope whatever is causing this is caught soon." I gave a diplomatic answer, smiling awkwardly, shifting on my spot as he stared at me intently for a moment.
"We all do, the village us under tremendous strain because of these tragedies. I've decided to close the schools down until the animal is caught, I've received notices from dozens of people saying they want to have their kids at home with them." My head snapped towards him at that, eyes wide as I stared at him. I hadn't suspected something like that. I wouldn't have been surprised if all those requests were from those hunters, they must be trying to keep the families together to make it easier on keeping tabs on people. "Unfortunately for us though, we can't spend our time together. I'm helping them with their work on catching that cat and you can't come because it's far too dangerous."
I tried to look disappointed and from the sad smile he gave in return it seemed I'd succeeded.
"Eat up, I'll be leaving in a short while,"
"Dad, you're far too tired right now to help with anything. If anything you'll hinder them."
"Nonsense. I gave them my word that I would help." His large hand ruffled my hair as he turned to head upstairs. I stared after him, trying to decide what to do. Yes I needed to see to Toothless but if I left it to Arden I'm sure he would cope. Could I skip a morning, or however long my dad was here, to spend some time with him, even if it was only a few seconds properly together and the rest existing in different rooms.
I decided to, and I was very glad for my own decision. He left a little after one and before then we watched a little TV in his room while he napped, I told him, lies, about my days at school and stories of my friends. Friend would have been more accurate but he didn't need to know I only had one real friend. I even told him I had a crush, I wasn't specific, no, I wasn't that insane. But, I told him, and despite his promise that if he ever hurt me he'd kill him he took it surprisingly well.
I left just a few minutes after he did and was constantly thinking of what I should have said. Things that were funny or interesting that had happened in my life while I was being a rebellious teenager. I couldn't stop myself from smiling like an idiot, it was stupid, I kept so much from my dad before and now I wanted to tell him everything.
Shaking every thought from my head I grabbed my shoes and began to slip them on, wondering where Arden would be at this time. Before I could wonder too much the doorbell rang. Jumping at the loud noise not too far from my head I stood pulling the door open and being confronted by Arden a large smile on his face.
"Hey, I fed Toothless. Where were you?" I watched as he scratched at his head, looking as if he was restraining from slapping himself. "I mean what are you doing here?"
"I stayed with me dad, the school's been shut down and unlike most we can't spend time together. So I took advantage."
"Really? Huh, I didn't hear anything about the school being closed. But then again I haven't really seen my mum much." He stepped from the doorway to let me pass by, grabbing my body warmer as I went, the fake brown fur soft against my skin. "At least this means that we won't be missing anymore school work." I let out a short awkward laugh, yeah, that was true. Thinking about it the closing school was a blessing for us. We were far behind already but at least now we wouldn't be even more behind.
"Come on, let's go get Toothless. I wanna go near the volcano again and see if the dragons are still there." A tight hand clasped onto my shoulder, halting anymore movement.
"What the hell did you just say? I'm telling you know Sarah, no chance in hell are we ever going back to that godforsaken place." His eyes were so intense, I found I couldn't deny him. He looked both determined to get his own way and terrified I wouldn't listen.
"Fine, fine. I won't. Let's go though, I do wanna see Toothless today."
"Thank you." He breathed a long sigh of relief, smiling slightly before leading me away from my house.
Toothless' POV
Curling up in my new home I stare out at the tree tops. If I wanted I could fly off, but I was content here. The two humans would be here soon. The male had brought me my food but she wasn't anywhere to be seen. He looked worried about her, if I didn't know better I would think the two were mates.
As I stared out waiting for them to return my mind falls back to the previous day. What had happened to me? I hadn't felt like that for such a long time, the feeling of my senses being taken over by an all-encompassing aura, my mind giving in and bending to its will like a trained monkey.
A shiver runs down my spine at the memory, it was horrible, how being in control of myself. Not being able to think more than two seconds before my body acted of its own accord. And what was worse was this wasn't the first time it had happened. It had happened more times than I've taken breaths. I had just wished that it wouldn't have followed me.
That blasted dragon, that evil witch, still having control over me after all these days. Curse her, damn her to hell.
My rant was cut short by the sound of footsteps nearing my home and what can only be described as tumbling rocks as they tried to climb up the cliff face. Pushing myself up I hung my head over the side, coming face to face with my two human friends. They jumped slightly when my face appeared over the ledge, the female slipping down slightly, that must have hurt her fragile hands. Humans, they're so weak.
Moving back to allow them space to grab onto the top ledge I sat silently, watching their hands clasp for the imbedded stones to pull them up. That looked strange sliding up the side of the ledge but I didn't think any more of it as Sarah had returned.
"Hey Toothless." She greeted, my strange name sounding different as she said it. Almost as though it were happier. I sniffed the air, wondering if I'd catch any hint. She didn't seem to have mated with the male but one could never be too cautious. I tilted my head to the side hoping my silent question got across. "I spent the morning with my dad. That's why I wasn't here. It was nice. I rarely get time with him anymore." She explained after a few seconds of wondering. I was surprised she figured it out so quickly.
I gave a small nod of the head, showing I understood her clearly. Though I suppose I didn't. I'd never had a father, how was I to understand the mind of one? Never matter, she seemed pleased with my words.
"I knew you'd understand." She patted my face, her skin warm with small pebbles of gravel still stuck to the pad. She dusted one hand off, seeming to spot the problem. "What are we going to do today?" She asked, the question directed to both of us despite the fact that I was incapable to respond.
"Practice flying, we need to make sure nothing like yesterday happens again. Just because we got away doesn't mean we will if it happens again." I couldn't disagree with him, the vile queen of the island would be back. She hated to lose and wouldn't take this lying down.
"Fine, we'll set of in a minute, let me pick the stones from my hands first."
He sat down, slowly plucking the pits of debris from his skin, seemed I'd caused more harm than intended when looking for them, I can imagine it would hurt their puny scale-less skin.
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