A Mother Never Forgets
It was a dark night as rain fell from the sky of the Norse sea and through the sky flew a large dragon with a woman standing on its back. The woman's name was Valka, who rode her loyal Stormcutter that she named Cloudjumper. The wind was blowing against them and drops of water splashed in Valka's face, prompting her to hold her hands up to shield herself.
Her face cringed as she said, "This storm is getting stronger Cloudjumper!"
Cloudjumper looked at her as he squawked loudly and she replied, "Yes you're right! We'd better turn back before it gets any worse. Let's go!"
Cloudjumper turned around and flew northeast, but the wind was getting stronger by the second as Valka's hair blew behind her. She grabbed onto one of Cloudjumper's spines and held on tightly as she had trouble staying on her feet. Cloudjumper also cringed as he struggled to stay in the air as the wind blew in the opposite direction he was flying. He kept flying but the wind was getting too strong and suddenly some lightning started flashing, followed by thunder.
The situation was becoming dangerous as Valka shouted, "Cloudjumper! We have to get out of here!"
Cloudjumper squawked again but then the wind became too strong as he began hurtling through the air while Valka held on for her life. Cloudjumper rolled through the air before he eventually managed to put his wings out and glide for a moment. Then he managed to fly with the wind and managed to get a better handle of himself.
Valka slowly looked up and then said, "We need to find somewhere to land immediately!"
Cloudjumper glanced around and then managed to spot an island through the rain and tried to make his way there. The wind made it very difficult to steer himself but he managed to turn and rolled a bit through the air before he began to descend. Lightning started flashing more and more so Cloudjumper hurried to the ground and landed on the beach of the island. Valka hopped off his back and shielded her face as she walked forward and motioned Cloudjumper to follow her. They hurried into the forest where there were lots of trees and they found a safer area where they took a moment to rest.
Valka patted Cloudjumper's cheek and said, "Good job Cloudjumper. We'll stay here until the storm passes."
The rain softened up a bit and Valka looked around and noticed something as she said, "This place seems familiar. I feel like I've been here before."
She thought for a second then looked back at Cloudjumper as she said, "We should explore this island a bit. Make sure we're not somewhere dangerous."
She started walking through the rain and motioned for Cloudjumper to follow her, which he did as he glanced around curiously. Valka proceeded through the forest as she examined the trees, hills, and other surroundings of the island. The rain began to lighten up a bit but Valka watched her step and tried not to slip in the muddy ground. The continued onward as Valka glanced around and noticed a small cavity and stepped between it, lightning flashed and lit up the area, which Valka recognized. It looked just like the same cove she used to come to visit with her father when she was a little girl.
Realizing what this meant Valka's mind began to rush as she said, "No! It can't be! Can it?!"
Cloudjumper squawked behind her and she left and motioned for him to follow as she said, "Come along Cloudjumper, let's keep moving."
The continued through the forest as they proceeded uphill and Valka looked around and noticed that even more of the forest looked eerily familiar. She started to worry that they might possibly be in danger, so she kept an eye out for anything or anyone that might be a threat to her or Cloudjumper. The rain lightened up even more and Cloudjumper stopped and squawked for Valka's attention; she looked at him and he motioned for her to look up. She looked up and saw a large steep mountain far in the distance; the mountain looked very familiar and Valka became even more worried.
She felt much anxiety as she said, "I hope we're not where I think we are."
She kept walking as the wind blew drops of water in her face and they proceeded up the hill; Valka almost fell back but she grabbed a low hanging tree branch. She saved herself and Cloudjumper nudged her with his head and got her back on her feet.
She thanked him as she said, "Thank you Cloudjumper."
She kept walking as Cloudjumper followed and then they came to the top of the hill just as the rain began lighten even more. Now it was easier for her to walk but it was still best not to fly so soon, for risk that the storm might intensify again.
She looked down the hill and her jaw dropped as she said, "I don't believe it."
At the bottom of the hill was a village with a watchtower, a dock, and a great hall in the mountain side on the opposite end of it. This was not just any village, this was the same village where she grew up and lived most of her life, where she got married and had her son.
Valka was almost speechless as she said, "After five years I end up back here, on Berk."
Memories soon came back to her of watching Vikings fight and kill dragons despite her pleas to stop the bloodshed. She immediately became concerned for Cloudjumper, for she worried about what they might do to him and what they might say about her.
She looked at Cloudjumper and said, "We shouldn't be here Cloudjumper. If they find you they'll kill you, and as far as they know I'm dead. We don't belong here."
Some lightning flashed again and Valka realized that they still couldn't leave because it was still too risky to fly.
Valka tried to lead Cloudjumper away from the village as she said, "Come on, we'd better stay out of sight until the storm passes."
However Cloudjumper spotted something and stared at it as he squawked, much to Valka's annoyance.
She looked at him and impatiently said, "What is it Cloudjumper."
Cloudjumper squawked a couple more times as he looked at her and moved his head to refer to something at the village. Valka followed his gaze and then spotted her former house, where she lived with Stoick and where she met Cloudjumper for the first time. Valka was speechless as she stared at the house as her mind was racing, unable to comprehend the amazing twist of fate.
When she finally came to her senses only one thought came to her mind as she said, "Hiccup."
Cloudjumper cooed and brought Valka back to her senses and she turned around and started to walk away but after a few steps she stopped in her tracks. She showed sadness and regret as she turned back and stared at the house with desperate longing.
She glanced at Cloudjumper, who was waiting for her to decide, then she looked back at the village and said, "This could be my only chance to see my son again."
She knew it was risky but could not resist the urge as she walked down the hill and toward the village with Cloudjumper following. When they reached the outskirts of the village she hid behind an empty wagon and glanced around to make sure no one was watching.
She looked at Cloudjumper and urgently said, "Alright Cloudjumper, it's late at night so almost everyone should be asleep right now. And with this storm no one is going to be outside, but we have to stay quiet. The last thing we need is for them to think a dragon is attacking. Now let's move, quietly."
Cloudjumper cooed softly as he followed her; she stepped silently as the storm began to lighten up even more until it was only drizzling. As they walked they glanced around to make sure there was no one else outside, and they proceeded through the center of the village until they came to the other side. They moved uphill and soon came to Valka's former house, where she lived with her husband and son five years ago. When they reached the front door Valka stopped and Cloudjumper raised his top right wing over her while she quickly dried off.
When she was done she turned back to the Stormcutter and said, "Okay Cloudjumper, you stay out here and keep watch, and stay out of sight."
Cloudjumper understood as he nodded and squawked gently; Valka smiled at her friend before turning to face the door to the house. She stared at the door and let out a sad sigh, she was very nervous about seeing Stoick again. She knew he'd be furious with her for staying away all this time and not coming back to him.
She feared what he might do or say but found courage as she said, "Okay, here we go."
She slowly reached her hand out and opened the door before silently stepping inside and peering around. The house mostly looked the same but some obvious changes had been made, for instance there was no cradle anymore, but that didn't surprise her. She glanced around to search for her husband, but she couldn't see him anywhere.
She suddenly heard someone and softly said, "Stoick?"
She looked in his chair but instead of Stoick she saw her old friend Gobber, who was sound asleep as he snored loudly with his hook dangling and his hand on his stomach.
Valka let out a small sigh of relief and then said, "Some things never change. I'm glad to see you're still the same Gobber."
When Gobber slept almost nothing could wake him up, he once slept halfway through a dragon attack. Valka was glad she didn't have to worry about Stoick after all, and at the same time it was a bit nice to see her old friend again, even if she couldn't talk to him. Then she looked upstairs and got nervous again as she gulped and silently walked up to the second floor. She slowly peered into the room and saw a bed where a young five-year-old boy slept as he tossed and turned. He shivered as his blanket came off and was only covering his left foot and he turned to his side where Valka could see his face. The boy had short brown hair, freckles on his face, and a small scar on his chin.
Valka was almost speechless as she stared at him and said, "Hiccup."
She silently crept closer to the bed, oh so careful as to not wake the boy, then she kneeled down beside the bed. She stared down at his peaceful face as he had his mouth open as he softly snored but then shivered again slightly. Seeing him shiver made Valka reach her left hand toward his face so that she may gently caress his hair. When she reached her hand he tossed and turn and moved closer to the edge of the bed, he rolled over to where his back was facing her. He looked like he was about to fall out of bed so Valka quickly acted; she moved her arms and gently scooped him out of bed, careful not to wake him, and she cradled him in her arms.
She couldn't help but smile, overcome with joy as she softly spoke, "I never thought I'd ever get to hold you again."
Hiccup mumbled in his sleep and moved in her arms and snuggled his head against her chest, then he smiled comfortably. Valka stared at her son's face and shed a tear of joy and she held him closer to give him a small gentle hug. She wanted so badly to take him with her back to her nest, but she knew she couldn't do that; living alone with dragons would be no life for a child and she couldn't take him away from his home and his father. Also she could never take away Stoick's only son and heir, and she couldn't stay either because of Cloudjumper. As much as it pained her she had to leave him hear and she couldn't even let anyone know she was there, not even him.
She sat down on the bed as she continued to cradle her son and softly said, "You'll never know this, but I love you so much. I wish I could be with you but I'm just too different, and you're better off without me. But I'll never forget you; you'll always be in my heart."
Hiccup smiled as he snuggled into her chest again and smiled as he mumbled something in his sleep. Valka cherished this moment until she heard a noise coming from the roof, sounding like something was moving on top. She turned to the window to see Cloudjumper's head hanging upside down as he looked at her and Hiccup through it. Valka came back to reality as she realized that she should leave before anyone discovered that they were here. Cloudjumper looked at her curiously as he squawked and eyed Hiccup in her arms, but Valka quickly shushed him to avoid waking her son. Valka stood up and turned back to the bed as she carefully laid Hiccup down and rested his head against the pillow. She grabbed his stuffed dragon toy and tucked it under his arm, then she pulled the blanket over him to make sure he was warm.
She caressed his head as she tenderly said, "Goodbye Hiccup."
She planted a kiss on his forehead and smiled lovingly as she watched him sleep peacefully in his nice warm bed. She stood up and quietly walked to the window, which Cloudjumper reached his wring through. Valka grabbed the talon on his wing and the edge and Cloudjumper pulled her out of the house while climbing back on top of the roof. The storm had finally passed and the sky cleared revealing the beautiful night sky with the stars and the moon.
Valka climbed on Cloudjumper's back and stood tall as she said, "Alright Cloudjumper, it's time to go."
Cloudjumper squawked as he took off, which made the roof rumble a little, stirring Hiccup from his sleep as he awoke and sat up. He was still barely awake as he opened his eyes and faintly saw Valka standing on Cloudjumper's back flying away. They looked smaller and smaller as they flew further away and Hiccup soon fell back asleep while hugging his dragon doll. As they flew away from Berk Valka turned around and watched her former fade from view, just like it did five years ago. She let out a sad sigh, so Cloudjumper looked up at her and empathically purred for comfort. Valka looked down at him and then the beautiful northern lights shined throughout the sky and Valka smiled in wonder and delight as she looked up at them.
Valka stared at the horizon as she proudly said, "I will cherish this day for the rest of my life."
Cloudjumper squawked at her with a smile and kept flying as they proceeded on their way back to their dragon nest. Having spent this very special moment with her son for the first time in five years Valka felt very happy and content. She did wish she could've done more with him but she knew it was better this way for everyone. It was enough to know that he was with people who cared about him and that she got to see him for what she thought would be her last time. She took one last glimpse at the island of Berk on the horizon and then she and her dragon disappeared into the night sky.
Author's note: This is an idea that came to me recently and I thought it would be a very special and sweet story. Plus I haven't done any stories in a while so I felt this would be a good way for me to get back into it. I'm going out of town tomorrow so I definitely won't have any up for a while, but I wanted to make sure to post this before going. Please review.