Author's note: The second part has finally arrived! Enjoy!
Narrator's perspective
Astrid stood still in the doorway, jaw dropping. She starred at her, eyes widening with realisation.
"V… Valka?" the words hung in the air. She was different than she remembered, the long flowing hair was gone, replaced with a short braid. Her nose was scarred in several places, but the freckles still clearly visible. Gone were the t-shirts and hippy jeans, instead her body clad with black riding leather. Steel toes boots protected her feet, ending Astrid's observations.
"Well love, long time, eh?" she gestured for the other man to take Hiccup to one of the beds, then striding over to Astrid.
"You, you disappeared. No-one saw you again. The police searched and searched. How are you alive?" Astrid asked, releasing her hold of Hiccup.
"Not entirely intentional me going away. But let's skip the formalities, come give me hug." She walked forwards and wrapped her arms around the smaller girl, her not quite reciprocating. Something seemed off.
The man stepped away from Hiccup, walking over to them. "Oh, where are my manners? This is Eret." Valka said, gesturing to the man. He was slightly shorter than her, greasy black hair pulled back, a toothing grin on his face. Five blue striped tattoos ran down his chin. He shoulders extended beneath, holding up weightlifter's arms. He stood with his head slightly back, allowing you to see up his rather large nose. He held out his hand, Astrid gingerly extending hers.
"Come on love, not going to bite." He firmly took hers, shaking it hard.
Hiccup moaned from the bed, twitching his feet. At least his spinal cord was intact. The congregation turned their heads towards him.
"Oh, gosh, yes. Eret would you get me the first aid supplies?" He nodded and went off. Valka walked over to Hiccup, slowly removing the bandages. He winced below them, eyes screwed shut.
"Astrid, would you keep him still?" Astrid took his hand gently, rubbing her thumb over his palm while her other hand pressed down on his back.
Valka took the medical supplies from Eret and began applying a toothpaste like substance over his back. It was absorbed in seconds and Hiccup stopped squirming as much.
"Eret, tell me what happened." Valka turned sternly to the man.
"They jumped out of the van on their way here. He shielded her from the blow." He replied.
"You kidnapped us!" Astrid flicked around to the man. Valka too turned to glare.
"It was more interesting that way." He shrugged.
Valka shook her head, turning back to Hiccup, "Eret, get me a bucket."
He disappeared out the door they came through, coming back with a small container.
"I need a bigger one." The man rolled his eyes and disappeared again.
"He was always getting himself hurt as a child," Valka stared fondly at her son, "So I've had lots of time to perfect the recipe." She took the bucket from Eret and piled some bandages into it, adding different coloured liquids to it. She mixed it, bubbles beginning to form, then pulled out the badges and squeeze out the excess fluid, then draping them over Hiccup's back.
"He should be fine in a couple of hours." Valka said.
She stood, walking over to the kitchen area, Astrid following slowly.
"Valka, why did you leave? What's going on? Why is Hiccup a dragon and why do I have these." Astrid asked while gesturing to her wings.
She sighed, turning around to face the girl. "Sit down, guess I'll start from the beginning. Many centuries ago, a great Viking chief ruled over his village. He was a kind man, but getting on in life. His tribe was outcast from the others, all treaties destroyed and ties cut, when they decided not to kill dragons. The dragons lived peacefully on the islands, but many believed they were not meant to be, and that anyone who believed otherwise would go to Hel. The other tribes attacked and killed many thousands of dragons, almost wiping them out. But the chief gave refuge to them, allowing them to stay on his island, his army protecting them from attacks. In return, the dragons gave all on the island the gift of transformation. At will, the islanders could change into dragons. But this didn't bode well for them. The other tribes caught wind of this, and they grew jealous. The attacks on the island became constant with many great warriors falling. Including the chief. He fought bravely to protect his son and daughter from the onslaught of Vikings, but it was too much. Once he'd fallen, his children cried out in rage and massacred the invading tribes. Only 50 of their tribe stood at the end of the battle, with most of the dragons gone as well. But the rebuilt their home, and continued their tribe. The son continued the Haddock line, with the daughter marrying then starting the Hofferson line."
Astrid starred wide eyed at the woman, "You mean, our families are related?"
"At one point yes. But that was hundreds of years ago." Astrid said nothing, so Valka continued, "Tell me dear, how'd you get your wings? Normally your powers would have to be activated by a dragon blast."
"Hiccup show me himself as a dragon, and he got the idea to change me into a dragon by blasting me. I was stuck in a hospital for the next few weeks or so. I didn't have my wings and tail at that point. Hiccup and I went for a walk the doctors told me to go on every other day, then I blacked out. Hiccup said I kept spasming for quarter of an hour, then I stopped and stayed there. When I woke up I had a tail and wings." She pulled her tail 'round her front and rested it in her lap.
"That would explain the incomplete transformation then. You need a dragon of the same family and species to blast you."
"Hiccup said he was shot by a Night Fury, was that you?" Astrid asked.
"Oh no dear, I was away on business that time; that was his great uncle Mark." Astrid snickered into her hand, failing horribly to cover it up.
"Don't you laugh at my uncle Mark, he was a great man," she leaned back in her chair, "Your uncle Finn and I were close friends in school, but when we graduated I never saw him again."
Astrid looked down solemnly at the floor, "He passed away when I was five, the smoking got him."
"I'm sorry love, but once we die, we come back as our dragon selves, never aging, watching the world change. And from the way that's been going recently, I don't have high hopes. But one day you may find him somewhere out there."
"Yeah, I guess so." She replied.
The room fell silent, only the sound of Eret cooking something over a camping stove reverberating around the room. He started whistling something as he cooked, the smell of food reaching Astrid. She got up to see what it was, having not eaten a decent meal in days. He gently pushed her away as she got close, stopping his tune, "Be ready in a second."
She sat back down at the table with Eret starting his tune again. Valka was looking over a map, occasionally scribbling something on it. A mark here an X there, that was it.
"Valka, why did you leave?" Astrid pondered, the other woman glancing up, face looking displeased.
"That's not important."
"You've told me this much, why not why you left? You left your husband and infant son on their own. You know what Stoick can be like." Her voice getting louder at the end.
"Yes, I know what he can be like. But I had a job to do. The dragon poaching business is as ruthless as it is common is this part of the world. It's just and endless cycle of kill and sell. I left to originally work at a dragon research and rehab centre, about a two hours flight North from here. I was out on a research trip, hoping to find the breeding grounds of the Flightmare, but I was spotted by some trappers. I fled far enough so I could still see them, but they couldn't get me. I left my ute behind and flew low, following them as they drove somewhere. The sun had set by the time they got anywhere, but I didn't get the chance to see what was there. All I knew was that there was a faint glow on the horizon, and nothing between that and me. Ever since then I've been following these trappers and freeing any dragons they caught. And any dragons they killed, I struck the killer down!" She slammed her hand down on the table making a loud thump.
"Whoa, Valka calm down." Eret placed a plate of steaming food in front of each of them. Valka sat back down in her chair and starred at the food. "Sorry dear, don't know what came over me."
Astrid didn't bother to be polite and literally grabbed a handful of food and shoved it down her mouth. Then grabbed another and did it again.
Valka just laughed, "Yes dearie, you must be very hungry."
Astrid mumbled something incomprehensible, continuing to eat… what ever it was. Eret grumbled that a thanks would be nice, taking his own plate and sitting down on his bed.
"So what's his story?" Astrid asked while wiping her mouth with her hand.
"I think it's up to him to tell you." Valka replied.
They looked over at Eret, but his attention was somewhere else.
"What is it Eret?" Valka asked calmly, but with a nervous edge to her voice. He continued to stare out the window. He silently lifted his hand and pointed outside. Astrid had come over to them, looking in the same direction.
"That's not good Val." He finally spoke.
"No, it's not."
Hundreds of dragons filled the air, all flying in the same direction. To the North coast.
Author's note: Dun, dun, duh! What is going to happen? Well I hope you've enjoyed this update, 34 or so days after the last one. Please review and tell me what you think.