How To Talk A Dragon's Ear Off

The next day, I hurried off to the Kill Ring. Shouldn't it be Training Arena, since that is what we use it for? Focus! Anyway, I slipped in a bit to fast and, unfortunately, didn't noticed that Gobber turned it into a maze. Until I ran headfirst into one of the wooden boards.

"Ow!" I yelped out of surprise and pain. Laughter erupted next to me.

"Watch it Useless, it's a maze in here!" Snotlout jeered to my left. Gobber's voice came from above us. "Okay! Now tha' we have e'eryone, let's get started! Today is all about Attack. "

I heard a boom coming straight at us. Acting quickly, I dove over the board that I met earlier. Why can't everyday be about attack? I mean Vikings attack dragons, dragons retaliate. I heard the other teens scramble for cover, Fishlegs helpfully shouts Deadly Nadder. So, I have to listen for the tell tale signs of gas build up AND spikes being thrown. Great just my luck. Reaching my hand out to my right, I started to follow the wall to where I'm positive I heard Gobber's voice.

Once I'm certain I'm underneath Gobber, I spoke up, "You know, I happened to notice the book had nothing on Night Furies. Is there another book or a sequel, maybe a little Night Fury pamphlet?"

Just then I heard the Nadder behind me building up gas. Panicking I ducked, swinging my ax upwards. Only for it to become super light and I heard the sound of metal hitting stone. Do to the heat I was feeling, I'm guessing that the dragon blew the ax head off.

Gobber let out a loud sigh, "Focus Hiccup! You're not even trying!" Ouch, I am trying harder than Fishlegs, just not at the fighting, "The Deadly Nadder is quick and light on it's feet. Your job is to be quicker and lighter."

Right, so throwing us blindly into a maze with an angry dragon will totally teach us that. Just then Fishlegs called out in front of me, "I'm really starting to question your teaching methods." I skidded to a stop before I could crashed into my classmate.

"Look for it's blind spot. Every dragon has one." Gobber oh so helpfully advised. I could hear the twins getting into another fight. Since they were fighting about blind spots, and the annoyed squawks, told me the dragon was over by them. I made my way back to Gobber.

I called out to our mentor, "So how would one sneak up on a Night Fury?" Gobber was definitely loosing patience today, "No one's done it and lived to tell the tale. Now GET IN THERE!"

Ah, I'm not down grilling for answers! "I know, I know. Hypothetically…"

"Hiccup. Get down." Astrid's voice came from my left. Immediately, I dropped down to a crouch. Now that I'm not grilling Gobber for answers, I could here the Deadly Nadder fast approaching where I was. The dragon came to a stop, sniffed me and then just left. Uh, what's up with dragons not wanting to fight me.

Astrid spoke right next to me, causing me to jump, "What was that about? It didn't try to attack you!"

I shrugged uselessly, "Dunno, this is the second time it happened to me. The first time was in the forest."

"uh, weird. I wonder what that was about?" Astrid sounded genuinely curious. Not that I blame her, I want to know too.

Gobber spoke up, interrupting us, "Alright everyone! Get outta here! Met me on top of the old watch tower for dinner tonight!"

Yea, torture is over with! Waving bye to the other teenagers, I ran straight into a wall. "Umm, Hiccup? The exit is this way…" Ruffnut spoke from behind me.

I started to grumble as we all left, "Who's idea was it to make a maze out of all things!? Do you know how easy it is to get turned around in a maze! I gotta go, see ya!"

Once out of the arena, I headed straight to the docks. Finding Mulch, I bought a fish from him. Then I went to the armory and got a shield. I then made my way to the cove where I last heard the Night Fury. Once there I tossed the fish to the ground, huddling behind the shield. I waited a few minutes before I moved further. Only to get the shield stuck between two boulders. Since it wouldn't budge, I picked the fish back up and moved further into the cove. I never been here before, and from the splashing I heard the other day, there is a lake I need to be careful with.

I didn't went far when I felt a huff of hot air behind me. Startled, I turned around thrusting the fish towards the Night Fury. I heard it growl softly. Confused, I patted my vest until I bumped my knife. Right, I forgot Dad's rule is that I can't leave the village without the dagger. Pulling it out, I spoke, "Yea, I can't really use it since I can't see where you are at… here."

I tossed it my left hearing a bloop as it hit water. Okay now I know where the water is. The dragon slurped up the fish I offered. For a brief moment, my hand was inside the dragons gummy mouth. "Uh, Toothless. I thought all dragons had teeth, at least that is what Gobber said." The Night Fury snorted before leaving.

Not really wanting to fall and make a fool of myself, I sat with my back against the boulder the dragon used to sit on. A creaking sound across the clearing alerted me that the Night Fury found a tree and climbed it. "Ya know? Calling you Dragon or Night Fury is degrading and boring. Since I know you are Toothless, I'll call you that. I'm Hiccup, it means runt soo not that great of a name. But I know I can do what all the other Vikings do, even though I was born blind.

Have you ever felt like you need to prove something? Like some disability you have doesn't define you. But sometimes you are judged for being different from everyone else? I mean, my inventions backfire, like a lot. But I bet if I can see what I'm doing it would be just fine… Uh?"

I stopped my rant when I felt something warm and smooth yet scaly nudge my arm. Reaching my arm I touched Toothless' head. I smile crept up my face, "Thanks Toothless, I really needed someone to listen to me for once."

Toothless crooned softly, almost like in agreement. I smiled, "Okay, I have ta go before it starts getting too late. Tomorrow's lesson starts a little on the late side, I'll bring you some breakfast." Standing up, I left the cove, wondering what amazing new things I can learn from my new friend.

I hope Dad doesn't find out!