Since the day of the race, Hunter had been distant. Not in a bad way but not the normal either. Heather said he was just stressed with midterms and dragon training class since he still hadn't bonded with a dragon yet. All of them bought it, except Astrid who had a gut feeling that it was something else going on. Something they all noticed was that no matter what, Hunter and Heather never invited them over to their house. Anytime it was mentioned of a place to hang out, they said they couldn't do it there for some reason or another. It had been a month since the races too, they were now in November right before Thanksgiving break. Once thing Astrid noticed is that Hunter was always checking his phone, or taking calls outside of class which was odd since no one else was allowed too. Seemed unfair.
The friends had asked what it was all about but Hunter just said it was work, which for him wasn't far from the truth. Astrid still hadn't had a chance to talk to him about her feelings, every time she tried he'd have to rush off for something and Astrid was beginning to think that he was purposely ducking her. Had Heather mentioned to him that Astrid liked him and he was avoiding her because of it? Astrid didn't know anymore and she was ready to give up on it. But she loved him and her heart wouldn't let her give up. She would get her chance, even if she had to follow him to work or home just to get him alone to talk for 5 minutes. Fredrick and Heather were getting closer too, he had taken her on a few dates but nothing was official yet.
Hunter was still Gobber's assistant, guy was really good at saddles and so much more like dragon calls and hand signals. He still worked with Torch, it really showed that he worked with dragons from other classes. He had helped us all at different times with our dragons. Although today, Torch had hurt his wing so Hunter was sitting sidelines against the stables with his headphones in while the rest of them trained. He'd already cleaned the stables, got water and fish as well polished some of the older saddles. He worked fast and it was amazing to see it but right now he looked pretty relaxed, a calm smile on his face. This was the Hunter that Astrid had fallen for, the laid back one he was two years ago. All of them were taking a break while Gobber was going to get the stuff for the next lesson, Heather had told us not to bother Hunter since he hadn't slept well the night before.
That was cool for the group, they knew Hunter worked hard so who were they to argue. He had his eyes closed and we were all just sitting around in the grass with our dragons. "You sure he's okay, Heather...I mean come on, this isn't the Hunter we knew...I mean looks and talks like him but...He's different." Rylee stated to break the silence.
"He's okay." Heather smiled softly seeing Hunter looking at his phone, he smiled gently.
"Why are you all staring at me?" Hunter suddenly asked.
"Making sure you're okay. You're quiet today." Astrid smiled at him.
"I'm fine, just relaxing." Hunter said.
"Man I can't wait for school to be over...Freedom to do what I want." Shaun said as he, Travis, and Eric all high fived.
"You're gonna miss it." Hunter said in a cool tone, they looked at him. His eyes were closed again.
"Miss all these classes? No way man, you're trippin." Eric waved him off.
"You'll miss it when you realize how hard the adult world is, you'll miss it being this this easy." Hunter remarked.
"Can you prove that this is easier than setting the rules and doing what we want without being told what to do?" Astrid questioned.
"Sure can, Astrid." Hunter nodded.
"Sing the song, Hunter. The one you showed me when I said the same thing." Heather said.
"Not a half bad idea but you know I hate singing." Hunter stated.
"Oh shush, you sing all the time at home and we all love it. You're with friends, we won't judge you." Heather giggled. Hunter mumbled and sighed.
"She was staring out that window, of that SUV. Complaining, saying I can't wait to turn 18. She said I'll make my own money, and I'll make my own rules. Mamma put the car in park out there in front of the school. Then she kissed her head and said 'I was just like you'..." Hunter paused as they all listened with a little shock.
"You're gonna miss this. You're gonna want this back. You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast. These Are Some Good Times, so take a good look around. You may not know it now...But you're gonna miss this." Hunter smiled looking at his phone again, Heather sat beside him smiling too.
"Before she knows it she's a brand new bride. In a one-bedroom apartment, and her daddy stops by. He tells her 'It's a nice place'. She says 'It'll do for now', starts talking about babies and buying a house. Daddy shakes his head and says 'Baby, just slow down'..." Heather ended up singing as Hunter only shook his head at her chuckling but he started up again for the chorus.
"You're gonna miss this. You're gonna want this back. You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast. These Are Some Good Times, so take a good look around. You may not know it now...But you're gonna miss this!" Hunter sang out, by this point Gobber had returned and shockingly enough with Mr. Haddock the principal. Before they could say anything, the group shushed them.
"Five years later there's a plumber workin' on the water heater. Dog's barkin', phone's ringin'. One kid's cryin', one kid's screamin'. She keeps apologizin'. He says 'They don't bother me. I've got 2 babies of my own. One's 36, one's 23. Huh, it's hard to believe, but..." Hunter looked back to his phone softly stroking his finger over it.
"You're gonna miss this. You're gonna want this back. You're gonna wish these days...Hadn't gone by so fast! These Are Some Good Times. So take a good look around. You may not know it now. But you're gonna miss this!...You're gonna miss this. Yeah, you're gonna miss this!" Hunter finished with Heather. Gobber and Samuel clapped.
"Well said kids." Samuel smiled, he figured out what was going on by the looks on his children's faces.
"Huh...Okay maybe high school isn't so bad after all..." Shaun mumbled. Hunter only shook his head sighing.
"You'll understand one day." Hunter said as he got up and put his phone and headphones away. "What brings you by dad?" Hunter asked.
"Checking on you and your sister is all. Had a few free minutes and wanted to see how the trainin was going." Samuel answered.
"Well for me, Hunter's dragon has a wing sprain." Heather replied.
"So he's been helping out with the other teens." Gobber added.
"Good good. Oh, before I forget son...School called for you. They had a few questions about something..." Samuel stated firmly, Hunter understood what his father was getting at.
"Everything okay?" Heather asked.
"Yes, they just had a few questions about your brothers...application." Samuel smiled, Heather nodded now.
"School? But...he's already here?" Astrid asked.
"College. Early entrance stuff...I'll be back in a minute." Hunter said as he pulled his phone and walked off out of earshot, the phone pressed to his ear.
"Well, I best be getting back to work." Samuel said walking off. Okay, something was definitely up. That's what the teens were thinking now. There was still 7 months of school left, why would Hunter be doing college applications already. People didn't even start getting early acceptance until two months before high school was out. Hunter was hiding something and they wanted to know what.
"Well while Hunter is doing that, the rest of you can get back to trainin. Working on flyin formations today." Gobber instructed, though all of them wanted to wait for Hunter they couldn't shirk their training to find out what was going on.
(20 Minutes Later)
Hunter sighed as he put his phone away and returned to the group to see them in the air practicing formations, right now it was the diamond. The twins were right on top of poor Fredrick, "Ry, Trav...Lift up a bit, too tight on your corner." Hunter called up. They fixed themselves and Gobber nodded.
"Good eye lad. Didn't see that right away." Gobber chuckled.
"Second pair of eyes never hurt anyone." Hunter shrugged.
"There you are." Heather smiled as she landed next to him with Windshear, Hunter rubbed the dragon's neck lightly as she purred in delight. "Everything alright with the school?" Heather hinted arching a brow.
"Ssh...I'll tell you later." Hunter shushed her quickly, the others had heard it. They were both hiding something. The group was sure of it now. Before anyone could confront him, there was a loud roar and they all stopped and landed their dragons.
"Gobber...What...kind of dragon was that?" Rylee asked.
"Not one of ours, alright. Dragons in the stables...I'll take care of this." Gobber said.
"Hold on Gobber..." Hunter said as his eyes were focused on the treeline, he stepped towards it.
"Hunter, now's not the time to be reckless!" Heather inisisted.
"I'll be fine...Just get back with the others." Hunter said, before he could take another step a dragon rushed out and the others gasped. It stood there glaring at them, snarling. It stood on two legs crouched with pincer like hands, it had red eyes, yellow body with brown on the back and wings, it also had 3 long scorpion like tails. Two yellows and one brown.
"What is that! I've never seen a dragon like that before..." Shaun said quickly.
"Ssh, you're scaring him..." Hunter said as his eyes never left the dragon before him, it was growling lowly but Hunter saw that was just a front. He saw it was shaking slightly and breathing heavily.
"How do you knows it a male lad?" Gobber asked.
"Males are naturally more hostile, females tend to shy away." Hunter replied. Gobber tried to get close to the dragon but the dragon raised its tails and braided them together with a snap. "I wouldn't Gobber...It feels threatened it will attack."
"Then why are you allowed so close to it." Eric asked.
"Because this is where I was standing when it showed up..." Hunter took a breath, he knew something was wrong with this dragon. He put his hands up to the dragon as it snarled, "Hey hey...It's alright. I'm not gonna hurt you big fella. You can trust me, I'm a friend..." Hunter soothed. The dragon stopped growling and snarling but still glared with its red eyes. Hunter's eyes scanned the dragon slowly and saw the small blood pool behind it, above its tails. It was wounded. Before he could say anything else, the dragon collapsed to the ground. "Of course, how didn't I think of it before..." Hunter said.
"Uh, you want to fill us in?" Astrid asked.
"This dragon is a Triple Stryke, teen, male, and wounded. No dragon just rushes out of the forest unless its hurt and running from something." Hunter stated.
"A Triple Stryke? What...is that? Never heard of it before." Gobber asked.
"They are a recently new discovered species. Strike class dragon. Attack 15, Speed 20, Armor 18, Firepower 14, Shot Limit 6, Venom 3, Jaw Strength 6, Stealth 18. The braided tail is a force to be reckoned with but each individual tail produces a unique venom. The first numbs, the second disorients with hallucinogens, and the third creates agonizing burning sensation in your blood. 30 feet high, and can produce a blast that is considered blinding." Hunter informed.
"How do you know all that if its a new species?..." Gobber asked.
"I said recently new...Was discovered last year, researchers can't get close because its considered a triple threat dragon so they have to watch from afar as in about 20 feet away." Hunter rolled his eyes. "And this guy is hurt..."
"Back up, Hunter...I don't want you getting hit with those tails. I'll have your father call dragon control to help it..." Gobber said. Hunter knew he couldn't disobey his teacher but he wanted to help this dragon, he felt like he had too. He was going to be in so much trouble but he wouldn't abandon it.
"I want to help you buddy...But you have to let me. I promise I won't hurt you...Trust me." Hunter said as he put his hand out, the dragon growled at him again lifting its braided tails with another snap.
"Hunter...I'm not asking anymore, back up." Gobber said again, Hunter sighed as he closed his eyes and turned his head away from the dragon and put his hand out slowly. The others watched as the dragon stopped growling and stared at Hunter's open palm and then it happened. The dragon closed its eyes and pressed its snout to his hand calmly and lowered its tails back down un-braided.
"Woah..." The group gasped.
Hunter smiled as he faced the dragon again and crouched a bit rubbing the dragon's head as it cooed almost. "That's a boy...See, I'm a friend and I want to help you...I know you're wounded, will you show me?" The dragon shifted some and turned revealing its backside where there was there was a trap on its leg, Hunter narrowed his eyes then relaxed as he moved to the trap. It was a leg one, Hunter put his hand on it as the dragon winced. "I know, I know buddy...I'm sorry but I have to get it off..." Hunter said softly, the dragon turned its head closing its eyes as Hunter put his hands in the two sides and cringed at the sharpness of the spikes on his bare hands, he pried the two sides apart and snapped it open pulling it off the Triple Stryke then tossed it aside. Hunter reached for his bag and pulled out a clear paste in a small jar, he applied to to the dragons leg then wrapped it with a white bandage and tied it off. "See, there ya go. Hows that feel?" Hunter smiled
The Triple Stryke got to his feet and stared at Hiccup who was sitting up on his knees, hands on his legs. The dragon nuzzled against his face gently purring, then it happily licked his cheek and Hunter laughed rubbing under his chin as he got to his feet. "Hunter, your hands..." Astrid said softly.
"I'm fine...Just scratches." Hunter replied, the Triple Stryke sniffed his hands and licked them as the bleeding stopped. "Thanks. See, you help me and I help you." The dragon screeched happily.
"Wait, what just happened..Did you bond with it?" Eric asked.
"I just earned his trust. Dragons of all kinds are notoriously loyal to humans who save them. He's not my bonded dragon though, but he will stand with me from now on. Won't you buddy?" Hunter said, the dragon stood beside him with his tongue out.
"Will he let you ride him?" Gobber asked calmly. The dragon crouched and motioned to Hunter climbed on between the wings and head but his legs were behind the Triple Stryke's front arm pincers.
"What do you say, want to take a flight?" Hunter chuckled, the dragon roared happily and launched into the the sky with Hunter on his back, they rode upside down and did some spins before landing.
"You think you two can work together in training?" Hunter nodded, "Well then you best be givin him a name."
Hunter thought about it a moment then smiled, "Strykeout." The dragon roared with delight and shot into the sky again. "Woohoo!" Hunter cheered. The others all just watched, this was the Hunter they remembered, carefree and happy.
