Toothless- Chance

I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Earlier that day I had gone for a flight with Hiccup to search beyond our map. We flew past an island here and there; we found nothing. On the third isle the rest of the riders found us. As a group, we flew onward, further than I had ever believed possible.

When we landed, Astrid pulled us aside to talk. Hiccup hopped off, allowing me to play tug of war with Stormfly. We both paused when our riders' voices grew louder. I looked over seeing Astrid motioning over to the group. Hiccup had his arms crossed. Trotting over, I nudged Hiccup's side to which he patted my head.

"I know you're worried, Astrid. This is a lot farther out than I planned, but I know there's something here! I can feel it," Hiccup said. His eyes burned with determination.

Hands planted on her hips Astrid shook her head. She pointed again towards the group who were all sitting around. Their dragons sat beside them sleeping. Rubbing her eyes, Astrid said, "I'm sure there is. I trust you and your instincts bout this stuff, but Hiccup... We need to rest. We can explore the island in the morning. Do you trust me?"

I saw Hiccup opening his mouth to say something. He closed it. He sighed deeply and nodded his head at Astrid. Taking her hand into his, Hiccup said, "Always."

Her hands squeezed his. I watched them with utter fascination and awe. The way their eyes lingered on each others faces, hands interlocked, and the trust that radiated between them. It mesmerized me.

"Watching them again?" I jumped and whipped my head around at Stormfly. The other dragon ruffled her feathers and wings while keeping her sight on me. Her jaw opened to reveal a grinning smile. I had let out a hearty laugh.

Running over to her, I sat on my haunches. I waved my forelegs at her and said, "That obvious, huh?" My ears flicked back thanks to her booming laugh. Our riders seemed unfazed as they continued talking.

Stormfly lowered her head eyeing me. I raised a brow back. Humming to herself, Stormfly trilled, "You've become so fascinated with humans and their mates lately, Toothless. More so than usual. Even for you."

"Hiccup's happy. That's all I care about," I replied curtly.

Rising to her full height, Stormfly narrowed her eyes at me. Her tongue clicked against her teeth. Feathers ruffling, Stormfly said in a low tone, "You best not be thinking of hurting Astrid."

I had to do a double take. Nose scrunching up, I growled, "I'd never do that! I love Astrid. How could you even think that?"

"I'm only looking out for her. You watch them so often it was concerning me. Like you were jealous of them. That he isn't spending as much time with you as with her."

I rolled my eyes at her. Stormfly was stubborn as she was ferocious. I leaned in towards her to say, "I'm not jealous. Never once was. I wanted them together cause I knew they were meant for each other. It was me who got her to trust Hiccup about dragons in the first place!"

Stormfly gave me an unsure look.

"Then why are you watching them so much?" She asked.

Frowning, I was about to speak when I stopped. I looked to the ground. Stormfly asked me a question but it went in one ear and out the other. My gaze turned to Hiccup and Astrid, the two still talking. My vision grew blurry and their forms changed into another couple.

My heart sank into my stomach. I slumped down laying on my belly, resting my head on my paws. Softly I said, "I don't want him to lose someone else cause I wasn't watching."

Stormfly grew quiet. The ocean waves crashing into the beached filled the air. She nuzzled me and I returned it.

"Guys come on! Stop being all lovey-dovey and let's make camp!" Snoutlout yelled from his spot. Stormfly and I saw Hiccup glare at his cousin. We followed our riders to the others; Belch and Barf's head laid on either side of their riders while Meatlug was fast asleep. The twins bickered about what to make for dinner. Poor Fishlegs was trying to find a happy medium without much luck.

Hookfang lifted his head as I made my way over to him. He yawned obnoxiously before dropping his head. I tilted my head and asked, "Are you alright?"

Side eyeing me, Hookfang replied, "I'm tired. We've been flying all day. I want to sleep."

"Really? So when Snoutlout wanted to rest, you weren't tired then?" I said, reminding him how he held his rider in his claws while flying. Hookfang shrugged at me. Rolling my eyes playfully, I left Hookfang be.

Hiccup motioned at me then. He knelt down as I arrived, rubbing my chin with both hands. He had a big grin on his face.

"Hey bud, we're gonna get some firewood. Alright?"

I nodded.

Astrid stood beside us with her arms crossed. Drumming her fingers, she pursed her lips. Hiccup fluttered his eyes at her and said, "M'lady? Wha-"

"Just don't wander too far, alright?" Astrid cut him off though her smile said otherwise. With that, Hiccup jumped on my back and we went further inland.

Hiccup was pulling down branches while I yanked the thicker ones off the trunks. We had to keep stopping cause Hiccup saw something. He jotted everything down in his journal. He had just finished writing, when it happened.

A dragon jumped over a bush and landed in front of us, but it wasn't just any dragon. My jaw dropped. Hiccup gasped. Her small ears swiveled down flat against her head. Her smooth scales glistening in the sun. The same wings as mine curled around her defensively. Those big eyes of her stared me down. I was drowning. Unlike me, her scales were a iridescent blue, but there was no mistaking it.

She was a Nightfury.

Breath catching in my throat, I stared at her in awe. Her deep blue eyes drew me in as had her smaller size. I never thought I'd find more of my kind. And yet, here she was standing there.

Her eyes opened wide while she looked us up and down. I saw her take a step back. I stepped closer to her, heart pounding. Hiccup leaned over me whispering, "You're not alone, buddy." He shifted on top of me and, knowing him, gazed at her with a huge smile on his face.

"Hey," I said.

She bolted.

"Wait! Toothless come on!" Hiccup yelled to me.

I charged after her decimating the bush down. The tack dug into my shoulders; Hiccup held on for dear life. Her form came into view. Even through the trees my eyes followed her movements. She was coming closer, nearly in reach. I hissed then as several branches scratched me. The trees were becoming thicker as we ran. Larger and sharper trees started taking form. I slammed into them and barely made any headway. I pushed one branch away. It sprung forward slapping the two of us hard. We both shook our heads in unison then looked forward.

The Nightfury had slipped away.

A whimper escaped me when I couldn't see her. Hiccup patted my head. I heard him say, "We gotta go back. It's too thick to get through, bud. I'm sorry..."

I lowered my head in defeat. Hiccup patted my head while I backed us out beyond the bush. We quickly picked up the firewood that had hit us. We then returned to the others.

Astrid ran up to us, the color drained from her face. She yanked Hiccup off me. Astrid stabbed her finger in his chest and yelled, "Where were you?! You were supposed to get firewood. Not wander off! You're both scratched all over."

Hiccup scratched his cheek. He looked at me for help; I gave him a nod. He faced Astrid, pushing her hand away. He said to her, "We saw another Nightfury."

The air was charged with electricity as the weight of what Hiccup said registered. Astrid's mouth formed an 'o'. The twins and their dragon exchanged looks while Fishlegs began rambling. The latter ran up to Hiccup. A barrage of questions hit Hiccup and he leaned against me.

Meatlug fluttered over to me and asked, "There's more of you?"

Before I could answer her, Hiccup answered Fishleg's similar question.

"Yeah! We saw her in the forest. She ran away though..." Hiccup said, sadness in his tone.

All eyes grew wide. Humans and dragon alike yelled, "SHE?!"

Hiccup toppled against me, nearly falling to the ground. The others crowded around him. Snoutlout sneered at Hiccup and said, "How do you know it's a girl?"

"I only say that cause of the size. It was a lot smaller than Toothless."

Tossing his hands at Hiccup, Snoutlout said, "That doesn't mean nothing! Toothless is a Titan Wing. So of course he's bigger!"

Hiccup had gotten to his feet. Fixing his cuffs, Hiccup threw back, "Have you seen another Nightfury aside Toothless?"

"Uh, well no but—"

"Look," Hiccup said, patting me on the head again, "maybe it isn't a female. I know your dragons don't have differences for their sex. But that's the thing, we've been able to study them. The only Nightfury we have is Toothless. If there's one, there maybe more. He's not the only one; he isn't alone."

His words laid heavy on my mind and heart. I gazed across to the forest, the land beyond hiding one of my kind.

A shroud of darkness draped over us as night fell. Warmth flowed from the campfire that had shadows dancing across everyone. Most were asleep save for me, Hiccup, and Astrid. Cuddling up against him, Astrid laid her head in the crook of his neck. Hiccup stared solemnly at the fire. Yawning, my eyes slid closed.

"Hiccup?"

My ears swiveled towards the voice. My eyes remained shut.

"Yeah Astrid?"

"This Nightfury, how far in were you till you found her?"

There was a pause. I could hear the gears turning in Hiccups head. He spoke up after a minute, "Probably several yards in. Why?"

"I'm just curious. I was worried you and Toothless chased her or something."

My eyes flew open. Hiccup coughed. Astrid slapped her forehead.

"Oh my gods. What were you thinking?" Astrid asked exasperated.

"Heh, guess the excitement got the better of me," Hiccup replied sheepishly.

Glancing over, I saw Astrid lay a hand over Hiccup's. She traced small circles with her thumb. She asked, "Do you think there's a chance we'll find her?"

Hiccup pressed a kiss atop her head. He sighed and said, "I think there is."

Silence settled between them. I was the only one awake now. I once again looked towards the forest, peering through the darkness. I willed my eyes to stay open but I succumbed to sleep.