Nightfury- Phases

"Are you done yet?" My brother whined while laying on his back. I shot him a glare. He inspected his claws before groaning again. I rolled my eyes before focusing ahead. Several yards away was a tree. Large gashes were embedded into its trunk down to its roots. Crouching low, I stalked towards it. He whined loudly. I pounced sinking my claws deep within the tree. Pushing down with all my might, I dragged my claws out. Swelling with pride, I looked behind me.

My brother laid on his side back to me.

Gritting my teeth, I yelled, "you aren't even watching!"

He yawned at me. Rolling over, he looked at me and the tree lazily. He pointed a claw at my newest gash. He said sleepily, "you're not using enough force,"

My tail stood on end.

"Excuse me?" I said.

With as little effort that he could muster, my brother got to his feet. He sauntered over. Bumping into my side, he stood on his hind legs. He lifted a claw in the air and slashed through the air. A fresher and much deeper gash. I saw his claw slip out the wood cleanly.

Scratching behind his head, he looked at me.

"Not enough force."

My legs slid out from under me. Laying my head on my forelegs, I sighed. Brother flopped down next to me, head facing mine. His tail thumped slow and steady. Covering my face, I groaned, "why can't I do this? I'm doing all that I can!"

"You're scrawny and tiny, sis. Ain't nothing more to it," my brother said nonchalant. I bit down a scream when pain shot down my leg from him jabbing a claw into it. I heard him giggling. Uncovering my face, I saw him staring at me. Another fit of giggles had hit him.

"Does seeing me miserable make you laugh?"

Brother stuck his tongue out at me and said, "maybe."

Sucking in a breath, I picked myself up and lunged once more at the tree. I put all my weight into it. My claws made contact with the trunk slicing across. Chest puffed I glanced behind me. Brother was watching intently. His eyes though weren't on the tree though...they were on me.

I felt my skin crawl.

My mouth grew dry then when he got up. He came over inspecting my work; he laid his paw against the gash. It dwarfed my gash. Brother looked at me before patting my head.

"Not bad, sis. I should insult you more often," Brother said. His comment rolled off my back. I bowed my head to me. As I turned to leave, however, I felt something wrap around my back leg. Looking down, I saw his tail. I shot him a look.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Stay awhile, I got a couple things I wanna show ya."

"No, I'm done for today. We only train till the sun is at its peak, remember?"

My brother's smile tugged downward. He yanked on his tail. Pulling my leg away, I shake him off and jumped a couple paces ahead. In a shaky voice, I said, "I'm leaving for today. Tomorrow I'll train with you, ok?"

His wings flared out and his red eyes glared at me. Snorting he muttered, "fine." And with a single powerful wing flap, he flew off. I watched him grow smaller and smaller in the distance. I sighed and sat on my haunches. My heart pounded in my chest. I looked up to the sky, the sun high now. Brows furrowed, I take off.

"Empty," I said to myself after landing in the clearing. Trotting along the edge, I scanned my eyes through the trees. Nothing. My ears pricked at a sound. I spun around. I came face to face with a squirrel. I hung my head. The critter sniffed at me before bounding off. Slumping to the ground, I stared into space. The sun was going down disappearing behind the treeline. Still I laid there. Shadows danced across my vision, filling me with hope and disappointment each time. When the first star appeared, I closed my eyes. I said aloud, "guess that was a one time deal…"

"What was?"

I scrambled to my feet and spun to face the voice. Putting on a smile I blurted, a bit too loud, "Hello Mother!"

Bathed in moonlight and soft shadows Mother's pink eyes were intensified. She slid out from the forest. Head tilted, Mother sweetly asked, "you didn't answer my question, love. What deal?"

I swallowed down the start of a throat lump. My pause had Mother circling around me, tail thrashing about.

"Ha. Well..A couple moons ago I ran into something."

"Oh?"

"Mhm!"

She blinked once at me.

"Well?" She asked.

"Well what?"

For a moment, I thought I saw her eye twitch. She smiled at me though. She slid over to me nuzzling me. I glanced down, unsure.

"I meant, dear, what did you run into?" Mother said.

"Oh, oh! Right what I ran into…" I said, looking anywhere but her eyes. Mother tapped a claw. Her breathing had slowed down and her tail slapping the ground. I forced my eyes to look at her. I said, "I ran into a buck."

Mother stared at me while scrunching up her nose.

Before she could respond, I added, "a huge buck! Bigger than your son! It's rack was enormous and wide! I stumbled on it grazing and tried to take it down. But I-"

"Failed. Is that right?"

I squeezed my eyes shut. Her gaze still penetrated my soul. With a slow head nod, I responded, "yes."

"And yet you still look for it?"

"Yes?"

Mother pulled me into a tight hug. Wind knocked out of me, all I could do was reciprocate. She said in a sweet tone, "Wonderful! Your training is paying off. You'll soon be able to join your brother in future hunts. Hm, would you like that? Oh of course you would! You two get along so well now. Don't you?"

I shrugged and said, "I guess so. I haven't seen the buck here since then though...I don't know if he'll come back…"

Mother laughed.

My cheeks grew hot and I covered my face with my paw. She swatted it away. Cupping my face, Mother nuzzled my nose. She cooed at me, "oh my silly, naive girl! Of course he's not coming back!"

Heart sinking, I asked, "what...why would you say that?"

"He left!"

"...are you calling me stupid?"

Mother recoiled back. She blinked a few times before patting my cheeks. Coolly she said, "no of course not. You are naive. There's a difference, dear. Now by left I mean he's left the island." At my confusion, Mother sighed and said, "you spend so much time in the water. I'm surprised you never noticed. The water has low and high tides which mean...Better yet, it'll be easier if I just show you."

We flew towards the shoreline then. Once there, Mother pointed a paw towards the water. It ebbed and flowed the water shimmering beneath the moon. I glanced at Mother. Her mouth was moving, but I heard nothing. I knew how the tides worked from swimming. My brain and heart fought one another; to tell her this or to keep quiet. Mother continued to talk. My vision became hazy then as I gazed at the water. The sea mirrored the sky appearing endless.

There was a ripple in the water.

I gazed harder.

A shadow flickered beneath the waves. Two black pools peered at me from it, pulling me in.

"Listen to me!" Mother yelled, slapping the back of my head. It broke the haziness. Blinking, I saw shimmering water. Another slap. "Girl, you're ignoring me."

I jumped in my skin. Quickly, I shook my head and said, "No, no Mother! I heard what you said about the tides. I just don't understand what they have to do with the buck?"

Mother let out a loud and long sigh.

"When low tide happens for our island, it reveals a path."

"A path?"

"Yes, a path. A landpath to be precise. It takes time for the water to rise again. So your buck crossed it to another island."

Ears slicked back I said, "oh...so he's not coming back."

"Not with that attitude," Mother chided me, "you shall go find it."

I had done a double take, my jaw dropped. She looked at me as if i had sprouted a second head. Taking a step back, I asked, "leave the island? I can't do that! Mother, please, it's too dangerous. I can't go off on my own. What about-"

She slapped me in the mouth. Hurt flashed across my eyes while hers bore annoyance. Mother walked to my side, arching a brow. She said to me, "stop whining girl. You will track it down and kill it. You're off on your own anyways, what's some distance?" I looked away. Her tail hooked under my chin forcing me to look up.

"This is your chance to prove yourself. Find that buck and bring it home," Mother said.

"But Mother..I've never left the island before. What if I get lost?"

"You'll find it. Family always finds each other."

"I might be strong enough to-"

"Stop being a stupid coward! I did not raise you that way. Your brother has trained you. That is enough," Mother snarled before softening her tone, "you will be fine. Don't be so afraid of the future. Mama will be here when you come back."

My eyes gazed down at the sand. Barely above a whisper, I asked,"And what if I come home empty?"

Mother flicked her tail out from my chin and said, "you will be punished by training harder and more often with your brother. He will not go easy on you, I'll see to that. Now about getting lost, I will give you until the leaves begin to change color. You will return home with or without the buck. No exceptions." Dawn was breaking in the distance. The light's warmth dimmed against my mother's icy glare.

"Until the leaves change? It's only been two months since the trees became full. Don't you think that's too long?"

"No. You said it yourself: you've never left the island. It will take time for you to navigate and hunt. You will leave by tomorrow evening."

"But-"
"Tomorrow. Evening!"

I shut my mouth and nodded. Smiling, Mother turned from me flapping her wings as she did so. She became airborne flying back to the nesting ground. Before she left, Mother called out, "Good luck!" She disappeared into the night, leaving me to my thoughts.

Now alone I slashed at the sand in frustration. I stomped towards the sea, creating loud splashes. The water rippled before settling. My reflection now stared back at me, glaring at me. I smashed it. Wonderful. Just wonderful.

"A buck, really? You idiot. Should have just said a rabbit. Or that you dreaming. Anything would have been better!" I muttered under my breath, "now you have to leave home. And go off to find some fake buck. You won't be here if Toothless comes back."

Waves lapped against the shore three times. My body was like a dam bracing against water. A chill ran up my spine. It rattled my head hard yet it sparked a connection. Gasping sharply, I said, "I can go find him!"

I danced in place, a huge grin spreading on my face. In mid-dance I stopped. My ears stand on end with me saying, "and I have no idea where he lives. Damn it."

Another shiver.

Backwards I walked out of the water. Sand clung to my feet in clumps as I paced back and forth. I looked towards the spot where Mother had flown to . Her words repeated in my mind. I then looked up at the moon. "Mother did say to be gone by tomorrow evening. Never said I couldn't leave sooner. Still though…" I said, my words trailing off.

The sea mirrored the sky appearing endless. Nothing beyond but water and stars from where I stood. He was out there though. Far off somewhere. With humans. Terror coiled itself around me at the thought. My throat grew tight and my limbs stiffened. Mother often spoke ill of humans; how they ruin us dragons. "Can I really do this…" I whispered to myself. Toothless' form broke through my doubt, his smile chasing it away. His playful antics I remembered. As if it happened just yesterday. Then came along what he had done with his tail. My scars itched. The memories stoked the fire within me.

I swallowed my fear.

Taking flight, I soared back to where it all started. I thanked the sun for rising so soon. Its light guided me through the thick trees. There stood the huge boulder. Like before, I scaled over it however I walked further in. Toothless scent sifted into my nose. Up ahead I saw a break in the trees. The beach came into view. Halfway between me and the shore was a pile of rocks and branches. I sniffed the air. His scent, faint, but still there.

My home fades into the distance as I followed his scent.

Gonna be posting chapter a day since I got several done already. Keep forgetting to post links to chapter images. Easier thing to do is to link ophiliaflowers since they're on there too. Tumblr is scoobums so if ya wanna go there too there ya go owo/

Enjoy!