Toothless - Branch

"Please still be there," I mumbled through gritted teeth. The taste of rope hit my tongue almost making me gag. I spat it out. I flicked my tongue in and out. I shivered. Teeth grabbing it again, I began dragging the large basket attached.

Birds chirped in the distance as I made my way to the cove. Every so often, I looked around. A bush shakes, I looked. Twig snaps, I looked. A flash of brown caught my eye. A growl rumbled in my throat. Clung to a tree was a brown squirrel. Wide eyes stared at me.

My body relaxed. I then started walking again.

Finally the familiar formations of rocks came into view. Slipping through the entrance, I stopped at the entrance. Sunlight pooled at my feet. I felt a huge lump form in my throat. I crouched low slinking forward. I peeked over the edge. From across the way, I saw her. Sleeping peacefully on the boulder from last night.

Heart began to rattle my chest.

Tail wagging, I take hold of my basket and glide down. I land with a thud. I flinched from the noise echoing off the stone walls. And yet she's still. I sighed. Upright I waddled over. My eyes taking in the view. She was curled into a tight ball. Tail wrapped around her, fins shielding her face.

Her back rose and fell. Her wings twitched in her sleep; left wing spreading open. That's when I saw pink. Long and jagged. Stretch from her shoulder to her belly. Before I could look deeper, her wing closed. Nose twitching, I turned to look at her shielded face. I leaned in closer. Her tail fins snapped shut.

Blue.

I stumbled backwards onto my rump. I watched her jump to her feet and snarl. I gave her a sheepish look.

Glaring at me, the Night Fury barked, "what were you doing? ...were you..watching me?"

"Uh, yeah, sorry..." I mumbled out an apology. As I dropped to all fours she hopped off the boulder. I can feel her gaze on me as she walks over. As she gets closer, however, I noticed something. I have to look down. "You're short," I blurted out like an idiot.

She's taken aback. Her eyes wide and jaw hanging ajar. Then her ears lay flat and she looks down in sadness. My chest grew tight. She turns away from me and takes a flying start. I let out a panic whine. I leaped over her. She pauses. I lowered myself down and gaze up at her.

"I didn't mean it in a bad way!" I said.

She again takes a step away from me. Softly she asked, "what else could it mean if not a bad thing?"

I'm caught off guard. I had to do a double take. Picking myself off the ground, I stare at her. A tinge of sadness glazes her eyes. I replied, "I think it's cute."

Her big blue eyes grew wide. She hid her face behind her paws and her wings curled around her. My heart skipped a beat. A surge of boldness coursed through me then. Grinning, I leaned in and said, "heh now you're even cuter!"

She peeked through her claws. If looks could kill, hers wouldn't. I laughed. She squeezed her eyes shut. She muttered something.

Turning my head, I asked, "did ya say something?"

"Stop!" she squeaked, swatting me with her tail. She glared at me.

I laughed again.

"So it seems you're well rested," I said cheekily at her.

She lowered her paws and glared at me. Stepping towards me, she pushed her snout against mine. In a low voice she growled, "what's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, I mean, you did say you were exhausted last night. You were pretty bold too. But now, not so much? Ya see what I'm getting at."

She was quiet.

Her eyes fluttered closed. She sighs. Her breath tickled my chin as she spoke, "I suppose I see what you mean. And I—" She stopped mid sentence. Her eyes flew open and locked onto mine. She jerked back.

I blinked. Tilting my head, I raised a brow. Her wings twitched. She again lowered her head peering up at me. I felt like I was drowning in them. Like the first time. I sucked in a breath to steady myself. She shifted in her spot before speaking again, "Forgive me, I was too close."

"Oh that's fine. I don't mind! Be as close as you want!" I happily replied.

She smiled.

I smiled back.

Her nose crinkled suddenly. She turned from me, following her nose to the basket. She nudged it. I danced in place. I trotted over and sat across from her. She eyed me. Again she nudged the basket before smelling it. She licked her lips.

"What's this?" she asked.

I raised my head high. Chest puffed out. With a flick of my wrist, I knocked it over. A waterfall of fish poured out. Her eyes twinkled with delight...and hunger?

Her head dipped out of sight burying her face in the fish. I tilted my head. Eyes widening. She wolf the fish down. She only stopped for air. And her head disappeared into the wicker basket. Said basket shifted and bobbed this way and that. I slowly reached out, paused, then placed my paw atop the basket to still it. I felt her snout bump against my paw. Awkwardly I looked around. After several bumps, her chewing died down. Chuckling, I said, "Oh good you're done ea—" The basket slipped past me as she picked her head up and sat down. I gawked. The offspring of lightning and death. My own kind. She wore a basket as a hat. Her tail wagged happily behind her though. That's when I heard it.

Schlip!

"Are you...licking it?" I asked.

The basket jiggled. I take that as a yes while I stepped closer. I gently grab the basket and slipped it. Tossing it to the side, I met her gaze. She licked her nose before shaking off the excess. The Night Fury let out a huge yawn then. Her eyes nearly slid closed before they jerked open thanks to a hiccup. I snickered. Wing covering her mouth, she stared me down. Her head bobbed every breath. I laughed and said, "heh you alright there?"

"I'm fi- hic- fine! ...Please, stop stari-hic- at me," she said, hiccuping loudly. She walked away, head down, towards the lake. Chuckling, I followed suit a few hiccups later.

She already was lapping up water. I went to drink when I saw her reflection. Blue eyes wide. Fear flashed across her face before ripples distorted her image. I cast her a side glance. She was frozen. Without a word I walked the pond's edge. I faced her from the other side. Her eyes flitted up to me. I smiled. I then began to drink. Her tongue flicking the water caught my ears. We drank in silence.

Our shadows had disappeared. I glanced up squinting at the sun. I blinked. Hadn't realized time had flown by so fast. I looked back across the lake. Stretched out, the Night Fury basking in the sun. Head perched on my paws, I watched. My wings twitched and muscled ached. I wanted to lay next to her. So many questions were turning over in my head. And the answers laid across the water. Her fear though. It was clear as a starry night. And it was fear I knew so well. Harsh memories bubbled up to the surface, ones I had tried burying into the ground. Ones I hadn't thought of since I met Hiccup.

Sighing, I forced myself to look away. My thoughts turned to Hiccup. The tightness in my chest loosened and my fear melted away. A particular memory crossed my mind. Peering over her, I locked onto a familiar tree. I ran around the lake though tiptoed past her. I looked the tree over. A loose branch. Yanking it off, I waddled pack to my spot. I threw a glance at her. Still asleep.

Dipping it into the sand, I began to draw. I dragged and pulled. I spun around sketching out a circle then two. With my wings I brushed off any loose sand. The world around me faded. Spinning, dragging, dusting, and I finished with a curved line. I smiled with pride.

Something brushed past my tail. I stiffened and twisted my neck around. In light steps the Night Fury walked by. She tilted her head. She looked up at me and asked, "what is this?"

"Wawing," I said against the stick.

"What?" She replied.

I spat out the stick onto the ground. Shooting her a smile, I repeated, "It's a drawing! Cool huh?" My eyes flitted between her expression and the drawing. She tilted her head again. There's a pause with her nosed scrunched up and her staring at my drawing. I leaned in and asked, "you know...what a drawing is right?"

With the most weary and tired tone, she said, "no.."

My ears flatten against my head. With a gentle smile, I lower my head so we're eye level. She glanced at me. I leaned in closer to say something when she recoiled

Yelping, her wings were about to fold around her. I stared at her. She buried her face into her wing. She murmured something inaudible. My tail flicked in annoyance. It was then just like that all the wind was beneath my wings disappeared. Head hung low, I sighed. I turned on my heel and head back towards the basket. From behind I heard footsteps follow. Snatching the basket up, I walked to the exit.

More footsteps.

I looked over my shoulder. She was staring at me wide eyed and slack jawed. I sighed deeply and set the basket down. I saw her working her jaw. She looked like a fish gasping for air. Annoyance bubbled to the surface. Then a twinge of hurt came after. I wanted to say something. Her fear kept replaying in my head. I was about to jump when she spoke up.

"Wait where are you going!?"

I paused. I again looked at her in confusion now. Standing up, I replied back, "I'm going home. I can tell when I'm not wanted."

Shame flashed across her face. Guilt hit me in the chest hard.

"Hey, it's ok. I didn't mean to upset ya. I just thou-``she cut me off.

"Oh you didn't upset me!"

"Huh?" I said turning to face her, "I'm getting mixed signals here... Do you want me to stay or go?"

"NO!" she yelled.

Now it was my turn to stare at her wide eyed and slack jawed. She covered her face with her paws and wings. Silence hung in the air between us. Heartbeat and a half later, she spoke up and said, "Please don't go..."

Smiling, I replied, "alright, I'll stay."

She lifted her head with glee, her eyes shining like the ocean. Her wings fluttered too. A flash of pink. I quickly glanced down and saw those scars again. Before I could say or do anything, she trotted away. She takes a seat next to my sketch. A radiant look is thrown my way. My gaze lingered on her before I followed suit.

The Night Fury points and asked, "a drawing?"

I nodded.

She leaned in closer before leaning back. On her hind legs she walked along the edge ever so delicately. Her eyes grew wide and sparkled like moonlight. My breath hitched in my throat. She looked over at me and said, "this is amazing! I never known anyone who could do such a thing! You're so lucky, Toothless."

My jaw dropped.

She blinked a few times.

"W-what?" she asked.

"You said my name."

Her wings fluttered open and her eyes grew wide. She gulped asking, "I'm sorry?"

I shake my head at her. I smiled. "It's the first time you said it all day. I'm happy!"

She looked away bashfully. Feeling light like a Fireworm, I trotted over to her. I opened my mouth to speak. I stopped. She was burning a hole into the drawing. Her eyes narrowed at it.

"Hey, you ok?" I asked. She shakes her head. So I then asked, "what is it?"

She turned to me. Eyes full of wonder and curiosity, she said, "It's just.. I wish I could do this. It's an amazing gift you have. Could you show me?"

Dancing in place, I nodded my head. I snatched my branch up. With a head motion, I had her follow me a bit further down. I stopped at a good spot. She sat down quietly. On my hind legs I dipped the stick and began to draw. Up, down, sliding this way and that, a spin here, a spin there, and I dragged it along. I passed by her. I stopped and glanced. Head turned bit away, her eyes stared intently at my line. Her mouth formed an 'o'. Grinning against the stick, I continued. Crisscrossing over some lines, I used my tail to add a bit of texture. One look thrown her way I dabbed one final touch.

A light squeal rang through my ears. I looked over at her. She was hopping! She let out several chirps before bounding over. Still bouncing in place, she beamed up at me and said, "oh my stars! That was incredible, Toothless! I have never seen such a thing before! You're so talented. You make it look so easy and flawless. And you did it on your back legs too! I would love to be able to do it as half as well. Just amazing!"

Brow raised, I lowered the stick and straightened my back out. Head tilted. I wiggled my nose and asked, "you.. don't know how to draw?"

She mirrored my head tilt. She quickly shakes her head and said, "what? No of course not? Did you not hear me?"

"I did hear you. I just don't get how you don't know."

"Know what?" she replied.

Clearing my throat, I asked, "isn't it a thing we can do?"

"No of course not! You're the only one I've seen ever do this!" she replied.

"Oh.. I see."

Her eyes softened up at me. She sat a little closer. Digging her claws into the sand, she asked, "Forgive me. I did not mean to be so rude, Toothless."

Chuckling I replied, "heh, it's ok. Don't worry bout it. Just thought— never mind. Wanna try?"

The Nightfury jumped in her spot. She pressed a paw to her chest and looked at me in horror. She stuttered out, "m-me?!"

"Yeah you!" I said pushing the branch towards her. She stared. I nudged it a bit closer. She recoiled a bit. Grinning, I said, "it's not gonna bite ya. Give it a shot!"

Shaking her head, she mumbled out, "no, no, no...I couldn't. I don't want to put my mouth on it..."

I huffed then puffed my chest out. I dipped my head down into my armpit and nibbled. I looked back at her and said, "sorry, had an itch. Also, do I look sick or something?"

"No, no Toothless, I didn't mean that. I just—"

"Cause I can assure you I ain't! But I can get you another branch though?"

Again she shakes her head. She replied, "n-no it's fine! It's nothing, I'll use yours." With that she picked the branch up. She takes several steps back. She stabbed the branch down. I flinched at a cracking sound. She began to move. Tiny baby steps. Jagged lines. Her nostrils flared as she dragged the stick down. She bit down. A clean crack down the middle. Stick still in mouth, she growled.

I laughed.

She shot me one of her glares. I saw a flash of something though. Then I saw annoyance. She dropped the stick. "I'm terrible!" she muttered, a hint of frustration in her voice.

I wandered over, taking in her sketch. I sat down next to her. She was bent over the stick before pushing it away. I bent down next to her. I nudged the stick towards her again.

"But I'm awful..." she said.

"So?" I replied, a flash of confusion washed over her face. I hovered a wing above her. I smiled and added, "I wasn't that great either when I started."

A sharp gasped escaped her.

"Really!"

"Yep! Took me ages, but I kept at it. Wanna know why?"

She nodded her head.

"Cause it's fun."

"Fun?" she asked.

I nodded. I pulled apart the branch with my claws. I motioned towards hers. She smiled. We both take a branch in mouth and begin to draw. We go in opposite directions. Every so often our lines would cross. And every time I caught her face. A huge smile. We curved, dragged, and spun until every inch of sand was etched in. Our sticks clashed as we faced each other.

Grins all around.

I tossed our sticks into the pond. She was still smiling from ear to ear. Dusk had descended on us faster than I had liked. We both gazed up at the sky. Soft purples fading into deep blues. Stars twinkled in the distance. We gazed back at each other.

"Are you staying here tonight?" I asked.

"Toothless, I.." she started to say. The words died on her tongue though it seemed.

My shoulders slacked. Her wings began to curl around her. She looked up at me then. My body began to move on its own and I leaned in closer. The light had shifted. I swore she was leaning in too. We were an inch away when...

"TOOTHLESS!"

Instantly we pulled away from each other. I looked back at the exit, towards Berk, towards home.

"Your pet is calling for you. You should go."

I flinched. I turned to correct her but stopped. All the happiness from before had vanished. She stared down at the exit. Misery etched in her face. She had started to turn away when I blurted out, "come with me!"

She spun around.

Swallowing hard, I repeated myself, "come with me, to Berk."

She had taken a step back from me. Fear. Even in the waning sun I could see it clearly. I said in a soft voice, "there are humans. I know you're scared, but it's ok! There's other dragons there too and-"

"Other dragons?!" she bleated out.

I nodded.

Despite her shaking, I stepped closer to her. I stared deep into her eyes. Her shaking stopped. In a firm and gentle voice I said, "I won't let anything happen to you. I promise. You don't have to be alone tonight."

Her jaw seemed to lock up. Her eyes darted around the area then rested on me. She still shakes a little, but her wings relaxed. She nodded. Then she whispered to me, "I'll go with you. But can we stay here? Just for tonight...I'm not ready to meet them yet."

My ears flicked towards the entrance. I focused waiting to hear Hiccup call, but he didn't. Perhaps he hadn't want to push. He trusted me. I always came home. I nodded in response. We parted ways to find a place to sleep. She chose her rock. And I chose to rest near the lake. I peered over at her. She was staring. I saw her jump before she buried her face. With a tired sigh, I lay my head down to sleep.

Damn it, I forgot to post the titles for this like an idiot! I'll put down what the chapters titles were. Sorry bout that!

Prologue

Dragon-Twilight

Toothless-Chance

Night Fury-Apology

Toothless-Mistake

Finally finished the picture for this chapter. doesn't allow pictures on here so I'll link. It's why I haven't updated this in awhile. I wanted to update everything at the same time. So there ya go! Won't be a long wait through. Gotta do the last thumbnail for next finished chapter. Then can continue the story! I'll link my da account here if ya wanna see the pictures: ophiliaflowers/gallery/73133893/legacy

Thanks for reading y'all~

Constructive criticism as always are appreciated.