Hicca walked around the hut, trying to get used to her prosthetic while she waited to meet the village chief.

Hicca was unsure what she would say to the chief. She couldn't tell him that two dragons rescued her and her best friend who is also a dragon had brought her to the island and took her to the village so she could get help. No. She would be labeled as insane, and either be sacrificed to the gods or be thrown into a dungeon where she would spend the rest of her days while Toothless slowly died due to his own prosthetic that he couldn't control.

She began storming ideas on what she would say to the chief to help distract the pain that flared up her leg with each step she took.

'I could lie and say I don't remember what happened? Play that I have amnesia?' Hicca pondered. 'Or I can say all that I remember is traveling when a storm hit and I got shipwrecked and did my best to find help? That I saw smoke this way?' she shook her head 'no. It wouldn't make sense. As far as I remember, there has not been a storm. Plus, they would most likely search for the supposed boat in search of any information about me, which they would come up empty handed…'

The young girl sighed in exasperation and collapsed onto the cot. What will the chief be like? Will she be sentenced to a punishment before she could voice her side? Would he be like her father? Would he be cruel and too prideful to let a skinny weak girl explain herself?

Heavy footsteps alerted the young teen that someone was coming, most likely the chief and healer and possibly a guard or council member. She sat up straight and did her best to make her appearance look acceptable.

In entered three beings. The healer, the chief and who Hicca could only figure is the chiefs' wife. Hicca sat up straighter and put on a smile; the chief and his wife smiled while the healer stalked out of her sight.

"Hello child" 'I'm not a child' "I am chief Halfdan, and this is my wife, Helga." Halfdan introduced "what's your name?"

The girl debated whether she should share her name or not 'not like anybody will be looking for me or anything.' She cleared her throat and smiled sheepishly "I-I'm Hicca."

"Hicca…" Helga prompted.

"Just Hicca."

The chiefs' wife looked at her with pity "how long have you been on your own?" she inquired "since I could crawl." And wasn't that the sad honest truth.

The couple shared a look, a knowing look, a silent conversation. Hicca began to fidget in place, nervous about what they had to say.

Helga turned back to Hicca and smiled kindly "well child," 'still not a child' "how would you like to stay here, with us?" The ex-heir was shocked. She was expecting to get interrogated, questioned, told to leave. Not be offered a home.

And goodness was she tempted.

"I'm sorry, but I can't accept the offer." Hicca started slowly "I'm in search of my family, or at least anything that can tell me about my past…" The ruling couple nodded "alright then. Can we offer you anything? Assist you or provide for you…" Hicca shook her head "no but thank you. I'll be fine on my own."

The healer crept back into the room with a bowl of… something. "Here, eat this then sleep" she said a bit harshly and shoved the bowl into the girls' hands. Hicca fumbled with the bowl but thankfully didn't drop it. Only a small splash hit the ground and even that wasn't big. 'Oh thank gods...'

Helga approached the young girl and helped her get a good hold of the medicine. "Rest well, Hicca. Get your strength up and we will see you tomorrow" Helga smiled and left the hut.

Hicca smiled after everyone left and took a sip of the remedy… only to instantly spit it out and hack "what is in this?! Dragon dung?!"

…

It was nearly a week later when the healer said she could go. Hicca was more than happy as she felt like a prisoner to the healer; she was happy though with the chieftess as Helga would come to the hut and speak with Hicca, trying to jog her memory as well as being her good food. Helga would tell the girl tales of her life when she was young, tales of her husband, and so on.

As the young teen walked through the dense forest, she called out to her friend in hopes of finding him. A week was far too long for her liking to be separated from the mighty beast who she came to love.

"Toothless! C'mon bud, it's just me!" She called out and whistled "please… where are you?"

Anxiety and fear filled Hiccup as she continued her search. The longer it took to find him, the worse her fears and thoughts became. 'Did he get caught and killed by the villagers? Did he abandon me? Did he get stuck somewhere similar to the cove? Did another dragon attack him?!'

The young girl gasped and spun around as she heard a heavy thud from behind her, though her fear and anxiety were replaced with joy and relief in seconds. "Toothless!" she cried out and flung herself around his neck "I've missed you bud…"

Toothless crooned and nuzzled his small human. He too missed his small friend and was terrified while she was away, fearing for the worst as well. She had lost a lot of blood and was passed out the last he saw her, so he feared the most that she might have not made it.

A metallic smell hit his nose causing him to back up and look over his girl. The drake paused before leaning down and nudged some metal attached to her leg. He stood back up and crooned at the small girl in worry and confusion; Hicca chuckled "it's alright, Toothless. I'm okay. I'll be fine." She shook her leg around a bit to show him she was fine "see? It'll take some time to get adjusted too, but overall? I'll be fine." The drake nuzzled her chest before giving her a big ol' lick on the face.

"Eww! Toothless, that's nasty!" she squealed and backed away from her scaly companion who was now laughing at her misery "useless reptile." Hicca flicked the slobber onto Toothless's face, causing him to stop and glare at his human "don't look at me like that. You were the one who licked me!" shaking his head, Toothless raised his arm to rub off his sticky and truthfully stinky slobber.

Hicca smiled and stretched her arms above her head "oh! I saw the oddest thing in the village. It was a wolf but tamed! It wasn't attacking or stealing food or anything. It was just…" the girl paused as she slowly turned to look into the drakes curious eyes "... like you." The small girl rubbed the dragon's head, causing Toothless to purr and rub up against her.

Toothless was elated to have Hicca by his side again. He missed her funny stories that some must not be true. After all, sheep can't fly!

When they were apart for the week, it felt like an eternity. He couldn't stand nor see himself without his girl. She is his light and love. He'd never leave her, no matter what happened. And if she were to be harmed? He'd take the attacker out before they knew what happened, and if she were hurt because of him? He'd never forgive himself.

"Well, how about we go for a long overdue flight. What do you say?" Toothless jumped around and roared, more than ready to spread his wings and feel the air beneath him. He hadn't flown once while Hicca was away (not like he could anyways).

Lowering himself to the ground, Hicca climbed onto his back and took a deep breath as she adjusted her prosthetic leg. Once settled she scratched Toothless's neck and whispered a soft "let's go".

…

Oh how the duo missed the feeling of being free of having no responsibilities. Of just having each other and it just being them against the world. It was exhilarating!

Whooping and laughing, Hicca looked down at Toothless with love, and before she realized what she was doing, she leaned forward and kissed the crown of the reptile's head and rubbed her cheek against his noggin "I love you bud." She whispered

Sensing their peaceful moment and alone time was coming to an end, the duo looked around and spotted two dragons following after them. To be more specific, the nadder and the nightmare that flew them to the island to get her help. Hicca smiled at them "hello again. Thank you for saving us" she said softly. The nightmare growled in return, and soon all three were growling and crooning. Hicca tilted her head 'do they have their own language? Or are they like those bugs that sting that communicate via dance?' That was an interesting discovery for her when she was small. Well, smaller. And painful. Those bugs did not like being disturbed at all.

"I wonder if I could learn their language…" Hicca pondered aloud. "Hah! That's a good joke" she shook her head and walked over to the two newcomers to rub their faces and thank them over and over.

…

It was dusk when the trio landed on a desolate island they had scoped out and took refuge in a cave to escape the rain that had appeared out of nowhere. Toothless curled himself around Hicca and kept her closer to his tummy and chest as that is where he is most hot as that is where his burning heart pounded.

Just as she felt her heavy eyes begin to close to finally sleep, a disturbing cracking and leather ripping rang out. Hicca quickly stood up and stood in front of her best friend to shield him from whatever danger was coming.

(Silly human. He's a dragon. He's the one who will be doing the protecting, not her.)

She gawked as she saw two people before her with wings retracting into their backs…

"What is Thor's name?!"

The beings turned around and stared at Hicca as Hicca gawked at them. She looked them over from top to bottom, stupefied at their appearances.

One was a female and easily the tallest woman Hicca has ever seen. If she had to guess, she'd have to be at least seven feet tall. It didn't end there. She had locks of red that faded into midnight black that cascaded down her back. Her shoulders were broad and she was very muscular but lean and thin. Hicca blushed when she realized the woman was bare. She quickly averted her eyes and looked to the next being. Her eyes were a shining green that put even Toothless's magnificent green to shame on how bright and light they are.

He was a man who somehow stood taller than the woman. He had a very intimidating aurora that screamed immense power. Hicca shivered in slight fear at how overwhelming it was. His hair was pitch black with silver tips that cascaded down his back in a style Hicca was vaguely familiar with. It looked most like what one called a 'mohawk', but it was thicker. Adoring his chilled face was a small beard. He too had broad shoulders and a muscular build. Hicca gulped in fear as he too is naked.

What the most startling features about the two were devil like horns.

Toothless quickly placed himself between them and snarled in warning. He didn't understand. One moment his friends were with him and Hicca, the next these, these creatures stood before them. Were they what the humans called devils?

Hicca stumbled backwards and nearly fell had her dragon companion caught her with his tail.

"Woah easy! Easy you two! It's us, the madder and the nightmare!" The female waved her hands in front of her to ease the tension. "Now cmon, nightfury. Your turn. Shift."

Toothless dropped his guard, confused. How could they possibly be his friends? They are dragons, not whatever stood before them.

Sensing his confusion, the male rolled his eyes "what, did you grow under a rock? You too can change like us. All dragons can."

"Prove it! P-prove to us that you're our friends!"

The two looked at each other before shifting back into their dragon forms. Hicca shivered at the sound of bones and skin stretching and collapsing to accommodate their new form.

Hicca walked forward hesitantly and reached out to touch the nadders about then followed up by touching the nightmares with her other hand. "It really is you… but how? How can you change into humans? Why? You said all dragons can, so that means Toothless can too?" She turned around to face Toothless "can't you shift as well? Or is it specific breeds that can. More common breeds like nadders and nightmares and gronkles."

The dragons began to grunt and growl and chirp to each other, to what Hicca assumed was them communicating her questions. She tilted her head and stared in awe once again as the nadder and nightmare transformed back into humans; however, this time they had no horns or wings. "Is it camouflage? A defense mechanism to hide from humans?"

The female chuckled "yes hatchling. It is both. Although we may hide our wings and horns, we cannot alter our height which gives us away to those who are smarter Vikings. Most are gullible and do not notice the height" Hicca nodded along. "You two can talk to Toothless; can you ask him why he isn't changing? Or is he not changing because it's a trust sort of thing…" she felt saddened at the thought of her beloved drake not trusting her. She trusted him with her life, but if he did not reciprocate, she understood. She took away his ability to fly and gave him a weak name.

The nightmare snorted "more like he doesn't know how. He didn't have parents to teach him how to shift. He's stuck like that" Toothless looked away and huffed in frustration. "Oh. Could you two teach him how?"

The nadder nodded "we can-" the nightmare looked at her with disbelief "-and we will. It is only right."

Hicca nodded and a thought came to mind "do you two have names? Or would you like me to give you one?"

The nightmare laughed "hah! I don't trust you to name me. After all you named one of the mightiest dragons 'Toothless', how pathetic" Hicca felt embarrassed, but feeling Toothless rub against her reassured her "we already have names. I am Wormtail."

"And I am Stormfly."

1/16/22

sorry for the delay! Life hit hard and I eventually forgot about this, oops. But I am back! and I made this extra-long to make up for my disappearance. TBH I am not very happy with the ending, so bear with it till the next chapter comse up. Love you all, my guy's gals and nonbinary pals! Stay fabntabulistic!