Chapter 3 - Activated:
Still relatively early, the morning mist hung delicately clinging to the gaps between trees. Keeping the atmosphere damp and chilly.
Hiccup had just started walking into the forest, hopeful of finding his Night Fury prize.
The mist made his face wet every few minutes, and he excessively wiped it with his sleeve. He hoped it would clear soon, or if he could find the dragon quickly so his clothes wouldn't soak too much.
He pulled out his notebook and opened to a page he had for the previous hour been drawing a copy of a map, of Raven forest. Earlier, judging by the map, he thought he had nearly pinpointed where the dragon crash landed.
Unfortunately, where he had guessed was close to the centre of the forest. Which might take a fair amount of tracking to get to.
He started to realise that this was going to take a while, so his clothes were going to become wet unless the mist cleared quickly.
He decided to sit down and wait for the mist to go. He found a log to sit on, and sat.
He looked around, studying the forest. The trees' trunks were larger here than at the beginning. They went higher into the sky and produced a thicker canopy.
Though it was still quite easy to see. Due to the canopy it had darkened a fair bit, but it was still visible. Hiccup feared that when he went further, the canopy would make things nearly as dark as night.
He started fiddling with a stick on the ground, not really paying attention to what he was doing. He was listening to the sounds of the forest though too, almost enjoying it. There wasn't much sound, just the occasional bird or rustle of bush.
Over the next twenty minutes the mist seemed to gradually dissipate and move higher into the sky towards the sun.
Shame though that Hiccups clothes were still a fair bit wet. Especially his sleeves due to wiping his face repeatedly on them.
He pulled both his sleeves up, and some water dripped out. This exposed his dragon birthmark on the underside of his right wrist. But he didn't care, there was no one around to see it anyway.
He stood up and continued to walk further into the forest. Checking his map every once in a while. The map he had copied from listed certain hills and gullies at some points. So he knew where he was going.
The forest seemed to go on forever, the trees slowly seemed to get thicker and bigger.
What started to spook him though, was that he was starting to hear less and less sound. Either the density of the understory and canopy blocked out sound from animals, or perhaps there were no animals around here.
It was considerably darker in this part of the forest too. The terrain was becoming hillier. Still he kept going, determined to find the dragon.
After another minute of walking, he spotted something.
It was a break in the canopy. The sunlight was streaming through in just one section. At this point, Hiccup now could not hear a single sound.
Just before the sunlight was reaching the ground, there were several large rocks protruding out and just resting on the ground. He could not see what was behind it.
He reached inside his brown fur coat pocket for his dagger, and took it out. His heart started beating faster and faster.
As he drew nearer, he noticed a few black spotted things on the ground. He bent down, picked one up and examined it.
It was a metallic shiny black scale. There were scales on the ground there.
He drew closer, and closer. He bent down to stay behind a rock, uncertain but he had a hunch of what was behind.
He drew in a deep breath, and peered around the rock to see where the sunlight was streaming through onto the ground.
And there it was.
He stared and stared.
It was the Night Fury. He was certain of it.
There was the dragon. Metallic, shiny black. Covered in small black scales that blended in so well you couldn't tell one scale from another.
It was tangled in the bola he had launched at it.
It appeared to have two very long wings, that he was sure would be longer when they were fully stretched out. Even longer perhaps than a Monstrous Nightmare's. Its entire size was as an estimate a bit larger than a Deadly Nadder but slightly smaller than a Monstrous Nightmare.
It had a streamlined, symmetrical slender body. Designed for high speed and probably long distance flying. A rather long tail, with two fins jutting out that must help with flying just below its main wings. It also had two symmetrical fins right at the end that must control direction and balance.
Suddenly the dragon moved.
Hiccup jumped back in fright, having thought it was dead. The dragon began breathing every so often through its small nose on its face.
Why wasn't it breathing before? Was it holding its breath or was it sleeping? Hiccup thought to himself.
It had several ears that looked like they could move at the edge of its neck. It also had four paws which looked like they could tear apart any creature, especially with those sharp claws.
Hiccup glanced at his right wrist.
The Night Fury matched his dragon mark exactly.
"Wow. I-I, I did it."
This seemed to make the dragon open its eyes. They were a bright, acidic green colour. Lighter than the greenery of the forest.
It was staring right at him.
"It's a-a about t-tt time." He stuttered. Now approaching the dragon.
"Finally, the v-village will see me for w-what I can do."
The dragon wriggled and groaned, trying to break free. But the ropes were too strong. It gave up and just watched.
He raised his dagger, looking at the beast's chest, preparing to strike at where he thought its heart was. The dragon's breathing quickened.
Come on you can do it, you can do it.
He couldn't help but have a quick glance at the dragons face.
Its eyes were boring into his own. Staring expectantly.
But as Hiccup watched, its eyes seemed to gradually widen. As if it was surprised that he hadn't killed it yet. Which was probably true, all the other Vikings would've killed it without hesitation by now.
Hiccup shut his eyes in frustration.
Oh come on how can it be that difficult?! It's a helpless dragon! Just do it!
The dragon was now holding its breath again, he couldn't hear it breathing.
Hiccup grunted, raised his dagger really high, but then just released it. It fell down to the ground and landed at his feet.
He knelt down to the ground, and covered his face in his hands.
"I can't do it. Whhhy can't I do it?!" He sobbed.
He cried at his weakness. He realised that he could not kill a dragon. He didn't have the heart to kill a living creature that was so helpless and hadn't done anything to him.
It's not necessary. He thought. I just can't do it. It would be like killing a Viking.
He picked up his dagger, refusing to look at the helpless dragon.
He stood up, and turned around. He began to walk back, then he had another thought.
I can't just leave the dragon tangled up to die a painful death. I gotta release it.
He sighed, and went back to the dragon. Still refusing to look at its face.
He knelt down again, and began cutting the ropes.
One, two, three ropes cut. One more and it'll be fr-
In the quickest amount of time before he had even registered what had happened, the dragon had leapt up, pushed Hiccup with its paw and had him pinned against the rock. His dagger went flying out of his hand. The dragon kept some weight on him, stopping him from moving.
The Night Fury snarled a little, baring its teeth. Its ears raised vertically upwards.
Hiccups heart began beating at the fastest it had ever gone in his life.
He realised this was finally it, he was pinned with no means of escape. The Night Fury stared right at him, concentrated on its prey.
Hiccup made no attempt to struggle, break free, move or harm the dragon. Not that he could have anyway.
He accepted his fate. He realised he couldn't kill a dragon, and now he was going to pay the price. He didn't mind too much, he didn't have any real friends that he would miss. Save Gobber.
He was practically looking at the mask of death itself. His Night Fury birthmark must mean he was destined to be killed by that dragon.
But as he kept looking at the dragon, it made no attempt to kill, move or threaten. It just remained still, stopped snarling kept staring and kept him pinned.
Suddenly, remarkably, the dragon then released him. It took its paw off and took one step back. It stopped baring its teeth, but then quickly the teeth disappeared into a pink set of gums. It looked toothless. Then it shut its mouth.
Hiccup was so stunned he didn't move for a while. He stared at the Night Fury as if it had gone insane.
He finally gathered up the courage to move a fraction. He ever so slightly moved his arms a little.
The dragon's eyes instantly snapped to his arms to look at the movement. Then the Night Fury suddenly leapt and pinned Hiccup to the rock once again.
It must be taunting me. Just do it already.
But this time, something shocked Hiccup even more.
The Night Fury was staring right at the dragon birthmark on his right arm. Its eyes had widened so much, as if it wasn't expecting to see it and was very surprised.
The dragon then glanced to Hiccups face, then back to the dragon mark. It repeated this twice, before its gaze stayed on the birthmark.
The Night Fury then pushed Hiccup harder into the rock, to restrict his movement. It started to hurt a bit. His back began to ache.
Then, with its other paw, it moved it slowly over to Hiccups right arm.
Suddenly, the Night Fury then touched his paw right onto the dragon birthmark.
The size of the dragons paw was far larger than Hiccups wrist, but because of the cylindrical shape of human arms, he could still just see his birthmark a little.
At first, nothing happened. Then the dragon closed its eyes.
Suddenly, to Hiccups immense surprise, the birthmark suddenly glowed a plain bright yellow. As if there was an intensely bright yellow fire inside his arm.
Almost a golden yellow colour. It did not change texture once.
Hiccup screamed in terror, but there was no pain. He struggled to break free, but it was useless. He could not move, the dragon had him pinned.
It did not hurt at all, as a matter of fact, Hiccup felt completely normal. Except the fact that he was terrified. The dragon wasn't really pressing hard though.
Then, the yellow colour started to dim, and get darker.
The dragon opened its eyes, and looked right into Hiccups. The Night Fury had a strange look on its face. Its mouth curved down a little bit, its eyes were a little shut, and its ears were flat against its neck. Was this the dragon's way of trying to look…sympathetic?
But that was impossible, dragons weren't intelligent or emotional beings.
He stopped screaming and trying to move, and just watched. Stunned, scared and shocked.
All of a sudden the birthmark went black, as if it was back to normal. Then it flashed to the same yellow it did before, then it glowed a steady dark purple. Hiccup thought it was same colour now as the Night Furies fire.
The Night Fury at last took its paw off Hiccups wrist.
Instantly, his birthmark changed to a dark blue colour. A little darker than the blue of Astrid's eyes. It glowed vibrantly.
"Come back to the forest soon. You'll find me."
That was all Hiccup could take before his vision turned black and he slid to the ground.
He began dreaming about standing at the top of a hill with five others, awaiting something. Having united the six, he could bring peace and justice to all, with the other five's help. He hoped.
"Hic…...cup."
"Hicc..up!"
"HICCUP!"
His eyes snapped open. He was met with eyes that were a fierce dark green.
"Wh-what?"
"Hiccup, what are you doing here?"
He looked around, noticing he was on the ground and someone large was leaning over him. He gazed up, and realised his Dad was looming there.
"Um, what am I doing here…" he repeated to himself.
He turned around.
The forest was right behind him, he was lying down at the edge of the forest.
"You're embarrassing me. Come on get up." Stoick demanded.
Hiccup stood up at once, he noticed several Vikings around all looking curious. Instinctively he brought his sleeve up to his hand on his right arm and shoved his hand in his pocket.
"What day is it? How long has it been since I last saw you?" Hiccup asked.
Stoick turned around and started walking quickly back towards the village.
Hiccup raced after him.
"Look I'm sorry. I fell asleep in the forest can you just tell me how long I was gone for?" He pleaded.
The chief turned around. "Son it's been only a few hours. It's around midday, now will you hurry up? I've got some news to tell you."
Stoick grabbed him by his shirt and walked quickly back to the village, he went inside Hiccups house shut the door then finally released him.
Hiccup placed his notebook and dagger on the bench, then quickly glanced at his right wrist. He noticed his Night Fury birthmark looking the same as always. It was just black.
Did I really fall asleep in the forest? Was all that a dream or a hallucination? Or was it real…
"I actually have to talk to you t-"
"I need to speak with you now, it's more important." Stoick interrupted.
Hiccup frowned. "Fine. Go on."
"I think it's time for you to begin your training."
Hiccup stared at his Dad.
Oh you have got to be kidding me. Only now he is saying this?
"What type of training?" Hiccup asked. Even though he pretty much knew what he was going to say.
"Dragon training. You need to bulk up and get experience with trying to take down a dragon. You'll start tomorrow morning in the arena with the other teenagers."
Stoick turned around, grabbed an axe he must have brought earlier into the house and dropped it into Hiccups arms.
"You'll need this."
He nearly dropped it, it was so heavy.
"Uhhh, Dad. I don't want to fight dragons."
He laughed. "Don't be ridiculous, you've always wanted to. You're going to kill a Night Fury one day, it's your destiny boy. This is where you start."
Hiccup was feeling terrible. This was exactly what he wanted yesterday and for all his life. Till now. After what he thinks he experienced in the forest, or in the dream if it was, he knows now he wouldn't have the guts, or the strength to kill one.
"Okay. Let me say I changed my mind. I can't kill dragons."
His dad turned around and began pacing the floor.
"But you will kill dragons."
Getting agitated now, Hiccup said, "No, I'm very extra sure that I won't."
Stoick stopped. He was beginning to get that angry look that meant he was going to get furious.
"It's time Hiccup! This is serious!"
He snatched the axe out of Hiccups hands.
"When you carry this, you carry all the village with you. It means you act like us, talk like us and think like us. No more of…" Stoick then gestured at Hiccup's body, "This."
Rolling his eyes again, Hiccup said, "You just gestured at all of me. I can't change all of me!"
"YES YOU CAN AND YOU WILL! When I come back, I expect to see you excelling at dragon training! If you're not, well, something unfortunate might happen." Stoick then tapped Hiccups notebook.
That notebook was more like a diary. He had written many ideas and plans for designs of his inventions like the Mangler in there. Also personal thoughts and things. It was a very personal book.
"You can't do that!" Hiccup grabbed his notebook and shoved it in his pocket, as if Stoick was about to snatch it and throw it in the fire. "Mum gave it to me. It's my only reminder that she existed!"
Stoick smiled, a cold threatening smirk. "She is not here anymore now is she? Well then, deal?"
Mortified, Hiccup didn't respond.
"DEAL?!" He barked, anger lurking in his voice.
"Deal." Hiccup mumbled, sombre. Now looking at the ground.
Stoick turned once again, grabbed a basket and slipped it around his shoulder.
"Good. I'm sure you'll excel. Train hard. I'll be back."
He began walking towards the door. "Probably." The chief added.
Hiccup watched him go. "And I'll be here." Hiccup spoke.
Just as Stoick was leaving, Hiccup added, "Or not."