Chapter 4 - Night's Mark:
For the rest of the day, half of it already gone, he spent watching around two thirds of Berks Vikings loading weapons, supplies and food onto the boats.
As it approached mid-afternoon, he realised he hadn't eaten since the day before. His stomach gave a growl at the thought, so he raced off to the Great Hall.
An hour later he was now stuffed with bread, lamb and chicken. He then decided to go to the forge to work on some weapons. Once there, there was a pile of weapons he hadn't fixed since the dragon raid due to him leaving to catch the Night Fury.
It took a fair amount of time to heat the fire up again to a welding level. Once done, he mended as many as he could before he began to feel tired.
He had halved his load of work for the day, with that done, and already beginning to get dark, with winter coming the days kept getting shorter, he headed back to his home.
He ate some leftover bread and chicken for dinner in the house before going to his room.
Hiccup lay in bed. Gazing at his ceiling.
The axe Stoick gave him sticking out of a nearby wall. Having been upset about his father's orders he rammed it into the wall.
There were so many things going through his head. Firstly he was thinking about what he'd have to do to get into Stoicks good spirits. That was no easy task.
In fact, the more he thought about that, the more he realised he could not fulfil that task. He did not think he could do it.
Secondly, he was thinking about that strange dream he had. The one before he woke up at the edge of the forest. Something about him standing next to five others at the top of some hill.
He remembered thinking in the dream that he managed to unite the six. But he remembered standing next to five. Was the six including him?
And what the heck was that about 'hoping to bring peace and justice to all?' And the part about 'awaiting for something?'
He merely chuckled at the randomness and the mysterious nature of dreams.
What dominated his thoughts though, was whether that encounter with the Night Fury was real or not. Was it a dream before he had that one?
But then again, what was he doing asleep at the edge of the forest? He knew he went in to try and find the dragon. He knew he shot it down. But maybe he fell asleep before he went in…
This doesn't make any sense!
Frustrated at his confusion, he tried to fall asleep.
He found it difficult, tossing and turning for at least an hour. Before he finally managed to sleep.
He awoke to some insistent knocking.
"Hey kid! Wake up!"
He opened his eyes. He looked around the room. Something seemed slightly odd.
He didn't feel tired at all. He took the covers off and sat up. It was morning, he just knew it, but how could he tell? He couldn't see outside there weren't any windows. The only light was from the candles of which had nearly burnt out.
He could smell the traces of chicken and bread from his dinner on the previous night. He could smell the early morning chill of air from outside.
"HEY! Hurry up and get down here to show me you're still there or I'll break the door down!"
Having forgotten about the person at the door, he jumped up. And sprinted to the stairs, raised his feet high enough avoid that devious shard of wood, and went down only to stop halfway.
What the…
He just realised something. He had remembered about that uplifted shard of wood and had avoided it without even realising.
As he always remembered, he had always tripped on that piece of wood and fallen down the stairs. This was a first.
"Must be a lucky day." He whispered to himself.
He shoved his right hand into his pocket, and also checked to see if his birthmark was hidden by his sleeve. Then he went over to the door and opened it.
"It's about time!" Exclaimed Snotlout.
"Gobber sent me to tell you that dragon training begins in 10 minutes, but that was five minutes ago now! I'll see you down at the arena kid!"
He sped off, making sure to kick as much dirt as possible at him before he left.
That's more like it. Hiccup thought.
Hiccup wiped as much dirt as he could off himself, before he shut the door and ran towards the arena. As he ran, he saw the morning mist hanging around the village.
He found himself not puffing as much as he normally would after running such a distance.
All the other teens were gathered at the entrance, Gobber was there just about to lift up the gates when he noticed Hiccup.
"There yeh are, I was getting worried! Where's ya weapon Hiccup? Planning on wrestling the dragons?"
"Damn. I'll just go get it." He replied. Cursing himself mentally.
He ran back up the hill to his house, grabbed the axe out of the wall and sprinted back to the arena.
Now he was puffing quite a bit, that was a fair distance to run. But he still thought he would have been puffing a heck of a lot more normally.
"Welcome to dra- that was quick Hiccup!" Exclaimed Gobber, who just opened the gates and walked in. "As I was saying, welcome to dragon training."
Hiccup merely nodded in appreciation.
The teens walked in confidently. Holding their weapons. Fishlegs had a hammer, the twins had a spear each, Snotlout had a mace and Astrid had her axe.
"No turning back." He heard Astrid say.
Hiccup followed rather slowly, enjoying lurking behind everyone else. The axe in his hands feeling a little light. Not that heavy which was odd.
He did not want to fight a dragon after all.
"I'd like to get some serious burns. Like a graze across my chest." Spoke Tuffnut, excited.
"I'm hoping for some mauling, like my shoulder or perhaps my lower back." Echoed in Ruffnut.
Astrid nodded, "Yeah, but it's only fun if you get a scar out of it. Like something you can keep as pride to show the battles you've been in."
Fishlegs gulped.
"Yeah no kidding right? Pain. Love it," said Hiccup sarcastically.
"Oh great why is he coming in?" Groaned Snotlout.
"Is he the dragon's food?" Tuffnut asked, beginning to look hopeful.
"No, he's one of yeh guys. He's gonna be training with us too." Spoke Gobber. "Rightio, let's get started!"
He brought everyone together into a circle, though the teens tried to keep their distance from Hiccup, as if he had some infectious disease.
"The recruit who does best, will the honour of killing his or her dragon in front of the entire village. Yeh efforts will be judged by the Elder, Gothi. There she is up there." Gobber indicated above the stands, to which we all looked and saw the old looking woman standing with her staff.
"This will be no easy task, as I'm sure yeh've seen from the previous teens who were in here last year. Now, spread out!" He instructed.
"Well," Called out Snotlout, "Hiccup already killed a Night Fury. Does that disqualify the runt?"
The teens all laughed. Except one. Gobber just replied with a shake of his head.
The new recruits all did as he said and spread out.
"I'll just run you through what dragons are in which enclosure." Gobber advised.
"Firstly," He approached the cage on the furthest right from the entrance, "The Deadly Nadder." He then moved to the next.
"The Hideous Zippleback." He indicated at the next enclosure.
"The Monstrous Nightmare." He then waved his peg hook prosthetic in the air. "This is the type of dragon that took my hand off."
Fishlegs shuddered.
"The Terrible Terror. A surprisingly lethal one."
Hiccup heard Tuffnut snort at this remark.
Gobber approached the last enclosure, "Now for the one I'll be introducing yeh all to today, the Gronckle." He moved his actual hand over to the lever.
"What! Whoa whoa I thought you were teaching us how to fight first?!" Cried Snotlout, clearly not expecting to be facing a dragon this early.
"Oh yes. We don't really fight Vikings much, just dragons. So it's only fit that I teach yeh how to fight them. After all, I believe in learning on the job."
He pulled the lever down, and the enclosure opened immediately.
Instantly, the dragon that has a remarkable resemblance to a flying boulder, burst forth.
Everyone scattered around, unsure of what the first move was.
"Today is about survival! If yeh get blasted…" The dragon had flown from one side of the arena to the other and crashed into the wall. "Well, ya might not survive!"
The dragon got up, started its quick beating wings similar to that of a dragonfly's, and began circling.
"Quick! What's the first thing yeh going to need?" Shouted Gobber.
Hiccup had no clue, but he guessed "A doctor?!"
"Plus five speed?" Called out Fishlegs.
"A shield." Stated Astrid, seemingly already knowing what to do.
"Yes, Shield. Go!" Called Gobber.
They ran towards the rack which had the shields placed on it, and each Viking picked one up.
"Hah, you're all so puny. You need your little shields to protect yourselves!"
Hiccup looked around. Who said that? What was that voice? That wasn't Gobber or the teens.
He looked up to Gothi, she seemed to be watching with interest.
Nothing out of the ordinary. Besides, she was a mute wasn't she?
Hiccup picked up a shield, and ran behind the shield rack for cover.
"Get your hands off my shield!" The twins began fighting over a shield, yelling abuse at one another.
"Here! This will sort out that problem!" Came the voice again.
Suddenly the dragon fired a blast right between the twins that incinerated their shield they were fighting over. They were both blasted backwards by the force.
Who is saying that?!
"Tuffnut, Ruffnut, you're out!" Called Gobber.
"By the way, those shields are good for several things. Like noise! Make a fair bit to throw off a dragons aim." Advised the blacksmith.
Astrid, Snotlout & Fishlegs began circling around the dragon tapping their weapons against the shields. It made quite a few clangs and bangs.
The dragon began shaking and its eyes started to un-focus.
"Ahh stop it! I'm getting dizzy!"
Hiccup stopped, now having realised who was speaking. It was the dragon!
No one seemed to notice. How could they not hear the dragon talking? It was blatantly obvious…
Fishlegs had stopped walking too, but he was looking at Gobber answering a question that he asked while Hiccup wasn't paying attention.
"No six! I really don't –AH!" Screamed Fishlegs. As his shield was blasted out of his hand.
"Pay attention to your enemy! That should teach you!" Boomed the dragon, straight after firing a shot at the boy.
Fishlegs, petrified, ran off. Throwing his weapon blindly behind him.
"Fishlegs out." Called Gobber boredly.
"Hiccup get out of cover and practise!" Bellowed Gobber.
Hiccup refused, shaking his head and staying where he was. Trying to figure out what was wrong with him. He watched Snotlout try and hit on Astrid, who had not taken her eyes off the dragon for most of the event.
Snotlout lost concentration of the dragon and got blasted away.
"Snotlout, yeh're done!"
Hiccup finally decided to move out of cover, just as the dragon was approaching.
The dragon fired at Hiccup's shield, and it was blasted out of his hand, and began rolling around the arena. He dropped his axe too.
"Hiccup!" Gobber shouted. Hiccup began running after the shield as it was rolling away, being his only defence.
The dragon was chasing him.
He gave up on getting the shield, and collapsed against the wall of the arena.
He then remembered how the Night Fury stared at his birthmark.
"You will burn!" Thundered the Gronckle's voice.
It opened its mouth and was just about to fire, but Hiccup then pulled his sleeve down on his right arm and showed his mark to the dragon.
Instantly, the dragon's eyes shifted to the mark, and it stopped preparing a blast. Its eyes widened so much that he thought they could pop out of its head. The dragon stared for another second, just before Gobber suddenly grabbed the Gronckle with his hook and hand, and swung it around before throwing it back into its enclosure.
Hiccup covered his birthmark again so it couldn't be seen.
"What was that lad?" Asked Gobber at once. Who came walking over to him along with the other teens. "Why didn't it fire?"
Hiccup shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe it ran out of shots?"
"Gronckles have six shots, it only used five." Mentioned Fishlegs.
Hiccup shrugged again. "I don't know, maybe it used one before it came out of the enclosure. You tell me! You guys clearly know more about them than I do!"
"Anyway…" began Gobber, just as Snotlout and Fishlegs looked like they were about to say something, "The important thing to remember, is that dragons will almost always, go for the kill."
Gobber picked Hiccup up and stood him on his two feet.
"Training resumes tomorrow morning. With the Deadly Nadder. See you all here on time then!" That was it for Gobber, before he turned around and limped out of the arena.
Hiccup left the arena too. He knew all the others were staring at him. He could feel their eyes on his back.
As he was leaving, he walked in a circle around the arena and stood just above the gates to the enclosures in the arena walls. He looked around and saw the teens going to the Great Hall, probably for breakfast. Hiccup however, did not feel hungry at all.
He could hear voices below in the enclosures. He leant down and made sure no one was watching, and listened.
"I'm telling you! I saw the Night's mark on that boy!"
"Are you certain?" Asked a lighter, sweeter voice. "Because if this is the one with the Night's mark, he must not be harmed."
"Positive." Said the first voice.
"How amazing the Viking is to have appeared in this tribe." Boomed a third, very deep voice. "The wisest always said he could be anywhere. And yet after all this time, here he finally is."
"I wonder if our local Night has found out about this." Wondered the second gentler voice.
"We'll find out if we ever escape or get released. But from now on, no harm must come to him. But we'll keep an eye on him, agreed?" Boomed the really deep voice.
"Agreed." Said all the voices. Even a few he didn't hear at first.
He heard footsteps behind him, Hiccup stood up and spun around to which he saw Gobber limping towards him.
"Hiccup, I wouldn't have let that dragon fire at yeh. I'm sorry if I was too hard on ya."
Hiccup was too confused and scared at why all this stuff was happening. He needed answers. He needed them now. After all this chat, he needed to talk to someone. He needed reassurance. If only his father were here to give some comfort. If he actually could.
"Okay…t-thanks. I…uh, gotta go." Hiccup turned around and sprinted away.
"Hiccup!"
Gobber's voice faded out the further he ran.
What is happening to me? I swear I'm going mad!
He ran to the only place he knew he'd be alone. The forest.
Now mid-morning, the mist had dissipated. The sun shone brightly.
The scents of the trees, animals and earth bombarded his nose. He ran and ran, till he felt he didn't want to run anymore.
He slowed down and began to walk again, till he found a large branch to sit on. His ears seemed to pick up significantly more sound than the last time he entered the forest. Especially the crackles & crunches of leaves and matter beneath his boots.
He could hear many more rustles of animals stalking prey in the bush, he could hear many more birds chirping and singing in the distance. He could also hear the light breeze of wind moving the leaves around.
Small droplets of water leaked out of his eyes. He was ashamed of himself. He was supposed to hate and kill dragons, he wasn't supposed to be able to hear them talking, even more strange as talking about him!
He buried his face in his hands.
Just then he noticed a faint blue light creeping between the gaps of his fingers. He withdrew his hands from his face and jumped in fright.
His Night Fury birthmark was glowing a fierce, darkish bright blue. Like the deep blue sea. Only the birthmark was glowing, nothing else. The entire dragon mark of the Night Fury was glowing.
"Hello there."
"AHH!" He looked up and yelled in terror.
He fell backwards then tried to scramble to his feet.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. Please don't run away. I'm not going to hurt you."
In front of him, was the Night Fury. Somehow he had not heard the footsteps of the beast coming.
"Don't be frigh-"
"SHUT UP!" Hiccup yelled. "DRAGONS DON'T TALK! WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH ME!"
He picked himself up and ran, only to crash into a tree and fall backwards onto his back.
His leg was stinging in pain, he looked down and saw a large splinter sticking out. Blood was dripping out of his leg.
Hiccup whimpered, shaking with fear and confusion. He shut his eyes tight shut, as if trying to fall asleep or wake himself up from the nightmare he was currently having.
Suddenly he felt a warm, sticky and fleshy something slide across and around his splinter in his leg.
The pain slowly seemed to ease, then he felt the splinter withdrawn.
"OWW!" He screamed. Still he kept his eyes shut. He wriggled a little then kept still.
Then the wet sticky slimy thing again. Right over his injury. It seemed to be easing the pain.
He sat up and opened his eyes.
The Night Fury was right in front of him, next to the tree. It had its tongue out and was licking his injury. Its eyes were focused on the wound. It looked like a large cat for a moment.
"Just hurry up and eat me already!" Hiccup squealed, turning his eyes towards the sky, "stop taunting me."
The licking stopped, and the dragon took several steps back on its four legs.
Hiccup saw the injury was nearly healed. There was only a little mark or scar there now. Then Hiccup noticed his birthmark was still glowing a bright blue.
The dragon then leant back, and sat on its hind legs. Its acidic green eyes wide open, and staring at him. Its ears raised.
Stunned, Hiccup wasn't sure what to say. He sat up and just stared back.
After a moment of silence, Hiccup broke it.
"Uhh… thank you?" It came out like a question.
The dragon then…smiled? Its mouth curved around its face on either side.
"You're welcome." Replied the Night Fury. Now Hiccup was really listening to the dragon. If he thought Stoick or the dragons earlier spoke in a deep voice, that was nothing compared to this.
This voice was much more powerful, authentic and seemed to have a fair share of authority in its voice. But its current tone spoke rather calmingly. It wasn't aggressive or intimidating.
For the first time, he actually saw the dragon move its mouth when it spoke. Hiccup realised though that it wasn't speaking Viking Norse language. Hiccup realised that for some reason he was probably the only one who could understand them.
"Wh-what are you?" Hiccup asked.
"What do you think I am?"
Hiccup cleared his throat. "Erm, obviously a dragon. A Night Fury."
The dragon nodded. It shook its head up and down. "Yes, I'm a dragon. A Night Fury is what you call my species right?"
Hiccup nodded. He then stood up and walked over to the log to sit down.
"Well I can say that my species in my culture are called Nights.'" The Night Fury explained. "Will you come with me? We should talk in a place where nothing could disturb us."
Hiccup looked around. "We're in the middle of the forest, no one comes around here."
"Yes they do. I've seen a couple, besides you. Please follow me."
The dragon leant back down, and stood on its four legs. It then turned around.
"Why?"
The dragon stopped. Turned and looked at him.
"Because there are many things that will need to be explained in a more enclosed space."
What am I doing here? How do I know this is even real? Get a grip on yourself Hiccup! Since when did dragons tell you what to do?
"No."
That was all Hiccup said, before he sprinted away back to the edge of the forest. He noticed his dragon symbol stayed a bright blue the entire way back to the edge of the forest.
He could hear the Night Fury running behind him, but it wasn't too close.
As soon as he reached the edge, he turned around and saw the dragon several metres away. It looked down at the ground, as if ashamed of itself. Its ears flat and pupils large.
"I'm sorry, I was to confronting. Should you ever need anyone to talk to, I'm here. I'll help you with anything. I won't find you should you come back here next time. You should find me if you need me. I can explain a lot. I'm sorry. Look after yourself."
With that, the dragon turned around and ran back into the forest.
Hiccup noticed his dragon birthmark was bright blue when the Night Fury was close, but as it ran away, he noticed the brightness of the mark getting dimmer and dimmer.
Eventually the mark stopped glowing all together and went back to the normal black.