Hiccup woke to silent nudges. He groaned softly, tempted to roll away but a soft warble reminded him why Toothless was there instead of on his sleeping rock. Hiccup slowly sat up and smiled at his brother. He then looked at the foot of the bed where Sharpshot sat on the right post. Sharpshot held Hiccup's metal leg by the wooden cup. Hiccup took it, fastened it on, and stood as quietly as he could. Toothless already had the tailfin and saddle laid out. Hiccup walked over, taking care to not let his leg rattle or his barefoot hit the squeaky spots in the loft floor. He knelt and began to slowly and quietly getting Toothless ready for a morning flight even though the stars were still visible in the sky.

Today marked a month before Snoggletogg and, as the mated pairs of the nest were due to leave in the morning for the Hatchery, Stoick had decreed everyone would begin decorating for the holiday. Hiccup knew his father was doing this so the mated, bonded dragons could aid their riders in decorating and at least spend a bit of the holiday with them. This also marked the first time in Hiccup's memory that he was welcomed and encouraged to join in the decorating. Before he would be shuffled to the forge for fear he would destroy everything.

Hiccup knew his father wanted him there. He knew the other riders wanted him there. He also knew that if he and Toothless did not get a flight in before responsibilities kept both grounded for most of the day, both he and Toothless would go stir crazy.

[Are you sure you don't mind that I wish to stay?] Sharpshot asked in a low tone.

None of the three wished to wake Stoick so they did their best to make their steps light and the voices quiet. They did not want Hiccup to be ordered to remain since so many wanted his presence and aid while the village decorated. A want, Hiccup knew was to make up for the years he had been denied helping. At least for many of the tribe, though Hiccup was certain that despite he words to the contrary, his friends and his father would be feeling a great deal of guilt over those years.

"It's fine," Hiccup whispered, knowing why Sharpshot wanted to remain behind.

Today also marked the first time dragons would be actively encouraged to join in the festivities. The Terrors, due to their small sizes, were perfect for some tasks and most of the nest Terrors had decided to make it a competition amongst themselves as to which flock of four did their assigned tasks not only the fastest but also to the point that Hiccup's chosen judge declared the task completed and perfect. The judge chosen by a method Gyda taught Hiccup called drawing straws where the person with the shortest thread of Dervla's spun wool won and Phelgma being the one to win the honor. Sharpshot, Sneaky, Iggy, and Buttercup had chosen to compete together against the ten other flocks of four in the competition.

"You have fun with Sneaky and the others," Hiccup continued, his voice still low, "and all three of us can fly together later."

"Hiccup!"

All three jumped at Stoick's bellow.

"Be back before the sun rises!"

The air bit with ice but Hiccup only felt the thrill of flying. He tucked in against his brother's neck as they reached the wide north bay. Toothless shot up in a vertical spiral. They rose above the clouds. Toothless' wings flared. He leveled out. They glided away from the island for half a heartbeat. Toothless made a roll onto his back. They dropped through the clouds, Toothless' wings held close but not completely closed. Toothless spun. His wings flared. They leveled out, gliding in a lazy and wide right bank.

Hiccup sat up when Toothless leveled out and flew towards the east. Hiccup's eyes opened. The thing within him that rose when he and Toothless flew like this settled for the moment though Hiccup knew it wished to rise again. He knew it wished he and Toothless to continue their flight. However, Hiccup could see the lightening of the eastern sky and knew the sun would soon show itself. They would need to get back but before that, Hiccup wanted to try one last thing.

"Head to the deepest part of the of the bay."

[Brother, this is not a good idea.]

Hiccup patted the top of Toothless' head. "It'll be fine. I'll be fine."

Toothless grumbled something in the Old Tongue. Hiccup laughed.

"If you're saying I'm crazy then you're right but this is also necessary. We have to know what to do if I ever fall off."

[We both go splat. Which is why you put those rope-claw things on the flying covering your wear and attached them to my saddle.]

"And those rope-claw things can disconnect. It's better to practice this when we are not panicked like we were that one day."

[I'm not going to talk you out of this, am I?]

"Nope."

Toothless heaved a heavy sounding sigh. [Fine, but I want it known I protested this entire thing.]

"Duly noted."

Hiccup unhooked the harness tethers. He reattached them to the lower clawholds on the back of his harness. Toothless kept level and did not flap his wings as Hiccup stood. Hiccup wobbled a bit at first but quickly gained his balance. He then jumped, preforming a maneuver that Gyda called a somersault during their karate training. He smiled as his cleared Toothless head before the earth below reached out and started pulling him down. His smile grew as Toothless joined him in the dive. He chuckled and closed his eyes as Toothless pushed his shoulder with a gentle paw, causing him to spin in a lazy circle.

At Toothless's warble, he opened his eyes. He reached, grasping the handles of the saddle. He pulled, thanking the gods for his training with Astrid and her mother as well as his karate training with Gyda. He now had the strength to pull himself back into the saddle despite the heavy resistance he felt. His legs fell to ether side of his brother's back. The metal leg snapped into its holder and Hiccup had the tailfin opened before his right foot found the other holder.

He tucked in against his brother's neck as Toothless hovered for not even a half of a heartbeat before diving. The wind shrieked in Toothless' wake. Just above the water, Toothless' wings flared. The dragon leveled out and began a soft glide. Hiccup sat up, reattaching the harness tethers to the saddle hooks.

"That was amazing," Hiccup exclaimed. He patted Toothless' head. "See, told you I'd be fine."

Toothless snorted then Hiccup felt his brother tense.

[We have company.]

Prince: Hehe, yep. Hiccup always coming in for the save. And had to have more Hiccstrid. They are like cotton candy at this point :P

Kirika: I'm glad. I wanted it to be tender and sweet.