"Ok so Shadow, barrel role to avoid Stormfly's spikes" I yell from the ground. She obeys and I hear Stormfly curse (I'm holding the stone but making sure I'm speaking english, which is harder than it sounds). "Sybous look out!" Mia screams as one of Stormfly's spikes lands just above his wing joint. He flinches and lands, being a sook. "Hang on and just be completely still" Astrid grabbing the spike and pulling it free. We're practicing commands from the ground so if we're separated we can still work together. Claire went off somewhere with Tiamat and Jessie us practicing further up the beach where there's softer sand. Holly and Mia are with me and Astrid. "Holly, you're in charge of Shadow. I'm gonna go sit down", I call over my shoulder. She nods and her attention focuses onto Shadow. "Stormfly, you keep helping them practice, you to Arrow" Astrid says walking over to where I'm seated. Both dragons obey and continue the drill.
"So when are you planning on telling Hiccup?" I ask, trying to make sure no-one else hears. Astrid looks at the ground and shakes her head in dismay. "I don't know. I really badly want to tell him but I'm not sure if I'm ready. I don't want to give this up. I'd miss it to much". I look into Astrid's eyes and see something I've never seen before, confusion. I sigh, knowing how hard looking after little kids is. "Astrid, you've got all these lovely people besides you to help. And Stoic and Valka, they are great parents. Everyone on Berk is going to support you. You won't have to do this alone". She's quite, contemplating what I said. Finally she says, "you're right. But the concept of actually having a child still scares me". I can't help but laugh, trying to imagine Astrid looking after a baby. "They don't stay small forever, unless they're like Hiccup, then there's an exception". Astrid punches me in the arm. "That's my husband you're talking about". We both start laughing and the rest of the group joins us for dinner.
I look up into the star doted sky. A pair of Gronckles pass overhead and I see a tiny bundle of thick skin in between them. Shadow walks over behind me and looks up at them. She croons and I fetch the stone from my bag. Everyone is asleep so it won't matter. "How are you, Shadow?" "As well as I can. Waiting for my young to hatch is always nerve racking". I chuckle. "Why did you come and not stay with your eggs?" I ask, the curiosity getting the better of me. "Well you saved me that day in those vines. I could hav been enslaved and raped by those outcasts. But you saved me that day in those vines". She stands up and warms up the sand underneath her with a slow burn blast. "Yeah but it's different. In my world this world is a tv show and movies. I knew what to do. It's not the same" I say, knowing that my midnight dragon won't give up. "Yes but you still saved me even though you knew I could have killed you. You saved me knowing that, and you got me out. You healed my wounds and treated me like one of your fellow humans. I'd never thought I'd see a person like you and that Hiccup boy. You saved my life and for that I will always be greatful" she finishes and flaps her wings and bows. I smile in a way I haven't for a long time. "I was just doing what anyone else wound have done". "But not everyone would have". With that she moves onto a more comfortable position and closes her eyes. I do the same and fall asleep lying on her.
I wake up to the sound of muttering. I look over and see its Claire. "Hey what's up?" She looks over her shoulder. "Oh hey, you're awake. Sorry if I woke you up". I roll my eyes, she sounds sooo sorry. Not. "Yeah, because you sound so sorry". She laughs. "Yeah I'm really not. It still amazes me how we are ACTUALLY here". I nod in understanding. "Yeah me to. I don't know what I could have nessed up to get here" I say, trying to figure out what I did wrong. "Anyway where'd you go yesterday?" "Just gir a swim". "Ok. By the way we're going to be going back to the edge instead of Berk. Heather's going to stay for a while as well". Claire's eyes widen. "Heather?!" Her voice fills with excitement. "Yeah. I haven't met her either so it'll be a bit of an interesting experience". I look around and think about what we're going to do. "Think we should gind Holly and Jessie a dragon? I mean that's why we're out here right? To get you guys dragons". "Yeah that's not a bad idea. Lets wake everyone up". I smile, thinking of ways to wake them up. "Thinking what I'm thinking?" I ask, still smirking. "If you're thinking of pouring water on them, them yes". My smirk gets wider. "Lets go".