Grey Skies

I'm beginning to regret what I said to Toothless a few days ago. More precisely, what I asked him. Anytime I'm near him or anytime he's looking my way, he'll either pull me to his side in a tight embrace, or he'll look somewhere else, and move farther away from me. I was beginning to feel guilty. Really guilty. Today I stayed away from him, as, I was thinking he was mad at me. I just stayed in my ledge the whole day. But while the real world around me was beginning to go as grey as the stone, my mind was flying wild with imagination. Something to counteract the bleak gloom around me. Anytime Toothless was away and Stormfly watched me, she'd tell me more and more about the outside world.

Sparkling water, shiny crystals, rainbows after stormy skies. My mind soaked up the information hungrily, putting the real tales into action in my mind. I tried to imagine all the things she told me about. The feeling of warm wind, the smell of fresh grass, the taste of large fish. Those I could image for days. Endlessly trying to come up with a false answer. But the one thing I could never dream about was color. They tell me the names, where you could find them, how they work. But I've never seen them before. I've seen the blue on Stormfly's scales, but not the deep blue of ocean water on a summer day. I've seen the black of my scales, but not the void at night where the Moon and stars live. I've seen the deep red of blood from various small injuries, but not the color of flowers in the spring.

I can imagine shapes, feelings, smells, sounds. But, how can you think of colors you've never seen before? I've spent my whole life dreaming and thinking, but I can't come up with something for color. I've always wondered before, but the way she describes it so vividly, so beautifully, so unreal...the thought of something so beautiful can't be real.

I sighed and looked at the grey surrounding me. The ledge was the darkest spot in the cave, dark enough to hide me. It's dark grey has been slowly eating at me for years. Until the mention of colors, I never realized it did. I felt pain. Emptiness. Longing. Right, smack dab in the center of my chest. Darkness was closing in on me. The cave walls began to get smaller and smaller. I wanted to leave. I was about to, when a flash of my brother pinning me flashed my mind.

You aren't leaving this cave. Ever.

I looked down at the ledge to see my brother asleep. 'Maybe if I'm quiet….' I shook the thought from my head.

'No. You can't. He made it clear you can't leave' one part argued.

'But, why? He won't tell you, is that a good enough reason?'

'He's upset at me enough, how will this help?'

'You've been inside all of your life. Is this how you want it to continue?'

'...'

I looked at him in silent debate. 'He's not going to tell me anything. He never has and he never will. Begging won't change that' I thought. And so, with the quietest of leaps, I hopped down from the ledge. I kept my claws retracted the best I could so the sound of my claws tapping the ground wouldn't wake him up. I walked up to the entrance of the cave. Grey fog was all I saw outside, fog so dark it looked like poison. I hesitated. 'What if there's No Scales? Or dragons that poison the sky?' I thought. Nothing answered and I realized there was only one way to find out.

I took a step out into the fog and tensed.

...

...

...

...

...

Nothing happened.

I took another.

Same result.

I knew the path to my right led to where I would go relieve myself, so I chose to go left, walking blindly in the dark. I was on high alert as I took everything step by step. I kept light on my feet incase something happened. What, I have absolutely no idea. Maybe I'll fall. Maybe there's a bad dragon nearby. Maybe I'll explode. I don't know! I've never stepped foot, or well, paw outside my cave without my brother. An intense feeling of vulnerability smacked into my chest, and I suddenly felt terrified. 'Maybe this wasn't a good idea'. I was about to turn back when I heard a strange cry in the distance.

I've never heard anything like it. It sounded rough, like stone, but unnatural, like it was from another animal. I froze, and listened for a while. It sounded again, only farther this time. I blinked until I came to the edge of the fog. It opened up to reveal a nightmare-ish scene. Grey stone was everywhere. And a weird, red colored liquid flowed down the large mountain. At least, I think it's a mountain. Large, rocky, jutting into the sky...yep, a mountain. My jaw dropped at the sheer size of it. I felt like a pebble in comparison. I shrunk down like it was about to fall on top of me.

I looked up and could see a strange looking sky. At least I think it was the sky. It looked like layers of grey smashed up into the sky, some light, some dark. But all grey. Nothing I haven't already seen. I sighed and looked down, disappointed. Maybe color didn't exist and Stormfly was messing with me. I turned to leave when a low rumbling sound hit my ears. My frills flicked as they tried to locate the sound. It was like, it came from the mountain! I hear a scratchy cry and all around me, different dragons flew. Some had two heads and some had horns. I saw a few that I thought were Stormfly. But they weren't. There scales were different. Different colored. I looked around at the colorful dragons in wonder for a second. But only for a second.

The sound intensified in my ears and a sharp pain zipped through my head. It felt like a stabbing pain was forcing itself into my head with it's claws, raking and slashing with all it's might. I fell to the ground with a cry. I was oblivious to everything around me except the cold stone ground, and the ripping pain in my head. I grit my teeth as it only got worse.

If I concentrated, I could've probably felt something grab my scruff.

If I payed more attention, I could've heard my name being called in a terror like never before.

If I opened my eyes, I could've seen my brother and Stormfly dragging my thrashing body back to the cave.

But all I could think about was the pain

I hit the cold floor as the dancing black spots from my eyes disappeared. My head ached painfully as the pain disappeared suddenly, leaving my body in a high, intense rush. I knew where I was without thinking. I didn't need to think to know I was home. Just as I didn't need my eyes to feel the rage of my brother about to explode. I flinched as someone spoke, the sound like needles in my head. "Toothless, wait…" "Of all the STUPID stunts you had to pull Hiccup" someone began to rant. "Of all the irresponsible, irrational, STUPID things you could have done…" As my senses came back to me, I realized who this voice belonged to. "Toothless, wait, it's my fault…" Stormfly started. "I can't sleep for ONE MINUTE, ONE sky DAMNED minute without you doing something stupid, can I?"

My mind was still recovering from it's shock when I tried to stand. I fumbled and mixed my limbs up. I felt sore and worn out, and my throat hurt a little. I had no idea what happened, but whatever did caused my mind to draw a blank. I blinked slowly, trying hard to keep up with the spinning world around me. "What's the matter with you, huh?! I've told you how many times how dangerous it is out there, and you decide to leave?!" I fell back to the ground with a thud, the impact making white dots in my eyes. "Toothless, listen to me, it's not…" "Why did you leave? Huh?" the cave grew silent and tense, and I took a second to realize that the question was directed at me.

I tried again to stand on my own, but was jerked up aggressively by a paw. My dazed, glassy eyes met his sharp enraged ones. "Answer me" he spoke lowly. I looked down and mumbled my answer. "I just wanted to see colors". The silence of the cave intensified the feeling of guilt in my chest. He huffed. "Colors? That's what this is about?" He let me crumble to the floor as he continued ranting. "You'd risk your life for something so simple as colors?!" Stormfly went to walk over to me, but froze when Toothless snapped at her. "Easy for you to say. You get to see colors everyday. I'm stuck in here with nothing but grey, black, and sometimes red when I get hurt" I mumbled again.

"I don't care what colors you get to see! It's not worth your life! If there was any chance I would let you out before, that's long gone. I don't care if I need to pin you down myself, but you are NOT EVER! Leaving this cave again. Clearly I can't trust you enough to turn my back on you for one minute" I froze as he ranted. 'He...thought about taking me outside?'. Stormfly spoke up again. "Toothless stop! It's my fault, he asked me about the outside world, and I told him…." "Wait, you WHAT?!" I began to get worried. My head thumped painfully from all the yelling. "He was just so…" "No, no, no, I can't believe this…." he grumbled, pacing back and forth. I stayed on the floor, watching in a tense fear.

"You? Of all people, you told him this stuff?" Stormfly looked down in shame. "I TRUSTED YOU! I trusted you with him, with me, with US! And now you've gone and filled his head with nonsense about the outside world" he spoke darkly. "Toothless, he deserved to know!" she argued desperately. "THAT WAS NOT IN YOUR PLACE TO DO!" he roared. We both flinched, me from both pain and guilt. I felt overwhelmed by the emotions I was feeling. Fear of what caused me pain, guilt for what was happening, hate for myself, worry for Stormfly, shame for what I just did.

"Leave" he said to Stormfly. My heart stopped beating for a second. "Toothless…" "I SAID LEAVE!" He roared again. I staggered up "No, please Toothless, don't make her go!" He grabbed my shoulder in his mouth and threw me farther into the cave. "You don't get to speak! This is my cave; my rules. Now, leave!" he ended on a final note. And Stormfly did just that, flapping sadly out into the dark fog. I wanted to leak. Not only did I lose Stormfly, but I also just lost my brother's trust. Toothless snarled at me as he walked back into the cave, leaving me near the entrance of the cave.

I was a mess. I knew I messed up, badly. And now Stormfly paid the price. And what's worse? I can't even leave to leak on my own. I can't hide from anyone or anything. "..." I opened my mouth to say something, to let out what I was feeling, to break down completely. All I managed was a choked sob and a gasp. There wasn't any comeback from this. I messed up, and now the two most important people in my live were gone in their own ways, leaving me on my own. Again. I tried to blink through the headache in my head, and the large lump in my chest, but…whatever just happened stole all my energy and whatever fight I had left.

I took one step down the cave, and my eyes rolled in the back of my head. I fainted.

I could faintly hear claws tapping on the cave floor. *click, click, click* the noise went. Nothing hurt anymore anymore, strangely. But I felt exhausted. There was a warm gust of air on my face, most likely someone sniffing me. "He will be fine. His body was just in shock from the sudden strike of pain, and the loss of it" an old voice said. I didn't recognize it, or the smell around me. Maybe I'm dreaming. But Toothless and the voice talked to each other. "He's been like this for the past three days. Are you sure…" "Hush now. You've kept him inside his whole life. His body isn't used to the same things we are because he's never been subjected to things like this. He's never felt this kind of pain before, so it's only fitting his body reacts this way. Do not put further pressure on him, physical or emotional. That could send him into further shock". Ok, now I know I'm not imagining things.

Trying to move any part of my body felt like trying to move solid stone. My eyes felt weighed down, and my limbs felt like mush. But I wanted to get up, so I used my energy to try and rouse myself. "He's waking, you'd better leave" "Remember what I said child.." "I know, I know, no go!". Air gushed around me and I opened my heavy eyes. Toothless was laying opposite of me, giving me a stern glare. I blinked the haze from my eyes and looked around. Nothing. There's nothing here. There's nobody here. I felt the hope deflate from my chest. Maybe I was imagining things. I blinked again and set my head down on my forearms slowly, looking out the cave sadly. I watched as memories from the previous days flashed through my mind. But I was having trouble telling if what I did was a dream, or if it was real.

I didn't want to ask. My frills flicked as I heard a sigh, and claws tapping the floor again. The cold bite of the air disappeared as a wing was draped around me. I didn't react. Toothless broke the silence after a few minutes. "She was lying to you, you know" I flicked a frill to let him know I was listening. "The outside world isn't just full of colors and clear skies, Hiccup. It's full of darkness and anger and hate and so many other corrupting factors" I took his information in, but it didn't quite reach me. "You can try to fight it Hiccup. All of the darkness but in the end it always wins. Trust me. I know" he ended quietly. "And it almost took you when you left. It almost corrupted you too, and if I hadn't been there, it would've. You must understand that" he pleaded desperately.

I still didn't react. He tried again. "Brother, you are my world. I would fight monsters for you, tame bad skies for you, fly seas for you…I would do anything to keep you safe. But if I say you can't do something, it isn't because I'm being cruel. It's because I love you and that doing what I tell you not to puts you in danger". I closed my eyes and let out a long, deep breath. "Remember when you were a fledgling and you wanted to eat that brown spider?" I huffed and the smallest hint of of a smile graced my lips. "You fought me so hard to try and eat it, clawing, screaming, leaking. For the life of you, you couldn't figure out why I wouldn't let you have it. Do you know why I didn't let you?" he asked.

I thought with a bittersweet smile. I knew why, and I knew where he was taking this conversation. "Because it was poisonous" I almost jumped at how hoarse my voice sounded. "Yes, because that spider had venom that could kill a full grown dragon within a matter of hours. I know you want to go outside, brother. More than anything you've ever wanted. But I can't let you get yourself poisoned from darkness. I want what's best for you, and I need you to trust that I know what I'm doing" He nudged his face against mine, and I slowly leaned into him. "It sucks. I know, but it has to be done. Do you trust me, Hiccup?" I didn't look up at him. I wanted to say yes, to believe in him with all I had, but I was so confused right now.

Images of him pinning me, yelling at me, making me leak ran through my head. Memories of Stormfly telling me stories of the outside world rang through my head. But what Toothless is asking now fought with the memory of him pinning me down. And what Toothless said when kicking Stormfly out clashed with those stories. "I…I..." I gave up on keeping things from him. "I don't know what to trust anymore". Toothless gave me a heartfelt lick to my forehead. "Then trust that I love you". I didn't look at him. I don't think I could. 'I wish it were that simple' I thought.

Hiccup fell back asleep soon after the conversation. His brother's heart broke when he said he didn't know what to trust and he mentally cursed the Spine Tail again for telling his brother the truth. His gaze went out the cave, looking to see the dark fog lightening to a grey, signifying that a new sun was born. He wish his brother could see it. All of the color, all of the beauty. He wished he could give him the world, but in doing so would make him a slave. And he couldn't do that, wouldn't let his innocence be torn to pieces like all of his. 'He might hate me one day if he knew the truth. If he ever found out what I'm doing. But, I can't let It take him too. I need to protect him as much as I can, I can't make the same mistake my parents made. Our parents made' the dragon thought.

He set his head on top of the smaller Death Striker's and thought back to that day when he wanted that spider.

A small black dragon tackled a larger black dragon's side. He was nowhere near the size or strength to do anything any harm, but the larger dragon played along with him. "No, I have been defeated!" The older Death Striker said dramatically, falling onto his back. The small dragon laughed as he crawled onto the older's chest, weighing almost nothing. "Yes! I have taken down this mighty beast!" he shouted in joy. "Or has he?" The older spoke ominously, flipping so the roles were reversed and the smaller was on the floor. A paw pressed lightly on his small chest as he screamed and giggled. "It looks like this mighty beast has won after all! He will now gobble up the little fledgeling!" The older Death Striker growled playfully, nipping at his younger brother's stomach, knowing that's where he was most ticklish. His brother screamed with laughter, using his small paws to try and push him away as a result.

He stopped after a while and let him catch his breath. Hiccup let out a fit of giggles every now and then, but ended up nuzzling his older brother's side while purring loudly. Toothless chuckled as he began to give him a bath. Hiccup whined as usual, but stopped after a while. His attention seemed to be on a rock; while funny, helped his brother a ton. Hiccup liked to squirm a lot and keeping him still was a workout in itself. It was finished soon, and Toothless noticed Hiccup's eyes following something. His head moved up slowly, then down. Then up again, and down. Toothless asked with an amused chuckle "What are you looking at?". "That" he said bluntly. "Care to point it out?" Hiccup pointed a claw up at something on the opposite wall. It was small, and was almost missed, but Toothless spotted the eight brown legs of a spider.

"What is it?" Hiccup asked in wonder. Toothless had to remind himself that his brother had never stepped out of the cave before unless relieving himself. But he couldn't deny that a six year old Hiccup is always amusing, especially when seeing something knew. "It's a spider, Hiccup". Hiccup got up and walked over to the opposite wall, looking very intently at the spider. 'Funny, it looks kind of like one of the brown spiders that lived in the trees before they were...' Toothless thought. Hiccup went to eat it and Toothless yanked him away from the slightly poisonous spider, as he remembered. It would at most make Hiccup a little sick if he ate it, but a little sick might mean death for him because he's a runt. Or so Toothless thought.

"Hey!" Hiccup cried out. He was set behind his brother. "Looking at him doesn't mean eat Hiccup. Leave it alone, it'll find somewhere else to live". "But I want it, please?!" he begged, giving his best puppy eyes. Normally they would work, but Toothless was parinoid, even if he'd never admit it. He didn't want to risk his brother at all. "No Hiccup, now leave it alone". Hiccup dropped the act and ran to try and eat it, but was no match for his brother by a long run. He thrashed in his brother's maw, clawing at air and whining. "Please! I won't eat it, let me go! Toothless! I'll leave it alone I promise. Please, I won't I promise!" He whined. Toothless held on until he began to leak. Then he set him down and slapped a paw on his tail before he booked it. "Hiccup" "I won't I promise, please, I just want to play with it, please, I promise" he continued, sniffling. "Baby look at me". His teary face looked up. "You can't have the spider, Hiccup. It's poisonous and it could kill you. When I say no, I mean no, alright?"

He didn't let up his tantrum though. It continued for about an hour before Hiccup gave in and fell asleep. 'I need to use fish as blackmail more often' Toothless thought.

Said dragon thought grimly at how he did lie that day. And how it continued today. 'It's to keep him safe. I almost lost him three days ago because of his stupid dream of seeing color. The only way to keep him safe now is to make sure he doesn't want to go outside. And I'll lie as many times as I see fit until he doesn't' The protective dragon thought. If only he knew how much he'd end up regretting that in the future.

Author's Note: Hey Llamas! Sorry for the long wait, I had finals to study for. But I hope you like the new chapter, another one will come in the next few days to make up for last week's miss.