Hey! So, I managed to get this out faster, huh?
I do not own How to Train Your Dragon.
Read on!
"You know my mother?" Hiccup asked curiously.
"Of course," Cloudjumper replied. "She's my sister."
Hiccup's eyes widened. Astrid didn't blame him. Her own eyes were wide and it wasn't even her family that they were talking about.
"So," Hiccup started slowly, trying to gather his words. "You're my uncle?"
"It would appear so," Cloudjumper replied with a smile. "Do I get to know my nephew's name?"
Astrid then realised that they never had actually told him their names. She could almost hear her mother's lecture about basic conversational etiquette when meeting new people. Half dragon or not, they weren't savages.
"Hiccup," Hiccup said in reply. "I have a brother too. His name's Toothless."
"So, I have two nephews," Cloudjumper said turning back to stir the pot before deeming whatever was inside ready to eat and pulling three bowls of the table, ladling some of the contents of the pot into each. He handed them both a bowl and leant against the wall sipping slowly at his own. "You're not my niece, are you?" he chuckled looking at Astrid.
"No," she smiled between sips of her own bowl. The soup inside was actually quite delicious. It was amazing compared to Valka's cooking skills. Astrid could see who had inherited the cooking genes out of the two of them. "I'm Astrid Hofferson."
"Ah," Cloudjumper smiled. "So I take it that Sigurd and Ingrid finally got together. Honestly, those two had had a crush on each other since they were twelve."
"That sounds like Toothless and Stormfly," Hiccup said with a snort. Noticing Cloudjumper's confused expression he carried on. "My brother. He's liked a girl for the past couple of years. She likes him too but neither of them will tell the other."
Cloudjumper let out a small laugh and the three of them finished their soup in silence. Once they were all done, Cloudjumper collected the bowls and put them in a pile to the side.
"Why did you leave?" Astrid decided to ask.
"I had always loved exploring," Cloudjumper replied. "I was never satisfied with just staying in one place. So, one day I decided to go on a trip. Truly experience what it was like to be a dragon. Free with no responsibilities. Nowhere to go but forwards. No plans. Just the sky. I said I'd go back one day when I was finally ready to settle down. I never really was. Not until recently anyway."
"So why settle here?" Hiccup asked glancing around at the very lived in cave.
"I knew that one I was back, especially after being gone for so long, I wouldn't be able to leave again. Your mother would never let me leave. I wanted to make sure I was truly ready to settle down before going home and being trapped. I passed through this nest and decided to stay. I haven't been here a long time but I've been here long enough to know I'm ready to go home. Despite what you may think, I do miss home."
"So come back with us," Hiccup replied. "We're going that way anyway. Why not join us on the journey.?"
Cloudjumper looked thoughtful for a while. Astrid wasn't sure if he would come with them or not. Despite his speech about going home, she wasn't sure he really was ready. Wouldn't he have returned by now?
"I don't know," he said slowly. Astrid watched as he moved over to his make-shift desk and start rummaging around the papers. She also noticed the change on Hiccup's face as he understood what the problem was.
"You know," he started gaining his uncle's attention. "As much as I love exploring, mom never lets me go anywhere for more than a day. But, if I had you to come with me, we could convince her to let us go for a few days at a time. You don't have to give up exploring just because you go back to Berk. And I'd love to go with you. If you were up for that."
Cloudjumper looked thoughtful. He perched himself on the stood that sat in front of the desk and looked Hiccup over for a few seconds before he smiled with a nod.
"You're right," he said. "Going home doesn't mean I have to give up travelling completely. And I would be honoured to share the experience with you. I've always been alone on my travels. It would be nice to have someone to share them with."
"Good," Hiccup laughed. "But don't be surprised if a few others end up joining us too."
The three all laughed together. Cloudjumper stood and began gathering a few things into a large pack before leaving it all in a bundle by the entrance to the cave.
"Before we leave, I must thank the King. He has been good to me. I owe him a farewell."
"We need to do the same," Hiccup added. Astrid nodded along.
The three of them shifted forms and left the cave heading down the endless tunnels of the Fortress to get to the cavern where the White King sat watching the dragons that flew around stretching their wings.
"My King," Cloudjumper said as he stood on the edge of the crevice and bowed low before the great Bewilderbeast. Hiccup and Astrid were quick to do the same.
"Cloudjumper," the King smiled. "I trust you took good care of our guests."
"He did, Sire," Hiccup replied. "But we will now be returning to our own nest."
"Very well, young Night Fury," the King said with a slight nod. "I wish you well on your journey."
"Thank you, Sire," Hiccup replied taking a step back to stand beside Astrid and leaving Cloudjumper at the front.
"My King," Cloudjumper said stooping as he spoke. "I wish to inform you that I too shall be leaving."
"I thought you might," the King replied. "I take it that they are from your home nest."
"They are, Sire. And I have been gone for too long. I must return to my kin."
"Very well," the King said with a smile. "I wish you well on your journey and your return home."
"Thank you, my King," Cloudjumper replied with another bow. "And thank you for your hospitality in receiving me into your nest. I have truly been at home here."
"It was our pleasure to have you here, Cloudjumper. Now, go. We have kept you here long enough." With that, the White King puffed a large cloud of snow, giving them his blessing and turned away dismissing them. Cloudjumper stood and nodded in the direction of the tunnels.
The three Dragonborn walked through the tunnels until they came across the pack that Cloudjumper had left at the entrance. He gathered the bundle in his claws and began guiding them to the exit. Soon enough they were out in the open and the three of them took off soaring off into the sunset and heading straight for Berk.
So, I know that it's short. I am ashamed by the length. It's a lot of dialogue that needed to be written so that you can understand Cloudjumper's story but other than that there wasn't much else to the chapter. I could have made it longer but I didn't want to go overboard with the dialogue and the conversation.
Secret love writer: Thanks.
2012209: Dun dun duuuunnnn...
Thearizona: Thanks! Hope this was interesting enough.
Anyway, I hope you like it and please leave some feedback.
Also, if you get a chance, check out my story Over The Wall. It's only going to be short, 9 chapters long, but I'm kind of proud of it. It's complete but I'll be uploading the chapters weekly so it won't interfere with my writing Dragonborn. Please check it out and let me know what you think!
Until next time!