'Elevated position, check. Target in sight, check. Wings at the ready?' Astral looked to her left and right to check her wings were fully extended. She'd gone a full month without learning how to fly. This was unacceptable. She had wings and she was going to learn how to use them. First goal was to just figure out how to glide. Astral was currently atop a certain dresser. Wasn't the same one she hatched atop. She kinda broke that. It got replaced and the roof fixed already as well. Astral squatted and prepared to launch. Her target was her father. Alright focus and launch. This should be simple right. Just stay forward and don't stall. Well apparently it wasn't simple as almost right away she began sliding to the right and then plummeting.
Astral yelped as she hit the floor and tumbled a bit. Toothless woke with a start searching for the location of his daughters distress. It wasn't actually of his blood but he decided to adopt her almost right away. Toothless approached Astral and gave a concerned croon before licking her. "I'm fine, I'm fine dad." Astral said despite not having breached the language barrier. She'd gotten use to the displays of affection. Besides actually wasn't all that bad. Now that she had scales it didn't feel gross it was just the thought of it and she'd gotten over that.
The little Nightfury made her way to the night stand in the room and jumped atop that before jumping back onto the dresser. It was actually really easy to climb with her claws if she messed up her jump, but Toothpick was not a fan of her scratching up his furniture. She didn't know what the big deal was. It was roughly carved and ugly anyways. She was doing it favor giving it some style by scratching it up. Alright, wings spread, crouched, and ready for attempt number two. Before she could try though her father brought his tail up right in front of her and stopped her from jumping. "Hey get out of the way. I need to do this. It didn't hurt much when I fell alright." She complained uselessly. Suddenly from the tip of her fathers tail spread a single fin. "What the heck. A whole month and I didn't know about this." She brought her own tail up in front of her view and experimented a bit before figuring out how to snap her own fins open. She had two though. She easily guessed it's purpose. It was like a birds tail feathers. Meant for steering and stability. Why did her father have only have one. He must have lost it in an accident or fight somehow. No wonder she never saw him go flying like the other dragons. Alright tail fins open aannnd her fathers tail was still in the way. She tried moving around to a different edge of the dresser but stopped her again. This time he turned his back side to her and opened the much larger fins at the base of his tail. "What? you got to be kidding me!" Astral turned herself around to try to see that spot on herself unsuccessfully. She really had to find a mirror one of these days. Feeling it out she eventually figured out how to open those as well. "Any other secrets you'd like to reveal to me while we're at it. No of course not." He finally moved his tail though.
Alright crouch and launch. And almost right away her nose began dipping down. Before she hit the ground though her father caught her with his head and placed her back on the dresser. 'Why the heck is it so hard just to glide!' Toothless reached up with one of his paws and adjusted each of her tail fins so they were in a slight upwards V shape. "Alright?" she said before launching herself. She was doing it! She was actually gliding. She began slowly rolling to her left this time and began to panic a little. She tried twisting her tail fin a bit angling it in the other direction and it worked. Though she screamed in her own surprise as she over corrected hard and went plummeting into the ground with another yelp. Her father approached and nuzzled her while crooning.
After that tender moment Astral made her way to the stairs and was about to jump down slowly that is. They were super steep steps. She had a better faster idea though. Spreading her wings, sub wings, and tail fins she leapt into the air. But before making it anywhere she was snatched out of the air by her father making her go limp. She hated it when he did that. He only seemed to do it when he was serious though. In fact looking down that was a long drop. Toothless made it down the stairs with Astral in his mouth before letting her go on the ground floor. "Thanks dad." Astral said before charging at the big front door and attempting to ram it open rather unsuccessfully with a squeak. Her father just went up and pushed it open with a paw. Astral sprinted out the door into the village. There were smells to learn!
As Astral sniffed around Toothless kept a close eye on her but almost right after he had left the home Hiccup confronted him. "Bud we need to talk." Hiccup said seriously. It was slightly uncharacteristic for the boy so he held Toothless's attention, at least that which he could spare. "It's been a month and as much as I also love Astral and we need to raise what is likely the only other Nightfury in existence, we have responsibilities to the tribe that also need attention." Hiccup motioned for Astrid to step up. "I'll take good care of her while you two catch up on the work that needs to be done." She said stepping up to Hiccup's side.
Toothless stared at the two an unamused look for Hiccup and a distrustful one for Astrid. He chuffed for Astral to come to him. She was not a fan of being pulled from figuring out how to use her nose but when dad called she came. Wasn't like she had much of a choice, he'd grab her if she didn't listen. Was so strange growing up again this time under the care of an overprotective parent. "Yes?" Astral asked. Toothless stomped a foot down next to Hiccup telling her to stay with him before he took off abruptly dashing off to none of them knew where. Astral looked up at Hiccup as if asking what that was all about. He seemed to actually understand but just shrugged his shoulders. Astral was quickly distracted by the smell of fish nearby. She sniffed the air trying to locate it's source and found herself slowly heading towards Blondy. Astrid bent down and revealed the fish she was hiding offering it to the hatchling. Astral sniffed it to test it. Blondy had never given her food before, but all seemed well. With that what might have been mistaken as hesitation was gone and she lunged forward to snap it out of her hands before she could preform some cruel trick like moving it out of reach like the twins once did to her. It was a small sardine perfect for her developing stomach. Blondy went to pick her up but Astral leapt back and hid behind Toothpics legs. It wasn't that she didn't trust her Astral was just not a fan of being dragon handled. Reminded her of how small and helpless she was compared to everything else. At least she was in a safe human settlement. Would be a hundred times more terrifying if she was being raised the natural dragon way. Blondy gave a sigh of defeat and disappointment as Astral had retreated. Astrid wondered how she was going to babysit this unpredictable little Nightfury.
Toothless returned and he wasn't alone. Stormfly followed right next to him. He gave no indication as to why he had brought her here but now that she was he seemed ready to take off. Toothless flipped hiccup over so he'd land on the dragons back and the boy got the idea. Before long the saddle was secure and with one marvelous leap and beat of his massive wings, the two were rocketing towards the clouds. Astral stared up in amazement and a pain of envy. Took her a moment to realize her father had left her with Blondy and her dragon. Anxiety quickly started to consume her. Her father had never been out of eyesight with her. He wouldn't let her go off anywhere on her own and now that he was gone she felt extremely vulnerable. Stormfly noticed the hatchlings distress and crooned while going in for a nuzzle. Astral for the second time jumped away. Blondey and her dragon seemed to conspire something before both moving away into town as if she was of no concern anymore. With them leaving Astral was alone and that was ever worse. She bounded after the two that her dad had chosen to keep an eye on her or at least one of em and they were doing a terrible job. The two giggled when she caught up with them. Blondy just went about the day as normal beside the little Nightfury she was carefully watching over. The little thing was so curious sniffing at every crack and crevice. At some point Astral had grown brave and decided to once again try flying without her father present. Stormfly and Astrid completely lost interest in everything else and began ogling at Astral attempting to glide. They became determined to help her at least glide in a straight path. It took a very long time and the other two girls hindered her far more than helped, but at last she was able to glide in a straight line...and that was it. She'd tried turning in the glide only to be greeted with her old nemesis gravity and it's accomplice the ground.
Their task accomplished as far as Stormfly and Astrid were concerned they moved on. Astrid needed to get her beloved axe sharpened and touched up so she headed over to Gobber's work forge. Just as they were about to walk through the entrance of Gobber's forge Stormfly shook her head as if casting something off and suddenly freaking out sprinting toward the entrance to try and intercept them. She was too late though Astrid and Astral were inside. The bird like dragon squawked and roared in alarm as she paced outside desperately trying to look in.
"What in the blazes is wrong with your dragon Astrid?" Gobber asked in equal alarm. He didn't want a frantic dragon wrecking his shop.
"I think Toothless charged her with watching the hatchling and she can't fit or see well in here. It's alright girl we'll only be a few moments."
Gobber only just then noticed Astral walking about on his floor. "So this is what's got the village all excited. I can see why. Ye'know between me and you I always though the other lil dragons were ugly. But ain't she a beauty."
As the humans did their business Astral explored around the workshop. There were weapons everywhere. Axes, swords, hammers, bows, but mostly axes. Having only seen replicas of such weapons in the other world it was quite the spectacle to see such a place loaded with them and intent on using them. If they were like the vikings of her world did they go on raids in other lands? She could see the vikings taking over the world if they had dragons. But then again maybe others had dragons. She really did not know anything about this world and being unable to communicate with anyone she wasn't going to be learning much soon. At least she could learn the weapons though. Jumping onto a shelf Astral planned on investigate the weapons up close. She didn't weigh much at least she didn't think so but her jumping on it caused the shelf to come crashing down. The weight of it all knocking on the ground and shaking the place especially the great hammers that were on it. The jostle dislodged a bunch of weapons hanging on display above the shelf and they slid off the nails that held em to the wall to all come falling towards her. Astral looked up and gave a shrill high pitched screech. Oddly only her current life flashed before her eyes as she watched the sharp and other deadly objects as big as herself plummet to her. By some miracle none impaled however she sustained many injuries all at once the most notable of which was a war hammer falling upon her tail. Astral screeched in pain, but could escape nowhere as the weapons pinned her at what seemed like every angle. She stood as still as possible, not daring to move her pain momentarily dulled by the adrenaline pumping through her. Astrid and even Gobber both gasped as they heard the ruckus and witness the weapons fall. They weren't in time to snatch the hatchling or any of the weapons. They quickly went to work clearing them away so they could take a look at the damage though. Just as they had removed the last weapon there was a loud roar before Toothless burst through the opening meant for customers viewing and ordering Gobber's wares. He roared again slamming his wings against both Astrid and Gobber, tossing them into opposite ends of the shop. He quickly examined Astral for any critical injuries and upon finding none picked her up by her scruff and headed back outside. He dropped her down and began nursing her wounds with licks crooning to comfort her. Astral continued giving out a quiet and constant dragonic cry as her adrenaline wore off and the pain really made itself known. Her tail felt broken and she had cuts all over the outline of her body but all were miraculously shallow. It had to have been divine intervention that prevented any life threatening injures or out right death, that or astronomical luck.
Stormfly cautiously approached to see for herself but was warned away by the very pissed Nightfury. She bowed her head and moved away in shame. Toothless wasn't letting anyone getting within a length of himself and when Astrid had approached he actually broke away from Astral for a moment to mock pounce at her and drive her away. Hiccup was allowed to get the closest and when he verified for himself that Astral wasn't in critical condition he chased after Astrid.
"What in Thor's name happened?" Hiccup asked Astrid perplexed and shaken by his dragons behavior.
"I don't know. I went in to have my axe sharpened and I heard a crash, next thing I knew there were weapons falling on her." Astrid answered frantically.
"Why did you bring her in Gobbers shop to begin with? That's no place for a baby viking or dragon." Hiccup emphasized the 'or dragon'.
Astrid didn't know what to say or feel. She was upset at messing up so badly and pissed at herself but also unwilling to accept she had messed up, that in some way it wasn't her fault she never did anything wrong. She was always the best at everything she did.
The couple weeks following the incident were the absolute worse for Astral. For starts there were the injuries that needed to heal. Thankfully they were quick to heal and she was back to full health. She thanked Cruinne that she was still alive. Though that brought up some questions. Did she worship him? She had never been the religious type before but she had met this god and not only did he give her another chance at life but also saved her from losing it. She supposed she wouldn't worship him persay but would for sure try and please him. Still wasn't too sure what it was he wanted her to do though. Wasn't like he left a bible behind. Anyways while she had been recovering of course she couldn't go back to gliding so after just learning how to glide in a straight line she was grounded. Was the worst feeling ever much worse than the pain of her injuries. There was one injury that was particularly bad though and still kinda healing and that was her tail. And sadly as her dad had taught her it was impossible to fly without her tail. So other reason was so miserable is she wasn't allowed to explore at least not without her fathering hovering like right above her. This was a whole new level to over protective. Was literally protecting her himself and protecting her from everything. At the very least though she was able to exercise her nose and was begin to get a handle on it at least the smells around berk. She also found she could literally smell strong emotions.
Today Astral kinda just sat on a warm rock in the sun with her father curled up around her. The only thing she wanted to do right now is fly but of course fate or whatever hated her. There was no Hiccup or Astrid around. Things had gotten rather odd between the trio. Toothless wasn't going anywhere near Blondy or rather wasn't allowed to come near him which meant Hiccup was torn with either spending time with Astrid or his dragon. That combined with the dragon rider training she learned he was in charge of and he smelled kinda musky sour most the time which Astral had identified as stress. Speaking of which he was at dragon training now. She supposed with nothing to do she might as well go watch him. Getting up she painfully started walking over to that part of the island. Turns out tail injury was just about as painful as a spine injury and made getting anywhere a literal pain. Toothless chuffed a sound of question and then concern as she got up. "Just got bored sitting here is all."
Finding the dug out arena with the cage over the top Astral found a nice sunny spot next to the cage to pier down in the pit below where basically all the kids on the island and only some adults were learning how to work with dragons. Astral found it odd it was mostly the kids doing so. Kinda made her sick there was a dragon training to begin with. She wasn't a fan of being treated like a flying horse and couldn't believe the other dragons put up with it. No doubt they'd been born and raised into it never knowing a better life. The only one to seem to treat his dragon as more than something to be ridden was Toothpick. No doubt some lucky or rather unlucky soul was going to chose her as their dragon when she grew up to an adult or worse before she made it to adult. She was not going to let herself be some animal to be ridden and fed. Though that did bring up the issue of consequences. If she refused to work with anyone would they refuse to feed her and did any of the dragons here know how to hunt. Depending on how long they've been domesticated they are probably completely reliant upon the vikings. Reborn into slavery just flippen perfect. At least she was basically the pet of the chiefs family. Seemed to have some perks. Her dad especially seemed to get away with most things including threatening everyone that gets close to her. Speaking of which Toothless seemed a little anxious sitting there next to her staring down at Hiccup. He must want to join him. Astral got up and began lumbering down there finding a corner to curl up in and watch from up close. Toothless seemed concerned at first following her into the ring and the duo distracted everyone as they entered. Eventually Toothless took his place at Hiccups side though still keeping an eye on her glancing back making sure she hasn't gone anywhere from time to time. From there things seemed to progress as normal. It was so obvious the difference between Hiccup and the others. He quite clearly treated Toothless as his best friend and not just some mount to be pet and fed. He also had a respect for the other dragons as well. She hopped she would just get to stay with him. She wouldn't mind being considered his if she wasn't already. At least not minding as far as not having a choice went. She supposed only time would tell.
Suddenly a load horn of some sort sounded reverberating was had to be the entire island. How the heck did they have something capable of such a sound. Suddenly everyone frantic and serious was jumping on their dragons and heading out of the arena. Toothless began running towards her but Hiccup stopped him. "Toothless no. I need you bud, they need us. We'll lock her up in the stables so no one can get to her." Her father growled at Hiccup over something he said. Astral just looked on in confusion. "I know I don't want to either, but it's to keep her safe. The moment we figure out what's going on we'll let her out but right now she can hardly move on her own with that tail injury." Toothless gave a low croon of defeat and went to pick Astral up by her scruff and began carrying her to one of the cages while Hiccup opened it. It wasn't till she was almost in she realized their intention. "No no no no!" She screamed and despite the extra pain it would cause she tried everything she could to escape, but her body just would not move. Her dad sat her down and jumped out before Hiccup shut the huge wooden gate and before Astral could painfully sprint out. She didn't make it though as it was locked shut and almost all light was blocked out. She could do nothing but whimper and cry out at having been caged. She deduced though that apparently the tribe was under attack.