Hi guys! I'm back. Sorry I didn't update last weekend. I realized that I was catching up with my pre-written chapters, so I decided to write some more chapters before I posted this one. Good choice too because I tightened the plot and cleaned up a few details that work way better now that they've been revised. I'm pretty happy with this.
Have fun (heart). Read and relax!
Toothless
I can't even tell you how relieved I was when Hiccup had figured the truth out. The change had been terrible, and it had left me feeling raw and pained long after it was over. I couldn't recall much about the change; I just knew that it had been agonizing. It was like every inch of my skin was being stabbed, and I was being ripped apart from the inside out. My spine shattered and reconstructed itself in such a brutal manner that I couldn't even hope to bite back my screams. It's a miracle that no one had heard it, really.
Once the change was over, I had been shocked by the sight of black scales and curled talons. My gasping voice sounded…wrong. I hadn't even realized what I'd become until I'd tripped over a wing. I tried to see the rest of myself, but apparently doing so was virtually impossible with my type of dragon anatomy. Needless to say, I hadn't taken the shock quietly.
My shock, however, was nothing compared to the fear I saw in Hiccup's eyes when he'd found me. The change had torn me apart physically, but for Hiccup to look at me as though I were a danger, it ripped me apart far worse by comparison. He didn't recognize me, I eventually realized. I tried to speak to him, but everything came out garbled, not even human sounding by a long shot. Turns out, dragons have never before communicated with people for a reason. Their jaws and vocal chords just weren't designed for forming human words.
After struggling to show him who I was, I felt a wave of relief when his eyes lit up with understanding. Suddenly, that glimmer of fear melted away, and recognition took its place. That's my crazy brother for you; he can piece together the truth no matter how ludicrous the evidence seems. I couldn't have been prouder.
While the shock from both of us began to fade away, the foretold rain started to come down in drizzles. Hiccup was the first to come to his senses. "We need to get out of here," he said as he stood up. He looked up at the sky before treading over to a particularly rocky side of the cove. I followed his line of sight until I noticed a pile of rocks. If I backed away far enough, I could see a hole. Well…that explained how he had gotten into the cove in the first place.
"Mom said she'd organize a search party once the rain started." He looked over at me, apprehensive but trusting at the same time. "We need to go deeper into the forest."
That was probably for the best. I nodded.
When I'd entered the cove, I had literally just dropped in. It had been easy, really. Getting out of the cove on the other hand… To say the least it was embarrassing. I tried to climb out, but I couldn't get a good grasp on the ledge. From the safety of the rocky ridge he'd climbed up to, Hiccup watched my struggles with a worried frown.
'I'm fine!' I tried to tell him, but it came out garbled again. His brows knitted together in concentration, but he clearly didn't understand. I'll give him points for trying though.
"Can't you um…Can't you use your wings?" Hiccup asked, not quite able to conceal the interest inflecting his voice. I gave him a flat look.
I did wind up trying to use my…wings…but I could barely make them move let alone make them flap regularly enough to help me get off the ground. It was like…well, what if you were to randomly sprout another leg or an arm? You might figure out how to move it, but your brain wouldn't be used to controlling this new appendage, now would it? That, at least, turned out to be true for me. Sigh.
After many futile tries, Hiccup finally conceded that this wasn't working and climbed back down to join me. Because his bad luck was at work, he lost his footing, and I instinctively rushed forward to break his fall. He landed on my back, and I could feel his frame stiffen upon landing. I tried not to take it personally. After I was certain that he was steady, I slowly backed away from him.
Hiccup seemed to realize what kind of effect his reaction had on me, and he immediately looked guilty. I motioned for him to stop before he could apologize. I understood.
"I…I guess we'll just stay here," he eventually said as he scanned our surroundings. "Hopefully no one will find this place." I agreed.
The rain was getting heavier by now, so he and I searched for some shelter from the unforgiving weather. There was a jutting section of rock nearby the exit hole that had enough space for Hiccup to sit under. I really didn't need any shelter. As odd as it sounded, I couldn't feel the cold. Maybe it was my thick, scaly hide, or maybe it was the internal gas sac that heated the ignition gas within the belly of every dragon. I didn't really know at the time, but I chose not to complain.
"Are you alright out there, Toothless?" Hiccup asked me as I sat myself outside his temporary shelter.
I shrugged—or at least tried to. Yeah, I'm okay.
"Aren't you cold?"
I shook my head.
Hiccup nodded. The silence hung over us like an executioner at the chopping block. We were both unsettled by my body, and I caught Hiccup glancing at me every now and then. He'll be asking questions in three…two…
"What happened to you? H-how'd this happen?"
I had been wondering that myself. I could only think of one reason, but it was absurd at best. I moved my front…paw (?) toward him, trying to show him my scales. 'I think it's that…condition…that's doing this.'
He flinched at my sudden movement, but he tried to hide his apprehension while he studied my extended limb. Hesitantly, his hand that was closest to me uncurled, and he reached out to touch my paw. It felt so…wrong. No, it wasn't him touching me that was odd—though that was really weird. We weren't really the touching type on a good day.
But no, it was the sensation of his hands that was bothering me. The scales registered the pressure, but I couldn't feel the texture of his skin. My memory tried to fill in the gap that my nerves weren't registering. His hands were patchy, I recalled. His fingers were worn and calloused because of how often he'd draw or work at the forge. Various fire-associated incidents at the smithy left his hands with varying degrees of callus and new skin in different places.
His hands flinched away when the strike of Thor's mighty hammer smashed through the clouds above. It was silent between the two of us. Only the pouring rain kept the stillness from being unbearable.
Hiccup shook his head. "I can't believe this is happening."
'Same,' I replied bitterly.
In frustration, Hiccup combed his hands through his hair and rambled on, "This should be impossible! But it's you in there! I know it's you!"
'Well I should hope so,' I muttered, 'Otherwise, you would be getting yourself into a load of trouble without me. I mean—'
"Your disease…" Hiccup whispered. Even in the bad lighting, I could see how his eyes were clouded with confusion and turmoil. "Was that the cause? No, that still doesn't make sense! No stupid cold can turn a person into a dragon!"
He thunked his head against my side and blew out a frustrated puff of air. If I had still been human, I would have probably ruffled his hair in a crappy attempt at being comforting. His dispirited eyes trailed up to meet mine. "You can't come back to the village like this. What are we gonna do? "
Good question. I sighed through my nose. My breath ruffled Hiccup's hair, and he looked at me with pleading eyes, hoping that I may have some idea. I shook my head. I'm sorry, Hic.
It must have been near midnight when Hiccup started nodding off. Thanks to past all-nighters at the forge, he was pretty good at fighting back sleep when he wanted to. The rain was still going strong, but it was not as terrible as it had been a few minutes ago. As much as Hiccup tried to hide it, I could see that he was feeling the brunt of the cold air. His clothes were probably still damp from running around in the rain, I realized. He'd catch a cold at this rate.
I nudged him with my snout (using my talon-adorned limbs was not a chance I was willing to take) and waited until I had his full attention. It took a bit of trouble to tell my wing to open since I wasn't used to having a wing in the first place. However when I did get it to move, I motioned for Hiccup to come closer. He blinked in confusion before comprehension set in. Really, all this gesturing around wasn't terribly different from the long-distance signaling that we usually did during raids.
Hiccup carefully got up and sat himself under the outstretched appendage. I could tell that he was a little unnerved by being so close to me since I had been trying to keep a safe distance from him up until then. However, him dying in his sleep from hypothermia was not a risk I was willing to take. He knew that too, I was certain. He'd just have to trust me.
Hiccup hesitantly leaned himself next to me. When nothing bad happened, both of us let ourselves relax. "This is still crazy," Hiccup muttered.
I gave him a look. 'NO. Really? I did not realize that.' Hiccup rolled his eyes at my obviously sarcastic expression. He knew me well enough to hear my words without actually having to hear me.
It was easier for me to move my wings this second time. I wrapped one around him, hoping it would block out the cold. I was relieved to see that Hiccup didn't flinch or stiffen this time. He shifted until he was more comfortable. I followed suit, knowing that I would be sitting there for a while.
"We'll figure something out," Hiccup mumbled. "I promise."
I glanced over at him only to see his eyes flutter closed. Eventually, my improved hearing allowed me to catch his breathing evening out in the midst of the roaring rain. He was already asleep, and I was now alone. I let the sound of pittering rain entertain me while I brooded.
What am I going to do? I wondered to myself. How did this happen?
I couldn't help but think that this should not have been possible. No human had ever turned into a dragon before—at least none that I've ever heard of. Sure, I wasn't exactly normal by viking standards, but Hiccup wasn't either. He was perfectly fine. So what was wrong with me? I didn't know, and to be honest, I wasn't sure wether or not I wanted to know.
The rain was calmer by now. I suddenly stiffened when I heard a strange sound in the distance. Suddenly alert, I sought out the source in the darkness. My eyes were also better now that I was a dragon, but I still didn't see anything. Then suddenly, a bird shot out from its hiding place in a nearby tree. I tried to let myself ease up.
Just a bird, I told myself. I glanced at Hiccup who hadn't moved much from under my wing. He's fine, I assured myself.
Then I heard another noise, putting me back on high alert. Sigh. This was going to be a long night; I just knew it.
Next chapter: The second Stormcutter encounter!
Until then, have a great week~!
—Tenchiko
