Chapter 4: Of Hiccup
Search. Search need find. Dragon thoughts are not like Viking thoughts. They are direct. Focused. They don't need superfluous emotions or words, like wisps of steam rising off of a lake in late fall. And this dragon's thoughts were zeroed in on one thing: finding its missing flockmate. He had been flying for days, following a track that had gone cold long ago. But on it flew. With each wing-beat it traveled further from its nest, but closer, it was sure, to its missing friend. Darkness was starting to fall as land came into sight. But this land was lit like the volcanoes of Lava-lout. Torches and towers blazed through the night, making the land glow. Bad nervous fight no want bad. It whined to itself, keeping high up in the air and further up the mountain. It wasn't looking to get into any trouble with this group. He had learned from previous encounters with pfikingr. But something was drawing it. The movement wasn't just of the pfikingr swarming out of their nests, but of drkkns. He slowly let himself drift closer to the village, watching the growing battle. Fight! He growled Angry pfikingr hurt bad hurt drkkns! This was hardly a new concept to the dragon, but seeing it on such a scale, and right in front of him, was enough to make any dragon want to breathe flames.
But he didn't listen to the urge. He stayed silent, watching the carnage for any sign of his flockmate. Maybe they were trapped here? In this land of bad hurt fight pfikingr? Or maybe one of the here flock nest would know; would have seen them. They all were moving fast, gathering any food they could lay claws on, and fighting any pfikingr that tried to dispute their claim. He quickly tailed a spike-cousin, calling out Here! Need know! in a loud chirp. But the drkkn didn't stop. The boulder-cousins were much slower, and he managed to fly alongside one with a mouthful of fish. He warbled out a greeting of Fly well from-far king-nest-home search know you know? The boulder-cousin growled slightly, but rumbled back no see no see need food LEAVE. The last thought was a very strong growl. The dragon wasn't surprised. This was not only their hunting territory, but also a dangerous one. They wouldn't want a from-far dragon intruding. So he peeled off, turning to fly back up the mountain.
He let out a roar, turning to see his right wing with a huge hole in it, and feeling himself catapulting towards the ground. He turned, trying to at least control the fall, but it was in vain. He slammed into the top of one of the pfikingr nests, growling and roaring threats of angry kill no fly kill pain angry Angry! His eyes were slits, and his jaws parted to show his fangs. He rolled to his paws, using his front pair to aid in folding the decimated and useless wing. Once safely tucked away, he leapt to the ground, quickly becoming cornered against the side of the nest. no come no close Fight Fight Angry Revenge! He continued to screech at them, warning them of the consequences. He paced around, looking for a way to escape without a major fight. He knew he was stronger than the pfikingr, but why let himself be hurt more? He needed to go search look find.
A large, shaggy pfikingr entered his space. Challenge fight me win. He growled. But the pfikingr took no heed, and they fought back and forth. When the large, tired one started to slow, the younger dragon took its chance, pinning it. But he was surprised when it managed to hit his horns. He felt and heard them tear off with an audible rip, and growled in unpleasant surprise. No weak fight good strong. He persisted. But that slight hesitation was enough. He was suddenly lifted into the air by another pfikingr with metal claw paw, who was holding him just under his wings. Go me leave go search no fight! Me fight win! He voiced his conflicted instincts, half-growling and half-whining. He attempted to turn and slash at the captor, but he couldn't reach any soft-skin, only metal-wood-hard. He growled frustrated frustrated trapped no good under his breath. The shaggy pfikingr stood up, staring intently at him as it spoke in pfikingr to the one holding him. He bared his fangs all the more, daring it to come at him again. Instead, it made a motion, and the captor released him, causing him to fall to an ungraceful landing on the ground. He let out a small, surprised yelp. He glared at the pfikingr, staying silent as he tried to sense the trap it was spinning.
"Can you speak?" The pfikingr sounds meant nothing to the drkkn, but they were obviously important. "Who are you?" The large pfikingr was very firm, and stern, but not angry. The drkkn took a step backwards to leave some space between them. The red fur ruffled as it frowned, then spoke again. "I am Stoick." It spoke, laying its paw on its fur. "Stoick. Sto-ick." It repeated this sound, patting its fur as it slowed it down each time. The drkkn cocked its head. It wiggled its jaw forward and back a few times as it moved air deep in its throat.
"Hrrrrrrr" It wasn't quite a growl. Closer to a purr. He sat up slightly, folding one of his front paws up to his chest. He made a click noise in the back of his mouth. "Phuh." His mouth moved like a dragon spitting fire, only a sound came out instead of flames. He repeated, just as the pfikingr had. "Hrrr-click-phuh. Hrrclickphuh."
All around look stunned, and a smug expression plastered itself across the drkkn's face. "Hiccup." He just barely heard the word under the pfikingr's breath before all chaos broke loose. Everyone started trying to grab him at once, and he started leaping and dodging as best he could. He whistled in alarm to any drkkn listening in the vain hope of some help, though none came. find out out go THERE! His dull whine turned to a shriek as he saw an opening between two approaching pfikingr. He darted between them, his four legs pumping to take him to full speed. He raced through the burning village, some chasing him, others darting away as he approached. He could see the hill crest in the distance. He hummed trees safe good go. As he approached the forest, thinking of how he could hide. Suddenly, another pfikingr sprung from nowhere. Instinctively, he darted away to the right and towards the scent of more trees. He passed between more stone nests, seeing the plants in front of him. A *Slam!* sounded behind him, but he whistled missed! merrily, thinking that he had finally gotten away. He rocketed between trees and brush, before slamming horns-first into a thick wall. The impact stunned and alarmed him.
no why how where what? He questioned, shaking his head to clear it of night-suns. where now trees good nest bad nest trees where? He continued to piece together thoughts, looking around him. He padded slowly up to the wall this time, rubbing his cheek along the cool stone. It was a curving room, and he walked with his right side brushing the wall as he slowly followed it. Before long, he encountered a thick wooden door with a glass window in it. He reared up, but it just led to more pfikingr nest, and so he continued looking. After quite a while, he encountered another door, the one he had run through blindly the first time. He leaned his shoulder on it, leaning his weight onto it. no move no out stuck trap. he sighed. After a short while more of pacing, he had circled back around to the first door. With a weary sigh, he trotted to a small patch of grass under a tree, and plopped down, curling up to nap.
When he next woke, it was to the excited sounds of pfikingr chattering. here trap fight nervous. His hackles rose on the back of his neck at the feeling of being truly trapped by the pfikingr. He looked about for anywhere more defensible, noticing that the top of the nest-room he was in was clear like the clearest ice. curious see sun sky no out see sky. He puzzled over the conundrum, but quickly turned towards the first door when the chattering got louder. He slunk back into a large patch of ferns, only his eyes visible.
"See sir, he's in there! After he went running off, he tried to get to the woods. And Snorri happened to be coming to the lab, and startled him into running through the open door. She slammed it shut behind him and bolted it, so now we have him and can study him." Hrrclickphuh whined slightly. That pfikingr voice wasn't angry, but the pitch it was reaching was hurt ears bee fly bug itch. The other pfikingr looked through the clear-ice-through in the door, and he shrunk even further back. bad trick no happy angry. He grumbled quietly to himself. Escape go search go find. He promised.
Author's Note: A big thank you to Le'letha for giving me permission to use your dragonish language. :) All credit for it goes to you and your story Nightfall. It's a great story, so everyone go check it out! I had started writing this story, but became stumped by how I wanted to introduce language in dragons. About this time I was introduced to Nightfall, which I fell in love with. So, it is my inspiration for the language, as approved by the author. :D Thanks Le'letha!