Chapter 2

I have never been to a place like Berk. There are many places I have been to, but none have compared to this island. It is teeming with life, friendliness, culture, and most importantly, dragons. There are feeding stations, large baths, statues and sculptures, and all different kinds of species everywhere. It's my researching dream.Before I came here, I lived in a place where dragons were seen as dangerous beasts, kind of like Berk. Except we enslaved them, and made them do work for us. We abused them. It breaks my heart to know that things like that are still happening in this world. Someday though, I will ride back into my home, setting all of those dragons family is dead to me. When they found out I had a love for dragons, they disowned me. I ran away to study dragons, and have since discovered that it is my true passion. I have been to many places around the world, but nothing like Berk. It feels like home to me.

When I arrived here, I was seen as an outcast. Things were a bit different back then though. I have black hair, dark brown eyes, and tanned olive skin. I'm sure the folks around here weren't used to seeing someone like me around. Most people here have pale skin. Now, I have made many friends. Hiccup and the other Dragon Riders and I spend lots of time together, discussing all things dragons. I remember when I met Toothless, too. I had seen other Night Furies before, when I was young. I told Hiccup this. He and Toothless both perked up. "You have seen another Night Fury?" Hiccup asks excitedly. Toothless opens his mouth, beautiful green eyes wide, and looks at Hiccup. "Bud, did you hear that?"

I nod and smile, but quickly my smile fades. "Yes," I say quietly. "There were a few in my village. But not anymore."

Hiccup's excitement turns to worry. "What do you mean? What happened to them?"

"My village enslaved dragons. Even the most feared dragons were captured and forced to work." Hiccup falls silent. He and Toothless sadly look at each other. "It was horrible. There was even punishment for humans who helped dragons escape."

Hiccup and I look at each other. My face says a thousand words. "When I was younger... I helped a Night Fury escape."

He looks at me in shock and surprise. "Is... is that why you came to Berk?"

I shrug. "Sort of. But I also knew that I belonged with dragons. I couldn't stay there. It was only a matter of time before I got caught..." I turn my head, staring off into the distance of the sea. "It was my first time seeing a dragon up close. I knew what people thought about Night Furies. That they were reclusive, and would not hesitate to kill you. But I didn't care.

There was a large buildings that the dragons were kept in. They were in separate rooms, chained down to the concrete floors. But the most dangerous ones were always watched more closely. I'm very lucky I didn't get caught sneaking in." I stop for a moment, turning my head to Toothless, admiring his beauty. I smile at him, and reach out to touch his nose.

"One night we had a bad thunderstorm. I was thinking about the times I had seen the dragon from afar, and how he was treated. Even though I was young, I knew I needed to do something to help him. So that night, I decided to sneak into the building and into the Night Fury's "room". When I opened the door, he barely moved. His glowing, green eyes looked up at me. He looked so broken, so defeated." I could barely get out the last sentence, choking on the words and the horrific memory. Hiccup too, looked just like that Night Fury.

"I shut the door behind me and slowly walked towards him. 'It's okay,' I said to him. 'I'm going to free you. I won't hurt you.' The chains rattled as he began to perk up. He knew I was going to save him. So I clipped the chains, heart pounding, because I was near this creature who was made out to be a vicious beast. I talked to him the whole time, saying it was alright. He grunted and growled, shaking the rest of the chains off. Thunder cracked, making me jump. The Night Fury moved closer to me, staring into my eyes. I can't imagine how I must've looked to him; so frightened, but determined to help him. I slowly reached my hand out. Hiccup, he let me put my hand on his head. That's when I knew that dragons, even the most feared, were not what we thought they were.

His eyes told me a story. Then they said, 'Come with me.' He was waiting for me. He wanted me to leave that hellhole with him. His large, black wings opened, ready to take flight. He turned to the side, so I was near his neck. He wanted me to hop onto his back. Out loud I said, 'No, I'm sorry. You need to get out of here now! I can't come with you. There is so much I need to do here first.' I put my hands on his side, stroking for a moment, before pushing him. 'Go!' I said. 'Fly out of here!' He looked back at me for a moment, then let out a roaring scream, and took flight into the air through the roof of the building."

I was silent for a moment, still gazing at Toothless. "That's why I was so surprised to meet you, Toothless. That was the last time I had seen a Fury. I assumed that someone had hunted them out of existence."

Hiccup put his hand on my arm. "Akita," he says. "That Night Fury could still be alive. I mean, Toothless is still here, right bud?" Toothless sticks his tongue out, showing his gums and begins to gallop behind Hiccup. We both laugh.

My smile quickly disappears, as does Hiccup's. "Maybe," I suggested. "But there's no way of knowing for sure. You and I both know there is so much left out there, that we haven't explored, that maybe nobody has explored."

He nods. "I know, that's why I think there are still Night Furies out there. They're very reclusive. And we keep discovering new species, just about every month!"

"Someday I'll get out there with you, and maybe you and I will find that dragon together."

We smile at each other. "Speaking of getting out there", he replies. "Astrid and I want you to come with us on a mission. It's going to be dangerous though. Think you're up for the challenge?"

"Wow! Really?"

"Yes really!" He hops into the air a little, pegleg squeaking as he hits the ground again.

"Maybe I'll finally find a dragon of my own."

He nods his head excitedly. "I'm sure it'll happen soon! Trust me, when you know, you know. Anyway, we live first light tomorrow morning. I'll see you then."

Hiccup smiles again, pats Toothless, and begins to walk away. I'm left sitting on the ground on a cliff, staring into the sea. Other Vikings ride the skies with their dragons. Hopefully soon, I will jump the clouds and hop the stars with my own companion.