The Gift of the Night Furies, Chapter 1
It was now winter in Berk. Everything had a layer of snow on it: the ground, roofs, ships. While he never did care much for scenery on his missions, Javelin would have agreed the island looked... peaceful.
That is, until he heard Toothless jumping repeatedly on Hiccup's roof. "Come on, Hiccup! Get up!" Ugh. Sometimes, this advanced hearing is a curse. Javelin had slept in his dragon form, as he was not that used to his village's newer climate, particularly at night. Brown eyes opened to see the black form of Twilight across the room. He got onto his feet with a yawn, stretching like a cat, front legs followed by the back.
It seemed he was too loud, as his sister also decided to wake up. "Morning, sis."
"Morning, Javelin," she responded sleepily. The dragoness blinked her glowing green eyes several times, forcing the drowsiness out of her system. Crimson nudged open one of the shutters, slowly as to not blind himself. It opened to reveal the Chief's home with an accompanying Night Fury on the roof. "It'll be soon. I know it."
The Crimson Fury smiled at her. "Do you need anything, Twilight?"
"Nothing I can't get myself," she answered, getting onto her feet. She spread her wings, easing the aching muscles, then pulled them back.
Her brother looked back outside to see the duo launch into the sky. He rolled his eyes. "Someday... I'll be back later, sis." He spread his own wings and took off.
If Berk was spectacular at ground level, it was just as splendid from the air. In the main plaza before the Great Hall was a giant green cone of wood. It was decorated with shields, more being added with the help of the dragons.
Snoggletog. That was what the event was called. Hiccup had told him that even he didn't know why it was labeled with such a stupid name. Oh, well. At least the spirit of the time doesn't care.
When he finished one of his daily flights, the hybrid landed on the edge of the forest. He switched forms without being thrown into unconsciousness, but it did leave him on his knees and gloved hands. He got up slowly and walked back into the village.
He reached the plaza and was quickly found by Twilight. He hugged and kissed her head. "Doing okay?" She glared at him, silently requesting that he stop being so concerned about her. The soldier just smiled back.
Javelin spotted a shield lying nearby. Picking it up, he approached a nearby Nadder. "Mind if I can have one of your spikes?"
"No problem." It extended its tail spikes, and smoothed them back down once Javelin got one.
He smiled and nodded at the dragon. "Thank you." Turning to the massive structure before him, he examined the projectile in his hand. He whittled it down so it fit securely into the old launcher hidden on his right arm. After a test fire into the ground, he reloaded and stood in front of the artificial tree.
He tossed the shield high into the air, then ran away from the tree. He came to stop, turned back around, and fired the spike. The projectile caught the descending circle and pinned it to a green plank. "Still got it." The fellow Vikings who saw the feat celebrated with him.
Stoick came around with Gobber. "Well done, all of you!" he said happily to the large mixed crowd. "I've never thought I'd live to see this day. Peace on the island of Berk. This will surely be the greatest holiday we've ever seen!"
Everyone cheered; the dragons roaring in happiness, the Vikings clapping and laughing. Javelin smiled and patted his sister's head.
It was too short, however, as a loud series of roars reached the village. All of the dragons, including Twilight to some extent, raised their eyes skyward, pupils slit. Above with the heavy cloud cover were an uncountable number of dragons. They flew in groups ranging from ten to twenty, flying south-southwest.
"What in Thor's name?" Gobber cried out in shock.
Behind them, Hookfang perched himself on a roof and roared deeply. "It's time, everyone! Let's go!" After that, all of the dragons on Berk took off, following the already growing count in the air. They covered almost as much of the sky as the clouds did.
"What's going on?!"
"Where are you going?"
Astrid noticed Stormfly preparing to take off. "Nonono! Don't leave, Stormfly, don't go! Please?"
"I'm sorry," the blue Nadder chirped before following the others.
It was at this time Hiccup and Toothless landed. Twilight, having spotted him as he came in, picked up Javelin and flew over to her mate. While she talked with Toothless, Javelin ran to Hiccup, only to get caught by the growing crowd of concerned Vikings.
"Everyone, stop!" Stoick yelled as he pushed his way to the front. "Give him a chance to speak! Hiccup, where are all our dragons going?"
"Dad," Hiccup replied softly, "I don't know."
Everyone looked at Javelin for answers. "Javelin?"
"I don't know, either, really. Hookfang said, 'It's time', but nothing else," he said, calm as he usually was. He heard Stormfly's voice and saw her with two black dragons.
"Toothless, Twilight, you should come, too," Stormfly squawked, hovering above the Night Furies.
"Stormfly, I can't. Not without Hiccup."
"Twilight?"
"No, I'm staying with my mate," Twilight said, pressing her head lovingly against Toothless, who reacted likewise.
"Okay then. Good luck, Twilight." The Nadder turned to catch up to her flock.
"Same to you, friend."
Everyone relocated to the Great Hall. Fortunately, Hiccup remembered to grab the small translator on his way up. He forgot all about it when Toothless woke him up. The teens stayed away from the crowd, taking refuge in a dark corner.
Stoick overheard a villager and shouted, " It's not ruined!" He got onto the edge of the fire pit, so everyone could see him and listen to his speech. "We're Vikings! We've been perfectly happy celebrating without dragons for generations! And there's no reason we can't do it again! Now we don't know where they've gone off to. But we have to have faith that they'll be back again soon. Am I right?"
Gobber agreed, all attention going to him. "You're right, we are Vikings! We are tough!" He noticed the decor on his arms and helmet. "Most of the time."
Seeing that the important stuff was over, the teens filed out into the village with Javelin.
"That was depressing," Ruffnut began.
"I know! I was looking forward to spending the holiday with Stormfly."
"Same here, Astrid. But not just with Stormfly..."
Meanwhile, Fishlegs was seemingly unaffected, whistling happily with a smile on his face. "What are you so happy about?" Tuffnut asked suspiciously. "Don't you miss Meatlug?"
"Me? Oh! Yeah!" Fishlegs tried to fool everyone by fake crying, but it didn't work. "I miss her so much... Well, good night." He ran off to his house.
Astrid broke the silence. "I've got an idea!" Everyone clustered around her. "Let's come up with a bunch of new holiday traditions! You know, to bury the sadness!"
The twins and Snotlout groaned, but Javelin nodded his head. "Sounds good." Hiccup agreed with his blood-brother.
"Pfft. Easy for you two to say. Your dragons are the only ones that stayed."
Ruffnut continued for her brother, "And he can't go anywhere." She pointed to something. Off in the distance was Toothless, standing on the ledge of a cliff.
Javelin didn't see Twilight with him, and was suddenly worried. She always spent as much time as she could with her mate."Uh, I'll see you guys tomorrow..." He walked off, then broke out into a run. The dark streets were clear, so he could sprint without running into anyone.
When he got to the cliff, the Night Fury was still there, watching the ocean waves in the dark. "Toothless?"
"I'm fine."
Silence. "It's about today, isn't it?" the soldier asked as he took a seat next to his brother-in-law. They looked to the distance together.
"Part of it."
"If it is what I think it is, then I'm probably the same. You wish Twilight was with them."
"Yeah. There, she would have Stormfly and the others helping her. Here, I..."
"You don't know if you can support her with your injury," Javelin finished for him. "Or your offspring." Toothless hung his head down. "Toothless, you're not alone here. You have nothing to worry about. I can and will gladly help you and Twilight. Berk can afford to be without me for a while."
The dragon's mood brightened. "Thank you."
"Anytime. But where is Twilight? I mean, I don't want to intrude on her..."
"Follow me." Toothless turned around and walked back into the village. The two strolled through the streets, taking in the crisp night air. They went past the Chief's house and into the forest. Soon enough, they were at the cove.
Where it all began. And where it will continue, the soldier thought, smiling.
The duo made their way down slowly, not wishing to disturb a possibly resting dragoness. Toothless led Javelin to the cave he had made during his training. It was pitch black, but the dragon's eyes and the maroon visor could see clearly. In the back, hidden away from the elements was a large nest, filled with dried moss, leaves, twigs, branches, and a dozing Night Fury.
There was no way Javelin could not smile.
Crimson had woken up early, despite having switched in his sleep. After a quick stretch, he flew out of his home. Some of the villagers saw him and hoped that their dragons had come back, but the lack of any other wings removed them. Ignoring them, Crimson dove down and collected a few loads of fish. He immediately dashed off to the cove, setting the food down for Twilight.
When he caught up with Toothless that day, he told him what he was doing, which calmed the Night Fury greatly.
Figuring that there was no use to change back, he stayed in his dragon form as he went through the village. Some of the little ones had built a snow-Gronckle out of boredom and sadness. Crimson's appearance lifted their spirits, much more so as they played.
Astrid came by with a shield, holding a pitcher and two mugs. "Yaknog! Get your Yaknog! Come on! Get a frothy, delicious cup of cheer!"
Crimson got the children into a snowball fight before following Astrid, who had run up to Ruffnut, Tuffnut, and Snotlout. "Guys! Try this tasty new beverage I made for the holidays."
Tuffnut recoiled back in disgust. "Ugh! What's that smell? Is that you?" he asked his sister, shoving her to the ground.
Javelin only now noticed the odor rising from the containers and wrinkled his nose in annoyance. He drew a skeptical look at the concoction, a mix of what may have been milk, egg yolk, and possibly bad cheese.
Tuffnut saw it, too. "Ugh! If I drink that, I'm gonna yak nog all over the place!"
"Maybe you'd rather taste a punch in the face?" Astrid retorted. Ruffnut had gotten up and took another sniff. She audibly gagged, much to its maker's displeasure.
Snotlout, in an effort to get on Astrid's good side, stepped up. "Astrid, it sounds delightful. I'd love a mug." He grabbed one and took a sip, instantly regretting it. He quickly swallowed and put the mug back on the shield. "You could really taste the yak!" he complimented, trying to not throw up.
Crimson grabbed the same mug with his front claws, wanting to be the final judge. After all, his draconian digestive system was far stronger and more tolerant than any human's. Setting the container on the snow-covered ground, he put his gums around the mug. Once his grip was tight enough, he raised his head skyward.
A glop of the poisonous concoction landed on his tongue. It didn't go any farther into his mouth, going out instead almost instantaneously. He spat the stuff out, some of it and the mug landing on Fishlegs, who must have arrived a few seconds ago. The twins were laughing at what had just happened. Unfortunately for Crimson, the rest landed on another person.
That person was a drenched, yaknog/dragon saliva-covered, shocked, and certainly infuriated Astrid Hofferson.
Only one thought was in the dragon hybrid's mind as he was chased through the village: don't get killed.
(AN) - We all thought about what would happen if someone rejected Astrid's yaknog. Well, at least Hiccup was saved... maybe. As always, do feel to review or leave a comment.
Adipose - Yeah, I agree that was not my best chapter. Fortunately, I have a lot more breathing room here. Dragons' Destiny will start after I end GotNF.
Don't worry, guys, we're getting there. They do say the journey beats the destination. Stay strong, keep on keepin' on, and OYA!