Shadow was breathing hard at the extra effort it took to run with wings and a tail. They were exceptionally heavy and awkward to use in human form. Her wings kept bumping into things hidden in the dark, and her tail twitched uncontrollably as she got used to the feeling.

She could not be seen in this state. If she was, she would most likely be executed on sight. The teens were still looking for her it seemed. Snotlout had found her hiding in the armory, and she had barely managed to dodge the twins and their Zippleback.

She should have realized sooner, she should have realized that she didn't have enough strength. But she was a desperate fool, and got herself into this situation. She longed for the full moon and the strength it gave her, but it was too early in the cycle. The crescent moon mocked her as it smiled in the night sky.

She didn't have enough strength. Actually, she did, but just enough to make the transformation. But not enough strength to sustain flight. She could have hit her head on a wall, but she didn't have time. She had to hide.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid!

Her wings were fully developed, and correctly in proportion to her body, but the joints and muscles in her shoulder blades were nowhere near strong enough to lift her off the ground. She doubted she could even fully extend her wings.

And her tail dragged behind her like a dead weight.

What was that saying that she had heard long ago? 'It's the wings and the tails you really want.' Yes, that was it. How ironic, she had both, but they were non-functioning.

She was as flightless as an ostrich. (She had once seen an ostrich race on a trip to some southern country) how pitiful.

She briefly wondered what kind of price the Berkians would sell her for. She suspected her wings would fetch a high price, and from a creature so exotic too.

She huffed.

Sounds echoed from nearby and she made a dash for a new hiding spot. It was those infernal twins again, and that Zippleback they called Barf and Belch. Shadow sensed the dragons unease. She climbed on top of the house she was hiding next to and waited for them to come.

They had no idea it was her stalking them, maybe they would mistake her for a wild dragon. The twins approached carrying lanterns as they looked around. Their dragon followed a few meters behind them. Perhaps she could scare them off, she wondered.

Shadow growled lowly in her throat, catching their attention. They could not see her full form, or recognise her at all, but they did notice the glowing eyes and extended wings and threatening stance. For effect, Shadow roared and snarled.

The twins ran in fear crying "Wild dragon!" into the night. The Zippleback roared in response, but her snarling sent it packing. Before it could come back after her, she disappeared again and doubled over her path to confuse them.

She never stayed still in one spot for long. And she deliberately went over her tracks in different directions to throw them off her scent. Shadow managed to stay hidden for another hour. But unfortunately her fortune was not to last. The transformation had taken a massive toll on her body, and she ached everywhere. She needed to rest, but she couldn't. Not like this. Not here. Not while they were after her.

Taking a risk, she settled into a very dark alleyway. Well, it was more like the gap between two houses. Soon after she settled down to rest for a moment, Fishlegs rounded the bend looking for her. Instantly she was back on her feet and backing into the corner, her winds clanking against whatever was in this ally and making unwanted noise. Fishlegs and Meatlug had found her, and she was trapped.

"Stay away!" she hissed. Meatlug growled in defence and protected her rider. Fishlegs froze in fear. Shadow was glad that the darkness concealed her new form.

"Sh-Shadow?" he stammered. A hiss wad her only response. Meatlug made a threat that he didn't understand, but she did. She was trapped and couldn't run. The Gronkle would prevent her escape if she tried to make it over the wall trapping her from behind.

"Why are you out here and hiding? Astrid isn't mad at you and already forgives y-"

"I said stay back!" she growled. She couldn't let him get close enough to see her. "Come any closer to me and I will end your life." She whispered with murderous intent. His face went white.

There was no way she could survive in this situation for long, eventually she would be seen, and then she would be without a head. She had to revert back to completely human, now.

"Shadow, I know that things are a little tense right now, but Hiccup's getting worried. He wants to know what's going on with you."

Shadow had to keep his attention on her so he didn't go and find the others, but she couldn't let him see her until she had transformed back into human form.

"Shadow, we need to know. What caused you to attack Astrid like that?" he asked.

There was no sense in delaying the inevitable she thought. Carefully and precisely she began to revert back to human form, intentionally slowing the process to not alert him. She struggled to keep her voice level.

"I told him before… I am cursed to follow the great black beast until the day I die… where it goes I follow… this is the curse I bare."

Her tail began to shrink back into her body and the membrane of her wings seemed to retract into her.

"What do you mean 'curse'?" he asked. The process was immensely painful, and she was only prolonging her suffering by dragging out the process. It felt like white hot fire was tearing apart the appendages.

"The mental… and physical bond… goes both ways. Its instincts become mine…" she said, her voice straining.

Fishlegs looked confused and intrigued. He had no idea what she was talking about, the whole situation being quite strange. Shadow could feel the bones in her back breaking as they morphed into her human form and she gasped in pain and stumbled. Fishlegs became increasingly concerned and made a move to help her, but she hissed at him to stay away. Meatlug still wasn't happy with the sounds she was making, nor her scent.

"I told you to stay back!" he cried just as another spasm wracked her body. Spots all over her vision kept popping up, making it harder to see.

"You don't know… What its like… to have to deal with this curse…" she panted. "The Black Moon… it is powerful… Far greater than that Night Fury… which makes its power, harder to bare." The transformation was almost complete, but she was swaying and couldn't stand up straight. Just a little bit longer.

She could feel something wet and sticky dripping down her back. She wiped at it and looked at her hand, covered in crimson red blood. Ah, yes. She forgot. Every time she transformed, it left injuries. She was a fool to forget.

The world around her started spinning and she couldn't stay standing on her feet. All of a sudden, Fishlegs seemed to be standing on the side of the world. Her head throbbed painfully as she hit the ground.

Faintly, she could hear the sounds of Fishlegs terrified wails, and the sound of beating wings.

hehehe. well thats the end of that little adventure. told you I wanted to make a bit of a show of it. this was just a little 'incident', when the big reveal comes it will be much greater. anyway, leave a review! I love it when you do, it makes me very happy. :)