Author's Note: A fair bit of a trigger warning. It gets rough in this chapter. Descriptions of a terrorist attack and violence ahead.
watch?v=oeK4HMak-q0
I had adopted this track as Renee Baxter's theme. It fits her character.
The second day of training was more strenuous for Renee. She felt secure with a staff. It was safe and blunt. Worst case scenario were splinters. But Jet had forced her to take up a sword that day. He taught her the finer points of fighting dirty like a viking. Slicing at your opponent from the sides and going for the thighs and shoulders. For this Jet taught her to hold onto a shield in her left hand, while she held onto the blade with her right.
"All wrong." Jet barked as their fight stopped to fix her stance.
"Like this. Sword up and to your side." He explained, shifting her body to fix her position.
"Now.. Again!" Jet stepped back. Renee came barreling towards him, only to trip up on her shield. She fell face forward into the straw and mud floor.
"It's not working.." Renee growled in frustration, picking herself up off the ground.
"We will continue till we make it work." Jet ordered.
"What if I'm not meant to be a fighter? I don't understand why I have to learn this. I'll never need it!" She snapped in tired frustration. Her shout had caught Ivar's attention as he passed near by. He glanced to the ring, watching her weak stance as Jet tried to teach her. Were she to face the real threat, she wouldn't have lasted one second. His brows narrowed before continuing his way.
"You don't think you'll need these skills..?" Jet had asked, growing annoyed with her whining. He lashed out and sliced her along her arm. Renee recoiled, shouting in shock to see that she was actually bleeding.
"It's shallow, you'll live. Now.. Less whining and more fighting!" Jet shouted as he stood his ground.
Renee listened to Agnes as the woman scolded Jet for cutting into her arm. She pouted on the bench. The woman wrapped a cloth bandage around the wound. Near cutting the circulation to her arm off.
"If she doesn't learn, she won't be of use." Jet had argued. Given the orders to teach the youth. He was going to see it through. One way or the other.
"She's too young for your dangerous games." Agnes argued, ever protective of her.
"By the time they were sixteen, vikings considered them adults by their customs. You're coddling the child isn't going to help her." Jet returned.
The arguing seemed to stop the moment Ivar had entered the room. Renee had looked up, watching the frightening man approach.
"No more training. She will not be of use to us." Ivar announced.
"But sir.." Jet began, only to stop when Ivar leered at him.
"Tomorrow you two can come to town with me. There are some ..things I need to take care of. You can enjoy the fall festival while I'm gone." Ivar had looked between her and Agnes. Renee wasn't sure if she liked how he said that. But if she didn't have to train anymore, she wasn't one to argue with him.
"Do I have to wear these rags?" Renee asked. Looking up at him with fear.
"Wear whatever you wish." Ivar stated before leaving. Jet departed to catch up with him down the hall.
"But sir.. She was doing fi-," Jet stopped. Ivar pressed his thick arm against the smaller man's throat, pinning him up against the wall.
"Don't ever question my authority. Do I make myself clear?" Ivar demanded. Jet nodded in haste, struggling to breathe.
"Tomorrow we start Operation Neverland. I will not need either of them where we are going. They would get in my way of victory." Ivar warned, letting the smaller man go. Jet slid to the floor, holding his throat and gasping for air. He watched Ivar leave.
Energy electrified the atmosphere that afternoon. The sounds of laughter and screaming of children, and country rock music filled the air. The smell of fried and barbequed foods competed with the sounds. Renee chose to wear her modern era clothes. But Agnes still paraded around in her viking apparel. Leaving Renee to feel embarrassed as she felt as though eyes were looking in her direction.
Agnes instructed her to meet back on main street by late afternoon. And despite fears. Renee had found herself drawn to the colorful rides and attractions at the far end of the carnival. The sounds of screams, laughter and loud music all too alluring for her.
Renee knew exactly what she was going to do that day. She was going to spend her allowance on junk food and rides. She was going to live for herself for once.
She came to a stop at the crossroads where the vendors aisle merged with the carnival rides. Taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the carnival before her. It stretched out as far as she could see. Colorful rides and tents rose from the ground as enchanting music beckoned here. All the while the smell of sugared greasy foods tried to sway her attention.
She had spent that afternoon getting dizzy on rides and feasting on sweets. By the time the sun was dipping down that late afternoon, she had run out of money. She parted from the noisy carnival looking for Agnes. By now her uncle will have finished his errands. Then she would go back to being Cinderella.
Her wanderings soon took her down another stretch of the festival. Loud country rock music filled the air. She stood on the sidewalk, watching a band performed on stage from afar. She couldn't help but to smile.
Still no sign of Agnes as she finally reached the crowded main street. How difficult was it to find a stout woman in leather and fur among this kind of a crowd?
The smell of barbecue reached her. Vendors spread along either side of the street. They called to wandering customers, trying to sell their goods.
Renee took a step off the curb and into the street when it happened. The street lurched. Stalls had bounced from their platforms. Sirens from parked police cars wailed. Triggered by the sudden movement. People gasped and looked around for the source. It was as if an earthquake had happened.
Renee took another step. The street lurched again. Smoke and debris pillared up in the air followed by screams of pain and terror from around the corner. Crowds of people began to scream in fear as they scattered. Renee had gasped. She watched them stampeding her way. Immediately she turned and began to run.
"Close ranks! Do not let it escape!" Ivar shouted over loud roars that echoed off the tunnels. His men spread out, facing a creature they had never seen before. Their fears justified as the creature lashed out at them with a blast of fire. The great beast had awoken and was beginning to move and thrash amidst the tunnels. Chains rattled and weapons pounded against shields. Distracting the creature from its main goal, to escape.
The iron chains were soon thrown over the serpent's head. Fear emanated from the creature. It lurched upwards onto its hind legs to try and shake the chains free, taking men with it. It began to emit a piercing shriek as it pounded its powerful bat like wings. It was then that Ivar threw his weapon aside and rushed at the creature.
"You are not getting away.." Taking a mighty leap off fallen debris, he soared with grace through the air. He latched onto the massive animal's protruding horns and whipped its head down to the ground. Its powerful whip like tail lifted up and broke free of the concrete above in protest.
Above ground, more and more blasts erupted in succession. Renee soon found herself struggling to keep up with the stampede. She looked for Agnes amidst the chaos. The blinding dust made it difficult to see. Let alone breathe as it settled around the area in thick plumes. Her shouts went unheard over the sounds of the injured and dying.
Another explosion went off several feet away, sending Renee flying back. She coughed and sputtered. She got to her feet, struggling to avoid injury midst the chaos of self preservation. Looking around, all she could see was a dust covered grey mess. The smoke had choked out the sun. Many people were down. Many did not move. Those who stood were trying to escape the chaos.
A piercing ringing pained her as she looked around. Coughing, she continued to wander the streets. She continued her search for Agnes. Her body began to tremble. She was on the fringes of another panic attack. She was more than ready to go back to the campsite. She couldn't walk anymore. She collapsed to her knees. Her chest tightened as her throat constricted. Making it difficult to breath. Fear controlled her now.
A building collapsed near by. Renee looked up in fright as a tidal wave of dust and debris spilled out into the streets before her. The asphalt beneath her split and parted as debris flew up, she was again sent flying. She looked down through burning, watering eyes. Gasping she thought she saw a long whip like tail. She tried to cry out but her voice was gone. Clenching her eyes shut, she fell through a thick wall of dust and debris.
The abrasive feeling of wind up rushing up her nose and into her lungs was the first thing she felt. The feeling of being weightless as she felt her heart lurch into her stomach hit her next. She could still feel explosions happening all around her. She forced opened her eyes and looked on with a start. She was free falling thousands of feet above open ocean. Lightning danced and twirled above her!
Without warning, her body jerked and, as if by defying gravity, soared. She looked around below her, seeing nothing but her dangling feet before looking up. Again she shouted in panic. Clinging to her arms was a bizarre black creature. It looked down at her with its maw parted, showing no teeth as a tongue lopped out the side of its mouth in the wind. She began to thrash in panic, trying to get out of its grasp. It had an iron grip on her. Defeated, she watched in fear as scenery flew by. They approached the ground as they ascended.
Renee dropped to the ground without warning. The black creature whipped by over head. She sharply gasped, scrambling to her feet she tried to make a break for it.
The black creature tore off after her. It leaped over her with grace to land in front of her, blocking off her escape route. That's when she saw it. A human was riding on its back. Wearing a helmet, it was hard to distinguish any features. Wearing leather biker-like armor. The human was as frightening as the creature they rode. She didn't bother to stop and ask questions. She skidded and turned course, running in another direction. By this time she was panting, her throat dry and coarse.
She could see a tree line stretch out before her. She thought if she could only reach it, she could find some place to hide from her assailant. Before she could take another step, what looked like daggers came flying out of nowhere. They stitched the ground before her. She slid to a halt. Her chest seethed as she tried to breathe oxygen into her tightening chest. She turned to see the source of the bizarre daggers.
Coming in for a landing before her was another strange creature. This one looked like a mutant chicken. It's color a robin's egg blue. Spikes adorned its frill, tail, and the backs of its feet. With a large spike curving inward from its snout. It almost bared a resemblance to a Styracosaurus but on two legs and with a mighty wingspan. She might even dare call this thing the very depiction of a wyvern.
Emerging from its back, a young woman had hopped down and advanced her. Renee backed off. She couldn't make out what the woman was shouting at her. She was still deaf from the blast. From what she could understand through body language. She wasn't on friendly terms with her.
Renee didn't have to think twice. She already knew she wasn't wanted in this new world. All she wanted right now was to put as much distance between her, and these frightening people. Renee backed away slow, her arms extended out to either side and held her hands open. She had hoped this universal body language of being harmless would click with these two. She didn't know what else to do. She felt cornered.
Focussed on the advancing woman that appeared to be berating her for being there. Renee hadn't noticed a heap of rocks behind her. She slipped and fell backwards in an uncoordinated mess. Her head smacked against a boulder as she hit the rubble hard. Her head rolled before she finally blacked out.
It was the warmth of the fire that first greeted her senses. The sounds of the embers popping told her that her hearing had returned. Her body convulsed. She jerked upward, gasping for air. She crowed in pain as she felt a sharp pang from her head. She reached up and wrapped her hands around the source of the pain. Only to feel leather straps.
She then opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. She was no longer out on that island. She was inside a cabin. At first glance she would have thought she was back home. But this cabin was not like her uncle's. It was welcoming, spacious and smelled of musty old pine with an undertone of fish. To the left, stairs carved from a massive log lead to a loft overhead. The cabin itself appeared to be one room with the loft separating it into two stories. Weapons and shields mounted on the walls as decoration.
She leaned forward, bracing herself on her knees as the world began to spin. Once the world had stopped spinning she glanced down. They had placed her backpack beneath her head like a pillow. A blanket of wiry brown fur wadded around her. Disheveled from her jolting awake. She wasn't sure what or how to feel. Then the answer came to her. A boot fall, followed by the sound of iron struck wood flooring approached the cabin outside.
The rusty door hinges announced his arrival. She looked up, seeing the familiar rider from before. He seemed on the small side. He struggled to hold something back from entering the cabin. She squinted, holding her arm up as the bright light came through the open door. This time his helmet was off. He sported a wild wooly head of auburn hair. He glanced her way as he further entered the cabin.
"Good, you're awake. Was beginning to think we'd lost you." She could hear his soft voice clear as day now.
She eyed him, watching him carry a pail to a large table in the back. She wasn't sure whether she should be afraid, or pass out again. He then turned his attention on her and approached her. Her eyes wide as saucer plates as she took in his vision.
"Where ..Am I?" She managed to croak, coughing to clear her dry parched throat. She remembered being over an open ocean, then an island. She was nowhere near New York. Or even in Queens!
"You are on Berk." The man stated. He stood before her. He seemed as unsure of her as she was of him.
"And what about you? Where are you from? Why were you out in that storm? Are you here to take our dragons?" He had asked. He was full of questions and they were coming at her fast. She didn't have time to process the first one. Which is surprising as it should be Renee to ask all the questions seeing as she's somewhere bizarre… and new.
"I… I—" Renee stammered before she stopped herself. Only one word stood out. The one word that filled everyone's imaginations of fantasy and whimsy. Impossible. She grew up with the idea that dragons were the mistaken identity of dinosaur fossils. But she thought back to that wyvern like creature she encountered. And how it looked very dinosaurian.
"Too much? You look like you've seen a ghost." The young man looked her over, not sure whether to worry at her sudden drawn out silence.
"I…" She had to force herself to speak. She could feel his patience wearing thin by the look in his striking green eyes.
"I've never.. Seen them before." Renee managed to force out. A squeak of fear in her voice.
"Dragons?" The man rolled his shoulders back. He gave her an incredulous look. Renee shook her head. He looked as though she'd insulted him.
The atmosphere grew awkward at that moment between the two. He cleared his throat uncomfortably. Breaking up the silence.
"Well that..uh that answers.. That question. How about we.. Stick with the basics?" He looked over at her. Taking in the sight of her bizarre clothing.
"Where do you come from?" He probed, looking her over as if he was seeing an alien.
"New York.." Renee took a moment to process her answer. This man acted, and sounded as if he'd never seen anything from the modern era. As if he'd been born off grid and raised among wolves. She watched him as he circled her, making her feel uneasy.
"And your name?" He finally asked.
"R-Renee.. Baxter." She held her breath as he leaned over her. He seemed doubtful of the truth. He inspected her own head of short brunette hair, only to pluck a small chunk of plaster from her unkempt locks. He held it up to his face, inspecting it before crumbling it into a chalky grey dust between his nimble fingers.
"I don't know how I got here.." She finally spoke as she looked up at him.
"I was trying to survive.. The streets.. They were under attack. Then something hit me, sent me into a wall of dust. I think it was.. a tail?" She explained. She held an air of doubt in what she was trying to explain. It sounded bizarre even to her.
"Was this tail.. Pale white?" The man had then asked, showing interest in her recount.
"I think so..?" She wasn't sure what any of this had to do with why the festival was under attack. Grey plaster and concrete dust covered everything. It was hard telling what color anything was.
"It's possible that you encountered a Ghostwing. A rare mystery class dragon capable of disappearing. We tried relocating one last winter, but it vanished into the clouds after a shrill cry pierced the air. We haven't seen it since. Almost as if it disappeared from time itself." He explained. It was Renee's turn to stare at him. Unsure of his lecture.
"Time..travel.." She found it hard to believe him. All the great minds of her time have said time travel was impossible. She found herself leaning against her legs. Her chest began tightening as her breathing labored.
It was hard to wrap her mind around it. But putting two and two together, it fell into place. It would explain a lot of things.
The cabin, dragons, him! She tried to pace herself. She took in a deep inhale. Followed shortly after a slow exhale. Her breathing wavered as she tried to slow it. Wondering how she was going to get back home if she was stuck in the past. She snapped back to reality when a wooden cup presented before her. Her hands trembled as she looked up, accepting the offer. She sipped at the ice cold water slow. Doing her best to calm her panic attack.
"If you encountered a Ghostwing, that would explain your being in the middle of nowhere. And your strange clothes." He pointed out, watching helpless. He knew what true fear looked like and it was safe to wager that this youth before him meant no harm. She was a victim of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"We'll.. Find a way to get you back to your New York." He promised. He wasn't sure if they'd ever find another Ghostwing. He had categorized them as a possible subspecies of Changewing. You could walk right by one and not even know it was there. Unlike Changewings, this creature never attacked. It would retreat before it lashed out. For now, he had a young teen with no where to stay. Hooligans weren't exactly friendly to outsiders.
The door snapped open as light filled the room. Renee had jumped in her skin at the sudden movement as the both of them looked towards the door. Renee recognized the newcomer as the woman that was shouting at her before. The woman had to steady herself as the black dragon scrambled past her in a hurry to get inside.
"I see that our guest is awake. What is she doing here?" The young woman demanded. Her voice full of spite in contempt of her presence. Renee swallowed hard as she watched the woman approach, her shoulders hunched.
"Relax, Astrid. I don't think we have to worry about her." He got between the two of them, holding the woman back.
Renee watched as the two interacted. Astrid seemed to be the aggressive one. Showing no fondness of her being among their ranks. To be quite frank, Renee didn't want to be there either. She would give anything to have things back to normal.
She hardly noticed that the black dragon had wandered its way towards her. Flaring its nostrils as it examined her. Hearing him close by, she startled when she found the black creature up close and personal. She stared into his green eyes, almost mesmerized by them. She reached a hand up towards him. Drawn by the urge to touch him. A sudden sneeze from the creature had her flinch as he bounded off towards a spot in the rafters. His sneeze had dislodged dust from her hair as she too sneezed. Grey dust exploded from her hair at the reflex.
"She's never seen dragons before." The young man acknowledged, watching Renee's interaction with his.
"Still doesn't mean she couldn't turn on us. Remember what happened with Alvin. Mildew was a bundle of fun. Then there was Dagur. And Heather. Mala was a different story. Viggo? Pfft, couldn't trust him as far as you could throw him. And Drago.. Calder was a whole new category of mistrust.." She listed off names of those that had betrayed them before or wanted to harm them for their way of life.
"Yes, yes. I remember. Don't have to rub it in." He flustered.
"Who's to say she won't betray us, Hiccup? My point is, you're too trusting." She worried.
Renee had turned her attention away from watching the black dragon. There was that name again. Was Astrid addressing her, or the young man?
"We can trust her. But if it will make you feel better, I'll give her the trust test." He had offered.
"Alright.." Astrid said in defeat. She leaned in, giving him a peck on his cheek before giving Renee a death stare as she left. Renee swallowed hard.
"Is she.. Always this intense?" She had looked towards the young man as she stood to her feet. Her panic attack having ceased. She was able to breathe again.
"She has her reasons. We've been betrayed far too many times because of our.. Way of life." He explained as he took her now emptied cup. He then nodded for her to follow, placing the cup back on the table before heading out the door. The black creature leaped from the rafters to follow after them.
Once outside, Renee gasped as cold salty air impaled her.
"It's f-f-freezing!" She whimpered as she wrapped her arms around her torso, trying to stave off the cold. The dragon pushed her aside. It raced past her to catch up to her host.
She stumbled off the uneven porch and onto a gentle sloping hill. Her eyes still squinted from the bright sunlight after having adjusted to the dark. But once her eyes focussed, she looked up in amazement. She was speechless with wonder as she stared out at a magical scene before her.
Large colorfully painted houses tightly clustered the winding slopes of the island. Each hut different from the last. But every one of them had a dragon theme to the carved architecture. Sounds of dragons filled the air. She looked up. Staring in fascination. Several colorful dragons came in for a landing to the plaza below. Startling a flock of birds that in turn took to the sky.
From on top of this slope she could see Berk as it came to life before her. Hundreds of vikings wandered the streets as they went about their daily routines. Children darted throughout the crowds, having mock fights with sticks. They pursued each other in their playful duels. Giggling along the way.
"I don't think I'm in Kansas any more.." She murmured. She began to ascend the sloping hill. Seeing her host waiting for her at the base.
"I would try to keep up. Not all Hooligans are friendly towards outsiders." The young man warned as he lead the way into the busy plaza.
Renee hurried to keep up when she then noticed it. The man had only one foot. She barely kept up with him as he disappeared into the crowded plaza. She tried to weave her way through the crowd. Taking care not to make eye contact while trying to catch up to him.
"Watch where you're going, outsider." A large pug faced viking sneered at her and batted her away. She stumbled back, near falling till arms had reached out and grabbed her.
"Best mind yourself around Spitelout. He's not exactly the most patient viking around." Renee had turned to see the owner of the kind voice. Only to find herself face to face with a tall, slender woman. She startled to see an even stranger dragon at her side. Its head tilted as spines on its head swiveled to fan out. It lowered its head towards her.
"Don't mind old Cloudjumper. He wouldn't hurt a soul." The woman spoke, seeing her fear.
Renee had watched as Cloudjumper approached her. His behavior reminded her of an owl as he inspected her. She found herself entranced. She lifted her hand up in apprehension to the creature before her. She had never thought in a million years she would be face to face with a beast of legend. For a moment, the world seemed to stop as her hand came into contact with the creature.
The woman watched Renee's eyes light up as she made contact. A smile split her lips. Renee's breathing began to hasten as she looked at Cloudjumper in wonder.
"Dragons are magnificent creatures." The woman spoke, watching as the child finally backed away.
"What's your name dear?" She looked at Renee, helping her steady on her feet.
"Renee." Her voice soft. Her social shyness coming through once more. She looked between the woman and the creature that accompanied her. Her attention soon fell on the woman who seemed to move in a bizarre, almost feral like fashion as she circled her. Inspecting every inch of her. No one around here seemed to understand the importance of personal space.
"There you are." Renee had turned to the familiar voice of her host, watching as he approached them.
"I see you've already met my mother, Valka." He nodded towards the older woman.
"Your.. Mother?" She looked back up at the woman, startled.
"This is the child you and Astrid found in the storm, Hiccup? She's fascinating." Valka spoke.
Renee had glanced back towards the young man. There was that word again.
"They call you hiccup too?" She had looked up at him.
"No it's, my name. But despite its origin, the vikings around here look up to me for who I am. Not what I am called." Hiccup explained as he draped a fur cloak around her shoulders. She had near forgotten about the cold. Being distracted by her wondrous surroundings. Renee accepted the fur cloak and pulled it up around her shoulders, feeling a chill draft. It was also a comforting welcome as the fur hugged her body.
"Where I'm from, they call me hiccup in spite." Renee admitted. Her voice sullen as she followed Hiccup. Valka and her dragon followed along close behind. Renee watched in fascination as vikings acknowledged Hiccup's presence in greeting. Not a single note of contempt. She wondered if she could ever earn that kind of respect from her uncle.
"Perhaps you don't belong with these people then?" Valka replied as they walked deeper through the village. Passing great sights.
"I would leave except.. I've got no where else to go. Being fifteen where I'm from, you're still required a legal guardian. And coming from a tiny family, I was lucky enough to have extended family take me in. Even if that family is a monster.." Renee explained. Stopping in brief as a group of fledgling dragons barreled through their path. She smiled, watching them tumble over themselves and each other. Like puppies who only recently learned to run as they dashed by.
"Doesn't seem fair that you should be with such people." Hiccup said as Renee hurried to catch up with him.
"It wasn't exactly fair that my parents died, leaving me to be under his care either." Renee spoke in contempt.
Their journey took them through the village, past winding perilous docks and over a rickety bridge. Renee questioned the safety of the bridge as she looked down in fright. Some of the planks were missing from wear. Once she hopped over the final missing plank, she looked up ahead of them. Before her was a massive stone structure carved right out of the mountain. Enormous beams of pine wood lined the stone path that lead into the circular center. Flags and wooden bleachers decorated the rim above.
"What is this place?" Renee had asked as she looked above. A stylized carving of the black dragon ahead of her rested above the mouth of the arena. She stared up in wonder as she passed beneath.
"This is Berk's Dragon Academy. We train new recruits here. And brush up on our own skills." Hiccup introduced as they entered the arena. Two dragons rested at leisure towards the back. A bizarre looking creature with double heads and and intimidating looking red dragon. Renee could see by the saddles on their necks, they were someone else's dragons. Their owners weren't too far away. She gulped as they looked in her direction.
"You're going to.. Train me. To ride a dragon?" She had asked. She tried to hide her fear of such a thought. But the squeak in her voice gave it away.
"No. We're here to see if we can trust you. Astrid has made it clear that we've been tossed to the jagged rocks by strangers before." He stopped in the center and turned to face her.
"How are you going to do that?" Renee had then questioned, still not sure on the whole idea.
"By getting on the back of Toothless." Hiccup lifted his arms and motioned to the black dragon at his side.
"If he will let you sit on his back, we can trust you." He further explained.
"Don't look at me like that. You know it's the only way." Hiccup argued towards the dragon who shot him an annoyed stare. Acting as if the two could read each other's minds.
"What if I can't do this..?" Renee had doubt in herself. If she couldn't fight with a sword, what made anyone think that she could get into a saddle. On a dragon no less.
"We'll see what happens." Hiccup sighed. After interrogating her, and getting to know her, he felt that he could trust her. But his word wasn't enough to appease Astrid. Let alone the others considering his reputation for being too naive. He had hoped Toothless would allow her to sit atop him peacefully. So far even without the trust test, he seemed trusting of the youth.
Renee glanced towards Valka, instinctively seeking support. The woman dipped her head as if to urge her onward. Taking a deep breath, Renee approached Toothless. So far she had failed at everything she strived to do even before her world turned upside down. She has since pinned the blame on how they raised her. But she has never been more terrified of failing in her life until now. She wasn't sure what they would do to her if she wound up failing this trust exercise of theirs.
She looked up at the saddle latched to the thick neck of the dragon before her. Again she inhaled, steadying her nerves before reaching up for the handle bars. With one foot in the stirrup, she froze. Unable to believe she was going through with this.
"You can do this Renee. It's like horseback riding. Only the horse is a giant.. Carnivorous.. Fire breathing reptile.." She gasped before hoisting herself up. She glanced around, amazed at how high she was as she clung to the side of the saddle. All she had to do now was sit in the saddle itself. Which appeared to look like an ordinary bareback saddle that clung to the curves of the dragon. Its build seemed ingenious for its time. Accounting for the comfort of the dragon and velocity.
"Incoming!" A sudden new voice shouted from behind, distracting Renee from her goal. She looked up.
Without warning, Toothless jerked out of the way. A dark purple dragon rushed by, taking off with a powerful snap of its wings. Renee had lost her grip, her ankle slid and caught in the mechanism of the stirrup. She dangled helplessly. She looked up, seeing that the dragon that had charged them was another one of those mutant chickens. She struggled to reach for the handlebars again. Each try left her dangling.
"Tuffnut, you were suppose to put the latch on the doors!" A short, stout viking came rushing passed Renee. He looked towards the disappearing figure of the escaped dragon in defeat.
"I thought that was your job." A tall, slender viking sauntered out of the enclosure.
"Please don't tell me you let that Nadder escape. You guys KNOW he won't listen to Toothless." Hiccup chastised them for their inability to follow orders.
"Uh.. Little Help?" Renee whimpered, having failed to even get herself free of the saddle. As if listening to her request, Toothless gave his body a mighty shake. She popped free of the stirrup and landed hard on her back.
"Who's the new kid?" Tuffnut asked, his attention distracted. Catching sight of the clumsy teen. Renee had picked herself up off the floor. Pulling the discarded cloak back around her shoulders.
"Worry about that later. Right now we've gotta get that Nadder contained. He doesn't listen to Toothless and that means damage to Berk if we can't pen it!" Hiccup barked commands. He passed Renee and hopped onto Toothless' back with acrobatic ease.
"What about the test?" Renee had asked, backing up to get a better glimpse of Hiccup. She felt as though she had failed, having been unable to sit on the dragon. She was more concerned for what was to become of her because of her failure.
"That's going to have to wait. Snotlout! You're with me. Tuffnut, get the others! We're going to need everyone to get that dragon back here and in the pen!" He commanded. With a gust of cold wind, Toothless had taken off. Renee stood helpless as she watched them soar into the air after the rogue. That's when she felt a sudden burst of air. She scrambled back seeing Snotlout taking off on the red dragon to join Hiccup.
"It's a lot to take in, isn't it?" Renee had near leaped out of her socks as she bounced away. Startled that Tuffnut was leaning against her. No sense of personal space.
"The sight of legendary dragon riders taking off on another hair raising mission. Brings a tear to my eye." Tuffnut turned to her once he realized she was no longer beside him.
Renee yipped when she backed up into a snout of the two headed dragon that had followed him. Both heads inspecting her curiously. She froze in dread.
"Tuffnut!" Hiccup yelled from the sky, circling back around.
"Right, the others!" Renee watched as he leaped into a saddle on the two headed dragon before taking off towards the village. She then turned her attention back to Hiccup, watching as they rode on the trade winds as if they were one entity.
"What did he mean by 'Listening to Toothless'?" Renee had looked to Valka as she approached. All this didn't make any sense to her.
"Toothless is the alpha dragon." Valka replied.
"Alpha..?" Renee repeated in bewilderment.
"The alpha's duty is to protect all dragons. For Toothless, that duty also falls upon protecting us humans as well. It's not the Nadder's fault. He's still young and naive to command." Valka gave Renee a wise smile, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
Renee listened to the woman's soft spoken voice as she lectured her. This was a lot to take in and process. She was still having a hard time believing that she was even here. Perhaps she was experiencing an Oz factor. She didn't feel dead or asleep. But this new world, this Berk. It was all too surreal. How far back in time had she gone? Or did she even travel back in time? Maybe this was an alternate reality, or universe even.