Hiccup made up some lame excuse as to why he was leaving Merida alone. Something about wood, goose feathers, and a cooking pan. Merida eyed him skeptically but just nodded along with it. He backed out of the house and made like he was going to town, then, when he was out of view, veered off towards the path of the dragon. He had been confused by the training session and what Gobber had said. He mulled it over as he entered the glen that the dragon had landed in.
"If dragons always go for the kill… so… why didn't you?" A shiny dragons scale caught Hiccup's attention. He bent down to inspect it, "Well this is stupid." Hiccup commented to himself harshly. Just as he was about to turn and leave, the Night Fury blasted past him and began trying to scramble up the stone walls. Hiccup grinned as he crouched behind a rock attempting to draw the beast. As Hiccup watched the struggle, he grew confused by the beast's attempts to climb out instead of fly.
"Why don't you just… fly away?" Then Hiccup spotted it, the dragon's tail was missing part of the tip. Hiccup began to sketch it feverishly when the charcoal slipped through his hands and bounced away. The beast was alerted by the sound, and locked eyes with Hiccup.
Hiccup walked back to the village late into the dinner that Gobber had prepared for everyone. They seemed to be reviewing the day's dragon training lessons, and of corse Gobber would pick Hiccup out as he tried to sit down.
"Where did Hiccup go wrong?"
"He showed up," Ruffnut said as if it was the funniest thing in the world.
"He didn't get eaten," Tuffnut said, trying to out do the twin.
"He's never where he should be." Astrid's voice was cool and calculating as she gave her smug comment. Hiccup felt dejected as he slid next to Merida, who tried to comfort him with a gentle pat on his thigh.
"Thank you Astrid," Gobber said as he stood. "You need to live and breathe this stuff." Gobber placed a large book in the center of the table. "The dragon's manual. Everything we know about every dragon we know of. No attaches tonight, study up."
This was met with a series of complaints from the other teens until they all ultimately decided to leave the book with Merida and Hiccup.
"Read it to me Hiccup." Merida said as she flipped around on the bench so that her head was on his lap. And so he did. He listed the dragons, their special abilities, the dangers, everything the book had on them. When there was a picture he described it to her. They continue like this, with the wind howling outside, and soft comfort inside, until they reached the Night Fury.
"Night Fury. It's blank! Speed unknown. Size unknown. The unholy offspring of lightning and death itself. Never engage this dragon. Your only chance, hide and pray it does not find you."
"Oooh! Spooky, bit like a ghost story." Merida laughed. But Hiccup wasn't listening, he had pulled out his sketchbook and was examining the picture in it to that of the empty book. "Oi!" Merida's call to reality cause him to snap the sketchbook closed. "Everything all right?" she inquired. Hiccup nodded, but his mind continued to wander.