Chapter 2. On the search

Things had to go fast from that moment on, as Toothless became more agitated by the hour. Food was gathered in haste from all over the village, biscuit-bread from whoever had it in store, dried meat, dried berries, lightweight stuff. Rumour spread like wildfire: Hiccup is leaving with Toothless to search for a mate! I took water, my warmest clothes, and a blanket. And tinder, as I could not rely on Toothless to start a fire for me.
Then came the goodbyes: the villagers, including Gobber, were waving goodbye from a safe distance. My father, who by the stiffness of his embrace did not approve. Then my children who looked at me with clear eyes uttering shy remarks. Oh, my darlings. Then Astrid. I trembled when we embraced.
She did not.
Always so much stronger than I am.

Then off we went, into the air. I did not have time for grief or fear, because I needed all of my skill to keep us in the air. Toothless was wilful, even worse than last time. He did not connect to me at all, so I could hardly anticipate his moves. It was shocking just how powerful he had become, I hadn't realised as we always move in sync. Luckily I had taken the precaution to attach extra safety lines that tied me to the saddle. All Toothless' intent was on the search, calling out every now and then. On inspecting an island he would dive at will, leaving it up to me to keep us airborne. While looking around, he jerked his head from side to side, tearing the handles from my hands. Thanks to the safety lines I didn't fall off. Once down he would barely give me time to sleep or eat, ever urging me on with a growl.

I lost count of the days Toothless searched, for I needed all energy to handle him, falling asleep worn out in the evening. We searched lots of islands until eventually we covered a stretch of ocean and hit the shores of the Mainland. Without hesitation, Toothless took me across a wide mountain range. The next day he continued to fly east. Late in the afternoon he suddenly perked up his ears, gave a mighty scream, and sped off in one direction. Before long I heard it too: screams, similar to his. Screams of another Night Fury! As he showed no fear, I assumed, hoped, it would be a female this time. But maybe he also was not afraid of a male anymore and would swoop down anyhow, to challenge him.
Oh Astrid, we will be in grave danger within minutes, whether it is a male or a female.

First encounter
We sped over the lands below, which were forests, dotted with glades and interlaced with streams and rivers. We came very near to the source of the screams now, and there we swooped over a glade with a dark form on it, a blur to my eyes. Because of the speed we shot by, but when Toothless took a turn, I quickly outmanoeuvred him with a jerk on the tail fin, forcing him down onto another glade. Close, but not too near. I do not know how I got the gear off, as he was wild. Only the long years of friendship prevented him from trampling me, I guess. Scarcely the tailfin had been removed, or he sped off. Good luck, my friend!

Although, that was not my friend disappearing from view. That was a dragon all of his own, engaging in the game of life or death.

Now I had to bring myself in safety real quick. One whiff of my smell and I would be dead meat for that other dragon. Nothing could be done about my smell lingering on Toothless, I just hoped his own strong smell would cover it up sufficiently. I scanned the surroundings and decided to hide the harness far away in the woods opposite to the direction Toothless went. It was a difficult task. Burdened with all of the clumsy gear and luggage, my prosthesis slowed me down on the soft cushions of moss, but fear whipped me on. I covered rig and luggage in leaves and moss. Then I scanned the wind and went to find some place for myself downwind but within vision of the glade, taking food, water and the blanket with me. As soon as I found a good spot, I thoroughly rubbed myself and everything I carried with me with dirt, leaves and moss to conceal the smell as well as possible.

Once settled, I gave my attention to the screaming dragons. To me it seemed that Toothless howled with lust, but it sounded so near to aggression that I could not be sure. The other dragon also howled and screamed. The sound missed the deepest tones, though. Let it be a female, let it be a female! Suddenly there was a short row, and then only the other dragon screamed on.

Toothless! -my heart skipped a beat. But there he came crashing out of the forest. He was clearly aroused. So it was a dragoness! But also: she had rejected him and had driven him away. I watched Toothless stamping off his frustration. It was to be expected, but actually seeing him so devastated, ripped the veil of my hidden guilt.

It hit me like a physical blow and I slumped to my knees. This is for real: you are unacceptable to a dragoness! And I did that to you. Oh, my friend.