[ Chapter Three: Toothless ]
I was up around midday, armored fully shined and dressed, substituting my circlet for my helmet. I was sure Fishlegs and Stoick had spread the word of their guest by now, thus I was not surprised to be stared at upon exiting the hut.
"Where is the dining hall again, I wonder?" I tap my chin. As if on cue, a girl with long, blonde hair kept in thick braids walks up to me. She looked rough around the edges, but still petite and unlike the vast women I had seen already on this island. "Are you here to help me, eh?"
"You must be that valkyrie chick." The girl gives a rough smile, and I realize she's actually a bit pretty. "Name's Ruffnut, or Ruff, whichever you prefer."
"Valdis," I reply, following her towards the hall. Zera was still sleeping peacefully within the hut. I wasn't surprised, considering she had carried the weight of two nearly nonstop for days without food or sleep. She truly was a remarkable dragon. "When do I get to meet this other Shadow Stalker?"
"Huh?" She raises a brow, causing me to wonder if rumors had spread yet… "Night Fury! Oh, yeah, after you finish your lunch and talk to Hiccup. Stoick said he'd have him doing a few things today with him so they'd be ready whenever you woke to talk."
I assume 'Hiccup' to be the son he doted on the previous night. The two of us enter the massive dining hall, now with a remarkable number of more Vikings within. Ruffnut leads me towards a table, recognizing Fishlegs immediately. All of those that were at the table seemed to be roughly my age, possibly a bit older, but nothing drastic. The men were tall, and the women were petite, yet muscled.
"Hey, Valdis, this is Astrid, my husband Snotlout, and Fishlegs." As she mentions each name, I fully take in the looks of every person.
Astrid was by far the most attractive woman I'd seen thus far on Berk. She wore armor and leggings of multiple blues and purples, her hair blonde and long. She had dark lashes and bright eyes, her complexion soft and only slightly worn. She had very defined curves, much like Ruffnut. I smile, shaking her hand immediately, sensing I would like this woman.
"Pleasure," I murmur, earning the same grin back from the pretty thing.
The next was Snotlout, a very stout man, tall and muscled, with a clean-shaven face and a scar on his chin. He had defined, yet rounded features and dark hair to match his eyes. He wore a loose-fitting tunic and tighter leggings with a large belt over the top, bracers on both arms.
"Hey," he calls, taking my hand briefly.
I already knew Fishlegs, thus introduction to him was not necessary. I was finally able to look at him properly now. He had a thick stubble of blonde across his cheeks, chin, and upper lip, customary for a young Viking, and was very thick all over. He was taller than Snotlout, but not the tallest of the island.
"So what brings you to Berk, Valdis?" Astrid begins to make light conversation with me as Snotlout and Fishlegs go to get everyone's food. Apparently, there were also gentlemen on this island.
"My dragon," I give a proud smirk, sipping on the mead gingerly. "She was in need and I believe I know the answer to what is plaguing her. Thus, I finally figured, after weeks of searching, that I needed to go to Berk, where others rode whimsical beasts and it was said another Shadow Stalker lived."
"Is that what you call them?" Ruffnut begins wolfing her lunch down as soon as it's set on the table. Astrid and I begin at a slower pace, though eagerly divulge in the mounds of meat.
"Yes. I am the only one on the Isle of the Valkyries that rides a dragon. We have seen many, for it is not rare that they live on our shores, but never have they been ridden. Especially not one that looks like mine."
"I can't believe we have a living valkyrie right under our nose!" Snotlout makes a dramatic motion with his hands, his wife immediately slapping him upside his head. "Ouch!"
The rest of the meal is silent and I make short work of the delicious food set before. Yes, it was a bit tough, but considering I was starving, I did not care. Astrid steps forward and begins to lead me towards the top of the village.
"This is where Stoick lives. My idiot husband should be around here somewhere." She stops, looking around carefully.
Out of nowhere, a mass of black comes tumbling down, rolling towards me. I roll out of the way, brandishing my weapon and growling deep in my throat. What in the world just happened?
"Ouch, Toothless! I told you not to get over-excited! Look what you did!" The man removes himself from his dragon, turning towards me and holding his hands up. He had a bit of a strange voice and attitude, almost humble and very much unlike the Vikings. "It's okay, just put away your sword. He won't hurt you."
Cautiously I place my sword in it's sheathe. The man was tall, his chest a bit broad and a small beard on his chin and cheeks, not touching his upper lip. His hair was a deep chestnut, wearing a tunic tucked into pants with a cloak of brown fur on his back, much like mine. What startled me was the strange contraption that was in place of his leg. He had seen battle, certainly.
"Hiccup, this is the woman your father was telling us about," Astrid greets her husband, placing a quick kiss on him. "She is said to have another Night Fury, like Toothless!"
Hiccup turns to his dragon, making a series of noises before the dragon turns an abrupt eye on me. He looked very simple compared to Zera, with no spikes and his eyes a yellow-green instead of red. He had a few scars on him, but not very big ones, and one of his tail-fins was replaced with a red contraption that hooked to the saddle. Apparently Hiccup was not the only one that lost a precious piece of them in a fierce battle.
"Hello, my name is Hiccup. Valdis, right?" He juts his hand out, shaking it gently. I nod, eyeing him carefully. "Toothless is very eager to meet your dragon. He's never seen another like him. Would you call your dragon out?"
"Wait, you can talk to him?" I motion towards his dragon in awe. "How?"
"Dragonese. There's not many on the island that took the time to learn it, and every dragon speaks a little differently. Like accents on humans, sometimes dabbling into different languages all together." He grins. "I could teach you, if you'd like."
"Absolutely!" I was more than overjoyed to meet this Hiccup character. "You might be able to tell me if my hunch is right. My dragon has been in deep longing for years, and I have at last left my island to try and figure it out. Would you be able to speak to her?"
"I can try." He nods.
I whistle long and loud, following it with a fierce battle cry. It only took a few seconds for Zera leap in front of me, growling and snarling, ready to attack anything that came to close. Her eyes land on Toothless, and suddenly she stops, jaw falling open a bit. I found it comical. It was not often you saw a dragon in shock.
"Zera," I snap her from her trance. "Hiccup is going to speak with you alright? Tell him the truth." I could see her nod, the same mewling sound rising in her throat.
Hiccup steps forward, having an entire conversation out of strange noises and growls. She begins nudging him, showing a small portion of trust and affection towards the man. I would be surprised, but at this point, I don't believe anything is impossible.
"She's lonely," he murmurs, petting the gentle beast. "She has her rider, but that is all. It is about time for mating season again, and she hasn't found another Night Fury."
"So now everything will be alright?" I motion towards Toothless, who approached cautiously. He could see the sharp spike on the end of her moving tail.
"Not necessarily. Night Furies mate for life. They go through the entire courtship like humans do, just in case they aren't compatible personality-wise. All we have to do is allow them plenty of time before the mating season comes forth. That's a little more than a month away," Hiccup explains, just as the two dragons meet and begin sniffing one another.
"Well, I suppose I'm to stay on Berk until then?" I raise a delicate brow.
"You're more than welcomed here. It is actually an honor to have a valkyrie on our island. Odin must smile upon Berk," Astrid grins. "While the dragons are getting acquainted, why don't I show you around the island?"
"And I'll get your hut more suited and homely," Hiccup adds, placing a hand on my shoulder. "My dad is very overjoyed to have you here. Stay as long as you want."
"My thanks," I bow my head, placing a hand sincerely over my heart. Zera would happy after all of this, and I would be as well.
"Come on."
With that, I begin a grand tour of the island with Astrid.