Scorch Marks Chapter 7:

Upchuck

Author's Notes: the title just says it all doesn't it? Who can guess what this one is going to mention..anyone? Yes you guessed right. This story will not have a specific time, like the tenth day after they got home, so this could be any time in the midst of the timeline. As said before if you guys want me to write some specific mishap just let me know I'll be glad to try and accommodate you. Enjoy! Nothing belongs to me.

Snotlout was woken by a strange noise that morning, and he was reluctant to let it disrupt his sleep so he rolled over and pulled the blanket back over his head. The sound came again and he groaned stuffing the blanket in his ears as he tried to go back to sleep- it was just barely dawn after all! When the sound came again he bolted upright with a loud growl, "ALRIGHT I'M UP!"

He stumbled out of bed and all but fell down the stairs as he shoved the heavy door open where his Nightmare was laying scratching at the walls next to his window. He was still grouchy as he stomped up to the dragon and barely kept himself from yelling,

"Why are you awake this early?"

Of course the dragon couldn't answer but still the Nightmare managed to look sheepish. Snotlout of course saw that and sighed, he really couldn't fault the creature for its early habits he was just so tired! Vaguely he wondered if anyone else had the same problem he did, with "their" dragons getting up far too early. Before he really had a chance to ponder the question he noted Astrid as she walked back to her house with a large bucket filled –presumably with fish to feed the Nadder that had grown attached to her after the battle with the Green Death. He chuckled to himself life sure had changed since then.

He realized that he needed to do the same and feed the Nightmare as well so that the thing didn't go hungry. So lugging along a big bag he went down to the shore where some of the fishermen were already up and grabbed some fish that he hoped would be sufficient to feed the dragon. He headed back up to find the Nightmare waiting hungrily and as soon as he dropped the bag and the fish slipped out, the dragon was on them gobbling them up while Snotlout watched laughing. He sat next to the house watching until the Nightmare suddenly stopped and came over to stand in front of the boy and suddenly started making a strange choking noise. Snotlout watched worriedly until half a fish flopped into his lap while the Nightmare looked down his gaze proud at what he'd done.

Snotlout gazed at the fish in disgust unsure what he was supposed to do. He went to wriggle the thing off his lap with a pinky finger but the dragon suddenly growled at him stopping him in his tracks. He looked back down at the fish then back up at the dragon freezing when he saw the dragon look down at the fish then up to meet his eyes, and did it again. The motion finally registered and he scowled in disgust at the very notion of it. He went to push it back off his lap but the dragon growled again making Snotlout freeze in place again. The teen gave a glare at the Nightmare who only motioned with his head towards the fish again before shifting in place and stomping down with one foot. Snotlout made a small noise that sounded like a mix of a sob and a whimper. He picked up the fish holding onto as little as possible and took a small bite of the slimy creature. The moment it was in his mouth he had to fight to keep it there as he fought his urge to gag. He looked up at the Nightmare hoping that would satisfy him only to watch in horror as the dragon nodded again and made the motion of swallowing. Snotlout grimaced and hesitated again wishing there was any other way than this. But knowing that there was no other choice he gagged one last time and then swallowed. He opened his clenched shut eyes and spat out some of the slime that had remained behind, gagging one last time before looking up at the Nightnare. Suddenly the dragon raced forward and grabbed the boy curling his tail around the teen and starting to make a humming noise that Snotlout suddenly realized was a purr like a cat. He had to grin, if that was what it took to reach a understanding with the dragon then it was well worth all the grossness. He grinned, couldn't wait to tell the others what he'd done! Maybe no one else had figured out what they were supposed to do?

He hurried without running, cause running wasn't cool, towards the square where he saw Astrid and the others, who were further away near the edge of the cliff. He neared just in time to hear a

"Oh that's GROSS!" come from Ruffnut and saw her make a face at whatever Fishlegs had just told them. He stopped a moment before stomping the last few feet, catching their attention. Before he could even open his mouth to brag Ruffnut spoke up first exclaiming,

"You missed what happened to Fishlegs and his gronkle!"

"What happned?" Snolout asked.

Ruffnut told him what had happened and that the dragon had just spit out part of its fish onto his lap! Like it was sharing dinner!" Ruffnut was getting louder the further into the story she got but she trailed off as she realized the grin had slid from Snotlout's face.

Astrid however was the one to speak,

"What's wrong?"

"My Nightmare just did the same thing this morning. Did you eat the fish?" Snotlout asked.

Fishlegs shook his head slowly,

"I didn't I just gave it back. For some reason the Gronkle sure looked disappointed." the boy shrugged looking confused.

"You were supposed to eat a bite moron." Snotlout scolded ignoring the looks of horror he was receiving.

"What do you mean eat a bite!" Tuffnut demanded, "Why?"

"it's a way to gain trust, like exchanging something. My Nightmare did it this morning and I took a bite even though it was really gross." Snotlout explained.

"so we have to eat the fish if they upchuck it back up?" Tuffnut asked.

"I wonder if Toothless did that to Hiccup?" Astrid wondered quietly but it got everyone's attention.

"Hiccup, you think he did it with the Night Fury." Ruffnut asked.

"I'm not sure I found out about Toothless pretty late in the game." Astrid admitted.

Everyone paused a moment silent and their thoughts were all back to the Chief's house where their friend laid. Finally Ruffnut shoved her brother and headed back to the village,

"C'mon its near lunch- let's see what there is to eat."

The group all headed towards the Great Hall where lunch was being prepared. They got their food and sat down but it wasn't long before someone came up and stood off to the side sheepishly almost as though they were waiting to be acknowledged. It took a few moments before Fishlegs spotted the man and he elbowed Astrid hard and motioned with his chin towards the waiting Viking.

Astrid bit back a sigh and asked, "Do you need something?"

"My…um dragon spat up half a fish this morning, and I didn't know what to do with it. Now my dragon seems to be angry at me or at least a little put out. Do you know what the deal is?"

The man looked so hopeful and confused that Astrid smiled, trying to ease his tension.

"it's alright, the dragon was trying to bond with you the only way it knows how- I think its something they do with each other. What you need to do is take a bite from it even though it'll totally gross you out." Astrid advised.

The man's eyes got wide and he grimaced making a disgusted face. He looked unsure for a moment as to whether he should even question the teens who obviously knew more than he did on dragons, but he had to ask,

"Did you do it?"

Astrid shook her head, "My Nadder hasn't tried yet but Snotlout said his Nightmare did the exact same thing to him this morning and that once he had taken a bite the dragon seemed a lot more friendly."

The man nodded, considering and told her thank you before hurrying off seemingly to make amends with his dragon that he had unwittingly insulted.

"You don't really think the others in the village are going to be that easy do you?" Ruffnut asked incredulous.

"Not at all but those who really want to make it work with the dragons I think will at least be willing to give it a try." Astrid suggested.

Everyone nodded and finished up their lunch before splitting off to go visit their respective dragons. Astrid had found her Nadder where she supposed it would be which was on the roof of her house. This time however the dragon came down without her having to call it and stood before her shifting its feet as though nervous.

"What is it Bragr?" Astrid asked hoping it wasn't some kind of emergency.

The dragon in response made a choking noise and spat a fish at her feet before shuffling again and making a trilling kind of coo. The dragon looked at the fish then at Astrid and repeated the motion several times.

"Of course you would have to do it this way, just the same day that I learned this is how you guys choose to bond with each other." Astrid muttered to herself as she found the whole situation ridiculous and slightly amusing.

She waited another few moments to see if the dragon took the hint and gobbled the fish back down but obviously that wasn't going to happen, so Astrid did the only thing she could. She picked up the fish and took a small bite wincing and gagging at the digested smell barely holding the fish in her mouth. Then gathering her courage she swallowed it and spat out the leftover slime in her mouth before holding the fish back out, asking, "That better?"

The dragon cooed and grabbed the fish eating it in two quick bites before coming closer and batting at her hand until Astrid obliged and started scratching her.

As the dragon began what could only be called purring Astrid smiled, "I guess it was worth it after all."

End