Pain and Reflection
Toothless and I dart through the clouds. The midday sun shines down on them, leaving a shadow over the water. I crouch low on Toothless back. Not many words are spoken as they are trying to get home before dark.
Nervousness rakes throughout my body. It has been at least three days since we have been home and Mom will be freaking out. She doesn't like us gone for one night, let alone days. Thinking back on the punishments for being out late, they weren't that sever. Being grounded from flying, massaging the elders, fishing for meals, watching over newly hatched dragons and helping Mom around the cave. Those punishments seem tame compared to what's to come.
With each beat of Toothless wings, my eyes grow heavy. Just as they are about to close, a dragon appears out of the cloud in front of them. My eyes snap open and I yank upwards narrowly avoiding a head on crash.
As they streak by, Toothless and my heads turn towards the dragon simultaneously. Toothless pulls his wings out coming to an abrupt halt.
"Was that…" I looks behind me bewildered.
"Yep."
"Come on, maybe they didn't see us." I try to get out of the sticky situation at hand, turning forward and preparing leave.
"Too late." Toothless nods his head at the dragon coming towards us. I groans. These next few minutes are not going to be fun.
Valka and Cloudjumper do not look happy. But that was expected considering we have been gone for days.
"Hey, Mom. How's your day been?" I try acting casual but that changes as soon as she crosses her arms. Cloudjumper isn't saying anything but his eyes are practically shooting fire. Mom opens her mouth to speak, then she stops. Her gaze wanders up and down Toothless trying to figure out all the ropes crisscrossing. Cloudjumper followed her line of gaze, his mouth opens and closes as his eyes reach the tail. Mom's line of sight is right behind Cloudjumper's.
"What. Happened?" Her voice is calm, but the eyes are blazing with fury, sadness and fear.
"It's a long story. Can we save it for home after Toothless and I get some rest?" Cloudjumper and Mom nod in unison. We turn back towards home, exhausted both mentally and physically.
As soon as my feet touch solid ground, the headache from earlier returns full force. Toothless catches me, preventing a fall flat on my face as I take a step forward. I'm distantly aware of footsteps and someone calling my name. I try my best not to blackout but the pain is too much. I'm passed to someone before darkness takes me once more.
Slowly, I become aware of sounds and light. Whispers of dragon wings battling the air for height. There's a soft blue glow behind my eyelids, before I open my eyes. They are open for one grand second before snapping shut. Two reasons has caused this to happen. One, the light reflecting off the icy walls hurts. Two, Mom and Cloudjumper standing in front of Toothless. I can't make out what they are saying, but their time tells me that they are not happy. I have to support him no matter what it takes.
Going from lying down to sitting up takes a lot of effort. All the adrenaline has worn off and my injuries are screaming to be noticed. Three heads swivel towards me at my sharp intake of breath. Mom walks over, rubbing soothing circles into my back as I push the pain back.
"Better?" Mom crouches down, coming to my eye level. A short bob of my head and light pain shoots through my skull. "Good. Now, what were you thinking?! Running off like that not telling me where you are going! Do you know how worried Cloudjumper and I have been? You go who knows where for five days!"
"Five days?" My voice cracks bringing me into a coughing fit. Water is pressed to my lips. I drink until my stomach hurts. Mom's angry/worried voice quiets down to a soft whisper.
"Hiccup, you can't do that to me. Disappearing is bad enough but to come back like you did…" Her eyes are full of worry and love. She looks like she could use a hug. So a hug she gets.
Once we pull away, Toothless steps next to me. For a moment we just watch each other. Then, we hug and a silent message is passed between us. My attention turns back to Mom and Cloudjumper.
"It's a long story so you better sit down and get comfortable." I took my own advice getting as comfortable as I could with the frozen wall behind me. Deep breath in. Deep breath out.
Words spill out of my mouth. They capture our adventure starting from the moment we went on the flight. It wanders to the battle then on to waking up in the cell. As the story reaches the part with the maiden, my mind begins to wander. I trail off, closing my eyes to imagine her.
Mom makes a soft comment to continue. The story moves on and finally wraps up. Its as if some magic pulls me back into reality. Everything comes back into focus with my mom looking me up and down.
"Hiccup, what island were you on? Which viking village were you taken to?"
"I'm not sure. They never told me any names." I glance over at Toothless.
"Although, I did hear the chief call to someone named Gobber." I snort, looking down at my hands.
"Not helpful right. One name, and it couldn't have been the chief." Hands grip my shoulders drawing my attention away from my hands.
"Hiccup, I have to know. What did the chief look like." I rub my forehead trying to rid myself of a head ace seeping in.
"He was big. Real beefy and mean looking. Wait, scrap that last part he is mean. He wore this, disappointing scowl like someone skimped on the meat in his sandwich. His hair is a lot like mine only a lighter shade. It was pulled back behind his head. here were lots of braids in his big, ugly, scruffy beard. He wore this helmet that had horns coming out of the side. Green eyes to." I huff a small fit of dark laughter.
"Mostly, he's a big jerk who cares about no one. Not the well being of me, Toothless or anything else. He has no heart. You say one word out of place and boom! Your on the ground with a bigger headache than before." Toothless growls at some memory of that wretched place.
"Oh no." Mom says with a shake in her voice.
"What?" I reach a hand out to pet Toothless still fuming. Cloudjumper shuffles sideways to Mom resting his head on her arm. Mom absently strokes his nose.
"Hiccup, I think you were on Berk."
Author's Note: Sorry it took so long to update. I have a lot going on in my life right now. But I promise that I will never abandon this story. Let me know what you thought of it and if you have any tips for me so I can become a better writer.