Authors Note: Sorry for the wait. And the fact this chapter is slightly rushed. *Sings horribly off tune* Writers block!
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Chapter 5: New Tail
(Heather POV)
"Welcome to dragon training." The dull voice of the teacher announces throwing open the rings gate. Daz, she is an elderly woman with a long cane and short patience, with long flowing white hair and stands at about six feet tall. Opel, Nigra and Morose move forward through the gate each looking enthusiastic and thrilled to be here.
"This is going to be awesome." Morose declares his tone giddy the sword he has in his left hand tossed to his right. I hold the axe I managed to grab before my stepmother shoved me from the house towards the arena without so much as a second glance. The weapon feels unbalanced and awkward in my hand. Really wouldn't hurt to put more weight on the other end, maybe another blade or something.
"Yeah, I hope I get some serious scars, who doesn't love a warrior?" Opel asks and gestures to her face as she says scars.
"Yeah. no kidding." I say dryly, "When I see someone with a jagged scar across their cheek I just think, "Wow. I am so impressed.""
Nigra, Opel and Morose turn around looking back at me each face falling, "Oh great. We get the artist. What are you gonna do, Heather? Draw the dragons away?" Morose asks and I shoot him a glare throwing my axe out towards his throat.
"Say that again." I growl pressing the edge of the weapon into his throat. His eyes widen for a moment.
"Uh.." He stutters.
A cane whacks the back of my head and I flinch before pulling back turning to look back at Daz. The woman stares at all of us for several long moments her eyes lingering on me. Her cane snaps out pointing at each of us as she says it, "Opel you're too excited, Morose your lack of hold on your tongue will be the end of you, Nigra you should work with your teammates and Heather…" She trails off as she sees me her lips curling into a small sneer, "Not much I can say, is there?"
The other teens let out snickers as I self consciously tighten my grip on the axe my eyes narrowing with frustration. Why does everyone on this stupid island hate me!? Daz sets her cane down on the ground staring at us for a moment.
"Now, the dragon you'll be learning to fight today is the Deadly Nadder. They're quick and light on their feet. Use a shield and you should survive. Few have died in the process of dragon training." Daz says with a small smirk and a pointed look in my direction.
I clench my jaw but force myself to not leap on the older woman and smack her over the head with my axe a dozen times. She turns and walks towards a cage where a Deadly Nadder is staring at us angrily a deep hiss echoing from it's throat. The cages are basically a small room with bars blocking the dragons from escaping.
Daz grabs a few of the shields laying next to the cage and throws them towards us without looking back. I grab the circular wood from the air before anyone can beat me and watch with small satisfaction as Opel and Nigra miss theirs by a few inches.
Daz turns, "Ready?" She asks.
"That's my middle name." Morose promises with a smirk and Daz raises a greying eyebrow.
"Is it? Let's see then." She says and slams her hand down on the lever releasing the Deadly Nadder. Daz leaps to the side as the red dragon dives forward roaring angrily. I lift up the shield I have in hand trying to predict the dragons next move.
It's angered, so an attack would probably-cats! The Deadly Nadder swings it's tail forward and I leap to the side to avoid its deadly spikes headed in my direction. I almost dodge them all.
Almost.
My eyes widen as a spike slashes my shoulder and I grimace slightly but with a shield in one hand and a axe in the other snapping a hand over the wound isn't going to work splendidly. Note to self: get shoulder guards. Morose is the next target; but instead of just throwing spikes the Deadly Nadder leaps onto the boy roaring angrily in his face.
Born ready for sure.
Nigra and Opel leap forward both of them looking slightly deranged in the war cries they give as they race towards the Deadly Nadder. The dragon smacks both of them away with his tail as if they're made of paper. The two girls go skidding across the ground sword, spear and shields lost from their grip.
I once heard from the chief that in a choice between a sword or a shield you take the shield. Morose with a heavy grunt swings his shield up and smacks the Deadly Nadder off of him. The dragon roars angrily and looks up at me the only person besides Daz still standing.
The dragon races towards me and I bite my inner lip for a moment before leaping in front of it's blindspot the dragon halts and stares around in confusion for a moment before turning it's head to look at me. With wide eyes I start to run towards the dragon's cell leaping inside in a roll.
The dragon gives the chase and as it runs into the cell I race out of it. Daz slams down on the lever and the cage doors slam shut trapping the dragon inside. I take in several breaths and Daz stares at me for a long moment.
"You should've worked as a team. All of you." She says and looks as Morose, Opel and Nigra get off the ground brushing off several streams of dirt. Daz turns to me, "And you, fail for getting sliced by the spike."
I struggle to keep my jaw up. "Are you serious?" I demand before shaking my head, "Never mind." I let out a breath and walk forward tossing the shield and axe to the side as I move past Opel, Morose and Nigra. Failing for getting shot?
I was the only one who stayed on their feet. I narrow my eyes in frustration and walk briskly through the village ignoring the annoyed glances sent at me and the gazes that rest on me all together. Yeah, well next lesson I won't have that problem anymore.
I "borrow" some medical supplies from my step parents and then head over to the blacksmiths to start my next project. I pull out my notebook I always have on hand and flip to the back where the few empty pages remain. I make a quick sketch of the axe I have in mind then add some notes on how it'll work. Double bladed and folds down the middle for easier storage.
I pocket the book and with one hand around the bleeding cut on my arm I head home.
(Hiccup POV)
"Gobber, do you still have that saddle I tried making a few years back?" I ask a few days later as I sit in the forge, Gobber a few feet away pounding down on a sword I'd guess. After I lost my sight Gobber tried to get me to pick up blacksmithing again, I can sharpen a blade now and work with most leather but that's about it. I made a weirdly shaped saddle because I couldn't figure out how it worked but now that I've thought about it for several days, I think it could be used as a saddle for Toothless.
Gobber pauses, "Um, I think it's in the back room." He answers before continuing to pound down on the sword. "Why?"
I shrug, "Just curious." Gobber knows me well enough to know that that's probably not just it so, "How's dragon training going?" I ask trying to turn the subject away from the saddle. Gobber snorts.
"Well, no one's dead yet."
My eyebrows shoot up in surprise, "Does someone usually die?"
"Not usually." Gobber answers. "Astrid's doing great though, I think she'll be this year's champion."
"No surprise there." I say and Gobber nods chuckling slightly.
"Well, I think I'll be headin' off to bed. Do you want me to guide ya home?" Gobber asks and I shake my head.
"No, I think I'll stay here. I want to try something." I can feel Gobber's skeptical look on me.
"Are you sure that's the best idea?" He asks and I bite my tongue slightly.
"Well, no, but I want to give it a try. Please." I plead silently and he sighs before I hear him move past me clamping a hand on my shoulder.
"Don't hurt yourself lad. I'll be back in a few hours to see if the forge is still standing." Gobber says and I roll my eyes.
"Ha ha."
Gobber leaves the building and I get to my feet silently feeling accomplished for getting him to leave so easily. I need to make the tail fin for Toothless. After spending the last day and a half with him I have finally managed to figure out the size of his tailfin. With the ever persistent guide in my chest, a pull towards him it's getting easier to find the cove.
I walk forward my hands out stretched so I don't smack into anything until I reach the back room. Gobber has left it exactly how it was before the loss of my sight and I can find my way around this place easily.
I grab the box of leather scraps and put it on the desk feeling around for the right size for a moment.
Hours later, after staying up what I'd guess is most of the night the left dorsal tail fin is complete, probably not the best thing in the archipelago but it should work. Clamping the leather closed I tuck it under one arm and move towards away from the back room and kick some of the metal rods I didn't need under the desk.
I'll just avoid the forge for a few days and by then Gobber will have forgotten that I tried to make something and not ask me about it. I don't really feel like answering any questions on why I made a tailfin.
To a normal person, they would've had to use candles, I worked in darkness because that's all I see.
I exit the forge and stand still for a moment before heading to the Great Hall to grab some fish. If I can get some then I'll be able to get Toothless's focus on something else besides me when I put the tailfin on. I ignore the pull in my chest and start to stumble towards the Great Hall glad that it's still dark. I move forward letting it lead me stumbling over some rocks and uprooted tree roots but for the most part managing to stay upright.
oooo0oooo
As I break into the cove much later, I feel the first rays of sunlight on my face, my shoulders have gone numb and my back is headed on that way. The cove smells like fish, water and now the crisp morning air. A few birds are tweeting but I focus my hearing on the other parts of the cove searching for Toothless. I hope he's nearby because these fish are killing my shoulders and any other part of my upper body.
I hear a something moving towards me on my left and turn facing it, "Hey bud." I greet and hear Toothless's frustrated growl. Trying and failing to sneak up on me again. Being blind for the last few years has taught me to rely on my other senses beyond just sight.
I lift up the tailfin and hear him walk closer, "I hope you're hungry, I brought breakfast." I say and swing the fish off of myself letting it hit the ground with a large smack. I kick it over and hear the fish spill out. He better be hungry because I am not dragging that fish all the way back to the Great Hall.
Toothless moves past me and I hear him start to dig into the fish. "That's disgusting." I note before moving behind him towards the tailfin trying not to wander off too much but at the same time not ram into his wings.
I reach the tail and lean down laying the prosthetic next to it. Toothless's tail shifts and I bite my lip in annoyance grabbing the tail. Toothless shifts again and I toss my bangs from my eyes. Deciding this isn't going to work I sit on the tail, pulling the prosthetic to it attaching the straps feeling mostly and trusting my instincts to know where they go.
I sit back and pull the prosthetic out feeling both the tailfins for several long moments it's surprisingly even "Hmm. Not too bad it works- WHOA!" I screech as Toothless takes to the sky. Funny, I didn't even know my voice could go that high, it sounded like a mating call a banshee gives a fellow banshee. I wrap my arms around the tail, terror pulsing through me as the ground gets further away.
As soon as we get twenty feet into the air, probably less, Toothless starts to crash. I feel the wind shift and can hear the leather of the tailfin flapping uselessly in the wind. With my heart pounding in my throat I stretch my hand out and rip the tailfin open.
Toothless soars upwards and my eyes widen, "Oh my- its working!" I shout and pull the tailfin right. Yes! Yes! Yes! I can't believe it actually worked I thought it would be too small or to big or not sewn together goodly enough. Toothless turns gliding over something, then, finally seeming to notice me, whips his tail.
I fly through the air before I hit the pond.
I struggle in the water for a second, my heart picking up pace in terror. I can't find up! I know how to swim but this is the first time I've had to since I went blind. When my vision starts to get blurry, claws wrap around my shoulders and pull me upwards. I hit solid ground and take gasping breaths, coughing. Water leaving my mouth and my lungs burning in my chest. I gasp several more times and feel Toothless nudge my shoulder.
"I'm okay. Thanks for the save." I say shakily and stretch out a hand that a few seconds later Toothless presses his head into.
I get to my feet and ring what water I can from my vest, "I think I'm going to go back to the village and figure out how to get the the tailfin working, you're going to need a co-pilot for the first bit." I murmur the last part to myself before putting a hand on his neck, "Even as fun as tripping over every living vegetation on this island is could you help me to the entrance?" I ask and Toothless huffs softly at my sarcasm before moving forward.
Actually I'm never going to need a blind stick because I have Toothless. He's my eyes.
Toothless stops dna I assume we've reached the entrance, "I'll be back in a little." I promise and he growls in acknowledgment before I let my hand slide from off his neck and move forward towards the small crack and through it up the steep hill to the forest.
Going back the village isn't exactly the easiest thing but it's manageable. I just wish Toothless could take me the whole distance. The number of trees I've rammed my forehead into are growing.
As soon as I take about three steps a metallic shing of metal rings through the air before something lands at my feet. I still my eyes widening. What. Was. That?
Something moves up behind me and the axe is ripped from it's position at my feet and pressed against my neck in less than a second, "You traitor." Astrid hisses.
Authors Note: Yay! First cliffhanger! Well not yay for you guys but yay for me. :) (There is a backwards word in this chapter.)
Please review!