Chapter Three: The First Flight

One Year Later...

Cloudjumper watched worried as Hiccup waddles near The Bewilderbeast's lake. He was well aware of the fact that the great king wouldn't let Hiccup be harmed so close to his presence, but Cloudjumper couldn't help but worry. Mostly because Hiccup had just started learning how to walk. Although he was learning quickly, Cloudjumper didn't like Hiccup being so near to things he could fall into. Not to mention the fact that Hiccup's 'shadow' was going to be taught how to fly soon. Cloudjumper wasn't sure his anxiety could reach a higher level. He didn't want either of his children so close to danger, but Cloudjumper knew that he would have to let them. Especially if he wanted them to grow up and be strong individuals. Although that didn't mean he had to like it.

Cloudjumper watched as Toothless gently steered his brother away from the water, and towards Cloudjumper. Hiccup seeing his adoptive father immediately brightened, and starting waddling faster towards him. Which unfortunately meant that he didn't see the uplifted root. Which caused him to trip over it, and crash into the ground. Which immediately caused Cloudjumper and Paradise, who had been flying overhead, to shoot over to him. Once reaching his son Cloudjumper saw that Hiccup was relatively unscathed, and was luckily not crying. He saw that Hiccup was leaning against Toothless head, and Cloudjumper was glad that Toothless presence was comforting his brother. Even if they both couldn't really talk yet. They always seemed to calm down by the others mere presence.

Cloudjumper dipped his head and nuzzled Hiccup gently. Which caused the young boy to gurgle happily. Paradise repeated the action, and Hiccup seemed to be enjoying their attention, but soon enough he got up again wanting to explore. Cloudjumper watched the small waddling form of his son, and knew that when Hiccup grew older, and Toothless learned how to fly. That the two of them would be the biggest adventurers in the whole of the Archipelago.

"I will never fully understand those two," Paradise said softly with a slight tilt of her head. Though Cloudjumper couldn't help but chuckle.

"I don't think anyone will, and that's just fine," He said as he and Paradise watched Hiccup waddle. With Toothless being his shadow, and Cloudjumper couldn't help but believe that although he couldn't understand them at times. That at least Hiccup and Toothless would always have one another, because they seemed to understand each other perfectly.

Which was just fine with him.

"Toothless slow down," Paradise shouted following the excited Night Fury towards The Updraft Valley. Which mostly consisted of two ledges parallel to one another. That were connected and made a peninsula around a cove. Which conveniently made air currents strong enough for Hatchling's to learn how to fly.

Cloudjumper hearing the shout turned his attention to the young Night Fury, and couldn't help but chuckle lowly. Cloudjumper remembered when he was that excited to learn how to fly, and he Paradise knew that feeling as well, but he also knew how dangerous a Hatchling's first flight could be. Which meant that Cloudjumper knew exactly why Paradise was acting like a overprotective mother hen. He watched as the Nadder finally got him to calm, and Cloudjumper unconsciously made sure that Hiccup was still close to him. The infant was wrapped loosely in a yak fur blanket that Paradise had found. Where she found it, she wouldn't tell him, but Cloudjumper was glad for it.

Cloudjumper couldn't help but observe the other parents and their Hatchling's, and how they were preparing for their child or children's first flight. The Zippleback's seemed slightly more excited than necessary, but Cloudjumper knew they had a tendency to get hyper easier than most other dragons. Besides a Terrible Terror. While the Gronckle's seemed to be the most worried. Cloudjumper watched as one mother Gronckle tried to get her Hatchling to stop playing with a pebble, and make sure the Hatchling was watching her flying technique. Which from what Cloudjumper could see was proving to be futile. He turned his attention to the last species that were there.

Though he already knew the outcome of the last Dragon species he would observe. The Monstrous Nightmare's. They all seemed to proud for their own good. Though Cloudjumper wouldn't judge most Nightmare's on their species stereotype. Or any Dragon specie for that matter, but Cloudjumper knew most of the Nightmare's here, and most of them were very prideful. Almost to the point of being as vain as a Nadder, but more arrogant. He watched as one Nightmare's Hatchling actually snapped at another Hatchling's tail, and instead of the mother scolding it. She instead seemed to puff up with pride. Which Cloudjumper couldn't fathom in the slightest, but he would never fully understand the species. So he never really tried to think to hard about it.

He turned his gaze back to his own Hatchling, and Paradise. Who seemed to be trying to get Toothless to calm down enough so she could watch and wait for the right updraft. Cloudjumper could tell that Hiccup was squirming in his blanket to sit up, and as gently as he could. Cloudjumper lifted the infant and allowed Hiccup to lean against his leg. They both watched as finally the Hatchling's jumped into the currents of air. They were all doing horrible. Which was to be expected, but Toothless seemed the one that was having the most trouble. Which Paradise seemed to notice if her taking off towards him was anything to go by. Cloudjumper watched as Paradise clicked to get the Night Fury's attention, and the young Dragon looked at her with confusion.

Once seeing that she got Toothless attention. Paradise extended her wings to their full extent, and allowed the wind to keep her in the air. Which Toothless copied although a little hesitantly. Once his wings were fully extended Paradise showed him how to stay in the air by himself, by flapping. Toothless followed immediately, and Cloudjumper couldn't believe how fast he was learning. Cloudjumper looked down onto Hiccup, and saw that the young boy was watching his brother in awe.

Soon enough Paradise and Toothless were gliding over the water, and back up the rocky wall. Cloudjumper could tell that the other mothers were jealous. Simply because Toothless was a natural, and Cloudjumper had never been so proud. He watched as Toothless glided down to land before him and Hiccup. With Paradise close behind. She nuzzled the young Night Fury lovingly.

"That was amazing Toothless. You're a natural," She said lovingly and Toothless seemed to puff up like he was a king. Cloudjumper followed Paradise's previous action and nuzzled his son.

"Yes it was quite impressive indeed," He said, and glanced down at Hiccup who was looking at the ledge with a slight frown. Cloudjumper immediately understood what Hiccup wanted, and couldn't help but frown sadly. Paradise seeing his look glanced down at Hiccup, and she to started to frown sadly. Toothless sensing his family's sudden change of mood turned to see his adoptive father and mother looking at his brother. Toothless stared at Hiccup, and immediately understood what the stares meant. His brother couldn't fly like him or any other Dragon for that matter. Which made Toothless quite sad at the thought. He licked his brother on the cheek which caused Hiccup to giggle. Toothless looked up at his parents, and saw that they were thinking along the same lines.

If only they knew that in a few short years. That would all change.

I hope I did an okay job at writing the family scenes for this one. I also hope it wasn't to short.

Review Responses:

coyoteprime1100: First of all thank you for your kind words. They mean a lot to me. I also completely agree with your idea about Hiccup's clothing when he is old enough. I was thinking about it being Dragon Skin as a sign of his allegiance to the Dragon's, but with a few Viking aspects here and there. Again, thank you for your kind words, and I do love your idea's and I am glad you share them with me.

midnightsky0612: Thank you also for your kind words, and I'm glad that you see Cloudjumper being such a good father. Which means I'm doing my job, and making his character a loving and protective father. Thanks!

Sorry for all the misspelled/missing words.