Valka wanted to know more about the girl and asked about her name and how old she was. Hiccup said her name was Eyla and that she was about the same age as him and Astrid. They talked about her and her blue dragon a little more, and then Astrid had to go. Hiccup kissed her before she left and then just stood there.

"There`s more, isn`t it?" Valka asked after a little while.

"How did you know?" Hiccup asked and looked at her.

"I`m a mother, and a mother knows. And I know you quite well now. I know you´re thinking about something."

Hiccup looked at the front door that Astrid walked through a couple of minutes ago. He turned around and looked at his mother again.

"That girl, Eyla", he said after a few seconds and looked down at the floor before he looked up at Valka again. "I think… she`s like me. It`s not just the dragons… They make fun of her. They are mean to her. Like me when I was younger. She`s like me. If we would have met when I was a child, I would have had a friend… someone like me. I wouldn`t have been alone."

Valka saw the hurt in his eyes and wished she had been there for him growing up. Show him what he could do, who he really was.

Hiccup looked away so she wouldn`t see the tear in his eye. He didn`t mean to cry. It was a long time ago, he was different from when he was twelve, he was different from when he was sixteen. He had Toothless now, he had Astrid. And he had the respect from most of the villagers. But a part of him was still that dorky, clumsy little boy. He just didn`t come out as much. With Toothless he had gained more confidence, and a best friend, and since Astrid became his friend, and later girlfriend, she had always been by his side believing in him.

Valka put her hands on his shoulders and squeezed them.

"You`re not alone now", Valka said softly. "You haven`t been alone since you found Toothless. As long as you have someone, even if only one, you are never alone. And you have Astrid. And you have me now."

Hiccup put his right hand over her left hand on his shoulder, but didn`t say anything. He didn`t have to.

The following two weeks, Eyla spent as much time with her dragon as she could. Every spare moment she went to the woods. She brought the hampers to the docks in the morning, walked home, and if her mother didn`t want her to do something, she ran into the woods to be with her dragon. She flew with him as much as she could, and she loved it. It gave her a freedom she needed and had never felt before. It gave her confidence and all she felt when she was with Storm was happiness.

During those two weeks she met Hiccup and Toothless a couple of times and they taught her more about flying. The only thing better than being with Storm, was when Hiccup and Toothless came to see them.

"What`s been going on with you lately?" Sigrid asked one afternoon when Eyla came home after meeting Hiccup, Toothless and Storm. "You seem happier, your posture is better, straighter."

And it`s all because of Hiccup, Toothless and Storm, Eyla thought.

"I made some friends", she said, a bit evasive.

Her mother wanted to know more, but didn`t ask. She was just glad to see her daughter so happy.

Hiccup and Toothless were going to see Eyla and Storm again. It had been a couple of days and Hiccup thought it was time to go back. They left early in the morning so they would arrive at the island sometime in the afternoon.

Valka and Astrid watched them as they rose in the air.

"There they go again", Astrid said. "Do you think… That he… Do you think we…"

"No Astrid", Valka said. "He loves you. He`s just excited about a new friend, and teaching her more about dragons. And I think it keeps him from thinking about Stoick."

"I can`t believe it`s been almost a year."

"I never thought I would get him back just to lose him again", Valka said sadly.

"At least you got your son back", Astrid said compassionately.

Eyla had been home all day helping her mother with some hampers and cooking. Now she was cleaning the house while her mother was out helping some other women decorate the Great Hall for an upcoming birthday. She was sweeping the floor when she suddenly heard yelling outside.

"Dragon! Single dragon attack!"

It was in the afternoon, it was still daylight. Dragons never attacked during the day. Wait, single dragon attack. Storm. She dropped the broom, ran towards the front door, pulled it open and ran through the village.

Gunnar, a big man the same age as her father, was holding a big crossbow pointing at the sky. At Storm. Storm who was looking for her.

Gunnar was ready to shoot and Eyla threw herself at his arms trying to stop him.

"No!" she screamed.

The big arrow shot through the air, but missed the dragon. Suddenly Hiccup and Toothless were there, trying to stop the blue dragon from going lower. A net with stones at the ends was shot towards the black dragon. Toothless dodged it. Another arrow was shot from the crossbow and almost hit them. Eyla was just standing there, hoping they would be okay. Another net was shot up in the air and hit the blue dragon.

"No!" Eyla said as the blue dragon went down.

Hiccup and Toothless dived after it.

"Eyla! What in the name of Thor do you think you are doing?!" Her father was very angry.

"I… They…"

"Dragons, Eyla. Dragons! Go home and stay there."

"But dad…"

"No buts. Ben, Tork, go with her and make sure she stays there."

"But dad!"

"Brand", Sigrid said.

"No! I`m in charge here. And she has to do what I say."

Ben and Tork looked at her, gloating. She was upset with her father, not just for sending her home, but for telling Ben and Tork to go with her. Anyone, but them.

Inside the house, she walked around in circles, worried about Storm. From what she saw, Hiccup and Toothless didn`t get hurt, but she wasn`t completely sure. She opened the front door, but Ben and Tork were standing right outside. They both sneered.

"He did tell us to stay", Ben said.

Eyla slammed the door. She had to get to the woods. She couldn`t stay there. She had to make sure Storm was alright.

She went in the back of the house and opened the shutters. She was half way through when someone grabbed the back of the neckline of her tunic and held her back.

"And where do you think you`re going?" her mother asked.

Eyla turned around to look at her.

"You have to let me go. Please. I will explain later. Just let me go. Please."

Sigrid looked at her. Eyla couldn`t tell what she was thinking, but she let go and stepped back. Eyla jumped down from the window and ran.

When she finally found Storm, Hiccup and Toothless she relaxed just a little bit. Hiccup was releasing Storm from the net.

"I´m glad you came when you did. But they tried to shoot you down."

"It`s not the first time", Hiccup said,

"He was looking for me. I`ve seen him everyday, but today I haven`t had the time yet, so I guess he was looking for me. And it could have gotten him killed."

"You can`t blame yourself." Hiccup cut the last rope. "It`s not your fault."

Storm got up, walked around and flapped his wings. He seemed okay, nothing broken, and Eyla was relieved. She put her arms around his neck and sighed.

Hiccup didn`t stay long this time, because of what happened, so they didn't practice any flying. He would come back in a few days. But they had to be more careful.

When Eyla came back to the house, she got in the same way as she got out, through the window. Her mother was sitting in the big room waiting for her.

"Where`s dad?" Eyla asked.

"Out." She crossed her arms. "Meeting about the dragons."

"What were they gonna do with the dragon?"

"Just leave it there to die."

That was cruel. Eyla took a deep breath and wiped the corner of her eye.

"Now talk", Sigrid said.

"You can`t tell dad. Please."

Sigrid looked at her for a few moments, then slowly nodded.

"A while ago I climbed up a cliff."

"Why?"

"Just to prove that I could. I met a dragon. And I met another dragon and his rider. A guy my age."

She looked at her mother. Her expression didn`t tell her what was going through her head.

"I`ve met them several times after that", she continued. "They are my friends."

"That`s why you`ve been so happy."

Eyla nodded.

"I got to know this dragon and I´ve learned to ride a dragon. He`s my friend. They are my friends."

Her mother didn`t say anything, just looked at her. Eyla still didn`t know what her mothers reaction would be.

"Please", Eyla said. "Don`t tell dad. Please. You can`t tell him. Please", she begged like a little child.

Sigrid didn`t say anything for a few seconds.

"Okay", was all she said. She rose from the table and walked out.

Eyla watched her as she left. Hoping she would keep her promise. She had to.

I hope you like this chapter. I will try to update by the end of the week. You won`t have to wait this long for the next chapter anyway.

Now I have had been asked if there will be a sequel twice. I guess that means you really like the story, and that makes me happy. But, like I said before, I don`t know yet. I haven`t really thought about it. I did get a few ideas that could work for a sequel. But it depends on how long this story will be.