"What did you do to Stormfly?!"
The question wouldn't have been nearly as intimidating as it was with out the axe held to his throat, swallowing I tried to sound convincing when I said "Who said I did anything maybe she just decided now was a really good time to take a nap, it is the middle of the night" nodding at the end I was pleased with how reasonable I sounded until I realised something, being reasonable wouldn't help with Astrid in fact it was just liable to piss her off more.
Cringing I waited for the punch to come, it didn't although she made to swing the axe at me however the voice of the chief stilled her hand "wait I wish to have a word with the 'dragon lord'" the twist he put on the words implied he thought whoever came up with the title was stupid, a second later I realised the dig was aimed at me.
Smirking behind my mask I said "oh is that what their calling me now, shame I rather liked king of beasts, oh and rider of death, that was a personal favourite of mine." sighing slightly I had to fight the urge to laugh at my fathers flushed face and the irritated look my dad was giving me.
Pointing towards mead hall he said "move" raising an eyebrow I didn't move for a moment and responded with "you may be able to charm dragons but you can't charm steel and if you don't move I'm going to introduce you to my sword, up close and personal, got it?"
Sighing softly at my fathers stubbornness I glided forward feet soundless on the dirt path, moving past him I ambled up the street towards mead hall, grinning slightly at the grumbling I could hear behind me. He said to move not how fast to move.
Sat in my cell I stared at the ceiling, I judged it would take Toothless at least a day and half if not two days of solid flying with no breaks and at top speed to reach the nest and then on the way back he would be much slower because he would be both tired as well as leading a pack of dragons which would all be much slower than a night fury's top speed. So it was probably going to be at least four days for them to get back here which was six days total, so nearly a week. Grimacing I tugged my mask dow a bit more I was relieved they hadn't tried to take it, but to be honest I think it helped them to see me as some faceless monster and if I didn't fear them recognising me I would take it off just to spite them. However as much as I may have changed in ten years it was likely I would still be recognisable, which was a problem, although the extra muscle he had accumulated over the years from working out and flying would probably help disguise him if he lost the helmet for any reason.
A loud clang singled the arrival of a visitor, looking up a snarky retort ready to go I choked slightly when I saw it was Fishlegs standing outside my cell. Blinking I said "so what can I do for you?"
Frowning the viking said "Well you ride a night fury I was hoping to get some details on it for our book of dragons and maybe a description so I could do a sketch"
Smiling I said "I'll do you one better, if you get me some charcoal and some paper I'll provide you with the sketch and if you bring me some extra paper for doodling I will gladly tell you some of the more interesting things I have discovered about night fury's over the years"
Fishlegs seemed to mull it over for a moment before the lure of new information got the better of him and he said "okay deal, I'll be right back"
Smiling I waited patiently for Fishlegs to return and when he did I gladly took the paper and set to work on the sketch of Toothless for the book of dragons, the picture wouldn't help too much anyway he was nearly invisible at night. I could feel Fishlegs watching me draw as well as his surprise when it came out incredibly detailed and surprisingly lifelike. Nodding he said "thank you that is amazing"
Pleased I handed the picture over and said "well what do you want to know about night fury's?"
"Everything!"
Laughing slightly I started explaining some of Toothless's basic features as well as a slightly edited version of how we met as well as some interesting things like the fact he had retractable teeth, that immediately sent Fishlegs into a huge debate with him about the need dragons had for teeth and why, eventually the debate died down some and Fishlegs said "is that why you named him Toothless"
Nodding I said "yeah it surprised me and the name just sort of stuck, either way he never told me he didn't like it"
"Wait told you as in he spoke to you?"
"Well yeah all dragons can speak its just in a different language, one I learnt so I could communicate with Toothless better, its been really useful actually"
"Huh can you say something in dragon now?"
Grinning I switched to dragonish and said "sure how is this?"
Fishlegs eyes turned into saucers as he said "that was so cool, I bet Ruff and Tuff would love that actually"
Smirking I said "they wouldn't happen to be the twins that rode the zippleback would they?" at Fishlegs surprised look I said "they seem the type, plus the way you said 'Ruff and Tuff' as though they are a package deal implies a close relationship something that would be present in twins"
Fishlegs continued to look surprised before he said "yeah" and with that the conversation dried up and Fishlegs fled the dungeons.
I watched his retreating back for a few moments before I sighed and flopped down of the straw mattress in the corner, trying not to think about how long the next six days were going to be.
xxxxxx in mead hall xxxxxx
"I don't know what you mean he was really cooperative when I asked him some questions all he wanted in return was some charcoal and some paper, he even did a sketch of his night fury for me to put in the book of dragons,"
Several looks of disbelief echoed this declaration "he what?" Snotlout was particularly irritated as he had spent a good portion of his day shouting at the supposed dragon lord trying to get him to talk and then Fishlegs manages to do what none of them could do and just with some charcoal and parchment, it was ridiculous.
Clearing his throat Stoic said "are you trying to tell me that he answered all your questions in return for some charcoal and parchment?"
"uh" shifting slightly Fishlegs gave a small nod "yeah, he did"
"ahhhhhgggrrrr" the explosive sound reverberated around the hall as the chief finally lost his patients, "that is it I will have my answers" turning around the chief stomped out of the hall heading right for the cells. Exchanging wary glances the group of teens took of after the chief.
xxxxxx in the cells xxxxxx
"Hey your all here now are we gonna have a party?"
"I don't know what your games is but I demand answers, and you are going to give them to me, one way or another"
Blinking I frowned slightly "well that isn't very polite, did any of you consider that I answered Fishlegs questions because he asked nicely and posed questions I could actually answer, instead of just screaming at me and asking questions about what Drago is doing. Like why the hell should I know what that sheep for brains animal is doing I've been doing my best to avoid him. Well mostly"
Frowning Fishlegs spoke up "what do you mean 'mostly'?"
Grinning I said "well I may have made some trips to his ships to liberate some dragons and such, a dragon sanctuary isn't any good if the dragons can't use it because they're captured by that maniac"
Gaping Astrid spluttered "what 'dragon sanctuary'?"
Shrugging I said "my little project"
"Okay, okay now that we have established your answering questions, how about you answer some important questions..."
"Oh yeah like what kind of stuff have you blown up?..."
"Oh oh oh yeah and how many men have you killed?..."
"Ruff, Tuff shut up or I will remove you from the cells"
"Ah chief your no fun"
"Yeah we just want know what kind of trouble he's gotten into before" the twins whined some more under there breath before Tuff shoved Ruff for something and they quickly dissolved into a squabbling mess rolling around on the floor throwing punches left and right.
Stifling a chuckle I obviously failed as Astrid turned and said "what you think their funny?"
Grinning behind my mask I said "well yeah actually, I do, I think they are a riot. Have you considered using their passion for mayhem against Drago, I don't think he would know what hit him if those two came at him," chuckling again at the mental image of Ruff and Tuff insulting Drago to his face and them trying to blow him up. Sighing I mentally slapped myself 'come on get a grip, I know you missed them but come on you have a reputation to uphold here as the fierce dragon lord can't be seen as cooperating too much'
The teens and the chief continued to ask more questions but I restricted myself to limited answers that were as short as possible. When Astrid asked about Stormfly I sighed and said "I just sent her to sleep she should have woken up by now,"
Nodding Astrid said "yeah she woke up about ten minutes after we captured you but I want to know how you did that"
Smirking I said "trade secret"
Growling she stomped up to the bars and said "tell me or i'll...i'll"
Snorting I said "you'll what? lock me up? separate me from my best friend? starve me? torture me?" scowling she released a strangled scream of rage and turned around to stomp of, shrugging I said "any more questions, cos if not I'm gonna have a nap, being imprisoned is very tiring work I will have you know"
Scowling the chief stepped forward and said "did you or your night fury kill my son?"
Rolling my eyes I said "no your son is still very much alive he just didn't want to stay here that is why Toothless took him away from here he didn't belong"
Roaring the chief stepped closer and said "you better order that black demon to bring him back or you are never going to leave here alive"
Sighing I said "yeah do you see a night fury I could tell that too cos I don't, and besides I know Hiccup well and he doesn't want to come back to a place he was ridiculed and bullied"
Frowning nobody replied just turned and left waiting till the door to the jail was shut behind them before starting to discuss his answers.
Stretching I peered out the tiny cell window at the gradually darkening sky, 'well one day down just five more' glancing around the room I frowned there was no way I was hanging out in this cell for five days. Just nope not happening. Turning to the door I stepped closer and examined the lock. Grinning I grabbed hold of the lock and gave it a single swift tug down while twisting it a little to the left, with a very satisfying pop the lock sprung open. Smirking I pushed the cell door open mentally very relieved I had helped Gobber make those locks and they hadn't changed a bit since I helped him make them and so it was just as easy to open them now as it was then. Strolling out of my cell I wandered over to the door and listened, no voices, cracking the door open a fraction I scanned the area satisfied it was dark and were wasn't anyone around I stepped out and started ambling around admiring the architecture and how the village had changed with the help of dragons for things like decorating and such.
Drifting between two buildings I spotted Astrid's house up ahead with Stormfly in her stable out side , wandering up I smiled at the dragon who let out several warning growls, I stopped just out of biting range although I was well within range of her spines or fire. Bowing my head I said softly "hello my name is Hiccup, how are you? are you recovered from yesterday I'm sorry about sending you too sleep but I needed my friend to get away and I am aware of the renowned speed off the nadder and I feared for the safety of my brother in all but blood"
The dragon blinked and said "oh you speak our language how strange, what do you mean 'brother in all but blood' that is a strange phrase? and did you say your name was Hiccup, that was the name of the hatchling my human has been looking for for a long time"
Smiling I said "yeah my names Hiccup and I just found out they have been looking for me, but I don't see why they never looked out for me when I lived here so why should they be worried now and as for the 'brothers in all but blood' well I consider Toothless the night fury from before, my brother however we obviously aren't blood related for the simple reason of he is a dragon and I human but I love him as if he were"
Tilting her head stormfly nodded slightly and said "yes I can see, what are you doing here if you didn't want to come back?"
Smiling I moved closer to scratch under her chin grinning at the sighs and chirps of pleasure she made occasionally directing me to the left or right "well I don't know really I just wanted to know why they were looking for me, I guess. I wanted to know if it was out of actual worry and affection or some misplaced guilt, or sense of obligation and duty"
Chirping again stormfly said "well from what I have seen I think it is genuine affection the red bearded one they call chief has been very determined to find you, always sending out search parties on ship or on dragon, the humans that hang around my human are often out searching too along with myself and my human, this is the first time all of us have been back on berk together for any length of time."
Frowning I hummed slightly not sure what to believe. The faint sounds of voices and caught my attention and I scrambled to say my goodbyes before leaving and wandering aimlessly for another few hours before heading back to the jail and letting myself back into my cell and re-locking the door. Settling down I attempted to catch some sleep for a few hours before the next round of question that was bound to come in the morning.
