When We Fly
Air up this high had a different kind of bite on her cheeks; nothing like the chilling wind down on the island. Free from the midday sun, she enjoyed the frosty feeling against her skin. Sky was bruised with sunset colors, hueing from light pink to deep oranges, thick scattered clouds looked solid above them. Her hair in three thick braids was waving behind her like ship ropes; she took a deep breath, the soothing sort that rarely touched her lungs, and looked behind. The formidable beast, once a threat, was now a reassurance on her occupied mind.
Flying alone felt out of place even though she knew why it was necessary. And although she had every bit of the urge to skip practice and get to the fun part, she was in no rush to plummet to her death before she absolutely had to. This time had been going swimmingly, she didn't want to spoil it. Letting the breath out of her chest, Ruffnut raised her voice.
"Around the island, again?" The bored voice made it clear enough that she just needed the nudge to switch to dives and tricks. Hovering Berk was getting old.
"Yep! That's what Hiccup said!"
Snotlout was looking quite blithesome considering they were up there basically following orders, and she failed to understand why. Usually when one of them suggested going astray, Snotlout would be the first to jump on board. He did not like to be the follower, at least not until Berk welcomed a new chief. Ruff could see why he did not have as much problem with doing as he was told nowadays, but this was hardly 'important' stuff. Tuff hated being left on the ground, just as Ruffnut hated sitting on the edge of the cliff and watch his brother try to convince Astrid to try backflips and sudden falls. They were a team. She avoided thinking about the possibility of losing a part of that team on purpose, even if it was the main purpose of Zippleback flying with only one rider.
Barf and Belch smoothly descended as Ruffnut gestured at the deep cliff bridge ahead, giving Ruff a bit more hope that they might actually make this one the last sluggish flight. Gustav had started riding faster than this. Just because she was on her own, she did not want to be treated like a rookie. After leaving the bridge behind, she yelled at Snotlout who kept following her from a safe distance.
"Aren't you bored?!"
"Why would I be bored?"
"This must be like racing with a toddler; don't you have anything better to do? We're fine! Aren't we, boys?" Barf purred gleefully when Ruff scratched his chin and Belch sparked, approving. Hookfang was barely paying attention, she would bet a week's dinner that the beast would happily throw Snotlout off his back and find a speed more suited to his needs if it was suggested. Just when she was thinking that, Snot caught up with her and grinned as they leveled. He shrugged, he did not look the least bit bothered by the task at hand.
"Nah, if I go back, dad will make me help stuff. And it's a mess in the Mead Hall, apparently there is a sheep crisis or something like that."
Ruffnut smirked, she should have known.
"Besides," continued Snotlout with that familiar dirty look in his eyes. Ruff could swear Hookfang had rolled his eyes but there was no way of proving. "The view here is better. When you focus, you tend to bend forward a lot."
Before she could tell Barf to gas the shit out of his smug face, Snotlout had already fallen back, cackling shamelessly.
She decided it was best to ignore, they had stuff to do after all. She really needed to focus.