Hello loyal and new readers.
I want to first apologize that this is not a story chapter. I know some of you have been waiting a while to see what happens next and I feel bad to leave you waiting with no word.
More chapters ARE coming. I promise. I have much planned for this story and have no intention on abandoning it.
However, I am working on several other writing projects including my own work that I am aiming to publish within the next year. I am writing for all of these projects when the inspiration strikes, and my muse is a flighty mistress, darting between them all with a whimsy only a fairy could muster.
Because of this, updates may be slow and far between. I hope when they are posted, they are worth the wait.
Thank you all for sticking around and to make this worth the read, here is a teaser for an upcoming chapter:
"I want to show you something," Hiccup said excitedly the moment Fishlegs' opened his eyes. He was still squinting into the early morning sunlight but it seemed his host was already up and raring to go. Sleepily, Fishlegs' followed the outline of Hiccup, only opening his eyes in spurts so he was sure he did not run into anything. Especially when the boy led him outside and the sun burned his still dilated eyes.
"Get on."
"Huh?" Fishlegs forced his eyes open and found himself having to look up at Hiccup mounted on the Night Fury's back. Sleep fled him quickly as Fishlegs realized what was happening.
He glanced toward the dragon's head and noticed that despite his recent kind treatment of Toothless and the constant treats he threw the dragon's way, Toothless still watched him with narrowed eyes. But he did not shift away as Fishlegs braced himself to swing into the saddle, nor did the dragon move once the boy was settled as well as he could be on the dragon's back.
"Here."
Hiccup handed Fishlegs' a belt with a metal ring in the center. "What - "
"It gets windy up there. You'll need something to help you hang on."
Fishlegs swallowed hard at the prospect of falling off and only now noticed the harness Hiccup wore. It was strapped more securely over his shoulders and across his chest, and the rope that connected him to the dragon was short so that Hiccup was more or less leaning against Toothless' back.
"Oh." Eagerly, he strapped it around his waist and attached the proffered rope to the metal ring. He felt his heart in his throat and the pounding rushed in his ears. He barely heard Hiccup ask if he was ready but he suppose something about him (perhaps the giant grin on his face) gave an affirmative answer because suddenly the ground was falling away from them. The pressure of their quick ascent pressed Fishlegs' against the dragon and he could barely open his eyes against the wind rushing by them.
Then they were falling and now he was lifted from his seat, grateful for the rope holding him secure. The dragon's wings brushed against his legs and he realized they were closed to increase the speed of their dive. He carefully squinted just in time to see the ocean waiting to swallow them up...
"Hiccup..?!" his voice was lost in the wind, his plea falling on deaf ears...