The smallest hint of sunlight is just beginning to peek over the horizon when Hiccup wakes. His eyes burn, there is a painful crick in his back that hadn't been there when he'd fallen asleep, and the soreness in his right wrist is back. Slowly, he sits up, rubbing at his eyes and sighing when his back pops and some of the tension is relieved. For a moment, Hiccup is extremely confused. Why had he fallen asleep slumped over his desk in the back of the forge instead of in his bed back at home? But then he sees the finished tailfin out of the corner of his eye, and it all rushes back.
All afternoon and all night, he'd worked on the invention. When he'd finally finished it, he'd been too tired to stumble back to his house, so he'd fallen asleep where he sat. Even with all the aches he is currently feeling, he can't bring himself to regret working long after the sun had set. If he succeeds in helping Toothless fly again, it will all be worth it.
At this hour of the morning, most of the Vikings are still fast asleep in their beds. Hiccup is grateful because he needs to smuggle the tailfin and some fish to the cove for Toothless. If someone sees him, there will be no way for him to explain why he is carrying a Viking-crafted dragon fin and enough fish to feed an entire Viking family. Carefully, to make sure he isn't seen, Hiccup sneaks out of the forge with the tailfin tucked under his arm and his journal tucked into his vest pocket. Before heading directly to the trees at the edge of the village, the young Viking heads to the storehouse to grab a basket of fish. Then he is off to the cove. Brimming with excitement, he is too distracted to notice the pair of eyes following him as he disappears into the shadows of the trees.
Toothless is waiting for him again, and again Hiccup is delighted to see him. In fact, the Night Fury could greet him every day and he would never get tired of it. After giving his dark scales a good scratch, Hiccup sets the tailfin by the base of a large rock and dumps the basket of fish on the ground. The dragon's large green eyes light up and his teeth – his teeth? – snap into place as he gobbles up the meal. Hiccup's smaller green eyes go wide and his jaw drops. Teeth? Toothless has retractable teeth?
Hiccup can't help but feel like an idiot. How had he missed that? But then again, Toothless had never shown him his teeth before today, probably because he didn't want to frighten the young Viking. The Night Fury seems to quite like the name he's been given though, so Hiccup doesn't feel too bad.
Once he finishes eating, Toothless turns to him with a very pleased look on his face, the kind that comes with a full stomach, and it makes Hiccup smile. Just like when they'd first met, Toothless retracts his teeth and tries to mimic his smile with his slimy pink gums. This attempt is definitely better than his first.
Still, Hiccup laughs, happy to have a friend to smile with. "You're amazing, you know that bud?"
The dragon croons happily at his words of praise before realizing that Hiccup has brought more than just fish with him to the cove. He creeps over to the teen and sniffs the mostly-leather contraption tucked under his arm.
Hiccup gets a little nervous at the attention his invention is receiving. There is no guarantee the tailfin will succeed in restoring his friend's flight, and Hiccup doesn't want him to get his hopes up only to have them come crashing back down literally.
"It-It's a new tailfin to help you fly again..." So nervous about his invention, Hiccup doesn't realize how excited the Night Fury has gotten until he receives a big slobbery lick to the face.
Laughing at his friend's enthusiasm, Hiccup wipes the saliva from his face. "Alright, I know you're excited, but hold on a second. We can't try it out until your tail is better, so how about we take a look?"
Eager to comply, Toothless brings his tail around for the boy to look at. With gentle fingers, Hiccup removes the bandages.
"Wow," he breathes. While the wound isn't fully healed, it looks much better than it had the previous day. The coloring is a healthy pink rather than an angry red, and it is already beginning to close.
"Dragons heal way faster than humans," Hiccup says, once again amazed by the large flying reptiles. "It's not quite ready yet, but I'm going to leave the bandages off. I think that will help it."
Toothless takes this opportunity to lick his wound, coating it generously with saliva. Now, Hiccup is no expert, but he figures that exposure to fresh air and a thorough cleaning with Toothless' large pink tongue can't hurt.
Once the Night Fury finishes treating his tail, he turns his attention to Hiccup. His boy had gotten hurt the other day, and Toothless wants to make sure he is healing well. He gives Hiccup's right wrist a gentle nudge with his nose, and the young Viking seems to understand what he is asking. Rolling up his sleeve and unwrapping his own bandages, Hiccup reveals the tender flesh underneath. The bruises, purple and blue just the other day, have faded to yellow-green splotches and the swelling is gone. It is still sore, but that is to be expected after working in the forge for hours the previous day.
Toothless gives him a knowing look, one that says I know you haven't been resting this like you should be, and proceeds to lick his injury like he'd done his own. Once he feels he has cared for Hiccup's wrist enough, the boy carefully wraps it back up.
"You're too good to me," Hiccup says. "I've never had anyone else look after me the way you do, not even my dad. It's… nice." To show the Night Fury his appreciation, he gives Toothless a good scratch under his chin.
"You like that, huh bud?" The dragon leaned into his touch and Hiccup scratches a little to the left –
And Toothless suddenly lies on the ground at his feet, unconscious.
Hiccup drops to his knees beside him in a panic, checking to make sure his friend is okay. It only takes him a moment to realize that Toothless is fine, just deeply asleep. The Viking stares at his hands with wide eyes. Has he just brought down a Night Fury on his own, with nothing more than his two hands?
He is fascinated. Of course, he'll never use this knowledge to harm Toothless, but it is still interesting. These creatures that possess so much strength and fire power can simply be brought down with a well-placed scratch to the chin. He can only imagine how shocked his father would be if he knew such information.
With the sun rising higher in the sky, he doesn't have long before he has to return to the village for dragon training. He doesn't want to just disappear on Toothless though. What if he wakes up to find Hiccup gone and panics? No, it's better if he stays in the cove for a bit longer.
He sits next to Toothless, reclining back to lean against up against his smooth scales. There is a nice breeze blowing through the cove, rustling his hair. Birds sing as they flutter overhead. With such a nice day, Hiccup finds himself close to falling asleep too. Just as he is about to nod off, Toothless starts to stir.
"There you are bud. I was starting to get a little worried."
Toothless blinks at him lazily and then croons at the sight of his friend.
Hiccup laughs. "I was waiting for you to wake up before I left for training. I didn't want to worry you. But I have to go now, I don't want Gobber to come looking for me if I'm late."
After giving Toothless a quick hug, the young Viking takes off.
Hiccup isn't the last one to training, which surprises him. The twins got distracted in town by a couple of birds and lost track of time, which doesn't surprise him. But they are all here now, awaiting an explanation from Gobber on why the arena looks like a maze.
The blacksmith clears his throat and gestures at the wooden walls with his hook. "The arena is set up today to begin your training against Deadly Nadders. I want everyone to wander into the maze. Once you're all out of sight, I'll release the beast."
"That's it?" Snotlout questions. "You're just going to let that thing into the arena without giving us any tips? We're all going to die!"
Gobber rolls his eyes. "I will be keeping an eye on everything from above the arena and offering advice as you train. Now get in there you lot, we don't have all day!"
The teens grumble but take their places in the maze. Hiccup is feeling nervous. How is he supposed to survive down here with both the trapped dragon and the other teens? To be completely honest, he'd rather deal with the dragon. Metal gears begin grinding as the Nadder's door is opened and a screech sounds as it bursts free. Another screech follows in quick succession, though this one is decidedly more human. It seems the Deadly Nadder has found Fishlegs. Hiccup takes off running in the opposite direction. The Terrible Terror from the previous day hadn't bothered him, but it was small. The Nadder will be taller than Toothless and have way more sharp appendages. He is going to err on the side of caution and run away.
Three turns later, he runs smack into Astrid. "Sorry!" He apologizes as they bounce off one another from the force of the impact.
Astrid just sighs. "Be careful and be quiet. We don't want the Nadder finding us."
Hiccup nods in agreement just as Gobber's voice rings out above the arena. "The Deadly Nadder is a dragon species known for its speed and agility. If you run into it, don't bother running away. Your best chance in find its blind spot and hide in it."
From the other side of the arena, Hiccup can hear the twins bickering. Then there is a blast of fire and a frustrated yell.
"I guess it found Ruff and Tuff." Astrid says, and then she disappears around a corner. For a split second, Hiccup thinks about following her, thinking that maybe they can evade the Nadder together, but quickly decides against it. She won't want to work with him. He turns in the opposite direction than she had gone and rounds a corner of his own. And it is just his luck that he comes face to face with the dragon.
The Nadder is easily taller than Toothless when the Night Fury stands normally. It is a beautiful dragon though. Sky blue scales with yellow accents cover its body. A crown of spikes fan out from the back of its head. Its large yellow eyes are trained directly on Hiccup. With the dragon watching his every move, he is careful with his movements. Spooking this dragon is the last thing he wants to do.
From up above, Gobber notices Hiccup's predicament. "Don't move Hiccup! Hide in the blind spot!" The blacksmith takes off from his viewpoint and runs for the gate to the arena.
Hiccup's eyes never leave the dragon in front of him. He's managed to befriend a Night Fury and a Terrible Terror, so why not try with a Deadly Nadder? It seems like his best chance at survival.
"Well aren't you a beautiful girl?" He asks her. It is quiet enough that the other teens won't hear him, but he knows the dragon will be able to pick up on it with her heightened sense of hearing.
The dragon perks up at his words. He isn't sure she fully understands what he is saying, but she seems to appreciate the calming tone of his voice. Very slowly, Hiccup reaches his hand out. He doesn't step any closer though, and instead lets the dragon to decide if he is safe to approach. The Nadder stretches her neck, bringing her beak-shaped snout near his hand. After sniffing audibly, the look in her yellow eyes softens and her spikes are lowered. She steps closer to the young Viking, sniffing his tunic and vest, and she seems to like what she smells. The Nadder nuzzles against his arm, butting him with her head.
Hiccup laughs softly and rubs some of the scales on her face. She chirps with pleasure. A frown crosses his face, however, when he realizes Gobber is currently storming down here to his rescue. If Gobber find the Nadder this close to him, the experienced warrior won't hesitate to dispatch the dragon if he thinks his apprentice is in danger.
Hiccup needs to make them realize the dragon isn't a threat to him, but he doesn't want to hurt her or her feelings. Thinking on his feet, he switches from gently rubbing her scales to giving them a good scratch. His fingers travel down over her cheek and to the underside of her jaw. It takes a moment of searching before…. there! He finds the pressure point and the dragon collapses at his feet He thanks the Gods it is in the same place as Toothless'. Seconds after the Nadder hits the ground, Gobber comes careening around the corner. When his eyes land on the downed dragon they promptly double in size. His jaw drops.
"Hiccup?" He asks, dumbfounded. The other teens are right behind him, wearing similar expressions of shock on their faces. It seems they are at a loss for words. But before they manage to come to their wits and string together a coherent sentence, Hiccup once again flees.
The first place he thinks to go is the Great Hall. There, he'll be able to get some food and have some time to sort through his thoughts. He runs through town and doesn't slow until he reaches the steps of the Great Hall. But once he is sitting with his meal, things don't get any better. Though nobody has noticed he is present, they seem to have caught wind of the incident with the Terrible Terror from the previous day. He's not quite sure who told everyone, but they must have done a poor job. Bits of conversation drift over to him, things like "tried to eat him" and "wrestled it to the ground with his bare hands."
Though not all of it is negative – in fact, most of it seems to be rather positive – Hiccup quickly finds himself growing uncomfortable with all the talk. Previously, he'd always been ignored or criticized, treated like an inconvenience by many of the villagers. But now it is a different story. Many are praising his supposed actions with the Terror, discussing the act of heroism they deem so unlike him. Had it been just several days ago, Hiccup would be ecstatic. He has dreamed of a moment like this his entire life, one where the other Vikings realize there is hope for him yet and praise him. But a lot has changed in the last several days. He met Toothless. Now, being praised because they think he'd beaten a dragon during training leaves a bad taste in his mouth. He doesn't want to hurt dragons, and he'd doesn't like other people thinking he had, even if it makes them like him.
After only eating a small portion of his meal, Hiccup decides he can't stand the gossip any longer. Abandoning his plate on the table, he heads to the forest. He isn't sure where else to go. He could head to the forge and see if Gobber needs any help, but if the blacksmith questions him about the Nadder incident, Hiccup won't know what to say. Besides, he is dying to see Toothless and try out his tailfin anyway.
The forest is peaceful. Trees provide gentle shade while birds sing from their places among the leaves. Even the squirrels are all out and about today. The old Hiccup would have taken time to enjoy this peace he can only find outside the village. The new Hiccup, however, just wants to see Toothless. Trading his leisurely pace for a steady jog, Hiccup sets his sights on the cove.
Once he arrives, he is pleased to note the tailfin is in the same place he'd left it that morning. He wants to test it as soon as possible so he can properly consider any changes it might need for improvement. Before testing the fin though, he wants to greet his friend.
Toothless is lying by the pond, sunning himself on the warm dirt. A giggle slips past Hiccup's lips as he thinks Toothless acts just like a giant housecat. The noise catches the Night Fury's attention and before Hiccup can blink, he is being tackled by a large black blur.
"Hey Toothless," he greets, smiling brightly up at his friend. "I'm happy to see you too, bud."
But Toothless doesn't exactly look happy to see him. He doesn't look unhappy, exactly, but he seems more… focused, than usual.
"Is something wrong?" Hiccup asks him, a hint of nervousness making his tone slightly uneasy.
The Night fury responds by pressing his nose against the Viking's fur vest and inhaling deeply. He lets slip a discontented grumble before proceeding to rub his head all over Hiccup's clothes. The small Viking isn't sure what his dragon friend is trying to accomplish, but it sure does tickle.
"Toothless!" He gasps as he fights back a laugh. "Wh-what are you doing?"
The dragon ignores him, choosing to keep going. Before long, Hiccup is bursting with laughter, tears of mirth leaking from the corners of his eyes. He weakly pushes at the Night Fury's head, but it is no use. Toothless is way stronger than him and equally as stubborn. He isn't going to stop until he decides to.
Once he has managed to rub his snout over nearly every bit of Hiccup's vest, Toothless sits back on his haunches, content.
More than a little out of breath, Hiccup sits up slowly and wipes the leftover tears from his eyes. "All done then?"
Toothless leans forwards and gives him another sniff before nodding in satisfaction.
"I don't understand. Did I smell bad or something?" He pauses to think back on his day. Nothing out of the ordinary had occurred that he could remember, especially nothing that would make him stink. Unless…
"The Nadder!" He exclaims, the realization suddenly dawning on him. "I was petting the Deadly Nadder at training today and her head rubbed against my vest! But then… why did you not want me smelling like another dragon?"
Toothless grumbles, which Hiccup roughly interprets it as 'my human,' before coming to curl around him.
Hiccup rolls his eyes. "Possessive much?" But he gives his friend a good scratch anyway.
As he runs his fingers over the pitch scales, things slowly began falling into place. At training, the Nadder had sniffed him before approaching him. And the Terrible Terror had sniffed him a lot too, and it seemed to make him happy. It has been Toothless, or more specifically his scent, that has allowed the dragons to see he isn't a threat. Smelling another dragon on him made them realize he is a friend and can be trusted.
"Thanks bud," Hiccup whispers, thinking of the rapidly fading bruises on his arm and of Toothless taking the time to scent his clothing. The Night Fury has been taking care of him since they met, and now he wants to fulfill the promise he made and give back.
"What do you say we try out that tailfin?" He asks.
Toothless hops to his feet immediately, ear flaps high and eyes shining with glee.
"Woah, slow down there bud, I want to take another look at your wound first."
The Night Fury huffs, pouting that he has to wait, but brings his tail to Hiccup's lap without hesitation. It has only been a few hours since he last looked at it, but it has improved a lot. The injury looks healed enough to withstand the test flight, especially since they won't be leaving the cove. And besides, the leather Hiccup used is soft and supple, it won't irritate the injury too much.
"Alright then, I say we give it a shot!" Hiccup stands and approaches the bundle of leather. Toothless is right at his heels, eager to get back in the air.
It takes a while to get it buckled on properly, since Toothless is wriggling while ill-contained excitement, but once it is on it appears to fit nicely. The size of the artificial fin matches the real one, and the spines collapse and expand properly. It looks good but looking like it is going to work didn't mean it actually will. All they can do now is test it.
"Okay Toothless," Hiccup says. "We're going to take it nice and slow. How about you fly out over the water, then turn and come back to me?"
Toothless nods, before turning to face the pond. His gaze grows sharp and he shifts his weight. Everything about him practically screams determination. After taking a deep breath, he launches himself into the air. The takeoff isn't bad. The artificial tailfin folds back against the tail just like the real one. Leveling out is the problem. As Toothless spreads his wings to settle into an even glide, his real tailfin does the same. The artificial fin doesn't have the same capabilities, though. Without all the muscles and membranes, it will never open like that by itself. Feeling the lack of support from the Viking-made fin causes Toothless to let out a squawk of alarm as his flight wavers severely. The instability causes Toothless to fall out of the air and crash into the water below. With a pitiful warble and a sad look in his eyes, the Night Fury swims to the edge of the pond and pulls himself back onto dry land.
"Sorry about that bud, but don't let it get you down. That was only our first test flight. Besides, I think I've figured out the problem. Now I can get started on some designs to correct it. I just have one question." Hiccup grins mischievously, "How would you feel about a saddle?"