Dragon tales
Story 3- Flying as One- part 4
He could've lived in that moment forever. Just the two of them eternally suspended in that wonderful, bluest of blue, endless night sky. The stars so much brighter through the Sky Dragon's eyes, sparkling like diamonds and a hundred times more uncountable than before. This was truly incredible. The young Viking wanted nothing more than to stay there gazing at the stars all night, but then suddenly Jack broke away from the storm- creating a tunnel of air of his own to carry them away from the open sky and towards a looming, shadowy figure that resolved itself into an island.
Hey- why was they leaving? They were having so much fun! He could go on like that for... oh. Hiccup was suddenly aware of the ice block that had become of his body. Everything was now numb, and he was shivering so badly he almost shook himself off the Sky Dragon's shoulders! In the blind elation of thrillriding the storm, he hadn't even noticed how cold he was getting. Whether Jack's scales radiated the cold or not, the weather alone was enough to give him severe hypothermia! He should've realised this sooner, but luckily, the Sky Dragon had taken notice before anything serious should be able to set in.
The mountain face was looming ahead of them in no time- and from there Jack simply slipped into a narrow opening and followed a twisted, narrow route deeper into the mountain until they were beyond the wind's touch. They weren't the only one to have taken refuge here. A number of dragons were strewn along the rocky tunnel- several of them looking up at their arrival, others sleeping on soundly. Hiccup heard the word 'Stormseeker' whispered repeatedly through Jack's mind as curious rumbles filtered through his own ears.
He felt himself slipping helplessly off Jack's back like a sack of vegetables- partially aware that he was about to revisit his habit of greeting the floor once again- except that a firm pair of steady arms caught him before he had the chance. Mutters of "two four", "two leg" and "out in the storm" now echoed throughout the cavern. Jack dragged his useless ice statue of a body towards a Monstrous Nightmare.
"Brother Flameskin," He started respectfully, in a low rumbling growl. "May we share the warmth of your side?" The dragon seemed honoured by the request, and bowed its head reverently as it offered its side for Hiccup to lie against. The others seemed to look at them reverently too- it wasn't every day they met someone brave and stupid enough to face the biggest storm of the year, yet alone one skilled enough to survive it.
The Viking wished he had the strength to lean against it himself but felt about as mobile as a sleeping Gronkle, so Jack leant him on the Nightmare's warm flank- the slow heat from the Nightmare's skin spreading gradually through his body.
Relieved of his icicle of a friend, Jack took the opportunity to shake off the worst off of the storm's rain- a gesture that looked pretty peculiar if you didn't know he was a dragon, but Hiccup didn't pay much mind. Once the bulk of the rain was gone, he turned the remaining water into a fine, icy powder, which was far easier to shake off than the droplets. It left him slightly frosted, but that was practically normal for the Sky Dragon. Satisfied he was dry, he settled himself down next to the slowly warming, frozen Viking, and let his head drop back into a light doze while he waited for him to thaw. Seeing the Sky Dragon actually tired for once surprised him- but then, he supposed, even hyperactive, lunatic dragons had their limits.
There was silence for a long time, but all eyes in the room remained fixed on them. Silence from then anyway- he heard a quiet chuckle float through Jack's mind at whatever conversations the dragons were apparently having.
'What?' He ventured, not even bothering to open his eyes.
'Me and you just passed into dragon legend.' He informed, like the idea of him being any kind of legend or hero amused him. 'The ice wing Stormseeker and his half leg flyer- the first to fly Biggest Storm.' He muttered.
The first to-? Wait- was Jack saying he was the first dragon rider (heck, even first human) to have flown and survived this storm?! Well, sure, they were first to share their kind of trustbond- but the first to fly this storm? That was a huge monument, and yet the Sky Dragon was treating it like it was no big deal. Jack had made him the first human to ever earn the trust of a sky dragon and even that wasn't enough apparently. He had to make him the first to fly in the greatest storm known to Viking and dragon. Honestly, he thought, you tell the guy once five years ago that you struggle with self belief and he never lets it go. He just kept going out of his way to prove he was special.
Luckily, he'd managed to defrost his innards by now, because if Jack had decided he was going to speak, he had to be able to defend himself. Surely enough, the smug "I told you so" look spread across his face.
'See, now that was better than some boring old planning and chiefing in the Great Hill, wasn't it?' He taunted. He wasn't going to answer that. That dragon was not going to hear him say it- yeah, it had been pretty good, and he guessed the Sky Dragon did have a point about him being a bit of a downer but he wasn't going to tell him that. He guessed he had been a bit grumpy- and, yes, probably overworked himself. He hated to say it- or even think it- but (this time, at least) the Sky Dragon knew what he was doing. He might be a pain in the neck- he might drive him up the wall- but he did have his moments... Great- he heard that, didn't he. Oh no- he was not letting him think he could just pull a stunt like that and get away with it; time to take a leaf out of Astrid's book. He used what limited mobility he now possessed to slam his weight into the Sky Dragon.
"Hey!" The dragon protested, grinning, as he propped them both back upright.
"That's for kidnapping me." He muttered- his voice just about working through the lingering numbness of the the cold.
"Be aware- you're the one who can't move here." He pointed out, with a smirk. Oh great, now he's gone and given him ideas- the Sky Dragon was not above childish pranks such as drawing upon one's face. He might as well expect a beard and a moustache on his face any minute now.
He sighed exasperatedly.
"You're incredibly annoying- you know that?" He told him.
"I did get my name cos Snotlout called me a jerk." He pointed out. True, Hiccup thought. It was probably one of the things he love/hated mos about the Sky Dragon: his irritating, playful nature and, well, just general 'Jackness'.
"Hate you sometimes." He muttered half heartedly- smiling shakily as he shivered.
"And the other times?" He taunted, tilting his head expectantly.
He huffed and looked to the ceiling, vividly remembering the exhilaration of the storm, unable to stop another grin.
"…I suppose you do have your moments."