The Night Rider: Book Two

Chapter 17: Awake and Gone

ASTRIDS POV.

2 Days Later

Astrid hadn't seen much of Hiccup since their discussion and kiss two days prior. She knew that he was still on Berk, she had occasionally seen him flying on Toothless, talking to Stoick, helping with dragons around the village, and at night, sitting at Heather's bedside who had still no woken up, watching over her. Hiccup and Heather's partnership didn't bother her as much as it used to after their kiss but there was something about it that still didn't sit with her right. But there was nothing she could do about it.

Astrid was sitting outside her hut letting the warm mid-day sun warm her. The twins were running up and down the dirt road that her home was on seeing which one of them could hit the other the most and the hardest before one of them passed out. Participating in their game didn't seem like too much fun in her opinion but watching it was enjoyable enough.

Tuffnut was running away from Ruffnut frantically with his hands out in front of him, screaming and shouting for someone to help him. Ruff eventually caught up with her brother and tackled him unleashing an onslaught of punches and slaps, some hard and some soft, onto his chest and lower jaw until the male twin was holding up his hands in defeat. "Ah! I yield!" Yelled Tuff sitting up. His arms were slack by his side and his cheeks were slightly swollen but he seemed alright.

"Oh yeah." Said Ruffnut with a proud grin standing up and pulling up her brother by one of his slack arms.

"Oh I'm hurt," He grumbled, "I am very much hurt."

"Quit your wining." Said Ruff patting her brother aggressively on the back, "You didn't lose a tooth this time." She encouraged.

Astrid snickered at the two of them.

"Okay, which one of ye' three can tell me where I can find the Viking this here dragon belongs to?" Asked a grumpy sounding Gobber walking up to Astrid and the twins with a very nervous, very tired looking razorwhip behind him. The dragon's metal plated eyelids drooped over its vibrant green eyes. Its wings were hanging tiredly down by its sides almost dragging across the ground. But the dragons strangest feature wasn't one of its own features at all, it was the saddle on its back which meant it had a rider. Although she had never seen anyone of Berk ride a razorwhip.

"Sorry Gobber." She said, "I have no idea whose dragon that is."

Gobber let out a sigh and scratched the back of his neck with his hook. "Well girl. Let's get some food in ya', wait for your rider to come and claim you." He told the metal dragon turning away from the group.

"Windshear!" Called a voice from the blue sky. Toothless dropped from the sky with Hiccup on his back who dismounted and rushed towards the razorwhip. "When'd you get here?" Hiccup asked the dragon. Windshear roared and raised her wings defensively as much as she could. Astrid was surprised. She'd never seen a dragon be defensive towards Hiccup.

Hiccup backed away towards Toothless and reached into one of the Night Fury's saddlebags and pulled out his helmet and dawned it. Windshear must not know who Hiccup was, only the Night Rider. Once Hiccup had put on his helmet Windshear was elated to see him. Hiccup and Toothless approached the dragon and Hiccup patted the razorwhip before removing his helmet and placing it back into the saddlebag. "Sorry." She heard Hiccup murmur to the dragon, "Forgot you didn't know what I looked like."

"I've been seein' her for the past day or so around the edge of the village watchin' all of us." Explained Gobber. "Was only recently able to coax her into Berk with some fish. Hiccup, you have any idea why this dragon's been watching the lot of us?"

Astrid walked up beside Hiccup and placed a hand on one of Windshear's drooping wings. "I've never heard of a razorwhip watching a village of Vikings before." She chimed in. She looked at Hiccup through a side gaze although he didn't look back. His eyes were still fixed on the razorwhip.