How to Be a Dragon Star 1

Chapter Twenty-Five - Quite the Experience

"No."

"I'm not asking for your permission," Estrella informed him, flipping her tail. "I'm just letting you know what's going to happen."

"Is it going to happen, though?" Toothless asked, widening his green eyes at her.

Estrella sighed. "Toothless, I'm only a year or two younger than you. I can take care of myself." She sat down, curling her tail around her feet.

"It's not that," Toothless said earnestly. "It's just that... Estrella, you remember the raids that we did back before we met Hiccup. The vikings... they'll kill you, Estrella." He dropped his gaze. "And I can't let that happen. I'd act the same if it was for anyone else."

"Toothless, I can turn invisible," Estrella argued. "Do you really think that I'm going to die?"

The black dragon huffed. "I know, I know," he mumbled. "You're going to convince me. You already have. It's not even worth arguing. Just... be careful, Estrella." He stepped forward, touching his forehead to hers. "Promise me."

Estrella butted him back. "I promise."

Toothless pulled away after a moment, studying her. "And what will I do while you're gone?"

"Think about me and wish me luck," Estrella instructed, smiling. She turned away and saw Astrid, watching their exchange expectantly. Once Estrella turned her way, the girl spoke. "You ready?" she asked.

Estrella nodded, and began walking. Toothless walked with them until the edge of the island before sitting down and watching Astrid climb onto Estrella's back. Her body was heavy and reassuringly solid. It was all Estrella could do to keep her head high instead of letting it succumb to the weight. I'll definitely need to practice this.

"Remember," Toothless said, as Estrella spread her glittering white wings. "You promised me."

Estrella whacked him playfully with her wings and took off. "See you in a bit!" she hollered, looking through her legs back at him.

While she was in that position, she saw several other vikings, whose names she didn't know, turn their heads. More and more people caught on, and before long, nearly everyone on the island was standing still, watching Estrella and Astrid depart.

Estrella and Astrid didn't talk much on the way. In this particular circumstance, they couldn't talk even if they wanted to. There also wasn't a lot to talk about. Their plan was in motion, and there would be nothing to do until they got to the next step.

"Estrella..." Astrid said, breaking the silence. "After we get all this figured out... After we rescue everyone... What are you going to do? You won't be a secret anymore. Everyone will know about you. Now that he won't have to work in secret, Hiccup could probably make Toothless a new tail fin, one that Toothless could operate by himself. Are you going to stay at Berk... or leave and move on?"

Estrella hung her head heavily.

"Do you know?" Astrid rephrased.

Estrella shook her head, focusing on the texturous ocean below them.

Astrid stayed quiet. Estrella twisted her head around and saw that her friend's eyebrows were drawn together, her eyes glazed over as she pondered. "I mean, I want you to stay, obviously," she continued. "Hiccup will too. Our... well... our friends..." She paused. "Yes, I guess that's accurate. Our friends, like, Fishlegs and the twins and Snotlout... They'll want you to stay, too. And Stoick seems fond of you."

Let's see if that changes once he doesn't depend on me anymore, Estrella couldn't help thinking. But she had no way to convey that into gestures that Astrid could understand, so she just had to keep listening.