Hiccup's Story

Part IV: Lightning Vanishes

"Uh, no offense, Hiccup, but you really stink."

"Shut up, Toothless."

"I'm just saying. What happened?"

"The twins happened," I explained. "They set up a prank in the woods and I just happened to be the unlucky one to find it."

Toothless burst out laughing. I was usually really good at avoiding the twins' pranks, but this time I'd been caught in the crap, literally. And the worst part: I'd been expecting this reaction from Toothless when I found him, which was what I'd been doing in the forest in the first place.

"I think you need to go wash up... just saying."

"Yeah, I was going to. But you know I have to be careful when I do that. Nobody knows about Lightning, and he always leaves his tattoo when I bathe; he hates the water."

"I'm not too fond of it either, and yet I'd be okay with it."

"You're different. You've been living among Vikings for two years, he's only been around for one.

"I'd go back to the village and just wait a couple hours for it to be dark, but I'm not willing to give the twins the satisfaction of having Loki'd me. They'd never let me live it down." I sat down on a log that was nearby. "Guess I'm sitting out here till dark. Hopefully Dad doesn't start to worry."

"He shouldn't, you've come back late before. As long as you're not too late."

"Fair enough." I replied, laying down on the log. I was gonna be here for a while; it was just after high noon.

Nightfall

"Hiccup!"

I bolted upright. "I must've fallen asleep, bud. Sorry 'bout that."

"No big deal; I didn't realize you were that tired. Anyway, it's dark now. And I wandered back to the village; everyone's in the Hall. You're good."

"'Kay, thanks for checking for me."

"Not a problem," Toothless replied, as we started walking towards the springs.

When we got there, Lightning left his tattoo, and I went to wash up.

Fifteen Minutes Later

"Hey, bud."

Toothless turned around, and seeing me soaking wet, blew on me to dry me off.

"Ew, you have fish breath," I said, gagging on the smell.

"You would too, if you ate raw fish for every meal. Right, Lightning?" He turned towards where Lightning normally laid. Lightning wasn't there. "Lightning?"

"Lightning? Where are ya, buddy?" I called, walking over there. There was no sign of him ever having laid here, not recently anyways. Where could he be?

"Do you have any idea where he could be, Toothless?"

"I know as much as you do, Hiccup," he replied, walking over to me.

"You weren't paying attention to him?!"

"He's a grown dragon; I don't have to babysit him, Hiccup. He's actually older than me, if we're gonna get technical."