Sigrid The Relentless - How to Train your Dragon

6. The Nest

They'd been preparing for days, for the final search of the dragon's nest. The one thing Stoick had been hoping for. Finally, Berk would be rid of dragons, hopefully forever. 

The Chief refused to speak to his son, ever since that day in the arena. It seemed that Hiccup had the same mindset, with not only his father, but his sister as well. Everytime Sigrid went to speak to him, he turned his back to her with a huff. 

For the first time since she started training, Sigrid didn't feel that same thrill as she sharpened her axe, preparing for battle. It was strange, she'd wanted this for so long, and now her father was finally allowing her to come with him, instead of being stuck at home. But instead of cheering, Sigrid felt sick, and wanted nothing more than to retreat back to her bedroom and cry. 

The morning of their departure, Sigrid bid her brother a final goodbye, not expecting any response. With small sigh of defeat, she turned around, ready to leave for the nest with the other adults, but was halted by a grasp on her wrist. 

Glancing over her shoulder, she saw her brother's crestfallen face as he refused to look her in the eyes. Instead, his green gaze was locked on the wooden floor, before he spoke quietly.  

"Please, protect him." 

Sigrid tensed, a gasp on her lips as her brow furrowed. If only she could promise him that. 

"I can only try my best." She admitted, a sense of shame in her tone.

Hiccup wasn't satisfied with her answer, letting out a disappointed grunt, before releasing his grip on her wrist. 

He didn't even say goodbye. 

---

Sigrid approached Berk's docks with something extra in hand, which she hadn't worn in ages. 

"What's with the helm?" Gorm joked, immediately reminded of their days in the training arena. 

The other young-adults looked up at his chuckling, all eyes on their top slayer, and welcomed her.

Sigrid shrugged, feeling a bit strange at the unusual weight on her head. "Well, I figured that if we're going to kill the beast that ate my mother, I should bring a piece of her with me." 

Her knuckled tapped against the strong hide that covered the metal, hearing it clang in response. 

Frida put a comforting arm around the taller woman's shoulders, hugging her side. They'd all been grouped together when they were teenagers, training to become dragon slayers. Sigrid, Gorm, Frida, Holger and Erika, in the dragon arena. Today wouldn't be their first battle as a group, and they hoped it would be their last.

For this journey, Stoick assigned them a boat to themselves, believing them to be experienced enough to handle it.

"Make sure you follow my father's ship, no matter what." Sigrid told Holger, who was steering the ship.

He knew better than to argue with Sigrid, unless he wanted to be challenged to a fight. 

The raven-haired viking nodded, dark eyes staring into the distance, focusing on the Chief's boat leading them. "Got it." 

The thick fog surrounded the boats. So impenetrable, that the shapes of the dark oak boats were barely visible, whilst they rowed past towering rocks and wrecked ships, moving towards their final destination. Sigrid studied her surroundings carefully, stood at the front of the boat, watching the edge of an island near. Soon, the battle would begin. 

Everyone exited their boats, parked in parallel rows across the shore. Sigrid readied her axe, as they neared closer to the rocky entrance of the hulking mountain, bigger than any she'd seen before. Her father led the people further, stopping at the darkened path, before motioning for the catapults to shoot their ball of fire.