In a Cave

I looked up at the clear, starlit sky, thankful that at least my last view on earth would be beautiful.

I stared back down at my pale, swollen fingers, still bleeding from where I had scraped them during the climb, but they were so cold I couldn't feel them anyway. I huddled closer against the rough rock wall of the cave, my shivering body still wet from the icy waters I had escaped from down below. I had no idea where I was. It didn't matter. I was going to die here.

My head throbbed, my lungs ached, and I could barely coordinate my limbs enough to inch deeper into the cave. I only made it a few feet in before giving up and turned my head back to look up at the stars. I had always wondered what it would be like up there. High above the world, with no weight on your shoulders, free to move about in any direction.

My sore eyelids dipped heavily, and I was about to let them close, perhaps forever, when I heard something that jolted my heart back to life. I held my breath, frozen in fear. The floor of the cave trembled as heavy steps padded across the ground. I didn't have to turn around to know what was coming. I squeezed my eyes shut and wished that I was already dead.

It's one thing to die from cold, starvation, or even drowning, but to be torn to shreds by savage claws, devoured while still alive, consumed by an agonizing blast of fire...to be killed by a dragon is not the way any viking should have to go. I felt my already faint courage drain away completely, and somehow tears squeezed out onto my frozen cheeks. I braced myself as a puff of steamy air drifted across my back, and I could already imagine the swipe of claws running across my back.

But the stroke never came.

I waited for what seemed like a lifetime, but all I felt was a steady flow of heat blow against my back.

Slowly, I turned around and found myself mere inches away from a dazzling white form, its large blue eyes staring deep into my own. I couldn't help but stare back in wonder, despite the fact that every instinct within me was saying to dive back out of the cave and let the ice swallow me whole. As I gazed on the magnificent creature, I decided that dying by dragon seemed almost a privileged way to go.

Before I knew what was happening, the dragon spread out its wings and folded me into a warm embrace. Sheltered from the cold, and nestled deep beside its leathery skin, I lay there, and smiled as I felt its warmth radiate through me, heating me to my core, and soothing my aching lungs. I felt myself relax as the rhythm of our hearts became one.

I could've stayed that way forever, but a muffled voice broke into my cozy hold.

"What's she doing Da?"

"Well, ah...I'm not sure, Nuffink. I've never seen her like this before. It almost looks like she's.... what've you got there, girl?"

Slowly, the dragon lifted its wings apart, and I winced as the flickering glow of torchlight beamed into my shadowy cocoon. The small round face of a little boy a few years younger than I was peered curiously down at me, with kind green eyes, and a headful of rumpled blond hair.

"Woah.... Da, look!"

Another face appeared and I guessed that it must be the boy's father. "It's alright, we won't hurt you. Come on out, you must be freezing." He stretched out his hand and helped me gently to my feet. Turning to the boy he said, "Nuffink, go tell your mother to bring some blankets."

The boy ran off, and for the first time I noticed a little dragon with black scales and white markings tripping happily after him. I turned back to look at the beautiful white dragon that had saved my life and realized that I was no longer shivering.

The man smiled when he saw how fascinated I was with her and said, "She's a beautiful light fury, isn't she. Have you ever seen a dragon before? " I shook my head vehemently and said, "I heard terrible stories of them while I was on my uncle's ships. Most of the crewmen used to be hunters, including my uncle, but they said it was as if one day all of the dragons just.... ceased to exist."

He glanced away, and seemed slightly pleased by that, but replied, "The dragons aren't gone. You just have to know where to look and be ready when you do find them."

He smiled again, and there was a twinkle in his green eyes as he said, "Let me show you something."

I followed him towards the light fury's head, as close as I dared, still in awe of her presence.

"Reach out your hand." I held my breath as he guided my hand right to the tip of her nose, stopping a few inches away. My heart pounded as I felt the warmth from her snout pulse toward my outstretched fingers.

"Now, let her come to you." I ducked my head, unable to watch, when suddenly I felt her muzzle lean into my hand, and my eyes flew open in unspeakable delight. An understanding of warmth and peace passed between us, and I was then completely certain that everything I knew about dragons was wrong.

Reluctantly, I pulled my hand away from the light fury as loud footsteps hurried towards us. The little boy was back, tugging at the arm of a fair-haired woman who was carrying several thick blankets and a puzzled look on her face.

"What's this all about, Hiccup? Are you okay?"

The man- Hiccup - called back, "I'm fine, Astrid. But it seems this cave is not as empty as we thought." He gestured toward me, and the woman's eyes widened in understanding.

"Oh, you poor thing! What is your name? How did you get here?" I smiled gratefully as she wrapped the blankets around my shoulders.

"My name is Hazel. Hazel Amberjak. I was climbing up the ropes on our ship when I accidently slipped into the ocean and couldn't find my way back. The water tossed me all over the place before I caught hold of this cliff. Then I climbed up here and the dragon found me, or I would've frozen to death."

"You climbed up the cliffside? From the water? That's hardcore." she grinned at me and nodded approvingly. Turning back to Hiccup she said, "We should probably head back. Zephyr is waiting with the other dragons, and I think Hazel could use something to eat." My attention shifted longingly back to the light fury. "May I do the hand thing again before we go?"

Astrid and Hiccup exchanged a knowing look as Hiccup said, "If you liked that, you are going to love this."

Cool night air filled my lungs as the light fury lifted me higher into the sky. My legs clenched tighter across her steady back as I raised my arms to run my fingers through the clouds.

My heart pounded with excitement, and I felt as though nothing could ever bring me down.

A girl my age flew up beside me and said, "I'm Zephyr. Wanna see what she can really do?"

I grinned and held on tight as the light fury followed Zephyr's dragon in a wild series of swoops and turns. The wind whipped through my hair and across my face, but the warmth within me was so strong that I could never be cold again.