Lost and Found

Chapter 14: Something We Call Dragon Racing

A couple weeks passed, and I'm staying with Hiccup and Valka while we work on cleaning up/rebuilding the village of Berk. Hiccup told me once that Berk is an old village with lots and lots of new houses. I've helped where possible, though Valka and Hiccup have been secretive lately. They whisper about something when they think I'm not listening. But I can't figure out what. Nothing else has changed. Hiccup's given me tours around Berk, but whenever I ask about what they're up to, he always deflects the question.

"Morning y/n!" Hiccup calls as I descend the stairs to the main living area. Valka is next to him as they prepare some breakfast.

"Oh, morning!" I wave with a smile. They were clearly talking about something before I came down, and I have to admit this secrecy from them hurts. "I'm just gonna go for a walk." I shrug while gesturing toward the door. "Still trying to figure out my way around the village."

"Don't you want something to eat first?" Valka asks.

"I'll eat later, thanks though." I smile before heading to the door. The old hinges creek a little as the door swings open. The bright light of the sun causes me to squint a little.

Most of the smaller chunks of ice have been cleared by now, having been dragged to the cliff and dumped in the ocean below. Some buildings are nearly entirely rebuilt, and some are still in the beginning stages.

A familiar coo draws me from my paralysis. I look up to see Atlas watching me from the roof. She chitters as she jumps down and lands next to me.

"Well good morning to you too!" I say with a smile. "Sleep well, beautiful?" I ask as I stroke her face. Atlas nods and pushes her face into my hands. I scratch her neck behind her head frill as she purrs softly. "I'm going for a walk. Care to join me?"

Atlas chitters and follows me as I walk the worn paths around Berk. Some vikings nod toward me with a cheerful "good morning" on their lips. It's bizarre to me how friendly everyone is, despite me being practically a stranger in their lands.

I mean, I don't even have a home. I'm just living with Valka and Hiccup, not that they mind, but it feels weird. I still feel like an outsider in this village.

I make it down past the blacksmith before someone calls my name.

"Hey, y/n!" The sound of a nadder call follows the voice. I look up to see Astrid and her nadder Stormfly land near us.

"Oh, hi, Astrid." I wave as she jumps off Stormfly. The nadder quickly runs toward Atlas, and the two playfully communicate.

Astrid falls in step with me as I continue my walk. "So, how have you been?" She asks. Out of all the other people my age in this village besides Hiccup, I've grown closest to Astrid.

I want to tell her that the secrets between the mother and son I live with have been driving me crazy, but instead, I put a smile on my face. "I've been good. It's definitely different living in a village surrounded by people instead of dragons, but everyone's so nice to me."

Astrid smiles and nods, "I believe you will really like it here once you get used to everything."

My hand reaches up to curl around the stone at my neck. "I believe I will like it here."

We continue chatting as we wander, no clear path, just walking wherever our feet take us. As we pass a grazing sheep, the animal bleats at us while chewing. And before I can react, a large shadow passes overhead as a Monstrous Nightmare swoops down, snatching the sheep from where it stands.

"Gods!" I yelp as I jump in surprise.

Astrid laughs.

"What? Why?" I ask as I look up at the disappearing dragon. A gronckle and zippleback follow after the nightmare. I can hear voices in the wind and notice the riders shouting at each other from the backs of their dragons as they carry sheep away. "What are they doing?" I ask Astrid as I turn to her.