Crossing the Line | Oakstrid Story

Chapter 9 | A Forbidden Bond

My heart pounded in my chest as I crouched beside Aqua, the young Mudraker, in the arena. I knew this was a dangerous move, especially with my father being so strict about dragon interactions. But I couldn't resist trying to connect with Aqua, to show her that not all humans were out to harm her. Little did I know that my twin brother, Hiccup, had been trailing me, and I was about to get caught in the act.

"Just give me your hand, Muttonhead," I told him, trying to play it cool despite the nerves threatening to overwhelm me. Hesitant but curious, he placed his hand in mine as I led him closer to Aqua's cage.

"Close your eyes," I instructed him, hoping to keep him calm. With a hint of reluctance, he complied.

"If I get eaten, I am so telling Dad," Hiccup half-joked, his attempt at humor not easing my anxiety. I continued forward, approaching Aqua and placing Hiccup's hand gently on her snout. To my surprise, Aqua responded with a gentle nuzzle, and Hiccup's eyes shot open in astonishment.

"Hiccup, meet Aqua," I introduced, trying to downplay the significance of the moment. He pulled his hand back, clearly surprised that I had already named the dragon.

"You named it?!" Hiccup gasped, concern etched on his face. "Oak, you can't start getting attached."

"Hiccup, look at her," I urged, gesturing to Aqua as she playfully tried to chase her own tail. "She's just scared. Mudrakers don't spend much time out of the water, especially at such a young age."

"How do you know all that?" Hiccup wondered, his curiosity piqued.

"I know a lot of things," I said, hoping my vague response would satisfy his question. I didn't want to reveal my secret passion for studying dragons just yet.

Our peaceful encounter was short-lived as Aqua suddenly shot up and began glancing around in panic. She let out a warning squawk, and I grabbed Hiccup's hand, pulling him behind the arena gate just in time to avoid being caught by our father, who had appeared in the arena.

"How did you know Dad was coming?" Hiccup questioned, clearly puzzled by my quick thinking.

"Mudrakers have special sense receptors to react to vibrations," I explained, relieved that my quick excuse seemed to appease him. I pleaded with him to keep our encounter with Aqua a secret, and he reluctantly agreed.

After parting ways with Hiccup, I hurriedly made my way to Astrid's house, needing to confide in my best friend. Grabbing my bag from her room, I rushed to the cliff, where Astrid was already waiting for me.

"I'm sorry, I'm late," I apologized as I approached her with a slight smile.

"Don't be," Astrid reassured me. "I'm starting to see why you love it up here. You can see everything," she said, admiring the view of Berk illuminated by the moonlight. As I sat beside her, I felt a mixture of excitement and anxiety, knowing I had something important to share with her.

"So, what was it you wanted to show me?" she asked, her eyes filled with curiosity and trust.

"Oh!" I exclaimed, suddenly realizing that my feelings for Astrid were tangled up with my encounter with Aqua. Shaking off my nerves, I opened my satchel and pulled out a small notebook. "Happy birthday!" I announced, hoping that my feelings wouldn't overshadow her special day. As Astrid took the book and examined the cover, I couldn't help but notice her excitement, and that's when it hit me—I had fallen for my best friend. Her joy and happiness triggered something inside me, and I knew I had to tell her how I felt.

"Is this made from dragon scales?" she wondered, impressed by the thoughtful gift.

"I know you were upset when your journal was destroyed in the raid. So, this time, it's fireproof," I said, trying to keep my emotions in check. My hands trembled slightly as I quickly pulled out a small key attached to a necklace. "And Snotlout-proof," I added with a playful grin.

Astrid's smile widened, and she bowed her head, allowing me to put the necklace on her. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!" she exclaimed, bouncing with excitement before pulling me into a hug. "You really are the best." In that moment, as I held her close, I knew I had to gather the courage to tell her the truth about my feelings, even if the timing wasn't perfect.

Sitting at the top of the cliff, the warm glow of the setting sun painted the sky with hues of orange and pink, casting a magical ambiance over the moment. The gift I had given Astrid lay between us, a tangible reminder of our unbreakable bond. It was a finely crafted notebook, adorned with intricate dragon designs, symbolizing our shared passion for these majestic creatures, though perhaps in different ways. As I watched Astrid's eyes light up with excitement, a wave of emotion washed over me. Her smile, her enthusiasm, and the way her eyes sparkled with joy – it all triggered a revelation within me. In that fleeting moment, I saw Astrid in an entirely different light. She was no longer just my best friend; she had become something more to me.

"Astrid," I began, my voice trembling slightly. "There's something I need to tell you." My heart raced, pounding in my chest, as I struggled to find the right words. "You mean so much to me. You've always been there for me, and I love spending time together."

Her eyes met mine, a mixture of curiosity and warmth in her gaze. "Oakley, you know you mean the world to me too," she replied, placing a reassuring hand on mine.

"I... I've realized that what we have is so much deeper than just friendship," I confessed, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I care about you in a way that's more than just best friends. I... I think I-."

Her eyes widened. "Oakley, I..." she began, but before she could finish, a loud explosion shattered the serene atmosphere, and the air filled with the sounds of chaos and the familiar roar of dragons.

"What's going on?" I gasped, my heart dropping as the urgency of the situation took over. We had to abandon the cliff, racing back to the village to face the impending danger.

As we ran, Astrid's hand never left mine, and I couldn't help but be drawn to her, even amidst the chaos. My heart was torn between fear for Berk and the longing to share my feelings with Astrid, but for now, the safety of our people took precedence. The dragon raid had disrupted our moment, but I couldn't deny what I had just realized. I had to find a way to tell her how I felt once the village was safe again. Whatever happened, I knew that our bond was strong, and I hoped that Astrid would understand the depths of my emotions.