DREKI ~ HTTYD

I.I. Dragons are Just Really Big Snakes. That Fly. And Spit Fire.

Tyra

I'm not a violent person.

Now listen, I could kill a man if I had to, being a shieldmaiden and all. I could beat someone until they're nearly lifeless. Blood doesn't bother me. Pain doesn't bother me. Death doesn't bother me.

But when it comes to dragons, I'm a softie. My family, not to mention my entire clan, would blood-eagle me in the middle of town if they knew this, but I seriously cannot fathom hurting dragons because to me, they're innocent.

I understand that the dragons steal our livestock and burn our fields, but they're literally just predators and it's part of their genetic makeup. They need to eat too, and we just happen to breed their main food source: sheep. Also, we literally can just relocate. We're Vikings. We have ships. It would be a much cheaper investment long-term to just abandon our home, Berk, and settle down in a new one.

No one likes that idea though. I mentioned it to my parents once, and they looked at me like I grew five heads.

Our solution? Fight literal dragons. I know, obviously we have a nimrod as the brains of the operation. Of course, the Viking way is to choose violence and escalate situations, but I really don't think that trying to kill fire-breathing creatures without thinking of the consequences is wise.

Unfortunately, I'm alone in this mindset. I've tried again and again to convince my best friend, Hiccup Haddock, that dragons don't need to be fought. But he's simple-minded like the rest of them.

I shouldn't say that. Hiccup is truly a genius, creating amazing inventions in hopes that he can successfully slay a dragon and earn a shred of respect from the clan, specifically his father and older brother. Hiccup is seen as the runt of the litter, considering that he's one of the youngest Vikings that can't fight or hold his own. Everyone underestimates him.

I don't.

Hiccup is exactly nine months younger than me, both of us sixteen. He's younger than all the teenage Vikings in Berk. My brother Bjorn is the oldest, already eighteen and proud to say that he's completed his dragon training. Finh Haddock, Hiccup's unbearable older brother, is seventeen.

Since we're going in order, I'm next, about to turn seventeen in two weeks. Then Snotlout, then the twins: Ruffnut and Tuffnut, then Astrid, Fishlegs, and finally Hiccup.

Considering there is such a small number of teenagers in Berk, we've all unfortunately come to spend a lot of time with each other. It's mostly involuntary time for me, because I can hardly stand any of them besides Hiccup.

I like Astrid well enough because she's not fucking annoying like the others. I think we have a mutual like and respect for each other, considering we team up a lot for trainings. I do love my brother, though sometimes he's an overbearing pain in the ass. The other teenagers are downright obnoxious though.

The worst of them? Finh Haddock. I hate him.

Not only is he Hiccup's older brother, but he's Bjorn's best friend. And I hate him. I've made it my goal to make his life a living hell if he doesn't get burnt to a crisp by dragons.

Sorry, I'm very distracted. It's mostly because I'm trying to tune out Finh's voice while we put out fires.

Did I mention the town is currently on fire?

All of us, with the exception of Hiccup, are desperately tossing buckets of water to try and put out the buildings that dragons have been firebombing.

This was not how I planned on spending my Friday night.

"Tyra, pay attention!" Finh shouts, pulling me away from the Monstrous Nightmare that swooped in overhead, spraying fire. He pushed me under the overhanging roof of Gobber's masonry, covering me from the huge dragon that had just passed by.