Battle For The Thundering Twister

Finding Out

Chapter 4:Finding Out

The next afternoon after I found Castaway,I took him to the Academy.The whole dragon-rider group was there.I waved to them.They greeted me as I entered.

"Thanks for bringing Castaway here.Now,we can find out everything about him and where the rest of his species may reside,"Hiccup thanked me as he took Castaway into his arms.I shrugged it off.He examined Castaway carefully."He has those strange,sharp curved spines on his back.I don't know what they can be used for.Anyways,Fishlegs,please proceed with the three dragon tests,"Hiccup instructed,putting Castaway on a table.Fishlegs stepped forward with a piece of paper."First up,the Claw Test.Let's see how sharp those baby claws are,"Fishlegs held the paper out to Castaway."Fishlegs,he doesn't have claws,"I stated,gesturing to Castaway's feet.An expression of realization crossed Fishlegs' face."Strange.Baby dragons usually have claws at birth.Why doesn't Castaway have any?"he wondered,still holding up the paper.

I noticed Castaway sniffing the paper and tilting his head.Then,he put up his front legs.Out of the blue,razor-sharp claws appeared from Castaway's feet!He clawed the paper,shredding it entirely."Retractable claws as a baby!Amazing!"Hiccup exclaimed in delight."What's so amazing about that?"Tuffnut suddenly questioned."I don't know,but if I had any,I would've clawed you to death already,"Ruffnut replied."Well,if you put it that way,then they are amazing!"Tuffnut grinned.I sighed in exasperation at the two.

"That is definitely something special!Now,the infamous Eel Reaction Test,"Fishlegs muttered,opening a nearby basket.He retrieved an eel from the basket and held it out to Castaway.He hissed and snapped at the eel.Then,he turned away."Okay,Eel Reaction Test negative.Like all dragons,he doesn't like eels,"Fishlegs noted."Except the Typhoomerang,Fishlegs,"Astrid pointed out.

"Now for the final test,the Flight Test,"Fishlegs announced."Toothless,let's show Castaway what to do,"Hiccup called."Wait,wait,wait,Hiccup.Let me show him how it's done the Snotlout Way,"Snotlout interrupted.He mounted Hookfang."Hookfang,go!"Snotlout commanded.Hookfang grunted and tossed Snotlout off his neck.Snotlout went flying and landed head-first in a barrel."Every...single...time!"an angry,muffled voice came from the inside of the barrel.Hiccup shook his head and got on Toothless."Toothless,let's show Castaway how we fly,"Hiccup said,patting Toothless.Toothless rose into the air,flapping his wings.He shot out of the Academy.The pair zoomed off to the sea-stacks,where we could only see them as a speck of black.They weaved through the sea-stacks quicker than the wind.Then,they flew straight up to the sky.They suddenly came diving back down towards the Academy.Toothless shot through the entrance and landed on his feet effortlessly.I looked over to Castaway.He seemed scared,and was whimpering."Maybe he can't fly,"Hiccup remarked.

Hiccup was right.When Castaway spread out his wings and flapped them,he did not rise into the air.He even tried jumping off the table,but he only landed in a messy heap on the ground.I scooped Castaway into my arms."He can't fly as a baby,"I said."That's because he wasn't taught by his mother.Usually,a few days after hatching,baby dragons are taught by their mother or father to fly.But Castaway was left alone on the rock structure,so he didn't have a chance to learn,"Fishlegs explained."How do we know if Castaway's mother just left him for a while so she could get some food for themselves?"Astrid asked."Castaway's mother abandoned him.If his mother wanted to leave him for a while,she wouldn't keep the egg in such an obvious hiding place,"Fishlegs replied."I guess one of our dragons has to teach him how to fly,"Hiccup decided.Everyone stepped away the moment he said that."I guess it's up to me to teach Castaway how to fly,"he said."Okay,moving on.What other things can we do to find out more about Castaway?"Hiccup wondered.

"Jaw strength?"Astrid suggested."Nope,not until he grows up,"Fishlegs stated."Firepower!"Tuffnut yelled."Right!"Hiccup agreed.He placed three barrels in a row."Toothless,plasma blast!"Hiccup ordered,pointing at the barrels.Toothless shot two plasma blasts at two barrels.He completely destroyed them."Castaway!Fire!"I pointed to the remaining barrel.Castaway ran up to it.He inhaled deeply,opened his enormous mouth and exhaled.A giant blast of blue fire emerged from his mouth and torched the barrel until it was burnt black as coal.My jaw dropped.

"Wow,"was all I could utter."Blue fire for a baby dragon.He sure is some dragon,"Hiccup commented."Blue fire is hotter than normal fire.Since Castaway can produce such a special fire,he should be a Stoker Class dragon,"Fishlegs declared."Now,how about we test-,""Hiccup!Your father wants to see you!"Gobber yelled as he walked into the academy."Oh no.This can't be good,"Hiccup groaned.He turned to me."Yannied,bring Castaway home.We'll find out more about him in the future.Fishlegs,update the Book of Dragons,just don't write down the species name yet.The rest of you,head home.It's getting late and you all need some rest,"Hiccup instructed.I nodded and took Castaway into my arms.He grunted sleepily."Okay,you little hothead.Let's get you home and to sleep,"I giggled,walking home after a long day.