Battle For The Thundering Twister

Growing Up

Chapter 5:Growing Up

P.S. Yannied's POV from now on...

Castaway grew up a lot after only one year.After one year of birth,Castaway was almost as big as Toothless.We became best friends,and my parents loved Castaway,but I could not ride him yet because his wings were still undeveloped.So,Castaway had flight lessons with Hiccup and Toothless.

During these lessons,Hiccup focused on strengthening Castaway's wings by making him flap them up and down several times.

After many lessons just flapping his wings,Castaway could finally move on to gliding.Hiccup demonstrated how Toothless glided.Castaway attempted to copy him but failed.He would raise his wings,run off the edge of a cliff and spread his wings,but he always overturned and plummeted to the ground.Fortunately,I wasn't riding him at those times.Castaway was hardworking,and dutifully tried his best during his lessons.He always trudged home wearily after five hours of falling off and climbing up cliffs.So,I would always give him plenty of fish and water to keep him going.Even when Hiccup couldn't train him,Castaway would always be on a hill trying to glide.

One day,Hiccup studied Castaway closely when he tried to glide.Hiccup noticed the problem immediately.

"Castaway didn't fold his wings out all the way!"he groaned.When Castaway had fallen and climbed back up the cliff,Hiccup raised his wings.He fiddled with Castaway's wings and finally unfolded a large fold of his wings."Now he should be able to glide,"Hiccup said.I stood with bated breath.Castaway turned his head and noticed his extended wings and grunted.Hiccup whistled to Castaway and pointed to the edge of the cliff.Castaway snapped back to attention.He spread out his wings and ran off the cliff.He jumped.

I widened my eyes and held my breath.Castaway,however,dipped back down earthwards.I groaned and turned away in exasperation."Yannied,look!"Hiccup shouted.I turned to look at the direction he pointed and my jaw dropped.Castaway was gliding!He was really gliding!He was moving forward steadily,his wings flat and fully extended.I whooped for joy and pranced around.Hiccup was laughing in delight and Toothless was sharing in my joy by bounding around me.I spotted Castaway trying to turn back and he succeeded!He circled back to us.I opened my arms.Castaway glided straight into me,knocking me onto the ground.I hugged his neck,almost choking him.Castaway licked my face.I got up and thanked Hiccup.He waved it off."Besides,we're not finished with Castaway.He's a little shaky during turning,and you still haven't ridden him while he glided,"Hiccup stated.I grinned at Castaway.He licked Hiccup eagerly.Hiccup pushed him away gently,struggling to get away from Castaway's dragon spit.I whistled.Castaway stopped his licking.

Over the next few lessons,Castaway quickly learned how to glide and turn smoothly.He grew much happier.Then,the long-awaited day arrived:the day I would finally ride Castaway while he glided.

That lesson,Hiccup fixed a saddle on Castaway's back.He had Castaway glide a couple of times with the saddle.Once Castaway had gotten used to the saddle and could glide easily with it,he wanted me to sit on the saddle."Yannied,if you guys start falling,grab Castaway's wings and pull them over you.They will protect you from harm;just don't pull too hard,"Hiccup instructed.I nodded.I stroked my best dragon-friend and placed my hand on his nose."I know you won't let me fall,bud,"I whispered.Then,I climbed his back and sat on the saddle.I placed my feet on the stirrups and grabbed the protruding front bit of the saddle.Hiccup gave the signal.Castaway raised his wings.He began running forward.I braced myself for the jump.Finally,Castaway jumped off the edge of the cliff.

I willed my eyes to stay open,and it was the best decision I ever made.Castaway managed to stay in the air safely.I cheered.Castaway grunted.I grasped the saddle and pulled it to the left slightly.Castaway turned to the left.I pushed the saddle down.Castaway dived slightly.I laughed in pure delight.I was finally gliding in the air on my very own dragon!We glided earthwards and quickly made our way to the cliff where Hiccup stood before we lost too much altitude and crashed into the cliffside."Way to go,Yannied!"he shouted.I high-fived him."Now,we can work on more gliding to prepare for his very first flight,"Hiccup said.I smiled.

"When we fly,Hiccup,I'll be the happiest Viking on Berk,"I stated.

A.N. Hey guys!If you're wondering why I didn't write it so Hiccup would teach Castaway to fly immediately,you need to play School of Dragons to find out. :P