Battle For The Thundering Twister

Castaway's First Flight

Chapter 6:Castaway's First Flight

After our several gliding lessons,Castaway and I began gliding beside other dragons and Vikings.The thing I realised was that people seemed surprised,even shocked,that I had a dragon.I smiled at their astounded faces and just glided quickly past them.

Soon,Castaway and I had mastered gliding.We could turn all different directions smoothly,we could glide really quickly and slice through the air like an arrow.Now came the next phase:flying.

Hiccup began training Castaway to beat his wings as hard as he could.Meanwhile,I was told to practice flying on everybody's dragons.First,I started with Astrid's Deadly Nadder Stormfly.I had to gain her trust before I could ride her,and it definitely wasn't easy.Astrid told me what to do and how to fly Stormfly.I learnt how to control the speed at which I was flying at and how to make Stormfly use her spine-shot attack.

Next was the twins' Hideous Zippleback Barf and Belch.I perched myself nervously on their back.That didn't turn out too great.I was thrown off and thankfully got saved by Astrid who was watching me.

After that was Fishlegs' Gronckle Meatlug.She was really slow and took her time to fly.I guess she was pretty good at knocking out Snotlout with her club-like tail.

Finally came Toothless,Hiccup's legendary Night Fury.I didn't have to ride Hookfang because I had already ridden him when I found Castaway.Hiccup taught me how to use Toothless' special stirrup that controlled the angle of his tail.Hiccup then went off to train Castaway.I mounted Toothless carefully and slipped my feet into the stirrups.I tilted my left foot that was on the special stirrup forward.Toothless' tail fanned out."Okay,Toothless,let's fly!"I said enthusiastically.Toothless grunted and beat his wings.We rose into the air.Then,we surged forward.I felt the wind brush my face.I clutched onto Toothless' saddle and tugged it to the left.Toothless turned left,but then started to spiral down.Panicking,I tilted my left foot back.Toothless suddenly veered right and then straightened himself.I let out a sigh of relief.

"Toothless,you okay?"I asked.He replied by smacking my cheek with his ear."Okay,okay,I'm sorry,"I apologised.I continued to fly Toothless.I did many accidental flips,spirals and nose dives,but managed to get the hang of flying.I finally returned to Hiccup after seven straight hours.He was grinning broadly.

"Just say 'Up' and you'll see what I taught Castaway,"he merely said.I stared at him curiously.Then,I turned to Castaway and said,"Up,".He cocked his head and started beating his wings.I turned to look at a very smug Hiccup."Look at his feet,"he called.I looked at Castaway's feet.They were hovering a few feet above ground.That meant...

"Castaway!You're flying!You're really flying!"I shouted in joy.Castaway grunted proudly."That's not all!Castaway,show her whatcha got!"Hiccup yelled.Castaway gave a feeble attempt at a roar and beat his wings even harder.He leaned forwards.He began travelling forward.Castaway could even fly forwards!He came flying back down to me and landed.I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him.Hiccup came up behind me.

"He's a pretty quick learner.I've no doubt he'll be really skilled at flying in no time,"he said.I thanked Hiccup profusely,but he waved it all off.

"Come again tomorrow.We still got to get you on his back,"Hiccup continued.Then,I felt a water droplet drop onto my nose.I looked up and spotted grey clouds overhead.

"We better get home or we'll end up with Bork's runny noses,"I said.Hiccup nodded.He mounted Toothless and flew off after bidding me goodbye.I walked home with Castaway shielding me from the wind and rain with his wing.I patted his jaw.

"One day,we're gonna be the best dragon-rider pair in all of Berk,"I told him.He nudged me in reply.