Battle For The Thundering Twister

Trouble

Chapter 8:Trouble

I woke up to see sunlight streaming in at my window.I stretched and got up from my wooden bed.Heading downstairs,I grabbed a couple of apples from a basket for myself and a basket of cod for Castaway.

Just before I pushed open the door,astern voice stopped me."Stop right there,young lady.That basket of cod is not for Castaway.It's for Stoick,"my father stopped me.I nodded and took up a smaller basket that contained halibuts.My father stopped me again."Yannied,you are NOT to take any basket of fish in this house for your dragon!You have to learn to catch fish for him yourself.He's not my dragon.He's yours,so get his food yourself,"my father lectured me.I pushed open the door after setting down the basket of halibuts.I headed to Castaway's stable.He was curled up,fast asleep.

"Castaway,"I called.He woke up and raised his head."Sorry,bud,no fish for you today.Father won't let me have any to give you.But I'll catch some,I promise,"I promised,scratching his chin.I refilled his bowl of water and let him drink it.Then,I quickly ran to Astrid's house nearby.I knocked on the door.She came to answer it.

"Sorry,Astrid,but could you spare  me a fish this morning?"I asked politely.Astrid nodded and she handed me a bucket full of halibut."I usually feed Stormfly salmon,not halibut,so you can have them,"she said generously.I thanked her profusely before running back to Castaway.I fed him the whole bucket and then fetched my fishing rod from the house.I strapped Castaway's saddle to his body and sat on his back.We flew to the sea-shore,where I knew I could probably catch a lot of fish.I had to hunt for a lugworm in the sand for bait.I finally found one wriggling near a rock.I hooked it to my fishing hook and cast my line into the sea.Castaway sat down beside me,patiently waiting for his lunch.

Just then,I heard whispers.I turned to see a group of Vikings around my age staring at me and Castaway.I waved at them,knowing they probably wouldn't wave back,but I just wanted to be friendly.To my utmost surprise,they smiled at me!I nearly dropped my fishing rod in surprise.

"Nice dragon!What's his name?"one of them asked."His name is Castaway.Pet him if you like,I don't mind,"I replied.They ran their hands all over Castaway,marvelling at his sharp teeth and strong hind legs.I felt a tug on my fishing rod.I reeled in the line,let it go slack and then reeled it in again.I gave a jerk to try and hook the fish,but failed.I reeled in the line till I had the fish out of the water.I had caught a perch.I hunted for another lugworm and found a couple entangled in some seaweed.I kept one in my pocket and hooked the other.I continued fishing till late afternoon.

By then,I was worn out from hunting for lugworms and fishing.I had a bucketful of different fish from all my hard work.I took the bucket and my fishing rod and mounted Castaway.We flew straight home.Castaway was still a little shaky during flight,but I knew he would get better at flying.I fed him a salmon,a brown trout and a fat halibut.Just before I entered my house,I heard my name being called.

"Yannied!"a voice shouted.I turned around to see a young boy with a helmet way too big for his head.His face looked really familiar.Then,I realised who he was."Gustav?"I questioned his name.He nodded,a mischievous grin on his face."You knocked down my snow-dragon last Snoggletog!And you didn't apologise!"I glared at him,recalling the time he had been running around and had knocked down my carefully-built snow-dragon.I felt the anger rush through me.Gustav laughed awkwardly."Yeah,um,I came to apologise about that.Sorry for knocking down your snow-dragon,"he scratched the back of his head."And Yannied?"he continued.I looked at him questioningly."Please,PLEASE can I ride on your awesome cool new dragon?"he pleaded.I shook my head instantly."Noway,Gustav!You might hurt him while flying!I know how careless you are,and you know it too!You might crash into a cliff or something!"I shot back."But I took such great care of Fanghook!So please?Just one ride?Just a little flight round Berk?"he begged."No!"I told him firmly.Gustav sulked.He crossed his arms and glared at me,refusing to go.I locked Castaway in his stable and took the key back to my house.I slammed the door shut and trooped upstairs to my bedroom after saying goodnight to my parents.I went to sleep,wondering about why Gustav was suddenly so eager to ride Castaway.

~Next Morning~

I woke up and stretched.My back was stiff,but I was used to it.I slid out of bed and went downstairs.My parents were not in.They had probably gone fishing.I opened the door and took the key to Castaway's shed from a hook beside the door.I whistled on my way to Castaway's shed."Castawa-,"I began.Then,I screamed my lungs out.

Castaway was gone.