First Friends

Chapter 26

Disastrous. That's all I have to say about Hiccup's time in the ring. Stoick smashed his hammer down on the metal, making my hair stand on end. I spat at him as he tripped over me, sending me reeling. I leapt down into the ring and hissed at the Nightmare as it chased Hiccup and then Astrid around. I bit his tail, and he flamed up. I released his tail immediately and leapt between him and Hiccup, who had tripped. He swatted me aside and I blacked out temporarily. Hiccup ran toward me as I lay prone, and the Nightmare pinned him. I sat up groggily and roared in outrage.

"GET OFF MY HUMAN!" I screamed at the Nightmare. He ignored me and bent low over Hiccup, as though contemplating what to have him as, whether a main course or as a side. I lurched to my feet, staggering as I did so, but before I could move, I heard a familiar whistle-shriek shortly before a Fwoom-BANG! erupted over my head. Smoke filled the arena as Toothless pounced on the Nightmare, wrestling him off Hiccup. I stumbled over to Hiccup, who grabbed my harness tightly. The smoke cleared and Toothless began spitting insults and threats at the Nightmare.

"You eel-loving, human-killing, sick, sadistic-" My eyes widened and I was grateful that no humans could understand the words he was saying. "If you ever come near my human or his jaguar again, I will personally see to it that you become a cloak!" I gasped in shock. That was the worst thing a dragon could say to another dragon.

"Okay, okay, sorry! He made a loud noise and I overreacted," the Nightmare protested.

"Get out of here before I finish you off!" Toothless shrieked, swiping at the Nightmare, who was too far away, but seemed to get the idea. His actions chased the Nightmare away and then Hiccup left my side to stand by Toothless.

"Alright, Bud. Go get outta here!" Hiccup hissed to him, pushing Toothless' head gently, trying to get him to flee. I took a step forward and collapsed, too dizzy and weak to stand up. I lay my head down on my paws, struggling to keep breathing. I didn't feel or hear anything for about an hour, but when I came to, Hiccup was riding by on a Deadly Nadder with Astrid holding on around his waist.

I must have hit my head harder than I thought, I thought as I watched the others fly by on their own dragons: A Gronckle for Fishlegs, a Hideous Zippleback for Ruffnut and Tuffnut, and the Monstrous Nightmare for Snotlout. I roared a farewell to Hiccup and the others. I stood up on my back legs to wave with my good paw.

"Don't worry, Tiger. We'll be back!" I heard Hiccup call. I rolled my eyes and went back to the house, thinking I could get some shut eye or at least clean.

About six hours later, Stoick came back in carrying someone. I looked up in alarm as the stench of burning flesh reached my nose, mingling with Hiccup's scent. Even more shocking for me was the fact that he allowed Toothless to enter the house with no signs of hostility. I could tell Hiccup was broken, even without him being conscious. Stoick sat down on a stool and beckoned me over. I propped my front paws on his knee, and he stroked me absentmindedly.

"Tiger, I need you to get along with Toothless, for Hiccup's sake if nothing else." My eyes widening must have been all he needed to see to understand my surprise. "Hiccup fell from Toothless' back while they were facing off against a dragon the size of this island. Toothless saved him, Tiger. He-" Gobber came in and cut him off.

"Well, y'know, most of 'im," he said. He had a strange metal object in his hand, and he reeked of sweat and slightly of manure. He flipped the cover back on Hiccup's bed and showed me the severely burned limb. I must have looked as horrified as I felt.

I whirled around and gave Toothless a wounded look. "You promised to keep him safe and whole," I said quietly before tearing out the door.