First Friends

Chapter 30

I followed Hiccup on the ground for a bit, since I recovered fairly quickly. I froze when I caught a familiar scent that made the hair on the back of my neck stand ramrod straight. I roared softly, just loud enough for one of the dragons to hear me, then turned and bolted after the creature's invisible trail. The sun was close to setting, and I knew that Hiccup and the others were nervous with a capital "N" though I didn't know exactly what for. I skidded to a halt when I came to the mouth of a cave. I paced in front of it, trying to keep from pelting in there and killing everything that moved. A few moments before sunset Toothless and the other dragons, with their riders in tow, landed behind me.

Hiccup tried to go towards the cave, but I pushed myself between him and the opening, growling at the mouth of the cave.

"Don't worry, Tiger. I'll be okay," he said, stepping around me. I looked incredulously at Toothless, who was completely clueless as to what was in there.

"Has he taken leave of his senses?" I asked.

"No, he's just looking for the other dragons," Toothless replied matter-of-factly. I rolled my eyes. "What?"

"Those things are hellspawns. They aren't going to leave quietly," I answered annoyed.

Something happened inside, and Toothless stepped around me, joining Hiccup. I chuffed in irritation and followed them to keep them safe. I don't know when or how it happened, but disaster struck not long after Hiccup and Toothless went in there. Instincts told me when to move, and I did as ordered. I pounced on a passing shape. It was the leader.

We struggled for a bit, him pushing me onto my back and aiming his stinger at my stomach or throat, but I always kept myself safe. I bit his stinger once, and he howled in outrage. I used his distraction to kick him off me. I leapt and pinned him. I held him down with my good paw and held his tail with mine. I bared my teeth and brought them close to his neck.

"Leave," I hissed menacingly. "Or die!"

I got up off him when he went limp. He was on his feet in an instant, and I got ready for another fight. He wasted no time getting out of there. Instead of taking the ice bridge, however, he ran clear off the side into the water. I was horrified. I looked back at the others, not sure whether to believe what I'd just seen or not. The other Stingers surrounded me, and I was certain this was the end for me. I refused to let them see me as weak or cowardly, however, and instead sat down and lifted my chin slightly. When nothing happened for a few moments, I opened my eyes and saw them bowing to me in a circle.

"Whoa," Hookfang said, mirroring everyone's expression.

One of the Speedstingers approached me, head lower than mine. "Greetings, Leader. Our ways dictate that whoever defeats the original Leader is the leader themselves, and we serve them and follow their orders, be they Speedstinger or not," she said. I nodded to her.

"Thanks for explaining that," I said. I got to my feet and they rose to their full height. I headed towards Hiccup and the others, rubbing against Toothless in passing before coming to Hiccup, who scratched me under the chin, and then behind the ears. Stoick arrived not long after.

"Hiccup, what are those things doing on my island still?" he growled. I caught his eye and walked towards the Speedstingers.

"Sit down," I said. They didn't seem to understand, so I showed them. I rose on my back legs slightly, then sat back like I often saw Toothless do. "Like this."

A chorus of "Oh!s" soon followed, then they all sat down. I glanced back at Stoick and his jaw was on the ground. I knew I had the Stinger's respect, and Stoick's as well.