First Friends

Chapter 34

i sneezed, startling Hiccup, Toothless and I out of our dreams. Hiccup leaned over the bed and looked at me strangely. I'd taken to sleeping downstairs because my joints were getting sore from use.

"Bless you," he said. I licked my nose and purred a greeting.

"Morning, furball," Toothless said to me. I heaved myself to my feet then crossed my back legs slightly, trying to keep from soiling myself in the house. Seeing my expression, Hiccup ran downstairs and threw open the door for me. I made a beeline outside and barely made it onto the grass before the floodgates opened up.

"Ah....." I said. Hiccup laughed as he saw me not far from the house. I hadn't had time to get to my bushes, instead doing my duties just off the stairs. Stoick came out not long after and Hiccup went back inside. After bidding me good morning, his father followed him. I finished my business and trotted to the bushes to do my other job. I returned to the house and got kicked in there snout by a metal leg as Hiccup ran out of the house like it was on fire. I sniffed after recovering and couldn't detect smoke or danger so I just assumed it was more family drama. Biscuit, the Speedstinger assigned to our home, ran up to Stoick not long after. He petted her a bit then gave her a message, which she ran up to Gothi's.

I slipped into my harness then began to drag the cart into the forest. It was old and rickety, like me, but still reliable and serviceable. I struggled out of the harness when I started hunting. By noon I had brought down my usual haul and a half. My ears pricked up towards the village when a horn sounded. I threw another rabbit onto the pile and pulled the cart to town. I dropped the load off and ran to find Stoick. I found him and Hiccup both in the Dragon Cave. They call it the Hangar, which is quite confusing as none of the dragons sleep hanging, but it's their way so I haven't argued with it.

"Dad, what is going on? Why are you freaking out?" Hiccup said to his father. Stoick turned to him and put his hands on his son's shoulders.

"Because Drago Bludvist is a madman," he hissed. I knew of Bludvist from rumors on the wing. An orphan like myself, he had sworn revenge against the dragons...by hurting people who stood between him and all dragons. It made no sense to anyone who heard it, and often made me chuckle when I thought about it.

I scrambled around as dragons in all shapes and sizes jostled around being put back in their pens. I tore off for an alcove when a Gronckle stepped on my tail. I screamed then bolted. By the time I looked up Stoick was chasing after Hiccup with the others. I sighed then dragged my sore tail and wounded pride back to the house. Once there I picked up a feather duster in my mouth and began sweeping the table, chairs, and around the fireplace with a broom attachment that Gobber had made for me and Hiccup adapted. I opened the door and swept the dirt out when I finished, then switched to a bucket of warm, soapy water and changed out my prosthetic again, this time to a scrubber brush. I used it to wash the floors, even upstairs where Hiccup, Toothless, and I slept.