Run Away

Back at Home

"Oh Hiccup..." She breathed. She lunged forward and kissed me again. When she pulled away she wrapped me in a hug. "Thank you." I put my arms around her. "Your quite welcome milady." She kissed my cheek before going inside. Toothless shot me a teasing look. I crossed my arms. "Oh, what?" He gave a warbled laugh. I sighed. "Always, useless reptile." I climbed on and we flew back home. The next morning we all got ready for the flight back to Berk. Dad was going to ride with mom. I was preparing Toothless when Astrid walked in. "Hiccup?" I turned to her. "What is it Astrid?" She crossed her arms. "Nadder's not moving. I can't fly." My heart sunk. If Astrid couldn't fly, she couldn't come with us. Then mom spoke up. "Well, you'll just have to ride with Hiccup on Toothless then."  I looked over at her. I saw hints of amusement in her eyes. Dad kept glancing at us and  was obviously trying not to laugh. I shrugged. "Sure, why not?" I climbed on Toothless, and Astrid hopped on behind me. Her arms snaked around my waist, and I blushed red. I was glad she couldn't see my face. I glanced over at mom. She nodded at me amusingly. I glanced back at her. "You ready?" She leaned against my back. "Yes." I patted Toothless's head. "Okay bud, to the nest." Cloudjumper took off, us close behind. Astrid's arms tightened around my waist. Once we were over the ocean and Berk was out of sight I pointed to a pod of two headed dragons in the water below us. "Look, those are Seashockers." I couldn't see her face, but she answered. "Cool!" We flew for a long time, and it was noon by the time we reached the nest. When it broke into view, I heard Astrid gasp. "Hiccup, it's amazing." I laughed. "It's is, isn't it?" We flew through the opening, down the passageway, and broke into the main cavern. Astrid gasped again, and her arms tightened around my waist again. We landed in front of the cave, and dismounted. Toothless immediately curled up and fell asleep.  I gestured around me. "Welcome to my home Astrid." Dad put a hand on my shoulder. "Hiccup, Val, this is amazing." Mom held the curtain obscuring the cave from the rest of the sanctuary aside. "Come on in." We went inside. Astrid looked around. "Wow. Hiccup, this is where you live?" I smiled and pulled a leather sack out from behind my bed. "Yeah, but now I live in Berk." She walked forward and stared at the sketches over my bed. "You sure had a lot of time on your hands. These are really good." I blushed slightly. "Thanks." I filled the sack with my few possessions. My sketchbook, the remainder of the charcoal pencils I had brought with me, a knife, and a few other things. I started to take the pictures off the wall. I folded them carefully and placed them in the bag too. Astrid helped. After a few minutes she tapped my shoulder. I turned around. "Yes?" She pulled a small sketch out from behind her back. "What's this?" When I saw what it was, I felt myself turn bright red. It was a sketch of her. I put a hand on the back of my head. "Uh, I- I can explain. I-" she cut me off with a quick kiss. "It's alright." She hugged me.  We finished taking the sketches off the wall, then I grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the door. "Cmon. I'll show you the forge." We left, and as we approached the entrance to the forge Sharpshot flew out of his hole and landed on my shoulder. Astrid gasped. I laughed. "Hey Sharpshot! I've missed you little guy." We cooed, and I scratched his chin. Astrid reached out a hand. "He's trained to?" I shrugged. "Not exactly. I met him when I built the forge, and he likes to hang around while I work. He treats me like an equal, and vice versa. He seems to accept me like I'm a dragon too. I AM a dragon too." I said, coming to the realization. She petted him gently, and he transitioned over to her shoulder. I pulled open the curtain and we went inside. Astrid looked around. "Wow. You built all of this?" I shrugged. "Yeah, but it's nothing compared to Gobber's shop." I picked up the pieces of my partially finished shield and carefully wrapped them in leather before rolling them up in one big piece and tying it together. Astrid put my tools back in their box and latched it shut. We left, and walked back to the house.