Daughter of the Wing [ON HOLD]

<Chapter 3>

"Ok, so you'll be staying here until we, uh" "Until you all figure out whether you can trust me. It's ok Astrid, I get it. I'm new, I have no clue as to how I even managed to get here, you guys have no reason to trust me yet" Tora smiled at Astrids worried expression and walked into the makeshift room they had made her in the stables.

A bed was placed against the wall along with some hastily thrown blankets and a pillow. There was also a small table and stool and a few books. Tora walked over and touched the book covers, lifting them up to read the titles.

"'Islands of the Archipelago'?" She queried the blonde. "Yeah, Hiccup thought that maybe they might jog your memory and you'll remember your island" Astrid explained in her straightforward way. Tora nodded and sat down on the bed.

"So," She grinned cheekily at the other girl, "How long have you and Hiccup been a thing?" Tora laughed as the Viking's jaw dropped down and she struggled to regain her composure. "What? Me and Hiccup? We're just friends!" She stammered. "Ok, whatever you say Astrid" Tora grinned at her which made Astrid laugh and throw a pillow at the brunette.

Once the girls had settled down, they noticed the boy, well, man, in question leaning against the door looking at them in amusement. "Oh, hey Hiccup" Tora said a bit too brightly. She caught Astrids eye causing them both to start laughing again much to poor Hiccups bewilderment.

Finally, they had settled down enough for Hiccup to tell them what he came over to say. "So, Tora, how are you finding things so far? I'm sorry about the ah, living arrangements, but I'm afraid it's the best we can do until we figure some things out" He glanced apologetically at her. "It's great Hiccup, thanks. And thank you for the books, great idea" She returned. "Yeah, he's full of those" Astrid remarked and grinned at him.

Their moment was interrupted by a loud blast follows by laughter. "Twins! Astrid, I just came to ask if you would mind taking Tora around the island?" After receiving Astrids confirmative nod, Hiccup ran out of the stables to tell of Ruff and Tuff.

"They do that a lot?" Tora asked laughing. Astrid rolled her eyes in response. "You have no idea. Come on, let's go get Stormfly"

"So this is what we call Dragons Edge. When we first found the island, all the riders began fighting over what to put here until Hiccup decided that we should each have our own hut and section with whatever we want. And over there is our guard station where Smidvarg and the rest of the Night Terrors guard. They're the native dragons of the island, nocturnal, so they make great sentries" Astrid continued telling Tora as they circled the Edge. "There's not really much to notice with the rest of the island. Just a lot of forest, couple of mountains and one or two rivers. But still, it's home"

Tora nodded in understanding and looked over Stormfly's edge to get a better view of the huts. "So, you all have dragons and you all ride them?" She asked. "Yeah, it's great fun. And the dragons are amazing creatures. Isn't that right girl?" Astrid laughed and scratched the Nadder affectionately. "You don't seem very freaked out by it?" Astrid noted. "Yeah, I mean, no I guess not. I don't know, it just feels sort of-familiar? I can't describe it, it just feels normal to me?" The brunette replied. Astrid kept silent, thinking as well.

"Listen Astrid, I know you guys don't trust me and you don't have any reason to. But I'm not going to betray you guys, not to this Dagur person or anyone else. You guys helped me, I'm not stupid enough to throw that away. I know you don't really have any reason to believe me, but I want you guys to know that you can trust me" Tora tried to gauge the other girls reaction but she remained still.

Finally, she spoke.  "I can't figure out why you would be here. Or if this whole memory thing is a trick. But Toothless and Hiccup seem to trust you, so I will too" "Thank you Astrid, I-" "Just let me warn you however. We were betrayed once by someone like you, I was betrayed, and I won't let it happen again. So if you give me any inclination that you mean to harm us, I will throw you back into the ocean myself" She finished with a deft finality. "Understood" Tora nodded before realising that she could actually see her.

"Let's get back to the Edge" Stormfly adjusted herself and they cruised back to Dragons Edge, the wind at their backs.