Moon Fire

Chapter 10

Hey, guys. Sorry this one took so long. Hurricane Matthew hit the coast just a day or two ago and we had family over and I haven't really had a chance to do any serious writing. No one in my family was hurt, thank goodness, but please keep the families of those who were in your thoughts and prayers.

Also, I don't know why this chapter was so hard for me to write. I mean, seriously, it's only the most well-known scene in the entire movie, right? I should have it memorized by now. SO WHY DID I GET SLAMMED WITH WAVE AFTER WAVE OF WRITER'S BLOCK?!

*sigh*

Anyway, please don't forget to vote and/or leave a comment. Enjoy the chapter!
*****
As it turned out, getting Sindri and Twig to trust him was worlds easier than getting dragons like Crimson to trust him. As the days went by, the rest of the herd was starting to be okay with him, but the scarlet Nadder was clearly still loathe to even let him near. Whenever he got too close, at least in her opinion, she'd rush at him with teeth and claws bared, wings spread. Hiccup couldn't imagine what he might possibly be doing wrong.

I'm pretty sure she just laid another clutch, Twig said, picking up on their unspoken conversation out of the blue. They were sitting by the river, just within sight of Crimson's den, sharing lunch. The Nadder was napping in the sun at the entrance to her den, her sides rising and falling evenly in slumber. Again, Twig was reading his mind. She'd done it so often by now that Hiccup just went along with it. It would definitely explain why she's been so aggressive lately.

You mean she's not always like this? Hiccup asked. Twig shook her head. Dragons are naturally more aggressive when they have a nest to defend. Crimson has more reason than any of us to bare her teeth at anything that moves, after what Creepy Face did to her.

Crimson's one visible eye snapped open as the wind blew toward her. Her nostrils flared and her head shot up, moving slowly as she glared around at her surroundings. She must not have seen anything, though, because she put her head back down a few moments later.

What happened to the Alpha? Hiccup asked, changing the subject.

A cloud of worry seemed to settle over Twig's face. I haven't seen him since you got here. Hope he's doing okay.

Do you think he's sick or something? Hiccup asked. Come to think of it, he hadn't encountered the Night Fury either. Not that that was out of the ordinary—they were talking about one of the most secretive dragon breeds in the world. But still.

Twig shook her head. Oh, no, of course not. Not . . . well, not now, at least, she admitted hesitantly. Concerned, Hiccup gently picked her up and put her on his lap so he could get a clear view of her face. She tried to meet his gaze, convince him that everything was fine, but she kept glancing furtively around behind Crimson's den. She was very worried.

What if we visited him today? Hiccup suggested. That way, you could know for sure what was going on.

To his surprise, Twig vehemently shook her head. No, no, no, no, no, we can't go barging in there.

Why not?

Two reasons. A: that's his personal space. No dragon goes into another's den without permission, even if it's just a friendly visit. And B: he's got the sickness. Or, if he doesn't now, he will soon.

Hiccup squinted, confused. Sickness? He got up and started walking through the meadow back toward the village. Twig curled her tail around his arm, silent for a moment before answering, clearly upset. It's what happens when dragons that are used to flying can't anymore. Younger or naturally flightless dragons are immune because they don't need to or they don't know how to. First they get really irritated and frantic. Their instincts tell them to fly, and they know they can't, but they try anyway. Sometimes, they scream.