Dragon Paradise

Chapter 25

Hey guys! This chapter is very emotional in my opinion. I had a hard time writing it honestly. Let me know what you think!

What? WHAT?

"What do you mean they don't sound friendly? Are they going to come kill me in my sleep? Are they plotting my kidnapping? What do you mean by not friendly?" I ask hysterically.

"Hicca, go into the cave behind me and don't make a sound." Toothless says, ignoring my questions.

"Why? What are you going to do?"

"Hicca, please. Just go into the cave and be quiet. Don't come out until I say it's okay. Just listen to me." He looks so sincere and worried that I feel all of the argument leave me. I just nod and go into the cave. Toothless stares after me before turning around and hiding behind the tree where he was sleeping earlier.

Well he didn't say I couldn't watch from the cave.

I stand in the front the cave, hidden in the shadows but still able to see the lake and most of the cove. It seems like forever before I hear the voice that Toothless must have heard.

"Hicca? Your dad told me you wanted to talk to me. Gobber said he saw you coming into the forest." Austen

Crap! I knew I should have come back with the tail later on. THE TAIL!

I look around frantically and notice it still by the base of the tree. It was still wrapped up thankfully but it was still easy to see the package.

"Toothless," I hiss, trying to make as little noise as possible. "The package in front of the tree! Hide it!" I wait for a moment and nothing happens before a tail-sans one tail fin- slides out of the shadows and sweeps the package towards him. In the process, the wrappings come undone and the tailfin is in full view. I hear him gasp then see his eyes from the shadows staring at me.

"Yes it's a tailfin. You can thank-" I break off, hearing footsteps echoing close to the cove. I see a shadow from the entrance before Austen comes into view. I freeze, scared to even breathe.

"Hicca? You here?" He asks into the silence. When he speaks again, it's like a whole new person.

"I admit this is a weird place to talk but since you've been avoiding me, I've resorted to...desperate measures. All I wanted was to talk? Why is that so hard?" It almost sounds like he's in tears.

Should I talk to him? Is this really a good idea?

I stay quiet a moment before I slowly take a step forward. I see Toothless' eyes once more and his voice rings out in my head.

"Don't. Move." He says, narrowing his eyes. I gasp, looking to Austen who shows no sign of hearing Toothless.

"Don't worry, he won't hear me unless I want him to. Stay there and wait for him to leave"

I almost listen but as I look back towards Austen once more, he speaks.

"I would really appreciate it if you would at least answer me. I feel a little crazy talking to an empty cove." He yells.

I sigh and with my mind made, take one more step, moving into the sunlight and clearly into Austen's view. His head whips towards me and he takes a step towards me.

"...hi" He whispers.

"Hi."

"Hicca, listen. I don't know why you won't tell me your feelings but right now, I just want a yes or no answer." He pauses before taking a breath in.

"Do you have feelings for me?"

I open my mouth before shutting it once more, unsure as to how I should word my thoughts.

"Ok. How do I explain this." I ask myself quietly. I guess not quiet enoguh because I see Austen's face fall.

"Ok... that's an answer in itself." He moves to go towards the entrance.

"Wait no! Let me explain!" I hurry to add. He pauses before turning towards me, an eyebrow raised. I take a deep breath.

"I honestly don't know what I feel. I had a crush on you for so long and you rarely acknowledged my existence and when you did it was either to yell at me or just glare silently. The feelings I felt because of that aren't easy to forget. Then all of the sudden, you make a complete shift and are nice to me and talk to me casually. How am I supposed to feel?" I chuckle dryly, "I'll be honest, at first I thought that Snotlout dared you to do all of that. I can't help but feel that all of the sudden you will go back to glaring and yelling and I don't know if I can handle that if we get into a more... romantic relationship than we have now. I don't think I can..." I trail off slowly looking up from where I was staring at the ground. Austen's face is blank

"Ok... so where are we?"

"I need time. I need to know that you mean this." I say before slowly moving past him.

I'll be back later. Right now I need to go home. I think to Toothless. It's silent for few seconds before he replies.

"Ok. I'll see you later." With that, I walk out of the cove. When I'm just outside the cove but before I leave completely, I hear Austen quietly say something that makes me smile.

"Just wait Hicca, I'm going to prove to you that I mean this."

Ooooo the big confrontation has finally arrived. Will Hicca let Austen into her heart? What will Austen do to prove his feelings? WHAT WILL HAPPEN?

I'm going to update a lot because I literally have 5 weeks off of school. (It's a long story but yeah.)

ALSO: I want you guys to comment whether or not this should be Hicca x Austen or Hicca x Toothless. I've have a hard time deciding between them. I have plans for both and they don't really change the story much. LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!

Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed and I will see you next time!

~Night Fury's Avenger