Dragons are a Girls Best Friend

Chapter 6

Trainer: Eydis

Dragon: Hobblegrunt

Name: Aurastorm

Personality: Shy but kind and will do anything for those she cares about. Enjoys peace and quiet but hates it when this is disrupted. Be warned! When she gets angry you'll know it! Fortunately much like her rider, she doesn't stay angry for long.

I'm up first for training. Chief Hiccup thought it would be best to train individually before training together as a team and I totally agree. This is going to be so cool! I can't wait! Which is very unusual for me. Normally I'd prefer to be picked last but now that Aurastorm is with me, I feel as if I can do anything! Astrid entered the ring and marched up to me. Her dragon Stormfly right behind her. "Ok Eydis. Today we will work on your fighting skills. If something happens to your dragon and you're separated, you must know how to defend yourself. Now," she pointed towards a stack of weapons, "choose your weapon". I walked over and had a look at the weapons. An axe, two small fork like knives and finally. At the end of the stack. Was a small stick like weapon with a pointy end and two ultra sharp points jutting out to the side. I noticed there was a button about midway, so I pushed it to see what would happen. It extended outwards until it was nearly as tall as I was. Startled, I pressed the button again and it re-calapsed into its original state. Now this I could work with! Grinning, I held my new weapon and turned to face Astrid. We'd already practiced hitting targets at the academy so this was a real step up. Choosing your weapon and proving your worth by defeating your teacher. Well. At least getting close to defeating your teacher. "I hope you're ready for this Eydis" Astrid challenged. I responded by circling her and waiting for her to make the first move. Which she obliged to willingly. She swung up her axe and charged.

I dodged the first few attacks using my new weapon. And even took a few good swings toward her which she dodged. Obviously. But my next jab caught her by surprise. She had thought that she was far enough out of my reach but I extended my weapon and she only had just enough time to block it with her axe blades. Seconds away from being struck in the eye with the spear head at the top of my weapon. The sound of metal scraping on metal made us both cringe. Astrid stopped and held her hands up in surrender. It was over. The fight had finished. "Wow Eydis! That was really good! You almost had me there. Well you pass today's training with me. And just so you know, I'm looking forward to you beating Snotlout next up". Astrid waved goodbye to me as she got on Stormfly and took off towards the Chief's house. Now for my training with Snotlout. This will be fun.

Snotlout tuned up not long after Astrid left and right away, I could tell he was showing off. He had this air about him that I didn't like. His dragon Hookfang also didn't seem to like it which why I guess he set his rider aflame. "Hookfang!" Snotlout scream as he ran and jumped into a bucket of water. I face palmed. Shaking his wet self, Snotlout walked up to me. Ready to start the class. " Well Eydis. Looks like it's just you and me now". I stared at him hard. I could just about punch him right now. "Now. For today's lesson we will focus on shooting targets down with your dragon. So... Any questions?" I shook my head. No. "Well then. Let's start this thing".

I wobbled a little on Aurastorm. We had never hovered while in flight before. "Ok. Now there are targets all around the island. Your aim is to hit each and every one of them. And you won't leave here until you do. Do you understand?"

"Yes".

"Good. Now begin!"

I dodge the stacks left and right on Aurastorm. Being a Hobblegrunt, she can't fly very fast but she is an excellent glider and that'll come in handy today. "Look girl! There's the first target. Now... FIRE!!!" Aurastorm let out a blast of ethane exporant? Flame which hit the target dead on. "Woohoo! We did it! Uh oh". A large sea stack was looming up on us while we were distracted. Aurastorm put on the brakes but we weren't going to make it. I held the handles on my saddle and pulled back as hard as I could. The sea stack was now just a few feet in front. We're not going to make it. We're-". Aurastorm stuck her powerful hind legs up and pushed away from the sea stack, sending us around it instead of straight into it. "Yes! We didn't get squashed!" I triumphed.

1 hour later

Phew! That's the last of them I hope. Both Aurastorm and I landed outside the academy in a crumpled, exhausted heap. Snotlout stood looking down at us. "Well. Looks like you hit every one. You passed! Congratulations! Now Hookfang and me will go take a nice relaxing nap. See ya, wouldn't want to be ya! That's what my dad always says. Well. Bye Eydis. See you later!" And with that he blew me a kiss and left. Eww! He thinks he's quite the ladies man. But I would have thought that by now he'd know that he was the opposite. And besides. He's like, what? ten, fifteen years older than me? Shaking my head, I turn to see the twins walk in. Well, walking while fighting anyway. Jeez what are we going to do with those two?!

"Oh hey Eydis! What are you doing here?" Tuffnut asked me. "Training". I pointed out. "Oh yeah that's right!" Ruffnut exclaimed, "We were supposed to be training Eydis today!" She clasped her hands together and smiled mischieviously. "So my fine friend. What shalt we do today?" Tuffnut said theatrically. "Very well said Tuff. Well maybe we could pit her against us in the boar pit!"

"Boar pit! Boar pit! Oiyoiyoiyoi" Tuffnut started jumping up and down in excitement. So typically the twins. "Actually I have a better idea". Ruffnut declared, "How about we get Eydis here to defend the base by attackers. Cause you know there can be a time when you have to defend your base by yourself. Remember what happened last time Tuff?!" Tuffnut grinned evilly.

"Let the games begin!"

I positioned myself and Aurastorm at the edge of the island facing out to sea. Ruff and Tuffnut were out there somewhere on their Hideous Zippleback, Barf and Belch, just waiting to attack. I scanned the horizon but saw nothing. Aurastorm's fin vibrated this way and that. Sensing any oncoming threats. Roaring, she jumped to the side just before a fire ball hit right where we had just been standing. I heard snickering laughter fade. Well. They've had their turn. Now it's my turn. I urged Aurastorm to fire back. Our first shot missed the twins but the second shot made Tuff fall off his dragon and into the swirling ocean below. "Tuff!" Ruffnut called out. I brought Aurastorm in close and she lit her flames in her mouth. Aiming for Ruffnut next. "Your move" I said triumphantly. Ruffnut begrudgingly raised her hands. I had won.

Back at the island, Ruff and Tuff congratulated me on my win. "Yeah you were great Eydis! I can't wait to see you in battle!" Ruff patted me on the back. Making me stumble. "Yeah. She could even replace you". Ruff punched her brother in the face. "Ow!", he stuttered, "Come on! Do it again!". I left the twins to themselves and exited the academy. Well, my training's done. Now it's time for the rest to show what they can do.