How to Find Your Fire

(HTTYD) Chapter 24: Names

Puffnut's POV

"Would you like to explain what happened here, Puffnut?" I open one eye and feel the NightFury wrap more tightly around me. I poke my head out from under its wing and see Hiccup, Astrid, and the twins looking at me accusingly. I try to look guilty, but can't force the smile off my face. "Uuuugggghhhh, never mind. Get to cleaning up." Hiccup orders.

I stand with a sigh and step away from the dragon. As the grinning twins come towards me, however, I feel myself get pulled back towards the dragon who growls at the twins. "HEY! THE BEAST IS NOT TRAINED YET. GIVE IT TO US THORSTON TWINS AND YOU'LL HAVE IT BACK IN A JIFFY. WE ARE THE BEST DRAGON TRAINERS IN THE ARCHIPELAGO!" Tuff declares. I frown at him, self-consciously stepping back towards the NightFury as though to sheild it from the twins.

"That's great Tuff, but I think that it already has a personal trainer." Hiccup says, smiling at me. I grin back, feeling a huge sense of relief that he understands.

"We better start to-" Astrid begins when there is suddenly a earth-shattering roar that echoes through the room. Afterwards, it is deathly silent.

What was that?

As everyone runs outside, I escape the dragon's hold on me and follow them. Once outside, I gasp. In front of us is a Red Death.

No way. I thought the Riders had killed off the last one.

Behind it is an army of dragons.

They have slitted eyes; they must be under her control.

I remember the NightFury and her eyes on the first night I met her.

Oh no...

I quickly turn to to the NightFury who seems to be quaking in fear under the stare of the huge dragon.

Of course, it all makes sense now.

The Red Death lets out another roar that leaves my ears rattling. Noticing the fire forming in the Red Death's mouth, I freak out.

NO ONE HURTS MY FRIENDS OR MY FAMILY! NOT EVER AGAIN!

Glancing at the NightFury, I can tell she is under the Red Death's trance by her slitted eyes. I summon all of my Thorston strength and push the NightFury aside as a fireball comes crashing into the platform next to us.

I turn towards the dragon and see it coming towards me with a huge gummy smile. It leaps on me and covers my face with its slobbery toungue. I giggled and hug it, feeling a huge relief that I had saved one friend. The dragon soon breaks out of my embrace and looks resignedly at the Red Death.

It must not think it can escape the Red Death's call.

I plan to prove it wrong.

The Red Death begins to turn away but then, the Riders come flying towards her.

Wait, when did they leave?

I cheer as they spit fire at the Red Death's tail as it tries to fly away. Then, Hiccup and Toothless come barrelling towards them and Toothless shoots a plasma blast. They circle around again and right before they hit the monster of a dragon, they veer away and shoot another blast.

The Riders continue to fire at the Red Death and it finally retreates. They return to us and Astrid says, "That Red Death won't be gone long, and I think we all can tell. We have to be ready."

"BUT, US THORSTONS CAN HANDLE TH-" begins Tuffnut but Hiccup holds out his hand to stop him.

"No," he says firmly. I suppress the giggle that threatens to escape my mouth at the twins dejected expressions. Hiccup then clears his throat. "I say we follow it."

"What? Why?" Astrid asks, looking at Hiccup as though he had just announced for us to give up our dragons.

Hiccup grins and runs a hand through his hair. "Well, we've got to know where this thing came from. If it's from the original dragon nest or from a new one, We have to be careful and cautious. We don't want another of those Red Deaths ruling as a bad Queen. Who knows what would happen? But I promise you," he continues, seeing our baffled expressions. "if we leave it there things may go haywire."

"Sounds... sensible" Fishlegs says slowly. "But what if it figures out we're following it?"

Astrid smiles, suddenly confident with Hiccup again. "It won't."

After that, everyone agrees to the plan. Hiccup smiles and gestures towards the NightFury, who is still standing by me protectively. "But in the meantime, I would like you to meet Toothless." As we walk over to where Toothless is standing, Hiccup turns to me. "What's her name?"

"It's a she?" I ask, turning to study the excited dragon next to me. "How can you tell?"

"I have my ways," laughs Hiccup. I smile too.

What should her name be?

Apon seeing the NightFury, Toothless bounds over to us and leaps on her. The NightFury croons in delight and they wrestle with each other. I feel a smile on my face as they prance around each other, both clearly excited at seeing another NightFury.

"Wanna race?"

I turn to Hiccup, grinning with delight. "Sure!" I hop onto the NightFury and Hiccup hops onto Toothless.

"We'll race to those sea stacks and back." I nod my head, already feeling the NightFury's muscles tensing underneath me.

I pat the side of her head and whisper, "Toothless is fast, probably the fastest dragon in the Archipelago. But you're a NightFury. If anyone can beat him, you can." The dragon warbles underneath me.

"Three. Two. One. Go!" shouts Hiccup. The NightFury springs up into the air and beats her wings, gaining air quickly. Toothless gets a head start on us, but we catch up quickly. I feel a whoop escape my mouth as we soar through the sky.

This is better than anything I had imagined!

We fly through the air, racing through the clouds, and I feel moisture sting against my eyes. I wipe it away and laugh, relishing the feeling of adrenaline coursing through my veins. I hold on tightly to the NightFury as we dive, shooting straight towards the sea stacks. "WOOOOHHOOOOO!" I shout. I hear the whistle of wind in my ears that signifies we are going faster than the speed of sound.

We land neatly on the sea stack and I turn to Hiccup, smoothing down my windblown hair. "That. Was. Amazing!" I exclaim.

He smiles. "Yeah. I think you actually beat me and Toothless."

My grin grows wider; I had forgotten that we had been racing. "Did you hear that?! We won!" The NightFury gives me a gummy smile and I laugh.

"So," says Hiccup as we are flying back to the Edge. "Do you know what to name her."

I smile. A name had seemed to appear in my head when we were flying and I say it now. "Cloudracer. Her name is Cloudracer..."