Gobber opens the gate to the arena our village uses for killing dragons and for training the next generation of Vikings how to kill dragons. The arena was placed on a place made solidly of stone with a cliff rising up behind it and is a quarter mile away from the village with its bottom carved 10 feet into the stone and the top a dome of metal bars. Inside the arena on the far wall are five cages carved into the stone each cage holding a different dragon the doors if the cages wood or metal depending on the dragon inside, of which we are unable to see. The entrance has two gates, the first wood bolted with metal pegs that flips and leads to a slope/tunnel made of stone with various weapons on the walls that goes down to the second gate. The second gate rolls up and is metal to keep the dragons in.
As I step into the arena behind the other students, Fishlegs, Astrid, Snotlought, and Ruffnut and Tuffnut, a shiver creeps up my spine. Hiccup walks in front of me a bit the axe held awkwardly in his hands as he attempts, and failing, to act like the other kids.
"I'm hoping for some mauling, like on my shoulder or lower back." Ruffnut says rolling her shoulder.
"I'm hoping for some burns." Tuffnut says.
"Yah. It's only fun if you get a scar out of it." Astrid says. She is holding an axe in one hand with ease. She is brave and strong, I can see why my brother likes her.
"Yah. Pain." Hiccup says. "Love it." I glance at my brother. His attempts are not working.
"Uhg." Snotlought snorts. "What is he doing here?"
"Like the rest of you, he is here to train." Gobber says as he closes the metal gate and comes over to us with his loping gait.
"Um.. Hiccup already killed a Nightfury.... so does that disqualify him or something?" Tuffnut asks.
"We all saw Whisper kill a Monstrous Nightmare and she is here." Fishlegs points out clutching a hammer in his fat hands.
Gobber pushes us into a line. Me, Hiccup, Fishlegs, the twins, Snotlought, then Astrid. "Behind these doors are some of the most common species known to Vikings. The Deadly Nadder." He waves his hand at the first door as he walks by it. "Terrible Terror." He walks by the second door. I can hear Fishlegs muttering the speeds, venom, armor strength, and so on, of the dragons. "Monstrous Nightmare." The third door. "Hideous Zippleback." The fourth door. "And the Gronkle." Gobber stops at the last door and puts his good hand on the lever.
"Woh. Aren't you going to teach us first?" Snotlought panics.
"I believe in learning on the job." Gobber pushes the lever down and the door flies open the Gronkle fluttering out on its tiny wings.
We scatter, Gobber watching with amusement. Gronkles are like four lumpy circles placed end to end with legs. They have large green eyes that are always dilated, a large strong jaw, and bat wing shaped ears on its head. It doesn't seem to have a neck because they are so fat. Their legs are thick and they have small claws, and little wings that flutter like a humming birds. Their tail is short and looks like it is made of two circles, the end like a ball with spikes. Their hides are hard like well made armor.
The Gronkle scoops up a few rocks and swallows them. Some how they can melt the rocks they eat and spit it out.
"Quick!" Gobber shouts. "What is the first thing you need?"
"A doctor!" Hiccup says uncertainly.
"No." Gobber says.
A shield. I think as I go for the closest one to me.
"Plus five speed?" Fishlegs shouts.
"Wrong again."
"A shield!" Astrid says.
"Correct! And Whisper has the right idea." Gobber says as he sees me run over and grab a shield.
Astrid takes a shield right out from under the Gronkle's nose in its blind spot. Hiccup fumbles for a shield, Snotlought takes his time to find a shield with paintings on it that please him. I don't even know what is on my shield, I just don't want to die. Ruffnut and Tuffnut both grab a shield with skulls painted on it. They start to argue over who gets it. The Gronkle spits its lava at them and the shield explodes in flames.
"Ruffnut, Tuffnut, you're out." Gobber calls. "Each dragon has a specific shot limit. How many shots does a Gonkle have?"
Six. I think.
"Five?" Hiccup asks.
"No six!" Fishlegs shouts waving his shield above him.
"Correct." Gobber says. The Gronkle spits some more of its lava setting Fishlegs' shield ablaze. "Fishlegs you're out. Those shields are good for another thing. Noise. It confuses the dragons throwing off their aim. So make plenty of it."
Astrid, Snotlought, Hiccup, and I hit our shields with our weapons. Astrid and Hiccup with their axes, Snotlought with his hammer, and I use a dagger since my bow is over my shoulder like a sash and my arrows wouldn't make a lot of noise.
The Gronkle swings its head around in confusion. It spits at Snotlought and misses but he jumps back, crashing into Astrid.
"Two more shots!" Gobber calls.
I skip away as the dragon tries to blast me.
"One more!" Gobber calls out again.
Hiccup dodges then fumbles with his shield and drops it, it rolls across the arena with my brother chasing after it. The Gronkle swings around and fixes its gaze on him. It spits lava just missing Hiccups heels. I gasp, clutching the shield harder.
"Hiccup!" Gobber shouts from the other side of the arena, lumbering toward us with his lopsided gait.
Hiccup stumbles a bit struggling to pick up his shield. I leap forward pushing my brother out of the way. The melted rock singes some of my hair the heat blasting in my face. I shuffle back pressing my back against the stone wall, curling up a bit trying to grab into the stone floor. I whimper as the Gronkle pushes forward opening its mouth.
"Whisper!" Hiccup gasps getting to his feet.
The Gronkles mouth glows red as it gets ready to blast me. Fear courses through me and for a second I think I can feel the same amount of fear from the dragon. Some of my fear is replaced with curiosity and I relax a bit. The red glow in the Gronkle's mouth fades a bit at the same time.
Suddenly Gobber's hooked hand hooks around the Gronkle's bottom jaw in its mouth. He jerks his hand upward moving the dragon who fires its last shot. Crud from the blast hitting the stone rains down on me; rock scraps, cinders, and ash.
Hiccup rushes over to me. He grasps my forearms and I hold onto his as he helps me up. I'm trembling a bit but I can't take my eyes off the Gronkle as Gobber puts the Gronkle back in its cage.
"Remember." Gobber says. "A dragon will always, ALWAYS go for the kill." He looks straight at Hiccup and I, and I clutch harder to my brother.
Then something crosses my mind. Hiccup and I exchange a glance. The Nightfury.
YOU ARE READING
How To Train Your Dragon
Fanfic[Book 1] Whisper the Silent is Hiccup's sister. Unable to speak, Whisper finds another way of communication. She can "talk" to dragons with her feelings and their own. They go on a crazy adventure you will have to read to believe. ((home made cover)...
