There's No Such Thing As Normal (Hiccstrid)

Chapter 4

Astrid's P.O.V.

Gobber had to do some stuff in the forge so there was no dragon training today. I had climbed to a ledge I knew about near the top of Ravens Point. I sat there, legs hanging in the breeze, as I looked at Berk, small little dots where the huts were. This was one of the few places I could go to escape my mind. When I'm up here, I can't think even if I try. My mind just goes blank and I stare into space. I take a deep breath and smell something like smoke. I look behind me to see a fire in the forest. I stared at the flames, licking the sky, and realized that when I blinked, they disappeared for a split second. My shoulders slump and I let out a sigh. I guess I can never fully escape my mind, huh. The flames slowly crept toward my back but I didn't take my gaze from my village. I didn't have to. Soon, the fire was swallowing me, but I felt nothing. But I still smelt smoke... I look around before seeing a tree that was burnt to a crisp, just below my ledge. I stand up and run into the "blazing" forest before climbing down to the burned tree. I put my hand to the trunk and when I pulled it back, the skin was blackened. I then examined the blast to realize it was from a Nightfury. Then, I heard its shriek and fear jolted my legs into action, making me run to the village. I came to a clearing and ducked behind a tree as I saw Hiccup, a pile of ropes at his feet, staring at a path of broken trees with wide eyes. He starts to walk away, toward Berk, but collapses before he gets more than three steps. I ran forward and shook his shoulder.

"Hiccup. Hey, Hiccup, wake up!" I say and his eyes open the slightest bit before they widen as they see me.

"What'd you see?!" he asks, sitting up.

"I just saw you collapse," I say and he sighs in relief. 

"Uh, okay. Come on, we should get back to the village," he says in a rush before running into the trees with me on his tail. "So, uh, where have you been all day?" he asks as we slow down.

"Getting away from Emerald," I say.

"Well, I'm back."

"Ugh," I groan with a roll of my eyes.

"How do you get away from your mind?" he asks.

"By going somewhere high," I say. He hums in thought as he looks behind us. I ignore it as I march into Berk and go to the Meade Hall for dinner. 

Time skip- Dinner of the next day

A funny feeling washed over me as I paused outside the Halls doors...as if I was alone. I never felt alone with Emerald. Seriously, it was as if there was another me right by my side. And now, it felt like...I don't know how to explain it. I've never felt anything like this. I shake my head to clear it before walking inside and going to my table after getting my food.

"Okay, what'd I do?" I ask Emerald as she stays silent. No thought popped into my head to shoot back at myself.

"Hey, Astrid," Hiccup said, walking by my table and I waited for him to mock me but he didn't. He was acting weird. 

He seemed kinda shifty as he sat with the gang and he ate quietly. He's usually leading the conversations they have. I caught him casting skeptical glances at me multiple times, as if he didn't trust me about something. When he was the first to leave the Meade Hall, I knew something was up. He was always one of the last few to finish. I left my plate and followed him in the shadows. He went into the forest and I was thankful for the new cover. He walked confidently, oblivious to my presence. Or so I thought. I hid behind a tree as he looked over his shoulder but when I went to continue following him, he was no where in sight; not even a footprint. I cautiously stepped forward until he slammed his sword on the trunk, blocking my path. I slowly turned my head to see him scowling at me. His eyes were shooting venom at me and his expression was the one he wore when I was supposed to avoid him. It was silence between us, the only sound in the eerie forest being my breath which was becoming labored.

"Can I help you with something Astrid?" he asked casually.

"J-just having a late night walk," I say nervously.

"Lies," he says with the soft voice that sent a shudder through out my entire body. "Tell me the truth."

"I was wondering where you were going," I say.

"What did you see yesterday?" he asks.

"A fake fire," I tell him, and his eyes narrow.

"In the clearing," he says.

"I saw you collapse, that's it," I say and he nods slowly, not lowering his sword.

"Did you believe the fire was real?" he asks.

"No, I haven't believed what I see for a while now," I say, not controlling my voice. An idea flashes through his forest green eyes and he finally lowers his weapon.

"Follow me," he orders before walking into a grove of broken trees. I hesitate before obeying, walking just behind him as he lead me farther into the forest. Soon, we come to the rim of a cove and I look inside to see a Nightfury...Nope. Nope. Nope, nope, nope, nope. Nope. No.... "See anything?" Hiccup asks. I pause for a moment, wondering what to tell him. Why make him think of me as an even bigger freak?

"No. Am I supposed to see something?" I ask.

"Are you sure you don't see anything?" he asks again.

"Pretty sure."

"What's going through your mind?" he asks.

"I feel like you're trying to get me to see something," I say, taking a step back. He snaps his arm around my neck, putting me in a choke hold, and points at the dragon with his sword.

"Nothing in that direction?" he asks through clenched teeth.

"Nothing," I rasp, his arm cutting off my oxygen. He releases me and I fill my lungs with air before looking at him to see he was staring at me with an expression I couldn't quite read.

"Nothing?" he repeats quietly.

"Well, okay, I see something, but it's not really there," I tell him.

"What do you see?" he asks.

"A Nightfury," I tell him, giving up. He simply nods before checking to make sure I didn't think it was actually there, which I didn't. I already knew the thoughts running through his head.

She's insane!

Why did I even talk to her?!

Get me away from her!

Lock her up! She sees a Nightfury!

And I have to train with this psycho!

Hiccup's P.O.V.

This is perfect! She doesn't think it's real!