When I Come Back

¥The Figure¥

Astrid

What was out there that they wanted?

What was coming our way?

Was it a threat?

Were the dragons leaving?

No matter how drunk I got or how fast the room was spinning, these thoughts entered my mind. Without me being able to do a single thing.

It's like a part of me wanted to break out of my own body and take on all the responsibilities again, but the longer I stayed in the academy, the more that part of me faded. But for some reason, I knew it would come back soon. I just needed a small break from it for now.

Holding on to the very last shred of responsibility I had, I tried to tell the others what I was noticing, but it was too late. The room started to spin faster, blending the the colors in my vision and now I had no control of what I was doing or where I was going. I was completely helpless.

***

The next morning I woke up, in my bed, to a horn being blown.

How the heck did I get here?

I brought my hand to my pounding head, then I slowly started to sit up, but as soon is I stood up, I felt like I was going to throw up. So I ran to my window as fast as I could and let everything come hurling out.

Right after I washed up, because I ended up getting puke in my hair, and then I got dressed.

I slowly walked down the stairs, making sure my parents weren't down there, but there we no where to be found.

Thank the gods!

Walking out of the door was terrible. I felt like a vampire walking into the sun, like the old stories the elders used to tell us kids.

"RAWK!" Stormfly greeted, flying down towards me.

"Here girl!" I greeted back, remembering what happened with the dragons that night, "Where'd you go?"

She just ignored my question and sniffed me.

I sighed, "Yeah, I know. I reek of mead."

Another horn was sounded, just as the twins were walking towards me.

"Hey, what's gong on?" I asked them.

They looked at each other surprised, looked back at me, and said, "You seriously don't remember?"

A gave them a confused look, "What? No!"

"Wow! I thought you would have remembered." Said Tuff, as Ruff was nodding in agreement.

"Just get on with it!"

"Everyone is heading down to the docks to wait for Hiccup's arrival." said Ruff.

I gasped and quickly got onto Stormfly.

I can't believe I forgot!

By the time I got there, nearly the whole village was on the dock or surrounding the cliffs just above the dock, waiting for the sight of the ship containing the one legged boy.

An hour had passed and people were starting to sneak off to get their chores done early or to get a head start on their work.

Another hour had passed and now vikings were leaving in groups to get their day started.

A few more hours had passed and with every hour, the smaller the group surrounding the docks got.

Soon all that was left was Gobber, the cheif, the Gang, and I.

Before long it was just the Gang and I.

Then just Fishlegs and I.

Fishlegs put his hand on my shoulder, "Maybe it's just running a little late. There are tons of other students on that ship. He'll here Astrid."

I gave him a warm smile, "Thanks Fishlegs." I said, taking one last look at the ocean, before turning around.

The rest of my day was normal, except for the constant headache. I did all my chores, taught the kids some new battle tactics, trying with the Gang, hand-to-hand combat training with Heather, axe throwing in the woods, and it wasn't until the end of the day that I realized something was missing the entire day.

Toothless!

Immediately, I told the Gang and we started our patrol early. Checking nearby seastacks, the forest, the surface of the ocean, the cave, the underwater caves, the Great Hall, the Cheifs house, even nearby islands. There was not a single trace of of the Night Fury.

I made the team check over and over again, until the Cheif told us all to finally go to bed. That we'd have better luck in the morning.

Before I went to bed, I hung fish on my roof, front door, and my window. (That was cleaned up BTW.)

For hours, I layed in bed, not being able to get a single ounce of sleep. Fnally, I decided to patrol the island my self.

Not being able to find anything, I landed on the beach, angered, worried, and exhausted.

That's when I saw it. A figure standing in one of the beach caves.