Soul of the Sky (HTTYD Runaway Fic)

And If They Fall

The other teens' mocking laughter echoed after me as I trudged miserably up towards my hut. No one had believed my 'story' about the Night Fury, and my father had proceeded to berate me in front of the entire village. Some Viking you are, I thought to myself. Every time you try to kill a dragon, you burn down half of Berk. I stopped outside the door, turning hopefully to Gobber. "I really did hit one." Gobber snorted quietly. "Sure, Hiccup." I groaned mentally. Him too? "He never listens," I added. "And when he does, it's always with this disappointed scowl, like someone skimped on the meat in his sandwich." I adopted a pompous tone, gesturing exaggeratedly to prove my point.

"Excuse me, barmaid, but I'm afraid you brought me the wrong offspring. I ordered an extra-large boy with beefy arms, extra guts and glory on the side. This here," I gestured to myself. "This is a talking fishbone!" Tears welled up in my eyes as I said the words. This is what I am. I thought bitterly. Useless. Worthless. A talking fishbone. Gobber looked at me sadly. "Look, the point is, just stop trying to be something you're not." I turned back as I entered the house. "I just want to be one of you guys." I whispered as I closed the door.

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Unbeknownst to the one-legged Viking making his way back to the village, I had already left the house. My anger and sadness had been replaced by cold determination. I was going to find that Night Fury, and prove once and for all that I was more than just the runt of the litter. I muttered to myself as I picked my way through the dense forest. "Oh, the gods hate me. Some people lose their knife or their mug. But I manage to lose an entire dragon!" I slapped a branch away angrily, only to recoil as it sprang back to hit me. My irritated reaction died down as I looked at the tree the offending limb was attached to. It was snapped, and just beyond it was a massive furrow in the earth. Big enough to be caused by a meteor.

Or a downed dragon.

I crept towards the crater, excitement welling up in me. This was my chance to prove myself! I peeked around a boulder, before rapidly drawing back with a gasp of shock. The creature was even bigger up close. Its onyx scales gleamed dully in the fading light, the ropes around it standing out clearly against the pitch-black of its body. I watched from behind the boulder, trying to muster enough courage to go out. When I finally stepped away from the sheltering rock, my happiness got the best of me. I placed my foot on the Night Fury's motionless body, striking a mock heroic pose.  "Yes! I have brought down this mighty beast!" As if in in response to my actions, the downed dragon let out a distressed groan and shrugged my foot off. I stumbled backwards, backing away from it as it opened its piercing emerald eyes. The creature was alive!