TAW Tales: How to Train Your Shifters (#1)

~ Chapter 4 ~

"So, where's Hiccup?" Winter asked breathlessly, and I bit my lips to stop them from curling up in a smile despite my current state of terror. I knew she'd been wondering that ever since the Dragon Riders had shown up.

And if you're wondering why I was in a state of terror, let me just tell you this; my feet are supposed to stay on the ground.

I've always wanted to know what it's like to have your own wings and experience the freedom that comes with being able to fly where ever you want, whenever you want, without anyone to stop you.

Now, of course, I was thoroughly regretting my wish.

"Wh-when can we g-get off?" I whimpered, trembling from head to toe and clinging onto Winter's shoulders like my life depended on it. Which, as far as I was concerned, it did.

"Not much farther now," Astrid called back.

I gritted my teeth and buried my face into my friend's neck. No seatbelts! No stirrups, even! Nothing to keep me from falling into that dark, choppy water below, nothing to stop me from-

"WHOO HOO!"

My eyes flew open as Everest shot past me on the back of Snotlout's dragon, Hookfang. She was grinning like some little five-year-old with her hands in the air like she was on a rollar coaster.

"Snotlout!" Astrid shrieked after him as Hookfang did a barrel-roll in front of us.

"Ha, ha!" Snotlout teasted back. "Snotlout, Snotlout, Oi, Oi, Oi!"

Astrid sighed as the red dragon dove downwards towards the sea before flaring his wings and shooting back up.

"Don't mind Snotlout, he's-"

"An idiot?" Fishlegs put in helpfully, his Grunckle, Meatlug, buzzing up beside us. Moon was clutching the round dragon's saddle with white knuckles, her eyes fearfully on the glittering sea below.

"Uh, is this safe?" she asked worriedly.

"Safe?" Ruffnut laughed, appearing upside-down in front of us. "Of course not! That's the best thing about dragon-riding!"

Everyone but Astrid screamed.

Ruffnut laughed again and his head twisted so that it wasn't upside down anymore. Then he high-fived his sister and headbutted her in the helmet. I knew that their dragon's name was Barf and Belch, but I could never remember which head was Barf, and which head was Belch.

"So, back to my eariler question...." Winter ventured. "Where's-?"

"Hiccup?" Astrid finished. "He's... gone. Disappeared. Actually, we were searching for him when we found you guys. The last place he was seen was back on that island. If it were up to me, we'd be finishing our search right now..."

Astrid looked away and I felt Winter shaking with excitement. She loved it when Astrid and Hiccup were together. But I could tell that Astrid was pretty much blaming us for being there so that she had to rescue us and stop in her search.

"When was Hiccup last seen?" I asked.

"This morning." Astrid's gaze remained fixed on the sky in front of us. "He went out on one of his regular flies with-"

"-You?" Winter squeaked hopefully.

Astrid was silent and I thought she was offended. Then she added reluctantly, "Me."

"Hiccstrid!" Winter hissed into my ear.

"Anyway," Astrid continued, not hearing Winter, "We went flying around one of the mountains, and I followed him. When I came around, he was gone and after a while I sent Stormfly back to get the others."

The Nadder squawked proudly and flared the crown of horns that surrounded her neck. Astrid bent down and patted her under the horns.

"Anyway, how do you guys know about us? That's sort of suspicious, you know," Fishlegs chimed in beside us.

"Er..." I hesitated. Should I tell them, or should I not?

Apparently, that wasn't my choice.

"Oh my gods, you guys are famous from where we come from!" Winter burst out and I face-palmed myself. Welp, there goes the rest of the trip. Winter was gonna talk non-stop until we reached the island.

I was proven correct.

"-And then I also know what happens you guys in the future," Winter babbled on as the sun set behind us, "But I guess I shouldn't say anything, especially the part where you and Hiccup-"

I slapped my hand over her mouth. "Ooookay, that's enough," I told her firmly.

"Finally you've stopped her going on and on," Luna groaned as Bark and Belch soared above us. She was sitting behind Tuffnut, while Zero perched behind Ruffnut, looking murderous.

"Actually, that was kind of interesting," Fishlegs replied over the constant flapping of Meatlug's wings. "Is there really a while book series about us?"

As Winter opened her mouth again, I shoved my palm over it and pointed over Astrid's shoulder. "Hey," I said, my skin crawling with excitment despite the height. "Is that your home?"

"Yep." Astrid stopped Stormfly so that the Nadder hovered in the air, her wings beating on either side of us. She leaned to the side to give us a view as the other dragons pulled up behind us.

"Welcome to Berk."