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

~ Chapter 14 ~

"Toothless!" Hiccup cried again in delight.

Toothless bowed playfully, his tail waving behind him almost like a dog. He bounded forward and bowled Hiccup over, pinning his rider beneath his massive black paws. He slurped Hiccup's face until his skin was thoughroughly soaked with Night fury saliva and his brown hair stuck up on end.

"Ugh!" Hiccup pushed Toothless' nose away. "Toothless, we've talked about this!"

The Night Fury backed off and sat down on his haunches, panting excitedly as his green eyes shone with delight.

Hiccup scrambled to his feet and tried to wipe off most of the spit on his sleeve, with very little success.

"Right," he said, rubbing his nose on his sleeve, "Let me get this straight. You were in that amulet the whole time?"

Toothless grunted and sneezed.

"Okay, I'll take that as a yes." Hiccup shook out his arms, spraying spittle everywhere. Toothless suddenly pricked up his ears, his eyes turning into thin slits and his ears quivering.

Hiccup! Hi-iccup! Hiccup, where are you?

Voices echoed through the forest, accompanied by the crashing sounds of ferns and sticks underfoot. Hiccup glanced up as the others burst through the trees, Sprinkles holding an electric torch in her curled tail from where she sat on Max's head.

Toothless' retractable teeth shot out and he launched himself in front of Hiccup, snarling and curling his tail around his master protectively.

Holly rabbit's foot! Fang yelped in alarm, flattening his ears. What is that?

"Er..." Hiccup cleared his throat. "Guys, this is my dragon, Toothless. Toothless, this are the guys that found me." Toothless hissed.

Ooh, he looks scary! Nellie said in delight, clinging to the side of a tree trunk.

Toothless widened his irises and tilted his ear curiously.

"It's alright bud, they're fine," Hiccup reassured his dragon, patting Toothless' neck. The Night Fury snorted and shook himself self-consciously.

What's that thing on his tail? Fang asked thoughtfully, cocking his head to peer around Toothless, who was washing his paw like a cat.

"Oh, that?" Hiccup hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. He exchanged a glance with Toothless.

"That-that's a long story."