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

~Chapter 21 ~

Hiccup stood there for a while, staring at the place where the girl had been.

He was stunned. Who was she? How did she know his name? Was it because his friends had told her? Had they met her already?

Questions bounced around in his head.

The something smooth and slightly damp nudged his hand and he started. It was only Toothless, who had been exploring around while he met the girl.

"Did you see her too, bud?" Hiccup asked, holding Toothless' head in his hands. The large cat-like dragon only made a purring noise and licked his chin.

Hiccup sighed. "I guess I shouldn't have asked."

Toothless rumbled in agreement.

"That, my friend, was an enemy."

Hiccup spun around and Toothless bared his teeth defensively.

A short, squat man with a thin wisp of silver hair on the top of his head was leaning against a tree, his arms folded and one foot casually against the trunk. He was dressed in a white lab coat with black leather shoes, and his huge, long nose stuck out between two different-sized lenses.

"Er, hello." Hiccup laid his hand on the top of Toothless' head as the dragon crouched behind him, his til waving uncertainly.

"Such a remarkable creature you have there," said the man in a gruff, scratchy voice. "Would you mind if I take a look at him?"

"Um, I-I kind of do mind actually," Hiccup said uneasily. "Who are you?"

"Ah, how rude of me!" The man waved his hand carelessly in the air. "M'boy, you can call me Dr. Bionic."