Astrid's Tale

Chapter 10

I was perched up on the boulder, sharpening my axe for about half an hour when he finally came.

For weeks now, he ran out of training as soon as possible and was always late for supper with the class. I've seen him go out to the forest near Raven Point before, and he would come back with dragon tricks. After it was announced that Hiccup would slay the Monstrous Nightmare, I knew he would have to come to get more stunts.

"Leaving! We're leaving! Let's pack up. Looks like you and me are going on a little vacation, forever," I heard him call. Oh, Thor, he's not talking to me is he? I wondered. No, he doesn't see me. I paused. Right, he doesn't see me. I scraped a rock against the blade of my axe, getting his attention.

Hiccup looks up, a little frightened, I guess, to see me. "Aagh!" He cried, "What the- what are you doing here?" His words jumble and he looks at me, his face full of emotion. Embarrassment, confusion, bewilderment, maybe a little anger.

I ignored his questions, narrowing my eyes, and start to cut to the chase, "I want to know what's going on here," I state, keeping emotion out of my voice, "No one gets good as you, especially you. Start talking! Are you training with someone?"

Hiccup's eyes are wide, flitting between my face and our surroundings. He's probably looking for help, a distraction, anything to get him out of this situation. His face turns red, "Training?" he mutters.

I looked down at him. He's definitely acting suspiciously. I saw that he's wearing a belt of sorts, that crosses up his chest, and over his shoulder. with things hanging off of it, like a piece of leather attached to a hook. What is that? "It better not involve this," I said, gesturing to his contraption.

"I know, this looks really bad, but you see," he stumbled his words as he tried to come up with an excuse, "You're right, you're right!" he cries, "I'm through with the lies, I've been making... outfits. So, you got me."

He grabs my hand and puts it on his chest. What in the name of Odin and Thor- He continues before I can gag, "Drag me back, go ahead. Here we go."

How stupid does he think I am? I grab his hand, still holding onto mine, and pull it back, cracking his joints, and pushing him to the ground. 

"Why would you do that?" He cries, in obvious agony. 

I faltered for a second but pushed away my sympathy for him. "That's for the lies," I butt the handle of my axe into his stomach, "and that's for everything else."

I was about to start ranting, but I stopped dead in my tracks.

I just heard a dragon's growl.

"Oh, man" I hear Hiccup mutters, as he gets back up. 

"Get down!" I bark at him, shoving him behind me as I reach for my axe.  I hold Hiccup back, and my axe in front of me, my knees bent, ready for attack.

"No! No, it's okay," Hiccup shouts as he shoves him in front of me, "it's okay," He says to the black dragon - Could it be? A Night Fury? - appearing from behind some bushes, he turns to me, "you just scared him."

"I scared him?" I exclaimed, "Who is him?"

Hiccup takes a deep breath, "Astrid, Toothless," gesturing to the dragon -Toothless-  to me, "Toothless," The Night Fury growled.

This to much. I run away, as fast as I can. I have to tell Gobber. I have to tell Stoick. I need to-

"AH!" I scream, as the ground moves away from me. I grab at whatever is holding me, "Great Oden's ghost! This is it!" I look up to see Hiccup riding the Night Fury that is letting go of my arm, leaving me to dangle from a tree. They perch themselves on the tree, as I readjust my grip.