Homecoming (A "How To Train Your Dragon" Story)

Chapter 16:

Home- Later that Evening

Hiccup opens the door. Astrid is sitting by the fire.

HICCUP: Hey.

Hiccup walks over to her.

ASTRID: Hi.

Hiccup kisses Astrid.

ASTRID: You were at Zephyr's training session weren't you?

HICCUP: Yeah, I don't think she even saw me though.  Does Ollie usually pin Zephyr down 5 minutes into the match?

ASTRID: No, never.

HICCUP: Well, maybe she was a little distracted today.

ASTRID: I don't know. I feel like Zephyr's been acting a little bit... strange.

HICCUP: What do you mean?

Hiccup sits down.

ASTRID: She's been leaving the house really early in the morning to who-knows-where and when she finally comes back she's usually late for dinner.

HICCUP: Well, yeah, I have noticed that.

ASTRID: And then when I ask her where she's been she says she went to the forest to look for that lost dagger of hers.

HICCUP: She still hasn't found it?

ASTRID: Apparently not!  And whenever she's not out and about she's in her room reading or drawing or... doing something!

HICCUP: Hmmmm....

ASTRID: And... she barely trains anymore.

HICCUP: (puts his hand on his forehead) Aw, this is probably my fault.  I haven't been paying attention to her or Kirk.

ASTRID: (puts her hand on Hiccup's arm) Hiccup, it's not your fault.  You've been doing fine and honestly, Kirk has never been better.

HICCUP: But Zephyr—

ASTRID: You know, maybe I'm just overacting.  I'm sure this will pass, whatever "this" is.

HICCUP: (sighs) Yeah, I sure hope you're right.  Where is Zeph anyway?

ASTRID: Upstairs, in her room doing who-knows-what.

Hiccup stands up.

HICCUP: I think I'll go talk to her.

Hiccup heads to the stairs. He walks down the hall and knocks softly on Zephyr's bedroom door.

HICCUP: (quietly) Zeph?

When he hears nothing he knocks again.

HICCUP: Zephyr?

Hiccup slowly opens the door. Zephyr has fallen asleep in her bed, still holding onto a book. Hiccup smiles.  He walks over and gently covers Zephyr with her blanket and carefully takes the book from her hands.  When he sees the page inside the book, he furrows his eyebrows.  The page has information on Night Furies and pictures of dragons.  Hiccup takes the book with him as he quietly leaves the room, shutting the door behind him.