Jack Frost: Thawed

Chapter 6

It was just me and Hiccup, Hiccup and me. 

And then that moment ended. 

*HICCUP'S P.O.V.*

I woke up with a Dragon growling at me. Getting up, I put my hand toward it, and a girl rushed toward me. "No! Please, no! Don't hurt my Dragon!" Her eyes were full of fear and pleading. I looked at her. She reminded me of Jack. She was pale, like Jack, but I knew that it wasn't good. Her skin clung to her bones, and you could see her ribs through the holes in her shirt. Her hipbones jutted out too sharply through her tattered skirt. Her big green eyes looked up at me fearfully. I realised this girl couldn't have been more than 12 years old. Her feet were bare too; they, like the rest of her, were full of scars, cuts and bruises. Her matted brown hair was pulled back toward a rumpled ponytail. 

I took a closer look at the Dragon. It was white, with piercing blue eyes. As my eyes adjusted, I could make out its shape; it was a Triple Stryke! I put my hand out toward the girl, and she shied away. "I-I'm sorry, please don't punish me..."
"Punish you? Why- how would I punish you?"

My question was answered when a Dragon Hunter waltzed into the room. He walked through me to get to the girl. He looked down, and I followed his gaze. A metal clasp hung loosely from the girl's ankle. It was probably supposed to stay tightly in one spot, but she was too thin. He raised his hand, and a slap rang out across the room. Next thing I knew, the girl was on the floor, her left cheek bleeding. 

The Triple Stryke had had enough. He readied his tails with a clicking sound. It shattered m heart to see that there were only two of them. "Infernofrost, no! Stand down, pal, please!" The Dragon settled, still glaring daggers at the hunter, who, without warning, kicked her in the stomach, seeing her flying across the room, brought down by the chain around her ankle. 

Infernofrost had had enough. He slammed his head into the Hunter's chest, sending him flying across the room to crash into a wall. The girl slowly got up, trying not to pay attention to the obvious amount of pain she was in. She limped over to a bench attached to the wall, lifting it to reveal a box underneath. She heaved a length of metal from the box, and when she stumbled, I helped her, despite the angry, no, terrified glares she sent me. She fixed it to Infernofrost, and I realised it was a tail. He chirped happily, and the girl touched his bottom jaw in warning. "Hissa's coming too, Infernofrost. We ava to bring him." This girl spoke Dragonese too? I smiled, being reminded of Jack in every way. 

She got on the Dragon, who looked ready to take off. "Aren't we rubout something?" Infernofrost rolled his eyes, wrapping one of his existing tails around my waist. I let out a yelp, surprised by the sudden contact. My eyes widened as I was pulled onto the first Triple Stryke I had ever ridden. After about two awkward hours, she finally spoke up, breaking the silence. "So, you got a name?"
"Hiccup." I raised an eyebrow. "What? What's your name?" She looked down. "You okay?"
"Y-yeah... it's just..." She looked embarrassed. "I don't have a name." I looked at her in shock. 
"What?! How can you not have a name?!" She looked scared, and I realised that my yelling was hurting her. "Sorry, I-I'm just surprised." She looked down momentarily. 
"Nah, I was just overreacting." I looked at her in shock again, not realising how uncomfortable I was making her.
"You're not overreacting. I know what the Hunters do to Dragon Riders." She shivered. 
"I'm not a Dragon Rider. Plus, you're from 1000 years in the past! How exactly can you know what they do?"

"H-how did you..."
"Seriously? When I saw Bjork walk through you, it was a dead giveaway that you were some sort of spirit. Then I looked at you closer. The tousled brown hair, green eyes, one leg, snarky attitude and high voice? That was also something. But then, you gave it away yourself when you said your name was Hiccup!"
"Y-you know about me?"
"I wouldn't be talking to Hiccup Haddock by any chance now, would I?" She raised an eyebrow, and I knew she knew that was exactly who she was talking about. I nodded. 
"You're good."
"I know." She looked as if she didn't know that at all. She smiled to herself contentedly, and I realised looks weren't everything. She was fine, if not a little shaken. 

When we reached Santoff Claussen, Infernofrost set down next to Toothless, who nuzzled me -okay, nearly knocked me over - in joy and relief. Jack pretty much leapt on me, but I couldn't understand why he was so happy to see me. I mean, sure, we were friends, but that didn't explain his actions toward me! Maybe, I thought in hope, maybe he feels the same way! No, he wouldn't. 
"Hiccup! Oh, thank God! We were so worried!"
"Yeah, well, I was swept away into a faraway land..." I stretched my hands out to make it look like I was telling some old folktale, and the girl who helped me looked down shyly. 
"Oh, who is this, Hiccup?" Jack looked at me with a false accusation, but the girl thought it was real. She tried to back out, but Infernofrost chirped happily as Tooth scratched her soft spot. 
"Infernofrost... oh, come on. You too?" Infernofrost looked innocently at the girl while nuzzling Jack and Tooth gently. 
"This is the girl who saved my life. She got me out of there. Who knew there were still Dragon Hunters out there?" Toothless cooed in worry, and I put my hand on his head to settle him. 
"Hiccup, we could do with a name."
"She doesn't have one." The Guardians frowned, then Tooth looked up optimistically. 
"Then we'll just have to give her one!" The girl's eyes widened, and a smile spread across her face. 
"Really? Y-you'd do that?" Jack nodded, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Of course! Why not?"
"I-I was always told I didn't deserve one!" 

*THE GIRL'S P.O.V.*

I couldn't believe it. These people, these total strangers were going to give me a name, something that the people I had lived with my whole life wouldn't dare to! 
"Any suggestions?"
"I-uh..." The white-haired boy with beautiful blue eyes slumped in defeat. "...have no ideas."
"Jack, what religion are you again?" The fairy's question made me feel uncomfortable. Please tell me these weren't...
"Christian. Why?" 
"Don't you guys have names with meanings?"
"Yeah! What about... Laboni?"
"Doesn't that mean graceful?" I was surprised Hiccup had any idea what he was talking about. Hiccup burst out laughing. "She's not graceful! She's like Astrid was! A-and Heather!" His face darkened as he spoke of them. 
"That's what I meant! It's ironic!" I nodded. Most of the people at the place I was have had the most ironic names ever! "You like it?"
"Yeah."
"Well, then, Mademoiselle Laboni, I am Monsieur Jack Frost." I giggled, then looked carefully at him. Was that a snowflake in his eyes? 
"Jack Frost? A-as in... Jackson Overland Frost?" 
"Yep. At your service."
"I've lived 12 years without anyone but me and my Dragon, Jack. I think I know how to fend for myself." He smirked. 
"You're good."
"And proud of it."