The Shadow's Bane

Something Strange

Jim's POV:

Knowing that Hiccup was right and that I couldn't go out till the sun came down, I stayed inside his house with Toothless who unlike me, wasn't very happy about it.

Throughout the whole day, he just stayed on his rock bed and refused to come down just because Hiccup wasn't here. In the meantime, I flipped through the pages of the Dragon Manuel back in Hiccup's house which reminded me of Blinky's books back in Arcadia.

Oh Arcadia. How I missed my home already. Then as I was looking at the maps of Berk, Toothless decided to come down and see what I was up to. Only to give a disapproving growl before lying back down on the floor beside me like a cat.

This made me irritated for some reason. "Oh will you cut me some slack, Toothless? I know you're not happy because Hiccup isn't here. But can you at least give me a chance?" I asked. I wasn't sure if he understood me or not, because he sure did seem to understand Hiccup.

My brother.

"Hiccup and everyone else is setting up the Stasis Trap down in the Cove. I'm sorry, but if I go outside now, I will turn to stone," I explained.

Then the most unexpected thing happened and Toothless perked his head up at me before coming over and nuzzling me with his nose. I patted him back. Glad for the company.

"There we go," I said. Because to be honest, I wasn't sure how to talk to dragons still. Even if this wasn't my first time. Toothless sat with me the rest of the day till the first bit of sun started to come down.

Then when I felt like I wouldn't die when I walked outside, I got up from Hiccup's bed and opened the door. Toothless right behind me.

"What do you say, Toothless? You up for another flight?"

In answer, he gladly stood next to me to let me on. We took off before anyone could see us.

Hiccup was right. It was amazing flying on Toothless. Even when I was a troll. You feel so free up here that you never want to go back down.

"Well, Hiccup was right about flying. I see why he loves it so much," I said. "You as well, Toothless." He lifted up his head at me in midflight.

That's when I saw the Cove that Hiccup had mentioned. "There," I said. But Toothless already seemed to know where it was because he flew down before I could tell him.

"Jim!" Hiccup said as soon as we landed by the lake. "We're almost ready. The Stasis Trap is set. Thanks to you."

"Actually that's thanks to the twins," I said. Smiling at him when I got off Toothless.

Now to mention them, from afar I heard their shouts along with another shorter viking saying, "Stupid barrel. You listen to me. I'm in charge here."

I didn't know what he was planning to do with the barrels they had with them. But apparently not anything helpful. Unlike him, the twins were laughing until they saw me.

"Jim!" They called.

"So this is the famous Jim Lake that I've been hearing so much about," another voice said from behind me.

I turned around to see a blonde haired girl, wearing a red shirt with shoulder pads and a skull skirt which reminded me of Claire's skull shirt. Her hair braided down to one side.

"I'm Astrid," she said, holding out a hand which I took.

"You know who I am," I said.

"Hiccup's friend. It's nice to meet you. Over there next to the twins is Snotlout. And there-"

"I'm Fishlegs," the largest viking said. With a stout and small looking dragon standing next to him with small wings. "Oh my Thor. Sorry to ask, but what are you? Cause you're definitely in none of the cards I have-"

"A troll," I said.

"But also human," Hiccup added. "Well now that you've met everyone, here Jim. Let me show you the Stasis Trap we made for the Red Blur."

I wanted to see it. I really did. Only until I did actually see it because then something strange happened.

It was the Stasis Trap. I'm not sure how and I'm not sure why. But it gave me an unfamiliar and unsettling feeling in my stomach. It made me freeze.

No longer was I myself anymore.