The Dragon Games (HTTYD AU)

Seven - The Night Fury

Throggsjorn flared his wings and blasted the pile of gronkle lava. Glowing red, the metalic substance grew soft, and Hiccup carefully reshaped it using a scruffy hand-made hammer. The metal clanged, the sound echoing in the small cave.

Once the metal had cooled, Hiccup paused, inspecting it. With a sigh, he wiped the sweat off his forehead and adjusted his grip on the hammer. The construction had taken days and he was exhausted.

"Okay, another blast, Throggsjorn," he directed.

Once again, the cave was illuminated with the brilliant flames. Hiccup reshaped the metal, creating several specific pieces. He splashed water over them, making a hissing sound. Holding them up against the entrance of the cave, which was a bright blue sky, Hiccup grinned.

"Now all I need to do is put it all together," he stated, scratching Throggsjorn's chin. Hiccup drank from his flask, narrowed his eyes and began to construct his invention.

*

"Done!" Hiccup threw the tools aside and patted the wooden phrame of the contraption proudly. The metal shone in the golden light of sunset. "This right here is not going to fail! Ain't that right, Throggsjorn?"

Wagging his tail, Throggsjorn made a draconic bark and sniffed at Hiccup's invention. Despite not having access to high quality resources or a furnace, Hiccup had managed to create a sturdy frame and a simple launching device. Put together, it was a stable, effective launcher that would do the shooting for him.

Hiccup pushed the launcher through the cave entrance and out onto the ledge. Sitting down beside it, he ate some of his fish stores.

"All I have to do now is wait," Hiccup mused.

The sky was a shimmering orange, with pink and blue clouds. Gently rustling, leaves shone and reflected the brilliant light. Several smoke trails littered the scene, some too large to be from mere campfires.

Hiccup's jaw clenched.

After what felt like an eternity, the sky had darkened and a distinct whistling sound shattered the tranquility of the island.

"There it is," Hiccup whispered. The night fury shot through the air, practically invisible. It dived and blasted something in the distance. Purple flames flickered.

"C'mon give me something."

The night fury roared, passing overhead. Its wings blocked out the stars.

Hiccup gritted his teeth, grip tightening on the launcher.

The night fury blasted at the forest and thundered upwards.

"Now!" Hiccup fired.

A trembling roar shook the sky. The night fury fell from the clouds, dropping like a dead weight. It crashed through the forest, snapping entire trees.

Hiccup's eyes widened. "I hit it! It worked!"

All tiredness forgotten, Hiccup pushed the launcher back into the cave grabbed the axe. From the ledge, he could just about make out the snapped trees. He hurried over.

Several pine trees had been hit, the damaged trunks all leaning in one direction. Deep skid marks were scratched into the ground. Hiccup's heart beat faster.