Alone Together

Encounters

Slightly different style once again (im still experimenting!)

Hiccup stepped through the huge ornate doors and found himself in a bustling cityscape. He weaved through the thronging crowds, his eyes catching on certain individuals. There was the old woman who looked like the hag Fishlegs used to talk about. She carried a jewel encrusted purse and was surrounded by two huge bodyguards, their faces brutish and eager for violence. Hiccup also noticed the guards patrolling the busy streets, occasionally catching some of the less talented pick-pockets. One of these pick pockets, a young boy who's face was streaked with dirt, tried to take his bag of coins, and after a word from Toothless Hiccup decided to give the boy enough to get a meal or two. 

It was only as the boy ran off smiling, his coins held reverently in his palm Hiccup noticed the man (or woman) standing by the end of a shadowed street end. Their face was thrown into darkness by the hood covering their head. Only their eyes, ice blue and cold, could be seen through the penetrating darkness. They observed the crowd carefully, seeming to look at each individual carefully and with consideration. Hiccup wondered what they were looking for. As Hiccup observed the strange figure nearly as carefully as the figure observed everyone else, he saw them shoot out their hand and grab a man, looking only a little older then him. Hiccup watched the confrontation as the man pulled out a dagger and pointed it the mysterious figure. Instead of backing off, the figure seemed to smile though Hiccup could only see their eyes. The figure pulled out a piece of parchement and pushed it in the man's hand. Taking the paper, the man backed off, soon merging into the fast moving crowd.

It was as Hiccup stared at the direction the man in that he felt a hand on his shoulder. Hiccup jumped around startled. Now being able to see the figure up close Hiccup realized that the figure was not covered in shadow, but actually had a mask on, and was clothed entirely in the darkest shade of black Hiccup had ever seen. 

"Eavesdropping are we?"

The voice was cold, but had a tinge of humour coloring it. It was female. 

"I-uh-I didn't hear anything! I was just-uh- standing here. I couldn't hear anything!"

Instead of replying, the Figure pushed a piece of parchement into his hand. Hiccup looked down and read:

Come to the right corner of the city at the beggining of the third cycle of the night. Find the black parrot, he will tell you where to go from there. Tonights reward: Audition. Password: Talon. 

Hiccup looked up, now going from nervous to confused, but the Figure was gone. 

-_:Break line:_-

Astrid walked out of the Hofferson household. Her brothers were so annoying sometimes! She was just about to break the forest line to train when she heard Stoick's voice.

"Astrid! Wait! I was looking for you,  Ingrid said you had just left the house. I thought I'd find you here."

Astrid was always respectful to the Chief. Her dream was to become a shieldmaiden and that wouldn't happen without the Chief's favour, luckily she could become a shieldmaiden now that her mother had convinced Stoick to postpone the bethrothal to Hiccup. Now she just had to show Stoick she would be better as a shieldmaiden then she would ever be as his daughter-in-law.

"Anything I can do for you chief?"

Stoick had caught up to where she was standing now.

"Yes Astrid, there is. Gobber says something bad must've happened Hiccup because he hasn't been seen for a few days. Honestly don't know what things that boy gets himself into. I'm sure he's out there somewhere looking for trolls and got lost, so if you can just go out and look for him."

Astrid looked at Stoick's face. He had always treated Hiccup harshly in her opinion (a harshness Hiccup deserved for some of the things he had done), but sometimes even Stoick went overboard with the treatment of his own child. Therefore, Astrid was both a little relieved and surprised when she saw the glimmer (however tiny) of worry in Stoick's face.

"Sure Chief! I was just about to head into the forest for my training anyways!"

Astrid made sure to put emphasis on training. Anyways, what had Hiccup gotten himself into this time? She bid the chief farewell and headed out towards the place where Hiccup was usually seen entering the forest. Astrid had no doubt she would find him, but Hiccup was the only person who knew the forest better than her, so it would be a challenge. Astrid shouldered her axe.

A challenge she was going to win.

-_:Break Line:_-

Hiccup had finally reached back to where his and Toothless's camp was.

"So why were so quiet?"

"I couldn't talk to you! Once you entered the city, there were so many minds I couldn't communicate with you through it."

"I didn't think that could happen."

"I didn't either! The books never mention it."

"Probably because dragons with that connection won't be walking in cities together. By the way, something really weird happened today in the city."

And so Hiccup told his all about his visit to the city, the Figure, and the message.

"No!"

"No what?"

"Our minds are connected! I can pretty much hear what your thinking! You are not going to go find this black parrot dude in the left corner or anything!"

"Right corner. And anyways, don't you wanna see what this 'audition' is for?"

"No. You are not going and that's final."

Hiccup agreed, but as Toothless drifted off to sleep, Hiccup packed up his things and started the long journey back to the city. It would be much more dangerous in the waning light, but as long as he didn't get lost, he would be fine. Usually he wouldn't have been able to do something like that if Toothless hadn't been that tired from the flight.

Hiccup started walking.

A/N: Hi! Review! Bye