♠️Hiccup♠️
I’m flying on Toothless with Astrid beside me when a horn blast echoes from the village. “Oh, no, let’s pray that isn’t a Screaming Death.” Astrid nods, and we veer toward Berk.
When we arrive, we’re stunned. A black blur is launching plasma blasts at boars. “Is that…?”
“Yep, a Night Fury.” I ask, “But dragons eat fish, why is she attacking boars?” Astrid and I exchange a look. “Hiccup, be careful!” I nod, slowly guiding Toothless closer to the deadly dragon. “Hey, big girl.” She halts, turning her head to glare at me before unleashing a guttural roar.
I quickly realize she’s not a boy, but a powerfully built female. Her muscles ripple beneath her scales, and her eyes are a startling shade of violet, narrowed in fury. “Easy, girl. We’re not going to hurt you.” I extend my hand tentatively.
The dragon’s eyes soften momentarily, then she snorts, snatching a boar in her claws and soaring into the sky. “Follow that Dragon!” I call, and Astrid and I pursue her.
“That’s odd, she’s headed for the cove.” Astrid observes, her voice laced with curiosity. As we descend, we see the Night Fury land. We land too, but stay hidden, watching her stalk into the cove.
“Hiccup, look!” Astrid whispers. I follow her gaze, and my heart leaps into my throat. A girl is lying against a rock, blood soaking through her clothes on her arm, leg, thigh, and chest. Bruises mar her face, and blood mats her black hair to her forehead.
Her eyes are closed, and the Night Fury nudges her head with worried snorts. The girl barely stirs. The dragon nudges her again, and her eyes flutter open. “Hey, Nightwing,” she rasps, slowly raising her hand to stroke the dragon’s head. It breaks my heart to see how much effort it takes.
Nightwing grumbles sadly, and the girl shakes her head. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll…I’ll be fine.” Nightwing cooks the boar with a burst of plasma, then pushes it towards her.
“That’s why she’s been stealing our livestock – she’s been caring for her.”
“No, girl, I’m—I’m not hungry.” She suddenly stops talking, her gaze distant.
“Oh…oh, my gods, is she…?”
“No, but she’s close. Come on!” I urge, leaping onto Toothless. Astrid follows on Stormfly. Nightwing rises to her feet, unleashing a plasma blast, which I barely dodge.
“Nightwing, please, we just want to help her.” I explain, gesturing toward the now unconscious girl. Nightwing looks at her rider with a mournful expression before letting out a low rumble. I dismount Toothless and slowly approach the girl. Nightwing watches me with unwavering intensity.
I gently lift her and settle her onto Toothless’s back. We ascend, Nightwing flying alongside us. We land on Berk, and I rush the girl straight to my father.
My father assigns healers to care for her, but I request she recover in my room. I want to help, and I can keep a close eye on her.
* * *
Two nights later, I’m sitting in a chair beside my bed, where the girl still lies unconscious. Nightwing and Toothless are curled up on their beds, ears twitching, monitoring for any sign of improvement.
Suddenly, the girl shoots upright, sending me tumbling off my chair. Nightwing springs to her feet and rushes to her side. “Aw, I’m okay, Nightwing, I’m okay.” I groan and regain my footing. The girl gasps, reaching for the knife at her belt only to realize it’s gone. “Yeah, we had to take it. But don’t worry, we brought you here with good intentions.”
She stares at me suspiciously. “We only wanted to help you recover. You were close to death when we found you.” She nods, examining the bandages covering her body.
“So, mind telling me your name, and why you were so injured?” She hesitates, then seems to make a decision.