Trader Johann's return voyage always came with a sense of deja vu. His route wasn't an exact copy of the initial sail, but still took him past several of the major trading islands. He never stopped at any port – usually in a rush to return to his own home. The faster he sailed, the more time he had to rest and restock before setting off once more.
The life of a trader often felt nomadic, but he did take pleasure in those short stretches of time he could buy on land.
He tracked his progress through the sighting of those manor islands. Each one represented the amount of time left in his trip, and upon seeing each he could estimate how much longer it would take to make the journey. Berk was always a welcome sight, knowing it meant that he only had two days left to endure.
It was just after sunrise when he finally saw the Isle coming up off the bow. The village harbor was mostly empty, the streets inactive in the early morning hours.
Well…mostly inactive.
A dark shape was quickly ascending into the sky, just beyond the village borders.
A dragon? Johann wondered with mild interest.
Berk was no longer at war with dragons – it was a fact known across the archipelago. Opinions varied on the wisdom of the island's decision, but Johann had seen the peace on its shores for himself. Whatever the tribe was doing was working to keep war at bay.
Still…they were dangerous creatures. It seemed awfully sloppy of Stoick to allow such beasts to take up residence so close to the homes of his village.
Before he could get a good look at the winged creature, it shot off into the distance. Johann was momentarily taken aback by the speed, as the dragon moved too fast for his eyes to track.
The sound, however, was unmistakable.
"A Night Fury," murmured Johann in surprise, raising a hand to stroke his chin. It was one of the rarest, most legendary dragons within the archipelago – one very few had ever seen and lived to tell about.
This was an interesting development...and one that he was sure was worth a fortune. Such a stealthy dragon could have evaded Berk's notice, hiding right under their noses. Surely Stoick would certainly want to know about this threat.
Johann assessed the harbor once more, noting with disappointment that the chief's ship was absent. It was rare for business to draw the warrior away from his home – clearly luck was not on his side today.
Oh well. There were others who would take interest in this news.
He'd just have to find another buyer.
Sneaking back into the ice fortress was just as easy as it had been the first time. Hiccup was relieved, as he'd carried a bag of his belongings along in his teeth this time. A dragon with baggage was sure to be a strange sight and he had hoped to avoid any attention.
He'd kept his supplies limited to the bare essentials, wanting the bag to be small and light enough that it could be tucked away into whatever hiding place he could find. He'd managed to fit a spare outfit, a waterskin, thin blanket, some basic food rations, a notebook and a single charcoal stick inside. Hopefully that would be enough to get him through his stay.
He wasn't quite sure how long that would be. By his estimation, it would take Stoick three days to reach the gathering, one to two more for whatever the meeting actually entailed and then another three to return. That should give him a little under a week to observe the stranger without risking his father finding out he'd gone, but there was no guarantee.
Hiccup adjusted the strap of the bag in his jaw, careful to keep his teeth retracted. He didn't want to risk cutting through the cord, knowing that doing so would make it that much more of a pain to carry on the return trip.
He wandered the tunnels, keeping a sharp eye out for any smaller gaps in the ice that a dragon would not be able to fit through. If he could find one, it would serve as both a great place to store his belongings out of sight and a safe place to retreat during the night without fear of being disturbed.
The task proved to be harder than he'd anticipated. While there were a few gaps here or there, but none of the caverns were big enough to house a viking.
Hiccup had nearly given up hope when he'd stumbled upon an opening that could work. Getting down to eye level with the gap, he could see the space within was big enough for him to stretch out for sleep. The entrance would be a tight squeeze to get in and out of, but he'd manage so long as he was careful to exit before sunrise. Otherwise, he'd be trapped inside.
Dropping the bag on the ice, he used a paw to shove it deep into the opening. Then, he took a claw to the wall, scratching out three lines side by side to mark the entrance to his hideout. While he couldn't risk drawing an 'H' in plain sight, the numeral was a good enough nod to his initials that he'd recognize it later.
Hiccup took a moment to look at the surrounding tunnels, scratching a few more marks in to help direct him towards his new base. Once he was satisfied with the wayfinding system, he set off towards the center of the nest.
As he crept out into the heart of the island, he found himself in awe once more. His memories hadn't done the place justice, and he suddenly felt very small within the cavernous space.
A Terror rushed past him, nearly knocking into his feet in its haste. Hiccup flinched at the sudden movement, reminded that he was not alone.
Act natural.
The thought made him snort, smoke expelling from his nostrils. As if he had any clue how to act like a real dragon…
Still, he forced his muscles to relax, loosening his stride as he made his way towards the heart of the nest. The dragons he could see were all calm and content. Showing any sort of tension would only make him stick out more, and he didn't want to draw unnecessary attention.
Hiccup found himself drawn to the highest overlook, where he'd previously seen the stranger come face to face with the goliath. Idly, he wondered if it was wise to try to get another look at the creature, but the pull of his own curiosity was too strong to ignore.
As he crested the hill, he got his first look at the true scale of the beast. He dug his claws into the ground, eyes widening as they traced the gigantic form in the waters below. He could see the edges of wings, though they were short and stubby in a way that suggested they were not used for flight. If anything, they looked more akin to fins.
A water dragon?
It was possible. Scauldrons and Seashockers were the most common found around Berk, but with the depths and immensity of the ocean…it made sense that there were far more species lurking somewhere below the surface.
He just couldn't believe something so large existed at all.
As if sensing the weight of his gaze, the creature began to twist in the water below. With a loud rumbling noise, it heaved itself upward until it was eye level with him.
Hiccup felt his heart stutter in his chest, a shiver running down his spine as the goliath caught sight of him. The ancient aura that he'd come to associate with the dragon was so much stronger when he was trapped under its gaze, and he noticed an intelligence behind those eyes that nearly sent him reeling.
He didn't dare move, worried that any action would set off the creature's wrath. The last time he'd been face to face with such a massive dragon, he'd nearly died. Standing before such might once more left him feeling breathless and unsure, the ghost of the Red Death's flames flickering in his memory.
"If something happened to you out there, no one would be around to help. No one would even know how to find you!"
His father's fearful words surfaced in his mind, and Hiccup finally understood them. If something happened here now…he'd never get to say goodbye to his loved ones. Only Astrid would know where he'd gone, and he trusted her to keep the secret.
Perhaps this trip had been a mistake. Perhaps he'd miscalculated.
The creature tilted its head, squinting at him as if it were assessing his very being. Hiccup had the strangest feeling that it could see right through him, seeing the truth of who he was beneath the guise of the Night Fury body.
It leaned towards him, movements slow and steady as it exhaled a thick cloud of frost in his direction. The harsh chill of it against his scales was enough to shake him from his stupor, and he stumbled back a few steps in surprise.
"Oh, you came back!" A bright voice exclaimed from behind him, "I'd hoped you would, but I wasn't sure–"
Hiccup snapped his neck towards the sound, finding the strange woman standing just a few paces away. He hadn't heard her approach, having been too transfixed with the giant of the nest.
The giant. He'd turned his back on the giant.
He whipped his head back towards it, stunned to find that it was gone, having retreated without any sort of attack or confrontation.
He wasn't sure what to make of that.
"Oh, don't worry about the Bewilderbeast," remarked the woman, taking another step closer. "He likes you! After all, he's just accepted you into his nest."
Hiccup let loose a low growl of warning, trying to keep the woman at bay.
She paused, dipping her head in easy acknowledgement of his wishes. She dug the end of her staff into the dirt, leaning on it for support as she watched him with obvious interest.
Hiccup shuffled his feet, looking away. He'd come here to observe her, and yet somehow the tables had turned and he was the one under scrutiny.
"Early twenties," the woman murmured to herself, "younger than I'd thought."
How did she know that?
Hiccup forced himself not to react, worrying that she would pick up on his ability to understand her words. It reminded him a bit of his time in the ring, where he'd had to fool the villagers into believing he was just another dragon.
Unfortunately for him, this woman seemed to be far more knowledgeable on dragons than his village had been. He'd have to be more convincing this time around.
Hiccup watched a few passing dragons from the corner of his vision, trying to make note of their mannerisms. If he could mimic them well enough, perhaps she wouldn't notice anything amiss. It was worth a try.
Setting aside the feelings of humiliation, he lifted a wing and twisted to groom it. He felt foolish, but it was a behavior he'd seen from nearly every species so it was a safe bet to fall back on. As he cleaned his scales, he kept his ears angled back, attention fixed on the woman behind him.
He'd promised his father he'd be more careful, and he would.
He would not let his guard down.
Astrid was bored.
She'd known that Hiccup had become a fixture in her life, but she hadn't realized just how much time they spent together until he was gone.
It had become a habit to finish all her tasks early to ensure she was on time to meet him each night. Tonight, she found herself at a loss. There was no one to meet, no plans to rush off to – just the reminder that she had to keep up the ruse.
To avoid any suspicion or unwanted questions, she'd still trekked up to the outlook point. There, she'd sat and watched the sunset in silence, lost in her thoughts.
The stars were bright above Berk, the crescent moon's reflection glittering on the waves below. The wind was light, stirring at the few strands of hair that had broken free of her braid. She brushed them out of her eyes in annoyance, tucking them loosely behind her ears.
She hoped that Hiccup had made it safely to the nest, and that he was learning all that he'd hoped to learn. A small part of her was jealous, wishing that she could be there to see it herself. That she could share in this adventure with him.
It was illogical, she knew that. She would be a liability – just one more thing he'd have to worry about. An unfamiliar dragon found sneaking about a mysterious nest was one thing. A viking girl was something else entirely – likely to be seen as an unwelcome intruder.
Astrid pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapping her forearms around them. She tried not to linger on the thought too long, but she couldn't deny her worries. For once, Hiccup would be safest during the day. She feared what would happen if he were discovered during the night.
He'd have to sleep at some point, and that would make him vulnerable.
Vulnerability could easily get one killed.
Gods, she grimaced. This line of thinking would do her no good.
She needed a distraction, but it was too early in the night for her to return to the village without Hiccup. She'd need to stick to the woods for a while to avoid any questions.
Astrid pushed herself to her feet, brushing the grass from her skirt. A crazy idea had wormed its way into her mind, and she found herself taking off towards the secluded cove that Hiccup had led her to.
Her thoughts kept taking her back to the Deadly Nadder – now she'd allow her feet to do the same. The dragon had shown her its trust before, she wondered if she could push that trust just a little bit further tonight.
Hiccup was doing his part to learn about dragons…perhaps she could do the same.
Finding the cove was not as easy of a task as she'd assumed. She knew it was deep within the woods, far off the path taken by most Berkians. Unfortunately, that left a lot of forest to narrow down. The villagers had a few common paths, worn down throughout the generations, and saw little reason to venture off those well-trodden spaces.
She'd been distracted that last time she'd been to the cove – first by Hiccup's antsy behavior, then by her own sense of wonder in meeting the Nadder. Keeping track of how to get to and from the secluded space had been far from her mind.
Now she wished she'd memorized it.
"Ugh!" She swatted a low hanging branch out of her way.
If anything, all her wandering had done was get her lost. She didn't recognize her surroundings anymore, too deep in the trees to guess where the closest footpath lay.
Astrid paused, taking a moment to unsheath her axe. The brush was too thick to see anything clearly, so she began to hack away at it as she walked. The path of severed branches would also serve as a wayfinding system if she needed to retrace her steps.
It was a strange feeling to be out, alone in the dark. Six months ago, she never would have dared take such a risk. Especially without informing one of the warriors of her location.
Now, she wasn't afraid. She was frustrated – that was undeniable, but she wasn't afraid. That, in itself, was a victory.
Astrid continued to slice a path through the woods until, finally, the trees began to thin out. She was ecstatic to see a bit of moonlight ahead, hurrying towards it.
I did it!
She'd found herself at the lip of the cove, not too far from where Hiccup had led her previously. Not wanting to waste any time, she strung her weapon back into place, making the trek down into the clearing.
"Hello?" She called out, casting a careful look around as she entered. While she hoped to find the Nadder, there was no telling what other wildlife could be nearby. Dragons weren't the only predators in the forests of the Isle.
Of course, there was no answer. She felt a bit foolish.
Gods, I'm talking to dragons like they understand me.
It was hard not to, considering how much time she'd spent with Hiccup. Somewhere along the way, she'd begun to believe they were more intelligent than she'd been taught.
A squawk broke through the silence, startling Astrid. She spun, arm lifting towards her weapon before she stilled. It was the Nadder, staring right at her from a few paces away.
"Oh, hello," greeted Astrid in surprise. "Where'd you come from?"
The Nadder cocked her head, wings shuffling against her back.
I'm doing it again, she realized. She took a tentative step forward, extending her hand slowly towards the dragon.
The Nadder sniffed twice before closing the distance, much less cautious than she had been the last time. Instead, the dragon shoved her head into Astrid's palm with force, rubbing its scales against her fingers.
Astrid laughed, surprised but delighted by the eagerness. She scratched at the scales without further proding, a smile stretching across her face.
"You're a lot friendlier than I expected," she admitted, once more addressing the dragon.
The Nadder sighed in response, muscles relaxing under Astrid's touch.
"If we're gonna be friends, you're gonna need a name," she determined. "I can't just keep calling you 'the Nadder.'"
The idea of naming a dragon was thrilling in itself – she'd probably be the first in all of Berk to do so. She briefly toyed with the idea of following Berk's superstitious naming practices, but it didn't feel right to give the beautiful dragon a hideous name.
It needed to be something grand enough to do the Nadder justice, without being too flowery for a fire-breathing creature. Fire. The obvious answer was something to do with fire, or the elements.
Perhaps she could combine a few elements? Maybe using counterbalanced elements to represent the duality of what dragons were versus what vikings had always believed. Fire and water.
"What about Stormfire?" Astrid paused, then wrinkled her nose. "No, that's too much."
She liked the idea of a storm – it represented multiple elements through wind, rain and lightning. Adding fire to the end of it seemed redundant.
Astrid hummed, "What about Storm….heart? Wings? Fly? Wait, I kind of like that one. Stormfly?"
The blue Nadder cooed, which Astrid took as a sign of acceptance.
"Stormfly it is," she decided.
After spending a little over an hour with Stormfly, Astrid noticed a shift in the dragon's behavior towards her. Now, the Nadder was willing to look away and break contact. She no longer had to keep Astrid in her sights at all times.
It was a clear mark of trust, and one that Astrid cherished. She must have passed some test, earning Stormfly's acceptance that she was not a threat. After all, a dragon rarely ever turned its back on the enemy.
She lingered in the cove, trying to decide what her next step should be. Perhaps she should bring fish the next night to see if Stormfly would accept food from her? It might further endear her to the dragon.
It probably wouldn't hurt. Then, perhaps she'd let Stormfly make the next move.
With a regretful sigh, Astrid decided that she should probably head home. She'd gotten very good at measuring time – being friends with someone bound to the sun and moon made it impossible not to be.
"Goodnight, Stormfly," she called, feeling a strange pang in chest as she left the friendly dragon once more.