The Eternal Valkyrie

Chapter 1

(Present day)

"Beeeeeeeeep, beeeeeeep, beeeep." Went the alarm. A hand struck out at the offending object, expertly hitting the snooze button. A head, with a mass of auburn hair sticking up each direction, sleepily poked out from under the warm blanket glaring at the display of the clock. With a sigh the man faceplanted right back into the pillow. He was nearly asleep again when the alarm blared once more. With a sigh he finally got out of bed and shut off the offending object.

He got ready for the day and came downstairs dressed in dark brown khakis and a green sweater. The house, or mansion, belonging to his parents was devoid of life. It was already two months since they had departed on an expedition. The young man sighed once again as he made some sandwiches for work while munching on a piece of toast.

His phone rang as he was mounting his bike.

"Hello?"

"Hiccup darling, it's mom." Came from the other end of the line.

"Hi mom. Haven't heard from you in a while." Hiccup said as he hefted his backpack on his shoulders.

"Yes, the connection there was terrible." She said. "Good news though. Our expedition was successful and we'll be flying home tonight. How is everything over there? Have you been eating well? You haven't been running through the rain have you?"

"Good mom, everything is good. I was just heading to work." Hiccup said.

"Alright honey, we'll talk when we get home. You're father sends his love and be careful!!" Hiccup's mother said.

"Sure, sure mom." Hiccup said with a little exasperation. His parents had been overprotective ever since he was born. He might have been born early but he surely didn't need to be sheltered so much, especially now that he was 21 already.

Hiccup got on his bike to go to work which was only a couple of blocks away. The sky was clear and a light breeze passed him as he cycled down the road.

Hiccup was nearing the Berk Metropolitan museum when he noticed that an old beggar was going to walk right into oncoming traffic. "Hey stop!" He shouted as he jumped off of his bike and ran to the old man. He managed to pull the old man, who was apparently talking to himself, back to the sidewalk just as a semi-truck drove past at full speed.

"Are you alright?!" Hiccup asked as he checked the guy over. "You nearly became a pancake!!"

"Ah.... I'm fine, I'm fine lad." The man said as he shakily got up. His gray beard whipped in the wind and Hiccup noticed that the old man had an eyepatch over his right eye. "I didn't even see that truck coming." The man joked. "Two of my friends were being sassy to each other again."

"Eh.... okay." Hiccup said as he raised an eyebrow when the man pointed to the sky and shouted "Now go back to your blasted perch you two!!"

"Those two have been getting sassier every year." The old man muttered.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Hiccup asked once more as he went to retrieve his bicycle which he let fall on the sidewalk. "Yes yes I'm fine Hiccup."

Hiccup stopped and looked at the man. "How did you know my name?" He asked. The man simply chuckled and pointed at Hiccup's ID badge which hung around his neck. "Oh" Hiccup said sheepishly as he scratched the back of his neck.

"The name's Wodan" The old man introduced and then his stomach growled loudly. "Eh... sorry about that."

Hiccup dug around in his backpack and took out his sandwich. "Here Wodan, you can have this." He said. The old man wanted to refuse but Hiccup insisted. "I can get more so feel free to take it."