A New World, Complicated

Chapter 26: Fright of Passage (Hiccup)

        Reign leaned against one of the walls of the Academy, refusing to take her eyes off of Astrid as she ceaselessly drove her axe into targets. Today's training was a big deal for Astrid, and unfortunately for all of us, that meant she was a little on edge. She let out a cry and she penetrated the next red and white victim, refusing to break her focus.

"You want some of this?" She yanked out her weapon and just drove it into the next target. "That's right. Who's next?" And then, disconcertingly, she looked straight at us.

"I'm pretty sure that you-" Reign stopped for a second, as though attempting to collect her thoughts. "Yep, I think you got them. All of them." Her eyes darted around to survey the carnage. I knew she was worried about Astrid, especially recently. All of us were.

"Astrid's been killing inanimate objects all day," Fishlegs informed us.

"She's really wound up about the Flightmare," I sighed.

"Too bad she's wasting her time." We all glared at Snotlout as he wandered over to us. "When the Flightmare comes, the Hoffersons freeze. Right, Astrid? I mean, you are a-" She threw her axe just to the left of him, burying itself in the stone instead of his head. "-Hofferson."

Quickly, Reign stepped up and attempted to diffuse the situation.

"Okay, okay, let's take a deep breath. Just because Aurvandil's Fire is coming, doesn't mean the Flightmare is, too."

"Sure it does. Every ten years, the sky lights up with Aurvandil's Fire, and when it does, the Flightmare appears," Fishlegs explained. "Its spectral glow and banshee like scream are unmistakable."

"You were saying?" Astrid snapped, her glare bouncing back and forth between Reign and I. It's like she didn't want anyone to keep her sane.

"Thank you, Fishlegs," Reign sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Your extensive knowledge of the Flightmare is... timely, if nothing else."

"I do fancy myself to be Berk's leading authority on the subject. Here's a few more fun facts."

I shook my head as Fishlegs opened up the Book of Dragons. The last thing we needed was to encourage Astrid, or anger her any more than she already was. I hadn't been close friends with her as long as Reign had, but I knew just how crazy she could be. That was one thing they had in common: once their minds were made up, nothing could divert them from their intentions.

In some ways, she really was a Hofferson. Even if her bloodline said otherwise.

"Legend has it that the Flightmare is so terrifying, it actually freezes its prey in their tracks."

"Yeah, just ask Frozen Finn Hofferson. Right, Astrid?"

She let out a loud yell, then grabbed onto Snotlout and slammed him to the ground, planting her foot on his face to keep him from being able to move.

"You think it's funny, Snotlout?" She swung her axe dangerously close to Snotlout's face. "You think it's a joke that my family name was ruined by that dragon?"

"Well, I used to, just a couple of minutes ago, but now I can see how it might be upsetting you."

Everyone, including Snotlout, turned to stare at the twins as they brought a wheelbarrow filled with tomatoes into the Academy.

"Have you guys heard? The Flightmare is coming." Reign stepped out in front of Astrid, attempting to block her from the twins' view, which provided a barrier between the groups if Astrid decided to strike.