The Forgotten Haddock

Chapter 6

The next day, the Gronckle is released. It's only Astrid, Hiccup and I. Astrid and Hiccup are in the lead, while I'm just behind. I purposely don't use my dragon nip arrows and keep my distance. I shoot occasionally, but mostly hide. I fire and duck down. I hear Astrid give a war cry and hear her charge, but then stop. The crowd cheers and I hear the Gronckle snoring. Hiccup has done it. I hear Astrid curse and swing her axe.

"No! No, son of a half-troll, rat-eating, munge-bucket!"

"Wait! Wait." Dad calls out.

"So, later." Hiccup says

"Oh! Not so fast." Gobber says.

"I'm kind of late for--"

"What?! Late for what, exactly?" Astrid says.

"Quiet down! The elder has decided." Dad says. I walk up next to Astrid and stand still. After a couple of seconds, I hear gasps and murmurs. Then cheers.

"Oh, you've done it, Hiccup! You get to kill the dragon!" Gobber says happily. I go to Astrid and put a hand on her shoulder.

"I think the Gronckle just smelt itself and fainted because of it." I whisper to Astrid. I can feel her anger leave her body. I sneak through the crowd and drop off my bow at the house. I then make my way to the cove and do my dragon call. Vision comes to me and I put on Vision's saddle. I hop on and we fly high into the sky.

"Come on boy, let's go on an extra long fly." I say to Vision I know Astrid is going to need time to vent out all her frustrations. We fly through the forest, through caves, around the whole island, avoiding anywhere near Berk. We've flown in every nook and cranny there is. I lie on my back as Vision flies high in the air. Suddenly I hear distant screaming. I know that voice anywhere. I sit up and point Vision in the direction of her screams. They stop suddenly on the treetops. It's quiet for about a minute, but then it starts up again, but oddly they seem to be rising higher in the air. Freak catapult accident? Not with all the bobbing and weaving that's happening But then I hear Toothless' flying and I realize she's flying on Toothless. But if she's flying Toothless, that means she's with--

"And now the spinning." Hiccup says. "Thank you for nothing, you useless reptile."

They dive down spinning and Vision and I dive down along with them.

"Ok, I am sorry! I'm sorry. Just get me off this thing. Toothless suddenly levels out and his flying becomes smooth. Vision is still trying to get close to them, but we're still a little too far away. When we get close enough, I ask Hiccup,

"Hiccup, you have some explaining to do."

"Oh, hey Nara. Fancy meeting you here. Shouldn't you be with Astrid at this time." Hiccup says nervously.

"Maybe that's why I'm here." I respond, "Anyway, Astrid, do you want to ride on Vision? Hiccup has told me that he's quite beautiful."

"Yeah, he is. Umm how do I get to him?" Astrid stammers after getting over the shock of seeing Hiccup and now Nara on dragon-back.

"Easy. You jump off Toothless and Vision will catch you. Watch." And with that, I flip off Vision. Astrid screams, "Nara!" but Vision soon catches me. He flies back up next to Toothless and I say,

"Well there's that, or Vision can toss you in the air and you land behind me. Your choice."

"I'll jump." She says nervously. I hear her jump and Vision dives after her. I feel something hit my back and Astrid's arms around my waist. We soon fly back up to Hiccup and Toothless.

"So you have a dragon too." Astrid says, still nervous.

"Oh, um, well, yeah." I stammer. "I wanted to tell you, but I was afraid of how you would react."