the afternoon sun bled through jagged pines, each shaft of light glinted off the specked grass like a drive of stars fallen from the heavens. astrid was preparing for a rather important event, carrying an underlying certainty of one that faced storms both literal and emotional— yet her nature softens tremendously in this specific company. a distinct child who knew fear and solitude intimately as most knew the taste of meat and mead. he, who wandered too far at twelve and vanished, only to be found, miraculously, cradled by a timberjack, creature evidently becoming his shield and family... as they so often did. hiccup had brought him home, yes, but she took it upon herself to keep watch, a force in the corners of his life, appreciating the softness and resilience others overlooked, the pulse of courage that made him different.
the last leather strap clicks into place, a satisfying sound echoing in their surrounding stillness. stormfly shifts and stretches, wings expanding as she tests the movement and steadiness of her saddle, a routine reaction. sunlight bounces back and forth between her iridescent scales, driving prismatic sparks at the underbrush. astrid brushes a lock of hair from her eyes and turns, scanning the boy standing relatively close, boots rooted heavily inside the mossy ground... she carefully observes as every flicker of emotion crosses his expressive face. the hesitation, the worry, the longing to remain in the safety of the familiar. still, she pushes: "you ready?" bearing that hofferson grin of hers, she gives stormfly a rub beneath the chin, but keeps her focus planted on will.
are you sure about this? @clericwoken
"come on, now. i've already told you: i'd never put you in danger. and you trust me, right?" astrid sternly reassures, and rests a warm palm over his shoulder, squeezing for good measure. "i know you prefer the quiet, you and fireball against the big wide world— there's nothing wrong with that. i like it sometimes, too... me and her all alone." she allows the words to hang for a moment, letting him comprehend that she sees him, understands him, before continuing. "but it doesn't mean you shouldn't try new things. skies the limit, yeah? you don't..." voice drifts into nothingness as the nadder announces her opinion with a happy squeak. she trots in will's direction, approaching steadily before she nudges him in the chest, a playful, affectionate pressure which nearly sends him stumbling backwards. you'll be safe with me, stormfly silently urges, then bows her head at his side, resting there, comforting and close.
astrid is given permission to continue: "i'll be with you the whole time. we'll take it slow, just fly over berk and see how you feel. but if you really hate it, we'll come straight down." she promises sincerely, and extends a hand towards him, fingers wiggling playfully in an attempt to entice him inwards. to allow her to be his guide. "what do you say?"
