Introducing Ryker Grimborn - Where you hear him and his men discussing taking a hostage, and you offer yourself up in an attempt to get out of your boring little fishing village.
Introducing Atali - Where you arrive on their island with a Razorwhip egg, desperate for answers, praying the dragon inside is okay. It is. And you kind of get stuck there raising it.
When They Realize Their Feelings
Introducing Krogan - Where you're an auxiliary dragon rider, but head off to track down some Dragon Hunters on your own when you decide that the A Team isn't doing enough. And in your hunt, you find Krogan.
Introducing Johann - I'm still not sure. I have a lot of ideas. My working one is "the reader is a bounty hunter sent to kill him by a lucky survivor". But I also like "the reader is a trader at the northern markets who discovers his secrets and now holds knowledge about him no living soul does". The one that isn't a scenario is definitely getting it's own book. Lemme know what y'all think.
Flirting (or, Noble Attempts)
Introducing Grimmel - Where you're a dragon rider who has long since split off from the team, and you're called upon by Grimmel for your expertise and past experience with Berk. You're not too keen on helping him.
Dealing With Feelings (Confessions, Denials, and Confusion)
"Take good care of your person for me, would you?"
Your footsteps were muffled in the dew flecked grass, and Mala hadn't heard your approach. Instead she stood beside your dragon, gently scratching him beneath his chin in the same way you always would. Her attention to detail was yet another surprising quality she possessed, which made her obliviousness to your presence all the more entertaining.
"That's a promise?" She chuckled, slipping him a piece of Sagefruit despite her own recommendations for the travel.
The irony seemed to be lost on her.
"You're not trying to sabotage me, are you?"
"Oh! It's you!" Her back went rigid as she turned to face you, cheeks burning bright. "You overheard our chat there?"
"Just some of it." You giggled. "Specifically the part about keeping me safe, then feeding my dragon the thing that makes them super relaxed and not keen on fighting."
"It was only a piece!" She said through a laugh. "But I see your point. Though, I'd trust him to look after you well either way."
"He's been pretty reliable. I mean, that's actually how he and I wound up together."
"Is it?"
You nodded, properly approaching the two and throwing your bag on the Flame Whipper's back. "I was helping out the dragon riders, and was scouting an area with Fishlegs and the twins. Fishlegs found some 'fascinating fauna', the twins got on him about that, and I kept doing my job because like... Who doesn't want to impress the first dragon riders in the entire archipelago, right?"
"Right." Her eyes met yours, and there they stayed as she slipped your dragon another, slightly smaller piece of fruit.
With pursed lips and narrowed eyes, you pressed on.
"....Anyway, it turns out the area we were scouting happened to be home to a very, very territorial Nadder. I don't have a dragon, so I'm stuck dealing with this on foot, and as you know, Nadders are fast. I'm running, I can hear spines hitting trees, and at this point I'm pretty sure I'm dead. Then, there was a roar, and a bunch of rustling behind me. I turned around, and this guy was trying to fend it off."
"And it had never even met you?"
You shrugged. "Not that I know of. We had helped an injured dragon in the area earlier, so maybe he saw we weren't a threat? He definitely learned that when we patched him up afterwards." You lifted his wing and motioned to the a lengthy scar along his side."Either way, I'm pretty sure he saved my life that day."
"Fortunately." The queen said through a grin. "It would have been a shame to have never met you."
At least, that's what Mala said at first. But after your second day together, she had a request to make of you. She had never seen her island from the sky, save for when she was with the dragon riders and trying to save the village, which hardly counted. And she wanted you to change that.
To make up for the transgression, all she asked was that you two visit the lair of the Great Protector, and leave offerings.
You left under the cover of night, guiding your dragon on foot to the outskirts of the village. You spotted Mala standing in the shadow of a stately evergreen, black armor hardly visible in the dark. You whispered her name - just hardly a whisper, but enough for her to jump at the sound.
"There you are!" She said through her still unsteady breaths, clutching a hand to her chest as she regained composure. "I was beginning to get worried."
"You don't really think I'd bail on you, right?"
"We're working with borrowed time." She replied in a manner as cryptic as ever.
"I'm sorry, what?"
"It was hard enough to sneak past my guards. I don't know how long until they figure out I'm missing."
A frantic pounding began in your chest. The source of which was still up for debate. Was it because in an unexpected turn of events she's choosing time spent with you over her personal safety? Or was it the fact that if you got spotted taking to the skies with the queen, with no guards in sight, you would be at an alarmingly high risk of getting murdered? Or both?
"You didn't even tell Throk?"
She shook her head, and behind her eyes was a mischievous glimmer. You wanted to protest, to beg her to let someone know on the off chance there was an incident. But there was something about her face - an unusual giddiness - that was holding your words at bay. And in your pause you wondered: just how long had it been since she had a single act of rebellion?
"Alright." You sighed, trying to subdue an equally impish expression. "Then I guess we better get going."
You hopped on the back of your dragon, and she followed suit. She moved with little haste, despite the circumstances. Like she hadn't just warned you that you were one misunderstanding away from a swift and decisive execution via Throk.
Even if you wanted to make some snide remark, you couldn't find it in you as she situated herself behind you and you took off into the night.
Time moves different in the air.
On some flights, minutes might feel like hours, and days creep by like years.
But other times, in the right circumstances, hours could feel like minutes and seconds would slip by like the clouds between your fingertips.
And Mala, gently resting a hand on your shoulder, fingertips gently grazing your neck as the two of you effortlessly shared story after story like old friends? Those were the right circumstances.
Her thumb began to idly trace patterns on your back as she told you of the time that, when she was about fourteen, one of her more unruly friends stole some fireworks off of a passing trader's ship. And how she had crept out of her room at night to go set them off, and once it was made clear how the noises terrified the local wildlife ("namely, the dragons") she felt so ashamed that she left the Great Protector offerings each day for two months.
"So are you naturally this responsible, or does that just come with your background.?" You asked at her confession.
"The latter. When you're born into leadership, you don't have a choice. I admit, I was perhaps... " There was a hint of melancholy slipped between her syllables. "...perhaps more eager to please than a lot of children might have been... But I've always taken my duties seriously. I love my home, and my people."
"It shows... Like, you probably know that already. But you can tell." You admit. "The first few times we spoke, and you'd talk about the history of the island and I'd see the way you'd talk to the citizens... You're a great leader. They're all really lucky to have you."
There was a moment of silence that hung between you. An unusual stillness, illuminated by the stars still lingering up above, and the warm glow of the sun painted the dense fog clinging to the sea.
"That means a great deal coming from you... And I hope you know how deeply I mean that."
Your heart was racing when Mala arrived at your door, and your knees nearly gave out beneath you as you left the hut and followed the Queen to the heart of the tiny village. But as you chatted, you found your nerves quickly set at ease. She told the history of Caldera Cay with as even a tone as ever, painting pictures of an ancient culture dedicated to dragons with the same fervor as the current residents. She recounted the legends of the Great Protector with stars in her eyes as you stood beneath the aged statue of the beast, and regaled you with stories of the island's more questionable monarchs.
"Is there anything you don't know?" You finally asked, after she effortlessly answered your question about the discovery of Sagefruit.
She chuckled. "Of course. Plenty. But I want to be the best leader I can be for my people, and to do so I should know where we come from. Even before this place was called 'Caldera Cay'."
"I don't suppose you know the story behind that one, too?"
"I'm thinking you could figure out a good part of it for yourself."
It was true that the origin of the name was painfully obvious, but you were trying to coax as many words out of her as you could. If you kept her talking, and engaged, maybe this tour could go on just a little longer. After all, you were supposed to be befriending people, and making good impressions. Who better to do that with than the Queen? For business purposes, of course. No ulterior motives. You were sure of it, because you kept reminding yourself of it.
"With all due respect, Queen Mala, you're putting an awful lot of faith in me." You replied with an ever-so-slightly forced laugh.
"You know, (Y/N), I assumed we were speaking as friends. Equals."
Her comment caught you off guard. "Huh?" Was the most you could manage, with a cocked brow and stumble in your gait.
"I appreciate the respect, but there's no need for you to call me 'Queen'. Just 'Mala' will do."
"Are... Are you sure about that?" You were a glorified bodyguard to a trader of debatable competence. Sure, it felt like you and Mala were on equal ground, but even while joking with the woman you were aware of her title. Acting any less formal would feel wrong.
"Would I have any reason to lie about that?"
"Well, no, I-"
"Do I look like a liar, (Y/N)?" Wide eyed and pouting slightly, her stunned expression began to concern you. Perhaps you had misspoken. Perhaps your hesitation to listen to her was more offensive than you simply using her name. Perhaps -
Your panicked train of thought was cut short by the melodic giggling of the queen. And alongside your sigh of relief, you caught yourself laughing as well.
On the wall above your temporary bed there was a wooden shelf. A thin coating of dust rested on it, along with a few seemingly forgotten knickknacks.
You picked one up and examined it. It was a carved wooden figure that almost looked like a dragon, if you looked at it in the right light and forgot most of the details of what a dragon actually looked like. The craftsmanship was juvenile, just vague shapes chiseled in uneven lines, and no detail save for two little eyes, marked in their place by pinpricks of black paint. It was far too small to be a children's toy, which made you think it was someone's early attempt at woodworking. You smiled to yourself and placed it back in its spot - a place you could only identify by the clean wood where it stayed.
The creaking hinges of the front door served as a makeshift alarm, letting you know somebody just came wandering into the one room hut. You looked back over your shoulder, expecting to see Elis bringing in the extra keg of mead he'd insisted on lugging along for the trip. But even in your peripherals you could place the fair, willowy figure that stood in the doorway.
Spinning on your heel to face her, still not too sure how to approach such a dignified leader, you greeted her with a likely-too-wide grin, and a stammered, "Thank you so much for letting us stay here. This place is so cozy."
"I'm glad." She smiled. "Nobody has lived here for years, so we just try our best to keep cots set up and everything tidy for visitors."
"Do you get a lot of those? You're in a pretty central spot, so you've gotta have plenty of people showing up around here." You weren't entirely sure you cared at all, but with the real face of the trading operation apparently missing in action, you might as well get to work getting on the queen's good side. And not to judge too quickly, but in your limited interactions, she seemed a bit like somebody you wanted to be on the good side of.
"Some. We tend to try and deter most travelers, and they usually don't try more than once."
"That is the absolute most ominous answer you could have given me." The words slipped out before you could stop yourself, delivering a remark a bit too casual that you'd definitely never hear the end of if anyone overheard.
She chuckled, and you let out a breath you weren't even aware you were holding. "Don't worry, we don't usually try and kill people who show up unannounced. Your friends were just... An unfortunate mistake."
"Yeah, you see, your use of 'usually' still has me worried."
"Well, (Y/N), if it will help me regain your trust, I'd be willing to give you a tour and answer any questions you have." She paused, before tacking on, "with complete transparency."
Her offer caught you off guard, just as your name being spoken by such an elegant voice. Elis must have let your name slip when talking to somebody, but the fact that she remembered it combined with her offer? You responded with a nervous giggle.
There was absolutely no reason you should be the one befriending the queen. You weren't in charge. You were hardly even needed as a body guard. "You know, I uh... I'm not the one in charge of pricing the wares for you, right?"
"I didn't ask for a discount... But if you'd rather me as Elis, I suppose I could."
"You don't have to do that to yourself." You hastily reassured her. "I'm definitely up for it."
"Excellent. I have to go find your boss and make sure he's settling in well. Once I'm done with him, I would be happy to give you a tour."
Trade was finally being directly established between Caldera Cay and Berk. It was bad news for traders like Johann, who seemed to thrive off of the isolationist nature of most of the archipelago. But it was great news for Berk, which was always a little short on friends and allies before Hiccup started training dragons. It was almost like taming flying, fire breathing beasts made people want to get on your good side.
You were called on as hired help almost the very second the okay to send a merchant there was established. As one of the most competent auxiliary riders, you weren't too thrown off by the request. But you were reluctant – your job was to stay and protect Berk, and occasionally run off with the actual dragon riders when they needed an extra pair of hands. A week away meant that Gustav and Spitelout would be in charge of keeping people safe, and the thought of that alone was enough to make your blood run cold.
But somewhere between the discussion of payment and the incessant nagging, you caved. You couldn't pinpoint the moment, but it happened, and that's exactly what put you escorting a ship full of cargo of debatable value.
The journey to Caldera Cay was slow. Agonizingly slow.
You were instructed to bring your dragon along for safety's sake, and stay in cloud cover as much as possible. You were to be a watchful eye, and only interfere if there was any trouble. But a Flame Whipper is faster than your average ship, and most of your trip was spent flying, then circling back around or just hovering in place waiting for the ship to catch up.
They could have just brought several dragons with goods carried on their backs, but no. Nothing could ever be easy.
You arrived early in the day, about a week after you'd set out, to very little fanfare. There were three people stationed at the docks, two of which gave the distinct impression they'd rather be anywhere else. The third was a woman, tall and fair haired, with elegant armor and the undeniable air of authority. She had to be the queen you'd been told about. Mala, was it?
“Morning.” She began as you dismounted your dragon, and the merchant, Elis, stepped onto the dock. “I trust your trip was safe?”
“As it could be.” Elis began. “There was a little trouble with a scauldron on the way over, but we got out of that alright.”
“And what about the scauldron?”
“Don't worry,” you spoke up, “I made sure I didn't hurt it. I scared it a bit, just to make sure Elis made it here intact, but the dragon's totally unscathed.”
“I'm glad to hear that.” The woman gave a gentle smile – a strange contrast with the rest of her. “It seems everyone from Berk has such respect for dragons. It's good to hear the two of you are living up to the expectations.”
“Those expectations, yes. Any others you might have for us? Maybe. Don't wanna get your hopes up.” You giggled, scratching your dragon beneath its chin.
“Don't mind that one.” Elis interjected, shooting you an all too familiar glare. “We'll certainly live up to your expectations. If not, you get a money back guarantee, and you won't have to hear from us again.”
“Does that happen often?” Mala arched a brow as her eyes darted from you, to your “boss”, and back to your own with a knowing grin.
“Hasn't happened yet. Don't expect it to this time.” The man insisted.
You gave the woman a contradictory nod when he wasn't looking, and you watched as she tried to keep her mouth in a straight, unwavering line.
“Well, I look forward to doing business with you both. In the meantime, we set up temporary lodging for you. Throk will show you the way.” She motioned to the man standing militantly behind her. “I will give you some time to get settled. We can discuss more later.”
Most of the other Dragon Riders left at the same time – right after Snotlout saw the challenge he would have to face if he were to become king of Caldera Cay. But a few of you, the sensible ones in your opinion, decided to stay behind and rest. None of you had slept more than an hour in the two days since you arrived, and flying in that condition was a death wish. Especially if the hunters were as agitated at this loss as you expected them to be.
So you, Fishlegs and Heather all stayed behind to recuperate before charging back into action.
A gracious woman offered the three of you lodging in her hut, which you eagerly accepted. She kept to herself, more or less, leaving your small group to chat among yourselves, and properly catch up well into the night.
It's hard to say when exactly you fell asleep – likely before the others, given that you sat up wide awake when the first rosy hues of sunrise crept into the sky.
Your limbs were still sore as you stretched them, but you got to your feet and wandered out of the house regardless, into the crisp morning air.
You made your way through the village until you found your dragon, curled up beside a pile of the strange fruit she'd been binging on since you'd arrived.
After the past couple days, a peaceful early morning flight seemed like just what the doctor ordered.
“You're leaving early?”
You had to choke back a scream at the sudden sound of a man's voice. Whipping around on your heel, you saw Throk standing a few feet away. “Can you please make more noise next time? I didn't think anyone else was up.”
A smile. “Neither did I. But you didn't answer my question.”
“I'm not leaving yet. I just thought I'd take a quick flight around the island to wake myself up more.” You explained, adjusting (D/N)'s saddle. “You're welcome to tag along if you'd like.”
He gave you a confused look, and you realized your error pretty quickly. “Right. You uh. Don't have a dragon... So you've never flown before?”
“Never.”
“Do you wanna?”
His grip was tight on the saddle behind you as your dragon made a running start, and leaped into the air. You kept the ascent slow and steady, until the wooden planks making up the huts in the village blurred into one solid wall. From there, you set your course towards the sea, where the faint mist above the water would certainly wake you up.
“How you doing back there?” You asked over your shoulder. Throk could definitely handle such a mundane flight, but you were intrigued by the man, and this was the perfect opportunity to get to know him a little better. Besides, if the small talk ended up being awkward and generally terrible, you'd probably never have to see him again.
“This isn't so bad.” He replied, breath a little closer to your neck than you expected.
“Is that a challenge?”
“It wasn't meant to be.” Each word he spoke was hot against your skin. “But if you wish to take it as one...”
“Alright, then hang on.” You smiled, and wrapped your hand around your dragon's horns. You pulled upwards, climbing higher into the sky, and once you felt one of his arms wrapped around your waist to keep himself steady, you guided your dragon down.
It was a steep fall, and you could feel Throk's heart pounding against your back. A little pressure on (D/N)'s horns, and she rose again, almost straight into the air, before leaning back into a loop. Your grip was tight on your dragon, fingers sore from the ridges in her horns, thighs aching from how hard they were clamping onto the saddle.
But it was worth it, you decided, when you could hear a faint laugh from behind you.
But it wasn't bittersweet, as endings often were. Even when you won you always felt as if things were going to be worse next time. And maybe they were - the other riders hadn't returned with news about how the encounter with the Dragon Hunters went. But your part of the mission went well, despite it being a close call. Now, the only thing on your agenda was to wait.
That, and deliver a cup of water to Throk, who seemed just as parched from the heat and sweat as the rest of you even if he wouldn't admit it.
He was seated, back against a vacant hut, watching the horizon for any sign of the queen and other riders returning.
"How are you holding up?"
He jumped slightly at your voice. "I'm fine. It's the others that I'm worried about."
You sat down beside him and followed his gaze out to the sprawling sea and the sun glistening off the waves. "They'll be fine. Some of them might seem kind of incompetent, but when there's any life on the line, you'd be surprised what they can get done."
"I don't doubt them. Not after what you and your friends have done." He explained, the reminder of the last few hours events filling you with an odd sense of pride.
"But you don't doubt the hunters either."
"Exactly."
You pursed your lips, not entirely sure what to say to that. He had a point. The hunters were ruthless, and Viggo was crafty. Hiccup could keep up with their leader, and for combat your friends did have the aerial advantage. But there was always the slim chance that...
"Right, by the way." You began, shaking the thoughts. "Water." You extended the clay cup, taking note of the patterns painted on the side - dragons and clouds, about what you'd expect.
He cocked an eyebrow, but reached and took the drink from your hands. "You didn't need to-"
"If Heather and I were dehydrated from that, there's no way you weren't."
He opened his mouth to defend himself, but you quickly cut him off. "We were on dragons. You were physically moving boulders. Drink up."
He smiled.
It was a slightly sheepish smile, with a stifled chuckle, but a smile nonetheless.
And you thought, for a fleeting moment in spite of yourself, that was a sight you could get used to.
The time between your capture, and you standing at the foot of an erupting volcano was a bit of a haze. Not a blur, like most of your adventures, filled with chaos that leaves you replaying the events of the day over and over while you lay awake in bed. A haze, where it crept by slowly, each hour bleeding into the next. Occasionally the events would take a turn (never the one you wanted, granted), but watching Hiccup desperately try and defend your group to no avail while your hands were quite literally tied had to be one of the worst ways you'd spent your time since joining up with the dragon riders. And that was saying something, considering the amount of times people had tried to kill you.
You turned your attention from the evening sky, where plumes of ash and smoke rose, to Throk. He was standing beside you, steely gaze and straight faced. But you could see him swallow hard, and the white knuckled grip on his axe betrayed him.
“So, any idea where we should start?” You asked, breaking the silence that had fallen, not just over you two but the entire rag tag team sent to stop the lava flow.
“It is like Mala said. The Great Protector never let the lava get this far. We have no experience dealing with this situation.” Throk replied, voice wavering for just a second.
“Really? Your ancestors didn't even leave a backup guide for things like this?”
Your comment earned you an icy glare from the man, and you threw your hands up in a surrendering motion. “Hey, I'm not saying that's on you. I'm just saying if we get out of this alive, that's something you might want to think about.”
“I will keep it in mind.” He turned his attention back to the molten rock glowing in the distance, but for a moment you could have sworn you saw the corner of his mouth curl upward.
“Y'know, that aside... You know the island better than we do. Heather might have dealt with lava, but you know the lay of the land. Just tell us what areas we should focus on protecting, and what areas we might be able to risk losing, and we can go from there.”
There was a moment of silence, speckled by the sound of trees cracking and falling miles away.
“One group should start further uphill and try and control it there. Another group should stay and start blocking the path.” He motioned to one area of the walkway in particular – a section towards the base of the volcano that had been carved into the rocky slope, with stone walls on either side of it.
“Right. Because gravity. That's the most high risk area.”
He gave a nod before turning to Heather. “You have dealt with lava?”
“Not much, but some.” She conceded. “What we need is to start digging. Making a trench as wide and deep as we can.”
“So that's probably what we can do uphill.” You mused. “Think the twins would be up for helping? I feel like they wouldn't mind being on the front lines here.”
“I can ask them.”
“No offense, but I think firmly telling them might get more done. Considering what we're working with.”
“Good point.”
“I'll stay here. (D/N) and I can work on moving rocks to block the path.” You gestured to your Monstrous Nightmare, who was curled up nearby with half open eyes, seemingly indifferent to the chaos.
"I'll work alongside you." Throk's voice caught you by surprise. "If anything happens to the village, I would like to be there."
"That's fine by me. Heather, where are you gonna be?"
"I'm staying with the twins. I can trust you two. Them? Not so much."
Yep! I’ve been trying to work on updates for a little while now, but between writers block, Retail Hell, and that sweet Seasonal Depression, it’s been a difficult to get any content out.
But the To Do list is:
- Work on the rest of Throk’s scenarios- Write scenarios for Mala- Write scenarios for Ryker- Write scenarios for Krogan- And then I’m writing scenarios for Johann, because even though nobody asked for it I see nothing wrong with a little self indulgence.
After that, we’ll be back to regular updates. Hopefully. Unless I become more of a disaster than usual in the next couple of weeks, in which case, everyone feel free to nag me until I get posting.
Yep! I’ve been trying to work on updates for a little while now, but between writers block, Retail Hell, and that sweet Seasonal Depression, it’s been a difficult to get any content out.
But the To Do list is:
- Work on the rest of Throk’s scenarios- Write scenarios for Mala- Write scenarios for Ryker- Write scenarios for Krogan- And then I’m writing scenarios for Johann, because even though nobody asked for it I see nothing wrong with a little self indulgence.
After that, we’ll be back to regular updates. Hopefully. Unless I become more of a disaster than usual in the next couple of weeks, in which case, everyone feel free to nag me until I get posting.
Your eyelids were heavy when you woke, struggling to open and falling shut the moment the sunlight began to burn your ill-adjusted eyes. Your head was humming with an unfamiliar fog, not the usual grogginess you were met with in the morning. That was a fleeting state. One you could shake relatively easy in comparison to this. But what was... this?
You searched your brain for any shred of a memory, no matter how small, in an effort to piece together what could be causing the clouded mind and... Aching joints? Not something you noticed right off the bat, but as you were being eased into consciousness, new things were beginning to come to light.
Was this a head injury? Maybe you fell off your dragon. Maybe you never even made it to your dragon, and went plummeting off one of the sprawling walkways on the base at Dragon's Edge. Or maybe you were sick, getting over some sort of flu with sore bones and a high fever. Because whatever was going on was clearly abnormal, especially because you could have sworn you and the other riders showed up at some strange island. That could have been a dream though. You'd all spent quite a bit of time traveling, and it wouldn't be the first time your mind had decided that it would keep you just as busy while you were unconscious as you were when you were awake.
You shook the thoughts. They existed only in the realm of "what ifs" and possibilities. What you needed to focus on were the tangible facts of the situation.
Facts. Like the fact that of all the various aches and pains you were experiencing, your right shoulder had it the worst. So if you fell, it probably took the brunt of it, hopefully providing some sort of buffer before your head hit the ground. You went to roll it a bit, making sure the muscles weren't too stiff, just to find another fact that made your heart freeze within your chest.
Your hands were bound. Tied tight behind your back.
You forced your eyes open, past the searing pain of the bright midday sun, and tried to take in your surroundings.
To your left sat Hiccup, struggling against his binds only briefly before turning his attention outwards. His eyes flitted about, piecing together the situation in the same way he always did. The gears in his head never seemed to stop turning, but to instantly panic and start plotting an escape didn't seem like the most fitting thing to do at the moment. So if that's what he was planning, you'd definitely have to talk him out of it. Unless you were in immediate danger, you should probably wait to get your bearings before you ran.
To your right was Snotlout, in a similar situation but based on his more aggressive attempts to free himself you could only guess he was doing the worst out of the three of you.
You couldn't see how the others were doing. You heard them muttering, felt some shifting behind you, but aside from that their conditions were a mystery. Perhaps that was for the best. That meant less distractions. You knew they were alive, and that's all you needed to know about them at the moment.
You turned your eyes outward, away from your friends and towards the greater unknown, to assess the situation further.
Before you stood a group of people, clad in black. Their faces were mostly obscured, but what you could see of their expression gave you the distinct feeling that you'd all done something gravely wrong. But what could you have possibl- oh.
The memories came flooding back with the last of your consciousness.
You definitely arrived on an island - the one that Hiccup was trying to reach before Viggo did. On your way in, you saw a town, but they suggested you land in the woods outside of it despite your recommendations. And the last thing you remember was wandering through the strange forest, trying to figure out what the strange rustling was in the trees above.
An ambush.
You were ambushed.
Your blood began to race. The panic you'd been warding off now surging back at full force.
"Who are these guys?" Snotlout asked, to nobody in particular.
"And what are they feeding our dragons?" Fishlegs added, drawing your attention to the fact that you'd yet to see your dragon since you woke up.
Glancing around for a moment, you managed to locate (D/N), sitting beside Toothless and Hookfang, happily munching on some unfamiliar fruit. Your lips twisted into an immediate frown. Sure, they looked happy, but the thought of a stranger feeding your dragon something that you knew nothing about was vaguely upsetting.
"I don't know," Hiccup began, getting to his feet, "but I think we're about to find out."
The crowd parted, revealing a tall, copper haired man approaching your group. His stride was confident, and his expression one of unwavering stoicism. Upon reaching your group, he circled you, the way a hunter would size up his prey.
He stopped in front of Hiccup, placing a firm hand on the boy's head. "I, am Throk." He stated plain as day, before pushing the viking to his knees effortlessly.
You looked up at him, hoping you could size him up. But when he looked back, he seemed just as unflinching and stern as ever. So you did the only thing you could think to do. Break the silence. "Throk, huh? Nice to meet you."
He furrowed his brow, apparently not finding even the slightest bit of amusement in your comment. Instead, he turned on his heel, placing a hand to his chest and announcing, "All hail Mala! Queen Defender of the Wing!"
This isn't a request or anything, but are you still active? Your writing is amazing and it's hard to find a good rtte imagine blog that does all the characters. If you aren't however, that's totally acceptable too. I'm just curious.
I am! My updates tend to be a little sporadic, and I might vanish into the ether every so often, but I am definitely active!
Also thank you so much! I seriously appreciate the compliment.
"So, I believe you still have a story to share with me?"
Viggo's question was not unprompted. While the two of you were flying back to the Dragon Hunter's base, you had agreed to tell him a bit more about the dragon you'd picked up once you were on solid land, and able to talk more easily without the sound of wind roaring in your ears. And as you two strolled through the base side by side, on the way to Ryker to share the news of a successful retrieval, it only made sense to finally discuss it with him.
"I believe so." You replied, looking up at the man. "Where do you want me to begin?"
"Perhaps with where he was found. From my understanding, Woolly Howls aren't native to Berk."
"They aren't." You weren't the least bit surprised that he knew that off the top of his head. What's a businessman if he doesn't know his product? Though, it still felt a fair bit gross to refer to dragons as just... Property. "He was found a little ways up north, and his injuries were too extensive to treat on the spot, so they brought him back to the village."
"As opposed to their other base... What is it that they call it, again?"
"Dragon's Edge. It was a longer trip back to the there, and while transporting dragons on your ships isn't a problem, Berk's ships? Totally different story."
"I could only imagine." He chuckled, finally turning his gaze down towards you. "And these injuries he sustained... They didn't seem to have any effect on his flying, from what I could tell. Do you think there might be any long-term complications?"
You pursed your lips, thinking back to the extent of the damage. "Honestly? I'm not sure. Flying was the main concern. His wings were pretty messed up, but clearly that's not an issue. The only other thing that could be a potential setback is the damage that was done to his leg."
"Which was?"
"We're not entirely sure what caused it. Looked like he was in a fight. There was some damage to his tendons on his back left leg. So walking or running for long periods of time might be an issue for a while. But as long as he stays airborne? Should be smooth sailing."
You noticed the corners of his lips curl into a small smile. "(Y/N), I have to say, you never cease to impress me."
His remark caught you off guard, and your reply came with a heated face and a stammered, "Oh. Well, thanks. That means a lot coming from you." The last part of that statement slipped out before you could even register what you were saying, and you desperately hoped that your flustered expression would go unnoticed. But with a man like Viggo, few things did.
"You flatter me." The tone in his voice gave little away, sounding smooth and confident as ever. Perhaps it was masking yet another chuckle, but you couldn't bring yourself to look back up at him. "I'm afraid this is where we part ways.
You felt something in your chest sink, before the realization hit that you had already arrived outside your tent. The walk usually felt longer than that. Much longer.
"I'll see you in the morning, my dear."
A/N: Seeing as the last part with Viggo involved you retrieving and flying on your dragon, I kind of just used this update to explain a little more about the dragon’s backstory, and also move the plot forward. Hope nobody minds!
