Young Writers Society

*I say 'Hiccup' a lot in the first part of the chapter. Since Stoick is there too, I wasn't able to say 'he', for my readers might have gotten confused*

Hiccup and I returned home that day, exhausted from all the walking. He invited me to spend the night, and I gladly accepted. Stoick was next to the coal fire in the middle of his house. His eyes were closed, bags under them. I could tell he had a rough day looking for the dragons nest. Hiccup pointed upstairs with a finger to his lips. I quick-stepped up, while Hiccup went up on hands and feet.

"Hiccup," Stoick started, getting to his feet, "I have to speak with you."

"Err... I have something to say, too, Dad. You first."

"Alright then. I'm putting you in dragon training! You can finally learn to kill your own dragon, son!" He finished with a hardy laugh.

No! I screamed in my mind.

"Oh gosh, I should've gone first. I was going to say that I don't want to kill a dragon."

"Sure you do!"

"No, Dad, I don't want to anymore! I can change my mind if I want.

"Well, its too late for that. I already told Gobber you would join his class. I also got your girlfriend Dagny in there, so you wouldn't be alone."

Hiccup glanced up at me, then replied, "Ok..."

What? He didn't say 'She's not my girlfriend?' I might pass out from hearing this! I thought with joy.

Stoick handed Hiccup a large axe.

"Now... you will become a Viking." He walked away. "I'm off to find the dragons nest again. You have fun."

I jumped down the stairs.

"We have to look for that dragon again!" I almost shouted at him.

"I know we do, but the first dragon killing class starts tomorrow, and it's late. We wont be able to do it until after the session." He told me.

"Oh snap..."

"What?"

"I'm just thinking out loud." I lied to him, then asked, "Why didn't you tell Stoick we weren't together?

"I wasn't sure how to answer. I mean, we spend a bunch of time together, so how could I say 'We aren't dating' or 'We are dating'?" He explained with a wink.

I blushed. I thought Hiccup had feelings for Astrid. Or maybe he did...

***

"Welcome to dragon training!" Gobber said to us all.

Astrid, Fishlegs, Snoutlout, and Ruff and Tuff were all here with me and Hiccup. The wind was fierce and blew my hair everywhere. With my hair in my face, I followed Hiccup to everyone else. We stood in a straight line, all with some sort of weapon.

"You kids will be learning to fight some of the toughest dragons in Berk. Including the Gronkle." Goober put his hand on a switch.

"Aren't you going to teach first?" Snoutlout asked while moving slightly forward.

"I believe in learning on the job." He opened a gate and a huge Gronkle flew out. Its rough, brown skin was ugly but amazing at the same time. "What's the first thing you'll need?"

"A shield," Astrid answered.

"Correct! If you have to choose between a sword or shield, take the shield."

I threw a shield at Hiccup and got one for myself. Snoutlout flirted with Astrid and got out easily, since she distracted him enough. Fishlegs was out next from saying what a Gronkles shot limit is. Ruff and Tuff argued over what shield they got. Now it was just Hiccup, Astrid, and me.

"Looks like its just us three now, Hiccup." I informed him.

The Gronkle made a sudden move on Hiccup. It startled him so much that he dropped his shield. I tossed my shield to him and tried to grab the one that was rolling around. The Gronkle seemed to like me more, since he came over to me. It pushed me back to the walls.

"Dagny!" Hiccup shouted. Gobber grabbed the dragons mouth with his hook-hand.

"Go back to bed you overgrown lizard!" Gobber said while throwing the dragon back in its cage. "Let this be a lesson to all of you. Dragons always... always go for the kill."

***

"Then why didn't you," I whispered, looking at perfectly good ropes from the Element Caster.

I walked farther down the worn out forest trail, Hiccup by my side. There was something up ahead. It looked like a large cavern. We walked in carefully. Something green and orange was lying on the ground half dead.

It was the Element Caster.