[IC] How To Train Your Dragon: Spreading Wings

[AHeartlessNobody]

Castiel greeted the old healer woman with a slight nod and saw she had brought her book out. Castiel knew that book well, as she herself had drew some, not all, but some of the plant in there and wrote what they did. When shown the picture of the flower, she didn't recognize it, but she did reorganize the island it grew on. She and Aurora had passed it a few times on flights. Surely it wouldn't take much to go there an get a few of them. If they weren't there, well, then they would just have to travel further to the other place they grew at. She just hoped they could get to it before loves were lost. She nodded in agreement and placing the book in her bag, Castiel gave Hiccup a kiss, signing to him she would be back soon with the flower, before rushing off to retrieve Aurora for the flight.

"A connection? Well I don't see how we even have any connection at all. We seem to be at each other's throats more than getting along." She stated and stood up, walking over to the door. Now that she was pretty sure no one in the village would harm her, she was curious and wanted to see everything. She stepped out, looking around with a some what awed expression. She had never seen so many dragons in one place. And more so, so many human that interacted with them. It was...interesting. Certainly nothing she had ever seen before and probably would never had if she hadn't left that village. It was so hard to believe so much had changed in just a few days. She smiled slightly, and couldn't help but notice the curious dragons there take interest in her. She would stop to pet some of them for a moment before moving on and looking at more places and dragons, but every minute or so another dragon would stop her wanting to be pet as well, almost as if they sensed the same love for dragons her father had in her.

But, it seemed the dragons weren't the only ones who noticed her as well. Talk had already been going around about Ava being back. After all, a girl who looked so much like Hiccup riding Toothless back with Hiccup to their house. And now her walking around and being so friendly with the dragons. It was a no brainer who she was. But Ava was so focused on the dragons around her that as she walked she didn't notice any of the humans staring until she managed to run right into one, tumbling back slightly. She looked forward wide eyed at, to her surprise, a group of teens around her age, "O-oh....uh.....s..sorry."

[Toothless]

Like a pack of wolves the teens flanked her upon catching glimpse of her appearance and there was a flurry of questions from one girl who seemed to be of the average build around here- face rounded with fat and her nose a small button. “Are you the chief’s daughter? Where have you been all this time? Did you find any new dragons? Plants? Cultures?!” It was a verbal onslaught that was halted when air seemed to become scarce to her, for in her excitement she had forgotten to take more than a single breath. No one had attempted to cut in on her speech and now there was room to talk again for the others that still remained silent-

“You’re… Ava?” It seemed to be part question but mostly certainty, how could there be any doubt when she looked so much like Hiccup. For him it was a bit shocking to see her because he, as the sensible would, figured her dead. His mother would not say as much to the chief but he knew she thought it too. That is why she had suggested to Hiccup that should Ava not come back or be found than he, himself, would be named the new heir. This was because he was son of Astrid who was a valued warrior and a trusted advisor. He did not take after either one of his parents more than the other in appearance. He had his mother’s hair color and his father’s build.

To his right a girl spluttered in surprise “you’re alive!”

“Duh.” A different teen supplied before pausing uncertainly “you are alive, right?”

[AHeartlessNobody]

Ava was....well....overwhelmed and wide eyes by the time the teens got done surrounding her and pounding her with questions. Most of which she wasn't exactly quite sure how to answer. She took a few steps backward when they gave her a break and gave a rather weak laugh, rubbing the back of her neck, "Um....yeah. I'm Ava. And I'm pretty sure I've alive." She said and couldn't help but think how strange this was. In her own village, even when she was considered the 'daughter of the chief' no one had really payed her much mind at all. She was fairly insignificant there, other than her making weapons of course. Here though they had surrounded her as if she were fresh water in the middle of the desert.

She looked to the bigger girl and shrugged sheepishly, trying her best to answer the excited girl's questions, though her voice was kind of quiet and unsure, "Yeah, although that information is very new to me, I'm Hiccup's daughter.....I'v been in a village called Magrion. It was nothing like this village. In fact, people there....well....uh...lets just say they were nothing like you all. They were very...easy to attack." She didn't want to outright say they were dragon hunters, as she was sure that wouldn't come off so well, "I don't exactly know if the dragons or plants I know of are new to you all as I've only been here a little while, but, maybe?"

She paused, an unsure look on her face. This group seemed a little familiar, so maybe she knew them from her past time here. If she did though, it wasn't enough to know exactly who they were, "Um....do I know you all? I mean, you four seem very.....familiar to me?" She asked as she looked over her shoulder and saw Blizzard a little ways behind her. Good. At least she wasn't out here with these vikings by herself. It still make her nervous and that little bit of protection made her feel a little better. She motioned slightly for him to come forward and stand with her if he wanted and then looked back to them, waiting for her answer.

[Toothless]

What had he done to justify her leaving the house so suddenly? He removed his clothes in her absence and slunk out into the snowy day to follow her as a dragon once more. As clueless as she was of her old life- he worried she might get into some sort of trouble. Mostly he watched her bond with the countless dragons though, at least until she ran into some humans instead. He dropped down from the rooftops and watched from a distance until she had taken notice of him, gesturing his way. He dipped his body closer to the snowy bank and creped over.

“I’m Calder” the boy introduced, leaving off surnames for the sake of not over complicating things. “That’s Darby.” He said with a gesture towards the girl with more muscle than fat and then onward to the other boy “that’s Arvid and the girl with way too many questions… that’s Maginhild.”

“You can just call me Mag.” The girl imputed. “We use to play together before you disappeared.”

“Boy, you’ve really shaped up since we last saw you. You actually look like a girl.” Arvid said with some pride for noticing but Blizzard emerged from the white snow like a specter. Spreading his wings and leering over the boy. The moment Arvid noticed he stumbled over himself, falling in the powder. “Son of Loki! Don’t do that!”

Blizzard pushed shamelessly between them, rubbing his snout against Ava as Darby muttered “that’s got to be Ava. That dumb lizard never treats any of us like that.”

[AHeartlessNobody]

Ava wasn't sure what to make of these teens. They were strange, but from what the girl, Mag, said, they used to play together before she disappeared, so that was most likely they seemed familiar and though they were a bit...overbearing, she wasn't afraid of them. Too much anyhow. She looked at each of them as they told her their names, and she sure hoped that she would remember them all. She said them to herself in her head as they went around. Calder. Darby. Arvid. Mag. Didn't seem too difficult. And when the boy Arvid spoke about how she now looked like a girl. She wasn't sure whether to take that as an insult or a compliment, "Uh....thanks....I think." She was about to speak again when Blizzard finally made his over and scared the young man to death.

She smiled slightly when he rubbed his head against her and laughed softly, "What's the matter Blizzard. Jealous?" She joked and scratched behind his ear flaps and shrugged, looked at the others again, "He's not always like this. He's as stubborn as a dragon can get a lot of times." She nuzzled her head against his, "But, despite out butting heads, he is a good dragon."

She patted his side and looked to them again, "So....um....what do you guys do for fun around here?"

[Toothless]

At best they looked skeptical about her description of Blizzard. Perhaps because each of them had been flung aside by him while trying to get on his back in the years after she disappeared. He no longer had much patience for them. And right now he made it clear who he liked most for a rider by rubbing against Ava and purring at her affectionate touches in turn. The teens did not seem overly affected by this show though- aside from mild surprise and when faced with this next question Darby blurted: “dragon racing!”

“A sport in which teams compete on dragon back to collect the most sheep into their basket. Each sheep counts for one point except the black sheep-” Mag started and Arvid finished.

“Which is worth way more!”

“But this winter has been so bad as to postpone the games.” Calder added with a frown.

“We also like to throw rocks at each other.” Arvid offered as an alternative. Demonstrating by lugging a chunk of ice at Darby who retaliated by tackling and grinding his face into the snow.

[AHeartlessNobody]

"Dragon racing?" Now that seemed interesting. She seemed to perk up at the idea of that, only to be informed it had bee canceled, "Well, maybe when things get better I can join in the race. I'd be nice to see what Blizzard can really do huh boy?" She asked and smiled at him as he purred and watched as ice was thrown. She grimaced at the display of slight violence. Okay, so maybe she was different here too. These vikings seemed to be a lot like your everyday vikings who loved to beat each other up. Where as, she herself didn't really fight at all. If faced with a threat she more used her wit and speed to solve the problem, whether it be to outsmart an enemy, or to run from them. Maybe she was a lot like her father. But, maybe that was a good thing too.

She frowned slightly, "Umm....I don't think I'd do we in throwing rocks.....or ice.......or...well.....fighting in general? I'm not very strong.....and kind of clumsy too....." She comment, rubbing the back of her head with her free hand while the other continued to scratch the dragon's scales.

Then, getting a curious thought, she looked back to them and tilted her head to the side, "Where are your dragons? And what breed are they?"

[Toothless]

Blizzard ear flaps perked up at the mention of racing because he had never before been allowed to participate in one of Berk’s games. He was required to have a rider- which he had always refused. However his excitement was pretty short lived when they mentioned such a sport had been cancelled on account of the weather. He tipped his head at Ava’s shortcomings, not seeing how this prevented her from rolling around in the snow with the others but she was still scratching his scales so he didn’t protest. It just felt so good.

Upon Ava’s mention of dragons the others had called theirs with varying whistles, Blizzard flatting his ears at the sound and baring his teeth. The teens only regarded him with wary amusement- his reaction not uncommon for him. When the four dragons accumulated upon the group they were as vastly different as the teens were to one another. “This is my hobblegrunt” Mag introduced, hugging the creature around the long neck “Specks.” She probably would have trailed off into stats if allowed but the others were already showing off their dragons as well.

“My changewing, Saber” Darby gestured as the dragon rapidly changed colors.

Arvid perhaps had the largest dragon and blurted proudly “my typhoomerang! Cracklingboom!” Which was perhaps a name long enough to match its size.

Calder had one of the most common dragons in this region “Bluebell.” He rubbed near the nadder’s horn as it trilled with pleasure “a nadder.”

[AHeartlessNobody]

Ava couldn't help but notice Blizzard's displeasure when the other teens whistled out for their own dragons and she, in a attempt to calm the dragon, scratched him more around his ear flaps and head. She wasn't sure whether it was the whistles themselves or the fact the other dragon's were coming, but she was leaning toward the first. She could see why the whistles would bother him. If he didn't want a rider before her, she would think answering to a whistle would be considered by him as degrading. He really was such a prideful dragon. She made a mental note to not whistle for hi in the future and looked to the others as they introduced their dragon's to her.

She was curious about them. She had never seen a hobblegrunt. It was strange looking dragon with some sort of fan on its head. She was wary of the changewing. After those changewings on that island attacked Blizzard she probably would be wary of them for a while. She had never seen a typhoomerang either. It was slender and seemed to be a more graceful dragon. The nadder was something she had seen plenty of times before and her interaction with one before when Blizzard had been showing her made her less wary of that one. Ava nodded to them, "They're all so....unique." They were very interesting and Ava felt the urge to want to learn more about them. But there was plenty of time for that she was sure.

As she stood there, a rather large dragon with for wings flew over head, heading across the village toward the chief's house, an old woman riding on the back of it and her eyes widened, "Woah, what dragon was that?"

[Toothless]

“That’s Cloudjumper, Valka’s dragon.” Darby explained dryly as though this was very old, unexciting news. It probably was to them, who saw the pair everyday.

“Your grandmother.” Calder elaborated.

“Class: sharp, Species: Stormcutter.” Mag listed with enthusiasm. “The only species more prideful than a stormcutter is the night fury.”

“Mind you, she based that upon two dragons alone. One night fury and one storm cutter.” In response to Darby’s comment Mag glared for a moment.

“They aren’t the easiest species to find in the wild. Nightfuries are all but extinct and stormcutters don’t exactly live in this region.” She paused before Arvid blurted ’duh!’ in Darby’s face.

Blizzard grunted at their antics and shoved into Ava, flipping her up onto his back. He took off with her- cold air cutting across them as he skirted through the sky and touched down outside of her home in mere moments. He got in front of Cloudjumper who seemed less than amused until he noticed the girl. At which point, he tipped his head at an odd angle in questioning. A woman appeared by sliding down the span of this dragon’s wings. For a moment she seemed consumed by her own thoughts but then her eyes found Ava. Her lips parted slight in a small o and then he had taken a hold of Ava’s arms, drawing them away from her body and squeezing her fingertips, her gaze intense and bright. “Ava. How long…” She started and then looked to Blizzard. “You brilliant creature, you’ve found her.”

He sat regally in response, seeming to enjoy the praise. “Does Hiccup know?” She asked and then looked to Ava. “Did you tell your father? Oh. He must know already. I saw your mum leaving on my way back.” She frowned slightly and at that moment Hiccup stepped outside grunting as his foot slid on a dark patch of ice and he nearly dropped the rolled up sheets of tall parchment tucked beneath one arm.

“Ava. I had wanted to show you something.” He started and then stopped when he noticed his mother present. “Well… this is a bit awkward. I had hopped to get to you first" He paused and then: "Look who made it back?”

“I see that Hiccup.” Valka replied with a humored smile.

[AHeartlessNobody]

Ava watched the dragon disappear as it landed near her home and blinked even ore in surprise, "That's my grandmother?" She found it quite interesting that her family members seemed to have the more rare dragons. Her father had a night fury, her mother had.....well...she wasn't sure what kind of dragon her mother's dragon was but it was definitely rare, her grandmother had this storm cutter dragon, and she herself seemed to have a hybrid of a night fury and whatever dragon her mother's dragon was.

Then again, leaving herself aside as she was new to befriending dragons, her family seemed to have a greater connection with the dragons then the other in this village did. And, from what she could remember of her father talking with her mother and that other blonde woman, her grandmother had been the first viking to ride a dragon. She must have been riding dragons for years and years. Her father was the second one to ride dragons so she could assume he had been riding them for a long time as well. So, she came from a family of great dragons riders/trainer. She supposed that put a lot of reassure and exceptions on her to be a great one too. But, for now, she didn't think about that. For now, she stood there, looking the direction of the house until Blizzard pushed into her. She gave a yelp as she was thrown onto his back and within a few bounds, was there in front of the large dragon and his rider.

She paused as she watched the woman, silently sliding off of Blizzard's back with a slight nervousness. Her grandmother seemed to be lost in her own thoughts and when she saw her, seemed faintly shocked and surprised, yet calmer than a lot of people who seen her. Or maybe she was just that spontaneous, as she was also the fastest to touch her as well. Ava, for some reason couldn't help her smile as the woman looked at her in awe, and before she could answer her question, her father came out. Ava smiled awkwardly at the two, rubbing the back of her neck before approaching ehr father, eyeing the scrolls h had curiously, "What did you want to show me?"

[Toothless]

Hiccup saw where her gaze was and laughed “no, not these.” He shifted the pages with a smile and an added note of: “these are some new saddle designs for Gobber.” Though he didn’t suspect his daughter remembered the man- regardless of how hard some things regarding him were to forget… Namely his mention of undies. “I don’t know why he insist on ‘cup’ holders. Constantly spilling every time a barrel roll is performed. You end up more soggy than wet bread and smelling of stale rum.”

“Speaking of wet… I noticed your dagger… seashocker, right? That’s pretty resourceful. I started making things like that when I was around your age. When I finally realized I could get close enough to the dragons to study them without getting blasted…” With his freehand he grabbed the hilt from its holster and held it up away from his daughter before igniting it. “It uses a zippleback’s gas in combination with a flint.” He released some of the gas and then sparked it, creating a small explosion which was all for show. With a chuckle he took out a small pellet and inserted into the sword since the fire had died out after that. “Sometimes it needs to be refilled. We don‘t make weapons as much as we use to around here though…. Mostly the smith is just used for making saddles. How would you like to see that part of Berk? Blizzard could probably use a saddle, now that he‘s your dragon.”

Blizzard snorted and Hiccup shrugged “or not. I’m just saying it might be a good idea.”

[AHeartlessNobody]

Ava nodded, "Yes, it's made to imitate a sea shocker. It's probably the bet thing I've invented thus far." he frowned slightly, rubbing the back of her head, "I've been inventing things like this since I was around eight. The people in the village I was in kept me busy with that. Its probably the only reason they kept me around for so long." She gave a soft laugh, shaking her head because she knew it was true. They would have seen her useless and done who knew what to her without the weapons the made. She pulled out her dagger, letting it spark to life, "It's useful....but I'm not much of a fighter, so it really does me little use in fights." Unless that was using it to outsmart someone, which she could do. But, if it was a head on battle, then she was useless and so was this dagger to her.

She watched him pull out the hilt of a sword and grew curious, only to blink in surprise when he lit it up, as well as used it to create the small explosion that left the near by dragons excited and happy, "Wow. Now that is cool." She looked up at him when he said they didn't make weapons that much any more, "So...I guess that means there aren't many fights around here? Thats...different. Where I used to live making weapons and fighting was such a big deal.. It was basically everything actually. If you couldn't fight, then you better be good at making weapons. It was a kind of...violent life style?"

She finished her statement quietly with a frown, before looking at Blizzard and grinning at his snort, "I think hes not too interested in the idea of a saddle." She said, and honestly, a saddle would just feel....weird. Beside, she had seen her mother fly her dragon, and her grandmother fly in. Neither of the used saddles. The only one in the family who did was her father, but then again, from what she observed, his dragon's tailfin was hurt, so maybe he had to have it to fly with him? Looking at the white dragon, she laughed and scratched under his chin, "What do you think Blizzard? Think we can do without a saddle?"

[Toothless]

Because she was scratching him Blizzard’s nod was more enthusiastic than seemed necessary- he was just turning down the suggestion of a saddle after all. Now he understood the concept of one: that it was easier on the rider’s tailless hind quarters and allowed grips that scales as slick as his, would not. Flying at the heights he generally did was dangerous because one strong gust could buffer Ava off but she didn’t seem concerned about it… “You’re your mother’s daughter.” Hiccup commented with good humor.

“Did Castiel get a chance to see her return? I saw her leaving the island not too long ago.” Valka rubbed at Cloudjumper’s scales though he pretended as though it didn’t please him in front of the younger dragon.

“Of course. Unfortunately she had to leave in a bit of a hurry. Given the condition of several of the villagers.” Hiccup pointed out before smiling at Ava “around here, strength is no longer measured by the weight you can hoist over your head. We’re dragon riders. But if you are looking for a different weapon you could try a bow.” He suggested. “Less demanding of close combat. Your mother can show you the ropes when she gets back. If you‘re interested.”

[AHeartlessNobody]

Ava smiled and held back her laugh at the happy way he nodded his head, more excited do to the scratching on his scales, and when she finally did laugh, she hugged him around the neck, nuzzling her head against against his, "That's what I thought." She looked over at her father once more and for some reason was very happy to hear him say 'she was her mother's daughter'. Growing up with a mother who looked down on her and even hated her, it was nice to know that not only did her real mother care about her, that she was at least some what like her, as she had always been very different from the woman she had thought to be her mother in her old village.

She had to admit, when her father mentioned the 'conditions' of some of the villagers, Castiel grew curious. What was wrong with some of the villagers? Were they hurt? Sick? Well, considering how cold it was here that shouldn't be something that was abnormal, right? So, she didn't think much on it for now and tilted her head to the side in thought of shooting a bow and arrow. It did sound like something she might be better at, since she wasn't good with close range fighting. She smiled and nodded, I might give it a try. It might be better than my fighting with a dagger.

She looked at Blizzard, then back at her father, smiling more, "Hey, can Blizzard and I go for a flight over Berk? I didn't really get to get a good look at it when we flew in."

[Toothless]

It was no surprise she didn’t get a good look at Berk when she had been in a panic over approaching it. She hadn’t wanted to see it. Didn’t want to be near it. “I think it’ll be good for her.” Valka offered when Hiccup was silent a few seconds too long.

“Alright.” He gave to the suggestion because there was little harm in it. Obviously they had flown hundred of miles already, circling the island of Berk would be a breeze. “But we need to get you into something warmer first.” He passed the bundle of papers to his mother and then lead Ava inside. Picking out some of Castiel’s clothes “the two of you are about the same size.” He reasoned, handing her the garments.

Hiccup turned around- nose to nose with Blizzard who had squeezed into the bedroom. “Go ahead and get changed.” He pushed the dragon back towards the door to give Ava her privacy.

[AHeartlessNobody]

Ava could agree with getting some warmer clothes on. It was rather cold outside after all and already the tip of her nose and cheeks were red from frost bite. So, she followed her father into the warm house where she was handed some of her mother's clothes where she was told to change. Once her father had left, dragging Blizzard along with him, she quickly got changed. Since she was still shorter and a little bit slighter(though that was really unnoticeable since her mother was still with skinny compared to Vikings) than her mother, the clothes were just a little bit loose on her, but would work.

When she was dressed, she looked at herself in a mirror that was int he room and laughed at her shoulder length hair as it was standing up on end. That wasn't very unusual for her as her hair tended to do that a lot, much like she noticed her father's did.

Flattening it down the best she could with her hands, she walked outside where the others were and smiled, hoping onto Blizzard's back. It was still a little clumsy, but she was getting better and much faster at it. She smiled and scratched behind his ears, looking at her father and grandmother, "Are you two going to fly with us?"

[Toothless]

“Of course.” Valka stepped back onto her stormcutter, light across his wing- and Cloudjumper regarded the younger dragon and rider with a subtle air of amusement. It wasn’t everyday one got to see Blizzard letting someone sit upon his back, and to think it was someone so blatantly inexperienced as this girl.

Blizzard shook his head at Ava’s clumsy mount and tilted his gaze towards her father. “I’ll catch up. I just have to give these plans to Gobber.” Hiccup assured before trudging off through the snow and down the hill. With a roll of his eyes Blizzard spread his wings and glanced backwards to make sure Ava had secured herself- he didn’t want them looking like fools. Once he had satisfied this small concern he launched skyward, scattering white powder every which way. He ascended quickly and before leveling out.

Valka rose after them, laughing. “You got your hands full with that one.” Blizzard just huffed.

[AHeartlessNobody]

Ava settled herself down onto Blizzard's back and once she was sure she wouldn't fall off when he took off, she leaned forward and held on tightly as he took off, laughing as the snow scattered around them. Once he had leveled out, she patted his neck lightly before look at her grandmother, "I can handle him. Besides hes had his fair share of having to deal with me too. So, it's kind of even if he gives me a startle every once and a while." She smiled and looked down at the village below and could see Hiccup walking hastily to where this Gobber man must me, "My dad must stay busy a lot, huh?"

She guessed that meant there wouldn't be very many flights together. Her father was chief after all. It was lightly tat after the surprise of her being back wore off, she might even only see him at night after work around the village was done for the day. An of course, she didn't think about it either, but one day, what her father was doing would be her job. If something else didn't happen to her before then that is.

She still worried thinking about that. Surely after realizing she was missed, Einar would try to track her down. And what woudl happen if he found her here? All hell would break loose. She could only hope it wouldn't come to that and he wouldn't find her at all.

She scratched at Blizzard as they flew and smiled lightly as he purred from the touch and she rested her chin on the top of his head as they flew, trying to enjoy the feel of the flight and the view of the village down below.

[Toothless]

Humans were strange- Blizzard had been independent for the majority of his life and at times would be away from his parents for weeks on end (in the case of this last journey: months). Ava worried about whether or not she’d get to spend enough time with her father, now maybe it was unfair of him to judge, after all she hadn’t seen Hiccup in a very long time. Her disappointment scrapped at his scales but the physical rub he was getting from her fingertips was distracting. Bliss. Forget about thinking- he was lucky his body didn’t go limp with pleasure, she was pretty close to that special spot. “Don’t let his work load bother you, he’ll find the time for you.” The woman’s voice was reassuring though such things had never been Blizzard’s concern. He knew the words were for her granddaughter. Gradually they drifted higher, bringing the view of Berk into better perspective. The storm clouds had drawn back for the time and the sky was mostly clear. The island was built up like a towered cake: layers of land cutting off swiftly to sharp cliffs and rolling down into deep valleys. Columns of stone spiraled upward as aimless spires, grasping for the heavens and trees puckered from the earth like the prickly spines of a porcupine.

From their gathering height it appeared like a white clump of snow floating in the vast sea. Blizzard rumbled deep in his throat- noting that it was a better sight in the spring. “Ava!” The black streak of a nightfury swooped into the space directly between the two dragons already partaking in this flight, his grinning rider disheveled from the strong winds, hair sticking every which way. “What do you think?”