How to Train Your Dragon Slayer
Chapter 2
Things may have been different in Fiore, but people would always be the same.
With a low cooing sound, Hikari slid a step closer, pausing as the Deadly Nadder hissed in warning, bristling with a multitude of poisonous spines.
“It’s okay.” She soothed, pointedly ignoring the Night Fury pacing a few yards behind her. “I’m not going to hurt you…”
Hunching into herself like a threatened bird, the dragon made a low growl, one eye fixed on the small Viking girl as both wings twitched against the spiked ropes looped around them.
Biting her lip at the sight, Hikari lifted her gaze to meet the Nadder’s, holding out a hand to the quieting beast.
“Please…I just want to help.”
Taking in the strange little human’s outstretched palm and weaponless state, the trapped dragon fell silent, spines slowly settling along sky-colored scales.
Rough, warm scales pressed against the pads of her fingers, and Hikari smiled as the Nadder crooned, pupils dilating in a sign of calm.
Petting along the jaw, she scratched at that one spot just under the chin-
The Deadly Nadder practically went cross-eyed before melting into a puddle of purring goop, utterly boneless.
“Good girl.” She whispered, trailing a hand down the spindly neck in order to better study the ropes pinning strong wings and powerful hindquarters.
Approaching now that the threat was neutralized, Toothless eyed the metal spikes with obvious distaste, pupils trembling into slits.
“Hey, it’s alright.” Hikari soothed, running her fingers over the sensitive fins on his cheeks before pressing a kiss to the smooth scales. “Just break the rope by her shoulder, and she’ll be free in no time.”
Shaking away his own dark thoughts, the Night Fury nodded, using his strong jaws and hooked fangs to sever the rope with relative ease.
As Toothless stepped back, Hikari began to work on removing the sharp little hooks from scales and skin, whispering soft words of comfort whenever the still-down Nadder flinched or keened in pain.
Watching her gently wiggle the bits of metal free, Toothless followed to gather the fallen cord, careful not to cut his mouth.
Straightening as the grip on her wings fell away, the Nadder shook out her upper body, chirping at the new freedom.
Once she had removed the last barb and thrown the rope aside, Hikari smiled as the rather fearsome-looking dragon hopped around, shaking out the scales of her wings and flexing the yellowish spines of her wagging tail.
Now sure of her own state, the Deadly Nadder turned her attention to the small Viking and her Night Fury companion, head cocked like a puppy’s.
Most people would have run away in terror, but Hikari just giggled, green eyes bright.
“Feeling better?”
Trilling, the sky-colored dragon bobbed her head in response, looking to Toothless for permission.
The black dragon nodded, calm, and the Nadder shuffled forward low on her belly, presenting her blind spot to the bewildered human in a sign of trust.
Soft hands skimmed over the speckled snout, and the dragon purred as Hikari relaxed into the familiar pattern, smoothing down scales and scratching at just the right places.
“You’re just a big softie, aren’t you?” She teased, laughter in her voice as the Nadder nuzzled into her torso. “You wouldn’t hurt a soul if you had a choice, would you?”
Toothless let out his own laugh at the Nadder’s insistent purring, gummy smile firmly in place as Hikari flashed him a grin.
“Can we keep her?”
With a low cooing sound, Hikari slid a step closer, pausing as the Deadly Nadder hissed in warning, bristling with a multitude of poisonous spines.
“It’s okay.” She soothed, pointedly ignoring the Night Fury pacing a few yards behind her. “I’m not going to hurt you…”
Hunching into herself like a threatened bird, the dragon made a low growl, one eye fixed on the small Viking girl as both wings twitched against the spiked ropes looped around them.
Biting her lip at the sight, Hikari lifted her gaze to meet the Nadder’s, holding out a hand to the quieting beast.
“Please…I just want to help.”
Taking in the strange little human’s outstretched palm and weaponless state, the trapped dragon fell silent, spines slowly settling along sky-colored scales.
Rough, warm scales pressed against the pads of her fingers, and Hikari smiled as the Nadder crooned, pupils dilating in a sign of calm.
Petting along the jaw, she scratched at that one spot just under the chin-
The Deadly Nadder practically went cross-eyed before melting into a puddle of purring goop, utterly boneless.
“Good girl.” She whispered, trailing a hand down the spindly neck in order to better study the ropes pinning strong wings and powerful hindquarters.
Approaching now that the threat was neutralized, Toothless eyed the metal spikes with obvious distaste, pupils trembling into slits.
“Hey, it’s alright.” Hikari soothed, running her fingers over the sensitive fins on his cheeks before pressing a kiss to the smooth scales. “Just break the rope by her shoulder, and she’ll be free in no time.”
Shaking away his own dark thoughts, the Night Fury nodded, using his strong jaws and hooked fangs to sever the rope with relative ease.
As Toothless stepped back, Hikari began to work on removing the sharp little hooks from scales and skin, whispering soft words of comfort whenever the still-down Nadder flinched or keened in pain.
Watching her gently wiggle the bits of metal free, Toothless followed to gather the fallen cord, careful not to cut his mouth.
Straightening as the grip on her wings fell away, the Nadder shook out her upper body, chirping at the new freedom.
Once she had removed the last barb and thrown the rope aside, Hikari smiled as the rather fearsome-looking dragon hopped around, shaking out the scales of her wings and flexing the yellowish spines of her wagging tail.
Now sure of her own state, the Deadly Nadder turned her attention to the small Viking and her Night Fury companion, head cocked like a puppy’s.
Most people would have run away in terror, but Hikari just giggled, green eyes bright.
“Feeling better?”
Trilling, the sky-colored dragon bobbed her head in response, looking to Toothless for permission.
The black dragon nodded, calm, and the Nadder shuffled forward low on her belly, presenting her blind spot to the bewildered human in a sign of trust.
Soft hands skimmed over the speckled snout, and the dragon purred as Hikari relaxed into the familiar pattern, smoothing down scales and scratching at just the right places.
“You’re just a big softie, aren’t you?” She teased, laughter in her voice as the Nadder nuzzled into her torso. “You wouldn’t hurt a soul if you had a choice, would you?”
Toothless let out his own laugh at the Nadder’s insistent purring, gummy smile firmly in place as Hikari flashed him a grin.
“Can we keep her?”