Chapter 5
Despite that though, Astrid was far too angry at Hiccup to even process the praise. "Is this some kind of a joke to you?" She asked with contempt. "Our parent's war is about to become ours. Figure out which side your on." She warned before walking off, with the others behind her, leaving Hiccup to process what she meant.
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It took Hiccup some time to realise what she meant, and another few minutes to process what would be the appropriate course of action after this.
After thinking about it, he released that a visit to Geralt would be beneficial either way. Either he learns how to deal with a Night Fury or how to deal with the people in the village.
So he brushed himself off and started walking towards the Cliffs of Berk.
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The cliffs of Berk were further past the Berk forest and were very rarely visited by any of the Vikings, for 2 reasons. One reason was the danger that they presented to any explorer trying to pass through, the second was because of a certain person settling somewhere nearby.
To prevent people from entering the cliffs if they ever needed his help, Geralt had built a large bell that could be rung and heard from afar. The action surprised many, however it also served as a warning, that he only deals with business.
Geralt was what he called himself a Witcher, a man who slays monsters. And yet what seemed to terrify most people was that his eyes and senses were on par with a monster. He could run faster than any man and was stronger than even his father, and yet never chose to do anything.
He remember one of the few rare sayings that both he and his father agreed upon: "Never fear the man, who showcases his strength, fear the man who hides his strength, for a man who hides his strength, lives to tell the tale."
And nobody truly knew what he had lived through.
After carefully walking past a few steep cliffs, he arrived at a small cottage in a cave. The place was well hidden and only people with a sharp eye could find him.
"Why are you here, Hiccup." A voice towered from behind him, scaring the living daylights out of the boy.
"You are the same height as my father, yet your footsteps are silent, how?"Hiccup asked. The white haired man just let out a grunt before entering inside the cottage. Hiccup hesitated a bit to follow.
"Get inside. I know you came to ask questions." Geralt's voice shot from inside. And after a few deep breathes Hiccup followed the man. His first impression of the place were quite low. There was barely any furniture except of a bed, a table, 4 chairs and a fireplace. The place was barren. And yet 2 gleaming swords, sheathed and set on the wall, said otherwise. How was Geralt able to live like this, Hiccup had no idea.
After setting down the fire wood and moving towards the chairs, Geralt motioned to Hiccup to sit as well.
"So what kind of question brings you to the dangerous cliffs" He asked the teen, while pouring himself a cup of ale. He offered the teen but Hiccup shook his head and asked his question.
"What do you know about Night Furys?" Hiccup asked the giant man. Geralt, after hearing the question chuckled slightly. It was the first time Hiccup had heard the man chuckle, even though he barely ever saw him, it still was a rarity
"Are you talking about the Night Fury that you had manged to hit last night?" Hiccup was not surprised that the man saw him hit the dragon, and was a little bit bothered about the fact that he didn't point anything out to the crowd. "Are you talking about the Night Fury that you released from the catcher, and that is now residing in the pit hole?" This made Hiccup freeze. 'How did he know this?'
"Wait, I can-" He tried to justify himself only to be interrupted by a wave of a hand
"Kid, I know you are trying to tame the dragon. And you are quite lucky that its a Night Fury. Those went nearly extinct at least 10 years ago." Hiccup was surprised by the lack of fury in the man's voice. He expected the man to be at least angry at him for not killing a dragon?
"I'm not a viking, Hiccup. I don't have the hatred for all dragons, that your people have. " He pointed out to the confused teen. 'What did he mean by that?' Hiccup's gears started to turn, trying to understand what the dragon eyed man meant by that, however his next words startled him
"Now, what do you want to know about them?" Geralt asked. He had already dealt with a curious teenager once, why couldn't he do the same again?
Hiccup took a second to think about what he should ask, before he began "How can I befriend the dragon?"
"Do not treat them as an animal. The dragon's are smart creatures with emotions of their own. So, how do you befriend a Viking?" He asked Hiccup who was puzzled by the question
"Well you would buy him a meal, or ale." He answered with confusion.
"Now what can you feed a dragon?" Geralt asked the teenager again. He always loved the look of realisation, it reminded him quite a lot about Ciri.
After realising the answer to his question Hiccup jumped up and started running back to the pit hole but not before shouting out, "Thank you Geralt! I'll be back!".
Geralt smiled at the similar behaviour of the kid, and stayed where he was, with a drink in hand, while reminiscing about his past.
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Somewhere in the Berk forest
After failing to pass through the rocks with a shield and getting it stuck between the rocks, Hiccup left his hiding spot with a large fish in his hand, and walked out to into the clearing.
He looked around trying to find the Night Fury, not noticing the large beast crouching on the rock behind him. It him a while, but once he noticed the slowly approaching dragon, climb down, the rock, Hiccup immediately offered up the fish to the dragon, who had been starving for a day. The dragon closed in carefully and was about grab it from his hands, but suddenly jumped back and growled at Hiccup.
Hiccup realised that the Night Fury was weary of him because of the knife that he was wearing, so he chose to drop it on the ground. Only after he kicked it into the river did the dragon stop growling at him and its curiosity returned. The dragon's gaze kept alternating between Hiccup and fish in his hands, as if asking for the fish in his hands, before it started approaching the young viking with careful steps.
The closer it got the wider it opened its mouth until it was an arm's length away from him. At that point though, Hiccup noticed an irregularity,
"Toothless? I could have sworn you ha-". At that moment, sharp teeth appeared out of nowhere and the dragon grabbed the fish and gobbled it down almost immediately, which scared Hiccup but not as much as before, he was starting to get used to the behaviour of the Night Fury, and that as dangerous.
"...teeth" He finished his sentence, before the dragon eye's changed once more and its started walking towards Hiccup with a dangerous glare, making him fall backwards and crawl until his back reached a rock,
"No, no, no" He pleaded "I don't have any more" The dragons face was right in front of him promptly scaring Hiccup. That was until the dragons eyes rolled back and it started regurgitating before it spat out a part of the fish that Hiccup brought. It leaned back then 'sat?'
Silence permeated and Hiccup just sat there, unsure what to do with the dragon staring at him. Although at one point he realised. No words needed to be said, dragon's gaze between the fish and Hiccup told him what it wanted him to do.
He sighed in disgust before preparing his stomach for some raw fish. He brought up the fish and took a bite without swallowing, hoping that it was enough for the dragon. The night fury however stared back for a bit before signalling him to swallow the fish down.
He looked at the dragon with resignation and swallowed the raw fish. The taste was horrible however, if he wanted to become friends with the dragon this was the first step, so he chose to ignore the stink.
He let out a smile after a bit, hoping it would show the dragon that he was friendly. And ironically enough, the dragons lips started to waver. A few moments later, something similar to a smile appeared on the Night Fury's face. It was copying him.
This made Hiccup slightly more confident about the dragon not eating him, so he chose to take take a small risk, he raised his hand forwards hoping to pet the dragon. The result however backfired, the dragon resumed its previous behaviour and flew of the the other side of the clearing.
As it lit the ground on fire and lied down, it seemed to be preparing to go for a nap. It looked around, before noticing a small bird nest and followed the bird that flew off.
What caught its gaze however was Hiccup sitting close to it. This made the dragon shift its body around to bring it's tail closer to cover its head.
Seeing the dragon covering its face with its tail, Hiccup chose to come closer, hoping he could touch the dragon, to show that he was friendly, his idea though was interrupted when the tail lifted its self upwards, and the dragon caught Hiccup, with his hand outstretched.
Hoping the dragon didn't take any offence, Hiccup quickly backed away, while the dragon chose to change its resting spot with a grumble.
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Hey guys, I am back. Sorry for the delay. Here's the first normal appearance of Geralt, as well as the soon bonding between partners.
Check out my other FF ATLA: The Master.
Cya tomorrow...
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