His Name Shall be Sandstorm

Toothless sored through the air meters away from the clouds with Hiccup's eyes scanning the scenery for an island. Rune had a relaxed but exciting look on his face relishing the moment, he just felt alive.

"You seen to be enjoying this" Hiccup said noticing his mood.

"I don't know, but I just feel free, like this is where I'm meant to be, like my heart belongs in the clouds" he replied with a voice overwhelmed with joy ang happiness.

"Don't worry, you'll get your dragon soon enough and you'll be able to enjoy this all the time"

"I can't wait" he said trying to control his happiness.

It was now dark and the three had been to several islands looking for Sand Wraiths but were sent on their way empty handed. Rune was beginning to lose hope and began to think about changing his request, but that would have to wait, they were coming up on the last island before the head back home to Berk. Toothless landed on the ground with a thump expressing his tiredness through a rumble.

"Don't worry bud, we'll be back home before you know it" Hiccup assured him.

He cooed in response. In front of them stood tall trees and a dense forest that stretched across most parts of the island.

"This doesn't make our job any easier at all" Rune sighed.

"Well the quicker we get to it the faster we get home" Hiccup said walking ahead.

Rune grunted and followed him and so did Toothless before they disappeared into the forest. On a tree behind them, a Changewing revealed itself after camouflaging, it had a nasty growl seeing the humans walking away.

"I think we should head back home there's nothing here for us" Hiccup said rubbing his eyes. He was obviously tired from all the searching they had been doing.

"Agreed, I need to hand up my boots" Rune concurred.

His new life wasn't starting off as well as he'd hoped and dampened his spirits a little, but he had hope for tomorrow.

"Alright bud let's get out of here" Hiccup stated walking towards Toothless.

Just as Hiccup neared, the longest nub on the left side of his head stood up hearing something and he began to growl.

"What's wrong?" Rune asked.

"I don't know but keep your eyes peeled and stay alert" Hiccup instructed.

Rune looked around and then a Changewing revealed itself behind him and lined up for a shot.

"Look out!" Hiccup yelled diving at him and moving him out of the way as the Changewing's shot hit the ground.

"Thanks for the save" Rune thanked.

"Anytime" Hiccup said helping him back to his feet quickly with three more Changewings appearing. "Right now we have to run!" he yelled.

The three took to their heels running speedily as the dragons chased them through the woods.

"Come on Rune" Hiccup said stretching out his hands to pull him aboard Toothless.

Rune stretched out his hand to grab on then noticed a tree coming up ahead and had moved out of the way, he came back and held on to Hiccup as he was pulled aboard Toothless and they moved faster through the forest avoiding Changewing blasts.

"There up ahead, I see the ocean" Rune pointed ahead.

"Finally, we can shake these guys off our tail" Hiccup said turning back to look at the dragons chasing them.

He saw one preparing to fire at them. "Duck!" he yelled as he and Rune put their heads down for an acid blast.

"That was close" Rune sighed before he noticed something else. The acid blast had hit a tree and it was coming down towards them.

"Tree!" he shouted pointing in front of them.

Hiccup's eyes shrank seeing the tree falling towards them, he pulled Toothless sharply to the left then right to avoid another tree. The turns were too sharp and Rune couldn't hold on to the saddle and was thrown off his back.

"Rune!" Hiccup shouted.

Rune tumbled and rolled on the ground heading towards the beach, he went down a couple more meters before hitting the fine dry sand on the beach with a thump. Rune shook his head getting sand out of his hair and he got up slowly with his hands on his knees. He got up and turned around slowly to be met by three growling Changewings closing in on him. Rune raised his hands up in surrender and wore a worried smile as he walked back slowly.

"Hey guys" he said with a shaky and nervous voice. "We don't have to fight or anything, let's just be friends" he said as the dragons grunted and got closer.

Rune found it hard to swallow his own saliva because of his situation, he finally took a huge gulp as the dragons prepared for their final attack. They Changewings leaped at him and he ducked covering his face and head in a last ditch effort to protect himself. Out of nowhere a blast flew from behind him hitting the Changewings back. Rune opened his eyes surprised that he was still standing.

"What is going on" he wondered.

The sand behind him began to shift catching his attention, he turned around slowly as a tail shot out of the sand and spikes appeared. Wings stood up from the ground as feet appeared and finally the head of the dragon. Rune's jaw dropped seeing the dragon, could it really be, it was a Sand Wraith with an angry look and breathed heavily and had a nasty look, obviously pissed off at their arrival. It was wet sandy brown in color, and had two short spikes on top of it's head, more spikes appeared on its back longer than the ones on its head with black markings on their tips. It had secondary wings like the Night fury and sails at the end of it's tail most likely used for swimming and helping it make sharp turns, they weren't as large either. It had two spikes on the end of it's tail that made it look like a trident, it had more black markings on it's feet and around it's eyes. A straight thumb claw were on it's wings and three curved spikes on the front edge of both wings. It looked a lot like a Night Fury but a sturdier stature and a bigger chest to house huge lungs, it had a flatter head as well. It's razor sharp teeth were bared as it stood in a defensive position ready to attack with it's back curled and wings raised.

The Changewings shook their heads after taking the blast head on. Rune stood looking at the dragon in awe, is wish was finally about to come true. The Sand Wraith leaped over him to engage the Changewings landing in front of them then engaging their leader in combat with paw swipes and bites. He held the other by the shoulder and threw it into a tree, he noticed the other two running at him from both sides and jumped up as they ran into one another head first.

"Rune!" Hiccup called from the air circling around Rune.

Rune looked up and noticed him and waved his hands. Toothless soon landed with his rider next to Rune who had turned his attention away from the fight.

"Seems we finally found your dragon" Hiccup said hopping of his saddle.

"I'm just glad we get to go home with something to show for it" Rune answered.

The Sand Wraith tail swiped a Changewing then blasted two back and the message was clear, "get lost". With a thunderous roar, the Sand Wraith drove his opponents away, then he turned around and looked at Rune, Hiccup and Toothless with a deep growl. Toothless growled back but Hiccup held his hands out to stop him.

"We don't want to scare him bud" he said softly as Toothless backed off.

The Sand Wraith growled and walked towards them cautiously. Then something peeked his attention as an acid blast flew towards Rune, Rune stood in place as stiff as wood as he watched the blast come towards him. The Sand Wraith leaped and pushed him out of the way avoiding the blast as well. He growled at the tree and sent a fire blast there along with Toothless hitting the Changewing to the ground as it whined in pain.

Rune looked at the Sand Wraith with great admonition, it had just saved his life. The Sand Wraith looked at him with a light growl and still kept it's distance, Rune stood up and then looked at Hiccup who spurred him to go on with a nod from his head. Rune was acting out of pure instinct now, it was a make it or break it moment, he took a huge gulp and stepped forward very carefully not wanting to scare the dragon away. That light growl intensified a bit with his irises still looking like slits. Rune raised his hands slowly showing that he had no weapon or intention to harm him.

"I mean you no harm" he said softly to ease his mood. "I just want to thank you..." he added. "....for saving my life".

The dragons mood calmed as his eyes dilated and became wider, he tilted his head wondering what Rune was doing. Rune stretched out his right hand and covered his eyes looking away from him. The dragon curious on what he was doing but for some reason was drawn to his hand, he moved closer carefully sniffing his hand before placing his snout on it sealing the deal. Rune's eyes slowly opened feeling the rough dragon scales on his hands and couldn't believe that he had just tamed a dragon. The Sand Wraith pulled away before looking at him wide eyed.

"Now that was some fine dragon taming" Hiccup commented seeing his student prevail.

"I didn't know what I was doing. I was just going with my gut" Rune said turning to face him.

"And that paid off"

Toothless approached the Sand Wraith cautiously and starred at his examining his features as he closely resembled him. The Sand Wraith also looked at him as he noticed that they looked alike as well and then he cooed at him. Toothless replied with a light grumble and so did the Sand Wraith as they engaged in a conversation.

"Have you thought of a name yet?" Hiccup asked.

Rune hadn't thought of that at all because he was losing hope on finding a Sand Wraith today, but just then a memory flashed before him. One from his past life and it was the name of his dragon on the game he used to play.

"Yes, I got one" Rune said turning to face his dragon. "Sandstorm"