Shandragontear
Shark Whisperer
(Post starts in the Archipelagos but end in Storybrooke, so I'm just putting it here.)
The wind rustling through her blonde braids was more of a relief then Astrid had expected it to be. She'd missed just soaring through the clouds, watching the waves rush by below them. Though simple patrols such as this weren't always the most exciting thing it was a welcomed break from the chaos on Berk. When she'd agreed to marry Hiccup, the realization that she'd also be marrying the Chief of Berk hadn't really sunk in. Having grown to know Hiccup while training dragons and searching for new species of them his title had never really been a big deal to her. However it was clearly a big deal to the rest of Berk. Everywhere she went in the small village other vikings would bombard her with question, things like the wedding decor, what would she wear, asking if she were nervous. The usual questions one would expect of friends and family, but the whole village! She defiantly needed some time away.
When these patrols grew to boring Astrid and Stormfly would practice some of their aerial acrobatic, but Astrid simply felt too mentally exhausted to focus on such things. Instead she just surveyed the waters out on the horizon, watching for any potentially invading ships. Fortunately none of the other viking clans in the Archipelagos had dared to raid Berk in a few years. Some had already learned their lesson the hard way. So she didn't actually expect to find anyone, maybe a trade ship or two at most. This fact made it all the more startling when Astrid suddenly spotted not just one, but several ships over the horizon.
A bit alarmed Astrid sank low in her saddle, pressing herself against Stormfly's back in hopes the deadly nadder would appear riderless. "Let's get a closer look girl." She instructed her dragon. Stormfly responded with a happy squawk before flapping her wings a bit stronger to pick up speed. Glancing up Astrid noticed dark clouds moving in, they'd have to make this quick if they were going to beat the storm.
Reaching the armada of ships several savage warrior called out warnings to the other ships seeing the dragon over head. Astrid studied the cargo on the decks as they passed overhead. They looked to be dragon hunter's, defiantly not someone Astrid or Stormfly wanted to spend too much time with. About to instruct Stormfly to get above the brewing storm and had for Berk something caught her eye. On the deck of one of the larger ships were several cages with dragons already trapped in them. A sly, almost playful grin crossed her lips as the rain began to fall. "Think you can blast those cages open before the storm gets too bad?" She asked, leaning down to speak closer to Stormfly's ear.
Responding in her usual upbeat squawk Strormfly dove for the ship. A blast of red hot magnesium readied in her throat as she waited to get within range before firing a blast at the lock of each cage. As a few dragons flew free they banked around to make another pass at the ship. At the same time the other ships around them readied grappling hooks firing off several at once. "Stormfly tail spikes!" Astride shouted, her dragon responding by flinging the spikes off her tail to knock the grappling hooks off course. Unfortunately one missed and managed to wrap around her foot.
As the storm began to pick up the waves tossed the boats about, which would of made escaping easier if the wind wasn't tossing Stomfly around as well. Not wanting to waste anymore time, Astrid slipped from the saddle, sliding down Stormfly's outer thigh before catching herself on the dragon's ankle. Hanging there by one arm the skilled shield maiden drew her battle ax with the other, using it to hack through the chain that was keeping her dragon tethered to the ship. "Get above the storm!" Astrid shouted as she began to climb back up towards Stormfly's back.
Despite the wind and rain thrashing against her Astrid somehow made it back into the saddle. "We have to make it back to Berk!" She called to her pet, Stormfly's wings fighting against the wind as it blew them further and further in the wrong direction.
The rest was too much chaos for Astrid to even remember clearly, even blacking out at one point as they battled against the storm. When Astrid came to again the storm seemed to be calming, but something was still amiss. As her senses recovered she quickly realized she was falling through the air. Instinctively looking for Stormfly her blue eyed caught sight of the dragon crashing into a wooded area off in the distance. Quickly assessing her own situation Astrid realized there was water below her. Straightening herself out as she fell the skilled viking dove seamlessly into the waters just off the coast of a sleepy little town unlike anything she'd ever seen on Berk.
Despite the weight of her armor the powerful shield maiden managed to kick her way up to the surface. After a quick gasp for air she looked to the show, noticing strange docks and boats made of materials she'd never seen before. Boy would Hiccup have a field day with this. Speaking of Hiccup, she had to get back to Berk and warn them of the approaching ships. Without another thought Astrid took off, swimming for shore, hopping to find Stormfly before anyone else did.
The wind rustling through her blonde braids was more of a relief then Astrid had expected it to be. She'd missed just soaring through the clouds, watching the waves rush by below them. Though simple patrols such as this weren't always the most exciting thing it was a welcomed break from the chaos on Berk. When she'd agreed to marry Hiccup, the realization that she'd also be marrying the Chief of Berk hadn't really sunk in. Having grown to know Hiccup while training dragons and searching for new species of them his title had never really been a big deal to her. However it was clearly a big deal to the rest of Berk. Everywhere she went in the small village other vikings would bombard her with question, things like the wedding decor, what would she wear, asking if she were nervous. The usual questions one would expect of friends and family, but the whole village! She defiantly needed some time away.
When these patrols grew to boring Astrid and Stormfly would practice some of their aerial acrobatic, but Astrid simply felt too mentally exhausted to focus on such things. Instead she just surveyed the waters out on the horizon, watching for any potentially invading ships. Fortunately none of the other viking clans in the Archipelagos had dared to raid Berk in a few years. Some had already learned their lesson the hard way. So she didn't actually expect to find anyone, maybe a trade ship or two at most. This fact made it all the more startling when Astrid suddenly spotted not just one, but several ships over the horizon.
A bit alarmed Astrid sank low in her saddle, pressing herself against Stormfly's back in hopes the deadly nadder would appear riderless. "Let's get a closer look girl." She instructed her dragon. Stormfly responded with a happy squawk before flapping her wings a bit stronger to pick up speed. Glancing up Astrid noticed dark clouds moving in, they'd have to make this quick if they were going to beat the storm.
Reaching the armada of ships several savage warrior called out warnings to the other ships seeing the dragon over head. Astrid studied the cargo on the decks as they passed overhead. They looked to be dragon hunter's, defiantly not someone Astrid or Stormfly wanted to spend too much time with. About to instruct Stormfly to get above the brewing storm and had for Berk something caught her eye. On the deck of one of the larger ships were several cages with dragons already trapped in them. A sly, almost playful grin crossed her lips as the rain began to fall. "Think you can blast those cages open before the storm gets too bad?" She asked, leaning down to speak closer to Stormfly's ear.
Responding in her usual upbeat squawk Strormfly dove for the ship. A blast of red hot magnesium readied in her throat as she waited to get within range before firing a blast at the lock of each cage. As a few dragons flew free they banked around to make another pass at the ship. At the same time the other ships around them readied grappling hooks firing off several at once. "Stormfly tail spikes!" Astride shouted, her dragon responding by flinging the spikes off her tail to knock the grappling hooks off course. Unfortunately one missed and managed to wrap around her foot.
As the storm began to pick up the waves tossed the boats about, which would of made escaping easier if the wind wasn't tossing Stomfly around as well. Not wanting to waste anymore time, Astrid slipped from the saddle, sliding down Stormfly's outer thigh before catching herself on the dragon's ankle. Hanging there by one arm the skilled shield maiden drew her battle ax with the other, using it to hack through the chain that was keeping her dragon tethered to the ship. "Get above the storm!" Astrid shouted as she began to climb back up towards Stormfly's back.
Despite the wind and rain thrashing against her Astrid somehow made it back into the saddle. "We have to make it back to Berk!" She called to her pet, Stormfly's wings fighting against the wind as it blew them further and further in the wrong direction.
The rest was too much chaos for Astrid to even remember clearly, even blacking out at one point as they battled against the storm. When Astrid came to again the storm seemed to be calming, but something was still amiss. As her senses recovered she quickly realized she was falling through the air. Instinctively looking for Stormfly her blue eyed caught sight of the dragon crashing into a wooded area off in the distance. Quickly assessing her own situation Astrid realized there was water below her. Straightening herself out as she fell the skilled viking dove seamlessly into the waters just off the coast of a sleepy little town unlike anything she'd ever seen on Berk.
Despite the weight of her armor the powerful shield maiden managed to kick her way up to the surface. After a quick gasp for air she looked to the show, noticing strange docks and boats made of materials she'd never seen before. Boy would Hiccup have a field day with this. Speaking of Hiccup, she had to get back to Berk and warn them of the approaching ships. Without another thought Astrid took off, swimming for shore, hopping to find Stormfly before anyone else did.
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