There is a high chance that, at least for now, I will continue with just 1 chapter per month.
Sorry.
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From Astrid's reaction, I think it's safe to say that the dreaded team of dragon-riding troublemakers had yet to discover this region. This also tells me that Astrid came to ᚦᚢᚾᚪᚱ᛫ᚠᚱᛁᚦᛥᚣᚹ (Þunor Friþstōw) from the east, likely flying from Scauldron Island.
Also, to specify, I don't hate or dislike the main cast or anything like that, I would even say I'm pretty neutral about them, even Snotlout.
The main reason, I reffered to them as 'dreaded' is that, I know that while my instincts, which are apparently very strong, and my own curiousity may make me naturally drawn to Toothless, and therefore more accommodating towards him, there is no way, I will be able to stand the rest of them.
They are just not the type of people I would normally associate with.
Snotlout is basically Devin, but too squishy to punch.
Tuffnut and Ruffnut are just too much chaos and brain rot for me to stomach. On a show? Yes. As a person to interact with? A big NO. Chaos can be fun, but not this much of it.
Then there is Hiccup... I just know we are not going to click. He is way to empathetic and there is his..., I'm not sure if that's what it's called, but let's say, a hero complex. Too much hope and displaced sense of responsibility with too little realism and decision making skills. He is a great person, just not someone I think I can agree on much with.
As for Astrid, she is alright, but I will need a week of off her after we reach Berg.
I was never that social and now that my mind is classifying her, and all humans, as well, hmm... this will sound bad, but lesser lifeform? Something between what I think I would think of dogs and aliens. More intelligent than a dog, but more emotionally significant than a humanoid alien.
It's not actively weird, but I feel slightly weird that I don't think of it as weird, but normal and almost as if it should be like this.
Oh, right. There is also Fishlegs, I almost forgot about him, and like I said before, I find it difficult to feel bad about it. Though, after closer thought, he might just be fine in my books. We will see...
Then again, I have to remind myself that my opinion is heavily biased right now and I can't be sure until I actually meet them. 'Maybe I should just approach it like a blank slate?'
Nonetheless, since I decided to at least meet Toothless, I will have to at least show myself to them.
From what I saw of him in the movies, he will drag me back to Hiccup as soon as we get remotely serious about each other, either to show off or just share the good news. I have a hard time figuring out which is worse... Probably a pointless endeavor on many levels.
Back to the real world, we just reached the first feycrag with many more to go.
Astrid was looking down into a dense black oak forest bellow and didn't care much for my actions. She was, afterall, just a passenger and not even required to guide me just yet.
The foliage was too thick for me to see into the forest, but a quick scan of the rest of the island was enough for me to spot some of the local fauna.
There where clearly some mountain goats, Pretty large ones, might I add, alongside something that looked like a long hare. Not quite a weasel, but the idea of 'long' is similar.
In addition to that, there were some foxes, but with longer and slender legs, like on those japanese paintings, but otherwise I think it was just a fox.
As for birds, I might have saw a few fairy wrens and or blue tits, but after looking at other, bigger, birds that had nothing to do with what I new of birds from Earth, I just assumed that some just look like it and some may even be named as such since Skyshot knew what a bullfinch was.
Regardless, the view was almost mistical. Not like ᚦᚢᚾᚪᚱ᛫ᚠᚱᛁᚦᛥᚣᚹ (Þunor Friþstōw) that could be mistaken for a large garden, and it probably was, this place was radiating raw natural beauty.
While Skrill's nest made you feel like you were in some kind of park, this was more akin to a fresh grown jungle on a hawaiian vulcano, right after a wild fire.
And I mean exactly that, you could tell by the lack of death. Normally, forests are full of dead leaves, needles, wood or vines, but here there was almost none of that.
Well, judging by what I saw on ᚦᚢᚾᚪᚱ᛫ᚠᚱᛁᚦᛥᚣᚹ (Þunor Friþstōw) and sourcing from my geology and geography knowledge this is most likely a standard enviromental clue for dragon activity, at least the fire breathing kind.
Devyn did say that one time, that this msans there is either no long term claim on this territory or that such claim is still in the process of solidification.
Apparently, he is one of those dragons that can't spend a great red calmly without going out to fight.
Originally, great red was like waring season for dragons. Territory, mating, grudges, migrations and many more. Basically, armagedon for everything non-dragon. As such we, as in, all dragons, agreed very long time ago, that everyone will have more and better food, if we do this armagedon ones a year at the end of autumn.
And yes, it was Devyn who explained that. Apparently, he can explain thing very well as long as they are his hobbies.
...I'm already missing them... aren't I?
Anyway, it's mid spring right now so there should be no problem with stopping by for a bit of water and some short rest, just so I don't have to fly in the noon sun.
And maybe I can establish some basic 'yes/no' comunication with Astrid so that we can do something more engaging while I fly us to Berg.
With that plan in mind, I roared gently at Astrid laying on my back to make sure she was paying attention, probably our first proper interaction since we took off at the Underpass.
"Huh? Do you want to land?" Astrid asked after noticing me pointing at the island, a small river to be precise.
Nodding for confirmation, I waited for her to get ready. Once Astrid lowered herself and grabbed my neck, I was able to safely proceed with my usual landing.
Of course, it slipped my mind that I never had the chance to use it with Astrid around. "What are you doing...? Zoya? Why are you not slowing down?
Obviously, since we can't speak each others language there was no point in me minding her reaction. "Zoya, I'm serious slow down or we will crash!"
'You are not the one capable of flight here, silly Astrid.' I almost deadpaned in my mind, but it was time to break. And she was squeezing my neck really hard by now.
"Eep!" 'That was a cute sound.' I remarked gently resting my paws on the gravel lining the river. Mind you, Astrid was still perfectly fine, sitting on my back.
'The water was actually tasted better on ᚦᚢᚾᚪᚱ᛫ᚠᚱᛁᚦᛥᚣᚹ (Þunor Friþstōw). I wasn't expecting that. Maybe it's just the difference in aquifer?'