Hiccup tries speaking Dragonese to Toothless, but the dragon just bites him, demands fish, and vomits a mouse on Stoick's pillow. When other dragons crash the bedroom, chaos erupts and Stoick's shouting match with Toothless only makes things worse.
Chapters
And sounds most extraordinary when spoken by a human. Just talking to it, mumbled Hiccup, very embarrassed.
Just talking to it?
gasped Fishlegs in astonishment. What do you mean you're talking to it? You can't talk to it! It's an animal, for Thor's sake! Oh, shut up! Fistlegs, said Hiccup impatiently.
You're frightening it!
Toothless huffed and puffed and blew out some smoke rings. He inflated his neck to make himself look bigger, which is something dragons do when they are scared or angry. Eventually, he got up the courage to unfurl his wings and flap up onto Hiccup's arm. He walked his way up on Hiccup's shoulder, and Hiccup turned his face toward him. Toothless pressed his forehead into Hiccup's forehead and gazed deeply and solemnly into Hiccup's eyes. They stayed there Snout to snout, without moving. Hiccup was thinking, wow, this is amazing. I'm really making contact here. When Toothless bent down and bit him on the arm, Hiccup let out a yelp and threw Toothless off him.
Fiiish!
hissed Toothless, hovering in the air in front of Hiccup.
Want fish now!
I haven't got any fish, said Hiccup in Dragonese, rubbing his arm. Luckily, Toothless didn't have any teeth, but dragons have powerful jaws, so it was still painful. Toothless bit him on the other arm.
Fish!
Are you okay? I can't believe I'm asking this, but what's it saying? He wants to eat, replied Hiccup, grimly rubbing both arms. He tried to make his voice sound pleasant. To dominate the creature by the sheer force of his personality, as Gobba had said. But we have no fish! Okay then, said Toothless.
Eeeeeeeat!
He made a lunge for Fiddlesticks, who streaked up the nearest wall with a yowl of terror. Hiccup just managed to grab Toothless by the tail as he flew off in pursuit. The dragon Struggled wildly, shouting, Want fish now!
Want food now!
Cats are yummy!
Want food now!
We don't have any fish, repeated Hiccup between gritted teeth, feeling all his calmness deserting him.
And you can't Eat the cat! I like him!
Fiddlesticks meowed indignantly from a beam high up in the roof. They put Toothless in Stoick's bedroom, where there was a mouse problem. For a while, he was happy swooping after the desperately squeaking mice, but then he got bored. And started attacking the mattress.
Stop!
yelled Hiccup, as feathers flew in all directions. Toothless replied by throwing up the remnants of a recently deceased mouse right in the middle of Stoick's pillow.
Ahhh!
said Hiccup.
Ahhh!
said Stoick the Vast, who had entered the room at that very moment. Toothless launched himself at Stoick's vast beard, which he mistook for a chicken.
Get him off!
said Stoick. He doesn't do what I say, said Hiccup. Yell very loudly at him, Stoick replied. Very loudly! Hiccup yelled as loudly as he could.
Please, will you stop eating my father's beard?
As Hiccup had suspected, Toothless took absolutely no notice whatsoever. I knew it'd be useless yelling, thought Hiccup gloomily.
Drop to the floor, you horrible reptile!
yelled Stoick. Toothless dropped to the floor.
You see?
said Stoick. That's how you deal with dragons. Newt's breath Hookfang, Stoick's hunting dragons, came paddling into the room. Toothless stiffened as they paced around him, their yellow eyes glinting evilly. Each was about the size of a leopard, and they were as delighted by his arrival as a couple of giant cats might be that of a cute kitten. Greetings, fellow Breathfire, hissed Newt's breath as he gave the wriggling newcomer a sniff. We must wait, purred Hawkfang menacingly.
Until we are alone, and then we can give you a proper welcome.
He gave a vicious swipe Toothless with one paw. The claw, like a kitchen knife, just nicked Toothless on the rump, and the little dragon howled and jumped into Hiccup's tunic until only his tail was poking Out of the neck, Hookfang bellowed. Stoick, my claw slipped. Hookfang whined.
Get out of here before I make you into handbags!
yelled Stoick and Nudespreads, and Hookfang slunk out, muttering obscene dragon curses under their breath.
As I was.
I'm saying, said Stoick the Vast, that's how you deal with dragons. Stoick was looking at Toothless with uncharacteristic anxiety. Son, said Stoick, hoping there might be some sort of mistake, is this dragon your dragon?
Um...
Yes, Father, Hiccup admitted.
It's very— well, it's very small, isn't it?
said Stoick slowly. Stoick was not an observant person, but even he could not fail to notice that this dragon was Remarkably small, and it hasn't got any teeth. There was an awkward silence. Fishlegs came up to Hiccup's rescue. That's because it's an unusual breed, said Fixlegs. A unique and violent species called the Toothless Daydream. Distant relations of the
