Field Trip

[banditfly3]

The rain had let up only slightly since he arrived at the landing site. It was dark despite being early in the morning and the thick trees of the forest blocking the weak sunlight overhead only made it that much harder to see. That was good, though. The more obstacles they faced, the more they would learn. Crowfoot's large form stood still as stone as he waited for his students to arrive. There was still a half hour left until their deadline and if any one of them were late they would be sure to receive the hardest brunt of the training for today.

Rock was clinging to his chest, trying to use his large beard as an umbrella. When that didn't work, she settled under his kilt, shivering uncomfortably. Crowfoot felt bad, but there was nothing he could do for the little Terrible Terror. She would have come with him even if he had stopped at the house first and told her to stay within its dry and warm compounds. Instead he thought about what the lesson today would be. At first he had only had a vague idea and thought about it in more detail on the trip over here. Though he specialized in training dragons and their owners to cooperate with them, knowing how to be a raw Viking was also very important for these youngsters lives, and even though only two students would benefit from this training, it was still worth a go.

As long as Adalrik didn't show up, this would probably go smoothly. Crowfoot didn't even want to think about that other teacher and how strongly their believes clashed, making all the lessons they did together end in disarray. At least, that was how he saw it. Surely this small class today was safe to be his alone. Still having not yet moved an inch since arrival, Crowfoot continued to wait, eyes keen for any sign of movement.

[robinwing]

Alfrun followed her mental route, turning at certain trees that had some form of distinction from other trees, as she remembered routes by landmarks. She occasionally stopped and scanned the area around her, checking to see if Madhawk's route was anything like her's. She soon enough came close to the end of her route, and scanned one last time, catching sight of the landing site. She slipped a bit on the mud, but was soon entering the line of broken trees.
"I wonder why the trees haven't grown back. And why have the broken parts not rotted away..." She muttered to herself, taking a closer look at some of the damaged trees. After a moment, she shook herself out of her contemplation and started looking for Mr. Dogwood, jumping over the odd branch or stone. She soon found him, and stepped out in front of him to announce her presence.

[carodacat]

Madhawk slipped silently through the forest. It was raining hard and he wanted to get the lesson over with. He hadn't brought his Flight Fury, but he was sure he wouldn't need it.

He finally reached Mr. Dogwood. By chance, they were in the same place where, 2 years ago, Madhawk had saved the Night Fury. He could still see the traces of green blood on the ground. Madhawk stroked them, filled with nostalgia.

Fury flapped down next to Rock. He looked curiously at her horns, the hooks on her wings, her pointed tail. He looked at himself. He was just... green.

Madhawk nodded shyly at Alfrun. He looked at the dismal sky, the rain pouring down. He sighed and sat on a tree stump, wishing he was in bed.

[banditfly3]

Crowfoot nodded at the arrival of his students. Everyone was on time. Too bad. Well, he still had Madhawk to torture a bit for daring to dissuade his opinion. Rock chattered quietly at Fury's approach. She wanted to tackle him again and wrestle, but she hated getting dirty and the wetness made her feel stiff and tired. Still, an opportunity to play was too great to pass up. Oblivious to the other dragon's self consciousness, she stuck her tongue out at him playfully and quickly scurried over to Alfrun and hid between her legs.

"As I expect you to be well aware, rain is not a weather condition dragons strive in. It leaves their wings heavy and soaked so that, in the worse case, they are temporarily grounded until they dry out. Their fire power is also ineffective in the moist air and they became unable to use it entirely after their bodies have been wet long enough. Most dragons don't like being cold, and when they are they get tired and lazy. It is at this point that you will find yourself without your greatest defense. Today's lesson is to teach you how to survive a deadly situation without your dragon's help."

Over the years the Hooligans of Berk had become extremely dependent on their dragons. And why not? When obedient, they made getting around and fighting enemies a lot easier. But there were times when this dependence caused young Vikings-to-be to forget how to rely on themselves and their own strengths alone. Crowfoot scanned his class with scornful eyes. This is a bad class for this lesson. If the students with bigger dragons had come to class today, with lesson would surely have a bigger impact. As it was, Alfrun had no dragon anyway and Madhawk had a Terrible Terror that lacked its physical natural defenses. Still, it was worth seeing how they fared within the raw and merciless terrain of the wilderness.

"We'll be staying here until nightfall. Let's get a move on. The lower your body temperature drops, the more vulnerable you will be to a sudden and unexpected death," he grumbled as he slowly turned around and made his way back into the trees. There was a countless number of things that could go wrong as the three humans and two tiny dragons traveled through the forest and it was Crowfoot's plan to wait for one of them to show itself on its own. A hands on approached was a far more effective and faster way to teach, he believed. His pace gradually grew faster until he was nearly running, his large form crashing through branches and shrubs like a rolling boulder.

[robinwing]

Alfrun couldn't help but give Mr. Dogwood a bit of a deadpan look when he started his speach about how dragons are grounded in weather like this, especially at the words 'your greatest defence'. Obviously he had prepared this speech for the whole class, including the people with big, powerful dragons. Here he had the two who probably already could handle this situation. Thankfully, her look was obscured by her hood. She followed anyway, slipping on the wet ground at odd times, but managing to keep pace fairly well. While Mr. Dogwood was only almost running, Alfrun had to run to keep pace, as she was not quite so big, and therefore had to dodge around thing Mr. Dogwood just powered through. A thought occured to Alfrun, and she decided to ask a question.
"Mr. Dogwood? Why haven't the trees in the landing site grown back, or the broken parts rotted away? And why hasn't grass grown back?" She called over, barely audible over the rain and the sounds of the forest.

[carodacat]

Madhawk walked slowly, but not too slowly that he lost Mr. Dogwood. He was interested in Alfrun's question. Of course, he knew. Only two years ago, a wild Night Fury had crashed there, with an axe stuck in his side. Madhawk smiled sadly at the memory. He drew his silver axe. On the front side he had drawn himself and Fury, but on the back was the Night Fury.

Fury growled playfully, then stopped. He could hear something. He ignored the sound, but kept staring at Rock. She was cold. He flew at her, picking her up and flapping slowly over to Madhawk He then dropped Rock down Madhawk's shirt and flew in himself.

Madhawk nearly screamed as two wet dragons landed in his top, but he was overwhelmed by the sudden warmness they gave off. He stroked Fury and walked on. After a while he stopped. He could see trees, eyes, and grass. He did a double take. Eyes.
He looked at them, scared. He suddenly realized that it was his Night Fury. He didn't know whether to tell Mr. Dogwood.

[banditfly3]

Crowfoot was giving heavy snorts as he jogged, almost sounding like a charging bull. He barely glanced back at Alfrun and her question. "I don't know." He hated the way that tasted on his tongue, so he continued. "It's been more than 300 years since this landmark was named. It's because of its unchanged condition that it was. Some say a magical aura surrounds the area, but that's a bunch of poppycock." He had very little interest in the landscaping of the forest and was almost afraid Alfrun would ask more. Answering such questions out of his range of knowledge left him feeling quite useless as a teacher. "Tell me, Miss Godwindottir. If you could choose a dragon, which would it be?"

The question was more to change the subject than out of actual interest. Still, he was mildly curious to what species she was most partial to, as he was sure she had one from all the studying she seemed to constantly do. Crowfoot then stopped suddenly, glancing around him with furrowed eyebrows. "First challenge. There's a creature in our midst... get your weapons ready." He whispered in almost a growl. He had heard just the faintest shuffle of movement, but it was enough to tell him that there was a fairly large creature nearby. What he couldn't tell was whether it was a dragon or a significantly less dangerous animal.

He didn't look back at his students or notice Madhawk's distraction a distance behind them. Slowly he stomped forward, then stopped again and turned around. He couldn't hear it anymore but he was sure they had passed whatever it was. He was determined to find this creature and ready to fight it if need be. He could feel his Hysterian nature urging him to seek its blood, but he kept a calm demeanor. Morning star in hand, he slowly approached Madhawk's position.

[robinwing]

Alfrun thought about Mr. Dogwood's question, but when he tensed, and looked off to the side, she abstained from answering. She came to the conclusion that he had seen or heard something in the trees, and started looking for it herself. She had pulled her axe from her belt before Mr. Dogwood had even spoken. It occured to her that Mr. Dogwood may have mistaken what it was, or had been hearing things, but she shook away that thought. She explained it away with that Mr. Dogwood was older, and had more experience. She quickly glanced at Madhawk, to read his posture, and was surprised to find not fear along the lines of a wild animal being near him, but more nervousness that such may be discovered. Alfrun quickly deliberated, and decided that it would be best to buy time to see more of Madhawk's train of thought.
"Mr. Dogwood? What if it's harmless? It might not want to hurt us." She suggested to Mr. Dogwood, giving nothing away in body language, as if she hadn't even noticed Madhawk was there.

[carodacat]

((There's a new character application up about this Night Fury. It's the same one that Madhawk rescued 2 years ago. Odd, isn't it? ))

The new dragon was scared of the weapons- it was Madhawk who gave it that fear. He pulled out his axe. The Night Fury cowered away, terrified. Madhawk sighed--- and put his weapon in his belt. He looked at Mr. Dogwood. There was something... odd. He looked as if he wanted nothing more than to cut it open and watch it bleed.

"Please, sir... don't hurt it." Madhawk tipped he dragons out of his shirt. Fury squeaked and ran off to hunt. Madhawk reached his hand out, beckoning to the dragon. It was obviously scared. Madhawk turned round and faced the other two.

"You won't hurt it." he said defiantly, drawing his axe. He didn't know why, but he didn't want anything to hurt the poor creature. The axe wound on it's chest was still visible.

[banditfly3]

Crowfoot gave Alfrun a casual glance at her suggestion. He gave a curt nod and lowered his weapon only slightly. "Of course. But a Viking must always be prepared for any situation to turn deadly." Even a dragon that seemed friendly at first could turn in a split second if wild. He could now see the dark dragon and his posture remained cautious and ready to strike. Of course he wouldn't unless it attacked him first--at least, that was what he kept telling himself.

Crowfoot exhaled when Madhawk spoke, having not even been aware he was holding his breath. He started to relax a little, but suddenly tensed again at the boy's defiance. His eyes were venomous as he stomped over to the boy quickly, easily towering over him, and grabbed the handle of his axe with a tight grip. His words were slow and deep. "Don't you ever hold an axe up to a Viking unless you don't mind getting your own head chopped off." It wasn't a threat, merely a statement. He lowered Madhawk's axe while it was still in his arm and continued in a softer voice. "And don't assume I would blindly attack a dragon. Those days are over." I have self control, he added silently.

Crowfoot then released the axe and straightened to look at the dragon. He then looked down at Madhawk again with a vague gesture toward the Night Fury. "Is this dragon yours?" He certainly seemed familiar with it, though the dragon itself looked remarkably petrified.

Rock had been enjoying riding in Madhawk's warm shirt until the air suddenly became tense and she had leaped out with Fury. She watched the other Terrible Terror go forlornly. She liked his company but there was no way she was venturing into the wet and dirty forest by herself to hunt food. It was much easier to simply beg. But even she knew when it just wasn't the time and instead scuttled over to the Night Fury, sniffing at the air and wondering what was so scary.

[robinwing]

Alfrun took note when Madhawk took to a protective role over the Night Fury, as he'd obviously met this one before. She thought that maybe it was his, but he didn't want anyone to know. What had worried her was Mr. Dogwood's posture, suggesting, for want of a better word, bloodlust. She was very glad when Mr. Dogwood acted against that bloodlust. Alfrun let out a breath she hadn't realised she was holding, but also tried her best to keep her breathing even and calm. It was after she let out that breath that she noticed the wound on it's chest, and began thinking that perhaps it wasn't ownership, but pity. She decided the best course of action would be to simply ask.
"Where did that wound come from?" She asked, saying it quietly enough that if Madhawk didn't know, it could seem that she wasn't asking anyone in particular.

[carodacat]

Madhawk glared at his teacher and tugged his axe back. He replaced it in his belt. The creature quivered. Madhawk looked down and saw Rock sniffing the Night Fury. He gently pushed it away with his boot.

He jumped at Alfrun's question. Suddenly he remembered the whole thing as if it was yesterday. He sat on the roots of the tree. The Night Fury twitched, but didn't flee. Madhawk sighed and began.

"When I was 13, I was running away when the Night Fury fell on me. It had an axe stuck in its chest... and in me." He lifted his shirt. There it was, the deep scar exactly in the middle of his chest. He suddenly remembered Alfrun was a girl, and one he didn't' know well, so he went bright pink and dropped his shirt down again. "I, uh... dug the axe out.... and saved it. It ran away, though." he looked up at them.

[banditfly3]

Crowfoot exhaled quietly as the students began to talk and he glanced about restlessly. The rain had completely stopped and the sun was just starting to tear its way through the clouds. Its weak rays of light struck the wet leaves in places here and there, making them sparkle magically. He almost snorted. What a disguise the forest liked to put itself in at times. Growing up as a ruthless Hysterian, he couldn't stop himself from seeing the wilderness as nothing but a place of inevitable death. There was nothing beautiful here.

When Madhawk finished he turned to look at the boy. He gave the scar a hard stare, then looked at the one on the Night Fury. At any other time, he could have accused Madhawk of making this story up. But even he had to submit to the overwhelming proof supporting the tale. "It's a good story to tell to your children," he grunted, not exactly expecting it to be taken to heart or intending it to be. "Now lets be off. If that dragon isn't yours and you don't intend it to be, we best leave it alone. The poor thing has had enough of a scare today." And with that, he turned and continued on, not looking to see if his students were following or not.

At this point they were passing close to the canyon. There would likely be nothing there good for teaching and he decided to just pass it without stopping. His eyes were on the ominous silhouettes of the mountains beyond the forest. That was their destination and everything they came across on the way would be today's lesson.

[robinwing]

Alfrun followed Mr. Dogwood, checking every now and then that Madhawk was as well. She had made sure, during the tale, not to show a reaction, and instead to hang back and analyze the situation. As they passed the canyon, she ended up walking slightly out of line. She had lost her hand in this place because she was foolish and didn't think the rocks may break, she wasn't about to lose the other hand to a repeat performance. She was further from the edge than everyone else. She used the time they were walking to consider Madhawk's situation, and what it could mean for him. What she couldn't quite fathom was why the dragon had appeared in front of them at all. She noticed the sun coming out, and lowered her hood in response, not taking her mind from the question at hand. Perhaps the dragon remembered Madhawk? But then how did it remember him, as an attacker, or something else? It was all very puzzling.

[carodacat]

Madhawk watched the other two turn around, then he leaned up and stroked the great dragon's head. Its pink tongue darted out and licked Madhawk. He smiled. "Thank you."

As Madhawk caught up with the others, there was a great cry of freedom, as the Night Fury soared across the canyon. He headed straight at Mr. Dogwood, turning at the last minute so only his tail slapped the teacher. He winked at Alfrun but when he reached Madhawk he began to turn and, for only a second, the two were staring into each other's eyes, and Madhawk knew from the look that now he had met the one who had saved him, he was never coming back. The two touched noses for less than a second then it soared into the sky.

Madhawk walked to the edge of the canyon and sat down on a rock. His thoughts buzzed. He kicked another rock that rolled into the cavern. "All these years... just to see me..." He said to himself, forgetting the others were there.