Chapter Text
Darkness….that’s the first thing he remembered. It was dark, and it was cold, and he was scared. His body left adrift in the endless abyss. Amber eyes tried to open, seeing the distorted image of the moon above him. It was so big, and so bright. But just as he began to feel safe, there was a soft pull at his back. The boy stirred, his sluggish mind trying to understand what was happening to him, when he felt the pull again, this time stronger, as his body descended further into the depths. His hand reached up weakly, clawing for the surface and for the bright shine of the moon. He did not know as to why it’s light warmed him so, but the deeper he descended, the deeper he fell into the darkness of his own mind, as his eyelids closed, and the few bubbles of air flowed from the folds of his clothes and the corner of his lips.
As he drew closer to the floor of the pond, the ground rumbled softly. Bit by bit, the sediment began to shift and warp, and the earth beneath cracked open with a seismic shift that rattled the very bones of the young man’s body. The moment the chasm opened, a flood of warmth and bubbles rose up to cocoon the body like invisible blankets, before pulling him down into the opening, which glowed a pale blue to illuminate his soft features. His hand that had once been raised to the moon had finally drifted to his side, his numb fingers giving one final twitch before he disappeared into the earth, with the crack snapping shut behind him to leave the pond in complete darkness again!
Valka’s daily routine would be considered mad by anyone back home on Berk almost 19 years ago. After all, being the only person to believe peace was possible between dragons and Vikings didn’t exactly make her popular among the battle crazy individuals who made it their lives by hunting these creatures. She started at dawn, taking her usual walk among the sanctuary and paying visits to their new rescues in the infirmary. Well…as much as a section of a massive ice nest could be a infirmary.
“Ooooh good morning.” She cooed, leaning down and presenting the back of her hand to a Deadly Nadder. The dragon chittered sleepily, sniffing at her bare hand before nuzzling against it. Taking this as permission to draw closer, she maneuvered around the sleeping animal, checking the slashes across the poor girl’s hind legs, “Oh you poor girl…”
Like usual, she applied the salves and remedies to each and every injured dragon in her care. From the serious cases like the slash to the Nadder, to the more commonplace cases, like the Gronckle with an upset stomach…again.
“Oh Vulcan, when will you learn that sandstone doesn’t agree with you.” She admonished lightly, earning a pathetic rumble from the dragon, and giving her those big sad eyes that he felt would ultimately win her over. Shaking her head, she gently scratched under his wing, making the creature’s pair flutter in delight at the heavenly sensation, “I know, but don’t worry, we’ll find you something easier for feeding time, all right?”. Vulcan sniffed, but rested his head down to get some more rest as Valka moved on to each dragon in turn.
She then proceeded to maneuver about her little garden that she managed to keep near the bottom of the ice and rock that formed their nest. A good area that carried just enough soil to plant vegetables she managed to snag on her various raids, and quite the find they were! Another success as she managed to pluck some carrots she had been attempting for months now! With a small grunt of effort, she tugged the plant from the ground, and brushed it’s orange surface with her fingers to inspect it of any blemishes. Much to her delight, the group was perfect! This would surely help make the meals a bit easier to get through. One of the downsides of living in a dragon nest was the limited options one had when it came to food that wasn’t fish. She managed to acquire supplies from wrecked ships before, and the occasional spice and salt made the meat taste a tad easier, but that was a rarity even for one who flew on the backs of dragons.
A shadow passed overhead, and the ground shook as the form of her Stormcutter gracefully landed a respectful distance from her garden. The dragon sniffed at this strange new scent coming from Valka’s basket, but the dragon for the life of him could not see the appeal of plants. They did not command his attention the way a freshly caught bass was in his jaws. Already the thought made Cloudjumper fins flutter as he fought to keep himself composed. After all, he was the more experienced of the dragons here, second only to the Alpha Bewilderbeast, who was content to rest in his deep pool. So naturally he had to set a proper example for things!
The sight of her oldest friend made Valka’s lips tug upward in a warm smile, walking over to gently caress the cheek of her precious companion, the one who changed her life forever that one fateful night. For the briefest of moments, a flicker of worry and sadness flashed in her green eyes. The memories came to the forefront of her mind, ever clear even after so long a time. The wailing of her beloved little Hiccup, and Stoick trying to save her from a creature who did not raise a claw against her. Oh she did miss them, an it broke her heart to know that her son was growing up and she would never get the chance to see the man he would become. Never get to impart the wisdom and kindness she cultivated through her life. What was he now? A dragon killer? A blacksmith?
A gentle nudge snapped her out of her thoughts, and she peered into the soft eyes of Cloudjumper, who let out a small warble. Putting on a smile, she stroked his nose, “Ah…I’m all right…let’s get these back up to the cave, and we can have a nice morning flight, alright?”
The dragon trilled, bending down to allow his rider to ascend onto his back and ease into the saddle, one arm cradling her bundle of food. With a mighty beat of his wings, Cloudjumper ascended into the air. The rush of takeoff never wore off on Valka, and she chuckled at how regal her dragon presented himself as he took a loop around the icy pillar, gliding gracefully to the rocky outcropping that served as the entrance to her humble abode.
As usual, next was her morning flight to inspect the nest, and it all began with her riding gear. The worn leather felt perfectly comfortable for those long trips and occasional battles. Thick enough to withstand a blade but light enough to make her move as if the wind was pushing at her back. She had just managed to secure her bracers when something ripped her from the normal routine. Something that made Cloudjumper’s eyes narrow as he scanned the nest. Something was amiss. The dragons that were scampering within the greenery around the central pool were airborne, squawking and shrieking in clear alarm. Valka ran forward, snatching her staff and rushing to the edge of the outcropping to peer down below. What she saw made her heart skip a beat under her armor.
Deep in the cool water of the pool, the depth began to glow an icy blue, a sharp contrast to the dark navy depths that dwelled under the surface. Bubbles rippled the surface, drawing the attention of the King of Dragons, who stood his ground even in the sight of such strange phenomena. Hooking the crook of her staff around Cloudjumper’s horn, the Dragon Rider, swung herself onto the saddle, and the pair dived down among the chaos of Dragons fleeing the water. As they drew closer, the Stormcutter fell into a hover, his second pair of wings unfurling to keep himself stable, with yellow eyes peering into the water, black pupils reduced to slits. If any threat were to emerge from the abyss, a cyclone of flame would await the foolish being who threatened their home. Valka leaned over, squinting to get a good look at what was rising to the surface. It was a dark shape at first, but the closer it drew, the sharper the image became. What once was a shapeless mass became a body. The body of…a BOY!?
“Allfather above!” she gasped, grip tightening on her staff. Digging her heels into Cloudjumper, she guided the dragon down to the water’s edge, sliding off and running into the pool. She lost sight of the strange boy for only a moment, before she saw him bob to the surface. The Bewilderbeast’s eyes focused on the stranger, the titanic head looming over him and sniffing the air. The scent puzzled the ancient dragon. This boy smelled of magic. It was faint, but it clung to his body, the vestiges of a power he knew not.
Valka extended her staff to hook on to him, but found he was just out of reach. A small rattle of the end and a lone Scauldron brave enough to come close gently nudged the boy’s arm, pushing him just enough for the hook end of Valka’s staff to catch around his thin waist. She carefully began to pull, dragging him into her arms as she discarded her weapon. She grabbed at his armpits to prepare herself for his weight, but much to her shock, he felt too light, even with his soaked clothes and cloak. She turned and trudged through the water, splashing flecks onto the waiting dragons as she managed to lay him down on the bank.
Valka had only a moment to get her bearings and calm her breath, leaning down to press an ear to the young man’s chest. For a moment, she heard nothing, before the horrifyingly faint beat of a heart managed to be heard. She checked him for wounds, but with the exception of some cuts to his arms and bare feet, the boy required little in the way of bandages. What worried her was the water leaking from his mouth, as he coughed weakly and spit out the fluid onto the ice. His breathing came out far to weak for comfort, and Valka looked up at the Alpha, who in the entire event had never taken his eyes off the boy.
“He’s fading…” Valka spoke, feeling a pang in her chest as this young man lay on what very well might be his deathbed, “His heartbeat is weak. There’s nothing I can do to help him….”
But before she could continue, a rumble bubbled up from the mouth of the Bewilderbeast, drawing her attention skyward. The King of Dragons lumbered forward, lowering his titanic head until he was shadowing the pair. It was at that moment, amber eyes opened to meet icy blue. The light in those eyes was like that of the faintest ember of life. Even this mighty beast knew the child was not long for the world of the living. The boy coughed faintly, his vision swimming in and out of sight, but he saw…someone. Someone framed by this white mass.
“M-Mom….” He croaked, clearly delirious as Valka felt her heart breaking. This boy was very much on his way to Valhalla, and all he could see in his final moments was his mother. His fingers twitched, trying to raise up for something, but the strength in him was failing, and it fell before she was able to grasp it in both hands, “Shhhhhh little one….it’s all right. I’m here”
She felt him try to squeeze her hand, but the pressure wouldn’t even crush a dead leaf with how little energy he had, “I….I’m scared.” He choked to her, and she felt her breath hitch. This boy carried no weapons, and lacked the imposing aura that Vikings of the Barbaric Archipelago would normally exude. This boy was a poor Hiccup who no doubt was lost to the sea….but how he got here? She cupped his wet cheek with a hand, trying her best to keep composed, “I know….I know…but you’re safe here.”
This display did not escape the Alpha’s notice, and he blinked his giant eyes. At that moment, he opened his mouth, and a gust of frost sprayed down. Valka shielded her eyes, backing away from the boy as an intense wave of cold obscured him from her sight. The boy’s felt the air freeze in his lungs, and frost tinged the edge of his frozen cloak. The blast made his eyes close, and his mouth opened to draw in air, but all he could feel was this intense cold that seemed to cut through his body, and grip the very core of his being.
Valka stumbled back, amazed at what she was witnessing. The Alpha finally closed it’s jaws, pulling back to watch as the boy lay still upon the rock and ice. For a moment, nothing happened as she rushed back to his side. She went to brush the snow from the young man’s hair, but found that as the powder cascaded off his locks, the strands remained pure snow white. His skin was deathly pale, and frigid to the touch, but as she gently touched his cheek, his eyes snapped open with a gasp, revealing blue eyes that matched the Bewilderbeast’s own pools. His back arched, pale hands flailing and spooking the dragons back, with even Cloudjumper crouching low, growling at this strange draconic magic.
“By Thor….” She exclaimed, trying to hold him down as he let out a scream of agony, a cold fog seeping from his mouth. One of the Nadders hissed and recoiled, pupils retreating into slits as the boy screamed out in another tongue, one foreign to her. He thrashed and twitched, before his spine seized up, and he collapsed to the ground once more, unconscious. Valka was breathing heavily, holding him down for a moment longer before pulling him up to press her ear to his frigid chest.
Ba Bump…..Ba Bump….Ba Bump…..Ba Bump……
The beat was strong, far stronger than it was before, even though there was an unnatural chill that seemed to cling to the boy’s body. Ushering Cloudjumper over, she lifted the boy in her arms, but as she drew closer, the Stormcutter hissed, ducking his head away! “Shhhh it’s all right…he woun’’t hurt you.” She promised, holding her new charge close to her body as she managed to climb on to the saddle. With a dig of her heels into the scales, Cloudjumper ascended to the outcropping once more, with the Alpha’s eyes tracking them as they went.
'Rest Little Snowflake', it thought, 'We have much to talk about'