Work Text:
Zephyr was sitting at he desk in her room drawing. Next to her was the volume dedicated to the Strike Class Dragons which was open on the Night Fury’s page. She was using the various drawings of Toothless in it as references to draw what Dart may look like as an adult (with her brothers being next of course).
Zephyr stopped for a moment and looked at her work. It showed her friend mid-flight with the same elegance and beauty her parents have. And yet, she felt like it was missing something. She hesitated a bit, her hand hovering above her parchment, before she add a small figure on the dragon’s back. The figure had no real distinctive features but it wasn’t hard to understand who it was supposed to be.
She sighed. Those were nothing but wishful thinking. Especially after her last talk with her father. She had approached him with what she thought to be a good solution, even if it wasn’t a perfect one, to the separation between their tribe and their dragons: temporary visits on specials days or for specific occasions. Her father however had been less than enthusiastic at the idea explaining calmly but firmly why it was best things stayed the way they were.
To say she reacted the way like one would have have expected of the future chieftess would be lying. She had been avoiding him ever since which was why she was hiding in her room instead been outside exploring like she usually did. Of course, she wouldn’t be able to avoid him forever which was proven when she heard a knock on her door followed by his voice coming through.
“Zephyr ? Are you in here ?”
Zephyr held her tongue not answering. Maybe he will leave if she didn’t. She heard him sighed before speaking again.
“I just want to know if it’s you who has the Strike Class book. Fishlegs has been looking for it.”
Now it was her turn to sigh. She may have her problems with her father in the recent weeks but the others had nothing to do with it.
“Yes, I have it in there.”
She heard the door opening before her father step in the room.
“I should have guess you were the one who took it. Drawing again I see.” He said while looking at her drawing which still was in full view. “
Yes. Unless it’s subject is forbidden.” She retorted a bit more harshly that she probably intended.
Her father knelt down so he was eye-level to her before using his hand to make her look at him.
“Zephyr, I know you meant well when you came forward with your solution but it’s best for everyone if we stay separate. I mean, while the idea of occasional visits sound awesome when you put like that, how long do you think it will take for those ‘occasional visits’ to become more and more common and longer to the point they never leave again ?”
“Then why did you take us on that trip ?” Zephyr asked startling him. He was clearly not expecting such a question.
“Well, as you know, Toothless and his family had come to visit us so your mother and I though we should return the favor even if it had to be a one-time trip.”
“The two of you could have gone alone. Nuffink and I would have been safe here. It’s not like anything interesting happens around here anyway.” She said with a slightly bitter tone.
“What’s wrong Zephyr ?” Her father asked perplexed at her reaction. “I thought you enjoyed our trip.”
“I did but that the problem. I enjoyed it too much. When we went flying on Toothless and Stormfly it felt so great. As if I was home.” She saw her father’s face softened at her words probably remembering similar feelings. “And now, to know it will never happened again, it hurts so much that I… I wish…”
“Wish what ?” Her father asked her.
“I wish that you never throw that pageant to change my mind about dragons.” Her father looked completely stunned at her words.
“Surely you do not truly wish that ?”
And suddenly it was like a dam broke and all the emotions that had been bottling up inside since their return from that trip came pouring through.
“YES I DO ! I wish we never went on that trip ! I wish you never put up that stupid pageant in the first place ! Actually, I wish you never managed to create peace between us and the dragons ! That way no one would be hurting over their absence ! YOU INCLUDED !”
And without an another word she pushed him out of the way and run out of the door.
Had Zephyr looked back she would have seen her father crumbling to the floor, tears forming in his eyes, remembering a time he had asked himself the same question and wondering once more if he had made the right decision a decade ago.
But Zephyr didn’t look back, she simply run ahead barely stopping herself from colliding with her mother. She ignored her calling her name and keep on running instead.
Zephyr headed towards the woods where, hopefully, she would be left alone.