Chapter 5 by Narniaqueen1300.

The large dining hall was crowded with approximately 200 people, all dressed the same, or similar to Hiccup. In addition to Ragnar, Hiccup noted that there were a few other boys that looked to be around their own age, but most were older. All in training, as Hiccup guessed by their uniforms.

When he first sat down, Hiccup became aware of several glances he got from across the room. But he saw nothing in them but the curiosity of a new face amongst the crowd. These people didn't guess where he was from, or if they did, for the most part, they didn't say anything. Hiccup could not even understand the strange language that everyone seemed to use here.

As he attempted to eat his food, (which was quite different than anything he had tasted before), Hiccup felt a sudden loneliness because Toothless wasn't there with him. How long had it been since they'd been separated like this? A sharp pang struck his chest and he swallowed his food thickly.

Beside him, Ragnar approached, setting his tray down on the table. "You ok?" He asked Hiccup, stiffly and awkwardly, sitting down.

Hiccup drank a gulp of water. "Sure. Just, uh, homesick I guess," he said softly.

Ragnar straightened, not quite sure what to say. "Your training will begin tomorrow morning."

"My training?"

"Yes. Along with some of those guys over there," he nodded to the right. "They all just arrived a little before you did."

Hiccup followed his glance and saw the group of boys that Ragnar had referred to. They were anywhere from 18-22 but didn't look like the friendliest sort. One of them shot a death star at Hiccup when he saw him staring in their direction.

"I see," said Hiccup quietly. Turning to Ragnar, he continued. "And where will you be?"

"I will be assisting the colonel in training you."

"You've already completed the training then?" Hiccup asked, a slight frown on his face. As opposite as Ragnar was from himself, Hiccup still would have preferred having someone he knew a little out there on the field with him.

"Yes, I completed it when I first arrived here, three years ago." Ragnar glanced again at a lot of new boys in the corner. They were tough, but they could be broken. Hiccup though...Ragnar wondered what the colonel ever saw in the scrawny lad. From a physical standpoint, everything about him was wrong: his legs were too thin, his stature too small, and his arms too weak. He supposed that all of that could change with time, however, the one thing that might not was Hiccup's obvious mindset: he didn't want to be here. Quite contrasted from the other young men that surrounded them now, who had willingly signed up for the program, Hiccup sat aloof, and distant, resenting even the very food on his plate. Ragnar knew he was merely buying his time until he could find some way to escape or get out of here. Maybe that was what the colonel had seen in him beyond his physical characteristics: a strong, independent spirit. Only time would tell.

But for now, it was Ragnar's mission to see that the boy was properly cared for and trained. After supper, he would take him to visit the dragons again. Perhaps that would help him adapt better to the situation.

As if Hiccup had read his thoughts, he said, "How do you suppose the dragons are faring?"

Ragnar drank some water. "Fine, I suppose. We will go visit them before bedtime."

Hiccup seemed to perk up a little at this news. "Great!"

Once supper was over, the two boys made their way outside. The sun had set quickly, and a grayish mist seemed to loom over the entire base. Some storm clouds brewed overhead. Ragnar led them across the path that would lead them to the dragons' building.

Nary a word was said as they made their way down through the various levels of the elevator, eventually reaching the base floor. Ragnar's clenched jaw seemed to relax a bit as they exited, Hiccup noticed.

Upon their entrance, Toothless and Wraith immediately stood up from where they were laying down and rushed towards them. Toothless, however, was a little hastier in his endeavor than Wraith, and nearly tripped over himself.

"Aw, hi old bud!" Hiccup said as he laughed and Toothless licked his face. Wraith approached Ragnar with much more eloquence, however, he was just as happy to see him.

"Hello, Wraith." Ragnar half-smiled and his dragon nudged his face.

Hiccup rubbed Toothless' chin. "How've you been, you big baby boo? You getting along well with your new friend?" Toothless fluttered his wings happily. Wraith cocked his head sideways. He had grown quite fond of his new reptile friend.

Ragnar walked over to a small boulder in the corner that he had brought in a long time ago and sat down. Wraith laid beside him on the ground, curling up.

Hiccup and Toothless perched themselves on the ground as well, across from them. Wanting to break the awkward silence, Hiccup spoke up.

"So, training tomorrow eh? What is it like?" He asked, leaning against Toothless.

Much in contrast to Hiccup's relaxed demeanor, Ragnar sat up straight, tense.

"Hard. Well, they won't start you off hard. They'll give you the easy stuff first, and that's to hook you in so you'll stay. Most men would desert within the first two days if they didn't." A faraway look washed over Ragnar's face as he continued. "Once you have your sense of accomplishment, then they'll throw you into the grueling stuff, the real training. You'll be lucky if you don't break every bone in your body before the week's over. But they take only the best. Too much is at stake for them to settle for anything less..."

Ragnar said the last part quieter than the rest, and Hiccup wondered why. Of all the people Hiccup had seen so far since coming here, Ragnar was the most mysterious. He held so much back and chose only to speak in the most simplistic, direct terms. He was hiding much more than he let on. Hiccup could see it in his eyes.

After a long moment of silence, Hiccup asked, "But why would they want me? I'm not exactly built for this kind of thing. I mean, look at me, I'm—"

"You're a dragon rider, Hiccup. That asset alone makes you far more valuable than anybody here," Ragnar replied. "We possess something that the others never can, and that is why they want us." He threw a broken blade of grass that he had been tearing apart to the ground and looked distant. "That is why they will do everything in their power to keep us here..." His jaw tensed.

Wraith sensed his friend's anger and discomfort and looked up at him with concerned eyes as if to console him.

Hiccup observed the gesture and wondered what it was that troubled him so. At any rate, a surge of nervousness coursed through him at Ragnar's vivid description of the training that laid ahead of him tomorrow. Would it really be as bad as he let on? Surely he and Toothless wouldn't be stuck here forever, would they?

Or would they?

If that was the plan, then he needed to find a way to escape. But where? He had fled his homeland, and he couldn't go back there. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all. Perhaps he and Toothless could learn to adapt to this new life that they were now in. They could make the best of the situation they were in until something better came along.

Ragnar's voice interrupted Hiccup's thoughts. "It's time for us to go now. The hour is late, and we'll get in trouble if we're out past curfew."

Hiccup nodded, rising to follow him.

Another one bites the dust! Ya so this is slightly shorter than most, but it was needed as the next part can't simply be tacked on to the end of this one.  Until next time my friends! oh, Narniaqueen1300 says hi everybody. Anything you guys want to say or ask her or me? Just leave a review.