Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Dragons have always been prominent figure heads within your clans culture. From the time you could crawl, and long before then, teachings that dragons hold divine nature while representing the gods are bestowed on to each generation. Working together in a symbiotic relationship always being the goal.

Your small clan calls its home on a coast that resides on an island by the name of Njardøy. No merchant or passenger boats ever dock your shores, so relying on and mastering the resources naturally residing around your settlement became a necessity for you and your ancestors. Winged, scaly beasts, both large and small, reside within your village to make long, harsh winters easier. Some either help bring in quantities of fish even Thor himself would have trouble consuming it all while others have their firey breath keep the frost at bay. Smaller dragons help cats keep the mice and other pests from stealing any of the crops that the harvest brings in. During the warmer months, when different breeds of dragons arrive on this tiny paradise for migration, the larger, bulkier dragons will give the yaks a rest and help till the fields in preparation for planting season.

For generations, this balance between your people and dragons is the norm. Like clock work, when Sól peaks her tired head over the horizon, every villager starts their day within their dedicated role. Some begin their day gathering essential herbs to be used in either herbal remedies or delicious food; others pick up on craft projects they started the day before in hopes of getting one step closer to finishing. Each task made easier with the help of a winged companion. You start your mornings on the beach that resides at the edge of your community.

Due to your heritage, your role is to bring in as much fish as you can to feed the many mouths that call your village home; however, as many other people who live in your community, you are not alone in this endeavor. Besides other family members who are a part of the fishing team, each team consists of one individual and their dragon companion. Your companion is a Sliquifier that goes by the name of Streamdancer. His speed through the oceans waves could challenge that of Sleipnir's, making this breed of dragon your family's ideal choice.

It is not Sól's light that rouses you from your slumber every morning, but the loud wake up call of your father, "Y/N! I hope you're awake and dressed. Sól has put Mani to bed meaning the gods demand our day begin!"

With a groan and a toss of the pelts that keep you warm at night aside, you sit up. A yawn and stretch later, you swing your legs over the edge of your bed. A quiet gasp escapes you as bare feet touch the cold floor of your room. This assault wakes you from whatever drowsiness that resided before. Looking over your shoulder, you see Streamdancer dreaming away. You playfully huff, grab a wool filled pillow, and throw it at the slumbering dragon.

The pillow hits it mark, making a soft thump sound, causing the dragon to whip his head up and snort. Streamdancer turns his head in your direction and growls in discontent for cutting his dream of chasing a school of fish short. You laugh, "If I can not sleep past dawn, neither can you!"

The dragon huffs and turns to continue his fantasy chase. You shrug and smile as you rise from your bed, "Fine, but dont expect me to save you any breakfast. I heard father talking about that wolffish he caught yesterday."

The statement instantly causes the large beast to quickly stand and walk out of the room towards the large dining hall, leaving you to get dressed. Laughter bubbles out of your chest as you finish adorning a fresh tunic. After grabbing your sleek, seal coat, you follow Streamdancer.

"I would have saved you some! I'm saddened ye have little faith in me!"

You call after your dragon, still a smile upon your face. The sea green colored creature snorts at you without even a glance over his shoulder. You hum a reply as you both continue to follow a smell that beckons even the deepest of sleepers from their beds.

"Sleeping beauty! Was wondering when you would stroll in, any later and I would've eaten your breakfast."

Tyrson is a large, handsome man that you call your older brother. He towers over most people, but his charismatic smile and kind eyes makes his tall, built stature less intimidating.

"Leave Y/N alone. You're the one who always rises before light graces the land."

The gentle jest falls from the lips of an older woman who walks in from a door way that connects the dining hall to a large kitchen. With a toddler in one arm, she expertly maneuvers a basket of bread that resides in her other onto the long, dining table.

You smile, "Thank you mother."

She smiles back. Before morning greetings can continue, the same deep, bellowing voice from earlier calls from the kitchen. "Y/N! Control this cursed beast!"

With a groan and some quick footwork towards the commotion, you are greeted with Streamdancer head first in a barrel of fermented fish.

"Streamdancer!"

You attempt to pull the dragon's head out before there is nothing left. After a little resistance, he concedes as his belly is now content.

"Get out ye fowl beasty!"

Your lighthearted chastise is met with a roll of his eyes as he walks out, seeking out other possible handouts he can get his claws on. You slowly turn, waiting for the routine, early morning lecture.

"I swear I dont know where he gets that attitude."

Your attempt at humor is responded with a raised brow. After a slight, too long of a pause, you sigh, "I'm sorry, we're working on it. I swear he's gotten better. Even you can admit that."

"Aye,"

The man before you looks like Tyrson but his face is aged with wisdom. A beard adorns his facial features that covers parts of a facial tattoo consisting of various runes running down the right side of his face. He has yet to uncross his arms letting you know this silent stare down is only the beginning, "you're late."

"To breakfast, not to morning chores."

You sheepishly smile, doing your best to appease the bear of a man before you. He hums as he turns back to an iron pot over a fire and stirs its contents.

"One or two?"

You let out a breath you didn't know you were holding, you got off easy this time.

"Two please."

Your father grabs a wooden bowl he set aside and plops two scoops of porridge within. Without looking up from the pot, he hands the bowl to you. You breathe a quiet thank you as you start back towards the dining hall. Your head hanging slightly from the guilt of possibly disappointing your father.

Before walking through the doorway you stop, "I really am sorry-"

"I know where he gets it from," his eyes meet yours and you notice a glow of humor residing within them, "Sea Reaper."

The reference to your father's own dragon washes the pit that was forming in your stomach away. You smile, "Yeah. He does get it from him."

He turns his attention back to the task before him, "Your mother should have a variety of berries and honey from last night on the table."

"Thank you father."

You walk back towards the table and even though his focus remained on the pot, you know he was smiling.

Chapter Text

The static sound of the ocean washing pebbles that line the coast, occasionally made louder by a crash of a wave, is background noise you and your family have long found comfort in. It represents an entity that can soothe and nurture any creature seeking aide, yet quickly change tide and viciously rip any obstacle down to its depths. The depictings of a true god that demands respect.

Every morning fishing trip starts with an offering to the gods. A thank you for successful past trips and an offering that the next be just as blessed. It is not a long endeavor and everyone in your household is required to partake. Your mother leads the prayer and for a moment, the world slows to a quiet buzz. You become aware of the dewy morning against your skin as you breathe in air that makes your lungs as cold as ice. Everything feeling more intimate as the sound of the sea and all your troubles begin to seem so distant.

The loud and crisp sound of a clap insinuating your mother finishing the prayer yanks you from the grips of your trance. It feels as if you've been woken from a deep sleep. You watch her pick your younger brother up as the rest of your family rises from their kneeling positions. You push all of your weight from your knees to your heels as you follow suit. A comforting silence blanketing the atmosphere as you all trail out one by one from the small shrine that lies on the boarders of your longhouses.

After your mother bids you all a farewell with a kiss bestowed on each of your foreheads, Tyrson, your father, and yourself make your way towards the shore where three Sliquifiers reside. The largest, and oldest signified by the many scars littering its body, resembles a statue with the illusion broken every time it slowly rotates it head, scanning the vast body of water before it. There are two smaller Sliquifiers bounding back and forth, switching off which is chasing the other, occasionally thrashing their wide, fin-like tail to splash the present assailant. Only the sight of your family approaching calm their antics.

As your father, Tyrson and yourself start securing sattles to your respective dragons, you hear your father speak up, "Sea Reaper and I will cover west. Y/N, you and Streamdancer are to cover south."

"South?!" You hear laughter bubble up from behind you.

You stop affixing medium sized barrels to Streamdancer's sattle to turn and face your father, "You know Uncle Sigdri said he spotted Scaldrons near the southern islands!"

Without looking up from attaching barrels to his own dragon, your father replies, "It's a good thing you will not be alone. Tyrson and Rainstorm will be accompanying you."

Tyrson's laughter abruptly stops, "What? Why am I being punished?"

Your father gives a hard yank on straps connecting to his sattle to be sure the barrels on either side of Sea Reaper do not have any give, "You laughed."

Your father then proceeds to pull the hood of his seal coat over his pulled back, braided hair. However, not far enough where you can't see a look in his eyes that can only come from a parent who worries for his children, "Be sure to be back before sundown. Watch over eachother, understand?"

Both you and Tyrson reply knowing there is no arguing once this man has his mind set,  "Yes father."

With a nod of approval, he turns towards the ocean. Threading his large arms through sleeves that seem to blend in with the rest of the long coat. You watch him and Sea Reaper wade into the waves until both are about chest deep. Both dragon and man take a deep breath before diving underwater.

"Want to see who can catch more fish?"

You look over at Tyrson and hum, "You thinking quantity or point system?"

"Quantity. Point system always takes too long to calculate after and I promised Rainstorm I would take her on an evening flight."

You scratch Streamdancer under his chin, eliciting a quiet hum of approval from the dragon, "You're on, but I dont want to go southeast towards Sólheimr."

Tyrson huffs, "Oh come on, that's where the fish migrate during this time of season. It would be a mistake to not take advantage of that."

He pulls his own seal hood over his head before leading his dragon to the oceans edge. You follow, "That's probably the same thought process those Scaldrons are thinking. It's risky if there is one, but two or three? We wouldnt stand a chance."

Tyrson tosses a smile your way over his shoulder as he too wades into the water, "We'll be fine. Sólheimr is too north for Scaldrons. Besides, last week Uncle Sigdri also said Odin himself spoke to him through their fire during náttmál. You really think we should believe everything he says?"

Before you can retort back, your brother and his dragon dive below the surface. You huff, pull your own hood over your head, signal Streamdancer to follow, and mumble, "If we get into some trouble, I'm letting him take the fall."

You walk towards the ocean until the salty depths reach just below your shoulders. For Streamdancer, only his neck and head can been seen above the water, "Alright boy, let's go."

You both take a deep breath, close your eyes, and dive underwater. Immediately after your entire self is beneath the sea, you feel your coat of seal skin tighten around you. As if it's alive, the hood pulls itself farther over your face with the same quickness. Your arms that seemed lost within their sleeves are newly found to be flippers. Your legs fuse together as the long coat wraps itself around them to become a tail. You open your eyes. Large pupils take in the dark surroundings until they land upon Streamdancer. With new anatomy, where no one would be able to differentiate you from a harbour seal, you swim up to your dragon and bite onto a small bar wrapped in leather that is attached to the top of his sattle. You make sure to lock your jaw in place as best you can. You tap Streamdancer on the side with a flipper, signaling him to take off.

The instant he feels your flippers touch his side, he takes off at a speed that would put a tuna to shame. Your eyes squint from the current created by Streamdancer, trusting him to know where you both need to go. It does not take long for you to make out a familiar figure. Despite not being able to see well, you recognize Tyrson and Rainstorm. As you manage to catch up, you see your brother look over at you with only his eyes and give you as much of a smile a seal can give.

Sliquifiers are more than likely one of the slowest dragons to grace the skies; however, put them in the water and the narrative changes. Under the waves, these beasts can not be beat in speed, agility nor endurance. Due to this, it does not take long for you or Tyrson to reach familiar fishing grounds. You can feel the temperature in the water rise slightly, signaling you are approaching the surrounding waters of the island Sólheimr. The dragons take notice of this change and slow their swimming until they come across familiar reefs. Once the dragons come to a stop, Tyrson and yourself let go of your sattles.

Tyrson's whiskers dance with the currents as he nods his broad head towards south. You glare and shake your head, knowing what he's implying. He rolls his eyes and swims in the direction regardless. He makes a break for the surface to replenish his air before swimming off with Rainstorm. You blow a large puff of air at him as you turn and swim in the opposite direction.

You will not be caught off guard and cornered by a Scaldron or two! After breaching the surface to replenish on air as well, you glance in the direction your brother swam. Nothing. The words of your father replaying in your mind. Watch over eachother. You pause for a moment contemplating whether to follow or not. If something were to happen to Tyrson and you weren't there to help, you would never forgive yourself. Streamdancer takes notice of your inner turmoil and lightly nudges his head against yours, showing his scarce, caring side that breaks through his sarcastic facade from time to time. Your dragon's action eases your emotions before they have a chance to bubble over. He's right. Your father said to watch eachothers backs, not necessarily stay together. Besides, Tyrson is not alone, he has Rainstorm and she lives up to her name by being just as fierce.

You give Streamdancer a thankful nudge back as you both continue your fishing trip. Both you and your dragon swim towards the northern parts of the island, not knowing this decision will change your life forever.

Chapter Text

Regardless of the island within the rotation of your family's fishing territory, the trip itself is always generally the same. Collect fish until your barrels are full, arrive home before nightfall, and stay out of trouble. Due to the unpredictability of the ocean, the later two are always more important to your father than the first. He is famous for saying 'there will always be more fish, not more you'.

Streamdancer and you have preformed this task thousands of times and will continue to do so. You both have manufactured a system to retrieve the most amount of fish within a short period of time. With the opportunistic instinct inherented from your seal skin, you prefer to hunt within the reefs that surround the islands you venture too. Your whiskers, huge pupils, and agile body make it easier to find and pin down your prey within the tight, rocky terrain. While making sure to not stray far, Streamdancer takes advantage of his deep diving capabilities and hunts on the farther outskirts where the seabed starts to meets the open ocean.

While sitting and waiting for a small school of fish to make its reappearance, you do not give much attention to a looming shadow that slowly casts itself over you. Fishing with Streamdancer, you've gotten use to him playing jokes and pretending to be a larger predator before ending the jest with a small nudge. But no touch from him came. Only when the shadow continues to loom over you while now also shadowing your temporary hunting ground do you look up towards the oceans surface.

It's a ship, and a big one. How long have they been here? Your father would chastise you if he knew you let this information slip under your nose. Even though you are beneath the vessel, and they would have no way of knowing you or your dragon are near, you very slowly flatten yourself against the sea bed as to blend further in with your surroundings. You look to your adjacent left with only your eyes, fearing any other movement would ring alarm bells to the unknown party about your location. Due to him camouflaging, familiar bright, yellow eyes are the only indicator you see to know Streamdancer found coverage within a small kelp forest nearby. Knowing he is safe makes the ringing in your ears and the pounding beat of your heart withing your chest calm ever so slightly.

As the giant ship above passes over, no longer blocking the sun from warming the waters below, a loud splash disturbs the surface of the ocean. The unexpected noise draws your attention up and to the left. Is that a person? Neither you nor Streamdancer move from your locations. Instead, you watch as what appears to be a woman sloppily reorient herself enough after her fall to swim back towards the surface, grabbing onto passing driftwood once she does. You slowly swim out from the rocks you were hiding against towards Streamdancer, your eyes never leaving the figure above.

Part of you is screaming to grab your dragon and find Tyrson as soon as possible so you all can leave; but a greater part of your is too curious for your own good. What if this a potential threat? This island is not necessarily the closest to your home, but it's close enough to where you have a feeling of unease in your stomach. After checking in with Streamdancer, and signaling him to stay put, you swim towards the surface, making sure to broach a safe distance away from this unknown individual.

Your nose is the first thing to come up. After an expulsion of air, your eyes are quick to follow. You quickly glace in the direction the ship was heading. Your gaze immediately lands on the red insignia that they proudly display on their sails. The design is that of a dragon being pierced by two swords. Dragon hunters. Oh your father would definitely have your head if he knew.

'Shit!'

"I'll find you..." The slurred statement momentarily distracts you from your panic. You look over to the young woman struggling to stay afloat about 15 feet from you. It doesn't seem like she sees you.

Your curiosity has been more than satted. You want no part in whatever business, whether friend or foe, this, you now notice, blond woman has with dragon hunters. You're about to dive back down below to gather Streamdancer, find and meet back up with Tyrson and Rainstorm, and head home only to never tread these waters again; but the sight of a distant storm cloud slowly rolling in stops you from diving back under.

The clouds are thick and dark. The atmosphere alone indicates this storm will not be pleasant as you feel the air slowly start to electrify around you. With how active the lightning you see is, you'd think there is a Skrill in those clouds. You look back over to the woman floating on the drift wood. She was barely hanging on to begin with, but now seeing as she's semiconsious, there is now way she would survive through this storm.

No. No! This unknown woman has some sort of relation with dragon hunters and your village has always made sure to stay clear from anything to do with that no good, band of Jotun shit.

But if someone else was in your position and that was Tyrson? The thought makes your stomach drop and your blood turn cold. She most likely has friends and family that are waiting for her return home, just like you and your brother. If that was Tyrson in her place, you of course would want him saved.

'Damn it all the Hel!'

You dive underwater and hastily swim towards Streamdancer. Once you reach him, you bite onto the leather handlebar on his sattle and direct him towards the woman floating in the water. You tap him once and he causiously swims towards the surface, casting a look over his shoulder at you that reads, 'are you sure about this?' You feel your seal coat shed and loosen around you as you both fully resurface except for Streamdancer's legs paddling to keep you afloat. You pull your hood down as you readjust yourself to sit fully on Streamdancer's back.

You look around as you direct Streamdancer to wade over towards the blond woman. You dont see any dragon hunter ships or vessels near by. As you approach the woman, you notice she's barley holding on and you can see her slowly slipping further underwater. You hear her mumble things that you can't understand as you reach over and pull her across the sattle. You do your best to maneuver her to sit up so she doesn't get waterboarded when Streamdancer takes off. With her now leaning against your chest, you feel her slump agaisnt you. She is now fully unconscious.

You look back towards the large cloud. Thankfully the storm is coming from the east. You and Tyrson came from the northwest, so heading that way will allow you and your little group to at least avoid some of the storm.

"Let's go Streamdancer. Stay above the water but don't take flight. I don't want to draw attention to ourselves if there are more hunters around and I want to get out of here as quickly as possible-" Streamdancer lurches forward, "In a gentle manner! I know you're eager to leave, I am too, but we have to be careful. Start slow and we'll build our speed up from there."

Streamdancer starts through the water with a modest pace. His large tail fin and legs propelling you both forward with powerful strokes. You squint and duck behind his head to seek shelter from stray water droplets that the ocean is spraying up with each movement Streamdancer makes through the waves. Movement from your passenger as she curs into your chest causes you to look down.

Due to the wind howling past your ears as Streamdancer begins to increase his pace, you're unable to articulate everything she says; however, you are able to hear one thing, "...Hiccup?...they took...Stormfly."

At the moment, these words mean nothing to you. With am arm around her waist and making sure she's still secure, you focus back to the front of you. It takes no more than 20 minutes until you are back to a somewhat familiar area where you and Tyrson first arrived to Sólheimr. You look inland towards the beach and see the man you're searching for sunbathing with his dragon. Rainstorm is the first to notice you and Streamdancer, nudging your brother to notify of your arrival.

He picks his head up from looking towards the sky, smiles, and waves. He scrambles to his feet along with Rainstorm and quickly climbs onto her back. Once she knows her rider and her cargo are secure, Rainstorm takes a running start and jumps into the water. It does not take long before Tyrson is within a suitable speaking distance.

"Your barrels are looking a little empty. What happened? Almost like I told you there would be more fish in the- thats not a fish."

Tyrson's playful jests quickly turn to confusion as he spots the woman you're holding, "I thought we were fishing for actual fish, not people."

You pay no mind to your brothers usual, sarcastic antics and get straight to the point, "There were dragon hunters here and a storm is rolling in from the east. We need to leave now."

You rarely ever see your brother become serious, but your statement causes Tyrson to immediately switch his demeanor.

"Are they still here?" You can visibly see him get more upset as a thought occurs to him, "Is she a dragon hunter?"

"Not that I'm aware of. They headed further south." You look down at the woman in your arms, "I dont know, she was floating away from the ship. Either she's not or she was and they didnt want her anymore and threw her overboard."

Tyrson glares at you, "What went through your head that you thought it would be a good idea to pick a random stranger up, out of the ocean? She could be a threat and I'm not fond of bringing a possible dragon hunter home."

You roll your eyes and turn Streamdancer towards north, "We can't be sure she is one; besides, whatever possible allegiance she had with them before is definitely severred now. Also I'm not going to leave someone behind to die when they can not fend for themselves. What would mother say?"

Tyrson is quiet before he directs Rainstorm to start swimming north, "If this comes back to bite us, dad is going to kill you."

You grumble, "Don't remind me..."

You gently kick Streamdancer's flanks and you feel him begin to swim again, following Tyrson and Rainstorm. You look down at the unconscious woman. You really hope you made the right decision.