Ireth looked at him, still hesitant. "I don't know If I'm ready to tell you what's going to happen in the future. It's hard enough for me to accept it, let alone tell someone it."
Finn leaned against Asta. "But it could be my future. The future isn't a thing anyone should have to themselves, and it can't be good for you to deal with that kind of pressure."
"What if I'm afraid of the future?!" Ireth yelled suddenly. She then drew away. "Look, I don't want to tell you what's in my visions. That's something that I'd rather keep to myself."
Finn nodded slowly. "It's alright. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have tried to pressure you into it." Of course she was afraid of the future. Who wouldn't be?
"Maybe I'll tell you when I'm ready. Maybe I won't. Either way, you'll find out." She closed her eyes as she rested her forehead against Silvernose's.
Finn gave a slow nod. He couldn't quite be annoyed with her, he was just… frustrated. But she had a point- the future would be here before he knew it.
Silvernose nudged her. "I…I'm going for a fly, if you want to come?" She said softly to Finn, trying to ease the tension.
He looked up quickly, his eyes brightening as he nodded. "Sure. Any ideas for where?" He walked over to Asta's side and jumped up quickly.
She shook her head. "No. Let's just fly where the wind takes us." Flying was always her refuge, and she needed a place to escape right now.
A small smile slid onto Fin's face, settling himself on Asta's scaled back. "Let's go."
Ireth pulled herself up and rested on the saddle that was on Silvernose's back. She could ride without a saddle, but her parents preferred she used one.
Fin could feel Asta's recklessness and as soon as he was on, he gave her a signal to go. She took off quickly and almost straight up into the air.
Ireth leaned forward to whisper something in Silvernose's ear. "Just fly, Silvy." When she was sitting back properly in the saddle, the dragon took off.
Fin grinned, glancing back to watch Ireth. The wind helped to carry away some of his anxiety, and the rest was forgotten by the view from Asta's back as they flew through the islands and archipelagos and clouds.
Ireth let the wind flow through her hair, long braid whipping around behind her. Flying was her escape, and she wouldn't give it up for the world.
Fin snuck quick glances at Ireth. He let Silvernose take the lead, trusting the dragon to catch Ireth if she fell.
Silvernose let out a soft sound, almost like a mewling. "I'll be fine, Silvy. If mum and dad are really worried, they'll come after me. And I never have more than one vision at a time. I'll be ok."
Fin looked over. "Ireth, do you know how much time you usually have in between visions? Like, and estimate?" He called, moving Asta closer to Silvernose so they could hear each other better.
"Um…it changes. Sometimes I can go up to a month without seeing another vision, sometimes only a day. It's weird like that. So it's always unexpected. Especially when I can't tell that it's coming."
"Huh. I'm shocked your parents haven't locked you up to keep you safe." Fin commented, letting Asta get a little closer, just in case.
Ireth jerked Silvernose away at that comment. "Why would they lock me away?" She asked, acid in her voice. "I'm not dangerous. No one's going to get hurt because of my visions."
Fin's eyes widened. "No, Ireth, I didn't mean it like that. I meant to keep you safe, somewhere where you can't get hurt if you zone out. I, ah, sorry." He glanced down not wanting to meet her eyes or see her anger.
Her expression softened, but only just. "They're not gonna be around forever, Finn. I'm 17, I can look after myself. But in the future, they're gonna be gone. My dad with die and I'll have to become chief. I'll still have visions, but they won't be there."
Fin paused for a minute. "Right." He was quiet for a minute, trying to envision a world without Hiccup and Astrid. A world with Ireth as chief.
"But I'll have you. I know you Finn, and I know that you would never leave my side, even if I was angry with you and forced to to. Because that's the kinda of guy that you are."
Finn was quiet for a minute. "Are you ever afraid you won't be able to do it? To do it all, and do it as well as your parents? I mean, I think you definitely can. But do you? all the time?" He bit his lip, trying to organize his jumbled thoughts.
"Well, I obviously have my doubts," She replied. "It's only natural. You would too, wouldn't you? But, I have to ignore those doubts. Because I have to do it. I don't have much choice. But I know that I'll be fine when the time comes."
"You'll be amazing." Fin turned back to focus on the flying. "I definitely wouldn't be as good at it as you will be."
"You might have to be," She said softly, almost at a whisper. He wasn't supposed to hear it, but for some reason she wanted him to.
"What?" Fin turned to her, tilting his head. He'd heard a whisper but not the exact words.
