Chapter Text
Stormfly hadn’t been eating or playing or drinking. Astrid takes good care of her companion between her sports and studying. Worried she missed something, she calls out of practice to take Stormfly to the vet. She made an appointment, and Valka gets her in immediately. She had found Valka on social media, after she had posted a video of her Great Horned Owl, Cloudjumper, discussing his recovery from a sprained talon. She stalked for a bit and discovered that Cloudjumper is her constant companion and an outreach animal, that Valka owns a shelter and clinic specializing in exotic pets, and that the woman specializes in birds specifically. The first time Astrid went to the clinic, she was blown away by the woman. She took excellent care of Stromfly and Astrid knew that that was where she was taking her in the future. And the fact that Valka remains reasonably priced for her exceptional care means that Astrid doesn't break her budget or bank to care for her pet.
She enters with Stormfly resting on her shoulder, a leather strap making sure she doesn't fly off, and sitting on a leather pad. Astrid walks towards the desk and looks around. A chubby child was sniffling, holding his finger out. His mother was holding a small travel cage - a lizard of some sort resting inside with a too-small hide - a surrender no doubt. A man is holding a snake over his shoulders, likely for a check-up, and two dog owners, also for the same. Annoyed, she hits the bell a few times.
Out from the double doors comes a young man. He’s lean and lanky, with the same reddy brown hair that Valka has, and the same see-glass green eyes. He’s dressed in a dark faded shirt and worn-out jeans, scuffed and stained work boots. Singular boot. The other foot is a metal prosthetic, looped around the front and connected to another piece of metal that connects to a contraption that twines above the knee to keep the leg attached. The first tattoo she noticed was a few scales dotting the front of his neck and sliding down the back. A strange shape - an eye-like shape where the bottom lines are longer, rising above the top, but she can't see the bottom of it - decorates the hollow of his collarbone. A dragon head covers the back of his hand, its body curled around his forearm where its uneven tail ends at the crook of his elbow - missing a fin, like his own missing leg. It’s not plain, but rather looks 3-d. Grey and white details show off the rise and fall of the scales and the shadows where its wings are folded to its body, and the bright green eyes seem to follow her. On his other arm is a Celtic-knot like a tattoo with a sun on the top and a moon on the bottom half up his upper arm. On his forearm is a shield with two axes crossed behind it, a dragon skull in red in. He has a few rings on - nails painted black -, and multiple piercings in each ear. He has a ring at the center of his bottom lip. There is no way Valka Haddock, the sweetest, honest, most upstanding woman Astrid knows, would hire a vagrant like whoever this guy is.
Suddenly overwhelmed with the fear something horrible had happened to Valka, she begins to reach for her phone. He speaks, “Do you have an appointment today?” Astrid freezes, making the man sigh. “Macaws, and their damned owners,” he mutters as he pulled something up on his computer.
“Hiccup, be a dear-” Valka comes out, Cloudjumper on her shoulder. She smiles when she sees Astrid and Stormfly. “Never mind. Take Ms. Hofferson and Stormfly to the consultation room.” The young woman holding a rather ugly dog scoffs at Astrid being seen first.
“How are you, doc?” Astrid asks, still worried.
“Oh, just fine. Hiccup, also start the paperwork on the beardie,” Valka requests.
“Looks like a forgotten birthday present, yay,” Hiccup returns under his breath, taking a clipboard and a few papers from behind the desk. “Wait right here, please, Ms. Hofferson.” He takes the papers to the woman and speaks to her kindly before returning. “Follow me.” She follows him down the familiar hall to the consultation room. “She will be in in a few moments.” Astrid settles into the chair while Stormfly chitters gently.
“Alright,” Valka sighs as she closes the door behind her. Cloudjumper wasn’t with her, as she never sees a patient with her companion. One of the only times the owl wasnt in her presence. “You said on the phone you were worried about Stromfly, that she was acting weirdly?”
“Yes,” Astrid eases Stromfly from her shoulder and onto the blanket on the table. “She hasn't been eating or drinking much or playing. I tried a new seed and everything - even her favorite treats.”
“And you did just move, yes?” Valka asks as she checks over the bird with a gentle hand.
“To the campus. It was a wonder that I was even allowed to move with her, but I heard that a few other students brought lizards and snakes,” Astrid agrees. “My roommates have an African Grey and a green tree python.”
“Well,” Valka looks amused. “She’s stressed. New place, less time with mom., new animals,” Valka chuckled. “I’ll look her over, maybe give her a few days before you panic again.”
“Doc,” Astrid says carefully. “Who’s that guy? Doesn't seem like the sort you’d bring around.”
Valka laughs, tipping her head back with a hand on her stomach, “He’s my son, Hiccup. He is attending the college, this fall.”
“Hiccup,” Astrid says again. “Well, you have my number if you need anything.”
“I believe that goes the other way around,” Valka shakes her head. “Should we expect you at the fundraiser this weekend?”
“I can come in late - Cheer and Volleyball have practice.”
“Don’t worry about it! My advice, keep giving her water and food. Come back in if it persists or she stops altogether.”
“Thanks, doc. How much do i owe?” she asks, mentally shuffling her budget around.
“Astrid, you don’t owe a thing.”
“Valka.”
“Fine! You can take Hiccup to school in the morning. I have a few appointments.”
“Uh…”
“Okay! Then don’t attempt to pay me for giving your beautiful bird a few pets,” Valka hums. “Besides, Hiccup is moving onto campus tonight with an old friend.” Astrid leaves with Stormfly and looks over her shoulder at Hiccup Haddock.
He was still as intimidating as before, except that now he had a cat missing a leg on his shoulder. Astrid leaves without a second thought, shaking her head.
“Let's get home, Stormie.”