Chapter 2

Here is the second chapter! Thanks to those who reviewed, it's really good to know what you think. I hope you'll like this chapter as well! Also, remember English is not my mother tongue, I try to check out for mistakes before posting but I might miss some out. Don't hesitate to tell me.

When Virn disappeared, Hiccup immediately got suspicious and felt incredibly guilty: what if it was the dragon he didn't kill who had done that? What if it was that girl he didn't speak about? Those thoughts had him worked up all night. He still went to attend dragon training the next day, his father and Gobber wouldn't have allowed him to escape. The other teens teased him, saying he was not a real Viking and stupid other things, but Hiccup would hardly hear anything. It was only when Gobber opened the Gronkle's cage that he truly focused on what was happening. The dragon almost killed him, if Gobber hadn't intervened, he would have been roasted. Once the dragon was back in his cage, their teacher declared:

"A dragon will always, always, go for the kill."

That's how he remembered the Night Fury: that dragon didn't kill him. He could have, Hiccup had been at his mercy, yet he spared his life. Why? Once he was out of the arena, Hiccup did something as reckless as usual: he went in the forest.

The sky was darkened with heavy clouds, and therefore no reassuring rays of light would cross the trees to enlighten the forest. Shadows were laying everywhere, their stillness begging to be broken to throw themselves on a prey. Only a few sounds were heard, the usually lively woods were strangely quiet today. This sinister aspect of the forest was something new, Hiccup had seen it under different mood: bright, enchanting, dormant, peaceful, agitated and even scary or hostile when rain and thunder would make it as such. Yet, this time, something made the woods grim, as if something new had poisoned the earth, the plants, the rocks...The boy could feel that deep down. Hiccup went in nonetheless, through the same path as yesterday. The more he would walk, the thicker the foliage and bushes would be, casting even more shadows around.

"Astrid! Astrid!"

He couldn't find her anywhere. He was thinking of the little boy. What happened to him? Maybe it had nothing to do with the Night Fury or the girl? Maybe Virn was simply lost somewhere, and was hiding in fear...Or maybe an animal eat him...Or maybe...The thought was much more frightening, but what if someone of the village attacked him? And what if that animal or person was around, watching him? He was scared, but continued nonetheless. He had to find Astrid or the dragon, or both...He found the spot where the dragon had fallen, no one was here. He called Astrid once more but nothing was heard. He decided to follow the tracks to find the dragon, maybe he was still around?

He advanced slowly, looking everywhere, hoping it wouldn't rain and more importantly that he was alone. As he was going down the path, he suddenly heard a loud sound somewhere in the bushes. He jumped in fright and looked around everywhere. Where did that come from? He shivered. He wasn't alone...He could feel eyes on him...

"Astrid?"

He hoped it was only her, he sincerely hoped there was no one else but her.

"Astrid?"

He then heard a low growl coming from behind him. He turned round, trembling and sweating already. He looked at every bush, every tree, where was the thing which made that growl? He couldn't see anything or anyone. It dawned upon him: he shouldn't stay here! He wanted to go back, but going back would mean advancing in the direction of the growl, he had to continue on his path, going deeper in the forest...So he started to run toward the rest of the way, and as soon as he did that, he heard something very big move through the bushes quickly. It was getting closer, it was going toward him, pursuing him! Though he knew the woods very well, the panic made him uncautious. He couldn't look behind him, he had to stay focused! He ran as fast as he could, still hearing the sounds of something running after him.

Thinking of a way to escape, he took a sharp turn, and took an unbeaten path through bushes. His lean form was helping him to move more quickly. He continued as such, taking turns to make his pursuer loose his tracks. His heart was beating so hard it felt like it would break his ribs. He couldn't help but imagine something suddenly jumping on him, grabbing him and...No! It couldn't happen! He ran even faster, panic spreading through his veins. He was panting, but he noticed that taking many turns seemed to work as the sounds became more distant. Yet the thing was still around, he couldn't stop...He took another turn, hoping to return to his initial path, to go back home. His pace slowed a little, in order to make less sounds. His heart was still beating so fast his head was hurting, and he was breathing shakily and too loudly at his taste. As silently as he could, he started to try to find his path again, he could hear that the creature was still around, but it was more distant and slower: it was searching for him.

Hiccup could now focus on the way he had to take, he moved silently...until a treacherous root made him stumble and he produced some little noises. It was enough. Hiccup tensed and heard once again a rustle through the bushes: it was running toward him again! He sprinted; cold sweat dripped down his back, and his heartbeat was deafening in his ears. Tree branches scratched him, but he didn't care, he ran recklessly. There was a clearer way, he took it, hoping he would finally find...

He almost yelled in fear and surprise, he pushed on his feet to stop his course. Fear gripped him so hard that it felt like heart was in his throat: he was on the edge of a drop! He almost fell to a certain death! A cove with a pond was lying below: that was Raven's Point. He heard moves through the bushes. If he didn't move right now, he would be ambushed! He went to run again, when something gripped him and pulled on his arm: a hand. Fear gripped him so tight it could have killed him. Before he could scream, he was pulled down and he saw it was Astrid. She brought him down in a hole between two rocks above the cove. She was trying to breath silently, her palm was sweaty and she was shaking just like him. They took cover in that little hiding spot.

He heard the growl once more and they both tensed in fear. They leaned against each other, huddling themselves in the shadows. They didn't make a move, but it seemed that the creature knew they were around. Hiccup didn't know what it looked like, or even what it was, but it wasn't just a regular animal, he was sure of it. Hiccup heard sounds of heavy footsteps getting closer, closer...Another sound was heard, between a growl and a purr...The purr of a satisfied predator...Astrid's face contorted in fear, she was looking at Hiccup and he knew, he knew at this moment that she was genuine: she was terrified, just like him.

The creature above stopped walking, it was very close to their hiding spot, they could hear it breath...Raspy, guttural breathes...Hiccup put a hand on his mouth, hoping his own breathing couldn't be heard, but then he heard something else he had momentarily forgotten: his heartbeat...It seemed so loud he feared creature could hear it! Then they heard a sniffing sound, followed by a satisfied sigh. A low, almost inaudible chuckle was heard and Hiccup found that sound much more terrifying than anything else. He looked up slowly, horror eating him, but his eyes would only see the shadows of the trees above...Another sound was heard closer, as if someone was crouching...

Then suddenly, a big, blurry black form appeared near them, both of them jumped in fear and backed away as much as they could, but they were cornered against the rocks. Then a roar was heard: The Night Fury! The dragon was trying to climb up the rocks of the cove, his claws digging hopelessly. He roared furiously, and another growl was heard, much louder this time. The Night Fury failed to stay up and fell back near the pond. Yet the dragon roared once again, as if he was threatening something. Then, Astrid and Hiccup heard their attacker move through the forest, and the sounds became more and more distant. The growls weren't heard anymore, and Hiccup heard a big sigh released by Astrid this time. The girl was taking big breaths, relief washing over face. He was breathing loudly as well, feeling just like the time when he freed the Night Fury...A wave of coldness went through him and he started to feel faint, until a hard slap fell on his cheek. His eyes widened and he saw Astrid above him, she whispered:

"Don't you faint on me!"

Hiccup was stunned: she slapped him? Well, sure, he needed to be brought back to his senses... Still, that girl was brutal! He dared to speak in a voice that was hardly a whisper:

"Is it gone?"

She only nodded before getting up on shaky legs and checked out if they were safe and nodded once more.

"Bless you for not killing that Fury! It just saved us."

"Why? And what was that?"

"It fears dragons...Hiccup, I heard people of your village calling for someone when I was in the woods..."

"Yes, a little boy disappeared."

She closed her eyes, looking sad and desperate. What was wrong?

"Astrid, what's happening?"

"Hiccup...Have you ever heard of monsters?"

"The only monsters we knows are dragons," he stated without enough conviction for a Viking.

She smirked bitterly. She looked down and Hiccup did the same, it was the Night Fury she was staring at. The black dragon was behaving weirdly: it seemed like it wanted to fly but it just couldn't, and Hiccup wondered why. Then Astrid spoke again:

"Believe me, dragons aren't that terrible. Have you ever heard of...Ogres?"

"Ogres? Are you kidding me? They are a legend!"

"No. You almost got caught by one. His name is Drago."

Hiccup gaped at that. He was about to say that it was impossible, that it was probably a big beast, but now that he thought about it, it was really footsteps he heard...And he could have sworn he heard something which sounded like a chuckle. So little Virn...

"No...Astrid, the little boy..."

"If he is alive, they are just probably fattening him up. How was he?"

"What do you mean?"

"Was he skinny or fat?"

"Hum...Kind of chubby."

"Then there is no hope."

Hiccup was shocked by that: did she just told him that the child was dead? She just looked sad and also...Disgusted. He prayed she was wrong. She rubbed her forehead and tensed a little. She was once more looking at the Night Fury. Hiccup saw that the dragon was trying to catch some fishes but to no avail. He couldn't help but feel sad. A Viking who was sad for a dragon? What would his father say if he ever learned? Astrid also looked a little sorry for the beast. Though he was intrigued by the dragon, his thoughts went back to Virn soon enough.

"Astrid, are you sure the kid isn't alive? Maybe something else happened to him?"

"I doubt it. The ogre loves children who are a little fat. If the kid had been scrawny, Drago would have fattened him up for some times, but if he is chubby he won't resist his urges."

"You know a lot about him...Who are you? Please, tell me."

"I can't. I'm sorry, Hiccup."

He was once again shocked. What did all of that mean? They heard a roar and saw the Night Fury falling on the ground after another attempt. Hiccup approached the edge a little more and watched the dragon. Then, the beast turned his head in his direction and their eyes crossed. Hiccup tensed and Astrid watched breathlessly the interaction between the two. The dragon was looking at the teen with some wariness, but no hatred. Hiccup felt uneasy and guilty: if that dragon couldn't fly anymore it was his fault, he was sure of it.

"I can't let him here," he whispered. "It saved us."

"Hiccup, you almost died, and the ogre is probably still around. You have to leave."

The young boy bit his lip, he knew it was true but...

"It's gonna die. If I spared its life just to let it die slowly then I'm a real monster."

A short silence passed. Hiccup's head felt as if it would explode. He just heard that a little boy of his village had probably died, he almost got caught and killed by something a girl he barely knew called an ogre, and now he was feeling guilty for a dragon. What a mess...He felt Astrid pulling on his sleeve.

"Listen, the ogre is probably not far, I'll make a diversion while you back to your village..."

"No! He is gonna kill you!"

"No, don't worry, he doesn't want to kill me."

"What? How can you know that?"

"I just do. You go back to your village."

"Will I see you again?"

"I don't know...Stop asking so many questions! And I warn you right away: we can't be friends."

"Why?"

"...Please, just don't come back."

She got away from their hiding spot and before he could protest she was already disappearing. He looked back at the dragon once more, then at the path Astrid took, and ran toward the village. He felt like a coward, but he knew he couldn't do better for now. His legs were trembling, he almost died twice today, first with the Gronkle and now with that...Thing. He didn't remember being so scared, except for the time he freed the Night Fury. When he reach the village, he came across his father who was talking with Gobber and several villagers at the borders of the woods, probably to organize another search party. When he saw him, Stoick looked relieved.

"Hiccup! Where were you?! I was starting to think that something happened to you as well."

"I was...Searching for Virn."

"It's kind of you, lad," a woman said, "but it's up to us to find him, we don't want another kid to disappear."

"Have you found him yet?" Asked Hiccup.

"No," his father replied. "We'll continue to search."

"Stoick, we have to envisage that a dragon have already devoured the kid," Spitelout declared with some affliction.

"I know, but we have to try."

"Dad...What if it wasn't a dragon?"

Everyone looked at Hiccup who suddenly felt nervous.

"What if it's something else?"

"I don't know, if it was a wolf or a bear, we would have found traces of blood."

"No, I'm not thinking about an animal...Dad, you know that..."

"Hiccup, I know what you're thinking of," Stoick interrupted, "and yeah, sadly it could be someone, but you can't make those accusation without any proof."

"Wait, maybe he has a good reason to say this," Gobber advanced. "Hiccup, is there someone you suspect?"

All eyes were on him and Hiccup just couldn't say it. He couldn't say that something an unknown girl called an ogre had pursued him. Drago, it was the name she gave, but that was all. He didn't even saw who or what went after him. No one would believe him. Maybe Gobber would, he had a tendency to believe in that kind of tales, but no one else. Plus he promised Astrid he wouldn't speak about her, and she saved his life.

"...No, I just say it's a possibility."

"I know it's possible, son. But for now we're gonna search in the wood, it's more likely that he got lost. Now go home, the night is falling."

He just nodded and for once, he did as his father told him with no discussion. Once home and alone, he just sat on his bed and put his arms around him. He knew he looked like a scared little child, but he couldn't help it. He almost got killed today, and Astrid...Where was she? What if she told him a lie? What if the ogre wanted to kill her but she sacrificed herself for him? What if it wasn't an ogre at all but something else? What if she was an accomplice? He shook his head, he didn't believe that she was an accomplice, she truly looked scared. But what about the rest?

Hiccup Haddock had many flaws. He was often an air-head, he had difficulties to focus, he was sometimes reckless and would often create a mess while trying to do something good, he was a runt, he could be hard-headed and he could panic quickly. But he wasn't the kind to abandon, he was determined, and even though he could panic quickly, he had courage on the long-run. Plus, he was someone loyal, he wouldn't just abandon his friends or someone who saved his life, and both Astrid and the Night Fury did so. Also, he was smart, and even if his recklessness could make him do stupid things, when he took the time to think, his mind could do wonders.

He thought over and over. As he was thinking, something started to grow in his mind: a new realisation. He had always known that people could be wrong, yet in spite of that, he would generally believe what the adults of his tribe would tell him. But he realized today that it was maybe a mistake, and that maybe he should have questionned everything around him a little more. He had heard today that dragons would always go for the kill, but he knew that it wasn't exactly true. Most people wouldn't believe him if he told them that he met a mysterious girl in the forest and had been pursued by what could be an ogre. Yet that happened. So what did had to believe? He had to believe what he saw and what he experienced. He had to believe facts and then draw conclusions.

What did he knew so far? He knew that a little boy couldn't be found. He knew a Night Fury was in the forest but couldn't fly away and was trapped at Raven's Point. Therefore, if the Night Fury was trapped, it was probably not that dragon who took the little boy, except if the kid went to raven's Point, but he doubted that, it was quite far from the village. Then there was another thing in the forest which he didn't see, but who existed and pursued him. Then, he knew that Astrid saved him and was scared of that thing. She was probably genuinely trying to help him, and she didn't seem to lie when she affirmed the creature was an ogre.

Then there was another thing: what if Astrid was wrong but genuinely thinking she was telling the truth? But she seemed to know a lot more than him. And why did she say that she couldn't be his friend? He would have to learn more. His mind went back to the facts. Astrid helped him, then the dragon scared the thing away. That thought drew hope in him. Yes! Whether or not that thing was an ogre, it had been afraid of the Night Fury, that was something he couldn't doubt. Also, the Night Fury had been hostile toward it, while he had been way less threatening toward Hiccup. Maybe, just maybe, he could use that knowledge.

But what should he do, then? Go back in the forest? It seemed like the worst decision, he would probably die. But after all he wasn't the only one concerned: Astrid and the Night Fury were in danger, just like the children of the island if the creature was indeed the one who took Virn. He coudn't stay around and do nothing while children disappeared. He could tell the adults but he was pretty sure they wouldn't listen to him. No, he couldn't tell them, and he couldn't just think about his own safety when children were in danger.

So even if this was extremely dangerous, Hiccup made his decision: he would go back in the forest, he would go at Raven's Point, and he would find the Night Fury, not only because it could be eventually helpful, but also because he didn't want to let that animal die slowly while being trapped in there.

Our hard-headed little Hiccup will just silence his survival instinct once more! Don't hesitate to tell me what you think.