I'm not gonna lie, I got a bit lazy with the ending. This chapter was supposed to have a thousand more words, but I'll save it for the next chapter. So far every chapter has been 2000 words... we'll just keep it that way for faster updates.

Also! Please review and tell me your thoughts! Whether it be criticism or just how you ate jam on toast this morning! I am always looking for constructive criticism because I have a long way to go with my writing skills aha.

Thanks! xoxo

~Sarah

Of course, Hiccup didn't show up the next morning, but they all had a pretty good idea as to where the smallest teen went. It helped with the fact that Toothless was gone too, so they instantly knew that they were together. Flying in the morning was something that the entire village knew the two of them did often.

Perhaps it was because Hiccup like the adrenaline it gave him, as he flew into the clouds, and falling back down to Earth. Other people thought it was just a way for Hiccup to escape Berk for a while. Either way, it was okay with them, because every time that he came back, Hiccup was calm and ready to start the day.

"Until Hiccup gets back," Stoick started, laying out a map of the archipelago. "Let's discuss where their base could be. Vidar?"

The man in question coughed, walking up to the table in Mead Hall. "Uh, from what we've noticed, was that we got moved around a lot when we were in their hands. Each time we'd arrive at a new... place, it was nothing we've ever seen before."

"A new place?" Gobber asked, narrowing his eyes. "What exactly did he have ya do?" Ah, Gobber, the ever insensitive.

The escapees shifted uncomfortably, almost guilty. "Bad things," Ulf answered for them, gritting his teeth. "We would've died if we didn't."

Gobber leaned in closer to the boy, obviously impatient. "Clearly. But what?"

That's when another man chimed in. He looked older than Vidar but still held himself with the look of youth. Apparently, his name was Gunnar. "We would fight. They would throw one of us into a ring, and we'd fight with whatever they gave us."

"You'd fight other people?" Fishlegs asked, looking uneasy. He got a nod.

"This keeps getting better and better! How do you get in?" Tuffnut asked excitedly, practically bouncing in his seat. Ruffnut groaned, and then punched her brother in the face. He yelped as he fell to the ground.

"You don't want to get in, boy," Vidar said, looking at the table with new found interest. There was a war going on in his sea eyes. "We've seen things, that no man should ever see, let alone do."

"Where did they get you?" Astrid asked, pulling their attention back to the task at hand. The escapees were shutting down, evidently not wanting to have this conversation any longer. "We hadn't seen them anywhere inside the archipelago."

Ulf answered for their group. "That's because we weren't in the archipelago. I guess that they have set up another base here, that's when we escaped. They must be looking for new people, or else their profit will go down."

"So, let me get this straight. These unknown, foreign people come into... wherever people are, kidnap them, then get other rich Vikings to... bid on them?" Fishlegs asked, his hands clenching with fear.

Vidars group nodded in confirmation.

"What kind of people do they look for?" Stoick asked, immediately protective of Berk's residents.

"Well, they try to get well-known people in the ring. But I'm sure that it doesn't matter too much, as long as they aren't big enough to fight back." Vidar answered.

Snotlout let out a snort. "Are you well known?"

"Not much of us are," Ulf answered, then looked back to his father. "My dad, however-"

"Son," He was cut off by Vidar. "This isn't the place to talk about this."

The chief raised an eyebrow at Vidar, almost questioningly. Vidar nodded, confirming that they would talk about who he was in private. The group of Vikings' were now all quiet, all watching the map like a hawk as if it were about to tell them how to take down Trygve.

"Do you think that they will head to Berk?" Gobber asked Vidars group, almost hesitantly.

There were several moments of silence. "Yes. Especially if they have seen your boy, Chief." Gunnar suddenly chimed. Stoick made a noise of shock.

"Hiccup?"

"Yeah, he fits the bill perfectly, from what I've seen of him," Gunnar explained. "Well known around these parts, too small to fight back," Gunnar shrugged suddenly. "He seems quiet as well."

"Nah, he's a sarcastic, loud boy," Gobber chirped, chuckling slightly. "Besides, he's got that nigh' fury around. I doubt they could ever get their slimy hands on 'em. Right, Stoick?"

The chief didn't answer, as did the Dragon Riders. They were all thinking the same thing. Hiccup has been kidnapped before, even with Toothless around. Hiccup has always tried to find the best in people, there was no saying in when these people could attack as Hiccup tries to make peace.

"He went in to talk with them last night," Stoick answered, watching as the group of escapees looked unnerved. "He already told me about the bidding and such. But he didn't make any indication that there is a possibility that they want him."

"But you know Hiccup, Chief," Astrid cut in, worry seeping into her bones. "He's not open whenever he gets threatened. I don't know if it's his pride, or just him being stupid, but I doubt that he'd tell you if something was wrong." The Dragon Riders nodded in agreement.

"That does sound like Hiccup," Gobber couldn't help but say. "He kept a night fury hidden for months, even though that was a danger to him then."

"Wait," Tuffnut suddenly interjected, looking around Mead hall. "Where is Hiccup?"

"Where do you think he is? With Toothless." Astrid answered, rolling her eyes.

Ruffnut frowned as well, searching along with her brother. "Yeah, but he's usually back before noon." She pointed to outside, as she opened the door. The sun was officially high above them, indicating noon.

Not many Viking's were doing much at this hour. They liked to eat lunch inside with their families or play games. That was why Mead hall was so open and free of villagers at this time. They got their indication to get to work when Hiccup got back. He wasn't back.

Worry spiked through everyone's veins, thinking back to their conversation before.

"You don't think that he would go back to the ship, do you?" Fishlegs asked.

The silence was deafening.

That was when the door to Mead hall had slammed open, making everyone jump in surprise. They turned back to see Hiccup but were even more worried when it wasn't him.

"Good noon!" Ack exclaimed, smiling brightly. "Oo, who are you all?"

-o-o-o-

The sun was already way above his head, as he sped across the ocean. It was noon. Hiccup may have gotten a bit out of hand as he went for his morning fly with Toothless. He meant to keep track of time better but got carried away when he noticed the ship that they attacked the night prior.

He didn't engage like his cousin did. Instead, he circled around, observing the completely decimated boat. It was abandoned, somehow. Hiccup wasn't sure where the people had gone, the only place they could have gone was the violent waters.

Toothless cooed with affection, and comfort, noticing his rider wasn't particularly happy with losing them. He knew his best friend wasn't a particular fan of getting people hurt, even when they were fighting. Sometimes he really didn't understand the small Viking. It probably didn't help that those people were their biggest clue on how to help people like Vidars' group.

"What do you say, Bud?" Hiccup asked, affectionately rubbing his dragons head. "Keep looking?" Toothless growled in disagreement. "Alright, lets head back then."

As Hiccup pulled at Toothless' saddle, he noticed something in the distance. Both rider and dragon narrowed their eyes at the incoming object. It wasn't much later until they realized it was a small terrible terror shooting through the air at a remarkable speed. Hiccup didn't get to speak before the small dragon was shooting fire at the duo

"Wha-?" Toothless and Hiccup abruptly dodged the fire and flew in closer to the attacked terror. "Why are you attacking us?"

Toothless' eyes were frantically watching as more dragons seemed to be speeding in closer to the two, noticing how feral they all looked. It was almost as if the dragons were stampeding, but it was too aggressive for that.

"Get us out of here, Bud," Hiccup instructed, pulling at the saddle, which Toothless complied.

They flew against the wind, headed back for Berk. The wind tore through Hiccups hair, the chill nipping at his face. That was when a random thought entered Hiccups mind, and that was the idea of making a mask for times like these.

Glancing back at the approaching dragons, Hiccup noticed that there was even more arriving. There was more than what Hiccup could count, all looking like they wanted nothing less than ripping into Hiccup's and Toothless' flesh. Foam was practically flying out of their mouths, and their pupils were so small they could barely see them.

Hiccup noted how there were no Gronkles in the mix.

Dragon root.

Of course, it still didn't make sense to the boy. When they had first found out about dragon root, the dragons were not as combative as these specific dragons. So, why were they? Hiccup gave it some thought, ignoring how his cheeks were undoubtedly turning red from how cold the wind was.

He came up with nothing.

"I think they had somehow got in contact with dragon root," Hiccup called, leaning in closer to Toothless. "I don't get it though. If the dragons are away from dragon root, they go back to normal. So, why are they still looking for a fight?"

Toothless replied by shooting a plasma blast at the closest dragon. Hiccup noticed that something fell from its foot. The closest dragon, which happened to be a Monstrous Nightmare, immediately turned away from the duo and flew away.

Oh.

"Someone sent them for us, attaching it to them! Good thinking, Bud!" Hiccup rubbed him behind his ear. "Okay, there's still unanswered questions, but let's start out with the obvious. How are we going to get them off our tail?"

Toothless was already beginning to tire from flying so fast away from the hoard of dragons, and he only has so many plasma blasts to spare. The only thing Hiccup could think of was going in manually, and taking the root off the dragons, but that required... a lot more than what Hiccup had.

Hiccup is good with dragons, but not that good. He can't just go close to an unnaturally feral dragon with dragon root and take it off. Let alone in the sky.

"We can't bring them to Berk," Hiccup concluded, snatching a look back to the chasing dragons. "We need to... bring them back to whoever sent them! Use their plan against them!" Hiccup exclaimed, urging Toothless to turn around again.

It was clear on as to who sent the dragons, that much Hiccup was sure about. He just wasn't sure where they were, and how they could get there quick enough. Toothless was panting, and Hiccup was frozen. However, they didn't quite have a choice on as to continue or not.

The boy was now wishing that he had brought more layers of clothing when he left the house earlier this morning. He knew it was going to be cold, as it was heading into Winter months, he just wasn't expecting to be a Viking popsicle. It probably didn't help that he didn't have much meat on his bones, nor hair.

As for Toothless, he wished that he'd slept in for a bit longer. Mixing a late night, with an early morning usually meant a tired dragon who wasn't ready for a long, exhausting flight. The duo was really beginning to resent their past selves for not thinking ahead in case of emergencies.

Together, they sped through the noon sky, searching and scanning for the offending group.

Hiccup could only hope that they find them soon. His father was in no doubt looking for him.