CH.3: Hiccup in peril

Hiccup and Toothless flew beyond their former outpost; their intent was to explore the worlds not yet traveled to. Hiccup sat in his saddle leaning low over Toothless and a smile was on his face enjoying the strong winds heading his way. Much of his parting of ways with his friends weighed heavily on his mind, especially that of his parting with Astrid. He tried to not let it show, that he was fine with moving on and letting her be free to do as she pleased.

Toothless seemed to see through his guise, making a snort and turning them upside down so he was looking down at the water. "Toothless you are being immature…pull me up…now bud." Hiccup waited and eventually Toothless complied and he just had time to pull them through a few tricky rocks set up before them.

Hiccup sighed as he righted them on their course as he pulled out his map to look at the next island they were going to. It was said to have some unknown dragon…something that appealed to him of late.

"Don't worry Toothless…we'll see everyone again soon. Berk is still our home and eventually we'll head back to stock up on supplies…so…enough with the blood rushing to my head ok?" Hiccup laughed lightly as he patted his head and looked on at the island up ahead.

The island was quite huge and would likely take most of the day to explore. Leading Toothless down for a smooth landing he hopped down and pulled out the cylinder device he had been tinkering with for months now. Out one end was the breath of a Hideous Zippleback and with a small ignite of flame could provide a circle of flame to scare off most. a deadly combination when lit up. The key was the saliva of a Monstrous Nightmare that when lit on a flame could prove to be quite intimidating.

"You can rest here Toothless…I'll go it alone from here. If something happens to me…go back to Berk…not that anything will but just to be on the safe side." Hiccup gave him a smile and strode off into the underbrush. The soft coo of dragons greeted him and he wiped the dew from his face.

This island was new…he and the other dragon riders had never set foot on it. It was both exhilarating and nerve-racking…something he wished he could share with the others…but he had kept them away from home long enough. They all had new journeys to begin…new challenges that awaited them. They weren't the teens they had been so long ago just beginning their time as youths ignorant to the truth…that the ways of the Viking were outdated. If not for him trapping Toothless…well…they'd still be fighting dragons and perhaps he and his father would never be as close as they were now.

Of course there was this feeling he got when he was with his father…like something unspoken between them. Lately his father had been quiet…contemplative you could say. He appeared so calm…and he moved his jaw about like he was fighting some tough meat, of course, being a Haddock and part of the Hooligan clan and all meant no meat was ever tough nor with a kick as tough as they were.

"I should probably ask him what is on his mind…once I get back," Hiccup decided as he ambled over some stones near a short riverbank. There were a few Terrible Terrors drinking from the water and he smiled at them. They were about as cute and innocent as dragons got before they grew quite big and their fire could rip the flesh off someone…thank goodness he had Toothless.

Bringing out his journal he always kept on his person he documented this sighting and continued on not wanting to disturb them. So far he hadn't called out for Toothless…that was a record. The last island he had set foot on he had been ambushed and had no time to reach for his dragon sword. Nearing the end of the riverbank he pressed on not sure why but something about this place drew the hair on the back of his neck on end. He didn't know why this was happening…after all with Dagur safely taken care of and Alvin their ally things should be safe…right?

"Hello…and what pray tell are you doing on my island?" Hiccup froze up and lit up his sword as he swung the fiery creation of his behind him just in time to block a sword attack.

"I didn't know this island belonged to anyone…who are you?" Hiccup struggled to keep the flame sword at bay…but…his foe was way stronger.

"My my…the invader wishes to know my name…under normal circumstances I would behead you for such a rude and outward question, but, I suppose I will just to give my archers time to target you properly. The name is Roland, Roland the Torturer."

Hiccup looked closely at the man. He was likely in his 30's with dark facial hair and deep set blue eyes, his nose was a tad jagged and his hair was receding. His clothing he wore was a dark vest over a faded shirt, likely blue at one point, now just gray. Roland had pretty muscular arms, similar to Snotlout and he held a dragonbone as a weapon…huh…did not see that coming.

"Now…what is your name…before you die." He spoke quite confidently and normally he would trade jabs with him but not wanting to chance the archer's wrath around him he decided to play nice.

"The name is Hiccup…and if you don't mind…I'll be leaving now." Hiccup went to expel the Zippleback's gas but an arrow sliced along his shoulder causing the dragon sword to fall out his grip.

"You aren't much of a fighter…are you lad? You see, if you find yourself surrounded…the only way out is to take off the head of the one who is opposing you…myself namely, however you don't have it in you so what do you try and do…diversionary tactic, that is what. You see…unlike Alvin and Dagur…I hold nothing back."

Hiccup watched the man with hardly any body fat approach him, he was tall and lean and his knee was brought up into his stomach in such lightning fashion he was down and dry heaving before he could contemplate his next move. The impact drove the air out of him and he reached for his dragon sword but it was kicked away. How..what was this guy…in the name of Thor what he had gotten himself into?

"Let me go…you don't know-." Hiccup remembered Toothless and how he had said he was going alone. If he had not returned Toothless was to go without him…he just hoped he remembered that. Right now this guy didn't know about Toothless…so…while normally he'd bring up that he wasn't alone and that they'd be sorry…he fell quiet on his normal remark.

"I know plenty, son of Stoik…and you will fetch quite a ransom. Oh…and that dragon of yours, he could prove quite useful to me…dead. You see this bone, belonged to my dragon Fiery death, yeah…I named him, was my first dragon, a Monstrous Nightmare. One day I realized I had no more use for him…so…I killed him. This bone is all that remains, quite sharp and able to withstand flames. Now…do you wish to warn him…or…let him not know what is coming?"

"No…I won't let you hurt Toothless!" Hiccup reached for his dragon sword as he rolled forth and ignited the lighter sending flames about along with the gas. A little out of order but hey…he was pushed for an answer. Racing along he held his shoulder wincing in pain but nothing would stop him from getting to his dragon. He just hoped he wasn't too late.

Toothless was waiting for Hiccup growing anxious. Some part of him wanted to follow him, but, he also realized Hiccup needed to do this. Lately Hiccup seemed obsessed over searching the other islands, perhaps maybe finding another Nightfury, which Toothless knew there weren't any but did not wish for his friend to fall into an empty slate of nothingness.

Suddenly he grew wary…the air felt different and it was almost like the island was warning him of something. This did not feel welcoming…no…he hadn't liked it the first time they landed and he didn't like it right now. Readying a plasma blast he picks out the rustle in the underbrush and lets loose sending an archer scrambling for cover. A few other archers were hidden but a few blasts sent them flying from the trees they were perched in.

"Toothless!" Toothless perked up hearing Hiccup's voice and went to race towards his voice but much like the island this came with a warning. "Run buddy…their coming for you! Go back to Berk…don't worry about me…hurry!"

Toothless saw a man following Toothless and he bared his teeth. Hiccup apparently caught his look and spread his arms out preventing the man from going further.

"You will not harm my friend…Toothless what are you waiting for…get out of here!" Hiccup was then stabbed and he fell to his knees. Toothless felt a fury explode in him and he was rushing over. However Hiccup still seemed to be alive and he stood up…albeit slowly.

"Huh…you Haddocks don't die easily do you? Archers…let the dragon go." Toothless implored Hiccup to reconsider but saw his friend smile a tired smile. In their time together Hiccup had managed to make it where Toothless could fly without him…well…for a period of time. Berk wasn't too far away so he turned around, in resignation and took to the sky.

Hiccup watched as Toothless flew away with relief. Holding his side as he saw the blood seep through his shirt he fell near the edge of the island, his eyes tracking the movement of his dragon. Toothless would make it…he was glad.

"Archers…I think that is far enough don't you? Let loose a volley of arrows…aim for the tail." Roland stood there and Hiccup realized Roland hadn't intended to kill a dragon on the ground…it was in the air followed by drowning that awaited him.

"No don't…he is innocent…please…" Hiccup begged but was struck in the back of the head and fell to the ground. As his consciousness began to fade he watched as the archers took aim and fired and all he heard was the sound of his dragon as he plummeted to the ocean…not surfacing. How far had he made it before he was shot down? Hiccup struggled to stay awake but due to loss of blood and the blow to the back of his head…he felt a sleep he never knew, never wanted to…and then he was out.

Authors note: I wanted to create a villain so dark and devious that it would make Dagur and Alvin look like they were kid friendly. Hiccup is in a fine mess if ever and in the next chapter Astrid may have finally moved on from Hiccup. The road to Hiccstrid will be long but every drama piece needs just that…and I don't want it to happen too quickly. See you next time.