ONCE WE WERE WARRIORS

A/N: Thanks to AshlynDarrow582 for my first review. Don't forget the hashtag guys yes I actually use it! On with the show...

WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?

Ruffnut trudged over to her parents full of rage, Fishlegs right behind her stuttering, trying to get Ruffnut to stop. She was on the war path and nothing was going to stop her. "Is this because Tuff married Heather? How much did this bastard pay you?" Ruffnut hissed.

"You will watch your tongue around me young lady, I am your Father!"

"Not for much longer." She seethed.

"So who's the bastard who bought me?" Ruffnut scanned the halls, Fishlegs spoke quietly then. "That would be me." Ruffnut stood in shock, then turned to her family again.

"Hiccup, I renounce ties to my family." With that she headed towards Valka, the only other outcast for lack of a better term, the noise picked up again.

Astrid came over to Valka and Ruffnut. "Ruff you okay?" Astrid asked. Ruff was kicking an invisible rock.

"I'm fine why would I be?" She snipped. All Ruff really wanted right now was to bathe. The mud was starting to dry making her clothes stiff.

"You know you should really talk to Fish."

"Careful, you're not married to the Chief yet." Astrid was only trying to help. That particular jab stung more then she cared to admit. She turned and walked back to Hiccup without another word.

Valka looked at Ruffnut. "You don't want this life lass, believe me." Ruff stopped kicking the invisible rock.

"Well who's to say I want the life they chose for me?" Ruff sat down her energy spent, Valka sat next to her.

"I thought you and the lad were an item?" Valka questioned, Ruffnut sighed.

"Even if that's what you call it, doesn't mean I want to marry him. Why does he get to choose? I mean imagine if it was the other way around and I choose him." Valka nodded in understanding.

"That's why you have to talk to him lass." She gave Ruff a small smile and her shoulder a quick pat.

The weather had finally died down enough so Hiccup could survey the damage. The water well was overflowing, the rooftops of several houses were mangled and they would need to replant crops. All in all it wasn't too bad, it could have been a lot worse. Astrid was by his side, she wouldn't take no for an answer. "Well it could have been worse." She said summing up Hiccup's thoughts. He wanted to deal with this mess tomorrow, he just wanted to go flying with Toothless. Life wasn't always fair, he had learnt that at a very early age. "C'mon Chief let's get these roof's fixed. Then I want to spend some time with my fiancé." He loved the sound of that.

Hiccup gathered the other riders and sorted out tasks for all of them. He kept Fishlegs on one side of Berk and Ruffnut on the other. His poor head couldn't take another argument. It took a couple of hours but they finally had the houses back in order. Everyone was then ordered home for some much needed r and r. "Come on Chief that includes you." Astrid said taking his arm and walking to his house. Toothless and Stormfly decided to stay out and play leaving their human counter parts alone.

Astrid lead Hiccup up to his room. "Astrid?" He questioned. She didn't say anything, just tugged her boots off, followed by her skirt, she then sat cross legged on his bed. He sat next to her taking his boot off. He debated on whether to take the peg leg off, but decided to keep it on. Astrid loved the way he was still embarrassed. She gently lowered him so his head was resting on her lap. She ran her fingers through his thick hair, she would never get tired of this. He moaned in response. She bent down to softly kiss him on the forehead. "I love you." He said quietly. She smiled at him.

"I love you too." This silence felt right between them. No they would never admit it out loud in front of anyone for fear of being shunned, but here in this safety of the house they were both free.

It was only after Snotlout took Hookfang to the stables that he noticed Hookfang's snout. It was doubled and a bone appeared to be broken. "Just can't help but be like me, hey boy." Chuckled Snotlout, he didn't want to go inside, his Father was in a mood again. Instead he hopped on Hookfang and took to the sky. He really had no destination, just away from Berk and all it's troubles. He wasn't paying attention and really who could blame him, but that's when it happened. A flock of dragons flew into them, Snotlout put up his arms to protect himself. Somehow his right arm got tangled in a mess of wings and tails. He tried pulling, they were pushing and another bone went snap, as did Hookfang's right wing. They were suddenly plummeting to the earth below.

Ruffnut had time to calm down, she was going to give Fishlegs ONE and only ONE chance to explain himself. She approached him and watched him flinch awaiting the violence, instead only one weak word came out. "Why?" He was not prepared for that, but he blurted out the answer.

"I was scared okay! Tuff came and saw me after the fight, he told me your parents wanted to marry you off. I was terrified they would ship you away to some other tribe to keep the peace."

"But you didn't think to ask me Fish." She was hurt, yep another punishment from the gods. Well screw the gods they didn't have to live this life.

"I wanted too, but Tuff said your parents were already planning your marriage as we spoke. Don't worry Ruff I won't make you commit to something you don't want. Our engagement can last until you call it off. It can be twenty years from now. " He looked heartbroken and was probably feeling the same way. She sighed, she was such a sucker. She put her head on his shoulder. "Legs you HAVE to promise me, we tell each other EVERYTHING!" Fishlegs gulped.

"EVERYTHING?" He questioned.

"Yes Fish, EVERYTHING, PROMISE ME!" Her eyes were pleading.

"Fine." He said solemnly.

"I'm still afraid of the dark." He blurted out, she laughed but then stifled the laugh, she felt like telling him something as well, but she had no idea what to tell him. Well she did say she promised to tell him everything. She took a deep breath.

"The reason why I haven't been my usual self lately is because I've had my monthly bleed." She felt better after saying it, Fishlegs however promptly fainted once again. Ruffnut just shook her head.

Hiccup was finally relaxed. Astrid was massaging his head. "Hiccup." Astrid said softly.

"Hmm." He mumbled, his eyes closed, almost asleep.

"I don't want a public consummation." She said softly. His eyes sprung open and he sat up.

"What?" He questioned.

"You know public consummation, I can't go through with that." She said.

"And you think I can? Nope so not going to happen. I'll talk to Gothi first thing in the morning!" He said resting his head back on Astrid's lap.

"Thanks." She said, kissing his mouth softly upside down. This was a new experience, she would rather kiss him right side round. Although she didn't mind this, she wanted to do this for Hiccup. She saw how much burden was placed upon him, he shed tears for his Father but not really cried afterwards. She wanted to tell him it was okay to cry, to let it out, even in front of her. There was a sudden knock at the door and Hiccup groaned, placing his boot back on, Astrid was doing the same. Hiccup opened the door it was the last person he was expecting to see.

"I'm sorry to bother you Hiccup, but I can't find Snotlout anywhere and Hookfang is gone."

'Will this ever end?' Thought Hiccup. "I'll get Toothless and look for him." Spitlout nodded his thanks.

"Don't you dare even think about it Hiccup, I'm coming with you!" She had her arms folded and was tapping her foot impatiently.

"Wouldn't dream of it Milady." He said whilst walking out the door.

Snotlout had woken up not knowing where he was or what had hit him, but it felt like a very large boulder that had been thrown from a great distance. His lungs felt deprived of oxygen. "Hookfang." Snotlout coughed, it was but a whisper in a wheeze. Hookfang moaned in agony. "I know boy, just hang in there." Snotlout wheezed. Hookfang wasn't fairing any better. It was then they heard a hissing it didn't come from any of the dragons. Hookfang began to panic, the slippery reptile slithered it's way across to Snotlout. "It's okay Hookfang just don't move! It's just a snake boy, just a snake, stay calm, stay still it will leave you alone."

Snotlout had calmed Hookfang down and the snake slithered past as if they were just part of the scenery. It took all of Snotlout's strength not to pass out. He wasn't sure how long he lay there but Hiccup finally found him. "Snotlout!" He cried. Astrid raced over, Hiccup was about to move him, when Astrid cried out. "WAIT! DON'T MOVE HIM!" Hiccup looked confused. She remembered some of her training, about falling from great heights and what could happen if you moved someone.

Astrid pulled off Snotlout's boots ignoring the awful pungent smell coming from them. "Snotlout can you wiggle your toes?" Astrid asked. Snotlout didn't question Astrid, he just did as he was told. His toes moved. "Good, that's good." Astrid moved her fingers swiftly across Snotlout's chest and Hiccup suddenly felt jealous, this was not the time. "You've got three broken ribs." She said, Snotlout groaned in pain as did Hookfang.

"My arm is useless as is Hookfang's wing. I have no idea how we are going to get back to Berk." Snotlout groaned. Hiccup bit his lip, his eyes showing he was thinking.

"No but I do!" Hiccup said, giving Astrid a quick kiss on the cheek.

"I'll be back, make sure nothing else happens to them!"

It took all the dragon riders plus Eret who had just returned from a voyage at sea to get them back to Berk slowly and safely, making the old trapping nets actually useful for something. They finally had Snotlout at Gothi's under much protest. Snotlout gasped in pain as Gothi pressed a sensitive area on his chest. "Hiccup...have to tell you." Snotlout passed out however the pain too much. Hookfang was locked away in a cage away from others so he could heal, Hiccup went to check on Hookfang, he too was passed out. What could Snotlout possibly want to tell him? Was it the pain talking? Whatever it was he couldn't worry about it now. He and Fishlegs had to mend Hookfang.

A/N: I'm sorry this chapter is so short. I went to watch HTTYD2 again today and realized a couple of things. The things I can't work out however are why do the riders all have American accents when all their parents are Scottish? I love the books they are magical and talking Toothless is priceless, he isn't a nightfury and not the last of his kind. I totally forgot that Eret son of Eret became a resident of Berk..my bad. It is also Hiccup's fault for his Father dying, not going to make excuses it wasn't Toothless' fault. Both his parents warned him there was no talking with Drago BloodFist and I am sure we haven't seen the last of him, but while the peace is lasting, the getting is good :p Okay I wanted to talk about periods. Shock, horror I said it. I'm sorry but every fic I have ever read has not really mentioned it and it is a big part of a woman's life especially involving her sex life, there are times were a woman is going to say "Sorry honey can't have sex today, I have my period." So yes all these things play a major role in one's life. If you squint at this chapter you will find hints of Eragon but reversed. As always read and review, comments, questions go into the review box. As always twitter hashtag oncewewerewarriors and you will know when the next chapter will be posted.