Hello peeps!
Back again, and once more, thanks for all the sweet reviews! They truly make my day. *heart sign because won't let me simply type it*
Aww some old friends were in the reviews, so happy to see you guys again! I've missed you, so happy to hear everything's still bouncing fine. ^o^
Sorry if this chapter is rushed… I've been in a mad haste all day. But I hope it's enjoyable and not too confusing to read.
Enough of my chatter, on to the chapter! Next one will be posted Monday. ;)
Chapter 4.
Astrid sucked in a deep breath, preparing herself as she ducked behind another tree, peering out from behind it at the men stationed near one of the rung ladders. She glanced to the sky, slowly counting and ticking the seconds away as the sun began to disappear behind the horizon. Half way now, not much longer till the others would fly up… wait for the signal…
"Okay…" Astrid whispered to herself, peering out again to take in the different positions of the guards, watching as some walked about, others laughing or joking as they ate food upon barrels. Most of the ones mulling about and taking it easy were ex-hunters, which made sense. Those duffuses…
The others were Fliers, and once again Astrid was reminded that these men were more trained, were smarter, then the Dragon Hunters. She gnawed on her lip anxiously, fingers gripping her axe just a bit tighter.
It was only minutes before the sun was gone entirely, the sky lit hazily from the aftermath's of day. Astrid swallowed thickly, knowing it was time. So with a shake of her head, a silent promise, and a tightening hold on her axe, she opened her mouth and screeched loudly, the sound of a Nadder's cry.
"What in the name of-" one of the guards shouted, as several nearest to her jumped and swung around, arrows at the ready and crossbows loaded.
Astrid smiled, and just as the men filed into the trees was when she let herself known. She leaped out, swiping her axe and effectively knocking two men out with the flat of her blade, knocking another out from behind with a kick.
The remaining two squeaked and hastily lifted their bows to aim. Astrid lifted her axe and swung with all her might, the axe effectively slicing the crossbow in half as well as catching the man in the chest and arm, making him screech in pain and shock. The other was equally as surprised, for he stared in stunned silence at the man lying on the ground, blood pouring from his wounds.
Astrid took that time to run up and grip her axe, tugging it out of the ground and swiping it against the last of the men's head, knocking him unconscious instantly. He crumpled in a limp heap across his dead friend, leaving Astrid free.
"Okay- which one of you has a body shape closest to mine…" Scrawny. She needed a scrawny dude somewhere… she picked through the pile, finally finding one who was about Tuffnut's build- only a bit larger in the torso. She began peeling off his armor, instead sliding it over her arms and chest for an effective disguise. Finally, when the man was only left in his underclothes, she picked up a crossbow and her axe, strapping it onto her back just in case, while adjusting the crossbow in her arms.
She glanced up at the stables, knowing she'd go there first. If she guessed right, that's where they were keeping Hiccup- and if her luck was with her, Toothless as well.
"Dragon Riders!" Distant calls echoed, and soon, the entire Edge was alive. Men were rushing to the catapults and bola's on the roofs and lookouts, while others rushed about to their dragons.
Astrid ducked low and hastily crawled up one of the ladders, pulling herself up with a grunt. She adjusted her helmet, hoping her braid didn't show through as she pushed on, shoving through the onslaught of men running about. Thankfully, no one took much notice of her.
It wasn't until she was up to the top platform, the one that led to the stables as well as to all their huts that someone grabbed her arm, jerking her to a halt. The man was breathing heavily as he pointed towards the stables, gasping out orders.
"Get a dragon, you idiot. We need as many up in the sky as possible-"
She wondered briefly is she should dare and answer, but the man didn't wait for her to reply. He simply gave a sharp shove towards the stables, then ran off with a stream of shouted orders.
Well, her job just got easier. She'd been ordered to the stables, not much anyone else could do to stop her. She had full passage.
She turned on her heel and dashed, now feeling able to go at full speed to her destination. She didn't bother to grab the ladders to climb up to the stables, instead simply giving a leap and swinging herself up onto the edge, scrambling to the doors.
She paused outside, turning to give a quick look over of the sky, biting hard on her lip when she noticed that they were already struggling, and the battle had only begun.
"Alright, Hiccup, you'd better be in here-" Astrid growled, shoving the doors open with a grunt. She ran inside, eyes scanning all the cells for any sign of Night Fury or Haddock, moaning in frustration when she found neither.
"Come on- Hiccup where are you…" She whispered worriedly, quickly looking through the stalls in case she'd missed him. It wasn't until the last that she paused and stared, gulping when she saw the chain and post. But it wasn't those that alarmed her, it was the prosthetic that lay on the floor that had her breath hitched and her alarm ringing.
She grabbed a rung of keys off the nail on the walls- those cruel heartless monsters, they even put locks on the stalls?
She hastily unlocked the door and swung it open, ducking inside and picking up the prosthetic. She gasped and nearly dropped it when she saw streaks of blood staining the wood and crusted on the metal, her head jerking up in shock.
"No, no… no no no no…" She whispered over and over, spinning around to exit the building. Hiccup wasn't there, but he had been… and with new urgency she needed to find him.
He was hurt.
"Thor, when I find the men who did that to him." She hissed menacingly, tossing the crossbow aside and instead using her trusty axe as her weapon. She ran back out into the night, eyes flitting across the buildings in search of what she sought.
Her eyes landed on Snotlout's hut, and her eyes narrowed in anger. There, Krogan stood on the ledge, arms crossed and stance straight. If he wasn't so far away, Astrid would've flung her axe straight into his way too smug face.
She was certain Hiccup was up there…somewhere, so without delay, she jumped and flung herself up onto the ledge, pulling herself up to run across. She easily blended in with the others around her, making her job easier and faster.
She fell in step behind one of the men heading in that general direction, hoping to seem less… despicable that way. But the man broke off and ended up entering her own hut, probably searching for weapons. Her proud weapons stash- most likely totally gone.
She fought the urge to rush inside and gut every man within.
Instead she ran behind the huts, walking carefully across the narrow boards lining them. No one was here, and she dearly hoped she was safe…
Snotlout's hut was in sight, but with it, came a deadly break in the wood. It looked as though something had either burnt or smashed it, causing there to be a gaping gap between her and Snotlout's hut's outer wall.
Astrid didn't hesitate. She swung her axe in place onto her back, and upon taking a deep breath, she jumped.
…
Hiccup woke to total darkness.
Momentarily, he just thought he'd been out so long it was now late evening, but before long, he realized with renewed panic that he was locked in some close quartered room the size of a small closet. He struggled weakly, and that's when the drowsiness wore off. Hiccup realized too late that moving was a bad idea, and, that he'd been most probably drugged.
His body screamed pain, and it took all his will power not to let that scream of agony reach his mouth. He moaned and rolled his head from side to side, trying to find some way or position to alleviate the pain. But scrunched up as he was, it put horrible pressure against his ribs, making it almost impossible to breathe. This, mounted with panic, had Hiccup hyperventilating hysterically. He wished to cry, he wanted to sob- the pain was enough to do that on its own, but just the longing for this all to end was nearly enough to send him over the edge.
"Please- Thor, someone…" Hiccup gasped and wheezed, his voice sounding non-human. "Toothless…"
He moved his legs, hoping to somehow find a way out of this trap. But with a shout and cry, he realized painfully that his prosthetic was gone, and in its place a heavy chain holding him in place.
But at least his right leg was free.
He bent and wiggled, gasping and panting for any air he could get. He began to pound his leg against the wall opposite of him, praying it was the one that opened, for if not, there was no way he could move around enough to be able to hit against any other wall.
He pounded three more times, but eventually his lightheadedness, lack of air, and nausea took full hold. Hiccup's brain fizzed, the adrenaline wearing off as he felt himself nodding back off. Whatever drug they'd given him its work was enough to disorient a person for a short time… and it left him with such a heavy headache he wondered if it would ever leave.
He gave one last weak pound of his leg against the wall, wearily falling back with desperate gasps for air, only to cause himself to heave and lean to the side, vomiting bile onto the floor. It was only a thick and gloppy stream, to which he guessed drowsily that it was merely because there was nothing left in his stomach to dispel.
Hiccup must've fallen back under, for he felt the sensation of awakening when the door was jerked open and he was grabbed by his arms, forced roughly out from the small space. The fresh air was such a joy to have he almost laughed, had he been able. Instead he gasped and inhaled as fast and short as he could, trying to ease the pain from his chest yet get the sufficient air he needed at the same time.
He was dragged outside, though he didn't really acknowledge anything happening around him. His head dangled and bumped against his chest, but he didn't care. He was hoping unconsciousness would save him again from the pain…
"Drop the attack, or I run him through!" Krogan's deep voice was blaring loud, too loud! Hiccup moaned and screwed his eyes shut, waiting desperately for the ringing in his ears all the way to the core of his brain to come to a halt.
"You hurt him, Krogan, and you'll be in for a lot worse." Came a voice from somewhere above. Hiccup mumbled under his breath, the voice was so familiar, so familiar. Yet he couldn't place-
"LET HIM GO!" Came a way to familiar shriek, and even in his daze Hiccup instantly knew who it belonged to. His eyes flew open and his mouth gaped for words, but no sound would come. He did gather enough wit in this rush of adrenaline to try and jump away, falling with a loud thud and a cry to the wooden floor.
Hiccup's head bounced against the ground, making him wail in pain and thrash against it. He rolled onto his side, curling against himself as he tried to will the pain away, but nothing worked. His head felt like it could explode, and his vision was quickly fading in and out, his hearing strengthening then falling. It only rose the achiness in his brain.
He distantly heard Astrid's angry shouts, as well as a screech of a Nadder. Such a ruckus, screaming, shouting, blasts, fire, heat… pain…
His vision was fading, but he was aware enough to know Astrid was whispering words, calling for him to stay with her. It felt like seconds later that they were suddenly soaring through the air, the wind whipping about him and biting at his skin. But warm arms entrapped him, soft hand fell against his cheeks and face, pulling him nearer in a gentle embrace. With those thoughts he fell, and knew no more.
…
Astrid cranked the window open forcefully, using her axe blade to wedge it open enough to allow herself inside. She dropped silently to the ground, her feet padding softly as she made her way through the pitch black room. She paused when she heard a thump- followed by a softer thump. She turned and realized with panic that it was coming from the closet, her thoughts first turning to Hiccup. It must be him- it mus-
She had barely enough time to dive behind a barrel when the doors flew open, and inside marched Krogan himself. He grunted and pulled out keys, clicking them into the wooden door and swinging it open. A figure half flopped out, the jingling of chains disturbing and grating against Astrid's ears.
She had to bit into her lip to keep from attacking the man right then and there, but he was already moving towards the door. No time, she had to choose carefully-
She caught sight of the figure he was holding by the arms, inhaling sharply at the sight of Hiccup's blood soaked body and shredded clothes. He looked unconscious, but she couldn't tell… and with the darkness, it was hard to discern anything.
Krogan disappeared outside, and in that moment Astrid jumped to her feet and rushed to it, peering out behind the wall as she watched him walked to the edge of the platform, holding Hiccup close as he pulled out a clean cut and sharply curved sword, holding it close to Hiccup's chest.
"Not today…" Astrid hissed, jerking off her helmet and hastily pulling off the heavy and bulky armor. She turned back around, anger flaring when she saw Hiccup roll his head- he was conscious, thank Thor… but when he didn't even bother to struggle, she knew he was dangerously hurt. Even in the dimly lit world of outside, she could see the blood streaked and smeared across his face, as well as the fact that his chest was rising and falling rapidly in short breaths.
Krogan moved the sword closer, just as Astrid got her axe in her hands. With an angry shriek she jumped from behind the corner and ran, axe swinging to her side as she made ready to swipe the man in two.
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" she screamed, meaning every. single. darned. word. She never wanted to see that scum lay a finger on her Hiccup again, and so help her if he did...
Hiccup jumped to the side, landing on the ground with a loud cry of pain that momentarily distracted Astrid. Gods above, he sounded horrible…
The falter in her movements was a bad choice, for Krogan easily clattered the axe from her hand, sending it flying right into Snotlout's hut, sticking it tight. She dodged to the side, screaming a fierce Nadder call in hopes that Stormfly would arrive soon…
A black blur was all to be seen as it rushed up with a loud ear-splitting scream that only a Night Fury could make. It drew back and blasted, sending Krogan flying over the edge of the platform, but by the sound of it, Astrid knew he escaped with ease.
The red Singetail zipped above them, spinning about high in the air to make a return fire. Astrid knew then- it was time to go.
"Stormfly!" She shouted, stumbling as she rushed to Hiccup's side, rolling him over so she could see his face. She was shocked to no end to see him so wounded, so broken. He was moaning incoherently in agony, but she could tell he was unconscious.
"Hiccup, babe, stay with me, stay with me- we're getting you out of her, okay? Just hold on-" She looked up as Stormfly landed heavily beside her, and without a second thought Astrid scooped Hiccup up into her arms and climbed onto Stormfly's back, just as Toothless shot another blast towards the sky.
"Toothless!" Astrid shouted, pulling Stormfly to a stop. Toothless couldn't fly, and his rider was out of commission-
"Don't worry, Astrid, I've got this!" Snotlout called out above her. Astrid looked skywards, smiling in relief when Snotlout jumped, landing with an unagile splat upon the deck. Toothless released another round of blasts, forcing Krogan to back away and spin around again, giving Toothless just enough time to toss Snotlout on his back and leap for the sky, crying out in loud concern.
Stormfly flitted out of the arrows and other Fliers about them, the others gladly taking off after her. Astrid pulled Hiccup closer to her chest, listening to his raspy breathing as she looked behind her, the sight of several Fliers attempting to follow rousing her anger. She leaned forward even more, whispering soothingly as they made a wild dash for the fog just rising.
"Where to!?" Fishlegs called. "Berk or-"
"Berk!" Astrid shouted without hesitation. "Hiccup needs Gothi-" she looked back down, eyes stinging with tears at the sight of him. Blood was everywhere, he was pale and the red crusted in his hair and on his face was enough to want to make her gag. But she instead just pulled him closer, rocking gently back and forth in comfort.
"We're almost there, almost there, babe…"