Author's Note:

So I'm just going to start by saying, sorry that this chapter is so late. I couldn't find any motivation to write it with the few reviews that I got. It hurts, guys, it really does. So please, if you want updates faster, just leave a quick review and you'll help me out a ton!

Eragon Bromsson: Glad you like the setup for the fic. Fingers crossed I can keep it going!

Guest: I'm glad you liked it!

HanyouExorcistAlchemist48: Yep, Toothless is dangerous. In the film, he'd have been the ace of dragons—so now he's the ace of Vikings.

Chapter Four

HICCUP SNARLED as he dug his claws into solid rock, pushing off with his rear paws heavily as he scrambled to reach the top of the great boulder before him. Panting, he grumbled as he struggled forwards, traversing the large climb with difficulty.

All but collapsing as he eventually reached the peak, Hiccup whined quietly as he looked about his little valley, wondering what he'd done wrong to displease the fate dragons—the little ones which always came out after dark, flying around all night in the sky with their Queen and shining light down onto the land—so much. To be truthful, he thought that he'd done quite well to find the two-legs' food store.

Taking a deep breath and shrugging off his pondering, Hiccup then opened his wings slowly and looked about, flapping once to warm up before leaping from his ledge. Everything seemed to be going well, at first; he soared along quite smoothly, only having to beat his wings occasionally to maintain his height. Getting half way across the valley, he then gave a loud chirp of joy and angled himself upwards, pounding against the air harder as he snapped his tail fin into the correct position.

And then he felt himself falling, his body suddenly plummeting towards the lake below.

His jubilant chirping quickly changed into a roar of terror as he fought to regain his height, frantically beating his wings and running through the air, as if hoping he could gallop without land. But, of course, he had no success; hissing, he then gasped as he felt his body smash against the water, panic flooding his mind as he felt himself become submerged under the lake's surface.

Reemerging a few seconds later, spluttering from a lungful of water, Hiccup grunted and groaned as he clumsily swam forwards, climbing up out of the water with a loud cough and then collapsing on the dirt, letting his wings splay out as he gulped in the delicious air.

His relief, however, was short-lived; jerking his head up a minute later, Hiccup flicked his ears about as he focused his gaze on the edge of the forest which stared down at his little valley. Then jumping up quickly and shaking off the water, he hastened to scamper to the edge of the clearing, pressing his body up against the dirt cliffs which had kept him trapped as he scanned the tree line, his heart pounding in his chest as he quietly clicked out his teeth, letting his claws dig into the dirt as he growled in the back of his throat.

He could hear them approaching, shouting and guffawing in that funny way of theirs.

The two-legs were nearby. And there were a lot of them.

Suddenly feeling exposed, Hiccup lowered his body closer to the ground as he leapt behind a nearby tree, keeping still for a second and checking the surroundings before trotting lightly over to the very boulder he'd used as a platform just a minute before. Pausing once again and curling up around the rock, well aware that the two-legs hunting party could be anywhere—even right above him—he then slunk forwards one last time, slipping behind a few sparse bushes before galloping across the exposed clearing and over to the cave he'd found before.

Slinking into the shadows quickly, Hiccup let out a small breath of relief as he pressed himself up against the wall once again, marvelling at how well he blended in with the blackness. But he soon refocused his attention on the forests, keeping quiet as he waited, still listening intently—and then he saw them.

There was a whole mob of the creatures, standing as a barrier between the outside world and his little valley. They laughed and cheered, creeping forwards with blades and axes held in their thuggish hands. And, at the front of them, was the beast from before; the one who'd taken his tail, who now held it proudly above his head as a flag.

Hissing involuntarily, his tail suddenly complaining at the reminder that it was little better than a bloodied mess now, Hiccup retreated backwards into his cave, keeping as close to the wall as he possibly could. It was cool in the cave—unpleasantly so, especially for a cold-blooded dragon in the late stages of autumn—but Hiccup remained quiet, curling up at the very back corner where the rock formed a small outcrop, giving him a hole to hide in.

Shooting a tiny plasma blast at the rock to warm it up slightly—the wall itself was freezing, and to lay against it for even a few minutes would have been hellish—Hiccup hastened to scamper into the crevice, curling up quickly and wrapping his tail around him. Then letting out a small sigh, he lay his head down on his paws and waited, shivering a little.

"The beast'll be around here! Keep your eyes sharp!"

The men nodded with a bellow of enthusiasm, brandishing their axes and swords and bolas eagerly as they leapt down from the forest above, clambering down the cliff like heavy, overgrown apes. Immediately they began to disperse, a mob of Vikings with a blood-lust for the rumoured, legendary dragon that their leader had brought down.

"It's wild, remember! It'll blow your head off as soon as lay eyes on you, so keep your shields at the ready to deflect an attack! But don't hurt the thing—it's mine to bring down before you all!"

Though with a slight grumble, the men and women cheered loudly, many shouting, "Aye!"

All the while, the strong—but oddly lean, compared to his comrades—man stepped forwards, his sword held confidently in his hands, a smirk on his face as he held the tail-flag up high.

Hiccup couldn't help the whine which escaped his mouth as the two-legs female stepped into the cave, shouting and laughing as she swung her sword about, her shield kept close to her chest. She made a few funny sounds, then guffawing again as she neared the back of the cave. Then, as she reached the back wall, she stilled, sniffing a few times and frowning. her joy disappearing as she glanced around blindly. And Hiccup, who lay but a few metres from her paws, could only clamp his mouth shut and hold his breath in terror.

He couldn't attack; to do so would reveal his position.

After what felt like an eternity, just as the dragon's lungs began to burn and threatened to defy his will and take in a breath, the woman drew back from the cave, slashing her sword through the air as if suddenly nervous. She then made a few loud barks as Hiccup gasped for breath, only able to do so before the two-legs herd rushed to the mouth of the cave, roaring in unison.

At first, nothing seemed to happen—and then, out of nowhere, something fairly heavy thudded against the back wall, falling to the floor and releasing spores all around.

Hiccup whined as he immediately held his breath, well aware that to breath would mean to sneeze—but his efforts, though valiant, were in vain. His already aching lungs soon gave in to temptation, forcing him to take a breath in and, almost immediately, he felt the grains tickling his throat and nose, making him shudder. And then, just as he thought he might have some luck, he felt the momentary warning before his sneeze erupted, involuntary flames bursting from his mouth at the same time.

The two-legs herd, having gone quiet before, immediately roared and bellowed. They ran forwards, slashing with their weapons—and then their leader stopped as the cave began to groan. A few seconds later, a massive boom resounded as the roof suddenly fell in, landing right on the head of the attack.

The two-legs, of course, immediately scampered back with panicked yips and yelps, and Hiccup could do nothing but roar in sheer terror as his previous safe cave fell down all around him. And then, as the final boulder fell in front of his little crevice, he could do nothing but cower in fear in the utter darkness.

Author's note

Again, sorry it was so late, and it was only short as well. I really couldn't find the motivation to write it; if you want to see more, guys, you'll have to review. Otherwise I'll abandon this project.

It's called karma, guys—give a little, and you'll get a lot back from me.

-Luna