Hiccup tried to keep his eyes on the other, as he maneuvered Toothless into the battle as well. This would be an easier fight, since they had dragons and the others did not. At the same time however, they could not risk letting one of them escape back to the rest of their group. It made a sinking feeling grow in the pit of Hiiccup's stomach. One of the DragonBane rushed from the side, lifting a mace in order to strike him off-guard. Toothless caught wind of the attack though, and swiped his tail at the coming danger. The viking was sent flying. Hiccup glanced down at the NightFury, which gave him a look as if to tell him to pay more attention.
"I know.." he sighed, glancing around as he attempted to form a quick plan.
It clicked, and he pulled on the saddle to get Toothless in the air.
"Astrid, you and Snotlout get them close together" he said.
Astrid nodded, and Snotlout gave a slightly annoyed groan.
He smiled, looking to the twins, "Ruffnut, Tuffnut...remember when you were messing with the sheep a few days ago?"
Tuffnut laughed, "oh yea...our little fence of fire!"
"That was awesome" Ruffnut agreed.
"Well let's just say..those vikings...are your sheep" Hiccup motioned to the vikings down below.
The twins shared a glance and smiled, moving forward on Barf and Belch. When the enemy was close enough together, they moved around them in a circle. First to position the gas, then to light it. A ring of flame closed off any exit for the vikings to escape. The twins laughed, amused by the fire. By this time, a roar echoed overhead. Fishlegs and Meatlug were returning with Stoick and Thornado in the wake.
"Bout time" Snotlout said, leaning forward onto Hookfang's horns, "after we did the hard part."
Thornado landed, and by the look the head of Berk had on his face when he jumped of, it was clear he was not happy.
"What did I tell you" he said immediately to Hiccup, "I wanted you to drop this."
"What, you think I went looking for danger?" Hiccup crossed his arms, "It was Fishlegs who found the ship, besides, if he hadn't then what?"
The pair shared a silent moment of an intense look between the two of them. Stoick sighed, turning to the men trapped by the fire. Gobber and a few others were hustling down the rocks towards them now in the distance.
"Take your friends and the dragons and go back to the village" Stoick said, not turning to look at his son.
Hiccup opened his mount to argue, but Astrid's hand on his shoulder made him close it. The group turned away and took off.
"Whoa, is it just me, or are things between you two like...super tense?" Tuffnut asked once they were out of range.
Hiccup glanced back at the scene for a moment, "he's hiding something...something big.."
"Like what?" Astrid asked.
That was right, Hiccup had yet to tell his friends about what he had overheard between his father, Gobber and Spitelout. He took a deep breath, looking at all of them. Each had their eyes on him as they flew. How would he even begin that conversation? Not to mention the feeling that still stood in his gut. If one of DragonBane's ships were this close to Berk undetected...that probrably ment there were more not to far off. On top of that...What if Striker really was still alive?
"Hiccup?" Astrid's voice lower.
His silence and expression was making the other's nervous. They knew nothing good could be going through his head right now.
He sighed, "alright, lets go to the academy...we have a lot to talk about..."