''Doesn't look like we're getting outta here anytime soon.''

Hiccup held the wooden blind up to see through the window of the bar, looking out to the world lurking with dangerous creatures such as Ryker. The man outside had clearly lost all of his human senses, acting like a big cat smelling blood and searching for its source.

Hiccup studied him for a moment, his sharp green eyes scanning the scars along his face that he had probably gotten from his near-death. Then, he suddenly twisted sharply and his dark eyes met his.

Jumping backwards, Hiccup let go of the blind and backed away from the window. He had fought many dragons in his life, but nothing had scared him as much as this. Shivering, he returned to Viggo who was lying in front of the warm flames of the fire. Hiccup had wrapped his stab wound with fresh bandages he had found in a first aid kit in a chest right by the back door. He had cleaned it all to prevent as much infection, but it had not been enjoyable at all for both of them. The cut still bled a little though, but Hiccup tried not to worry too much about it. The blade hadn't gotten too deep and as far as he could tell, no organs had been damaged.

Hiccup approached his foe and knelt down to examine his state. The white bandage was growing red; it would soon be time to renew it.

''You're wasting your time.'' breathed Viggo, sighing hard a couple times.

''Nonsense.'' replied Hiccup, installing himself more comfortably. ''Besides, what kind of person would I be if I agreed and watched you die when I could do something about it?''

Viggo swallowed hard as his body was stricken by pain one more time. It was definitely time to change the bandage. Blood hadn't been absorbed this time and Hiccup could see the red liquid floating on top of layers and layers of the warm substance staining the clean white.

''I should go look for more bands—'' informed Hiccup, about to leave him.

But Viggo firmly grabbed his arm, forcing him back down. For a badly wounded man, Viggo still had enough strength to hold him down.

''Let me tell you something, my dear boy.'' said Viggo through clutched teeth. ''I did not choose this life. I was forced into it, by my father. I take it yours did not always support your vision of the world either, did he?''

Hiccup blinked at him, wondering what this all had to do about. But he did answer anyway, his eyes leaving Viggo's as he gave his answer. ''No. My father hasn't always been around…''

Viggo loosen his grip on his wrist, lying back down to rest as if he was satisfied of his answer.

''Why did you want to know this?'' he asked, cocking an eyebrow, his eyes troubled. He just hoped he didn't give anything away for him to use against him later. If he survives, he thought.

''Because we're a lot alike, you and I.'' he said, his eyes closed, eyebrows furrowed by the constant ache.

''Sure, if you don't count your passion for trapping and selling dragons... and slaughtering some.'' replied Hiccup, a little upset the man had called them 'alike'. He had nothing in common with him. They were two completely different people, he thought.

''My boy, you need to start looking beyond what we do now. I believed in peace between human and dragon once…'' said Viggo, reopening his eyes and looking up at the ceiling as if it played his memories.

''You did?''

''Aye. But I failed.'' he spat as if he'd chewed something bitter. ''I was like you many years ago. But my father's fury got the best of me and I chose to follow his path my brother was already chasing. I found no way out and decided to take pleasure into it rather than hate it.''

There was a long silent. Hiccup was shocked by his story and still debated between believing him or refusing to. Yet, the way he had said it made it sound believable enough. Hiccup didn't know whether this could be a trap or the truth. But his reverence for Viggo forced him to accept his words. It was the least he could do.

''Until now.'' said Viggo.

Hiccup's eyes widened. Viggo had slaughtered, trapped and sold dragons for Thor-knows how much time. He was probably one of the richest Vikings inside and outside the boundaries of the Archipelago. What in the world had brought this man to take such a decision as to quit his role of which Hiccup considered a bad guy?

Again, Viggo seemed to have read his mind storming with questions.

''Krogan.'' Viggo pronounce the name as if it were poison on his tongue.

''What about Krogan?'' demanded Hiccup, his intrigue rising even more. As the man's name reached his ears, his mind began to analyze all of his evildoing and the way he had dealt with him and the Riders. He had fought them with such intensity, taking every chance he could lay hand on to wipe them out. Unlike Viggo, Krogan wasn't playing around. He wanted things done, whatever it took. Hiccup's attention to Viggo's words became even more intense, ready to seize all kind of information that he could use later against the Flyers.

''That man has plans beyond brutality.'' said Viggo, looking straight into Hiccup's eyes. ''He's refused to take any of my warnings and because of that my Hunters are paying the price.''

''I thought you didn't care about anyone but yourself.'' said Hiccup evenly.

''I was only respecting the rules, Hiccup.'' he winced from the pain, holding his stomach while lifting the upper part of his body with an arm pressed to the ground. ''But it doesn't matter now…''

As much as the thought killed him, Hiccup saw something new in Viggo. It's as if his accident had made him wiser, more humble. The man he had fought against mentally and physically for over a year now had suddenly changed.

''Krogan is planning worse things than you've ever encountered.'' warned the Hunter. ''And I never thought these words would come out of this mouth, but… I do hope you are able to win this war.''

The Dragon Rider leader got to his feet numbly, too shocked to speak. What had happened to change Viggo that much?

He went where he had wanted to go before Viggo had held him down and opened the chest to get some fresh bands. He heard tramping from where Viggo lied while his head was in the chest, but when he looked back to where his patient was once, his eyes landed on a close figure which happened to be Viggo himself standing by his side, his left arm wrapped around his abdomen with his back slightly curved. He could tell he had gone through much pain to join him.

''Viggo—'' Hiccup was suddenly cut by a kick from the Hunter in the middle, sending him slamming against the back door which flung open at the impact. He stumbled backwards and landed on his back in the dirt of the outside world - the world in which Ryker was lurking.

Immediately, images of the danger out here flashed before his eyes, which forced him to his feet in a heartbeat. But the instant he reached for the door, Viggo swung it shut, locking him out, without even his hunting knife to defend himself or unlock the door.

''Viggo!'' he yelled in fury, banging his fist against the rough wooden door. ''We had a truce!'' was the only thing he could say during his moment of pure panic.

''Prove me you're the man you claim to be, the one who won't let another die, and perhaps we have an alliance against Krogan. This is your call, Hiccup Haddock.'' spoke Viggo from the other side. ''You know what it is you have to do!''

Unable to register the meaning, Hiccup continued to try forcing the door open but it refused. Unfortunately, all of this rumble lured a predator to a prey and from the corner of his eye, Hiccup spotted Ryker growling and he instantly broke into a run for the woods, the only direction he thought of that afforded him a slight chance of survival.