A/N: Hiya! I'm back, with the next chapter!

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Chapter 8

Run!

Thunder rolled off the trees, answered by another roar full of anger, and death. Before I knew it every person was scrambling by each other, trying to get back to the ships. You could hear the Skullions already sprinting toward the sweet scent of human flesh. The sound of their heavy bounds had the whole war-party in an uproar. I stood there, frozen. I scanned the crowd for a familiar face, but to my disappointment everyone was running too fast for me to even catch a glimpse at their features.

Another roar of anger from the Skullions as their food ran from them sent me back to my thoughts, and I took off running. Well, as best I could anyway. I watched as everyone rushed past me, and my pitiful attempts to catch up with them. Despite the fact everybody seemed to be running at the speed of lightening, I still saw two Vikings running back to the ships with the chest. Those idiots! They could get themselves or someone else killed! It completely baffled me, it drove me to the point of anger. I slowed my sprinting, feeling my face flare with the frustration of the whole situation.

I got distracted. Bad mistake. I soon found myself face-planted on the ground. I had tripped over a dead tree. I gasped in surprise, and rolled over onto my back. Another bad mistake. I was face-to-face with a Skullion.

It was a gruesome thing. Pure black. I mean pure black. Even its eyes had no colors. Pitch black orbs, that blended in with their rough-looking skin. It's snout was flat, with big nostrils that flared with anger. It had no ears. It barred it's teeth, each sharp and big enough to be a dagger. Foam fell from its mouth as it breathed heavily. We sat there, still. Not daring to move, for what seemed like hours.

My breathing quickened, as I began to panic. It's head shot down towards me, and a gasped in surprise and fear. It started sniffing me, curiously. I tensed up as his snout ran up and down my body, snorting and sniffing. I closed my eyes, pressing my lips hard together in a line. It stopped at the harness I wore. Particularly at the metal ring. I opened my eyes, to see the black creature sniffing it. To my horror, it smiled maliciously. Then it raised its paw, and I saw it. The one claw. The one claw nearly 4 feet long. Sharp enough that if I just gently touched it, it would draw blood on intact. It brought it forward, and I braced myself, ready it to strike.

But I was wrong. Lightening glowed, illuminating the claw. Instead it drove the claw into the metal ring. The beast started to drag me toward itself; I dug my nails into the ground, knowing exactly what it was doing. It was just mocking me. Like a cat would with a mouse. Play with its food before it brought a brutal death. I had seen Toothless do the same thing to smaller creatures that just so happen to cross his path when he was hungry. I never liked to watch that side of my dragon. Knowing this, I clawed at the ground harder, trying to keep a distance between me and the Skullion.

Just inches away from it, me struggling and flailing against the Skullion's hold on the darned harness, the beast stopped dragging me towards it. It slowly lowered its head, stopping just an inch from my face. It's eyes locked with mine, and no matter how bad I wanted to pull away, I couldn't break the hypnotic spell. It's eyes almost glowered, despite the fact they had no color, no emotion to them. I gripped the soil, breathing harshly. Everything had disappeared. Just me and the Skullion. After moments upon endless moments having to suffer, it once again smiled slyly, showing off all of its teeth. It snorted, and reared up on its hind legs, bringing me half a foot off the ground. It extended the front leg not holding onto the harness. Like a cat's would, it's claws shot out on command. Each not nearly as long as the one holding the harness, but when you took a closer look, each was just as sharp. Just one sweep, and I'd be in pieces. I saw the muscles in the arm tense, ready to be brought down.

I lowered my head, ready for the claws.

The black-beast roared, declaring it's won the game. I tightly closed my eyes. Then I heard another roar, this one full of fury. My eyes shot open, knowing this roar wasn't made by a Skullion.

Something ran into my side, pulling me away from the now angered beast. The leather to the strap was stretched to its limit, and it snapped. Whatever creature ran into my side and I both rolled feet away from the snarling Skullion. We finally stopped. Shaking with fear, I hesitantly looked up to see the Skullion crouched, with the metal ring and half of the letter strap still on its 4 foot claw. Just as my breathing began to get rasp again, I noticed a shadow was casted over me. That's when I noticed the growling. Afraid of another Skullion, I hesitantly looked up. I took a big sigh of relief, and smiled. It was Toothless, of course. His eyes were slits, glaring at the Skullion. They were challenging each other.

Toothless stood over me, snarling and growling. The Skullion snarled and growled back, as if they were communicating. Toothless sounded like two mountains being rubbed together, the Skullion sounded like finger nails grinding against a wood floor. I engrossed the ground in fear, not liking either noise. I've only seen Toothless like this once, with Fireworm in the kill ring. It wasn't pleasant, it was full on terrifying. It showed the lie of Toothless's name. It showed the true colors of his species, Night Fury. Offspring of lightening and death itself. Even knowing this creature was on my side wasn't a comfort.

Toothless finally looked down at me, his eyes softening. He looked concerned and confused. He didn't understand it was him that was frightening. His eyes instantly turned back into angered slits when the Skullion roared. We both looked at the beast. It was tensing up, ready to pounce. Toothless crouched, ready to fight back. Both roared a warning at the other, before the Skullion leaped at us. Before Toothless could even think of fighting back, someone leaped on the snout of the Skullion. It was my Dad.

They both rolled to the side. Both leaped back up in fighting position. I shouted to my Dad, but he didn't hear me. The circled each other. The Skullion finally leaped at my Father, who barely managed to get out of the way.

I slid out from under Toothless, running towards my dad and the beast. "Dad! DAD! STOP! Forget about it, get back to the ships!" I screamed. I was stopped in my tracks by Toothless, who snagged his teeth on my shirt and pulled me away from the fight. I tried to shove his head off, but to no avail. Dad was having none of it either.

"Stop, Hiccup! Stay where you are! The thing will just follow you, now you get back to the ships! I have to hold it off!" he shouted. I shook my head.

"Dad, NO! Stop, it-it-it'll kill you! DAD!" I yelled, a lump rising in my throat.

"Son, DO AS I SAY!" He commanded.

"Dad," I whimpered pathetically, my voice hoarse. Thunder erupted through the skies.

My Dad dodged another leap from the Skullion. He glared at me. "Night Fury!" My dad shouted, looking at Toothless. Toothless solemnly nodded, not happy with the decision either. He then glared at me, and gestured to the saddle.

"But, but Toothless!" I argued. He lunged at me and growled. I was now shaking uncontrollably. My dragon was threatening me, and my Dad, my Dad. . .

"Toothless, please don't make me!" I begged. The dragon looked sympathetic for all but a moment, but he shook his head quickly. His eyes were glaring again, and he growled; it was almost a roar. I stepped back, shaking my head. The Skullion noticed our little quarrel, and shot a look at us. He shoved my Father to the side, and headed for us.

Toothless's eyes widened, before he snarled at me. He bit down with his gums on my arm, and swung me towards his saddle. With no choice, I mounted. I gripped my hands on his neck, with the harness being broken I had nothing to keep my on. I shoved my prosthetic into the pedal, and Toothless launched in the air.

We were high above the trees in the matter of seconds. The sky was dark, and lightening flashed around us, answered by a roll of thunder. I flinched at each sound, gripping Toothless's neck. In a little over a minute, we were flying above the beach. Toothless slowed, and I gasped in shock.

Skullions. Everywhere. All hissing and roaring with anger. Simultaneously, they all hushed, and sniffed the air. Each black orb shot back at us, snarling. Toothless sped up, but couldn't go full speed knowing I didn't have anything holding me on. They all gathered just 20 feet below us, howling and roaring.

I looked at their eyes. All of the sudden, one by one, the black slowly started to form a line in the middle of the eye, showing off a white part that was hidden. My mouth gaped in shock and fear. They were truly angry. Then one managed to jump. It reached its bony forearm to us, extending the claw. Toothless tried to dodge the Skullion, but didn't react quick enough. It gashed his back leg.

Toothless howled in pain, and swerved downward. I lost my hold on his neck, and plummeted towards the Skullions, all with their claws up, ready to skewer me.

"Toothless!" I screamed. He looked at me, eyes wide in fear. He shot downward, grabbing me in his claws. I felt him pull my arm out of socket, and I hissed in pain. He gripped my torso, letting my arms fall back. The problem was he kept falling afterward. No one could control the pedal.

I launched myself toward the pedal, doing my best grab it with my arm being out of socket. I hooked my left arm in the straps that secured the saddle to Toothless, and hoisted myself upward. I slammed my hand on the petal, and we shot up. Toothless blasted towards the ships, my hand now controlling the pedal.

Toothless nearly lost his grip on me a couple times, but finally we fell to the deck of a ship. Toothless landed on his side, to avoid crushing me. I heaved my arm out of the strap, and let myself fall onto my back, gasping for air. Toothless did the same, exhausted.

I looked back at my dragon, and smiled. I scratched him behind the ear, earning a croon in return. I let my hand fall to the deck, and closed my eyes.

A crowd had gathered around us. Murmurs and chatter concerning us. I was brought to my feet harshly when someone grabbed my shoulders, and hoisted me up. They spun me around to look at them, and I saw who it was. Astrid. She smashed her lips on mine, and I was at first surprised. I honestly expected a couple hits to the head. But I gave in, and let her. She hit me when she finally pulled away. There's the Astrid I know!

"Why in Odin's name do you keep trying to KILL yourself! Are you trying to give me a heart-attack! I was positive you were both going to fall, Hiccup! I SWEAR TO THE GODS!" She yelled. I smiled, and hugged her.

"Hey Astrid?" I said.

"What!"

"I'm sorry."

She calmed down. She pulled away from me, bewildered. Then she forced a serious look on her face, and replied, "Yeah, well, you should be!" She hugged me again, and I smiled.

"Wait!" I pulled her off me, and ran to the side of the boat. She followed close behind. "My Dad! H-he's still on the island!" I shouted, scanning the shores for him. He launched out of the trees, the Skullion close on his tail. My eyes widened, he was scratched everywhere and looking weak. My face fell. He was just setting himself up. "Some, someone has to help him!" I shouted, getting hysterical. A Nightmare flew above my head, towards my Father and the Skullions.

He quickly dodged out of the way of his pursuer, making two Skullions collide with each other. My mouth gaped in awe as he effortlessly defended off beast after beast, putting them against one another. Finally, after heart-wrenching minutes of watching my own Father fight for his life, the Nightmare gracefully lifted him off the ground by his arm. They flew back towards the ship, where my Dad dropped to the ground, followed by the Nightmare who landed more gracefully. I smiled widely.

"Dad!" I shouted, running towards him. I stopped in front of him, but he pulled me into a hug. I was caught off guard, but hugged back. I backed away, and he smiled down on me. "How bad did they hurt you?" I questioned, looking at the soon-to-be scars on his arms. I frowned.

"I'm fine son. Looks like your Night Fury needs a bit of assistance," he said, pointing to Toothless. I looked back confused, but then looked at Toothless. His leg was bleeding heavily, being clotted down by a rag a medicine woman was holding to it. His face grimaced in pain, and I ran over to him. I scolded myself for forgetting about his injuries.

"Toothless!" I said, kneeling down by his head. "Are you ok buddy? I'm so sorry! I can't believe I forgot you got cut!" The last sentence was more to myself. I gingerly petted his head, trying to calm him. He looked to be in a lot of pain. I sighed heavily. He crooned despite his injuries, and closed his eyes. My Dad came up behind me, and patted me on the back.

"He'll be fine son. Dragons heal fast," he said, trying to comfort me. I smiled a bit. He walked off to get his injuries taken care of.

"Hiccup, let me see tha' arm." It was Gobber. I turned to him, holding out my arm with the dislocated shoulder. Of course, when I remembered it, it started hurting again. Gobber examined it, giving a 'tut-tut'. "Wait one sec, Hiccup," he said. I nodded, and he walked off. He came back with a cloth. He made a make-shift sling. I frowned. Great. Now I'm missing two limbs.

"Oh, cheer up, boy! At least you'll get this one back," he said with a wink. I half-smiled, he was right. At least I got this one back. He gently patted my shoulder with a smile, and walked off.

I sighed, and sat next to the now sleeping Toothless. I petted his head. His ears twitched, but other than that he didn't wake up. I smiled, finally able to relax. We had made it. Everything was all right. Just some injuries.

Little did I know of the even dire situation to come.

A/N: Well that was fun! I really didn't know how to end it, so you guys get a little cliffie. Sorry. Anyway, review time! Please tell me what you think! Oh, and btw, one review per person per chapter (if that makes sense). Some anonymous reviews I can tell reviewed more than once, and I don't mean to be harsh but just one review per person for a chapter please! Sorry bout that, ANYWAY, hope you liked it! Ready, set, REVIEW!

God bless!