An object passed his ear, and next thing Viggo knew, was a battle-ax blade plunging in the nearest tree. The man turned around, only to come face to face with the girl he'd captured and traded, Astrid. With a war-cry, she grabbed two daggers from her belt and charged over to Viggo, but she was stopped when the Hunter smiled and pressed the sword's blade closer to Hiccup's neck. She froze on the spot, knowing any move would just kill Hiccup. But the boy standing on his knees with a weapon threatening him didn't think this was it. Hiccup body-slammed Viggo as he wasn't looking at him, knocking the sword out of his hand.
''Hold him there, Astrid,'' said Hiccup, and he rushed to his dragon. Toothless whined and finally got to his feet, though still dizzy from the punch. He looked up at his rider who helped him to his feet, eyes filled black as he wasn't himself so much.
''It's all over now,'' said Astrid, as she stood with both knives in hands, ready for battle.
But Viggo saw something none of them saw yet, and he could only grin as he looked pass Hiccup ad Toothless. ''Or is it?'' he said, and Astrid glared at him.
A movement caught Astrid's eye, and she twisted her body around to face Hiccup. ''Hiccup, look out!'' she called, and Hiccup turned around, only to have a hunter jumping on top of him, pinning him solidly to the ground.
Hiccup grunted under to weight of the man, a massive hand crushing his head to the ground, a knee digging in his back. Ryker looked up at his brother, and Viggo picked up his sword, minding very little about Astrid and her daggers.
''Viggo,'' said Astrid warningly, her eyes locked on him. But she didn't dare make a move.
Viggo approached, holding his sword with bad intentions. Hiccup struggled to get free, knowing what was coming next. Using all the might left in him, Hiccup forced his head out of Ryker's hand, and swung his head backwards, hitting Ryker in the face with the back of his head. Viggo didn't wait any longer, and rose the weapon above his head, only for Astrid to jump on him from behind, the two daggers at his throat. He dropped the sword, and its pointy end plunged itself into the ground, right next to Hiccup's face.
Hiccup squeezed his way out from Ryker as the man was distracted with his bleeding nose – not even noticing the boy escaping his grasp.
Viggo hit his back against a tree, crushing Astrid between him and the trunk. She yelled at the pain, and forced Viggo forward by leaning her weight forward, sending them both collapsing farther.
Astrid was quickly on her feet, and went retrieving her axe still stuck in the tree. With a whistle to call for her dragon, Stormfly landed heavily in the clearing, her tail-spines up, ready to be fired. She roared her eyes arrowed dangerously at the two hunters.
Astrid hopped on the saddle immediately, and so did Hiccup on Toothless, even if his dragon wasn't in his best shape at the moment.
''Toothless, sky!'' he commanded, and the Night Fury lifted himself off the ground, his wings beating with difficulty.
''That was a warning.'' said Astrid before shooting after Hiccup and Toothless.
When both dragons and riders where up in the sky, Ryker rose to his feet, mad. He growled, his hands balled into fists.
''No, Ryker,'' said Viggo to his brother, seriously. ''It's not worth it.''
The two brothers looked up as the enemy fled, one with the desire of their deaths and the other with a growing smile on his lips as thoughts danced in his mind. Viggo furrowed his brows, smiling as his eyes followed the Night Fury flying away, his rider holding on as they climbed high.
Hiccup and Astrid paused in the air, high enough to avoid all weaponry from the hunters below. They shared a look and noticed other dragons approaching. Toothless and Stormfly hovered closer to the other dragons and riders.
No word was said – all Hiccup did was nod, and they all knew the definition. Their work was done here. Directing their dragons south, the team flew back to Dragon's Edge – back home.
''Hiccup,'' said Astrid out of the blue as she approached Stormfly closer to Hiccup who flew at the head of the formation. ''Thanks.'' She showed a smile of gratitude. Hiccup looked at her, and against his will, he smiled back and looked away.
''No.'' he said. ''I have to thank you.'' He got a curious look from her, and he knew what she was asking. ''If you hadn't jumped in as Viggo went for the kill...''
''I know, I know...'' said Astrid, looking down as she knew what this meant. Hiccup would've been long gone. ''I think he's more of an animal than he says.''
They soared through the sky, the sunrise blinding them in the way - Hiccup and Astrid's thoughts playing around of possibilities if they hadn't been there for each other.