Apologies for the wait (again). I'm guessing it's gonna be this way for the rest of this story...

Hiccup blinked his eyes at the sting from the smoke. The air was hard to breathe, but he fought to be updated on what was happening anyway.

''Toothless,'' he whispered, unconsciously struggling against the dragon that saved him from the fire down below. He clumsily reached his hands to his collar between the night dragon's jaws, attempting to free himself from him. ''Toothless, he… he's down there.'' His words gave away his exhaustion, and Shadowdrift still couldn't believe this little human had almost killed himself to save dragons.

Shadowdrift's ears folded back as a knot caught in his throat. Hiccup really loved that dragon, and the NightWing felt ashamed to be unable to save the Night Fury as well. It was almost like leaving a friend behind. Scratch that. That was exactly what it was.

Toothless looked up at his rider, saved by the NightWing, and wailed back at them. His green eyes reflected the flames licking at the wood around him, his pupils only a black scratch against the toxic color. There was nowhere to go. Not up, not down. He was a prisoner of this sinking red hell. At least Hiccup got out of this. Toothless could take the heat, but not the water. He wasn't a great swimmer, to be honest. The only times he entered the endless blue was either if his best friend was in danger or for training. He'd drown without someone to control his tail or to carry him in the air. He just hoped his distress call had woken up one of the dragons back on the Edge and that help would be arriving soon.

…

Stormfly sped above the ocean's wild waves, her nasal horn cutting straight through the wind trying to slow them down. But the Deadly Nadder's determination was way more powerful, especially combined with her rider's. Astrid's eyes were closed to slits while her bangs were pushed back.

''Common, girl.'' she squeezed her saddle's handles tight, her blue eyes searching for action. ''We need to find them, quick.''

Stormfly exchanged a gaze with her rider and squawked in reply, accelerating even more.

''Common, common. Where are you?'' said Astrid, scanning the horizon. The sky was pitch-black, but she knew it would start turning pale soon. And so before the sun rose and blinded her, the young warrior focused harder on spotting the source of the distress call. ''Stormfly, higher!''

The Nadder did as told on the spot and climbed higher in the sky. She regained her constant speed quickly, making it easy for Astrid to focus on searching. A hand before her face for protection against the wild wind, Astrid's blue eyes reflected the bright flames of a distant burning ship. Even though they were quite far away, she could tell there wasn't much left of it. Stormfly squawked in alarm as she recognized Toothless' wails and exchanged a look with Astrid who replied, ''It's them, alright! Good job, Stormfly.''

…

There was poorly left to the ship and Toothless tried several times to climb up, only to fail every time. There wasn't much time left now.

''No! Let me go!'' cried out Hiccup, struggling against the NightWing who could only pull back his head to avoid the human's fists trying to reach his snout. ''Just drop me!''

I'm trying to save you! was all the dragon could think while holding him by the back of his shirt.

''We'll never get him out of there, Hiccup!'' said Snotlout, worry painted all over his face as well. ''We can feel the heat from up here, how do you think you'll manage to get close to him without, oh, I don't know, being roasted alive?!''

''But we can't just leave him there!'' said Hiccup, swinging his legs to Snotlout. ''He'll die!''

Snotlout returned his eyes on the Night Fury below and exchanged a look with Hookfang. What if it was his dragon down there? Would he be willing to enter these red-hot flames to save him?

Snotlout inhaled and stroke Hookfang's horns. ''Ok, Hooky,'' said Snotlout, loud enough for them both only. ''It's you and me.'' The Viking grabbed both horns and prepared to fly down there and save Toothless, but just as he was about to swing into the momentum, blue spines flew right before him, preventing him from reaching down there.

''Don't even think about it!'' came Astrid's voice as Snotlout looked over his shoulder to see Astrid coming in hot on Stormfly.

''Astrid!'' cried out Snotlout, which came out more shocked than intended. ''How did you—'' But the girl was already speeding past him for the ship. ''Right. Nevermind.''

Toothless paid attention as the Nadder swooped down, massive claws extended and waited for them to close around his form. The rough-scaled inside of Stormfly's feet made contact with the Night Fury's smooth black ones and carried them away from the ship. Toothless watched wide-eyed as the rest of what was left was blasted to pieces by one final explosion that put an end to the lead ship. Toothless looked up at Stormfly, wings dangling from each side of him, and softly growled in thanks.

''Toothless!'' called Hiccup, still dangling loosely from the dragon's grasp on his collar. The Night Fury was carried beneath him and Shadowdrift judged it was now alright to let go of him. The Dragon Rider's leg clicked right into place as he was dropped, sending the tailfin spreading wide, finally allowing Toothless to fly once again. Hiccup sighed his relief loudly, scratching his best friend's head fiercely. ''Thank God you're okay, bud. I really thought I was losing you back there.''

''Yeah, what were you thinking, exactly?'' demanded Astrid, clearly upset she'd had to save their butts in the middle of the night. ''You better have a good explanation, Hiccup Haddock, or else.'' As she spoke, the rest of the Riders showed up behind her, confusion painted all over their faces.

''He wasn't thinking, Astrid,'' replied Snotlout, attempting to look very serious and mature while making gestures of a hand at their leader who only glared back at him in annoyance. ''Hiccup just had to save those dragons. Hiccup the hero!''

''Save dragons?'' echoed Darklight a short distance away. The female NightWing looked at her friend hovering next to her in confusion at the scavengers' words.

But Shadowdrift didn't look even slightly surprised and only commented, ''You'd be surprised.''

Darklight narrowed her eyes at him, a feeling in her stomach that suggested he knew more than he was telling. She returned her brown eyes edged of her silver scales on the scavengers on the back of dragons, and wondered if Shadowdrift was right after all.