Chapter 11 already! Wow, I'm moving on really fast. Only one problem: College starts again on Monday, so there won't be much in the way of updates after then. Sorry!
Sealiman Dawntracker: Yes! As much as possible!
Guest: Thanks a lot! I'm putting as much effort as possible into this. I hope he will be cute, but I'll have to get around to finishing him first!
Slowly, the blackness cleared from Hiccup's mind, draining away like a thick, oily sludge. He felt the swelling of his lungs in his chest, the throbbing of his heart as his conciousness slowly returned. Trying to get himself moving again, he clenched his left fist slowly, then his right. It took effort, but every time he repeated the action, he felt stronger, until finally, he had the strength to force his eyes to flutter open.
He was lying on his back, staring up at what seemed to be a surprisingly thick canopy of leaves, with branches criss-crossing it like the struts of a house. He gulped thirstily, turning his head to search for water and finding that the canopy stretched right down to the ground at the back. The pine boughs were all entwined together and resting against the wooden frame. It was a shelter, he realised with a jolt. Looking the other way confirmed it; he stared out of the opening into the warm glow of the approaching dawn.
There, sprawled out near to the shelter, Ruffnut lay in a heap as though she had just fallen asleep where she fell, an empty water skin from Toothless's saddle bags clutched in her hand. Her brother was trying to arrange her in a position that wasn't quite so dynamic, without any trouble, thanks to her being such a heavy sleeper. As he finally rolled her on to her back and lay her arms by her sides, he peered into the shelter and raised a hand in greeting to his chief.
"How are you feeling?" He called out, overly loudly. His voice rang painfully in Hiccup's head.
"Fine, I think..." He croaked feebly, swallowing dryly again. "Though... I wouldn't mind a drink of water."
"One water, coming right up!" The brother chimed, skipping merrily away towards the sound of pure, trickling liquid, leaving the water skin still clutched in his sister's hand. He was halfway across the clearing before he realised and doubled back to retrieve it. Hiccup's eyes fell on Ruffnut, who was unattractively smacking her lips in her sleep. She must have done everything here for him, from the bed of boughs he was sleeping on to the shelter he was sleeping under. He suddenly realised that his shoulder, tough painful to move, was almost comfortable again. She'd removed his breastplate and shoulder pads, laying them out neatly beside him. It would explain why his jerkin shoulder was slightly damp; she'd obviously cleaned that up, too.
The dragons must have helped too, and her brother to some extent, but he was willing to bet that she had done the bulk of the work. Despite her short attention span, shelter building was one of her few talents, and this one was no exception. He smiled. There had to be some sort of reward he could give both of the twins for their support and bravery. However, maybe getting back their village would be enough.
"She said you need to rest." Tuffnut muttered, flopping down beside him and handing him the water skin. Hiccup drank thirstily, almost emptying the skin before he placed it back on the ground again.
"I don't think I'd mind," He replied casually. Tuffnut smirked. However, there was a look in his eyes that his chief knew all too well. "What's wrong, Tuff?"
"Will we get the village back?" The uncertainty sounded wrong in his voice, looked wrong on his face. Hiccup cringed slightly, turning his face away.
"Well... 'Course we will. Look at all the help we've got! Dagur doesn't stand a chance, trust me. And besides, I already have a plan. I'll tell you once we've both had some sleep, okay?"
"Ugh, fine..." Tuffnut lay back and rolled onto his side, his back to his chief, playing with the dust with one finger. However, it didn't take long for them both to be asleep.
Toothless snatched at the air beneath him, twisting his tail to every gust, taking deep, refreshing breaths of the clean air. His wings pounded powerfully as they flew across the tree canopy at speed. His rider stood in his stirrups, perched confidently atop his dragon, a determined look crossing his face. This was it. Only one chance. It was now or never. If they didn't reclaim Berk now, well, they might just as well forget it. Hiccup glanced back nervously. Just three Vikings and five dragons against the whole of the Berserker fleet. The odds were stacked against them.
"We all know the plan, guys. Now's our chance to make it happen. Still with me?" He called back. If they wanted to abandon everything, he wasn't going to stop them. He was asking them to go to death for him. However, he heard a sharp laugh in reply.
"Yup!" Tuffnut blurted out, adjusting his helmet with a sly smirk.
"Always!" His sister added jubilantly.
"Right then. Into Hel we go..." Hiccup gulped, bracing himself as the last of the trees gave way to reveal the scar of the village, blackened and burned, huddled in a circle of destruction. Below, he could see the soldiers swarming about, moving things, wading through the mud and the ash and the sludge below. He could see the Skrill on its raised platform, fast asleep as people moved around it. Dagur was nowhere to be seen.
"You know the plan, guys! Let's move!" On his command, Toothless dropped, followed closely by Torch. The familiar Night Fury screech built beneath the dragon's wings until, with a triumphant sound, Toothless blasted a hole in the centre of the village. The men around threw themselves to the ground, covering their heads as the creature passed over. Torch gave a shrill cry, bringing back his head and bathing the ground in hot, molten fire. A great stream stretched out from behind him.
Meatlug and Hookfang weren't far behind them, and as Toothless doubled back, Hiccup shouted out his orders to them. "Keep everyone below occupied and Torch will set your riders free. Trust me!" Toothless added a powerful roar to underline his point, then turned in the direction of his own battle. The Skrill, waking up and shaking out its wings, gave a mighty, challenging roar.
Scauldy hung back, staring down at the battle below with a sense of urgency. He wanted to be down there, helping, but his rider refused to let him budge. Hidden away in the nook of the mountain, She had to stay put and wait for Hiccup. It was the one thing she had to remember. After that, everyone would see how amazing her dragon was. She'd show them all soon enough.
Torch reached out with his powerful hind claws, smashing his way through the first set of houses. "Remember, Torch," his rider called out, "we're looking for Hiccup's mum. As soon as we find her, you have to let me down, okay?" His dragon nodded, banking sharply to come in for another pass. Already, people were clambering out of the wreckage, but they weren't riders or dragons from the flight club; just normal townsfolk desperate to be free. They took up arms against the Berserkers as soon as they set eyes on them, fighting with whatever they had: sticks, stones, pieces of splintered wood. Torch stretched out again, ready for the second pass.
Hiccup watched as the Skrill looked up at him, hatred in its eyes. Hatred put there by Dagur. This dragon wasn't a bad dragon, it wasn't evil, but it had befriended the wrong human. It believed that this was right, that this was good. His stomach churned uncomfortably. Toothless fired a shot along one side of the deck, swooping past and turning in a wide circle to do the same on the other side. Without a second thought, it leapt into the air and began the chase.
"Down there!" Tuffnut yelped triumphantly. He pointed as he spotted Valka clambering out of the remains of one house, looking dazed and confused, disorientated, even. Calling out her name, he had Torch dive down and drop him beside her, before he flew away again to continue his attack.
"Valka! I'm so glad you're okay!" He cried in elation.
"Tuffnut? I don't understand, what's going on?" She snatched hold of his arm to steady herself. Around them, soldiers were closing in. Tuffnut backed away, pulling Hiccup's mother along with him. Sneering faces pressed in on all sides, weapons glinting in the firelight. Determined looks passed over both of their faces, Valka dropping Tuffnut's arm and striding forward confidently.
"Where's my armour?" She growled. The soldiers laughed heartily as though it were some kind of joke, but the cruel look crossing the woman's face told otherwise. "Where have you put it? I demand to know!" She bared her teeth.
"Why should we tell you?" One man snorted.
"Because if you don't, the dragons hovering above you will attack and probably kill you all." The chief's mother turned her gaze skyward, to where Meatlug and Hookfang were holding themselves steady against the wind. The men were frozen with fear, not a word passing their lips. A few weapons dropped to the ground. "Very well, I'm sure we'll find them somewhere. Tuffnut, to Cloudjumper!"
Blasts echoed as the two dragons made a hole in the ranks for their humans. Valka grabbed the young man's hand and dragged him behind her. Both bolted towards a large building that was still yet to be destroyed by the huge Typhoomerang swooping above. Tuffnut gave a shout, directing his dragon to the place they were heading, watching in awe as he swept out of the sky and smashed through the building. Inside, they watched as the magnificent head of a Stormcutter rose out of the wreckage and gave a screeching roar.
Sorry it's late, had to go upcountry yesterday. It was fun, but it did make me late for the upload. It;s here, though! Only one day late. I shall try to keep on top of these uploads from now on! Just a quick update, updates will slow down after Monday because I go back to college then, so don't get upset at me, okay?