It's finally starting to get easier to write longer chapters, whoop whoop. Second update today, if you missed chapter 10, go and read it, it's very important. And, of course, enjoy!

Chapter 11 The plan

Okay, it was official. He didn't like Nadders. Unlike from the Monstrous Nightmare from the day before, the Nadder Dagur had unleashed was cranky, angry and doing it's best to roast or impale everyone in sight. That included Wrenlou, who had to duck regularly. After a particularly close call, which landed him on his broken arm, he had had enough.

He stood up, turning to the Nadder. He didn't move as the dragon charged, staring it straight in the eyes. The dragon stopped, a few feet away from him, shaking it's head in confusion. The Nadder held her heard tilted, to keep Wrenlou out of her blind spot. Wrenlou stared back at her. It had only been a few days, but he was at his wit's end. He hadn't slept in days, he hardly ate, he constantly worried about Hiccup and the last thing he needed was a dragon that would't cooperate. So he screamed at it. He screamed until his voice gave out. The Nadder backed away, surprised by this sudden outburst. He sank to the ground, his head buried in his hands. Their situation seemed hopeless. Hiccup was...

A nudge.

He looked up. The Nadder was standing over him.

'So now you're coming. Stupid dragon.' He stroke her nose. 'I guess you need a name now huh? How about Spiketail?'

She cooed and darted around him. She then demonstrated the accuracy of that name by sending spikes flying in every direction.

'Great, just great. I thought we were past that.'

He got back up and looked at Dagur. The man had made a promise. After Wrenlou kept insisting that he wanted to see Snowflake and Toothless, Dagur had promised to take him there after the Nadder had been trained. Now that the dragon was no longer trying to fry everyone, Dagur had to keep his promise.

Although Wrenlou didn't really expect him to.

But Dagur, after staring angrily for a while, signaled to his men. They pulled Wrenlou's hands behind his back and tied them tightly. He winced as his broken arm was forced in a painful position. Dagur left the arena after locking the dragons in their cages, and Wrenlou was pushed after him. They took a small road into the mountains, until they were high above the ground. The ravine beneath them was filled with fog, concealing the ground. Wrenlou peered down as they walked the narrow road. He could see stone spikes sticking their head above the fog. He didn't fancy falling in that. They walked past many more cells and dragon cages, all empty, except for one.

'Snowflake! Toothless!'

The dragons perked up at hearing his voice. They were muzzled and chained, but they managed to make some sounds. Snowflake desperately tried to break the chain that held her back, but was unsuccessful. Toothless seemed a little less enthusiastic. His body betrayed his worry for his rider.

He eyed the dragons. They were covered in dust, the grey dulling the colour from Toothless black scales as well as Snowflake's white ones and both dragons seemed a little malnourished, but other than that they looked fine.

He wanted to reassure them, tell them everything was going to be fine, that they would be out here soon, but he couldn't. He couldn't even touch them. Before he could even do anything, he was yanked back by a hand grabbing his hair. Snowflake growled, or tried to, at his cry of pain. He could hear the dragons wailing through their muzzle's when he was pulled back down that small winding road.

He was put back on training the dragons. The Nadder had warmed up to him, and she no longer tried to blast him to pieces. While he was trying to teach them a fire command, a plan formed in his head. Every time one of the fire blasts hit the wall, or the target, smoke would cover the ground. If he could get them to fire all together, the arena would fill up with smoke. He was sure the dragons would be able to blast the doors with their combined firepower and then they would be able to leave. He could free the Night Fury's and leave. There was one but. Hiccup. He couldn't get into the narrow hallway with a bunch of dragons and he sure as hell wasn't going to leave him behind. No, he had to figure out a way to get him into the arena. Some excuse Dagur would believe.

The idea distracted him for the rest of the day. He accidentally told Liberty to set herself on fire, and tried to teach the Nadder how to make herself invisible. Dagur shouted at him from time to time, eventually giving up and signaling his men to take him back to the cell.

When he entered the cell looking around for Hiccup, his mouth fell open. Hiccup was were he had left him, but he was lying on some furs, tucked in tightly. When Wrenlou inspected the wound, he found that it had been taken care of as well. He looked around, utterly confused. Then he remembered the small flask with the antidote, which he had hidden in Hiccup's boot. It was still there, but it was emptier than before. Someone had been here. Someone had been here to take care of Hiccup.

Hiccup shifted on his furs, then opened his eyes.

'Wrenlou?'

'Hey, Hiccup.' Wrenlou said, surprised. 'You're awake.'

'I guess so.' Hiccup mumbled. 'I'm not dead yet huh.'

'No. no you're not. So... how do you feel?'

'Like I was chewed by a Gronckle.'

Wrenlou chuckled. 'I have no idea how that feels. You look better though.'

'You look kinda bad yourself.' Hiccup said, trying to sit up a little, but giving up when it hurt too much.

'Well, thank you. I'm just tired. And hungry. And worried. And I'm sick of dragons that try to blast me to oblivion.'

'What was it now?' Hiccup's voice was no more than a whisper.

'Nadder. An angry, cranky Nadder. I don't like Nadders.'

'Don't let Stormfly hear that.'

Wrenlou smiled, but then his smile turned to a concerned frown.

'Hiccup, did you notice anyone in here today? Anyone that was... not me?'

'No.' Hiccup mumbled. 'Should I have?'

'I don't know. I think someone was in here. No, I know someone was in here. Where else would these come from.'

He pulled on the furs, then looked to Hiccup. He didn't seem to fully understand what Wrenlou meant. The poison was still lingering in his body, dulling his mind.

'Hey, I did see Toothless.'

'Really? Is he okay? Where is he? What about Snowflake?'

'He is okay. They both are. They looked a little malnourished, but other then that they looked fine to me. They're in a cage in the mountains. The only way to get there is over this extremely small and dangerous mountain road. Or flying of course. I don't know what Dagur has planned for them though.'

But Hiccup didn't seem to hear his words anymore. His eyes had slid closed and his breathing had evened out. He had fallen asleep with a smile on his face. Wrenlou sat next to him for a while, pondering what to do. The plan was a good plan, but it had one major flaw. Getting Dagur to let Hiccup come to the arena. Eventually he too fell asleep, for the first time in days.