I can't believe I actually got this chapter done for you guys! I hate to be keeping you waiting with all these cliffhangers, so sorry, but it's half the fun of reading right? Anyways, I give you.. a Hiccup chapter! I already have pretty much the whole next two chapters in my head right now, so it won't take very long to write them. I'll hopefully be posting them within the next two or three days, so you won't have to wait long. If anyone is going back to school tomorrow like I am, I wish you luck! Hope this year treats you well :) (as you can see i have tried making my own version of a horizontal rule, since it's not showing up on my computer for some reason)

Chapter Fourteen

No one had seen Toothless and I fly in. I knew we'd be nothing but a shadow as we raced from the clouds to the cover of the beach.

Stealth was the Night Fury's specialty, the reason us vikings had considered it the most deadly dragon so many years ago. And of course, Toothless hadn't lost his touch. If anything, the two of us together got around quicker than ever before. It startled even myself how fast we'd gotten to the ground, and without a sound. My added weight had made us plummet quick as a blink, and my leather flight suit working with Toothless' fins made us silently aerodynamic.

As soon as we were positioned behind the rocks as planned, I hopped off Toothless and gave him a wide smile.

"That was our best dive yet bud" I whispered excitably, but barely audible.

Toothless returned the smile and danced around happily in a circle, even more excited than I was. It probably wasn't very noisy, but to me it sounded like every hop he made was louder than a firing catapult. I put my hands straight out towards him waving them up and down as a signal for him to quiet down. I caught his attention and he sat, cocking his head with an innocent look. I huffed. Did he forget where we were? Toothless glanced around and looked as if a light bulb had lit up in his head. He dropped down again on all fours, suddenly serious and gave me a sharp nod to continue.

I reached into his saddlebag and pulled out the wrinkled map of Outcast island. If I remembered correctly the fastest route to the dungeons was to go straight from here, make a few turns and bam, easy as pie. But as I peered over the rock we were behind to get a better look at our entrance, I realized if anyone were to come down the path, they'd see us instantly; and even though there was the cover of the rocks and some small openings in the wall, it wasn't enough to hide a boy and a dragon. I sighed and looked to the map again. Not only was that the shortest way, but it was also the only road that would lead us away from where most of the Outcasts would be. If they were anything like Berkians, they'd be gathered in their Hall for breakfast. Well, Outcasts were nothing like Berkians, but all vikings loved to eat. I prayed to Thor I'd be right.

I did a quick once-over of our route with Toothless, and waved at him to follow me. I double checked for lingering Outcasts, and upon seeing none, took off in a sprint towards the path. I stopped at the base of the two walls that rose up around it and flattened my back against the one on the right, out of sight of anyone coming down the path. Toothless moved tight against the hard stone wall also, to my left. I counted three seconds out of habit, then, holding my breath, peered ever so cautiously around the corner. No one. I breathed out the air I'd been holding and gave a thumbs up to Toothless before bending into a half crouch and scampering down the narrow pathway, still keeping to the wall.

I had broken out the ol' Gronkle Iron bow for the mission. I had it firmly strapped to my forearm, ready to bash anyone who may appear around the bend. For some extra protection I had my fire sword, Inferno, clasped to my belt as usual. I'd only use that if it came to desperate measures.

With Toothless close on my heels we continued. We made it past one, two, then three turns without any trouble. Well, I guess I'd spoken too soon. Ahead of us laid a long, debilitated bridge. The thing looked like it couldn't hold more than a feather. I groaned and looked angrily down at the map, there wasn't supposed to be a bridge here! I peeked over my shoulder at Toothless and shrugged, we had no choice but to cross it now, vulnerable.

I began to walk forwards towards it, and froze. Voices. Straight ahead coming from around the corner on the other side of the bridge. My eyes flickered around, desperate for an exit, and fast. There was no use going back, we'd still be spotted. But maybe..

"Toothless" I whispered, and pointed to the one spot we could go.

He scooped me up onto his back and we bolted forward, disappearing. The spot I had chosen was right underneath the bridge across the gap. I grasped tightly to Toothless as he clung to the rock face; making no attempts to move. Over fifty feet below us lay yet another walking path. If anyone came from there and happened to look up.. We were screwed.

I focused on Toothless' steady breathing under me as the voices neared. Soon enough they were right over my head. I heard the creaking of the bridge as the burly men stepped onto it. I was surprised it held their weight as they looked above even the average viking size. A little trickle of dust sprinkled onto my face as the first man began walking, then the second.

The Outcasts had only made it three quarters of the way across when a low rumbling singing echoed it's way up from the pathway below us. Shit. Another Outcast, heavily drunk by the looks of it, clambered his way forward, tripping over his own feet triggering his ale to slosh over the brim of the bottle and onto the dirt. I looked from the men on the bridge (who didn't even glimpse down), to the man below. Please don't look up, please Thor don't let the man look up..

The two bulky Outcasts had made their way across the bridge and were rounding the corner when Toothless' foot slipped; raining small pebbles and dirt down from our hiding spot. The drunk made a confused noise in between a burp and a shout as the rocks scattered at his feet, and looked up. But we were already gone, safe on the ground again, and now across the bridge. I dismounted Toothless and leaned against the wall, breathing heavily and wiping the sweat off my brow with the back of my sleeve.

"Phew, that was a close one eh bud?" I murmured

Toothless crooned in agreement, eyes wide. That was quite the scare. It was an eye opener to how fast our rescue could go wrong. I don't know what we'd of done if one of those men had seen us and reported back to Alvin of our arrival. That wouldn't go well. I counted on getting out of here without even a glimpse of the grotesque Outcast chieftain.

Toothless and I pressed on, fortunately without even the nasty scent of any other Outcasts. I must of been right about it being breakfast.

In minutes, we were at the door of the dungeon. It was a large, thick iron thing, with a wooden bar secured over it. Supposedly so that the prisoners inside wouldn't be able to push it open in hopes of escape. Around it were stakes planted firmly into the soil, with several various viking helmets balancing on the top of each one. There were no guards on the outside, which more than suspicious..

I cast a wary look around me, but there was still nothing. And even if there were Outcast scum hidden somewhere nearby waiting to pop out and surprise us, Toothless would know.

I pointed to the wooden beam covering the door. I was defiantly too weak to lift it, the thing looked like an entire tree trunk.

"Toothless, plasma blast!" I commanded

The dragon made a high pitched whistle as he charged up, then fired. The crackling purple orb hit the wood dead centre, sounding an ear-splitting crack as it broke messily in half and fell to the ground. I cowered. Maybe it would of been better to get Toothless to move the log. Any Outcast in their right mind was sure to of heard that. Toothless turned to me and winced, he had the same thought.

"Okay, let's make this fast." I rushed

We shoved the two broken pieces to the side and heaved open the large double doors. Light seeped into the room giving us a clear view of the rusted prison. But our moment was cut short. It was empty.

I couldn't believe my eyes. My mind raced for some kind of explanation, if Alvin wasn't keeping them here, then where were they? What had he done with them? Toothless suddenly tensed up beside me, snarling at the large inky figure of something coming out from a corner. Two encounters in the last few days? Boy was I ever lucky, this had to be a new record.

It was Savage.