Hi, guys. So, I'll be updating Wolves later on today...right now I've sorta hit a writers block thingy...but it'll pass soon, don't worry. :) And I want to thank everyone who've supported this story, and everything, and WOW, there are A LOT of followers to this story right now, and I'm really amazed. ALMOST 200 reviews, too! Like, how did that happen!? :D You guys are just too awesome for me. Have a great day! :D
Hiccup hated Yes and No questions. Especially when it had to do with life or death situations. Of course, though, his choice was obvious.
"I'll go," Hiccup said blatantly without hardly any hesitation at all. "Just, let Astrid go."
Alvin smiled murderously. "Very well then, Hiccup," he said. "You and your Night Fury are coming to Outcast Island without any questions asked, like you said. You can tell your people that if they follow you, well...let's just say, it won't be pretty."
"Hiccup!" Snotlout, Ruffnut, Tuffnut and Fishlegs shouted from above them.
"What are you doing!?" Snotlout shouted.
"Snotlout," Hiccup said, "tell everyone that I've…" He glanced at Alvin, Astrid, and Toothless before turning back to his cousin, "...tell them that I've agreed to give myself up to the Outcasts."
"WHAT!?" they shouted in unison.
"Are you insane!?" Snotlout shouted.
"They'll kill Astrid if I don't," said Hiccup. "Snotlout, go start telling the villagers. Fishlegs, Ruffnut and Tuffnut…" He looked back at the injured, unconscious girl and her dragon, in the same condition. "Take Astrid and Stormfly to the healers. Tell them they were shot out of the sky."
"But, Hiccup-" Fishlegs started.
"Do it, Fishlegs!" Hiccup shouted back.
Fishlegs swooped down, Ruffnut and Tuffnut doing the same on their dragons. Meatlug grabbed Astrid in her claws while Barf and Belch took care of getting Stormfly.
"Hiccup-" Fishlegs tried again.
"Tell Astrid not to worry about me," Hiccup said. "You know, when she wakes up. Tell her...well, tell her that I'll be alright. Hopefully…"
Fishlegs nodded, albeit hesitantly, before he and the twins flew off towards the healer's. Hiccup turned to face Alvin and Toothless. Toothless growled.
"Can I blast him now, Hiccup?" he asked. "We don't have to go with him, you know. I can blast him, make it easy, get it over with, end it all, and everything. Shall I?"
Hiccup risked talking mentally, just this one time; "No, buddy," he said. "We can't take back on our word. The Outcasts will destroy Berk before we have a chance to react accordingly."
Toothless huffed, yet complied, only because he didn't have a choice. He and Hiccup were chained by the Outcasts, and then forced below decks, shoved into two separate cages.
Cages. Hiccup could have scoffed. They had chained and caged them as if there was something they could have done. The only things below the decks were the cages. What did the Outcasts expect them to do? Walk to death?
He didn't have a clue, nor did he want to. The Outcasts weren't exactly the smartest of people, but Hiccup knew that if they were smart enough to capture him and Toothless, then he had underestimated them the entire time.
Besides, they weren't complete idiots. They knew his weaknesses.
"This is all my fault, Toothless," Hiccup said. "I'm sorry I dragged you into this."
"Your fault?" Toothless mocked. "I love your sarcasm, Hiccup. You're really convincing."
"Toothless, I was being serious," Hiccup said.
"Well so was I," Toothless came back.
"Bud, the Outcasts are probably going to end up killing us, or…" Hiccup swallowed before continuing. "Or worse."
"What could be worse then...oh," Toothless froze. "Oh, now I...now I...oh, I get...wow, you weren't joking...um…that's not good."
"Uh-huh, yeah, I thought so," Hiccup said. "And yes it is my fault. You can't argue."
"Well, no it's not, and yes, I can argue," Toothless said. "That jerk was going to kill your mate-"
"Astrid is not my mate," Hiccup said.
"Oh, well...I just assumed that…" Toothless started. "Well, have you ever said that to her face?"
"No…?" Hiccup said.
"So, she's your soon-to-be-mate, since it sounds like you've never actually one hundred percent denied the idea," said Toothless.
"Knock it off, please," Hiccup said (well, more like begged now).
"What?" Toothless asked curiously, cocking his head to the side. "What'd I do wrong this time? Hiccup…?"
"You're just not helping, Toothless, and this situation is beyond serious," Hiccup said. "I would really appreciate it if for now, you just let me try and think for a few minutes."
"I'm just...okay, okay, I'm shutting up now, Hiccup," Toothless said, catching Hiccup's glare out of the corner of his eye. "But what are we going to do? You have a plan, don't you? You always have a plan. Hiccup…?"
"Toothless," Hiccup said, "as far as I know, we could be on Outcast Island for the rest of our lives."
"That doesn't sound like a very good plan, Hiccup," Toothless said flatly. He and Hiccup's cages were across from each other, a small hallway in between them. They were separated, unable to even touch one another through the bars.
"I know it doesn't, Toothless," Hiccup said, "but what else are we going to do?" Toothless sighed, as did Hiccup. "You know, Toothless, they're going to try and make me train dragons," Hiccup said. "And...when they do...they might...they might hurt me to try and get me to talk…"
"No!" Toothless shouted. "No, Hiccup, I won't let them touch you! Not if I have a say in it!" When Hiccup didn't respond, Toothless let out a sigh (again). "Hiccup, I can't let them hurt you," he said. "You're...you're like a brother to me, Hiccup. You're all the family I really have. If they do something to you, I'll...I'll just never be able to forgive myself."
Hiccup looked at his dragon, a small smile blooming on his face. "I haven't given up hope, Toothless," he said. "And...I feel like that, too, brother."
Toothless smiled (or, tried to, at least). "I'll keep you safe, Hiccup," he said. "If the Outcasts even try to harm you, they'll be hearing it from me."
"Me too," Hiccup said. "Only, if they try to hurt you, I'll make sure they pay."
Hiccup and Toothless sat back in their cages with bated breath as the boat finally began moving towards Outcasts Island, farther and farther away from Berk and everyone who lived in it.