Finding Balance 29

"Go after them!" Johann ordered Krogan as he grasped the router to turn his ship in the direction the dragon had gone. His foot was broken and he could barely put weigh on it but it wasn't going to stop him from his goal. The dragon had been hit, there was no way it could make it back to the mainland.

"They've probably fallen into the water and been a ten by Sharkworms. The Dragon Eye is lost," Krogan answered calmly.

"You don't know Hiccup Haddock," Johann sneered. "That boy has an uncanny ability to survive. I've orchestrated the war between Hooligans and Outcasts, Berserkers, and Hunters, and the boy somehow sweet talks his way to peace with each of them. No more! I will have the Dragon Eye and crush Hiccup under my feet. He'll wish the Sharkworms had killed him."

"You might be wishing the same thing, Johann," an all too familar voice bellowed.

Johann turned as two large Rumblehorns landed on his ship with other dragons quickly surrounding it. Before either Johann or Krogan had a chance to respond they weapons were destroyed and they were forced to surrender as ships appeared in the horizon.

Stoick slipped off Skullcrusher and approached Johann slowly. Ryker did the same, trying to hide his discomfort as he drew his bow, an arrow aimed at Krogan's chest.

"Where's my son?" Stoick demanded.

Johann's eyes were wide as he stared at the much larger man. "Stoick!" he greeted, trying to keep some of his usual cheer. It turned into a croak as the Hooligan chief grabbed him by the throat and lofted him off his feet. "I don't know. He was here then..."

Stoick's hand tightened around his throat. "I know you work for Drago Bludvist so let's skip the stories and get to business."

Johann glanced at Krogan. The bounty hunter was standing off against Ryker. There was no escape and no way to talk their way out this. Johann had spent his life searching for the King of Dragons. He had killed for it, manipulated chiefs and heirs and numerous fool hearty people for it. He wasn't about to let the likes of Stoick the Vast end it all.

He drew a blade, intent on shoving it deep into Stoick's gut. He never got that far. The ping of a bow string seemed to echo all around. Johann gasped, eyes growing impossibly wide as a searing pain filled the side of his head. The knife fell from his hand. His surprise was met by Stoick's then a crushing grip on his throat as understanding came over Stoick. Johann died before he fell to the deck.

Stoick turned toward Ryker with a raised brow.

Ryker only shrugged. "I already know everything you need about his employer," the Hunter assured. He wasn't bothered when Krogan jumped overboard. "And him? He's already dead for failing. Doesn't matter if the Sharkworms get him or not." He rolled his shoulders before slinging his bow over one. "I'll have one of my men take control of the ship. The boys are out there somewhere. We need to find them."

Stoick nodded. "Aye. Dagur and I need to have words."

Ryker sighed and looked out over the sea. "I know. But there's more to what happened than you know. Johann manipulated both boys, encouraged Dagur and victimized Hiccup. Don't do anything rash until you know the whole story. Hiccup is not the only victim here."

The older man made a grumpy sound in throat but said nothing. He would deal with Dagur how he saw fit.

. . .

Light was the first thing Hiccup saw in the darkness. It was small and far away, a lone lantern on a ship. "No..." he murmured, fearful Johann had found them. He tried to reach out to Dagur but his movements were sluggish. He was cold. It bit through he wet clothing and into his flesh. Winter was in the air. They needed to get out of there and back to the mainland. If they didn't soon Johann would find them or Heather would die of hypothermia. The Triple Strike was warm but not warm enough as the temperature dropped.

Then the lights began to multiply. First only a few and then nearly a dozen. Hunters. But they were headed the wrong way, out to sea.

"No...we're here! We're over here!" he yelled, but his voice was hoarse and it came out as little more than a loud whisper. He stumbled to his feet and began waving his arms. "OVER HERE! WE'RE HERE!"

The Triple Strike lifted it's head and blew out a stream of fire, as if to mimic Hiccup's call, repeating when Hiccup. It took time but the Hunters must have noticed. Soon the lights changed course. Hiccup whooped in glee before falling to his knees as the cold set in. All they could do now was wait.

Time seemed to move incredibly slow and a part of Hiccup still feared it may be Johann coming for them and not a rescue. The Triple Strike kept blowing flames into the air until it too grew too tired and settled its head back on the ground with the humans still pressed against to his side. Hiccup petted its head.

"They're coming," he murmured, resting his head against the dragon's neck. He wished he had Toothless with him and prayed his best friend was okay but there was nothing he could do right now. Nothing but rest and gather his strength.

He was sure he was dreaming when next he woke. He heard voices calling his name. Astrid, Fishlegs, Snotlout, Ruffnut and Tuffnut, and his Dad. It was a nice dream. It felt like he was back home and his friends were a arching for him after he had taken Toothless for a fly around Berk and was out longer than he should have. He used to find it annoying but now he missed it and wanted them with him. He missed his friends, his riders, his lovers. He missed his Dad being overbearing and protective. He missed them all.

He felt a large warm hand touch his cheek, causing him to stir.

"Stoick, over here!" Ryker bellowed.

Hiccup cracked his eyes open and smiled softly at the Hunter. "Took you long enough," he said in way of greeting.

A smirk lifted one side of Ryker's mouth. "Well you know how it is entertaining Haddocks."

Hiccup would have asked what he meant but the next thing he knew he was in his father's arms.

"Hiccup!" Stoick breathed, looking him over for injury.

"I'm okay, Dad. I'm okay. It's Heather. Her shoulders are dislocated. She's needs help," he urged.

Stoick nodded and pressed his lips to Hiccup's forehead. "Alright, stay here."

"Wasn't planning on going anywhere," Hiccup assured, slumping back against the Triple Strike. Now that help had arrived he didn't feel so cold. He watched as his father probed Heather and judge the severity of her wounds. The sounds he was making were not good.

Warmth came when Astrid threw a heavy wool blanket around him then crushed him in a hug. Four other pairs of arms joined hers to pull Hiccup into a big group hug along with endless questions if he was okay. He assured them he was and was more worried about Heather. It wasn't until things calmed down that he learned she wasn't the only Berserker injured.

Warmed, he managed to escape his friends and stumble past his father to Ryker who was knelt next to an unconscious Dagur. Dagur had not stirred in all the chaos of their rescue. Ryker met his gaze and he knew it wasn't good.

"He's alive," Ryker assured, pressing a cloth to the back of Dagur's head. "Barely. He won't be for much longer if we don't treat his head immediately."

Hiccup shook his head. "No. He was fine. He saved us. He brought Heather back from the dead. He has to be okay."

Ryker sighed. "Not all injuries are immediately noticeable."

The youth shook his head in denial then turned to Stoick. "Dad, you need to fly him and Heather to the castle. Viggo as people their that can help them."

Shock filled his father's face then his eyes narrowed. "Son, I don't think..."

"Dad, please. He saved mine and Heather's lives! He needs our help. I'm not leaving him here." Panic filled Hiccup and he was almost certain this was all a nightmare. He was still asleep and when he woke up it would only be Ryker there to rescue them and He's be heading back to Berk in the morning.

"I'll take Heather," Astrid offered but Ryker shook his head.

"She can't be jerked around in her condition. Neither can Dagur. We'll carry them by ship on gruneys. They're in critical condition. We have specialists who can care for them," he explained.

Hiccup bobbed his head up and down. It made sense. Heather's shoulders had to be set and thankfully his father knew how to do that. With Ryker's help he set both arms and carefully bond her arms across her chest to keep them from moving or being jolted. She screamed when it was done, waking only for a moment before promptly passing out. She was kept propped out after that. Dagur's head was cleaned with fresh water from Snotlout canteen then wrapped. It was all any of them could do to treat his injury until the Healers saw him. Once the first ship arrived the Berserker siblings were carried to it. Hiccup went with them. He wasn't about to leave either of their sides until he knew they were going to recovery alright. His friends didn't understand but it didn't matter. He would explain everything later. Stoick had Skullcrusher carry the Triple Strike back to the castle and left it to rest in the courtyard along with the riders dragons.

Hiccup didn't join them. He stared with the siblings even as they were placed in their own cots in the infirmary. Only then did he leave them in order for the Healers to look him over more thoroughly, making him strip right down then dress in new dry, warm clothes.

It wasn't until then he was allowed to see Toothless, and Hiccup was happy to learn his dragon was safe and hadn't been hurt. Toothless scented him all over before licking his face until his hair was stuck up on end. The Nightfury purred happily as he rubbed against Hiccup.

"I'm happy you're okay, too, bud," Hiccup breathed, pressing his face into Toothless's head and breathing deeply. The smell of smoke still clung to him.

Lifting his head he looked around for Viggo, fully expecting the man to have come to the infirmary after hearing he was found. The infirmary was filled with injured people. But there was one bed, set aside from the others, that seemed out of the ordinary. Instinctively Hiccup knew who was in that bed but he could not move from Toothless. His gut churned with worry and fear. He gestured for Toothless to stay where he was and slowly moved toward the bed.

The smell was the first thing that alerted him to the severity of the injuries the man suffered. The smell of charred flesh was one he knew well. It clogged his nose and made bile rise up in his throat. Nonetheless he pushed forward. He had to see the damage for himself.

"Oh gods!" he cried, his voice still soft but tears springing to his eyes at the sight before him.

It was indeed Viggo. Half his face was covered with loose wrapping but there was no doubt he suffered suffer burns. He was shirtless, his left arm, shoulders, and part of his chest were also wrapped. There were also bruises but they were pale by comparison to the rest of him.

"He's strong," Ryker assured, placing a hand on Hiccup's shoulder. "He's a survivor. He'll pull through this. They all will."

Hiccup hoped he was right. He had never had anyone he cared about hurt this bad before. Between Viggo, Dagur and Heather, he wasn't sure what he could do to help them.