WARNING : Violence, plenty of it. And it's not just bruises. You've been warned.

If you want to skip the chapter, there's a short description of what happens right at the end.

Enjoy !

Rant Over.


All the Drekians stood in a huddled group on the village plaza, surrounding Hiccup and the butcher. The air was thick with morning mist and sharp with frost, hardly ideal conditions for a defense of the village.

" Who are they, and how many ? " Urged Hiccup, as alarmed as the others.

" The ships aren't Viking, more likely pillagers from the south. And there's more than forty of 'em ! " Panted the large woman. " They're disembarking on our beach as we speak ! "

" That leaves us less than five minutes..." Mumbled Hiccup in realization, eyes widening, two seconds of intense thinking followed. Then, Hiccup suddenly turned to Toothless besides him, and climbed his back. Though it was not fly, instead, he stood high, seen by all within the sea of faces surrounding him. Toothless orientated his shoulder blades, forming a flat surface for the teen to stand on.

" Ok, this is what we'll do..." He started, gesturing in the directions he spoke of. " All non-fighters regroup in the main hall and barricade the door, Qwynel, you're in charge there ! Soldiers, you have three minutes to equip yourselves, regroup just before the path leading to the beach to form a blockade ! Do you all understand ?! "

The group gave a loud ' Aye ! ' mixed with growls and grunts.

" Good. Now go ! "

In seconds, the group was dispersed, people hurrying away in all directions for frantic preparation. Running boots and shoes could be heard against the pavements as the men, women and dragons disappeared into the fog. Hiccup hoped off Toothless, and came up to Marcus.

" We can't afford to get anyone up in the air..." Stated Hiccup hurriedly. "...We need them all on the ground to keep them from getting to the village."

Marcus gave a rigid nod and a serious look." I thought as much, the path to the beach is a good bottleneck to exploit."

" But how do we stop them from flanking us ? I didn't think this far ahead. If they go through the woods they'll have our sides in no time ! ..."

" That's easy to fix, you and Arash are the best shots here. Take a rooftop on each side and down anyone who tries to go around."

Hiccup nodded." Right, see you there ! " And with that, Hiccup and Toothless ran back towards their house. They burst through the wooden door, and immediately rushed for the shelves carrying their armor. In less than two minutes, they were fully equipped.

Suddenly, Einarr ran out of his room and into the forge, clutching his book with crossed arms over his chest.

" What are you doing here ?! " Exclaimed Hiccup, the boy stared back with terror in his large eyes. " You're supposed to be in the hall ! "

" I-I had to get my book..." Stuttered the boy with a trembling lip.

" Argh ! Go ! Now ! You can't be out here !" Urged Hiccup.

" But what about you and Toothless ?! "

" JUST GO ! "

The boy flinched, then nodded and sprinted out of the house, the patter of his feet distanced itself until no longer audible. Hiccup slung his quiver over his shoulder and deployed his crossbow with a sharp 'snap!'. His eyes met with Toothless', and both shared a grave look.

" You ready ? " Asked the boy with an unsure tone.

"Always." Huffed the dragon. Hiccup smiled nervously, and reached to tighten the strap resting against Toothless' right cheek which secured his hard leather 'helmet'. The only piece of armor the night fury had accepted to wear. A piece of armor that protected his nose, brow, and upper skull, one Hiccup had insisted he'd wear.

They left their house in a jog for the outskirts of the village, where the path met the entrance to the settlement. An eerie feeling took over the pair as they trotted through the fog while shivers ran up and down their spines. They got to the rally point, where two double-storied buildings hung back on either side and not far behind the line of human and dragon warriors that had formed at the end of the path. Arash, was already in position, and his faint outline could be seen atop of the roof through the fog, on overwatch, guarding the left flank with a piercing eye and a notched arrow.

Hiccup left Toothless' side to head for the tannery. He opened the unlocked door with a ram of his shoulder pad and went straight for the stairs. He climbed, feet hammering against the wooden steps. He reached the second floor, from there he used a hatch which allowed access to the roof.

He climbed out of the house onto the slanted blue tiles, wet and glistening in the morning fog. He took care not to slip as he made his way to the end of the rooftop, where he crouched, loaded his crossbow, and waited. Silence took over, down to his left, Hiccup could see the outline of the formation, waiting with terrified anticipation for the approaching raiders.

Seconds later, heavy steps and clattering armor could be heard down the path. Originating from a source yet to be seen, terrifyingly dissimulated by the fog. The sounds of steps accelerated, the clatter of armor and weapons intensified. Furious warcries sailed through the air, growing louder and louder as they approached. The raiders had broken into a charge.

" BRACE ! " Yelled Marcus from the center of the line.

The humans and dragons edged closer together. Breathing quickened, hands tightened around weapons, fangs were barred, pupils contracted into raging slits, teeth were gritted, and paws clawed at the ground. Eyes looked on with a mix of fear, anticipation, and a fierce determination to defend what they worked so hard to build. But all these violent and fearful eyes saw was fog, never-ending whiteness all around.

They wouldn't let them have it. No, they had worked so hard for this, and been too lucky. This was all they had, a roof, food, a fire, a family, a community. All of which they had not dared to dream of during their period of misery, all of which they had worked so hard to earn. None of them were ready to give it up. If they were to lose it, they'd might as well just die.

The sounds grew closer. Anytime now.

Dark figures appeared from the mist. Vague shadows wielding outlines of swords, shields, and spears. Though the figures wore helmets, those were not horned.

Marcus yelled his order : " FIRE ! "

A multicolored volley of fire, plasma, acid, poisonous spikes, and javelins lurched forwards. The deafening sound of the release of the volley was soon followed by the sounds of explosions, impacts, and bodies hitting the ground. The earth shook, ears ringed, dirt fell back down to the ground in a rain of mud and dust.

The charge was thinned, and while many shadows now lay motionless on the ground, more than triple the amount appeared behind them, charging with a renewed vigor. There would be no second volley, not if the enemy was this close. Instead spears, swords, claws, horns, wings, and shields were angled in preparation for the impact.

The charge met the blockade with the force of a twenty-metre wave against a rock, or that of a barrel of blood hitting the ground when dropped from the clouds. Metal clashed upon metal, claws against shields. Sparks flew between swords. Dragons sprayed their fiery doom as humans stabbed between sheets of armor and around shields.

Cries of rage, pain, and horror rose over the roars of dragons. Sparks flew as swords met, and blood splattered from one face to another. Sweat mixed with blood and tears, an awful brew.

From the rooftop, Hiccup could only see the outlines of the melee. Briefly illuminated by an eventual flash of fire. It was like a horrible play of shadow puppets, one of murder and violence, as beings tore at each other for victory. One that left the boy breathless.

His heart leaped when a particular series of explosions sounded, easily recognizable, purple flashed through the mist. Toothless.

He drew a sharp breath.

The corner of his eye caught figures something. Figures trying to sneak around the line of Drekian warriors in an attempt to flank them. Hiccup steadied his crouched position and brought the crossbow to his cheek. One exhale, and the bolt flew, whistling through the air until the sound of a sharp 'thunk' could be heard as it punched through a helmet. The shadow fell to the ground, and the others froze in their tracks. Hiccup reloaded, and repeated the process.

'Snap !', 'ZZzzz', ' Thunk !', ' Thud !'.

I often wondered if his father would have been proud of him then.

This time, the other figures moved hastily. Promptly turning tail and moving out of range. The teen gave a sigh of relief. They wouldn't try that again. But his chest tightened as his gaze redirected to the main melee. The battle raged on, loud and violent. Hiccup, couldn't help, he couldn't shoot, not being able to tell a friend from a foe. There was no way of knowing who was who. Slowly, both lines of allies and enemies mixed, turning into a brutal and chaotic struggle.

The flanking shadows returned, only this time, three of them dangerously aligned themselves to face him. Hiccup, fired, one body hit the ground. He was about to reload when suddenly, out of the fog, came a javelin sailing towards him, twisting as it flew. A silent bringer of death gracefully gliding through the air. Reflexes took over. Hiccup yelped, throwing himself to the side. The javelin sailed past him, narrowly missing his small chest.

Reflexes took over. Hiccup yelped, throwing himself to the side. The javelin sailed past him, narrowly missing his small chest.

But Hiccup was off the roof's spine, and was sliding down the wet slanted tiles. He slipped on his back, and perceived to his dismay that he was running out of roof to slide on. His stomach lurched as he slid off it, and fell through the air feet first. Blood surged to his head. His arms flailed behind him, crossbow promptly following. Arrows spilled out of his quiver. His heart pumped. His brain panicked.

The ground approached, his eyes widened.

'CRACK !'


The battle raged around them.

Marcus knelt by his dear friend. Who lay on his side, curled over his left leg. Blood soaked the ground under him, his auburn hair sticking in the growing puddle. Hiccup's cries of pain were dimmed by the thunderous sound of combat nearby them. Tears streamed down the boy's face.

The Roman knelt by Hiccup, and quickly inspected him. His stomach lurched upon seeing his leg, fractured in several spots, bone sticking out in shards through the skin. Blood flowed like a river.

" Futuo ! " Swore the swordsman, eyes stuck on the mangled mass of flesh and bone.

Suddenly, a man with two swords came up to the pair, as if materializing through the fog. Tall, armored with chain mail. He swung both blades in an attempt to decapitate the kneeling teen, who dodged with a swift bow. A murderous roar followed, emanating from behind Marcus. A roar that meant trouble.

Toothless.

The night fury leaped over the pair, grabbing mid-flight the man's head in his maw, dragging him along along as he landed. The dragon graciously alighted, skidding against the dirt. He still gripped the man's head, and spent no time before abruptly yanking on his catch. Hot blood sprayed.

Marcus focused back on his friend. He grabbed his small shoulder, shaking it.

" Hiccup we've gotta get you outta here ! "

But Hiccup merely kept on yelling in agony and clutching his leg in shock. The world was all but gone to him, for he was drowned in an unimaginable pain coming from the many torn and ripped nerves in the mashed mess that was once his lower leg and foot. It felt like fire and ice, or poison and stabs. It overrun his entire body, ruling him like reigns on a horse. He could think only of that. Pain.

" Cm'on ! " Urged his friend. But it was no use. Marcus pursed his lips and shook his head. " I'm sorry friend, but I have no choice. " And with that, he gave a strong blow to the head with the pommel of his gladius, knocking Hiccup out cold. The teen fell limp and silent.

" I'll get you out of here I promise." He waved to the fighting night fury. " TOOTHLESS ! COVER US ! "


Battle erupts as the Drekians form a defensive line against the overwhelming raider forces. Hiccup stations himself on a rooftop of a double-storied house to cover the line's right flank, but dodging an incoming javelin causes him to topple from the rooftop and land with his entire weight on his left leg. The lines are broken and the battle gets messy, fighting rages around the wounded boy. Marcus and Toothless come to his rescue and are forced to knock him out cold in order to distance him from the fight. The boy's mangled leg caused him such pain that he was ignorant of the world around him and remained in shock.