Never Turn Your Back to a Hunter

If it hadn't been for Erik, the hunters would have turned tail and ran. But their fear of his wrath kept them fighting. The dragons began wreaking havoc, blasts of fire illuminating the battlefield in orange.

"We've got em outnumbered," Hiccup yelled, fending off another hunter with his sword. Astrid stood next to him, just waiting for the next attack. And while they came, it was noticeable that the hunters were weakening. What they didn't except was a retreat. One moment Hiccup was paired with Toothless, singling out hunters, the next, it was like they had disappeared. The remaining men seemed to just melt into the bushes, slipping quietly away from the battleground. Hiccup glanced wildly around, the adrenaline from the battle still coursing through his veins.

He whirled around at the touch on his shoulder, bringing his sword up in a defensive posture.

"Relax Hiccup," Astrid said, ducking away. "It's just me." Hiccup let the sword fall the the ground, taking a deep breath.

"Are they all gone?" he asked, looking around the clearing.

"Yeah I think so. I think Erik just decided to cut his losses. But he's not gone. At least not forever," she muttered.

"I didn't expect as much," Hiccup replied, heading over to join the other riders on the far side of the clearing.

"Is anybody seriously hurt?' he asked, leadership skills kicking in.

"My arm!" Snotlout screamed, apparently just noticing the gash just now.

"Did you seriously just see that?" Astrid asked, in a disbelieving voice.

"Well, maybe I was too busy being a hero to notice," Snotlout shot back. Astrid just rolled her eyes.

"Ugg, Fishlegs, can you treat him?" Hiccup asked. Fishlegs sighed, and retrieved a large bandage.

"Fine, come on Snotlout," he said, in a less than enthusiastic voice.

"Anyone else?" Hiccup asked.

"Hey that's not fair," Tuffnut protested.

"What's wrong Tuff?" Hiccup asked in a weary voice. He was exhausted from the battle, and not in the mood for more antics from the twins. Unfortunately, tact wasn't exactly bred into the Thorston twins.

"How come Snotlout got a cool injury?" Ruffnut asked, continuing her brother's complaint. "I mean, we were twice as reckless as that wimp over there."

"You're lucky you're the girl," Snotlout called out.

"Guys, I really don't have the energy to deal with petty complaints," Hiccup said wearily.

"But, why did Snotlout get the cool scar?' Tuffnut asked, relentless in his quest. "Why can't we?"

"If you want a scar Tuffnut, I'm sure I can arrange that," Astrid snapped, shoving the twin away from Hiccup. Fishlegs finished wrapping Snotlout's arm, and the two riders came across the clearing.

"Well, Snotlout's going to be okay," Fishlegs reported. "Just a scar is all." Apparently he hadn't heard the conversation before. Hiccup groaned, and buried his face in his hands, as Tuffnut started on his rant again.

Hiccup was about to tell him to be quiet, but Nightwhisper beat him to it. The dragon let out a roar of warning, just a second before green tipped arrows streaked across the clearing. The trained dragons were used to this, and quickly dodged the toxic arrows. Two of the arrows hit a couple of wild dragons, making them collapse onto the forest floor.

The riders also had plenty of experience with being shot at, and were on the ground in no time. Hiccup risked a glance upwards, add saw the source of the shots. He could see what looked like countless rows of hunters, approaching from the hill. He exchanged a glance with Astrid. Not again.

Astrid was already thinking of battle plans in her head. Their greatest strength might just be their greatest weakness as well. The dragons provided massive support in a fight, but they weren't trained.

"Oh Thor," she heard Fishlegs exclaim. "How are we going to beat that many hunters all at once?" he asked, his voice rising even higher. Hiccup was also trying to work out a plan, his gaze switching from the hunters to the dragons.

A memory implanted itself in Astrid's mind. The words follow the leader kept repeating inside her racing brain. She remembered how they had taken on the Screaming death, how the wild dragons had worked together. They hadn't been trained. But they had relied on the trained dragons for guidance. Maybe these dragons would do the same.

"Hiccup, what if we-"

"Led the wild dragons with the trained ones," they both said in sync. Astrid couldn't stop the small grin from spreading across her face.

"Aww, you two make the cutest couple," Fishlegs commented. Astrid turned to face him, her eyes narrowing.

"I mean… how efficient of you two," Fishlegs said, flustered.

"Riders, to your dragons," Hiccup commanded, running out into the clearing. He hopped on Toothless, and took to the sky. Astrid was right behind him, taking a running leap into her saddle, and shot into the sky on her nadder.

"Okay Stormfly. Let's show these dragons how it's done." Stormfly gave her the equivalent of a nod, shooting towards the approaching hunters. She curved her tail around, sending a sharp rain of spines towards the hunters near a tree. A few hunters were punctured by the spikes, but a majority of them did their job, slicing through the wood of the tree. The collapsing trunk caused the hunters to flee, ruining their carefully put together lines. The other three nadders followed, cascading spines over the hunters' ranks.

Meanwhile, Snotlout led the nightmares into a frontal attack, going after the artillery. However, one dragon was netted down, while destroying a catapult. Astrid urged Stormfly over, where a couple of sharp spines freed the dragon enough so it could escape.

She then rushed over to help Fishlegs stop the hunters from spreading. A quick fire blast sent a small group hunters fleeing back to their comrades. Fishlegs got a bit too close though, and Meatlug was quickly being pulled back by a green chain. Astrid gasped as Fishlegs was knocked off his dragon, into the arms of the hunters.

Toothless sped across the clearing, grabbing Fishlegs with his paws just before he sit the ground.

"Good boy," Hiccup called, as Toothless deposited Fishlegs safely on the ground. "Now try to free Meatlug." Toothless fired a plasma blast, but the chain didn't budge.

"It's dragon proof," Hiccup said, as they flew over the gronkle. "We have to get her free somehow." His gaze landed on the hunters who were pulling the chain towards them.

"Blast em bud," he yelled, nudging the dragon in the direction of the hunters. Toothless fired with remarkable accuracy, leaving hunters running from the chain. Meatlug shook the chain from her tail, before flying over to Fishlegs.

A dragon call made Hiccup turn around, just to see Stormfly fall to the ground. He could see the hunter arrow poking out from her side. Astrid tumbled off, and right into Erik.

But before either one of them could react, a fire blast sent the two of them over a partially hidden cliff, straight into a plunging canyon.

"ASTRID!"

Sorry for the delay in updating. Been busy lately, and working on other projects. And sorry for not getting to Hiccup realizing Erik's potential. I realized it would come better in the next chapter.

Next time… Erik struggles between his instincts, and his wants, with the help of a familiar face…

You guys are amazing

R&R

NightLightning21