Hi all I know this is a little late but I wanted to be sure I got this all right. Be warned it gets a little bloody.

Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 38

Fire. Smoke. Screaming. Corvus charged out of his rooms, Sigrid right on his heels. The Walls shuck and the alarm horn blared. Corvus met up with a smoke streaked guard running towards him.

"Chief!" he panted fear bright in his dark face. "We're under attack."

"Who by?"

"It's not a 'who' Sir. It's Dragons. Three huge creatures and we can't be sure but at least two Night Hunters."

For a moment a Corvus was stunned to silence. He hadn't expected this. He knew that the other Haunters that attacked Berk would have reported back but he hadn't thought that this would happen.

"Chief Corvus!? What should we do?"

"Get all riders up and man the defences." Corvus said snapping back to reality. "And get all civilians evacuated."

The Guard nodded as another explosion shook more dust from the ceiling. They ran towards the main stair way and Corvus stopped at the top to pull closed a heavy metal door set on rails in the roof and floor. These had been Farrin's idea as a way to contain any fires and at as blocking points to an attacking force. Corvus had laughed but had taken his friend's advice. "Too many people build their outer defences up and leave the inner part almost undefended." He had said.

They made their way down the packed stairs most of them were Guardsmen and women but her and there were civilians, children or dragons. Corvus and Sigrid fell though the centre of the wide spiral stairs. Within minutes they had arrived at the upper most defensive platform. Sigrid landed and Valka came running over with Hector and Hurricane. Cloudjumper and Stormchaser lending their fire to the many Ballista and Trebuchets .

"Hector what's happening. What are we up against?"

"Three Red Deaths and as far as we can see a pair of Night Haunters."

Corvus nodded grimly turning to Valka. "Valka. You, Cloudjumper and Hurricane get the hatchlings out with the Civilians. At the lowest level there are tunnels Hurricane knows the way. He will lead you to the far side of the Island, there you will find a group of ships get my people out." She made to protest but Corvus cut her off. "No arguments. I will not have Hiccup's mother die in battle here. Go!" She nodded before retrieving her Dragon and making for the central stairs.

"Hector, you ok here? I need to find the others and see what I can do." Hector's answer was cut off as a huge shape passed by the opening at the end of the hall, heading down. It was quickly followed by a smaller one and a bright purple explosion. Hector nodded and ran to help the wounded on the rampart.

Corvus and Sigrid ran down a corridor to the lower battlements. They skidded to a halt as three men were immolated by liquid fire. Their screams mercifully short. Corvus looked down to the end and saw to more soldiers running towards them from another access. Corvus grabbed hold of the handle to the metal door next to him, ready to close it after the men. However the fire rolled down the corridor again, faster this time and the two men vanished, still running. Corvus yelled in anger as he slammed the thick door home knowing that he may have just condemned to a fiery death.

"C'mon Sigrid. We need to get out there." The dragon nodded once and took off in the direction of the western hanger, Corvus close behind.

They ran into the hanger and saw that Balthazar and Jorunn were about to head out.

"Chief!" shouted Jorunn.

"I need you two to head out with me." They both nodded as he knew they would.

"Most of the riders are up all ready." Said Balthazar though he sounded less convinced. "However as the majority are out at the Outlooks we only have twenty or thirty."

"We'll manage." Corvus mounted Sigrid and retrieved a long spear from a rack when five Guardsmen ran into the hanger.

"Sir!" shouted the troop leader. "There's a Night Haunter in the lower levels."

"It's after it's kin." He turned back to the others. "You two get out there and see what you can do. organise them. I will deal with our guest." They nodded and took off in to the night. Corvus followed the Guardsmen, pausing only to collect his plate armour and weapons from the Armoury.

Deep bellow the Nest Captain Kelldran stood guard over the caged Night Huanter with Farrin donning his armour.

"I need to get up there." said the Blacksmith. "You got enough men here?"

"Aye, boy. Twenty men against one caged dragon."

"Don't underestimate it." said Farrin picking up a long handled War axe, Its double beards made from a black metal and inlaid with gold.

Kelldran held his hand out and took Farrin's wrist in the warrior hold. "Honour and victory." he said.

"Honour and victory." echoed the Scott before jogging from the chamber.

"Alright you dogs. Spread out I want a good spacing between you." At Kelldran's orders the twenty warriors move to form a loose circle around the cage long pikes and tower shields held ready.

Long minutes ticked by and suddenly they could hear shouts and dragon blasts from the corridor.

"You Five investigate the noise. Lock shields. Iron Wall formation."

Five of the Guardsmen broke off and made their way to the chamber entrance. As they came together they each clipped their tall shields together and rested the pike on the grove between each join. When the men were but a few meters from the entrance the dark imposing from of a Night Haunter stepped from the corridor. The soldiers stopped and paused, watching the dragon and the Haunter watched them, cocking it's head to one side quizzically. When it happened it was a split second attack. The dragon let loose a huge blast of plasma that killed all five almost instantly, their bodies sent flying. As one the other fifteen troopers turned on the new threat. They stood no chance. The Haunter darted forward crushing one while blasting another. One by one until only Kelldarn remained the Haunter killed all the guard detail.

The Captain, his shield gone and his pike shattered draw his long sword and held it two-handed. The second move over to the cage and blasted a hole in the Gronkle Iron bars with terrifying ease, releasing it's captured brethren. The now free Haunter narrowed it's remaining good eye at the Captain and 'smiled' as the other ran from the chamber to find more prey.

Corvus made it to the prison chamber just to see the Night Haunter he had caught, the one who had killed Gull and Overwatch, behead Captain Kelldran. He stopped when he saw all the bodies scattered about the chamber.

"YOU!" She shouted rage filling him like fire in his blood. "I don't care what you can tell us. I'm going to kill you for all this!"

The dragon turned to face him and Corvus heard a voice in his head sharp and painful. "Foolish Human. You couldn't kill be before and you won't kill me now."

"What? Your psychic?"

The Haunter laughed "Ha. He finally gets it. How such a weak spices became so numerous I'll never know."

Corvus gritted his teeth and ignited his twin axes. Sigrid almost hesitant built power to fire.

"Well then boy. Let's see if your little toy and worthless excuse for a dragon can beat me?" The Haunter chuckled and leapt at them both.

See you all next week.