End of the moth is approaching so it is time for your regularly scheduled reading. Now I have to get back to my original writing. Got a writing competition coming up and only 17 more days left till DL.

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Comments:

Dragonrider's Fury: In terms of Heather's character and story I focused on how she, especially in earlier appearances was fairly deceptive character, so I've tried to build a character and story where she will get to use her deceptive nature and acting talents, even if it is to play both sides/winning side.

extremeloser: I am glad to hear you have enjoyed the story. I don't really understand writers who have Hiccup and Toothless doing that last thing. One of then is a damned dragon.

AlphaToothless: At least one of those will probably happen, but it might take couple more books.

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Proofread by 3DPhantom

Ivar took a few breaths after the door closed. He could only hear a single person's steps downstairs. Dad was probably pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace again like every time he needed to think or worry about something, as it usually was. Ivar pushed the door fully open and walked down the stairs.

"Dad?"

"Ivar…? Were you here the whole time?"

"Yes. I heard everything. It's bad isn't it?"

"Yes. They aren't only angry about being attacked." Dad looked into Ivar's eyes. "They would probably be here even if that hadn't happened as long as they knew about all we've learned from Hiccup, how it is changing the village. They see it as a threat to their business, or even their way of life. That argument might worry me most. They can use it to have other villages side with them if this becomes a larger conflict, and it might. Grimborns aren't known for backing off."

"So, what are we going to do?"

"You," dad put his hand on Ivar's shoulder, "will stay out of sight. These people have already shown they are willing to do anything to others when it suits them. I don't want a repeat of the last autumn with my own son."

"I think you should be more worried for Hakon. He has already been talking against you and it sounded like he supports the Grimborns."

"I know what is going on. It is not a good time to face division… but he is still family and loyal to the village. I know you two haven't had the best relationship," dad sure knew how to understate things, "but the Hunters are a bigger problem right now."

"I hope you're right. Should I hide from mom too?"

"Wouldn't recommend that. It would only make things worse later. Try not to cause her any more stress right now."

"I'll try," Ivar responded. He stood still for a moment before slowly walking to the door. He left his father to carry the weight of the village on his shoulders. Ivar could only carry the guilt of not being able to help. He could only go back to the healers' house and try to keep his mother happy… or at least less angry than she already was. That was what he was going to do, at least until he passed a point with a good view of the harbour far below and stopped.

He simply stood there staring down for a long time. The Hunter ships towered over anything else that floated and rose above many buildings that would otherwise have blocked Ivar's view of them. They could have done so many things other than hunting dragons.

How many warriors could be hiding under the deck of even one of those ships? Ivar gulped. Could they win if the Hunters actually attacked them?

As Ivar stood there one of the ships started moving, leaving the harbour. The sight made something grip at Ivar's insides. Sure it was good if there were less Hunters on the island, but it made no sense for them to leave now with Viggo threatening the village… unless he was plotting something. Knowing the Grimborns, anything they did was probably very bad.

He wanted to do something but didn't know what. He wanted to head out to meet Shortclaw later in the afternoon, but that was a dangerous idea, and stupid, as long as there were Hunters around. He could only hope the dragon mother wouldn't be seen flying across the ocean. If he could just warn her…

"Ivar!" Speaking of mothers. Ivar kept his head down and ran to the healers' house in front of which his mother was standing. There wasn't actually much work to do since no one had gotten hurt and everyone stayed home, but mom did his best to keep Ivar busy, even when she ran out of ideas and had him cleaning the same thing for the second time. Heather didn't need to do the same needless work and she sat close to the door, not saying anything. After all, speaking out could have caused more work for her. There was no word from anything happening outside, which was good, but still nerve wrecking. Over time mom started to pace similar to dad. She suddenly stopped and Ivar didn't dare to breath for an instant. She looked at him.

"I'm going to see what your father is doing. Stay here."

She left. Ivar stepped to look out of the door. There was a group of warriors just heading down from the arena with dad leading the group. Distinguishing expressions was nearly impossible from that distance, but Ivar could feel a tension in the air that was a lot worse than before. Mom was going after dad and didn't look back. Ivar took a step out of the door.

"What are you going to do?" Heather asked.

"Find out what is going on."

"You can't do anything even if you do."

"I don't know that until I know what is going on. You can stay here only caring what happens to yourself, but I can't just sit still without even knowing what is happening." Ivar closed the door behind himself and ran to the side of the building so mom wouldn't see him even if she turned to look back. He sought out the first place where he could see out to the sea. His heart skipped a beat.

There was a whole fleet of Hunter ships approaching the island, twice as many as had arrived earlier that were still in the harbour. Why would they come now? What were the Grimborns doing? Ivar started running. He rushed down the village, staying on small side paths out of the way of most people. He ended up on a small gap between a building and a stone wall on top of a small cliffside overlooking most of the harbour. Dad and mom arrived at the harbour almost at the same time as him. They had been joined by more warriors and were facing a crowd of armed Hunters filling a pier almost directly under Ivar. More were coming off the ships and the new fleet wasn't even ashore yet. Ryker stood near the front of the crowd. Ivar only noticed Viggo because he was standing next to his larger brother.

"Viggo!" Father roared. "What you think you are doing? First you threaten us for not living as you'd like, and now you are unloading troops. You think you can invade a village and get away with it, to succeed with it even with those new ships?"

"My dear Chief," Viggo started with his soft voice, "after what you have done, betraying the Viking tradition and turning dragons into weapons to use against your fellow Vikings. After barely surviving your earlier attack to eliminate us, we are going to stop you before you are ready to threaten other villages."

"What are you talking about? We both know that is not true."

"We know," Viggo responded, "but other villages don't. Thanks to winter they didn't have an opportunity to get much news on the matter. Luckily my ships are visiting every village within a week's sail from here to warn them of this threat. I hope you didn't expect outside pressures to… constrain my options. Now."

Viggo swung his arm and his troops stepped forward. They outnumbered dad's present forces but were for the moment trapped on the pier. Dad took advantage of that, having spread his forces just wide enough to block the end of the pier. Some archers took positions above them near Ivar. The Hunters responded in kind from the decks of their ships. Things still seemed to be in Fjoll's favour for the moment, but…

Ivar focused on Viggo. The man seemed too confident for the situation. There was even a tiny smirk on his lips visible all the way from Ivar's hideout. It gave him chills. He was missing something. Grimborns were supposed to be smart and their reinforcements were still too far and more Fjoll warriors just arrived behind dad's forces. Hakon was with them showing off at the front of the line with a smirk wider than Viggo's. Fjoll seemed to be in the position to win, but still. Ivar was missing something.

Something wasn't right. The new reinforcements couldn't even ease Ivar's worries. The group of young warriors hadn't had any opportunities to fight dragons so they would be thirsting for battle and throw the enemy off the island. The Hunters had made themselves their enemy despite sharing ideals on dragons.

Ivar's heart skipped a beat. The terrible realization struck too late. Hakon's group stopped before joining dad's and instead spread out behind them.

"Chief!" Viggo shouted. "How were you planning to threaten our way of life, when your own people agree with us?"

Dad didn't pay attention to the Hunter leader. He had turned around and was pushing through those warriors still loyal to him, at least some of them were. Several people stepped out of dad's group and joined Hakon's smaller force. Ivar shrunk smaller in his hideout, hearing steps and clanging of armour somewhere near. Several of the archers were disarmed as Hakon's men roamed between the buildings overlooking the harbour.

"Why son?" Dad pleaded below.

"To protect the village. Did you seriously expect us to fight these heroes, to defend some dragon lovers? What you have done is bring shame to the entire village, and I can't even start describing what my fishbone of a brother has done. You should thank me for convincing Viggo to not have him killed. Just have to find the little bastard and you can spend time together in a cell, and when the dragon boy shows his face again you get to see his and his dragons die."

Now Ivar backed away from his observation post and pulled back to the next row of houses. Warriors securing the edges of the harbour checked his old hiding spot just a moment later, but didn't notice Ivar crouching behind a nearby cart. The men were talking as they worked.

"Do you think the Chief is going to surrender?"

"The former Chief," the other man corrected. "He already surrendered to the beasts. I doubt he has the heart to fight Hakon, the Chief Hakon. With the Hunters on our side he couldn't win even if he did."

Was this really happening? Hakon becoming Chief had long been Ivar's greatest horror, but for that to happen this way… He had to get away. As soon as the warriors passed, he bolted out from under the cart and ran up the hill. The warriors were mostly concentrated around the harbour, hopefully, so it should have been safer near top of the village, for a moment at least. He made a record time getting back up there but despite not being in a bad shape for running he was wheezing and gasping for air by the time he got within sight of the healers' house. He had to lean against its back wall to catch his breath.

Heather was probably still in there completely unaware of what was going on. Ivar moved towards a corner and door behind it to warn her but stopped mid step. What was the point? Even if Heather was willing to do something she couldn't. If anything, having anything to do with Ivar would be a problem for her with Hakon in charge.

The door made a loud creak when it was opened. Ivar froze for a moment and pressed against the wall trying to stay as small as possible.

"Where's Ivar?" Ivar recognized the voice of Gunnar. He couldn't claim surprise that the young warrior was sided with Hakon, but couldn't help but feel disappointed with all of the extra chances he had had to learn.

"Don't know," Heather answered in an uncaring tone. "He left as soon has his mother wasn't around to keep an eye on him. Did she send you?"

"No, we are here for… for Chief Hakon."

There was a moment of silence.

"Did something happen to the Chief? Hemming I mean." Ivar hoped Heather's voice would have shown a little more concern, but she sounded mostly surprised.

"Not yet, not if he surrenders quietly."

"Oh, I see. That is what is happening… Are you working with the Hunters?"

"We… Chief Hakon has repaired the relationship with them that the old Chief allowed to be ruined."

"I see. So, things are going to go back the way they used to be?"

"Yes. Do you have a problem with it?"

"As long as you don't send too many people here for that. If you are after Ivar, we are going to be shorthanded."

She spoke so calmly, emotionlessly. Ivar had enough and tiptoed away from the building. There wouldn't be a Changewing to bail him out this time if Gunnar found him. As soon as he got some distance between himself and the healers' house he sped up to a sprint and headed towards the closest edge of the village. He was already by the outermost buildings when someone shouted.

"Hey, is that Ivar?"

"Get him!"

Those words helped Ivar find the strength to run even faster despite being already winded from his earlier climb. He dove into the forest without even looking back to see who was chasing him. In such situation it was better to just assume someone was right on his heels. Ivar zigzagged through the forest seeking the densest parts to avoid being seen. He was completely focused on just running until he couldn't anymore and almost fell against a tree. It was struggle, to just try and not breath so hard he could be found by the sound.

His world was collapsing around him, because of his own brother, and now… Now he was being chased in the forest with nowhere to go. He wasn't even sure where he was. Somewhere close to where he had been meeting Shortclaw.

Shortclaw!

It was already late enough that the dragon might have come to wait for him, unaware of the danger, and he might have led his pursuers right to her. Ivar pushed away from the tree. He got his bearings by checking the tallest hills he could see and started running again. He stumbled through the last bushes. To his immense relieve a familiar red dragon was laying right where he expected. He collapsed in front of her.

Shortclaw growled in surprise and fear. Without hesitation she reached out to Ivar with her head. Even licked some of the scratches he had gotten during his mindless dash through the forest. The small genuine gesture was enough to break Ivar. Tears flowed down his cheeks and straight to the ground. Shortclaw brushed his head with her snout. Slowly Ivar calmed down enough to pull his face from the dirt and speak. He met Shortclaw's eyes.

"We have to leave."

The dragon tilted her head. Ivar pointed to each of them and then to the sky. Shortclaw poked him again and licked a scratch.

"We don't have time for that," Ivar said and grabbed Shortclaw's head so he could climb on her neck. Shortclaw grunted at the lack of his usual politeness."

"I found tracks!" A muffled shout came through the bushes. Before Ivar knew what was going on, he got swept off his feet and fell on Shortclaw's neck. She spread her wings and they were above the treetops before Ivar could sit upright. There were more shouts below them, but Ivar couldn't make out the words. It didn't take long till they were above the sea flying… not towards the island Shortclaw and Hookfang were staying with their babies. Ivar was confused for a moment but relaxed, quickly realising Shortclaw was just being smart, not wanting the Hunters to follow them back to her family. The detour gave Ivar more time to think since there was nothing to do but sit and stare at the clouds gathering in the sky.

He was safe for the moment with Shortclaw and could survive for a while on their island… Meanwhile the bane of his existence ruled Fjoll and their father was stuck in a dark cell. Even Hiccup and his flock would be in danger when they would come back. Ivar brushed his chin.

"Hiccup…" Shortclaw glanced back at him. Dragon or not she would recognise that word. "We need to warn him." Shortclaw grunted a question, still looking at him as well as she could. Ivar leaned to the side to give her a better view. Pointed a finger back towards Fjoll and then grabbed his own throat to signify danger, another questioning grunt. Ivar thought for a moment and then spread his arms like he was shooting a bow. The imaginary arrow pointed straight at Shortclaw's head like the Hunters' poison arrows. Her next sound was a low growl that vibrated along her neck.

Yep, she had gotten the message.

They continued the flight in silence for the moment. Ivar almost forgot his own despair, focusing on keeping an eye on Shortclaw and her reaction to the information he had provided. Mostly the dragon was just lost in thought. Ivar could tell from the way her eyes stared forward, nearly expressionless. Soon the island started growing ahead. The sight was almost as relieving as meeting Shortclaw in the forest had been.

Shortclaw tensed under him. Ivar knew something was wrong even before she roared and pushed her wings to fly faster. Squinting his eyes, Ivar soon saw the reason. A Hunter ship anchored ashore by the island. A few seconds later he could also distinguish a red spot on the beach that had to be Hookfang. Shortclaw roared again.

"No!" Ivar shouted with his voice that was puny in comparison and put his hand on Shortclaw's head. "Don't let them notice us."

Shortclaw shook his hand off her head and dove towards the ship with a mother's rage. Hunters were running around and raising their bows. There went Ivar's hopes for not being noticed, and all he could do was to hold on. To be just as helpless as when his village was lost. Arrows flew past nearly at arm's reach as Shortclaw barely avoided them. More Hunters climbed up from under the deck. Most of them were holding bows. One had a small cage that made Ivar's insides twist.

Shortclaw charged, diving right towards them, ready to burn the whole group. The man with the cage lifted and tilted it just so that Shortclaw and Ivar could see one of the hatchling inside. Shortclaw pulled up and twisted to the side just in time to avoid another volley of arrows… Well, almost in time.

Ivar screamed when one of the arrows stabbed his arm. He lost his balance and grasp of Shortclaw's neck out of sheer shock. One moment he was just falling through air too surprised to even scream. The fall only lasted for an instant before large claws closed around him, more gently that they looked capable of. With Ivar in her claws Shortclaw flew out of arrow range and started circling the ship. She roared again, louder than before, but instead of rage Ivar could only hear tear-jerking agony. Hookfang's distant roar came back from under the Hunters' chains. They exchanged few a more roars before Shortclaw fell silent. She kept looking at the ship and Ivar in turns.

"I'm sorry," Ivar whispered, hoping the dragon would understand. "There are too many of them."

Hookfang roared again even louder than before. Shortclaw, with a bleeding Ivar still in her claws, started tilting to the side: Away from the island, away from her mate. Away from her children.