Caldera Cay was about a whole day's flight from Dragon's Edge without any inconveniences such as running into a Dragon Hunter fleet or getting caught by a ruthless thunderstorm. The journey from the Dragon Riders' base to the Defenders of the Wings' island was usually a very steady and pleasant flight. Under other circumstances, Astrid would've enjoyed the travel, but the tension between their team was killing her. She didn't feel angry at any of them or the situation itself. They'd just been attacked by Krogan and his Flyers right when they were most vulnerable. Not physically, of course. Their team was broken, and not just because they'd lost their leader. It was upsetting, of course. But as friends, they'd never been torn apart more than now. The whole flight had been deadly quiet. Astrid had only peered over her shoulder a few times to see Heather seeming distant and Snotlout looking angry. Fishlegs and Dagur both just stared out wearing a sad mask while the twins simply looked bored from flying silently in a straight line. At least two of them had remained the same. But it still didn't bring a smile on her lips.

Astrid lifted her gaze up as the island grew bigger on the horizon line. The sun had risen long ago behind the thick cover of clouds hovering above their heads. The bright white light of the sky was painful to look at. Astrid kept her eyes narrowed to slits as she watched the patch of land grow wider by the second. Thank Thor Mala and Throk had offered them refuge should the need present itself. This was one of them.

The Riders came down to land in the plaza of the village below, looking down at the Defenders waving their welcome at their friends and allies as they came down for a steady landing. Talons hit the ground hard, rising thin clouds of dust that died almost instantly. Stormfly squawked at her rider, keeping her head low to allow the shieldmaiden an easier dismount. After dealing with a venomized Hiccup, getting attacked by Flyers, and having to flee from their own home, Astrid greatly appreciated her Nadder's support.

"Miss Hofferson," greeted Throk, approaching their team with wide welcoming arms. A smile painted his face to which Astrid forced one of her own, even if it was short-lived. "To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?"

"Throk," she said, taking a step forward while looking over her shoulder to see the other Riders dismounting as well, the usual chatter absent. "I'm so sorry to barge in like this. Dragon's Edge was under attack. We had no other place to go."

Surprise flashed on the Defender's face, a strike of fear and concern shining in his eyes just long enough for Astrid to notice.

"Dragon Flyers?"

Astrid squeezed her upper arm with one hand and nodded, somewhat feeling ashamed they couldn't defend their own home against an enemy they'd battled against so many times before.

"Urgh!" exclaimed Snotlout, snapping Astrid out of her guilty thoughts. She spun around to watch Snotlout pace to her side, clearly furious. She'd seen him upset a few times in the past but never long enough to be taken seriously. "I have had it with these guys! Always ruining everything!"

"I thought that was my job," said Tuffnut, leaning against his half of the Zippleback with his legs crossed, studying his fingernails.

"It is," said Ruffnut as casually as ever.

Tuffnut snapped from his boredom, fists clenched to his sides and looking outraged.

"I shall not be pushed aside by some random wannabe who flies on a giant torch-breather!" he shouted, holding a fist up to the skies. He blinked a few times as Belch growled softly. "No offense, Belch."

"What's important is that you're all safe," continued Throk, turning back to Astrid after assisting to whatever had just happened with the twins and Snotlout. Astrid knew he was trying to sound hopeful, the supportive smile pulling on the corner of his mouth almost reassuring. But it would take something much more powerful than a smile and a few words to fix what had been broken. Who knew what that could be and how long it would take…

Astrid sighed, shaking her head sideways before turning to look at her team.

"Not all of us," she whispered, the absence of her leader and betrothed with his trusty Night Fury paining her like a hundred knives stabbing her in the chest. She felt her heart tighten but moved along before anyone could notice her eyes starting to water from the wave of emotions crashing upon her like tides on the coast.

…

Astrid was more than grateful for the Defenders of the Wings' hospitality and even more grateful when she crashed on the bed headfirst onto the pillow. Stormfly squawked in surprise, tilting her head curiously as Astrid groaned loudly into the fabric. She'd dealt with so much over the last couple of years. But nothing had prepared her to go through what she'd gone through the last few days. She rolled on her back with an upper arm resting against her forehead as she stared at the ceiling of the hut Mala and Throk had offered them to settle in for their stay. Astrid tried to estimate the time they'd be here. With all the damage the Dragon Flyers had caused to their base, she doubted they'd be returning there and using Dragon's Edge as a functional outpost anytime soon. They would need time and resources to fix everything. But first, they had to fix their team. Hiccup had been on her mind ever since they'd turned tails and ran from the attack. His absence, while they flew for Caldera Cay, felt so, so wrong. It was never like this. They never left a Dragon Rider behind, no matter what. She hated herself for the tough decision she had to make and even more when she kept telling herself she'd had no other choice. There was always a choice... But the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few… Between their rule number one and a warrior's saying, Astrid felt torn. She regretted her decision but also knew any other outcome could've been just as catastrophic. She didn't know... Maybe she never would. Maybe if Hiccup was here he might have been able to help her figure it out. But if he was here, maybe he'd still be a complete jerk with that toxin running through his veins and poisoning his mind. But at least he'd be here, under her supervision and care...

The creak from the door had the shieldmaiden straighten up in a heartbeat, and Astrid watched as Mala walked in, closing the door shut behind her for intimacy purposes.

"I knocked a few times," said Mala as she took a few steps forward. Astrid got up, shaking her head to clear her mind as she walked up to her.

"Sorry," she said, meeting the queen's soft green gaze. "I was just... thinking."

"Of course," nodded Mala. "I feel the stress on your mind. You wanna talk about it?"

Astrid sighed and walked back over to the bed, sitting down on its edge and reaching to her forehead with her fingertips.

"It's Hiccup," she admitted, looking down at the floorboards before raising her eyes to meet the queen's. "I think I made a mistake."

"How so?" asked Mala, a wise tone settling in her talk.

"I had to leave him behind but… It feels wrong. I never should've left him there. We're a team, we look out for each other – we're not supposed to abandon one another, yet…" Astrid sighed, pinching her nose bridge. All these thoughts and regrets were wearing her down faster than three straight all-nighters could.

Mala sat beside her, pressing a hand on her shoulder blade. The woman's years as a queen had taught her many things and Astrid trusted her to identify with her inner conflict.

"I understand the struggle," said Mala, her gaze drifting to the floorboards as well as if long-forgotten memories suddenly resurfaced. "Even if a decision is a difficult one, said decision must be taken. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." Mala huffed quietly. "I've learned that the hard way throughout the years. It's a painful reality, but a reality nonetheless."

"I get it," said Astrid. Her lips tightened, thinking back. "But there's more to it than that." She straightened up, capturing the queen's full attention. "Have you ever heard of Deathgrippers?"

I just found out that... the saying, "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." was actually pulled out from Star Trek (spoken by Spock). I thought it was either the writers that had come up with it or maybe a philosopher of some kind, but I guess not. It's just so funny to me that one of the writers behind RTTE was like... "I know a quote."

Anyway, hope you're having a good time (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)