The timer kicks off and the race begins a new, with new thoughts rushing through my mind about the way I wanted this race to end, the after party that would follow. I'll be honest, my mind wasn't on the race at all, it was on what Hiccup and I had done during Intermission, and what else I wanted to do. A secret I doubt I'd admit even to him is that I really enjoyed doing that there. We had risked being caught by any number of people, risked being heard by random passerby even though we knew the area was mostly empty. The fact we weren't made it even more exhilarating that my own heartbeat was increasing thanks to more than just the race.

The beauty of the Dragon Races is that it wasn't a leisurely stroll on a dragon. We had to be focused, standing and tensed; we were making sharp turns, quick round abouts, rapid steals from each other. It involved more than just our dragons as more than once, either Hiccup or I had left our Dragons briefly mid-flight to capture a sheep. It required coordination, strength. It was an excellent judge on if someone was ready for combat, even though the twins, Fishlegs and Snotlout could rarely hold themselves to either Hiccup or myself in terms of agility, precision or stamina; they still did well enough. Well enough to be considered better than any other rider on the island except us, though Spitelout was arguably better than his son and Gustov had really gotten better as well.

So as much as my mind wanted to wander back to things that took place strictly in the privacy of just Hiccup and I, the races wouldn't allow it. Not without me dealing with a good deal of smack talk from Snotlout and the others as they would gain points on me for being distracted. The last thing I wanted was for Snotlout or the Twins to have any form of bragging rights, and if that meant refocusing and ensuring I kept up with Hiccup on the point scheme, then so be it. A part of me wondered if his mind was as conflicted and wandering as mine was, and I can only assume the answer. Based on the brief exchanges between our eyes when we pass one another, his mind was absolutely on something else; the sly smile showing even for the briefest of seconds.

I hadn't even been truly paying attention to the laps or how long we had been racing. I was a little more flustered than I cared to admit, but we must've been on lap five by now. When we last flew by with a point, Hiccup was at six, I was at six and the twins were at three. I wasn't paying overt attention, but I can safely assume each of the three points for the twins were given to them by either Fishlegs or Snotlout. It still shocked me that Fishlegs was going for Ruffnut instead of Heather; Heather seemed truly disappointed by it and Ruffnut was only taking advantage of both muttonheads fawning over her.

A sudden loud bellowing horn shook me from my train of thought and broke me from my racing mentality. It was the prison horn, and it was only blown when a prisoner escaped from their cell… and we only had two prisoners: Arne and Krogan. I was flying near Hiccup and we exchanged a brief look as he nodded and we both wasted no time. He flew over to Bucket and Mulch at the Thunderear announcing table and took over the Ear as I rallied the riders.

"Riders, race over! To the prison!" I called out and everyone quickly put their serious face on with little argument and no stupid questions. Even the twins understood the danger of Krogan, though that didn't stop their side comments.

"Ugh! Come On! Can't this guy give us a break and stay in his cell!?" Ruffnut exclaims as we fly down, darting to the cells. I can hear Hiccup on the loudspeaker.

"A-Team, to your dragons, guard the docks and ships! Militia, to the streets, search every building in teams! Everyone else, stay here!" He calls out then joins us in our flight to the prison cells.

We all landed with Hiccup and ran inside; we didn't even have the time to grab our weapons or gear as we had been riding light for the race. Hiccup, while he didn't have his shield, he did have his Dragon Blade and we both had our draggers. He drew Inferno and ignited it as I drew the dagger, the one I had made for us from my boot, he glanced back to me and nodded with a worried smile as we entered. Glancing back to the others, he held up his hand.

"Guys, stay back, watch for signs of movement. If you hear us call out for help, send a distress call to alert the Riders and the Militia. Toothless, wait here. The cells are too tight for Dragons." He says and I turn and nod to Stormfly, telling her to plant and wait for my signal.

Together, Hiccup and I enter the cells. Right at the entryway to the cells is the horn where Seamus was leaning up against it. Blood was running down his arm as he struggled to stand and Hiccup rushed to his side, helping him stand as I grabbed his other side. His arm was bloodied, and limp and it looked like his face had been cut but he was conscious.

"Seamus, Seamus! Are you alright?! What happened?" Hiccup asks as we walk him back out. He struggles to speak but does slowly.

"K-Krogan. Timed his attack. T-turned a wooden spoon into a wooden blade. H-he killed Arne and nearly killed Agnar… he's unconscious further in. R-ran out." Seamus says through winced exhales as we reach the outside.

"Okay. Okay. Snotlout. Take Seamus to Gothi now. Fishlegs, be ready, we're coming back with Agnar who will need to go to Gothi as well. Twins, stay here." Hiccup orders as he passes Seamus off to Snotlout who doesn't argue. Even the Jorgensen can see when a situation is beyond the joking reproach.

Together, we go back inside and as Seamus had said, when we reach the cell that held Arne the turncoat trapper, it was bloodied. Arne must've died screaming, the broken wooden spoon left gauged in his neck as blood was slowing to a dribble. I had seen blood and death before, but this was beyond cruel and ruthless. Krogan was no viking, he was no man of honor. He was a hunter, an assassin, a murderer. We rounded the corner to where his cell was and found it opened with Agnar unconscious and partially bloodied but at least breathing. I could tell Hiccup was spiraling out of control in his own head, second guessing every choice he made up to now, every injury, every death that followed Krogan's escape would be held on him by him. I wanted nothing more than to hold him and tell him it would be okay, but now was not the time. Together, we got Agnar back out and sent Fishlegs and the Twins to Gothi's Hut then took to the air, not it was a hunt to find Krogan before he escaped Berk or hurt anyone else.

"What're you thinking?" I ask Hiccup as we both circle the city, watching the militia search the buildings and the A team secure the docks. He shakes his head and sighs.

"Let's put ourselves in his shoes. He just escaped; he heard the horn. He knows our docks will be covered; knows we'll be searching each building meticulously. We just left the Arena; my thinking is he'll either be heading towards the arena to try to blend with those still there or into the forest to out as much distance as he can with cover." Hiccup reasons and I nod.

"Everyone on Berk knows and hates him; he wouldn't be able to blend. Forest?" I suggest and he nods.

"You know, he probably won't come back willingly, Astrid." Hiccup says somberly and I nod.

"He will, or we deal with him then and there. Summit be damned, at this point, he is too dangerous to be left alive." I reaffirm for Hiccup and smile softly. "It comes with the territory; we need to deal with him before he hurts or kills any of us." I add and he sighs, nodding.

"Like Arne." Hiccup adds and I nod.

"He was still a hired mercenary. He knew the life he was in. What happened to him is horrible, but ultimately, we need to be concerned with our own people." I say. I'm doing my best to help him, comfort and guide him as I can. He's struggling internally, and it's written all over his face. Hopefully, we find Krogan soon.


I should have ended his life when we captured him. My mother meant well with her advice but ultimately, her advice led to me allowing a killer on our island and it costing two of my people grave injuries, and the death of another prisoner. That was on me, I should have reinforced his cell, sealed it completely to be unopenable even with a key. The question remained on how he escaped, because I was confident that cell could hold a dragon if it needed too. Ultimately that question and answer was irrelevant; he timed his escape. He timed it to right after the race started, when everyone was full of food and eager to watch the race. Even the guards had been laxer with only one inside and one outside to watch the dragons fly by. He knew the whole village was there, the only question was how. Was he able to escape the whole time and just biding his time or did he get lucky?

So many questions riddled my brain that I hardly noticed Astrid speaking to me and trying to calm me. Arne had died. Died. He was murdered on Berkian land. The last time someone had died on Berkian land to the hand of another human was several generations ago. Granted, neither the blood spilt, nor the blood spiller were Berkian natives, it was still horrible.

Astrid and I flew low and fast, following the forest and darting in the trees. Stormfly was an excellent tracker and Astrid had taken the lead.

"Stormfly seems to be on a scent!" She calls out and I nod, smiling a grim smile. We would catch you Krogan, and we would kill you if we needed too. "He can't be moving too fast based on what he's been eating and drinking" I hear her call out to me as I nod.

"Should be easy to catch too." I add and she nods.

Luckily for us, and unfortunately for Krogan, a Tracker and Sharp Class Dragon like Stormfly, with years of experience in riding, fighting and tracking, was more than capable of tracking down a bloodied, tired and worn murderer. Even if that murderer had gotten the jump on a couple distracted guards and killed a defenseless former associate, it wouldn't matter against a pair of battle-hardened dragon riders and their dragons. In truth, I'm glad it's just Astrid with me here because I'm not sure I could deal with this if anyone else was here. She is my safety net and I had a staunch feeling I would need said net by the end of the day.

I hadn't killed a man before, hadn't taken a life before that could have been avoided. Technically, I was indirectly responsible for the deaths of Ryker and Johann; of my father. But I had not directly made a move to kill another man before, and it was something I valued in myself. That I could always find a way but this time, it was as though Krogan was forcing my hand.

Maybe he was, maybe everything he was doing was intentional and he was a true student of Maces and Talons despite the apathy and distaste for the game he previously showed. Maybe this was a rematch for us, a chance to settle the score between him and us. He had to know he wouldn't get far, especially without a weapon, ship or provisions. He had the rags we left him and nothing else.

"Hiccup!" Astrid's voice calls my attention ahead and near one of the waterfalls on Berk that leads to a nearby stream, Krogan stands looking over. As if trying to find a way to leap down. He had leapt such distances before, and he may try again, but then he was in his peak and not wrought with injuries from his near-death experiences that followed. Even still, this time, we had dragons, and we were going to chase him either way.

"KROGAN!" I call out, calling his attention to look towards me as I pat Toothless and he lobs a pair of blasts towards the man. Striking on either side of him, billowing up a small dust cloud, Stormfly and Astrid fire several spines in a circle around him. He tries to dart around and trips on one of the spines. Astrid fires a single shot the pins his pants legs to the ground, and another two that pin his arm to the ground, partially shredding the rags we had given him. Landing near Krogan but staying on our dragons, we were beyond trying to talk this out.

"Krogan. State your surrender now and we will take you back alive." I order, demanding he concede whatever ill-fated plan he has been cooking up. His laugh is all that answers me; the same, low-grumbled laugh of malice and contempt.

"Hahaha. And what if I don't, Chief? Will you kill me. Do what no one before you, even the feared Drago Bludvist, has been able to do? End the Spree Krogan the Hunter?" Krogan sneers as I feel Astrid's gaze shift to me, though my eyes remain locked on Krogan as Toothless channels another blast.

"If I must, Krogan, I will not hesitate to kill you, here and now." I state. The words stung at my heart, but they needed to be said.

"Oh, ho, ho. Strong words, Chief. What about your summit. Will they be happy if you bring them nothing but a body and empty words? Can you risk bringing me back alive? Maybe next time, your guards don't survive and end up like the traitor you harbored. Thanks for keeping him so close, by the way." Krogan taunts.

"What's your game, Krogan? What do you want? You keep antagonizing us, it's like you want us to kill you." Astrid remarks as Krogan's gaze shifts to her, his body still mostly motionless as he lays pinned on the ground. I can tell he is weary.

"A parting gift; your Hiccup is too weak, he hasn't tasted blood. Once he does, all of Berk will implode and I can rest in peace." Krogan retorts.

"I don't know, Krogan, we've bested you at almost every turn. And the only battles you've won have been when Hiccup wasn't present at the start." Astrid returns the jab in my defense as I smile inwardly. I really do love her.

"Enough. Krogan. Return with us to your cell now." I order as Krogan's gaze turns to me and a wry smile crosses his lips as he shakes his head.

"Sorry, Hiccup. I'll not be anyone's prisoner again. I'd rather go out fighting." Krogan exclaims, quickly lurching up and tearing his rags, grabbing a pair of the spines Stormfly shot at him and leveling one of them directly towards my face. Toothless quickly reacts and darts to the side as he grabs the third and throws one at Astrid with suck a force and speed that it grazes her flight suit. Luckily, the dragon scale flight suit was up to par with mine and deflected the force of the spine and it slide past and hit a tree behind her.

Toothless fires another plasma blast but Krogan had already swiftly ran straight towards me and Toothless with the spine and leapt up, over Toothless, tackling me and tumbling us both back. Inferno had been knocked from my hand mid-tackle and as we tumbled, I drew the dagger Astrid had made for me and use it to parry the spine as Krogan attempted to stab at me. I could hear his grunts of pure anger between the sounds of our bodies flailing against the ground as we tumbled.

"I. Will. Not. Die. Alone!" Krogan exclaims as our tumble stops around a hundred feet from our dragons. I couldn't tell where Astrid, Toothless or Stormfly was but I knew for at least this second, we were alone, and I was struggling to keep a spine away from my neck.

He was not playing and was seriously trying to drive the spine into my neck, jabbing at me and me just barely able to parry the spine to the dirt beneath me as he had me pinned to the ground. I noticed a wince when he jabbed and took the opportunity to sweep my leg around and trip him up, pinning one of his hands against his leg under my knee as I held the spine hand down. Holding my knife to his throat, barely able to stop his free hand with the spine.

"Give. Up. Krogan." I say, struggling against his strength. We were nearly an even match when he was running on empty and wounded. I couldn't imagine fighting him when he was at his peak. Unfortunately, my plea fell on deaf ears as he spit up on me and forced his hand free.

I felt the spine cut across my arm, through a weak point in the dragon flight suit before I could lock blades with it and press it down. There was no words, only sharp breaths and grunts as we each vied for control. In what felt like a flash, I felt his hand slip as he tried to jab up at me, giving me the moment, I needed to parry it and the opening I didn't want to take. My own dagger sunk into his neck in that moment as he gasps and his muscles tense, the spine released and falling to the ground as he coughs.

"Hiccup!" I hear Astrid as she closes in, and I hear her gasp as she sees the blood wrenching from my arm and the dagger slowly sinking into Krogan's neck. As I look down at Krogan, I can see him smile through bloodied teeth.

"And. Now. You have tasted. Blood. Good. Bye. Hiccup. Haddock." He struggles to say with a smile on his face as his muscles finally give way entirely and I watch his final breath leave his body.

I can almost see the light fade from his eyes as I fall backwards onto the ground, staring at him with the dagger in my hand. My face frozen, my eyes locked on what I just did. I had just taken a man's life, bared witness to his last breath as his life left him before my very eyes. I didn't even feel or see Astrid run to my side; I could hardly even comprehend the words she was speaking to me or feel her arms as she wrapped them around me. I think Toothless fired another shot or two, I think Stormfly did too. I couldn't tell, it was all a blur as my vision doubled and it felt like my head split in two. What had I just done?