I got awesome feedback from my first HTTYD:RTTE fanfic! So, I decided I would try at another. I have literally watched Season 4 over three times. Best season by far. Our babies have grown so close. Like the episode "Twintuition", "Midnight Scrum" also pushed fanfic ideas on me. It's the episode where Viggo put a bounty on Hiccup's head. Thus, this fanfic was created. This story won't be too long as I am still trying to get the hang of each character.

So here goes…

"That's the thing about pain, it demands to be felt." – John Green

Nothing could be seen but darkness. There was a nasty smell of sweat and blood from within her closed area.

Sounds of the waves splashing against rocks could be heard from below and song birds could be heard from above. A heart beat in her head could be heard from within. It didn't take her long to realize that this wasn't where she was supposed to be.

Ruffnut was supposed to be safely on the edge with her brother sleeping beside her.

So how did she end up with a sack thrown over her and a tight rope around her waist? She couldn't move her hands as they were tied up behind her back.

What was going on? What happened...Oh.

Ruffnut faintly remembered hearing Chicken squawk frantically outside their door. Ruffnut hadn't been asleep, instead brushing her hair and Tuffnut didn't budge. She investigated only to find a bundle of feathers lying there without a chicken. Panic raised in her throat but before she could rush back in for Tuff, a heavy object connected with her temple. She was out like a light.

Thus waking up here.

"Ugh... I don't know what's goin' on, but when I get out someones gonna pay." She grumbled out while focusing on what she was sitting on. Stone.

"Ruffnut! Your here too?! You okay?" Astrid's voice piped out to her left. Astrid was utterly relieved that she wasn't alone in this mess... but by Thor did it have to be Ruffnut ?

"Astrid? Woah... What... What happened? " Ruffnut wasn't alone like she had thought she was. Good, that was convenient. Maybe the other were here too!

"I..don't know. .. Dragon hunters.. I think. I was out sharpening my axe .. I was ambushed. Hey, Ruff, try moving closer to me. We have to get out of here." Astrid was clearly confused, but clearly this was a serious matter. Astrid always knew what to do.

"Okay.. Is anyone else here?" Ruffnut asked as she inched her body towards Astrid's voice.

"I don't think so, Ruff. But we won't know until we get out of these ropes." Astrid replied quickly. "Oof. Hey, watch it!"

"Oops. Sorry..." Yep. Definitely Astrid. Ruff could feel the muscles in her forearms as she leaned against her. She shifted as Astrid played with her ropes that binder her wrists. Ruffnut grunted with discomfort before her wrists were free. Ruffnut immediately removed her sack to find... nothing?

They were in a pit-like room. A well-built pit. It was a nice pit. Sunlight lit up the small space from the grate that blocked the top entrance. Ruffnut squinted causing pain in her head to erupt as stared up at it.

"Ruffnut, untie me. Come on." Astrid replied impatiently as she struggled in her ropes.

"Uhm Astrid. I think we gotta another problem." Ruffnut replied to her as she hastily fumbled with Astrid's knots. Wow. Whoever tied these must be the knot tying king of typing ropes. Also, they probably knew of the Hofferson fieriosity.

"What? What do you mean? Wha-" The sack was off and her vibrant eyes closed quickly due to the blinding sunlight. "Ugh. Great."

They were trapped. There was no way to climb the walls. Astrid didn't have to check to know that their captors had stripped them of their weopans. Great. Just great. She didn't have a clue where she was and stuck in a pit with Ruffnut Thorston, but it was better than being stuck in a pit with Snotlout. Astrid turned her head to look at Ruff, her eyes widened.

"Oh thor! Ruff. Your head is bleeding."

"Oh? Is it?" Ruffnut obviously wasnt aware as her habd frlt around the top of her forehead. She winced and stared ar her reddening fingers. "Oh. Guess is it is. Cool! You think i'll get a scar ?"

Astrid quickly tore off a shred of her tunic and pressed it to Ruffnut's skull. It probably wasn't as bad as it looked. Head wounds bled a lot anyhow. "No, It isn't to bad. Just keep this on it."

Ruffnut groaned and held the cloth to her head. "How come they didn't hit you as hard as they did me?"

"I don't know. Maybe the guy that hit you has a stronger swing."

"Huh. Ouch."

"Okay. Listen. We need to get out of here. It's morning, Hiccup should know we're missing by now. Stormfly will track me."

"You're missing." Ruffnut scoffed while watching Astrid.

"Wait, what?" Astrid tilted her head in confusion but Ruffnut was quick to reply.

"Hiccup will know that your missing immediately. It'll take my idiot brother a while to notice I'm missing. So after Hiccup panics, the boys will gather around and then notice I'm missing. " Ruffnut shrugged her shouldars as she corrected her blonde companion.

"What's that supposed to mean, Ruffnut. You can't be-" Before she could get her words out, the grate above them lifted.

A wooden ladder landed in the dust before the two.

Both blondes stayed still while staring at the ladder.

"Huh. How convenient." Ruff took a step forward but Astrid caught her before she could touch the wood.

"Not a good idea, Ruff." Astrid warned as she glared at the ladder. All was silent up above but there was no way that Astrid was buying it.

"Look Astrid. This ladder is the only way out. I want out. I don't like this pit. It's way deeper than the boar pit. This could be our only chance to get out. Let's just go." Ruffnut replied impatiently as she gripped the wooden beams.

Astrid hesitated, but did a weigh in on Ruff's words. "Fine. Go. But I know this is a bad idea."

Ruff grumbled something that she didn't quite catch. Bad idea. There was a twinge in the pit of Astrid's stomach as she followed the twin up the ladder. This whole situation seemed wrong. There was a constant battle between the dragon riders and hunters. Astrid had gotten used to the hunters attempting to kill them and their dragons… but this seemed… different. Once she reached the top, she knew for a fact that it was a bad idea listening to Ruffnut. She knew that, yet why in Thor's name did she do it.

Sharpened arrows were pointed at the two with a group of men behind each bow.

"Well, well, well. Both of you have already escaped your binds. I've expected nothing less." A raven haired man stood tall amongst each of the men. He was a stranger. He was weaponless, standing with his arms behind his back and sharp silver eyes glaring at the two.

Astrid stood her ground at Ruffnut's side with a glare matching the stranger's. "Who are you and what do you intend to do to us?"

There was an upward twitch in the corner of the man's mouth. "Hm. Sorry, Excuse me, where are my manners. My name is Lo'kir. I am no one special really. Just a man making a mark on the world. I'm here to collect bounty. You two are the key to gaining that bounty."

"Uh. Last time I checked, we aren't the ones that have a bounty on our heads. Mr. Grey Eyes. " Ruffnut barked as she placed a hand on her hip with a dull expression. Seriously, what was with this guy?

Lo'kir narrowed his silver gaze, but gave a small chuckle in the back of his throat. "My dear Ruffnut, it isn't you two that I am after. Hiccup Haddock is my target. My fellow bounty hunters have tried and failed. Thus, I have my own way of collecting him."

"Hiccup is smart. He won't just walk into your trap like you think. Let us go, this is a waste of your time." Astrid hissed out all the while watching each man with fierce eyes. There were five, not including Lo'kir. She didn't like the way they looked at her or Ruffnut. All eyes were on them. Each of the men had a glint of hunger in their eyes and it caused Astrid's guard to sky rocket. She shifted a glance to Ruffnut. She was also standing firmly on the ground, but her shoulders didn't appear nearly as rigid as Astrid's did.

"Ah, ah, ah. Maybe not. But Hiccup will come for you. That's a fact. Hiccup Haddock always makes his capture so immensely difficult. But with what I have planned, not even his Night Fury will be able to stop him from walking into my trap." The silver eyes glared coldly towards the blondes with a smirk lighting up his expression.

"Now. Shall we get started? Men… You may choose.."

At that moment, all hell broke loose.

The men rushed towards the blondes. Astrid gave out a animalistic growl and fists were thrown. Ruffnut matched her snarl and launched herself at the burly man rushing at her. They had no weapons, but both blondes weren't a force to be messed with. Astrid was highly skilled in fighting, she had been trained heavily in hopes one day to join the Berk guard, according to her parent's wishes. Her fists managed to know out two. With years and years of rough housing with the boys, not to mention growing up with her brother, Ruffnut was highly skilled in knowing how to fight male figures larger than she was. True to her name, she wouldn't be taken lightly.

But as Astrid anticipated, five against two failed her.

"Hey! Let me go! You won't take me alive!"

Astrid made the mistake of snapping her head to Ruffnut's distress causing the closest man to take her to the ground. Pain fled up her spine and there was a sudden ringing in her head as the back of her skull hit the ground. Suddenly, the bald man was on top of her with his beefy fingers clasping around her throat. Astrid gasped in sudden panic and reached for the man's face, she dug her nails into his cheek fiercely while baring her teeth.

The man didn't let go like she had anticipated. He dealt with the pain while grinning. She couldn't breathe! She needed air! Just behind her attacker's shoulder, she could faintly spot Lo'kir watching in the same position he had been in while wearing that stupid smirk. One hand left her throat and went for the bottom rim of her shirt. She felt the crisp air on her stomach as her belt was loosened as his beefy hand traveled up her shirt. Her back arched and her hands freed themselves from his face. She reached for the hand around her throat in attempt to gasp in some oxygen. "S-stop!" She sputtered out, but it excited the man. No, no. This wasn't supposed to happen!

"Haddock's missin' out." Her attacker growled out while grinning at the reaction he got out of her. " I think I'll-" The man didn't get to finish as a boot connected with the side of his face causing him to roll off Astrid.

"Astrid, Hey! You okay?! Hey, Come on, say something!" The blurred figure of a concerned Ruffnut suddenly appeared into her line of vision as sweet oxygen filled her lungs.

"R-ruffnut… Wh-here…" Her throat was on fire. Her head throbbed. She needed to focas. They weren't out of danger yet. Ruffnut almost looked as bad as she did. Instead of black and blue bruises forcming around her throat, Ruffnut had a black eye forming, a busted lip and most likely other bruising here and there. Astrid gripped ahold of Ruffnut's shoulders as she was lifted up to stand.

"R-ruff… Where did…he go." Astrid searched around for the leader of the pack weakly as her lungs burned with air while weakly holding herself up.

"I don't know. He does that disappearing thing like Viggo… He was just here a minute ago." Ruffnut had also lost track of their captor.

"I never stray too far, my dear."

"Astrid!"

A glint of a blade glinted to her left in her peripheral vision, but Ruffnut was there.

Things happened to fast for the weakened Astrid. A sputtering sound was heard. Astrid turned her head slowly with widening eyes. "Ruff.."

Ruffnut slowly peered down at the arrow logged into the lower right side of her stomach. She sucked in a breath as pain engulfed her.

"This wasn't exactly what I had in mind. Plans change." The attacker grinned as he stepped towards the two. With that, Lo'kir shoved the injured twin back into the pit, her body landing with a thud in a cloud of dust.

"N-no… Ruff!" Astrid was managing to stand on her own now. She found her voice and glared up at the hunter. "You will pay for this with your life." She seethed.

"Hiccup Haddock will come. I did not intend to harm your friend. She got in the way. Your friends will have to make a choice. I will collect my bounty and you will go free. But I cannot have you escape." The vibrant silver eyes glared and gave her a shove. Luckily, the way her body had hit the side of the wall caused her to miss Ruffnut as she landed into the bed of dust.

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