Chapter 7: Windy Maze

I know it's been while since I worked on this story, but hopefully I can get more stuff done during this break.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Balto or How to Train your Dragon. They both belong to their respective owners and this is just for fun, NOT for profit.

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(3rd person POV)

"Hike! Hike! Hike!"

The shouts of the mushers mingles with the sound of the dogs trudging through the snow in the light of the dawn. The mushers on the sleds sported the Berkian seal on their leather-lined coats and helmets. Despite the clear skies, the mass of mushers were approaching a fog-like flurry of snow that looked like a never ending wall.

"We'll be within the outer circle in less that a minute, Stoick." Second in Command, Spitlout, reported before tucking the map he was previously looking at into the supplies in his sled.

"I can tell that we're close. I can almost smell those beast. Steady your resolve men! We are going in."

The other mushers brandished their weapons before charging into Helheim's Gate. Less than a minute within the flurry. Howls and snarls echo though before the flurry started to intensify and become dense.

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(Hiccup POV)

"You know, I just happened to notice the book had nothing on Night Furies. Is there another book? An abridged one? Or a sequel? Maybe a little Night Fury pamph- Woah"

I was nearly blasted by a gust of wind that not only tore off the head of my axes hilt, but blasts through the maze wall. When a turned to the direction that the blast came from, I saw a a muscular but nimble Deadly Nadder wolf stalking toward. I steeled myself for a minute …

and then promptly ran for my life.

"FOCUS Hiccup! You're not even trying." Gobber yelled from outside the Kill Ring arena.

I glanced back to see that the Nadder run of the walls until it stood at it top and gracefully hop from one wooden wall to another in this crazy maze Gobber had set up within the arena.

"Today... is all about attack." Gobber yelled to all of the recruits scurrying through the maze. "Nadders are quick and light on their feet. Your job is to be quicker and lighter."

I kept running and making random turns until I stumbled upon some of the other teens, but not quite keeping up with them. It wasn't long until the Nadder found us making us scatter. I knew I was save for not because I heard Fishlegs' yelp and complaining as the Nadder started chasing him.

"Look for its blind spot." Gobber advised. "Every dragon has one. Find it, hide in it, and strike."

I guessed Fishlegs escaped because I saw the Nadder jump over me and hear the twins bickering, probably not willing to share the blind spot. I kept running until I was in front of Gobber again.

"Hey, so how would one sneak up on a Night Fury?" I asked.

"None one's ever met one and lived to tell the tale. Now get in there."

"I know, I know, but hypothetically..."

"Hic!" I heard a whisper and say that it was Astrid. She puts her finger to her lips and gestures for him to hide along with her and Snotlout. A moment later, the Nadder leaps over the walls, surprising them by landing in front of her. Astrid somersaults behind it into its blind spot, confusing it. She rears back to strike - just as Snotlout leaps in front of her.

"Watch out babe. I'll take care of this." Snotlouts says as he throws his mace at the wolves only to miss and get glares from both Astrid and me. "The sun was in my eyes, Astrid. What do you want me to do, block out the sun? I could do that, but I don't have time right now!"

The Nadder tears off after us, knocking down walls in pursuit. Astrid leaps up the walls only for the Nadder to follow her. Snotlout and I were still running until I noticed that I was in front of Gobber again and took a few sends to ask some more questions.

"So, about those Night Furies. They probably take the daytime off. You know, like a cat. Has anyone ever seen one napping?"

"Hiccup!"

I turned around to see Astrid leaping toward me from the wall as they were toppling over from her and the Nadder. Astrid comes flying and crash-lands on top of me, laying me out in a limb-tangled mess.

"Oooh! Love on the battlefield!" "She could do better." The twins comment as the Nadder closes in on us as it blows through the cloud of dust.

"Wait, just... let me... why don't you..." I struggle ti untangle us.

"No you got to go that way.. and then I go this way." Astrid said as she untangles herself but, she was defenseless due to her axes was still embedded in my shield.

This was my chance.

I stumbled to feet and prepare to throw the shield at the stalking wolf. As I pulled the shield off my arm and bring it back to throw, I stopped.

The eyes were back.

I swore that the Nadder had dark or light brown eyes. As I was staring at this stalking Nadder, I saw a familiar pair green eyes. I shook my head. No, it's just eyes but... I couldn't focus on it too much on the eyes the, because the Nadder went into a charge. I was still frozen and would have been a goner if it weren't for Astrid grabbing her ace part of the shields and smashing it against the Nadder's snout. The poor creature yelps and scurries off.

"Well done, Astrid." Gobber congratulates as he hobbles into the Arena to wrestle the Nadder back into his cage.

By then, I had snapped out of it and was about to apologize to Astrid I was pushed to the ground by none other than Snotlout.

"Is this some kind of a joke to you? You almost got my future wife killed."

"First off, I'm not marrying you Snot." Astrid counters as he helped me up. "Second of all, Hiccup just... had a delayed reaction and he doesn't have as much battle experience than us. Give him a break."

"Give him a break? Our parents' war is about to become ours." Snotlout turns to me and poked pointedly at my chest. "Figure out which side you're on, Useless. Not all of us will be there to cover your sorry ass all the time." He grabs his mace among the wreckage and stomps off.

I watch him leave and Astrid comfortably padded my shoulder before leaving, but I was still a little struck by his words. Maybe there's more than just two sides.

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It's past midnight when I was still writing this thing. Now if you excuse me, I'm going to sleep a couple days before I move on and work on another story. *collapses onto my bed*

Thanks for all those that reviewed, every little bit helps. If you're new to the story, please let me know what you think with a review. Constructive criticism is accepted, but no flames please. And don't be too shy to check out some of my other stories.