Chapter 20: Into the Wolves' Den

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.

(Hiccup POV)

"That must be it. I thought it would be taller." Astrid commented as we approached the mountain.

Much like the in my dream, there was a fog-like windstorm hanging around the mountain to the point that it almost covered it. Despite knowing that the mountain is there, you would have dismissed it as some stationary snowstorm if you weren't familiar with the area.

"Remember to lay low and don't move as we enter the Cave. You sure you don't want to ride up here?"

"I'm sure. I'm just still a little wary about actually riding him. No offense Toothless." Toothless responded with a huff.

Astrid hopped into the basket of her sled, shortened the hitch rope to closer to Toothless, and hung to a support rope before covering herself with a fur pelt. As we approached the mountain, we were enveloped by the storm. I cling to the harness but also grabbed handfuls of Toothless' fur for good measure. I glanced back from time to time to check and made sure that Astrid's sled was still behind us. Even with my head down and the wind whipping by my ears, I could hear barks and growls of wolves that were creating the storm and checking Toothless before continuing their task.

When the wind stopped, I lifted up my head a little to see piles upon piles of bone and bits of rotting flesh. The only thing that kept it from smelling unbearable was the chill of the frozen cave. Along the hollow mountain was ramps leading up to cavities with some housing sleeping wolves. I glanced behind to see the sled still there, but Astrid peeking through the fur pelt with a look of awe similar to mine. Despite us, Toothless made his way sneaking around the caverns sniffing out the trail that he's been following since we left Berk. We made our way deep in a cavern until we go to a point too small for Toothless to fit.

I climbed off Toothless and entered the smaller entrance with my club. As I was a few paces in and light was getting fainter, something jumped on me sending me to the ground. I raised my club to block any one coming attack. But instead of claws clashing with my club, there was a distinct sound of metal.

"What! Whoever you are I'm human!" I exclaimed.

The figure started to ease up, but before they got off me, something thrown it off me. I sat up to see Astrid pinning the figure to the ground with her axe.

"Chill out Astrid! It's me! Snotlout!" he yelled while waving his hands in defense.

"Not so nice to greet people with a threat, huh." Astrid said under her breath

"Well, you would if you had to deal with wolves while defending the meds, you dad, and yourself."

"What about your sled dogs? My family train them for that kind of thing."

"Dead."

"All of them?!"

"How do thing we even got this deep into the Wolves' Main Cave? We lost half of them trying to get through the storm and the other half to take over when we unknowingly came into the Cave. Come see for yourself."

We followed him a little further into the tunnel, leaving Toothless to guard the entrance. When we got to the end of the tunnel, we saw with faint lantern light, the dried bloody and torn harnesses that once attached the dogs to the sled. The sled itself was in tougher shape then when it left Berk, but the box of antitoxin was practically untouched. However, huddled behind it was a figure cocooned int fur pelts.

"See. The meds are safe but we have no more dogs to help us get out. And to make matters even worse, my dad is sick like everyone in town. And it's hilarious that I don't even have the tools to give him the meds that are right next to him!"

He yelled the last part more to himself than to the two of us. He collapsed to his knees tried to muffle his crying. With his bravado, his crumbled form gave me serious deja vu. When Astrid found out her parents were sick. When Toothless realized that he may never walk again. Whenever I made a fool of myself because of what I did during a raid. Even when I was young and caught my Dad staring at the firepit while clutching his hat. Much Like some of those other times, I went to Snotlout and laid a hand on his heaving shoulder. It was only until his quaking shoulders stopped quaking that I spoke.

"It's not all bad, we're here now. And we have a way to get out, all of us."

" 's great." Snotlout started to get up and tried to ignore his moment of weakness. "I hope you have enough dogs to pull two sleds."

"About that. You may not like our method of transportation."

"What is it? It's not like I have much of a choice."

"We came here by wolf."

"Excuse me?" Snotlout started to come closer to me with an agitated expression. "You better be pulling my leg fishbone or so help me..."

"Or what Snotface." Astrid blocked him from me. "Everyone back in town are running out of time. We are leaving with that antitoxin with or without your corporation. So, either help us hitch up your sled or prepare to be hogtied." She said distinctly raising her axe.

With a grumbling pout he took a hold of the sled' harness help them pull the sled back toward Toothless. Aside from the initial instinct of reaching for his dagger when he saw Toothless, Snotlout's reaction wasn't too bad. Especially since Toothless only swiped him in the face in response to the dagger. Snotlout refused to take his eyes off the wolf as he and Astrid hitched the sled to Toothless' harness and train Astrid's sled behind theirs.

With me explaining the situation to Toothless and everything secured, we were ready to go.

In hindsight, the Astrid may come off as a bit harsh. However you got to imagine that you parents may die if they don't get the medicine back in time.

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.