Alone.

That's all Hiccup could think of right now. He was alone. Trapped in a dark cell on Berserker Island with no way out.

The stone floor beneath Hiccup was cold and uncomfortable. Roars and growls echoed around the caves. A small, soggy loaf of bread sat on the ground a couple feet away from him. Hiccup had his legs hugged up tight against his chest, head down on his knees, back against the wall.

Hiccup shivered.

Not because he was cold. But because Hiccup knew there was no way out.

No one was coming to rescue him. Not his friends, not his father, and not Toothless. They would all think he just vanished. Yes, they would search for him. He knew that at least. But finding him? That would be impossible. Rescuing him even more so. They wouldn't stand a chance.

Berserker Island is heavily fortified. Outposts overlooking every angle of entry. Soldiers patrolling the island 24/7. A fleet of war ships defended ready at the docks. Catapults and ballistae on every cliff. And what seemed to be an endless supply of battle-ready Berserkers.

All up against four dragons and five riders. Five dragons if Toothless were to use the automatic tailfin. They would be killed before they could even get to Hiccup.

Hiccup hugged himself even tighter, feeling his eyes water. His heart beating out of his chest.

"How did this even happen?" Hiccup whispered as he allowed his tears to fall.

"That's not funny!" Hiccup playfully whined.

Astrid threw her head back and kept laughing at what Hiccup had just told her.

"It is!" She chuckled.

They were in the cove. It was late-morning and the sun shone down on them as they sat on the grass, telling each other stories.

"You're telling me." Astrid stifled another giggle. "That... you ate that fish! The same fish that was in Toothless' stomach."

"Yes, Milady. I did. I don't recommend it either. It was disgusting and I never want to do it again," Hiccup said as he gestured with his hands as he spoke. Meanwhile Astrid just kept on laughing.

"That does sound disgusting," Astrid's giggles died down and she smiled brightly at Hiccup.

Hiccup gave her his usual goofy grin. Hearing Astrid laugh is one of the best feelings in the world, he thought.

Astrid looked around the cove. Toothless and Stormfly had flown off and left their two riders to themselves.

"Well, looks like our dragons have completely abandoned us," Hiccup deadpanned. "Useless reptile," he muttered sarcastically.

Astrid rolled her eyes and huffed, her smile indicating she found it funny too.

"How about we race back?" Astrid suggested with a smirk.

"Race back? Astrid, I have a prosthetic leg. That's an unfair disadvantage!" Hiccup shouted after her, but she had already started running. She climbed to the top of the cove.

"Come on, Haddock! You aren't scared of losing, are you?" She teased playfully.

"Oh, that's it. You're on, Hofferson!" Hiccup smirked and ran out of the cove after Astrid.

Hiccup's heart pounded in his ears as he chased after Astrid. Trees and bushes became a blur as he tried to keep up. Every now and then he would see a glimpse of blond hair ahead of him. Breathing became harder and he slowed down. Eventually losing sight of the blond Viking girl, he stopped.

Hiccup could hear he labored breaths clearly now. He put his hands on his knees and slowed his breathing. He looked up and realised something.

He was lost.

Everywhere he looked were more trees. No certain landmarks that could tell him where he was.

I must have run in the wrong direction, Hiccup thought.

"Astrid? Astrid!"

He cursed his inability to keep up.

He heard a twig snap to his right, he turned and slowly walked towards the sound.

"Hello? Astrid, is that you?"

The tree to his left rustled.

"Okay guys. I get it," Hiccup threw his arms up. "You're trying to scare me. Ruff, Tuff is this you? I know you're there."

Hiccup lowered his arms and pulled aside a bush. Nothing.

Maybe I am just hearing things, he thought.

He turned around and bumped into a large man, clad in armour and wielding an axe.

Hiccup fell to the ground and looked back up at the man. An etching of a Skrill was on his chest.

No. No, no. This isn't good, Hiccup thought.

"Well, hello," the soldier smirked and went to grab Hiccup.

Hiccup reacted quickly and kicked the man in the shin with his metal leg.

The soldier crumpled to the ground and shouted in pain.

Hiccup turned and ran.

"Come back here boy! Get him!"

Hiccup's breathing came in gasps as he sprinted away. Berserkers were here. On Berk. They were coming for him.

Hiccup cried out as his prosthetic leg tripped over a stray tree root and fell to the ground. He hit the ground hard, grazing his hands and knees. Hiccup groaned and tried to get up, but a heavy boot was planted down on his back.

"Oi! I've got 'im!" The berserker then turned to hiccup and smirked. He raised his fist. "Goodnight, boy." Hiccup heard before everything went black.

The motions were what woke him. As Hiccup came to his senses, he heard shouting and heavy boots. He could feel his hands tied around his back to a post. The sound of waves splashing against wood.

Wait. Waves?

Hiccup's eyes suddenly opened. He saw berserkers walking around the deck, talking with each other. Hiccup struggled against the ropes behind his back. He looked up at the sail and realised he was tied to the mast.

"Well, well, well. You're finally awake."

Hiccup gasped and froze. He recognised that voice and dreaded it.

He stared up at an approaching man. He was tall and had a medium build with muscular arms. His fiery red hair tied into a ponytail and was wearing a tall Viking helmet. A tattoo of three marks went diagonally across his left eye. Iron pauldrons were strapped to his shoulders and a sword on his back. Lastly, a gold belt buckle with a Skrill etched into it rested on his belt.

"Dagur..." Hiccup whispered.

"Aren't you happy to see me brother?! Because I'm sure happy to see you!" Dagur laughed maniacally.

"I'm not your brother."

Dagur stopped laughing and glared at Hiccup. "That's disappointing of you, Hiccup. I always thought we saw eye to eye. But of course, you had to be a dragon-loving runt! You betrayed me. No one betrays me!" He crouched down to Hiccup's level. "You and Berk will pay for what you did."

Hiccup gulped.

Savage, Dagur's second in command, walked up to Dagur.

"Sir. We're here."

"Oh, goody!" Dagur gave an evil grin and stood up.

Hiccup gasped. All hope of his friends saving him were crushed.

"Welcome to Berserker Island, Hiccup."

The recent memories flowed through Hiccup's head. He kept thinking of every possible thing he could've changed to prevent this. If he was fast enough to keep up with Astrid. If Toothless and Stormfly had stayed. If he didn't trip over his prosthetic. Every thought kept his head pounding and his mind awake. The headache caused from the solider knocking him out earlier wasn't helping either.

Hiccup was captured, trapped and there was no way out.

Or was there?

His thoughts drifted to when he escaped from Alvin the few times, he was captured by him. He made it out. But the situation was nothing like this.

Hiccup wiped his teary eyes with his sleeves and stared through the bars of the cell.

He could only hope.

First chapter done! I'm planning on writing about 8 chapters. The next chapter, Search and Survival, should be out within a week. Follow me so you know when I release the next chapter! – AirbornDragonRider