Chapter 12

Close Call

A/N: I was totally lost for ideas on this chapter _ whenever I think of a story, I always have to daydream about it before I type it. I usually can only think of the beginning and end, not so much the middle. So I'm usually stuck between these parts of the chapters. And to give you all a heads up- I might be a while on some of these chapters. Since it is my senior year, it's going to be hard to type this in between school/life. I am also very happy about how many favs/followers I'm getting on this story! As well as Reviews! Keep them coming! You guys help me a lot on this! Anyway! Just continue on reading! :3

In a house, just about as large as the chiefs, sat perched on a hill next to another bigger house. Fire glared through the whole house with it's bright embers. Wood creaked on the floor as a boy walked around, finishing up his days house chores. A boy with black hair, wearing a viking helmet was carrying a couple of books in his hands. He never reads books, not even if he has too. He lifted the few books in his hands toward the top shelf of the bookshelf, next to the fireplace. The fire crackled as more footsteps was heard behind the boy.

The boys black eyes turned around as he saw a bigger man with black hair as well. He had whiskers on his chin as if he was growing a beard.

"Hey dad.", said Snotlout as he turned back around to put the last book on the bookshelf. "Hey son.", he said as he went to lean against the fireplace wood side. "I don't see you in your bed at most nights. Can't sleep or something?", Snotlout's father asked him. Snotlout gulped as his black eyes widened a bit. His dad tilted his head a bit as he waited for his sons answer. "Y-ya. I just go and walk around the village sometimes.", he shrugged. The man narrowed his eyes.

"Son. It's been many years now. You need to get over it.", his father said sternly.

Snotlout looked at him confused, "Huh?". The man sighed. "I know that you were not that close to your cousin. And that you saw a horrible sight. But it's been 10 years. You need to move on.", he said. Snotlout blinked at him. He realised that he was talking about Hiccup. He decided to just play along. "-sigh- I know dad.", he simply said. His father seemed to like that answer and started to walk toward his room. He stopped at the doorway and turned around halfway, "Try not to go out too much.", he warned. Snotlout nodded and gave his dad a small smile. The man nodded and padded off toward his bedroom.

Snotlout sighed and waited for a few more minutes until he was sure that his dad was going to bed.

He clapped his hands together to get some dust off. Then he walked toward his window in his living room and jumped out of it.

~.~.~

"-sighs- He's late!", said an annoyed Astrid. "He's Snotlout. What do you expect?", said Fishlegs as he crossed his arms. "He's not the only one that's late either!", said Astrid, starting to growl. The twins kept looking up in the air. "What type of dragon do you think he's going to ride today?", asked Ruffnut as she stared at the dark sky. No stars were in the sky tonight. Even the moon was blocked by dark gray clouds.

"Do you think it's going to rain?", asked Fishlegs as his brown eyes looked up worriedly at the sky. "It might. And all the more reason why those two should hurry up!", spat Astrid as she balled her fists.

"Hey!", a voice shouted.

Everyone turned to the sound of the voice. Snotlout came running towards them. "Bout time Snotlout!", Astrid spat as she punched his arm. "Ow! Well SORRY~", he said as he rubbed his arm. "My dad is starting to notice me gone. So I have to be more careful!", he said as he glared at Astrid. Astrid's and Fishlegs eyes widened in surprise. Of they haven't got caught yet. But if someone got caught, there would be LOTS of questions. Astrid just crossed her arms, "Then be more careful next time!", she said. Snotlout groaned in annoyance.

All of a sudden, there was a screech in the distance. "W-what was that?!", asked Fishlegs. Everyone turned their heads to the sound. It screeched again. Then there were a couple blasting sounds. "Lets go check it out!", shouted Tuffnut. The twins took off into the direction of the sound. "Wait up!", shouted Astrid as the other boys followed her.

They ran past a few more trees as the growling became louder. They past a boulder when they heard some thrashing sounds. As if something was clawing the ground. "Toothless! Calm down!", a voice shouted. But the creature kept screeching and thrashing. Everyone gasped as they recognized the voice.

The kids all jumped in front of the boulder and saw a black dragon with a long tail thrashing against some ropes. Ropes were tied all around the creature as it got itself more tangled as it kept thrashing it's legs. You could see it's bright white teeth as it kept screeching and biting at the rope. "Toothless!", Astrid shouted. Toothless kept on moving around as if he didn't hear her.

Astrid realised that Hiccup wasn't around his dragon. She looked around the clearing. On the ground, she saw a silver metal like stick laying there. She tilted her head as it looked familiar. "Toothless stop!", the voice shouted again with more concern in his voice. Everyone looked up and gasped.

On a high branch in a tree was Hiccup. He caught in a dragon net. It was so small, he could just barely move around in it. His green eyes look fearful at the black dragon.

"Hiccup!", Astrid shouted.

Hiccup heard her shout and looked over at her. His green eyes still full of fear. "Astrid! Grab my stick!", he said. Blue eyes looked down and saw the silver metal stick like resting in the grass. She picked it up. It felt smooth and a bit bumpy as some bumps were on it. It almost looks like the type that Gobber would make. She looked at it questioningly. "Press the first button!", said Hiccup quickly. Astrid moved her fingers and saw a couple of buttons. She noticed that Hiccup was looking fearfully in one direction. Even Toothless has stopped thrashing around and looked in the same direction. Astrid could hear some footsteps coming their way. Everyone started to get all tense and scared. Fishlegs started to shake. Ruffnut and Tuffnut were running back in forth like crazy, but quiet. Snotlout looked at Hiccup and back at the noise repeatedly.

Astrid narrowed her blue eyes and pressed the button. She gasped as a long sword came out of the stick. She quickly blinked and thought fast. She moved her hand towards the ropes around Hiccup as he fell out of the net. He landed on his feet crouched down. Then he quickly stood up and took the sword from her hand. He gripped it tightly as he swung it. Half of the ropes around Toothless fell off. Toothless managed to get out of it. "Run!", shouted Hiccup. Toothless stood up and made his wings flat as Hiccup jumped on him.

Everyone did as they were told and ran. The twins had their arms out as they ran back to the spot they were. Fishlegs had arms in the air as he was panicking. Astrid and Snotlout were practically racing each other. There was a vrooming noise in the sky.

"That damn Dragon Rider! Always stealing our dragons! Stoick is gonna have a fit when he hears about this!", shouted someone.

~.~.~

Once everyone finally stopped at the hideout, they were all panting. Snotlouts hands was on his legs as he was crouched over. Fishlegs rested his elbow on Snotlouts back as he panted. Astrid had her hands on her hips as she leaned backwards a bit with her face looking up as she panted. The twins were laying on the ground on their back next to each other. "That was too close!", panted Fishlegs. Snotlout realised that he was leaning on him. Then he shoved him off.

There was a vrooming noise in the night sky. Everyone looked up as they looked in the sky.

A black scaled dragon appeared in the sky. He gracefully landed on the ground without a noise. His tail flicked a bit as he lowered his wings. Hiccup jumped off of him. He went over to the front of his dragon and held his muzzle with one hand and the other petting his head. Then his green eyes looked over to the others who are out of breath. "Are you guys ok?", he asked. "-pants- we -pants- should be asking you that -pants.", said Fishlegs, now sitting on the floor. "Ya! And your lucky! Cause you get to fly away on a dragon!", said Tuffnut pointing a finger in the air while still laying on the ground. "Sooo lucky~", said Ruffnut in more of an annoyed tone.

Hiccup had a thoughtful look on his face. Toothless seemed to have read his mind and narrowed his eyes at him while making a small growling noise. "Oh come on bud! I'm sure it will work!", he said hopefully. The black dragon shook his head as his long ears flapped with. "You won't even give them a chance?", he asked. Toothless closed his eyes for a few minutes in thought.

"A chance for what?", Astrid asked as she went over toward them. She moved her bangs out of her face as she looked at Toothless and then at Hiccup with a confused look. The others started to get up and walk over to them.

Toothless opened his green eyes and looked over to the kids. He looked closely at all of them. Astrid had a bright spirit in her. Even though she has some anger issues, she can be very loyal. Snotlout can be very dumb, even if he has the same blood as Hiccups. But he can be dependable. Fishlegs was smart and loved dragons. Though he can be scared at times, he's a big help in certain situations. The twins are another story. They goof off a lot but they will be there for you even if they say they won't.

The black dragon looked down and sighed in defeat. Hiccup saw this and had a bright smile on his face.

"Alright, Astrid?", Hiccup asked as he looked at her. Her blue eyes looked into his green ones. "I want you to bring all of them to that cliff side. Ya know. The one from the other night?", he said.

Astrids blue eyes widened and blushed as she remembered that night. She shook her head and then nodded, "Alright.", she said as she put her hand on her hip.

Hiccup nodded and hopped back onto his dragon. "I want all of you to listen to Astrid tomorrow until Toothless and I come.", he said as he waved. Toothless flapped his black wings a couple of times before they took off. Fishlegs and the twins were waving their hands toward him.

A/N: Phew! Finally got this chapter done! I hope you guys liked it! :3