Chapter 6! Sorry it took me a bit to update; hit a wall with writing and it's finals next week in school. Hope you enjoy!
Chapter Six
"Gaah!" Astrid cried out, flinching in pain.
Heather was busy trying to stitch the slash on Astrid's arm, using supplies she had in a small pack she carried. "I know it hurts, but try to hold still!" she said in a tired, worn out voice.
Astrid glanced down at the wound. It was still bleeding, but a lot less than it was when she was first cut. "Sorry Heather, I'm trying."
"I know you are, but it's especially important now. We need to close this up before it gets infected." Heather said, focusing on the small needle.
Looking away from what Heather was doing, Astrid saw Hiccup staring at a shrewdly drawn map in the dirt. His face buried in his hands, she could tell that he was beating himself up. It was an emotional evening for everyone. Having buried Snatch, Heather was about to fall apart; Hiccup couldn't think of a plan to save Matt; and Astrid wasn't going to be able to fight with her arm cut up.
"There…all done." Heather said, putting a weak smile on. She then reached in her pack and grabbed her last cloth. Soaking it in the stream that was next to their camp, she then wrapped the newly stitched slash. Making sure it was snug, she said "Let me see your hood."
Astrid complied by reaching for the fur hood with her good arm; taking it off of her armor that it was attached to, she then handed it to Heather.
Tying two ends together, Heather then slipped it over Astrid's head. Gently lifting her arm, she then set it in the hood. Looking at the shrewdly crafted sling, she said "That should do it. Try to move your arm as little as possible, since I don't want that stitching to come undone."
Looking at Heather's handiwork, Astrid whispered "Thank you Heather."
Only nodding, Heather returned her attention to what was left in her small pack. Organizing her supplies, she felt Astrid's hand on her shoulder. "How are you holding up?" she asked, trying to make eye contact.
"I'm a mess." Heather replied simply. Looking at the freshly dug grave for Snatch, she added "I lost my dragon, who saved our lives a few times; now we can't even come up with a plan to save Matt and Wasatch." Looking into Astrid's eyes, she asked "Are we going to lose them too?"
Astrid pulled her into a hug, trying to think of something to comfort her with. After a few seconds, she then thought of something. "Remember when we were flying to try and find Hiccup? When I was worried that I might not see him again?"
Heather nodded, not saying anything.
"You remember what he said right? When he said things usually work out?" Astrid asked again.
"Yeah, but that was when we were separated. We know where he is, we just don't know what to do!" Heather said angrily "We don't need to feel that we can get him! We need to know we can get him back!"
Raising her hand to stop Heather from her tirade, Astrid said "Let me finish. I could have chosen not to believe Matt and be miserable. I'm glad I did listen to him because I'd have to admit I was wrong!" Grabbing Heather's hand she continued "His words are more applicable now than before. Yes, it's better to be able to know what to do or what's going on; but I didn't know we'd find Hiccup that night! If we can keep that feeling, that hope, we'll be able to come up with a plan."
Heather looked down after hearing Astrid out. She knew she was right, but was having a hard time accepting that fact. Nodding slowly, she whispered hoarsely "Well…let's get busy trying to get a plan then."
"If you have any idea; even crazy ones! I'll gladly welcome them." Hiccup said, looking up from the map in the dirt. His eyes were bloodshot from stress and anxiety. Being exhausted didn't help him either.
"What do you mean?" Astrid said with concern in her voice "Can't think of anything?"
"Nothing that involves either exposing where we're at, attacking their camp directly, or getting captured again." Hiccup said sarcastically while throwing himself onto his back. Looking up lightning filled clouds, he added "It's almost impossible to get a plan with only one dragon that can fly."
Toothless quickly growled at Hiccup, glaring at him.
"Sorry bud. I didn't mean it in that way." Hiccup looking at his dragon "We're just not as helpful as we could be with you grounded."
"What if we wait for Eret and the others to come?" Heather asked, taking a seat by Hiccup "Not only would we have more people, but we could get Toothless a new tail!"
"But the problem is that Matt's still a prisoner." Hiccup countered, sitting up from where he was laying "I figured that if we show ourselves to Savage, he'll tell us to surrender or he'll kill him."
Heather looked away and stared into the fire. This was hopeless. There seemed to be no way to get an edge on Savage.
"Well…we do have one option" Astrid began to say, but was cut off by Hiccup.
"Astrid! I don't know what to do! The best plan that I have is to send you and Stormfly to try and free Wasatch! Even then that's a gamble!" Hiccup replied angrily
"My idea has nothing to do with dragons!" Astrid shouted, flaring up in anger "How about you take some of your own advice for Matt and let us work with you! Let us plan with you!"
Hiccup shut up after that. Realizing that his anxiety was affecting everyone, he quickly began to apologize. "Sorry Astrid…I'm just stressed knowing Matt's over there with Savage. I don't know what to do."
"That's why I said let us help!" Astrid said, cooling down a little bit. Making sure she had both his and Heather's attention, she continued to say "Heather wouldn't know the details, but remember when Matt and I freed you from Dagur when he had all of you guys in the arena?"
Nodding, Hiccup replied "Of course."
"Do you remember how we got in there the first place?" Astrid said with a smile slowly forming on her face.
Hiccup thought for a second, and then looked at Astrid in horror. "No! Absolutely not!" he said loudly.
"What? Don't do what?" Heather asked, completely confused at what they were talking about.
"Why not Hiccup?" Astrid said, driving her point further "We don't need someone to be captured, we can just send two people in! Even one person!"
"Dressed in what? Mud and sticks?" Hiccup countered.
"Will someone PLEASE explain to me what you're talking about?" Heather said, interrupting the two "What do you mean we don't have to have someone be captured!?
Looking at Heather, Hiccup said "When Astrid went to get Matt from his world; the entire dragon academy, as well as Berk, was captured by Dagur."
"Yeah, I remember you told me that." Heather said nodding in agreement.
"What we didn't tell you was how they both saved us." Hiccup said, glaring at Astrid.
"Matt dressed as a Berserker and I acted like I was captured by him." Astrid said with a smile "He was able to get right next to Dagur and take him out while I freed the dragons."
"So you're suggesting to go into Savage's camp, dressed like Slavers, and free Matt?" Heather asked, putting the context of the story to what Astrid's plan was.
"Just like that!" Astrid said, proud of her plan.
"So…since this plan is flawless" Hiccup said sarcastically "Where are we going to get some of the Slaver's outfits?"
"Back at the ruined arena." Astrid quickly replied "Matt killed at least one, not to mention what Stormfly and I did; don't forget Toothless' plasma blast." Smiling broader now, she said "There has to be at least one outfit we can use."
"But they might be waiting for us!" Hiccup argued "Or at least heading this way."
"Got any other ideas?" Astrid shot back "As far as I can tell, it's the best we got."
Hiccup just stared at her, unsure of how to respond to the attack. Shaking his head, he said "Fine…we'll go back to the arena. Once one of us is disguised, I'll give the final say if it's still a good idea."
Smiling, Astrid struggled to get up with her arm still in a sling. Seeing Hiccup's hand extended, she took it and felt herself hoisted up.
"One thing for sure, you're not going to be the infiltrator." Hiccup said, staring at Astrid's arm.
"Yeah, I'll agree with you on that one." Astrid said, also looking down at her arm "I can't believe they got me."
Heather then jumped in, saying "It was bound to happen. I mean how many fights have you gotten in and came out without a scratch?"
"Not as much as you're probably thinking." Astrid said with a small smile.
The old attitude of the group was returning. With an actual plan in motion, it seemed to buoy everyone into high spirits. Climbing on Stormfly, behind Astrid, she turned to Snatch's grave and whispered "Thank you Snatch…I wish we could take you home with us…"
Hiccup overheard her. Walking Toothless next to Stormfly, he said "We'll build a memorial for him when we get home. He deserves that much for what he did to help us."
Feeling tears build up in her eyes, Heather quickly wiped them away. "Thank you Hiccup. I just can't wait until we're done with this place." Looking around the island, she added "I don't have the greatest history when it comes to this island."
Nodding his head, Hiccup then let Toothless lead into the falling night, being swallowed up in the darkness. Heather felt Astrid guide Stormfly to follow. Looking at the lightning filled sky, Heather whispered "Hang on Matt…we're coming."
Hiccup silently got off of Toothless, to which both Astrid and Heather did as well. "Stay here boy." Hiccup whispered, motioning to Toothless to not follow him. Crawling up the hill, Hiccup lay at the top, observing the wrecked arena. With lightning lighting up the area enough to see that no one was there, Hiccup whispered "Follow me. Keep your distance just in case they laid any traps."
Nodding, Heather followed Hiccup with Astrid behind her. Letting him ahead by 10 feet, she scanned the area with what lighting she could use. With the mixture of the lightning and darkness, the arena was a lot creepier than earlier that day. Looking around, she felt her feet kick something. Freezing, thinking it was trap, Heather looked down to see a small black object. Picking it up, she gasped when she recognized what it was. It was Matt's sword! "Look at what I found!" Heather whispered excitedly, turning to face Astrid.
Looking at the handle, Astrid said "That'll be handy for whoever goes in to get Matt!" Looking down at the ground, Astrid saw something that caught her eye. Kneeling down, she picked up the remains of Matt's helmet. With the left side completely smashed, she just shook her head and said "If he wasn't wearing his helmet…that could have been the last time we saw him alive."
Heather didn't say anything. She didn't want to think about what may have happened.
Realizing what she just said, Astrid quickly added "I'm sure he's fine Heather."
"All clear." Hiccup said, walking up to the two girls "And I've been thinking about who we should send."
"Oh, so we are going with the plan then?" Astrid said with a smile, placing her good hand on her hip. Acting smug, she asked "So who are you thinking of sending? You?"
Shaking his head, Hiccup replied "No…Heather."
"Why me!?' Heather said in shock. Seeing the strange looks from both Hiccup and Astrid, she quickly collected herself and stated "I have no problem doing it, I would love to help Matt! But why do you want me to do it?"
"Because of this." Hiccup said pointing to his prosthetic leg "I'll be spotted faster than anyone here; and we already ruled out Astrid."
Nodding, she then said "Just tell me what to do then."
"Well…we need to find one of the Slavers and get his gear for you." Hiccup said looking around.
"We can help with that!" A voice shouted from on top of a hill.
All three spun around to see multiple torches being lit on top of the hill opposite of where they came. Astrid then yelled at Hiccup "I thought you said it was all clear!"
Ignoring Astrid, Hiccup shouted "Let's get out of here! Run!" At that, he booked it up hill to where Toothless was waiting for him.
The Slavers then started to run down the hill, giving chase to them. "Head them off! Don't let the get into the opening! Push them into the river if you have to!" the voice shouted again.
Astrid saw that they were going to overrun. Whistling, she called Stormfly over. Seeing her dragon fly over her, she reached up and grabbed her saddle with her good hand. Feeling herself lifted into the air, she struggled to pull herself up. Feeling herself slip, she instinctively reached up with her other arm. Gripping the saddle, she finally hefted herself onto the saddle. Pain was running up and down her arm. Looking down, she saw Hiccup was jumping on Toothless, who fired a plasma blast at the pursuing Slavers.
"Get out of here Astrid!" Hiccup shouted, letting Toothless back away from the approaching Slavers "We'll meet up the river!"
Turning Stormfly towards the lightning filled night sky, she quickly disappeared.
Heather was running up the hill with Hiccup, only to be turned away when she saw three slavers waiting for her on top. Running back to the arena, Heather saw that she was surrounded on all sides.
"Heather!" Hiccup shouted, trying to make way to her; only to be thwarted by the Slavers. Knowing that he couldn't her, he shouted "Get to the river and hide! We'll find you later!" With that, he turned Toothless and let him run away.
Looking behind her, Heather sprinted towards the river. Jumping in, she felt herself dragged by the cold current. Fighting to keep her head above water, she swam with all her might to the other bank. She could feel her leg hit rocks on the bottom, throwing her balance off. Feeling her head be pulled under, she was all turned around in the raging torrent. "No! No! No!" She thought to herself, fighting the current. Trying to focus, Heather used a burst of strength and swam to where she thought she was the surface. Her head breaking through the water, she took in a few gulps of water before she could get a breath of air. Looking down river, she saw a log sticking out into the water. Reaching for it, she used what strength she had left and grabbed the log. With the water pushing her, she fought to keep her grip. Slowly pulling herself up and out of the water. Heather finally felt her feet land on solid ground. Breathing a sigh of relief, as well as coughing up the water that she swallowed, she crawled up the shore.
Rolling onto her back, she just stared at the lightning filled sky. Closing her eyes for a second, she whispered "I'm sorry Matt…we lost…" Gripping his sword that she kept, she was about to fall asleep due to the fatigue and knowing that their plan failed when she heard some voices.
"There she is!" a Slaver's voice shouted.
Sitting up quickly, she turned to see two Slavers running at her. Scrambling to get up, she felt her legs get tripped up by some bolas. Trying to kick the ropes off, she stared helplessly at the two slavers who were smiling evilly. Expecting them to grab her, she saw them instead suddenly back away from her with terrified looks on their faces.
"Go! Run!" One of them shouted, diving towards the river. The second one turned to follow as well, only to be hit in the back with a lightning bolt.
Gasping when she saw the lightning bolt, Heather naturally shouted "Wasatch!" Turning around with a large smile, she also recoiled back in horror. Standing behind her was a wild Skrill, eyeing her as if to target her next.
Matt's world was slowly forming around him. Letting his eyes regain sight, he tenderly looked around him. Everything appeared as silhouettes at first, unable to see details. Groaning, he muttered to himself "You know Matt, getting knocked out is getting old really fast…" Feeling pain on his face, Matt tried rest his hand on it. Feeling his arm being restrained by something above him, he looked up from where he was sitting to see his hand's shackled above him. Tugging at the chains, Matt groaned as his face felt like a swollen watermelon. His brace was still activated, causing it to still be stiff and unable to let him rest his leg.
With his eyesight clearing up, Matt looked to the left of him. He could see Wasatch hanging next to him in a net, eyeing him. Everything came back to him. He remembered Wasatch in the net that he was trying to cut, and then he felt his world get rocked by a hammer. Shaking his head, Matt looked down at the ground. If he hadn't been wearing his helmet, then he probably would have been killed right there. Looking back at his dragon, he weakly said "Wasatch…I'm sorry. I wish I was able to get you out…"
Wasatch just growled, knowing that trying to move was hopeless.
Finally feeling awake, Matt looked around where he was at. Chained in the center of the camp, Matt saw multiple fires with Slavers sitting around them. The night sky was pitch black, only lit up by the distant lightning. Looking up at the chains that held his arms above him, Matt saw that the pole was shrewdly placed there in order to hold Wasatch and him.
"Well…it seems that you're finally awake." Savage's voice sounded to his right.
Turning to where he heard the voice, Matt just stared at Savage as he walked up to him.
Staring at Matt, Savage punched him in the stomach, causing him to couple over in pain. Watching Matt lean forward against the chains, Savage continued to say "So…As much of a pain you've been to me, I have a special treat in store for you." Savage said smiling evilly.
"Great." Matt said sarcastically, catching his breath and trying to sit up straight "I have a feeling it's not going to be as great as you're making it sound."
"Oh it is." Savage said laughing "I have a…customer that depends on getting some able-bodied workers. He's actually quite particular about who he chooses. Seeing how much energy you have to run and create mayhem, I think you'll be great for him!"
"Awesome." Matt said flatly, rolling his eyes "Mind telling me his name?"
"Actually I do mind." Savage said, still smiling at Matt "He's asked me to keep his name secret until he comes to pick up his cargo."
Matt flared up with anger after being referred to as 'cargo'. Sitting up straighter, Matt glared at Savage, saying ""Sounds like a real charmer to work for."
"More than you know." Savage grinned evilly "Just wait until morning or tomorrow at the latest. That's when he's supposed be coming." Laughing, Savage started to walk away from Matt, saying loudly "I guess you will know what it's like working for him!"
Matt stared at Savage in horror as he walked away. Knowing Hiccup, Astrid, and Heather were going to have a hard enough time getting him, they now had a time limit. Looking up at the lightning filled sky, and then to Wasatch who was growling as Savage walked away; Matt whispered quietly "Don't worry boy…We'll be out of here soon enough…I hope." Then a thought hit him. "What about Wasatch? What would happen to him?" he whispered quietly, staring at his dragon. Resting his head against the pole that he was chained to, Matt grimly waited for the sun to rise; watching for either his friends, or his new captor.
Hiccup arrived at a small pool of water that was next to the river. Having rode Toothless for about a half hour, Hiccup turned around to see if he was still being followed. Easily outrunning the Slavers, Hiccup could only guess that they were still pursuing them.
"Oh good your safe!" Astrid's voice called out above him.
Looking up towards where the voice came from, Hiccup let relief flood his body as he saw Astrid land Stormfly. Slowly letting herself down, Astrid made way to Hiccup. "Did you see where Heather went?"
Looking down, Hiccup shook his head "I was separated from her. I couldn't do anything to help!"
Astrid looked down also. Everything fell apart; thanks to her idea. Shaking her head, she muttered "Should have never come up with that plan…I walked us right into their hands. I should have stayed and helped Heather!"
"It's not your fault!" Hiccup said quickly, resting his hand on Astrid's shoulder "It's mine! I said it was clear let them get the jump on us…"
"It is mine though" Astrid said angrily "I was the reason that we even went there to be ambushed and now Heather's probably captured!"
Looking at her, Hiccup then glanced down at her arm, still resting in the sling. "Astrid!" Hiccup gasped, staring at her arm "What happened!? I thought Heather closed your cut!"
Looking down at where Heather wrapped her slashed arm and saw blood running down and pooling a little but in the sling. "It opened back up when we were escaping. I had to use it to pull myself onto my saddle."
"We need to find Heather now!" Hiccup said in a panic.
"Hiccup! Calm down!" Astrid said "I'm fine for now! What we need to do is to do is calm down and come up with a plan! We don't want to walk into another trap like the last two times!"
Ignoring her, Hiccup just looked frantically for anything he could use to help Astrid with.
"Hiccup! Please!" Astrid said, grabbing his arm "I'll be fine! Everything will be ok if we just calm down."
"Gaarrgggh!" Hiccup said angrily, pulling away from Astrid "Don't you see Astrid!? We lost! We can't get Matt back, we don't know where Heather is, and we're being hunted down!" Letting the comment sink in, he quickly sat down on the ground, sobbing. "I don't know what to do Astrid."
Astrid stared at Hiccup. Not sure of what to say, she also took a seat next to him.
"Look at me…" Hiccup said weakly "Chief of Berk, the slayer of the Red Death, the Night Fury rider, and I'm falling apart. I can't even keep my head straight and now we lost Matt and Wasatch; Heather's missing and Snatch was killed…I'm really the chief that Berk needs huh?"
"Hiccup…" Astrid said quietly "Losing Matt wasn't your fault. Neither was Snatch or Heather." Resting her hand on his leg, she added "What you choose to do now will be your fault. For the good or for the bad. If you want to give up, then their deaths and capture are on you."
"Thanks Astrid." Hiccup replied angrily "That really helps me." Looking up at the lightning, Hiccup said "I never said I was going to give up. I just don't know what to do! I'm not my dad who had a plan for everything."
"That's because Stoick was Stoick!" Astrid said, looking gently at Hiccup "You're trying so hard to be like him that you're forgetting yourself…" A thought came to her, to which she said "Do you want to know something? Something that I feel guilty admitting."
Hiccup looked at her curiously, saying "What?"
"I truly believed that I'd never see you again when we came to look for you." Astrid said, looking away from Hiccup "Matt helped me snap out of it thankfully, but I sincerely believed that."
"Why?" Hiccup asked.
Weakly smiling, she answered "I forgot about who you were. Matt reminded me of that you're Hiccup Haddock! Not Stoick, not Eret, not anyone else. You are you and the village supports you as chief because of that." Grabbing Hiccup's hand with her good one, Astrid added "I'm going to say this again, in case that stubborn head of yours tells you otherwise. We need a Hiccup Haddock to help us. Matt's depending on a Hiccup to help him and maybe even Heather too!"
"Thanks for the added pressure…" Hiccup said, rolling his eyes. Smiling for the first time in a long time, he then said "Thanks Astrid…"
Smiling, Astrid kissed him on the cheek.
Toothless then stuck his head at Hiccup's as if to reassure him. Petting his dragon's head, he then said "I still don't know what to do, but whatever it is, we're going to need your arm re-wrapped and find Heather."
"Well…I can't imagine her getting into too much trouble. If she hasn't been captured that is." Astrid said, trying to lighten the mood.
"You know…you need to learn from Matt when it comes to joking about serious things." Hiccup said shaking his head. Helping Astrid stand up, he said "Haven't you learned anything from him with all the time you spend teaching him how to fight?"
Astrid then smacked Hiccup in the stomach with her good hand, saying "Careful! Even though my arm is cut, I only need one to kick your butt."
Hiccup laughed lightly, partly because it was the easiest way for him to exhale after being punched, but also glad that Astrid never changed with all they went through. "I'll keep that in mind!" he said, trying to quell the pain from the punch. Looking up into the night sky, he then said "Well, let's go find Heather."
Heather rolled away as the Skrill launched a small lightning bolt at her. Trying to kick off the bolas that were still tangled around her feet, she stared helplessly as the Skrill charged up again to fire. Suddenly, another pair of bolas flew and hit the Skrill.
Pinning its wing to its body, the Skrill turned away from Heather. Four Slavers then emerged, all wielding shields and axes. The Skrill fired a lightning bolt at the group, who instantly split up. Another pair of bolas flew, striking the head of the Skrill. With the ropes wrapping around the mouth, the Skrill recoiled back trying to shake off the ropes.
Heather stared at the Skrill, and then quickly began to unwrap her feet from the bolas. With the Skrill thrashing around, the Slavers were too busy to notice Heather escaping. Freeing her legs, she quickly stood up and began to run away. Sliding behind a rock, she could hear the Skrill still fighting the Slavers. Resting for a second, Heather stared at the direction where the fight was. Thinking to herself, she quickly whispered to herself "No! That thing almost killed you!" Turning to run away, she heard a shout of panic and anger come from the Slavers. Closing her eyes, letting the guilt finally convince her, she turned back and snuck back around rock to see what had happened.
With one Slaver laying on the ground with the remaining three around him, she saw the Skrill was tied down and was radiating lightning, keeping them away from getting closer. Moving along the other side of the rock, she moved quietly behind the Skrill. Still radiating lighting, Heather whispered "Come on! Let me help you!"
The Skrill must have heard her, because it glanced back at her. Stopping in fear and out of reaction, Heather drew Matt's handle and struggled to extend the blade. Finally getting the blade out, she made cutting motions at the rope.
The Skrill subsequently stopped radiating lightning, allowing Heather to get closer to it.
"Hey…the dragon stopped the lightning!" A slaver said loudly from beyond Heather's view. Furiously sawing at the rope that held the Skrill's feet, she felt the ropes give away. Smiling, she then started to work on the ropes that held the pinned wing.
"What do you think you're doing!?" A voice shouted behind her. Feeling herself grabbed, Heather was spun around and was staring at one of the Slavers. Out of reaction, she reached up with Matt's sword and stabbed at the Slaver. Seeing it come, he quickly dodged the strike and brought his fist across Heather's face. Reeling backwards, Heather accidentally held down the button on sword. As electricity shot through the blade, and as Heather landed on her back, she felt the sword hit the Skrill.
Feeling the electricity surge through it, the Skrill quickly stood up on its freed legs and head-butted the Slaver that attacked Heather. Heather, still a little shaken up by the hit, began to cut at the ropes. Feeling them loosen, the wing shot out like a compressed spring. Getting hit by the wing, Heather was once again on her back. Looking up from where she lay, she saw the Skrill radiate with lightning and strike at the Slavers with its tail. Seeing two of them drop with their one friend already on the ground, the last one ran away by jumping in the river.
After the Skrill watched the Slaver run away, it then started to try and shake off the ropes still wrapped around its mouth. After a few unsuccessful attempts, it glanced over to Heather who was still laying on the ground. Walking up to her, it growled at her, as if motioning to help it out.
Slowly, Heather lifted the blade and began to saw at the rope. Careful to not accidentally cut the Skrill, Heather eventually cut the rope. Feeling it loosen around the mouth, the Skrill shook the rope off. After a few seconds of opening and closing its mouth, as if checking if there was any pain. Glaring at Heather, it slowly walked to her. Realizing that it still probably viewed her as a threat, she began to back off. The Skrill then leaned forward and shocked her. Feeling the jolt through her body, Heather fell to one knee. It wasn't a lightning bolt like the one she saw hit the Slaver in the back. This one was like what Wasatch would do her. Staring at the Skrill, she had no idea what to do. Almost answering her thought, the Skrill motioned to the sword that was in her hand. Looking down at the sword, Heather finally realized what she did. "Oh. My. Gods…" She whispered, looking back at the Skrill in disbelief.
"Where could she be!?" Hiccup asked out loud, looking behind a boulder. Both he and Astrid walked downriver and past the arena looking for Heather.
"Hiccup…she might have been captured…" Astrid said weakly, checking out another boulder. Both of their dragons were close behind them, making sure that no one got the jump on their trainers again.
"Gah!" Hiccup shouted "I should have tried to get her. I never should have run away…"
"For what? To get captured with her?" Astrid countered "We had to split up!"
Hiccup just stared at Astrid, knowing that she was right. Still, it didn't bring any comfort to him. Looking at the night sky, he could see dawn starting appear. Shaking his head, he said "Well…we better get going. We might have to attack the camp head on to try and bust them out…"
"Not without me you're not." Heather's voice called out above them.
Shocked, the two looked up to see a Skrill slowly descending. Landing near them, they saw Heather slide off of it.
"Heather!?" Hiccup gasped, staring with wide eyes at the dragon "Wha- How-"
"I saved her from the Slavers…" Heather said with a wide smile "It was kind of a mutual thing actually."
"Well…send me to Valhalla to be a Valkyrie." Astrid whispered, also staring at the Skrill "You trained a Skrill too!"
"I did!" Heather said with a smile that almost seemed to be from ear to ear "And that's actually what I called her; Valkyrie."
"She's beautiful" Astrid said, walking closer to the Skrill.
"Isn't she though?" Heather said, looking at Valkyrie. She had the same color purple as Wasatch, but instead of black tiger stripes on the back, they were white; a complete opposite from him. Heather then turned towards Hiccup, saying "I have an idea on how to get Matt back…now that we have another dragon with us."
Not taking his eyes off the Skrill, he simply nodded and said "I'm all ears. I have nothing except to attack them head on."
"It's…kind of like that." Heather said with a smile. Walking to both Hiccup and Astrid, she then began to explain her idea.