AUTHOR'S NOTES

Sorry guys for the very late update! I have been very busy in uni and since I'm already finished with most of my schoolwork plus we have a week of no classes since my country is hosting the APEC summit this year…I had time to write. Anyway, I do hope that you guys enjoy this :)

Follow, Favorite and Review! I love reading all of the reviews, it gives me such joy whenever I read them.

Chapter 2 – The Run

Hiccup woke up to the sun's glare on his eyes, he could tell that it was around 6 am due to the shadows that the trees casted. As he stretched his limbs, he stared at the vast horizon, admiring all of nature's glory. The brunette was amazed as to how light made the snow look, it was as if he died and went to paradise. He looked down from where he was settled to check whether there were anyone who was camping or waiting below. He didn't want to risk being caught by anyone. Seeing as no one could be found, he removed his bindings and proceeded to go down from the tree, landing softly on the snow below. Hiccup could still see traces of the left over camping post his fellow Vikings left. To him, that was a sloppy thing for them to do since the others may be able to use it in order to trace their whereabouts.

The boy had long prepared for this moment, making little notes here and there when he had the time. Sometimes, Stoick would find his son sketching weapons and gears and he would often ask what they were for. Hiccup would only shrug and say "It might come of use to me someday." Someday came sooner than he imagined and he wasn't complaining.

The bird that he had cooked last night was a little bit cold but food was food. He ate the whole lot thinking that he might not have a chance to hunt later. He scarfed down his meal as quickly as he could to avoid anyone bumping into him.

Hiccup took out his white fur coat and wrapped it around himself. Vikings usually didn't use white as coats since it would get dirty in a matter of minutes but Hiccup thought ahead since there might come a time that he thought that there might come a time where he would need to camouflage in the snow. The fur was light and it wasn't bulky like most so that it wouldn't become much of a hassle for him to carry or to run in. With the article of clothing wrapped around him, he pulled out a couple of daggers just in case he might get attacked. Hiccup trudged along the path, continuing his journey. He wanted to make sure that he was the first one on the north mountain so that he could maximize his stay there since he desired to be able to document everything he'll see up there. The fur coat dragged behind him, covering up his tracks.

As the sun went up so did Hiccup. As he walked along the powdered path, he thought about his mother. How she would have loved to see everything that he was seeing right now. She would've swooned over all of the flora and fauna that could be seen around the mountain. Valka was a free spirit and she would've chosen this life over what she had at Berk, Hiccup knew that for a fact. He found himself smiling at the thought of her and how she would lie down next to him before her slept, telling him of all the wondrous things that could be found all over the world. Up until now, the pain of losing her was still fresh in his mind.

The heir sighed and took a well-deserved rest. He had been walking for only an hour and he was already tired. Well, that's what he got for always skipping on training. Seeing as he really had to relax his legs for a while, he took out his notebook and pencil, and started sketching his surroundings. Hiccup tried his best to capture that beautiful expanse of land that was in front of him as well as the variation of plants and animals that are displayed. Taking note of how the light hit every object while snacking on the berries found in the bush nearby. He was halfway done with his sketch when he heard voices nearby. Adrenaline rushed through his veins and he went to the nearby rock shelter in order to hide.

"We have to kill him."

"Why? This is wrong! I won't help you into doing this!"

"Do you want the prize or not?"

Hiccup recognized both of the voices. Although he didn't personally know them, he knew it from the accent. These people were from Berk and they were planning on murdering someone, and he was about to find out who. He peered from where he was hiding to see their faces. It was a man and a woman, the man was in a ponytail to keep his wild red mane from getting to his face, his skin was pale as the snow and he had a muscular built. The woman on the other hand had blonde hair that was in a low ponytail, her eyes were brown and she was slim. They were clearly both trained to survive harsh conditions.

"I do but…"

"But what Abbie!?"

The man crossed his arms in protest. Even though he wasn't much of an athlete, Hiccup was clearly too smart for all of them so it would be near impossible to beat him to the top of the mountain. They wouldn't get what they wanted him he was still alive so he proposed an idea that would eradicate the young heir.

"Einar! He's the chief's son!"

Hiccup gasped and he found his body moving back. His feet were slowly starting to go into panic mode. They wanted to kill him. He never wanted to think about him being a potential threat since he thought that he wasn't that much of a big deal to them but hearing all of this made him rethink. Hiccup may not be the strongest of the bunch but he was the smartest. Trying to steady his breathing, he didn't notice a group of pebbles behind him so when he stepped back, they moved and made a noise that wouldn't go unnoticed. "Oh shit..."Einar and Abbie had just found their prey.

Hiccup ran as fast as his scrawny legs could get him, looking back every once and a while to check on how far he was from them. With each step he took, he felt as if they were taking three. It was as if they were in a maze of trees with the brunette swerving and curving just to get away from his attackers.

"Give it up Haddock!"

A knife went flying by Hiccup's side. The pair were getting desperate since they were starting to use their weapons. One, two and three, he dodged every one of them. He admitted to himself that he only managed to escape them because he was high in adrenaline. In an effort to stay alive, Hiccup found himself talking to them.

"Abbie!" he said.

"WHAT!?"

The brunette didn't want all of this to happen. He only wanted to be able to see the outside world and to figure out what was causing all of this snow…so he tried to reason out. It was the most sensible thing to do seeing as he had no way out of this run.

"Abbie! You don't have to do this! This isn't you!"

Hiccup swore that he had never seen anyone's eyes turn from exhaustion to anger. She looked at him like she was a lion hunting a lamb, and for the first time ever he heard her shout.

"YOU NEVER HAD TO PROVE YOURSELF TO ANYONE! YOU ALWAYS HAD IT EASY HADDOCK!" she breathed "YOU DON'T HAVE TO SLAVE AWAY YOUR WHOLE CHILDHOOD JUST TO MAKE PEOPLE ACCEPT YOU! YOU…MOTHERFUCKER…YOU WERE BORN ACCEPTED!"

Even her companion was taken aback by her statement. From their childhood days, Abbie wasn't the type to get mad although she was a fierce competitor in their combat class. Her biggest weakness was her heart, she always forgave people even though it was something very serious so seeing her like this means she was breaking. He knew that this "competition" will bring out the best and the worst in all of the people who joined but he never expected this.

Hiccup swore that they had been running for almost 30 minutes by now. His thighs were burning and his back was aching. The snow was becoming too much for him for he started taking huge leaps in order to get away from them with his legs sinking into the powder. He could tell that the two were also starting to tire from the chase. The brunette searched for a hideaway wherein he could quickly get in and out once the coast was clear. His body went into fatigue when his legs gave up and Hiccup fell into the snow.

"Shit..oh shit" he cursed under his shaky breath. He tried to get up in a desperate attempt to save his life. With his body on top of heaps of shredded ice, he was certainly freezing. He was shivering and his fingers were going numb. As he tried to make another petty attempt to get away, a dagger went straight into his hand and he wailed in agony while pulling the blade out.

"We've caught you Haddock. Give it up." Einar said while he and Abbie stood before the heir.

"Please guys, you don't have to do this."

Einar unsheathed his sword. The metal glinting in the dying sunlight as he raised it above his head. Hiccup closed his eyes and prayed to his mother. This was how his life was going to end. Freezing on a foreign land and killed by his people. This wasn't how he pictured his death. Hiccup didn't see Abbie look away.

"Sorry.." the other man said and he brought the blade down towards the brunette, who had his life flashing before him, except it didn't hit him. Hiccup opened his eyes and saw an arrow protruding from his attacker's body. Nillo's face in total shock while he clutched his bleeding chest. "What?" he said as he looked behind him. It was Asta, Einar's sister. Her dark hair was twisted into a braided bun and her body lean and erect. You could see the fury in her eyes as well as the building disappointment. She walked towards the trio in dramatic fashion with her chest prominently rising and falling.

Asta was one of Stoick's trusted warriors. She was top of the class when they graduated and she could bring down any man or woman. She was known as the "Panther" because she was just like the legendary creature, one that was often depicted as a large cat with a multicolored hide. Although she did not emit a sweet smell just like it but it was the same as having a face that could launch a thousand ships. With her beauty, she could put any man in a trance and then once they get hooked by the seductive woman, she pounces for the kill. Asta was chosen as one of the leaders of the fleet of warriors, many have protested against it since she was a woman but Stoick knew better. He knew that these men were only jealous of what she had accomplished and he knew that their pride had been stained since she had defeated nearly all of them.

"Hiccup…" she said while holding her hand out and helping him up. Hiccup grew up with Asta because his father would usually leave him with her whenever he went out to sail or to meetings. She thought him the basics of combat and was just like the sibling he never had. He recalled being bullied by her brother, his defeated attacker, because of the fact that she spent more time with the heir than her own family. Somehow without them knowing, it all led to this.

Einar, who was on his knees, looked at Hiccup and then back at his sister. His face showing pure disbelief. Asta, on the other hand, had a poker face but her eyes showed pure disdain. Einar's companion Abbie was long gone.

"Why?" he asked "I'm your brother!"

"You are not my brother. I do not share my blood with traitors just like you."

Hiccup intervened "Asta. He's dying."

The red head pulled the arrow from his chest resulting in a slick stabbing sound, his clothing drenched in blood. His hands trembled at the sight, his eyes darting from his torso to the two people in front of him.

"Leave him." She said as she grabbed Hiccup's hand and took him north. With his last breath, Einar spoke "You never loved me…did you Asta?"

She stopped "I never had" and turned to him "and I never will."

Hiccup knew that the woman was cold but he never expected her to be like this. Asta never showed emotion, that's what he recalled. She wore a mask that was the result of the harsh training that she went through growing up but she always had a soft spot whenever he got hurt. Just as they were about to move forward, the brunette couldn't help himself and asked "What are you doing here?"

She ignored his question and pressed on, not wanting to answer his question but Hiccup wasn't having it. He had a feeling about why she came there but he didn't want to assume that. He pulled her arm to turn her towards him.

"TELL ME!" he yelled. Hiccup never yelled at Asta before but he was all grown up now and he wanted some answers.

"Fine. I'll tell you…" she looked down "your father told me to follow you, just in case anything happens."

Hiccup fumed. He always knew that his father had little faith in his abilities but this was ridiculous. Yes, he may have been looking out for his best interest but this was getting out of hand. Hiccup can be his own man if his father would just stop hovering around him. He was an adult and he wanted to be treated like one. Hiccup wouldn't be able to do that if his never didn't trust him. He grunted and replied "Well…I can take care of myself!" The brunette walked fast as if he didn't fall and almost got killed. Hiccup wasn't the type to get mad but right now, he was.

Asta tried to reason "You almost died out there! Without me, you wouldn't be standing here right now in front of me!" but Hiccup wasn't having it. He ignored her and continued on with his journey, stopping after about 10 steps and said "Don't follow me."

"But…"

"I SAID…" he sighed and spoke weakly "don't…"

"Hiccup!" the raven head shouted in an attempt to stop the heir. He didn't look back.

The moon was rising and the temperature was decreasing. The brunette found solace in a small cave that was around three quarters of the mountain with a tree wrapped on top of it. The roots providing a passage way to the inside. He had been walking for a good hour before he found his hideout. Even though his mind told him to go further, his body refused to follow. Hiccup had a small fire going and was cooking a rat that he found inside his little shelter. The white coat that was wrapped around his body, was his source of warmth besides the fire.

As he stared at the burning embers, his mind flew to the events that occurred. His hand still stung from the deep cut that it had and his heart was stained. After all of the preparation that he made for this moment, he never did once think about being killed or killing. Even if he did grow up in a very brutal Viking community, he never once was a target since he was next in line for the "throne." If anybody dared lay a finger on him, his father would immediately have a trial and Hiccup would always have to stop him before he could kill that person.

Hiccup loved his father but he blamed him for everything that happened. If he wasn't his son then he wouldn't have to deal with these kind of problems, if he wasn't his son then he wouldn't be guarded 24/7, if he wasn't his son then he would be taken seriously as a real Viking and lastly, if he wasn't his son then he could have left ages ago.

All that pent up emotion spilled and racked through the brunette's body, burying his face in his hands. The look of Einar's face as his own sister betrayed him, haunting Hiccup. He sobbed until his eyes couldn't release anymore tears and he succumbed into a well needed deep sleep.

It was about midnight and Máni, the god of the moon, was at his peak.A tiny green glow sparked in front of the brunette, waking him. Entranced by the light, Hiccup squinted to see what the light was while his hand reached out for it but before he could touch it the light disappeared.

"I must be going crazy" said Hiccup while going back to his earlier position. Before he could close his eyes, the light appeared once more but this time, in multiples. It created a path towards something and it was calling out to him. Telling him to follow it.

"Hiccup…"

It was his mother's voice.