AN- Here's chapter 7. Thx everybody for the reviews and also extra thx for those longer ones. i read and appriciate every one of them. 3

Time for Toothless to save the day. enjoy :)

Ruffnut awoke, warm and comfy - considering she'd slept in a cave.
Hiccup had snuggled close to her, still in the depths of sleep. He was finely sleeping easy after the long week of being alone and scared in the cave.

She felt reluctant to wake him in his peaceful state, but danger still lurked in the air and she needed to start getting him ready to escape. He'd had plenty of time to recover from his ordeal the day before, so it was time to start getting him into shape.

She rocked him gently at first, ebbing him out of his dreaming.
He opening his eyes and gave a big yawn. Sleepy eyes looking into hers.

"Aww, you're so cute. Come on sleepy head time to get up." She said.

She crawled out from his warm comfort and exited the cave. It was early morning and she could feel the cool air brush against her skin.
Hiccup soon followed her out, having a stretch at the exit. He stretched rather like a cat, in Ruff's opinion.

"We're gonna get you using those wings today since you clearly don't know how to use them let alone fly." She stated.

Hiccup looked at his droopy wings moving them a bit. He did need to get used them at some point. He didn't know how long he'd be stuck like this, if not forever. A downed dragon was a dead dragon.

"Okay, now try to lift and stretch them as much as you can. The more you use them the more control you should have over them. It's like learning to swim. It's hard at first but the more you practice the better you get. It would be better if I could just throw you off the cliff though."

He looked a little scared at that prospect. He'd most likely break his legs or even die trying that, unless it was over water - but he still didn't like the sound of it.

"It's the way I learnt to swim see. Tuff tossed me into the water when I was six and I soon learnt how to swim and keep my head above the water before I drowned. I think it was instinct or something. Although he ended up looking more disappointed than proud. I wondered why? Until I shoved him in after and then I knew why. It was hilarious. He ended up drowning and a nearby fisherman gave him mouth to mouth. His reaction was priceless." She laughed. "He wouldn't stop washing his mouth for the entire day."

Hiccup started chuckling too, he could only imagine what the look of pure horror on Tuff's face would have looked like.

"Alright, enough with the stories, get to work."

So he did, He tried feeling for the new muscles in his back and moving them. As he got used to the lower ones he began being able to move the ones going through his wings. It was hard going though and took a full hour before he could fully stretch each wing out and fold it to his sides. They felt a lot more comfortable folded than the previous drooping. He also practiced with his tail. First moving the long appendage then moving on to the individual fins.
It was mid afternoon before he took a break.

"You're doing very well, I'm impressed. You're a smart boy Blacky." She praised.

She began petting and scratching him as a reward.
Hiccup was in heaven, who knew this good feel so goood~. He rolled over so she could pet his stomach and purred in content.
They bathed in the sun for a while, enjoying its gentle warmth before Ruff got back to her feet.

"Right, come on Blacky, chase me. And try flapping your wings as you're doing it. You gotta build up your stamina if you're gonna fly." She grinned before running away from him.

He leapt up, gave his wings a stretch and bounded after her - wings flapping all the while.

Toothless could see the island in his sights. Being the fastest dragon in the area, he'd made it in just two hours.

He kept up high in the clouds so the vikings wouldn't spot him. He became invisible in the night's sky, but in the day he stood out like a black dot on a piece of white paper.

He swerved towards the wild area, away from the settled village. He'd start looking in the dense forest. It was the best place to hide and if the hatchling was smart, he'd be in there. The nightmare didn't tell him how old the hatchling looked, so he didn't know if he was looking for a unknowing baby or an experienced child. He could only hope it was the latter.

He landed silently, crouching among the shadows of the trees. He listened for anything threatening and any dusk-striker cries.
He could definitely smell vikings in the air, mixing in with the smells of nature.

Then he heard it, a small warbling and chuckling sound. Definitely dusk-striker. Although, what confused him was the viking sounds close to him. He didn't sound scared or threatened. He sounded like he was having fun. Why would he be having fun with a viking around?

He quickly made his way over to it.
He was as quiet as possible as he made his way to the edge of what appeared to be a cove. What he saw, shocked him!

The viking was getting chased by the young dusk-striker, but she was laughing and unarmed. When the dusk-stalker caught up to her, he pounced but instead of killing her, he seemed to be play fighting with her! She pushed him off and then she was the one chasing him!

A voice screamed at him in his head. 'kill her. This isn't natural. She's clearly only being friendly with him to earn his trust for her own gain. She'll treat him like a pet. Chain him up and make him do her bidding. Clip his wings so he can't fly away. And when she grows bored of him, she'll kill him like a helpless dog. Stop her before it's too late! Bring him back to the nest"

Toothless' eyes glazed over."As you command my queen."

But just as he was about to do so he was hit on the head with a rock. It snapped him out of his trance.
"Ow! W-What. What was I doing?" He asked himself confused.

"I thought I saw a night fury, I did I did." Cackled the witch. She was up on a tree branch, over looking Toothless.

Circe had found Hiccups hiding place only a few hours earlier. She'd been hunting for him ever since he'd run off but - like stoic - she couldn't find any traces of him. That was until she'd been walking around the forest that morning and had heard him. She'd been spying on them since then and was waiting for them to retreat back to the cave later. That's when she would disguise herself and send rumour to stoic the night fury had been spotted in the cove and was sleeping in the cave. She wanted to make sure he didn't get away this time. But then this adult night fury had made its appearance. Perhaps lured in by the sounds of one of its kind. They were rare after all.

It was clearly not happy seeing a viking near it and was about to crash in there and spoil her plans. She couldn't have that so, she threw a rock at it to get its attention. Spells would be too flashy. She didn't want to alert Hiccup and that girl to her presence.

Toothless growled at her and ready to fire a blast at her. She threw another rock. "Ah ah ah, wouldn't want to alert the villagers now would we? I wonder how that hatchling would fair against an entire tribe of vikings.

Toothless didn't want that happening. Even he would have trouble against that many opponents.
"Let's take this elsewhere," she said before dashing from branch to branch. She was rather agile for an old woman.

Toothless chased after her. The hatchling wasn't in any true danger at the moment but this witch rubbed him the wrong way. His instincts screamed at him to get rid of her, there was something evil and unnatural about her! Killing her took priority.

Back at the village, the teens had gathered in a circle outside Snotlouts house.
"Has anyone seen Ruff today? She didn't wasn't in her bed when I got up today!" Asked Tuffnut.

"Nope, haven't seen her,"Replied Astrid. "You two see her?"

Fishlegs and Snotlout both shook their heads.
"Maybe she made it into the forest," suggested Snotlout.

"I dunno. She didn't really seem that interested in the night fury." Stated Astrid.

"Or maybe that's what she wanted you to think." Said Tuff.

"What makes you say that?" Asked Fishlegs.

"Manipulation is one of the many useful skills needed to trick someone. Me and Ruff are experts."

"But why would she want to trick us?" Asked Astrid

"She tricked us!" Cried Tuffnut.

"Yeeeah. You were the one who said it." Said Fishlegs.

"I did? Well whatever, she probably just wants the night fury for herself. I knew she liked my plan. Fake disinterest so she didn't have to share. It's the stuffed yak all over again!" He sighed.

"Yak? Oh nevermind i don't wanna hear it. If she got in there then she's got a head start. I think we should work together to get in this time, then split our separate ways after." Summed up Astrid.

"As much as I hate working with you guys - except you Astrid - I accept this plan. I'm sick of trying and failing. I need to kill the night fury that killed Hiccup."

"Aww, you do care," cooed Fishlegs."Here I thought you didn't love your cousin."

"SHUT UP, i don't! i mean i do...i did...but i don't. Agh shut up." He yelled before sulking away from the group who had begun giggling at him.

"Hey you don't think she hasn't returned because she's dead do you? I mean Hiccup started off missing and then we're told he's dead. Torn to pieces by the night fury. Which is what she's gone looking for on her own." Said Tuffnut, worry in his voice. Sure he teased her and they beat each other up, but they still loved each other. He didn't actually want her to die or anything.

"I'm sure she's fine Tuff," Astrid reassured. "Hiccup was weak and useless with a weapon. Ruff can handle herself and is rather resilient from what I've seen you two get up too."

"Yeah you're right. She wouldn't die as easily as Hiccup. Now what should the plan be?" Tuff asked, cheering up a bit.

Toothless kept chasing the witch further into the forest. He was sure the vikings wouldn't notice anything now. So he fired a blast at her. She dodged and landed on the ground.

"So you want to fight eh?" She grinned as she got out her wand. "Take THIS."

Light blasted out her wand but toothless dodged. And he was glad he did as the spell hit a tree and blew the trunk apart. This person was powerful,he'd never seen a human that could fire a blast like a dragon. He had to be careful, as to not get hit. He wasn't at his full potential on the ground, but he could manage. As more spells shot his way he found out that they came from the strange stick she was holding. If he could get rid of that, she'd be defenceless.

He dodged again and lunged for her head. She side-stepped and cut his hide with a hidden knife. He howled in pain but proceeded to lunge again, and again. When she went out of reach he fired a blast. But it was clear she was growing tired. Her breathes grew heavier with each blast she made. Toothless figured she must have a shot limit like dragons, she was running out of fuel for the fire.

She had started using only the knife now which he dodged easily. A small weapon like that wasn't a threat to him, it had just caught him off guard last time.

"Dam it, stay still and die already you beast" She cried. Her spells were powerful but it didn't mean much if they couldn't hit. The night fury was just too fast for her.

He slashed her with his claws and bit into her arm. She screamed with pain.

He was about to finish her off but suddenly... he heard a cry.
The hatchling was in danger! He had to protect it!

In his momentary distraction the witch switched to her uninjured arm and shot a spell. He didn't dodge fast enough and it skimmed his tail, tearing into his left tail fin.

Toothless let out a shriek and made a final lunge for her. He tore into her neck, crushing her windpipe and choking her on her own blood.

The witch was dead at last. Grey eyes clouded over as they stared into the sky. But Toothless couldn't enjoy his victory just yet as he had a hatchling to save.

The teens had done it, they'd gotten in. They're plan had worked perfectly.

They had Fishlegs distract the guards since he didn't care about making it inside. He had run around screaming 'night fury'. Lying that he'd seen it in the village. The guards had gone on a panic looking this way and that. Even stoic was joining in on the goose chase.

With focus off the teens, they had made a run for it into the forest. A few guards must have seen them but most likely didn't see the harm in it if the night fury was in the village and not the forest - the reason of stopping them going inside in the first place.

They split up to search in different directions. Who ever found it got to do what they wanted to it. Whether kill it or capture it.

By the time the vikings had realised Fishlegs had cried wolf, the teens were already too deep into the forest to stop.

Astrid trekked through the thick undergrowth of the forest, dusting off ticks as they nipped at her leggings. She'd never really gone too far into the depths of the woodland before, simply having no real need too. She usually stayed close to the village when she practiced with her axe.

There were too many blood sucking bugs for her liking like the ticks, flees and midges. They just fueled her anger and made her want to slam her axe into something. That something would be the night fury this time and not a tree.

Then she heard something! She hid behind a tree rather than crouching in the tick and flee infested grass.

The sound was definitely dragon and it was coming from further up ahead. She snuck up quietly, hiding among the trees just in case it jumped out and saw her.

The sounds led her to a drop. She reluctantly went into a crawl. It was better to get bitten by the insects than a dragon.
She scuttled over to the edge and let out a gasp.

"Ruffnut?" She whispered.

Ruffnut was running after the night fury that was flapping its wings madly - trying to escape. Of course being Ruffnut she was laughing like an idiot. But...where was her weapon? Maybe she'd been fighting it a while and had lost it?

Suddenly she pounced on it and it let out a shriek. It flipped her over and...was biting into her arm! She had to help her, her mind screamed. Not seeing from her distance that no blood was spilled.

They were only play fighting.

She rushed around the edge of the cove, looking for a way down. All of a sudden, Snotlout appeared in front of her and she ended up crashing into him.

"Woah! Astrid. Didn't know you liked me that much." Snotlout remarked as she'd ended up straddling him.

She swiftly punched him in the face, "Get out of my way!" She yelled and continued to run.

Snotlout chased after her. "Whats the hurry? Did you spot the night fury." He asked excitedly.

"YES! And it's attacking Ruffnut. She's unarmed."

"What?! We have to help her."

"What do you think I'm doing, hurry up." They reached a narrow pathway that must have led down toward the cove.

They quickly made their way down and rushed toward the night fury that was still on top Ruffnut.
Astrid let out a battle cry and threw her axe at it.

Hiccups eyes turned to slits and he dodged, instinctively letting out a growl.

Snotlout grabbed Ruff and held his weapon out, guarding her.

"What are you guys doing here?!" She cried.

"Saving you babe, what do you think?" Replied Snotlout.

"W-wait, you don't understand."

Astrid grabbed her axe and tried to slash Hiccup.
He backed up and dodged the swings the best he could. "Stop Astrid please. I wasn't hurting her." He begged, knowing she couldn't hear him.

"Die dragon!" She yelled, a blood crazed look in her eyes.

He dodged again and made a run for it. Snotlout tried swinging his hammer at Hiccups head and he only just avoided it - the hammer skimming a frill. He'd made it past them and dashed to the exit. Luckily he was small enough to make it through the narrow passage. He kept running, Astrid and Snotlout hot on his heals. He was fast, but he was also tired. He'd spent most of the day running around with Ruff and exercising his wings. They ached from the lack of use but even still, he tried to get himself in the air. He could only manage a hover. He figured his lack of lift was something to do with the back fins. He hadn't practiced enough with them yet!

Tuffnut suddenly came out of nowhere and slashed a light cut into Hiccups shoulder with his spear. He gave out a cry out of shock. "Leave me alone." He cried.

Soon after, he thought he heard something in the distance. It sounded like dragon screech. Were there other dragons in the forest? But he couldn't think about it for too long as The other two caught up. Ruffnut was running behind them, desperately trying to stop them.

"Please don't kill him!" She begged.

"If you wanna capture him Ruff, you're gonna have to get to him before me."Snotlout grinned. He and Astrid simply thought that - like Tuffnut- she wanted to keep him as a weapon. They had no idea she was trying to tell them he meant no harm.

"Just put down your weapons, he won't hurt you!"

"We're not falling for your tricks Ruff," stated Astrid.

Hiccup ran for his life. He was so disoriented by fear, he didn't realised where he was heading until he came out into a clearing.
It was the village!

He'd only run into more danger.
The vikings saw him and charged. After the goose chase, they already had nets ready for capturing a dragon. One threw it on top of him in his frozen state.

"Hold him down, I'll have the honour of killing it!" Bellowed Stoic.

Vikings dog piled him. Their heavy weight crushing his small form to the ground.

"Please don't do it, please. Dam it, if only i could talk like a human?" He pleaded. In a quick thought he tried to sound out 'stop'. But unless you were specifically hearing for the word, it just sounded like another dragon sound.

Stoic readied his sword, posed to strike Hiccups stomach.

"At least I'll get to see mum again, my soul is still human right?"

But just as Stoic went to strike forward, a shriek was heard and he was sent flying backwards as a black dragon pounced on him and bit hard into his shoulder.

The speed it had traveled, knocked the sword right out the chiefs hand and caused him to fall quite far back despite his size. He gave a cry of pain as sharp teeth dug into him. Another viking swung their hammer at its head to get it off the chief. The dragon let go and dodged back. It leapt over to the young night fury, scattering away the other vikings.

It happened so fast, everyone just ended up staring in shock.
Another night fury! Larger than the previous one.

It stood protectively over the smaller one, still tied up in the netting. It's pose screamed threatning as it was - wings wide out and legs splayed, face in a scowl. not to mention the growling. Everyone stayed back, getting too close caused it to screech and snap. A clear 'Back off or i'll kill you'

The teens emerged from the forest. Staring in shock at the new arrival. They'd seen - or more like felt - a fast blur pass by them. They weren't expecting another night fury though, and so much bigger than the one they were chasing.

"So does that mean that small ones just a baby then? And that big ones the angry parent?" Asked Gobber, stating what most were thinking.

"Looks like it." replied Stoic, holding a hand on his heavily bleeding shoulder. "Perhaps it wasn't the young one that killed Hiccup after all. This one looks far more dangerous."

Ruffnut stared at the adult nightfury. Blacky had said he didn't kill Hiccup but said he knew what had happened to him. Did he mean that this was the one to kill Hiccup? On top of that, he said that he didn't have parents. So who was this night fury to him? Why hadn't he shown up before?

Toothless, satisfied no one dared to attack him or the hatchling started tearing off the netting. Making sure to snap at anybody who thought an opputunity had opened for attack. He wouldn't let them hurt the young one.

"It's gonna be okay. I'm getting you out of here." Said toothless.

"I can't fly yet!"He cried

"Why!? You look old enough to have fledged?"

"M-my parents died before they could teach me." He'd tell him the truth later. This dragon was willing to rescue him and he wasn't going to ruin his chances to escape.

Toothless gave a frustrated growl before answering.
"I'll carry you then. I'll teach you when we're safe."

To the onlookers all they could hear were growls, clicks and grunts as the older dragon got the younger free.
When he was free, he just coward beneath the older one like a scared child.

Toothless grabbed a hold of Hiccup in his front paws. He gave a loud warning screech before flapping his wings and hovering in the air.
Without warning, Ruff suddenly bolted towards the two dragons. It was so sudden no one had time to grab her.

"RUFF!" Astrid yelled, being the first to see her dash.

Ruff leapt up and clung to Hiccups right hind leg. He gave a cry in alarm alerting toothless who proceeded to fly higher. He shrieked at her, telling her to get off.

"Let go you filthy viking." He warned, ready to toss her off.

"Wait, don't hurt her! She cared for me." Hiccup cried back.

"She's a viking!"

"It doesn't matter, she's got a strong grip! Just go for now and we'll deal with it later. She's not even armed" He reasoned.

Toothless gave a snort of disapproval but did as the hatchling wished. He couldn't stay here any longer or he'd get knocked down by one of their strange string and rock weapons. He'd seen it happen plenty of times on raids and he didn't want it happening to him. His pride wouldn't stand for it. So he lifted himself higher and flew off, away from the island.

"RUUUUUUFFFFF!" Screamed Tuffnut.

"TUUUUUUUFFFF!" Ruffnut screamed back.

She'd most likely never see her brother again. She was being carried off by a hostile dragon to Odin knows where.

Why had she jumped up to Blacky? She didn't even think, she'd just moved. Her motherly instincts had kicked in. She had wanted to get him away from the island but a the same time, she didn't want to let him go. She'd fallen in love with him. She had to make sure nothing happened to him. She had to protect him.

Tears stung her eyes as she watched the only home she'd ever known, fade into the distance.

AN- First off, i have had a good long think about where the story is going. i spent until the early hours of yesterday thinking, i thought in the shower, i thought on the bus and back to job seekers, and i also thought before i could start on this chapter today. i pretty much thought until my brain hurt.

It's hard to choose where the story should go when you have your own loose plans and a bunch of requests that constradict eachother. i know i can't make everyone happy but i hope you can still enjoy my fic regardless of the direction it takes.

i'm not doing Hicstrid for certain now for two reasons. It would be difficult to place into the story now and also, it's a very common pairing most likely because it's canon. So theres the possibility of Ruffcup. But we'll see how it goes since i feel i've sunken her into having a family love for him than anything romantic.

The rest of the plans i'm keeping a secret for now, don't want to spoil any surprises after all. i'll discuss why i came up with some of these ideas as they appear in the story.

Also, Guest (the last one to review - would be helpful to put a name down) - thanks for pointing out the first chapter as rather weak. i know it's not the best. it was my first time writing anything at all. but i would like to improve it, so if you have any suggestions - apart from the grammar and spelling errors which i'll correct eventually- please do say :) i'm glad you are enjoying the later chapters though. thx for the support. oh and no, don't worry, it won't be too negative when he tells him.

And again, thx to all my other reviewers. The new followers and the faves.

next chapter in 1-2 days again. Although it's usualy 1.