Chapter Two

In response to...

shadowxxxx: Yay! I love hearing that people enjoy my stories! Thanks so much :D And to answer your question, I am currently 17 years old.

Astrid Goes For A Spin: First of all, I'd like to apologize that you find the last chapter of Ice disappointing. That being said, there IS a method to my madness (believe it or not). The reason I capitalize so many words that aren't proper nouns is because that is a stylistic choice done to match the How To Train Your Dragon books by Cressida Cowell. I like my fanfictions to look like they belong in the same 'universe'. Admittedly though, I always forget to correct the viking thing (sorry about that).

However, referring to a character by their appearance isn't amateur in the least. I see that technique a lot in published novels and it's meant simply to create more defined imagery.

As for the whole 'Alvin finding Hiccup and Toothless' ordeal, I've already been made aware that my explanation was a tad weak (so...again, sorry.) He had implemented scouting missions on Berk and Savage spotted Hiccup and Toothless entering the cave. (For more information on that, I explain it more thoroughly in the Author's Note for chapter three). And yes, I meant to use "Next stop: Outcast Island" as a throw-back to the series.

So, in all, sorry it was disappointing to you but many of the things you pointed out were stylistic choices I consciously made or little details I failed to explain well enough. But I promise you, Fire isn't going to be the cliche plot line you think it will be.

Thank you for trying to help and I appreciate you giving your time to leave a review.

Hiccup is sitting against the wall of the hut. His knees are pulled up to his chest and his arms are folded around them, a distant look in his eyes. He can still hear the low voices of the Outcast guards right on the other side of the wall. They won't be abandoning their post twice in one day, that's for sure...

The confused boy sighs and buries his face in his arms. There's nothing he can do now but wait for something to happen. But really, what was I expecting? He wonders glumly. I'm on an island infested with Outcasts. I would have been spotted eventually anyway. At least these guys didn't kill me when they found me... But still, it's a major bummer to have been caught again when he was so close to getting away. Now, he's stuck in a six-by-six room, cluttered with too much furniture and smoldering hot from the fire pit, which he finds himself glaring at. Are they planning to cook me to death? Because it's working.

With a frustrated sigh, he stands up and gazes around the hut. There must be something in here he can use as a weapon. He might be able to catch the soldiers off guard next time they open the door and knock them out... Not that he's had a good history of being able to fight fully grown men.

But at least it's something, right?

And this room is full of places to hide something useful. Beside the bed is a wooden desk piled high with papers. There's an ink well and a pen there too. Hiccup yanks open the drawers and rifles through their contents, feeling only slightly bad about invading someone else's property. After a moment, he decides there's nothing he can use. Unless he wants to try giving them a really bad paper cut...

So he turns to his other option. A large wardrobe that looms in the corner, occupying the majority of the space on that end of the room. He walks over to it, grabbing the handle and tugging. The door jerks a bit but catches on the locking mechanism. He can't open it without a key.

Hmm, I wonder if- But Hiccup's thoughts are cut off at the sound of someone outside the house. He stiffens and whips around, immediately recognizing the voice... Alvin sounds incredibly angry today. Great.

The young viking decides it's not a good idea for his enemy to find out he's been trying to look for a weapon. So, without wasting anymore time, he hurries back to the corner of the room he'd been sitting in earlier and quickly tries to create the illusion of being asleep. He tucks his legs back against his chest and leans his head on his shoulder, shutting his eyes and trying to look peaceful.

Although he flinches a bit when the door bursts open and a pair of heavy footsteps come stomping in. For a short moment, Alvin doesn't say anything. He's obviously trying to decide if Hiccup really is asleep or not. But then, he apparently doesn't care either way because suddenly, an oversized boot strikes Hiccup's shoulder, causing him to yelp.

"What do you take me for, boy? An idiot?" Growls the Outcast leader. Yep, he is not in a good mood today. Which is just great for Hiccup.

The captive teen lifts his head and glares at Alvin. Then, quirking his most sarcastic grin, he says, "Actually, that's exactly what I take you for."

One of the two soldiers chuckles quietly, only to receive a loud 'SHUDDUP!' from Alvin. Said viking smirks at Hiccup and folds his arms. "Well, I was smart enough to capture you, wasn't I?"

"Oh yes." Hiccup rolls his eyes. "I've heard kidnapping half-frozen, stationary kids is a pretty difficult feat. Well done."

Now, Alvin's eyebrow twitches in irritation. He scowls at Hiccup and leans closer, causing the boy to recede a bit further against the wall. Needless to say, the man's breath stinks of sour alcohol and morning breath... "You're forgetting something, aren't you? You lit'le smart mouth."

He frowns, not understanding what Alvin's getting at.

"That Night Fury of yours..." He sneers, grinning now. "He didn't put up much of a fight though."

Hiccup's breath catches, anger glinting in his eyes. "Where's Toothless?!" He hisses. "You'd better not have hurt him!"

"Oh-ho!" Alvin laughs. "Seems I've made the mighty Dragon Conqueror angry! Everyone cower in fear...!"

The soldiers hesitate, unsure of what to do.

"Now you can laugh." Alvin instructs them. And they do, although it sounds forced.

Hiccup scowls at them, fury boiling in his stomach.

"Relax, boy! It was only a joke!" The Outcast leader snickers at his cleverness and shakes his head. "Your dragon is alive...for now."

"Take me to see him!" Hiccup barks in the most confident voice he can muster.

"Ooh, 'iccup." Alvin tuts. "That's what I like about you. Always so full of spunk." He finally backs off and glances at the two guards. "You know what to do."

They nod and step around him, roughly grabbing Hiccup's arms and forcing him to his feet. Hiccup struggles, kicking his legs and trying to get free. But it's no use so he finally just puffs out a sigh waits. Alvin definitely has something to say by the way he's patiently waiting.

"What do you want, Alvin?" He grumbles. "You know I'm never going to train dragons for you! You're wasting your time!"

And, oddly enough, the man only nods. His expression is thoughtful but humorous at the same time. "Oh, I know." He says, suddenly.

Hiccup recoils. What does that mean?

"And trust me, boy." He laughs. "In a few hours, I won't need you anymore. I'll have something much better..."

With that, Hiccup is dragged off his feet and over to the bed. One soldier pins him down while the other unlocks the wardrobe... Craning his neck to see what's happening, Hiccup's eyes widen when he finds Alvin approaching him with a knife in his hand...

The boy shrinks back, swallowing in fear. What is he going to do...?

But Alvin doesn't have any immediately plans to hurt his captive. Instead, he reaches down with a meaty hand and grabs a fistful of Hiccup's hair, leveling the blade with it. He chuckles at the little smart mouth's confused expression before snipping off a bit of of the russet-colored locks.

The Outcast leader smirks and holds up his souvenir for the child to see. "I'm sure your father will be interested to know where you ended up after that dreadful ice storm..."

Hiccup pales at the thought of what his father will think... But before he can protest, the other guard reappears. In his hands is a little, white pot of liquid. Smiling a cruel grin, he grabs Hiccup's chin and hisses, "Time to take your medicine."

Hiccup can only whimper at the sight of the foul-looking black liquid as it rolls down the lip of the pot and into his mouth, streaming down his throat so quickly he nearly chokes.

But the effects are almost instantaneous. As soon as he swallows...it's like he's just run a marathon. His eyelids grow incredibly heavy...and within seconds...he's passed out.

The guards draw away from him. One of them takes a rope from the cupboard and grabs Hiccup's wrists, tying them behind his back and then to the bed. They wordlessly follow Alvin out of the hut, locking the door behind them.