Chapter Four

A/N: In this chapter, I make a reference to a Slavemark. That's something from the HTTYD books (basically just meaning someone is a slave, as the name implies.)

In response to...

The Wolf Raven: D'awwww! That's awesome! Like, wow! Thank you :D I'm really glad you think I'm pulling off the characters' personalities, as well. (I try XD)

Breyannia: Many of your questions will be answered in this chapter!

When Hiccup next wakes up, he finds himself collapsed unceremoniously across the bed. His dizzy head is dangling over the edge, his neck bent at a painful angle. What...what happened? He wonders, struggling to keep his eyes open. It feels like he's been drugged. Ow...what the...? Lifting up his stiff neck, he glances over his shoulder, frowning at what he finds.

His wrists have been bound together and tied to the bed. The skin beneath the coarse rope is red and irritated, as if he's been tied like this for hours. He blinks away the blurriness in his vision and glances around the room. No Outcasts in sight. Looks like he's alone again. At least that's good news...

Rolling onto his side, he tries to worm his way out of the ropes. His wrists are tinier than most, after all. So maybe he can slip out...? But after a moment of fruitless struggle, he decides there's no way he's getting out of here without some help...

But one detail is still bothering him more than anything.

Toothless...where are you?

A pair of emerald eyes flicks back and forth in the darkness, a low rumble echoing through the prison cell. But the sound can only barely be heard above the furious shrieks and roars of the other dragons. Between the bars of his cage, Toothless watches a Gronckle slamming its mace-like tail against the floor. It's practically throwing a fit...

And it's not the only one. Nearly every dragon is panicking. They growl and hiss at each other, clawing and throwing their body weights against the doors. But nothing works. All of them are muzzled so they can't breathe fire and some of them are even chained to the floor.

Toothless is one of them. Apparently, the Outcasts don't like it when a peeved Night Fury tries to bite their hands off... So, with a resigned sigh, he lays down on the floor and glares at the other dragons. They're acting ridiculous, he tells himself. Wasting so much energy... If they were smart, they'd wait until the guards come to feed them.

That's Toothless's plan. He'll get out of here eventually, and when he does...he's got to find Hiccup. Hiccup is priority number one. After that... The dragon glances over his shoulder, flipping up his tail once again.

The artificial fin has been shredded. 'Just so you don't try to run off', Alvin had said before slicing through the red fabric. Pff, as if Toothless would even try to run without Hiccup. And once he's found him, the tail will get fixed anyway.

Then again, no one ever accused Alvin of being smart...

So, with that assurance in mind, Toothless closes his eyes and patiently waits for the moment when the soldiers will arrive. It shouldn't be too long now. Then, he can get out of here...

"Hrrrggg!" Hiccup grunts as he fights to reach the bottom of his prosthetic up to his wrists. The young Viking's metal leg has several sharp points on it. If he can reach one of them, he might be able to cut through the ropes. But, unfortunately, that's easier said than done... Come ON! I can do this! I just have to-

Ker-CHUNK!

Hiccup freezes, his body going rigid at the sound of the door unlocking. He lowers his prosthetic, deciding it's not a good idea for Alvin or Savage to find out what his plan is. Even though it is kind of a weak plan... But still. He doesn't pretend to be asleep this time. No point. Besides, he's a little curious what the Outcasts are planning... What did Alvin mean when said he'd get something 'better'?

However, it's not Alvin, Savage, or any of the Outcasts Hiccup has seen before. In fact...this person doesn't even look like she belongs on Outcast Island. Maybe...that's because she doesn't.

The woman who steps inside at that moment is dressed in rags. Her sun-kissed, wind-weathered skin is bruised all over, purple and yellow, in varying shades of age. Her brown eyes seem sunken, dark shadows beneath them. She looks sickly and malnourished.

B who is she...?

Hiccup doesn't realize he's staring until she glances sideways at him, a tiny frown on her chapped lips. But that's when he sees it. And his gut twists at the knowledge it provides. There, on the side of her head, as vibrant and noticeable as the day it was placed...is a Slavemark. So this woman serves the Outcasts as a slave...? Poor girl...

She gazes at Hiccup with a cold expression for a moment before turning away again, apparently indifferent to his situation. Instead, she goes to wardrobe and unlocks it with a heavy, iron key. Reaching inside, she takes out a few things and places them into a wicker basket. She must have been sent here to fetch something for her master...

For a few more seconds, Hiccup only watches her. In a way, the two of them are in very similar positions. Maybe that's what convinces him to speak. "Um...excuse me." He says in a smaller voice than he would have liked.

She ignores him, checking a list that she draws out of her tattered apron.

"Uh, I hate to trouble you but...I'm a little...tied up at the moment and was wondering if...you could help me out...?"

She still doesn't say anything but this time, she glances over at the captive teen. Her dark eyes hang on his face for a moment before flicking back to the wardrobe.

Hiccup bites his lip. This might be his best chance of getting away! She isn't an actual Outcast after all and she's been enslaved by them! Shouldn't she have some kind of resentment toward them...? But he doesn't ask her that. Somehow, it feels like that wouldn't exactly go over well. Instead, he says, "Please. My friend is on this island somewhere...I need to find him! He could be in danger...!"

Once more, she looks over but never speaks.

Is she mute or something...? Hiccup wonders.

Now, she straightens up and the basket is hanging from her arm. She could leave now if she wanted to... But she hesitates. The woman stares at Hiccup, who looks so young to her. To young to be a prisoner... He can't be more than fourteen years old. And so frail-looking. What would Alvin want with someone like him?

So, against her better judgement, she removes the basket from her arm and slowly closes the distance between them. This must be the one she had overheard Savage talking about... Stoick the Vast's son. The one Alvin supposedly 'saved' from freezing to death. But by the looks of things, this kid probably would have been better off if he'd just been allowed to die in peace. At least then he wouldn't have to be here.

So...maybe it's pity. Or just outright defiance. Whatever it is, something drives her to lift a finger to her lips, signaling for Hiccup to be quiet. She goes to the window, brushing aside the drapes and peeking out. Once she's deemed it clear, she hurries over to the wardrobe where the medicine man keeps all of his tools.

"What are you-?" Hiccup starts to ask, only to be cut off when she flashes him a warning look. Don't speak, it says.

When she finally comes away from the shelves, she's holding a small knife. More like a scalpel, actually. Wasting no time, she returns to Hiccup's side, earning a wide-eyed look from the boy. Not one of fear, but one of surprise. She's actually helping him! For once something is actually going right!

With shockingly nimble fingers, she cuts through the ropes binding his wrists and takes one of his hands, placing the scalpel in it. She closes his fingers around the knife and nods, a strange glint in her eyes.

"Thank you..." He whispers, tucking the knife into his waistband. "But...you should come with me. That way, you won't get into trouble."

But she shakes her head, tapping the Slavemark. None of the tribes would accept her now. Not with that mark...

And Hiccup has to admit she's right. Under normal circumstances, not even Stoick would allow her into Berk. But since she saved his life, maybe his father would- But the woman is already walking away, basket in hand. She offers him another nod before stepping out the door and hurrying down the hill.

Only then does she allow herself a small smile. That boy was obviously important to Alvin...I suppose freeing him is good enough revenge for that sicko cutting out my tongue and making me a slave. It'll at least make him mad and that's good enough for me...

A/N: Yeah, weird way to end a chapter. I'd say (at this point) we're about...30 or 40% done. Just like Ice, I don't forsee this being a very long fanfic...