Chapter Five

A/N: By the end of this chapter, we're about 50% done!

In response to...

The Wolf Raven: Haha, I know! I discovered it while I was at lunch and laughed a bit too loudly. How on earth did I manage to completely neglect finishing an entire word?! XD Eh, whatever. And don't worry, your reunions will happen soon! :D

ZeRoyalViking: As terrible as it sounds, I'm kind of glad you panicked XD That's what my evil side was hoping for when I named the chapter 'The Slavemark'...because I'm apparently a horrible person! Lol... But Slavemarks are a bit more complicated than simply hiding them. It's a tradition that the Vikings hold close. A person who has that mark is supposed to be 'lesser' than everyone else. Even if it WAS an accident...

RoxyJaws: Same as what I said to ZeRoyalViking... *evil grin*

And of course, thanks to everyone else who left a review! You guys are AWESOME!

It doesn't take long for Hiccup to leave the hut once he's been cut free. Although it does take time to get past the guards without being spotted. Once past them, however, he takes off into the forest. This time, without catching any unwanted attention.

Now, he dodges through the trees in the direction of the Dragon Arena. Once he gets there, he'll have a good idea of where he is. Then he can look for Toothless. But...then there's the issue of having no idea where Alvin is keeping him...

I guess my best bet is the prison where he was held last time. That's the only spot I can- His thoughts halt as, his heart slamming against his rib cage. Ducking behind a tree, he holds his breath, knowing he heard something. And surely enough...

"-don't know why Alvin insists we all go. He's just one kid!" Says a voice off in the distance. "One man could easily go collect him."

"I don't know and I don't care!" Another replies. "I'd rather not be the one to argue with him."

"I guess you have a point there..." The first one admits. Several pairs of boots go marching past Hiccup's hiding spot, taking nearly a full minute to reach him and then pass by. There must be at least six or seven Outcasts headed to the hut...and by the sound of it, they're going there to get Hiccup.

But what for...? He wonders, swallowing nervously. Nevermind. I'd rather not find out. With that, he hops back to his feet and slinks further into the trees, his eyes never leaving the Arena. Please be okay, Toothless...

Stoick's face is beat red with fury. Alvin has kidnapped his son again! And he's been gone for days! How many of those were spent in Alvin's custody...?

"Sir, what are we going to do?" Astrid asks him, her hand clutching the reigns of Stormfly's saddle. She's ready to hop in and go to Outcast Island at a moment's notice. "We have to go after them!" She insists.

"You're right." He says, placing the threatening souvenirs back into the box. "We're flying to Outcast Island. Is everyone ready to go?"

The teens nod unanimously, directing their dragons to the sky. Astrid jumps into the saddle and follows them, cracking her knuckles. She can't wait to get her hands on those horrible Outcasts.

Stoick tells Gobber to go back to the village and inform the others that he and the Riders will be gone for a few hours. The Blacksmith nods and hobbles off after wishing his friend luck. Then, the chief mounts Thornado and they take off.

Just hang in there, Hiccup! We'll be there soon!

Hiccup stares down into the valley, frowning a bit. He'd almost forgotten about this place... Hundreds of wild dragons roost in the grey stones of Outcast Island's shore. As far as the eye can see, it's like a writing ocean of scales and claws. The dragons roar and flap their wings, screeching at each other when they get to close.

Okay, just stay calm. They're dragons...I can handle dragons. Hiccup breathes slowly, steadying his nerves before sliding down the gravelly slope into the valley. Immediately, a hundred pairs of eyes swing over to glare at him. Much of the noise goes silent as the fire-breathers stare at the intruder, quietly wondering why a human would enter their home... Has he lost his mind? But at the moment, Hiccup is feeling slightly more confident than they would have imagined. It wouldn't hurt to have some back up... He tells himself.

The Viking boy smiles as them, trying to look at ease as he takes the first few steps into the lowland. Only a few feet to his right, a Gronckle snarls at him. Lava drips from its mouth like saliva, its claws digging into the stone.

Not that one... Hiccup swallows, continuing forward. He gets about a hundred feet into the valley before he notices... There's a Monstrous Nightmare watching him from a shelf of rock in the canyon's wall. Its pupils are dilated, its head tilting. So Hiccup pauses, recognizing that expression as one of curiosity.

With a tiny breath, he offers it a smile. "Hey there..." He whispers.

The Nightmare bares its fangs, growling in distrust.

"No, no, no!" Hiccup holds up his hands like a surrender, heart thumping. "I'm not an enemy." He tells it. "I'm not here to fight or anything."

The huge dragon narrows its yellow eyes and stands up, slinking down the wall of the canyon like a bat. All the others go silent as they watch, wondering what this tiny human is up to. The Nightmare's throat rumbles with a warning growl as it approaches but its pupils have dilated again.

Hiccup smiles a little, holding out his hand. "See?" He breathes. "It's okay, I'm not going to hurt you...and I'd appreciate it and if you'd do the same."

The dragon gazes at his hand for a moment, understanding what he means by it. Then, deciding he doesn't mean any harm, closes her eyes and leans her forehead against his palm.

Hiccup nods. "Atta girl..." He scratches her behind the horns and grins, having forgotten they aren't the only two here. "Now, what do you say you give me a lift?" He waits for her approval before hopping onto the right spot of her neck. Reaching down, he pats her side, signaling for the Nightmare to take off.

That went pretty well! He decides with a satisfied grin. "Hey, you haven't seen a Night Fury around here, have you?" He asks the other dragon, earning a little snort from the creature as she banks off to the left, steering them in an unknown direction. I guess that's a...yes? Maybe...?

They land in a secluded spot behind the Outcast prison, one you could only find from the sky. The Nightmare lowers her head, allowing Hiccup to slide off. She coos at him, eyeing the prison with an angry look. She can hear the desperate cries of the dragons inside and it makes her sick...

"Thanks, girl." He whispers, kneeling down behind the twisted, brown shrubbery so he won't be seen. "You can go now, I wouldn't want you to get caught..."

But she stays, glaring at the prison with a look of hatred.

And Hiccup looks too, noticing that there are only a few guards standing outside. They seem to be chatting among themselves, not paying attention to the fact that there's a huge Monstrous Nightmare and smallish Viking quietly sneaking up behind them...

Hiccup's new companion flashes a dragon-esque grin before flipping up her tail and wacking the three Outcasts across the back of the head, sending them sailing into a nearby boulder. They yelp in pain as they strike the wall, crumpling to the ground.

Hiccup smirks. "Well, that was easier than sneaking around them..." He notes, jogging over to the unconscious men and quickly removing the key ring from one of their waistbands. "Thanks, girl."

She coos and lays down on the rock, lazily yawning as she curls up outside the prison door. Is she going to keep watch?

"You don't have to stay." He reminds her, gently. "It might be dangerous..."

But she only snorts and remains where she is. With a little shrug, Hiccup hurries over to the door and begins trying various keys in the massive padlock that keeps them shut. Just a little longer, Toothless... He silently promises. I'll be there in a second!

A/N: Gaahhhh! So many short chapters! Sorry guys but this was the best place to end it for now. After this, things start to kick off and it would have been hard to find a good place to end a chapter after this point.