Chapter Seven
A/N: Sort of a 'gory' chapter, if you want to call it that. There's not much actual blood but a pretty...graphic descrption of a wound. So...if you're squeamish, be prepared.
In response to...
The Wolf Raven: Ooooh, okay then! That makes a lot more sense! And thanks for the check list, makes me feel...accomplished! XD And yes, Hicstrid is growing ever closer. (Sadly, none in this chapter though. Now, next chapter... *evil laugh*)
Ninuhuju: THERE'S GOING TO BE A THIRD SEASON?! Where did you hear that?! If there is... *SQUEEE*
Guest: I saw on Tumblr that Snotlout accidentally almost gets Astrid killed and that's why he gets expelled. I'm super excited for the finale but I also don't want it to end! Gahhh! I can't wait for the next movie...!
OinkyThePiggy and Whitedemon98: She flew off back to the valley once Hiccup didn't need her anymore.
When the two friends exit the prison, the first thing Hiccup notices is the silhouette of his Monstrous Nightmare receding into the distance. She must have gotten bored waiting for him or something. But that's okay. He looks down at Toothless and smiles. "Come on, bud. Let's get out of here while we still can."
But Toothless doesn't respond. His dragon's ears are flat against his scaly head, deep growls rumbling in his throat. He's glaring at something on the tree line and, for a moment, Hiccup fears that they've already been found out by the Outcasts.
But it's not the Outcasts. It's...a dragon? And by the looks of it, it was one of the prisoners that had been set a free. But why is it still here...?
Hiccup moves as if to get closer but Toothless snaps at him, warning the boy to stay back. "Toothless?" He mutters. "What's the matter?" He stares at the pale yellow Zippleback who is currently flapping one of its wings like mad, apparently trying to take off... "Oh no..." Hiccup gasps. "Its wing is broken!"
He steps around Toothless, who shrieks in protest and quickly lunges forward, biting down on his Rider's vest. There's something very wrong with that Zippleback, he can feel it!
"Wha- Toothless?!" Hiccup frowns and tugs his vest out of the Night Fury's mouth. "What's the matter with you?" He asks in a disapproving tone. "That Zippleback is hurt. If we don't do something, the Outcasts will capture it again."
If Toothless he could speak, he'd point out that, if they don't leave, the Outcasts will captured them again! Instead, he whimpers and attempts to get between his human and the other dragon, trying to steer him away from it. Injured dragons are incredibly dangerous because they think everything is a threat... Hiccup getting so close to one right now isn't a good idea.
But there's nothing Toothless can do to deter him, so Hiccup gets past him and slowly approaches the Zippleback, arms out to show he doesn't mean any harm. But that won't help...
The injured creature whips its heads around to glare at him, hissing furiously.
"Shhh, it's alright." Hiccup whispers in a soothing voice. "I'm not here to hurt you. I want to help."
The dragon continues to growl, shifting its weight nervously as he gets closer and watching this makes Toothless extremely worried. He knows what it's like to be a downed dragon...and how easy it can be to make one snap. Oh Hiccup...please be careful!
And for a while, it seems like the boy is doing an okay job. He moves slowly, hands out and his tone is so soft and gentle that it's barely audible. "It's okay," He says. "I only want to help." Now, he's within a foot of the Zippleback, who is eyeing him suspiciously but no longer hissing. It seems to be calming down. "There, that's it." Hiccup smiles as he places one hand on each of its snouts, tenderly patting the creature's nose. "It's not safe for you to stay here. I have to patch my friend's tail," He says, motioning to Toothless. "So if you come with us, I can make you a brace for your wing."
The dragon tilts its two heads, four pupils dilating as it watches him. It's never seen a kind human before...
But right at that moment, when everyone's guard is down-
"THERE HE IS!" Someone shouts, not too far away.
The Zippleback tenses at the familiar voice of the Outcast soldiers, pupils narrowing down to the width of a pin head. And in the blink of an eye, gas is pouring out of its mouth... Hiccup stumbles backwards, fear striking his heart.
Toothless screeches at him but it's already too late.
The Outcasts charge, swords at the ready. However, they freeze in their tracks when sparks begin to snap out of the wild dragon's mouth. Only one catches the gas...but it's enough.
There's a burst of light and a wave of heat that even Toothless can feel several feet away. But it's not until he hears his friend's scream that he truly realizes what has happened...
At first, Hiccup doesn't even feel the pain. It all happens so quickly and he's more shocked than anything... But eventually, his nerves catch up to him and he finds himself screaming in agony. He instinctively clutches his burnt arm, only to recoil at the extra stinging that brings. Finally looking down, he finds the skin on his left arm sizzling. Bits of his flesh are blackened and even appearing torn in some places. His sleeve has been singed straight through but luckily, it didn't catch the flame...
His vision swirls in front of him, distorted by pain. Then, he finds the world tipping around him and suddenly, everything looks sideways. It takes a few seconds for him to realize he's now laying down...he must have blacked out for a bit.
Through fuzzy vision, he can see Toothless snarling at the soldiers. He fires at them, trying to keep them away from his fallen Rider but it's no use. He's outnumbered and soon, he's reached his shot limit.
Hiccup tries to sit up, only to gasp as a searing pain shoots through his arm and shoulder. He collapses back to the ground, his fingers digging into the dirt as he gasps for air. Everything hurts... He no longer thinks it's only his arm that was hurt.
Looking over again, he grimaces at the sight of Toothless now wrapped in a bola. The dragon is staring sorrowfully at him and he's probably whimpering...but Hiccup's ears are ringing and he can't hear anything but the thumping of his own heart.
Toothless... He marvels at how his sight gets even blurrier and his eyes begin to sting. I'm so sorry... We were so close to getting away... But now several pairs of boots have blocked his line of sight and the world begins to go dark.
When the Outcasts speak, their voices are more like hollow echos. They sound strange to Hiccup's semiconscious ears.
"What should we do with him?"
"We'll take him back to the healing hut and patch him up. Alvin'll be furious if he finds out the kid was hurt..."
"How do you think he got away?"
"I don't know...all that matters is making sure he's at the docks by sunset. That's when Stoick the Vast is supposed to get here to make the trade."
"...Do you think he'll do it? Make the trade, I mean."
"Of course he will."
Hiccup whimpers quietly as he's dragged to his feet. His body mostly feels numb at this point but there's an odd throb resonating through his entire being. Like a toothache, only much worse.
"This is his son, after all. He'll make the trade."
"...What do we do with the Night Fury?"
"Put him in the Arena. I'm sure Alvin would enjoy taking care of him personally once the deal is made with Stoick."
"Yes sir."
And then Hiccup's head droops against his chest as darkness finally swallows him whole. He can't hear the desperate yelps of his dragon as he's carted off to the Killing Arena, nor see the terror in Toothless's eyes as he watches his friend being carried off to some unknown location.
This time, he has a feeling that Hiccup won't be coming to save him.
"Alright, kids." Stoick and the other Riders are perched atop a sea stack, a good mile away from Outcast Island. The six of them are huddled together as they formulate their plan. "Do you know what to do?"
Astrid nods tightly. "We stay hidden and wait until Alvin shows us where Hiccup is. Then Snotlout, the twins and Fishlegs will create a distraction that I'll use to sneak up and rescue Hiccup and Toothless. Then, we get out as fast as we can."
"No fighting unless it's necessary. Just distractions." He reminds them. "We don't want any of us getting hurt and making it harder to get away. Got it?"
"Yes sir."
"But what if Hiccup or Toothless aren't able to fly?" Fishlegs points out. "No offense sir...but...we don't exactly know what condition they're in."
"We'll make it happen." Stoick growls.
Astrid offers her friend a supportive smile and says, "We'll figure that out if it becomes a problem, okay?"
"Okay..."
"Alright, let's get going." Stoick says as he taps Thornado's side. The Thunderdrum takes off and the other dragons follow suit.
Just hang in there, Hiccup. Astrid finds herself thinking. We'll be there soon.
A/N: Climax will be next chapter and probably the chapter after that :D