Chapter Eight
A/N: UGH! I swear, writer's block comes at the most inconvenient times! I'm going to apologize in advance in case this chapter sounds...awkward. But hey, at least it's a long chapter!
The Wolf Raven: You'll get your answers in this chapter :D
Bones McCoy: Sorry about your feels... XD
Ninuhuju: I hope you're right! That would be awesome! But wikipedia isn't always the most reliable source soo... *fingers crossed*
When Stoick finally arrives on Outcast Island, the sun is just beginning to sink behind the horizon. The dark blue sky is streaked with orange and red, looking as if Valhalla itself were on fire. Thornado glides above the harbour, his Rider frowning when he notices a rather large ship drifting in a strange place, about a mile out from the shore. Standing on its deck, is Alvin the Treacherous, along with a handful of soldiers. The vile man is grinning at him, clearly proud of what he's accomplished...
Stoick grinds his teeth together, fury bubbling in his gut. So he was right, Alvin had been waiting for him... And as unnerving as that is, it's also promising. That means his plan will work. The teens will be able to distract them and get to Hiccup without much difficulty... That is, assuming Alvin reveals to him where his son is being kept.
"Ahh, Stoick!" Alvin greets, almost pleasantly. "How nice of you to drop by."
"I'm not here for games, Alvin." Stoick reminds him in a growling voice. "Where is my son?! If you've hurt him in any way-"
"Relax." The Outcast chief waves him off. "Your boy is unharmed...for the most part." He smirks at the look of anger that earns him. "Hey, there's nothing I can do if 'iccup decides to run off and get himself injured!" He chuckles to himself, a dark glint in his black eyes. "Outcast Island can be a very dangerous place for someone like 'im."
By this point, Stoick's face is beat red and he's practically shaking with rage. He doesn't care if it wasn't Alvin who personally hurt Hiccup... He still kidnapped him, dragged him here against his will and caused his son to get hurt, indirectly or not! "I ought to kill you, Alvin...!" He snarls. "WHERE IS MY SON?!"
"Oh, he's here." Alvin assures him. "But he's taking a lit'le nap below deck...wouldn't want to wake the poor lad." His lips curl into a twisted smile. "He's had a rough few days..."
Hiccup's father glares at his enemy with an intense hatred. "What do you want?" He demands, still not wanting to put the kids at risk if he doesn't have to.
Alvin nods and folds his arms behind his back, looking almost formal. "I suppose I'm in the mood to negociate...so I'll be a nice guy for once and return your son home safe and sound...on one condition."
"And what's that?" He growls.
"In exchange for 'iccup, you become my prisoner instead. It's time that soft lit'le island of yours learns what it's like to be a real Viking tribe again. They need a new leader, a strong leader. And besides," He purrs. "That's the only way to save your son..."
Stoick glares at him...but he doesn't argue. He remains silent... Could he...actually be considering that?!
That's it. The signal! Astrid and the others, who had been hiding behind a nearby sea stack, just out of the view of the Outcasts, see when Thornado suddenly spirals his long tail after receiving a tap from his Rider. Stoick knows where Hiccup is, time to move!
"Everyone ready?" Astrid asks. She holds on tight as Stormfly snaps open her wings and rockets into the sky, quickly followed by the other dragons. "You guys know what to do!" She barks, leaning in close to the saddle, her jaw set in determination. "Keep them off me while I get Hiccup!"
Berk's chief parts his lips to respond to Alvin's offer, only to freeze when he hears the mad flapping of wings behind him. Spinning around, he gapes at the sight of the teens zooming toward him.
Alvin is staring too. So that's how Stoick wants to play it, huh?
"What are you doing?!" Stoick demands once Astrid is in close enough range. "I haven't given the signal!"
She recoils, looking shocked. "But we saw..."
Suddenly, Thornado interrupts them with a throaty growl. He glances up at Stoick with an intense meaning in his yellow eyes. He can't allow himself to become Alvin's prisoner. They can beat him...
"Thornado..." Stoick mumbles in surprise. He gave the signal on his own?
"Sir?!" Astrid interrupts, sounding hasty and anxious. "Where's Hiccup?" The other teens are closing in now. If this plan is going to work, they need to attack now! No more time to waste.
So Stoick lifts his chin and glares down at Alvin. "He's below deck." He informs her. "Get him out safely, I'll help the others distract the Outcasts."
She nods and taps Stormfly's side. "Let's go, girl!" And they flap away, disappearing into the clouds for the time being. But not before the Nadder rears back her head and fires a powerful blast of white fire at the mast of Alvin's ship, quickly engulfing the sail in flames...
When Hiccup first works his way back into consciousness, the room is spinning so badly he can't keep his eyes open for more than a few seconds. There's a familiar taste in his mouth, bitter and pungent. The same taste as the liquid they had him swallow before... Have they drugged him again? That would explain why his mind feels so sluggish and he can't move correctly.
The only feeling that is still defined and sharp in his entire, deadened body, is the savage throbs of his left arm. It feels as if it might still be on fire but when he drags his gaze over to look at it, he finds it wrapped in a layer of bandages and not smoking in the least bit.
But that's when a loud noise from somewhere above him grabs his attention. What are all those voices? It sounds like...a bunch of people are running on the roof. Or maybe... He looks around the room, only to realize he's not in a 'room' at all. He's laying on the wooden floor of a ship, his right wrist has been bound in ropes again and tied to a metal beam. He weakly pulls against it but he's barely got enough strength to lift his arm, let alone pull free.
What is...going on...? He wonders, groggily. Once more, he tries to sit up. This time, managing to get to his elbows before failing miserably and sinking back to the floor, shutting his eyes to steady the wild twirling of his vision. "Ohhh..." He groans at the sick feeling in his stomach. Whatever sedative the Outcasts fed him does not help nausea, that's for sure...
For a while, he only lays there, trying to piece his brain back together and figure out what's happening. But it seems like the longer he stays here, the more confused he gets. If he is on a ship, then who's? And where are they going? He remembers he had been kidnapped by Alvin but why would they be leaving on a boat? And who is running around on the top deck? And...why is the air so thick and hard to breathe?
He finds himself coughing, his sluggish mind finally recognizing this scent as smoke. So what's burning...? Suddenly, he hears the sound of footsteps thundering down the stairs that lead to the lower deck, where he's currently being held captive.
The Outcast glares at him, his face covered in soot and his clothes are singed. He's holding a doubled-edged battle-axe in one hand as he stalks closer to the stationary boy, who's heart begins pumping faster and faster as fear registers to his woozy head.
The man opens his mouth to say something...but his words are cut off when something slams into the back of his head, coupled with a loud 'HYAH!' The solider's eyes roll back and he collapses to the floor.
For a split-second, Hiccup is frozen. He stares at his savior with a wide-eyed, dazed expression before a smile breaks out on his lips. "Astrid?!" He gasps, struggling to sit up again.
She drops her weapon -a broken Outcast sword which she picked up topside- and releases a shaky breath of relief. Her blue eyes are shining with adrenaline, fear and exahustion...her blonde hair is stuck to her forehead with sweat and her hands are trembling...but she still smiles when she sees him laying there. "Hiccup..."
In an instant, she's beside him. And Astrid must be able to tell he's to weak to move because she doesn't ask him to get up. Instead, she slices through the rope around his tied arm and hefts him into a sitting position, all on her own. From there, though...she doesn't help him stand.
For just a moment, she wraps her arms around his weakened, battered body and just lets it sink in. He's here... Hiccup is here... And he's alive. "Hiccup..." She whispers again, gripping him tighter.
And Hiccup's face must be bright red by now...but he doesn't care. She's actually here. Astrid is here... And at that moment, he forgets that he's being held captive by his worst enemy, he forgets his arm is so badly burned he can hardly move it. He forgets everything. Everything but Astrid, who he clings to almost desperately, his face buried in her shoulder as she holds onto him with an equal amount of longing.
"You had us worried sick, you know that?" She growls under her breath. "Don't you ever, ever disappear like that again!"
Hiccup smiles against her shoulder and chuckles weakly. "Believe me...I'm not too thrilled about it either."
They both pull back, little smiles on their faces.
"You're not hurt, are you?" Astrid asks him.
"Uhhhh..." He murmurs lamely, motioning to the bandages. "But it's not bad...just a burn."
She frowns and gently touches his wounded arm but jerks her hand away when Hiccup hisses in pain. "Sorry!" She cries out.
He shakes his head. "It's okay."
"Come on," She suddenly says, getting to her feet. "We need to get out of here."
Only then does Hiccup remembers... "Wait! Where's Toothless?!"
Astrid gapes at him. "He's not on the ship?!"
"No! They...they took him somewhere!" He leans his weight on his good arm, struggling to remember where the Outcast took his dragon... He feels like he heard it... Gods, where did they take him?!
Both teens gasp when the ship suddenly rocks violently. More smoke floods down the hatch to where they're standing and the voices grow louder, more desperate.
"What's going on?!" Hiccup demands as the floor lurches below them.
"The others are distracting the Outcasts so I could rescue you. The mast was on fire but it must have spread... We need to go!"
"I can't leave Toothless!" He reminds her.
"I'm not asking you to! But we need to make sure we get off this ship before it sinks!" Astrid leans down and helps him to his feet, supporting most of his weight as they shuffle toward the stairs.
Hiccup's vision buckles and spins wildly but he stays upright, ignoring the sharp protests of his burned arm as they climb up onto the top deck, which is now rippling with flames in various spots. The mast is practically crumbling and is definitely going to collapse at some point. The sails are engulfed in fire, charred bits of fabric rain down on the Outcasts as they fight back against the Dragon Riders, who are hooping and hollering with joy as they easily hold the soldiers at bay.
When Astrid speaks, her voice is echoing and distant again. Hiccup shakes his head, willing himself not to succumb to unconsciousness. Instead, he focuses on following Astrid's lead and getting off this ship. But they can't leave just yet...he has to find Toothless!
They've just reached the top of the stairs when Astrid hears something behind her. Spinning around, she gasps at the sight of a very familiar Outcast raising the butt of his sword high above her head.
Savage grins darkly at her before cracking the handle over the side of her head, sending both Hiccup and Astrid sprawling onto the deck. She has just enough time to reach up and touch the spot where his sword hit her, take her hand away and find it sticky with blood...before her vision goes black.
A/N: MORE CLIFFHANGERS! XD Sorry...