A/N-Another reply to a guest review: Yes, it would be helpful to reply to an account, as I like to make sure I'm contacting the reviewer directly. And, as for all problems being solved by some sort of gift, there is a limit to what any one person can do. Hawken has the power of just about any dragon, but dragons are limited creatures, not all-powerful, and some things are even then out of his grasp. The force-field is a connection to both the Lightning Blazer and Griffin's powers; see my "Book of Dragons" for details on that. Besides, there's nearly always something that can counteract any gift as well, and we've already seen that. I'm going to give a bit of a spoiler here too: Hawken is not the overall hero in this book, much like he was not in the last. All the characters play a part, but someone else gets that award.

Still not quite sure what you're getting at with the "Very Big Hole" thing; if it's a reference to the original Ember story, like I've noted before mine is going to be taking a very different route from just about anything else, so that's not showing up.

To everyone else: apologies for the delay, internet troubles...

Chapter 9

Prepare the Snare

I came in low and landed near the head of the gorge, skidding on the gravel as Ember jumped off. Already I could see the first of the massive bows being set up all along the canyon, anywhere they could be hidden from the viewpoint below. What I wasn't expecting, however, were the numerous dragons and Vikings scaling the walls of the canyon with ropes and modified shovels, digging holes deep into the sides of the dirt and rock. I demorphed to human and ran down the side of the canyon to where I saw Hiccup, recently back from the forge I assumed, helping Fishlegs and Snotlout position another crossbow.

What's with the rock climbing?" I asked, startling Hiccup. "Gaahhh! Where did you come from?" he squealed, leaping upright. However at seeing the smirk beginning to grow on my face he immediately held up his hands in protest. "Never mind, don't you dare answer that. As for your question: the booby traps we planned earlier in the bottom of the canyon won't work thanks to the stream," he explained, gesturing to the trickle of running water below, "so we're modifying the crossbows to be able to attach to multiple strung arrows below, and when they fire it'll be like a barbed net."

I nodded. "I see, interesting idea. Though, just make sure no one ends up shooting me or Ember in the process. Also I hope you do remember that even bows like this will only injure, not kill, the serpents. Did anyone actually discuss how we're going to finish the job?" Hiccup cocked an eyebrow as he hoisted a massive arrow into the nearby bow. "You do recall you're talking about a group of people who usually kill first, then skip the questions, yes? We can probably just rely on my dad and the dragons to actually finish the job."

"Or me," Ember muttered quietly. We fell into silence, looking at her with perplexed expressions, before she sighed in response. "Look, it's my fault already that we're in this mess; it might as well be me who at least helps clean it up." "There's a problem with that, though," I noted. "It's also you they want. You actually try to go into battle against them, they might very well get their wish."

"Okay, then, at least let me have a bow with me," Ember retorted. "That way if things do go wrong, and there's still a million ways they could, I'm not completely helpless either." She looked over to Hiccup, who nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I'm siding with Ember on that one Hawken," he said. "I'll get you a bow, as soon as we head back to the village again. I'm sure we have a couple in the forge. In the meantime, both of you can help get the last few bows and arrows in place here."

After another couple hours of slipping on stones and mud (and catching Snotlout and Tuffnut when they fell while goofing around again), everything was just about in place. A few more arrows forged and we would be set. I looked out over the island, and off in the distance, right at the edge of the northern shore, I could see the serpents, knocking over trees as they headed back toward the sea before coming inland again.

"Let's get back to the village," Hiccup suggested. "We've still got a lot to do before we can set off the trap." The rest of us agreed, and we all got on to our respective dragons (or changed into them in my case), and as quietly as we could everyone took to the air, staying low and flying around the mountains to the village. When we all landed, Hiccup set off straight toward the forge again, with Ember, Toothless and I in tow. Once there he began rummaging through the piles of extra weapons that ended up stacked in the corners.

"Let's see, there's… no, not that…and we've got"-CLANG!-"OW! Not that! No there's… oh, come on, I know they're in… oh, here they are!" he finally exclaimed, pulling out a hardwood bow and a matching quiver of arrows. Blowing the dust off them, he handed the set to Ember, who took them gently and began looking them over.

"It looks… a lot like my old bow, actually," she said. "The details are amazing on this too." I smirked. "Probably because Hiccup made it. He's got an eye for intricacies when he makes things." Hiccup smiled and waved it off. "Eh, yeah, I always put a lot of detail into things though. It's nothing really special."

Ember glanced at Hiccup. "Wait, you actually made this?" He nodded. "What can I say? I'm a blacksmith and an inventor, I make things in my spare time. That usually includes weapons of all sorts." "Yes, but making things that actually work like they're supposed to every time," I drawled, "well, that can be a whole different story." Ember started giggling as Hiccup threw a punch at my shoulder.

The rest of the afternoon, I ended up at home, poring over college work. The official finals had been cancelled by the snowstorm, but unfortunately the teachers figured out online work to be done as a replacement, so I still had things to do. Being proficient in education thankfully meant I was done quickly however, and after setting up a crock-pot dinner for later, I slipped back through the portal and headed for the village.

Ember, Astrid, Hiccup and the two dragons were in the cove, setting up what appeared to be makeshift targets wherever they could. When they were all turned away from me, I grinned and pulled out a sword, throwing it and nailing one of the targets across the cove from me in the upper center. The crack of metal on wood brought all five of them into the air as they yelped, before turning to see me laughing up above on the cliff.

"You're not funny Hawken!" Hiccup yelled. I flared a pair of wings and jumped down, gliding over to them. "Well, I guess it depends on who you're talking to," I replied. "From up there, yes it was funny. Anyway, what are the targets for?"

Hiccup shook his head in resignation and pulled out Framherja, pulling back the string and aiming for a nearby target. He let the screaming bolt fly, blowing the wood to bits. "That's what they're for. Astrid and I decided the cove would be a perfect place for training and sparring practice, so we decided to set up a makeshift arena. Ember decided to tag along too."

I nodded and wandered over to grab the sword I had thrown, wrenching it out of the wood. Then, I turned around and held the blade up. "I've got something I want to try," I said. "Hiccup, shoot the sword." "Wait, but that's one of your good swords!" Hiccup protested. "You know what Framherja does to things. I mean, it's not one of our quartet swords, but aren't those ones still expensive?" "Just trust me, alright? Shoot the sword." Hiccup sighed, before raising Framherja and firing.

The bolt hit the sword, and I managed to freeze the energy in place, the electricity crackling along the surface of the metal. Then, grinning, I walked over to the pond, aimed the sword at the surface, and released the bolt.

The water exploded outward in a cascade of boiling liquid and steam, electric crackles dancing across the surface. A few seconds later, a few stunned fish floated to the surface. ::Hey! Easy dinner!:: Thorn exclaimed, making Toothless chuckle.

"How-how did you do that?" Astrid queried, pointing toward the pond and the fading ripples I shrugged. "Eh, something I've been practicing over the past few months. The Lightning Blazer can control electricity and convert energy, so I've been playing with the extent of that ability." I grinned. "Actually, it's a lot like how Fireworms can control heat and flames."

One by one, we all looked at Toothless, whose face morphed into an expression of confusion. ::What?:: he queried uncertainly. I held out my sword. "Want some more fish?" The question made Ember, Astrid and Hiccup laugh, especially when Toothless got the hint, smiling as he fired.

The result of the redirected fireball on the water was equally impressive, much like the result of Framherja's bolt. Soon, Thorn and Toothless were happily feasting on fish as I slid the sword back into its scabbard. "Well, one chore for later taken care of," I mused, winking at Hiccup. "Now, let's get working on your guys' aim."

A/N-Another short chapter, but we're almost to the next installment of excitement. And, this book is not yet half over, so hope you'll all stick with me!

As always, make sure to leave a review to let me know hat you think! And I like hearing predictions, some of you guys have made good ones...