Chapter Ten

A/N: In response to...

Lord Jaric: Savage's hand was flat over her mouth so she really wouldn't have been able to bite him effectively. In all honesty, that was my original plan until I realized how hard it would be for her to bite a flat hand. XD

Anyway, thanks everyone for the amount of support I've been getting! I really appreciate it! Now, back to the story~ *YAY FOR DOUBLE CHAPTER SUNDAY* XD

Hiccup, Astrid, Fishlegs, and their dragons are tied up and stored below deck where they can't escape. In their small cage-like room, it's dark and the air is damp. It's not hard to imagine that spending too much time in there would make someone sick.

Astrid sighs deeply at their situation. Since getting captured-nearly an hour ago-Hiccup's condition has gotten worse. When he was knocked to the ground by that net, his head started to bleed again and it hasn't stopped since. Even in the dark, she can tell he's dangerously pale. On top of that, they've been kidnapped by Outcasts and are being taken to Outcast Island, where they'll probably end up dead.

"What are we gonna do?" She mutters, mostly to herself. "No one even knows we're here."

"Well, that's not entirely true." Fishlegs says. "I did mention Dragon Island to Snotlout..."

"Oh now I feel safe." Astrid grumbles, sarcastically.

"That's a good thought, Fishlegs." Hiccup says in a weary tone. "But I don't think Snotlout would notice if we didn't get home tonight."

"Yeah, you're probably right." Fishlegs says. "But that still means we don't have a plan...how are we going to get out of here?"

Astrid glances at Hiccup. He always has a plan, right? Problem solving is one of the many things he's best at...

Hiccup notices that both of them are staring at him, expectantly. They're hoping he has an idea...which he doesn't. He's not exactly in his best mind right now...frankly, it's taking all his focus not to pass out... Formulating a plan is not something he can even think about doing. "I don't know." He admits.

Astrid lowers her gaze.

"B-but you're Hiccup!" Fishlegs says. "You always know what to do!"

"Sorry..." Hiccup mumbles, suddenly finding it harder than before to keep his eyes open. His head nods forward and a drop of blood lands on his leg, followed by another...and another.

"Don't be sorry." Astrid says. "We're going to get out of this. All of us. But we're going to need to work together."

Hiccup straightens up and looks at her.

"First and foremost." Astrid looks straight into Hiccup's eyes when she says, "Don't you dare train dragons for them. I don't care what happens. Fishlegs and I can take care of ourselves. Just don't give in to them."

He nods, his expression hardening. "I won't."

"And Fishlegs, just keep it together. Don't let them scare you."

Fishlegs nods.

Just then, they feel the boat rock violently. Voices above them grow louder as men shout orders to each other.

"Sounds like we've landed..." Hiccup says.

They all flinch as the small trap door above them is thrown open and light pours in. A set of boots clunks down the steps, revealing it to be Savage.

He smirks at them. "Welcome to Outcast Island, everybody. I'm sure you'll enjoy you're stay here..." With that, he steps aside and more men walk below deck to carry them outside. One of them gets close to Hiccup, causing Toothless to snarl furiously.

"It's okay, bud." Hiccup assures him. "We'll get out of here."

Toothless whimpers but doesn't growl anymore. He watches with a worried expression as Hiccup is roughly yanked to his feet and shoved toward the stairs.

"Where are you taking us?" Astrid demands in a surprisingly confident voice.

Savage glares at her. "Prison for you and the dragons."

"And Hiccup?"

He smirks. "Alvin wants that to be a...surprise. We've been working awfully hard on his accommodations."

Hiccup swallows. What is that supposed to mean?

Berk's Great Hall is lit with the warm, golden glow of multiple torches that line the walls. Inside, several vikings are eating their supper and chatting, light-heartedly. Among them are Ruffnut and Tuffnut who, as usual, are arguing about something.

"Nuh-uh!" Tuffnut crosses his arms and turns away from his sister.

"Yeah-huh!" Ruffnut smacks him on the back of the head until he turns to face her again.

"I said nuh-uh!"

"I said yeah-huh!"

"And makes you think you're right?"

"I'm always right!"

"You are...?" Tuffnut frowns, trying to think of whether that's true or if he's been tricked. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Oh...okay, I guess you're right then."

"Ruffnut, Tuffnut." The voice belongs to Stoick, who has just entered the two massive doors at the front of the room.

"Oh, hey sir." Tuffnut says, kicking his feet onto the top of the table. "How's the chief-ing going?"

Stoick shakes his head, his arms folded over his chest. "Have you seen Hiccup today?"

"No, not today. Why?" Tuff answers.

"Hmm, I'm getting worried. He left this morning and said he's be home by nightfall...he's not back yet."

"Oh! Do you think he crashed again?" Ruff asks, getting excited at the thought of more destruction. "Or maybe they got attacked!?"

"Or both!" Tuff offers.

"I like the way you think, brother!"

"Yeah, me too."

Stoick sighs in frustration. "Well do you know where they went?"

"Nah, but I did see Fishlegs talking to Snotlout this morning...if that helps."

Stoick nods. "It does. Thank you."

They watch Stoick as he leaves before turning to each other. "You want to go tip some yaks?"

"Heck yeah!"

"Aw, who's a good Monstrous Nightmare? You are!" Snotlout whispers as he affectionately rubs his dragon's belly. "Hookfang, Hookfang! Oi! Oi! Oi!"

Hookfang purrs, contently.

"Snotlout!" Stoick calls as he approaches the boy's home. "Are you here?"

"Huh?" The teen jumps to his feet and steps away from Hookfang. "Uh, yeah! Back here, sir!" He calls.

Stoick rounds the corner and looks, suspiciously, at Hookfang and Snotlout. "Have you seen my son today?"

"Huh? Nope! Not today." Snotlout says.

"Tuffnut said he saw you talking with Fishlegs this morning. What did he say?"

"Um, that they were going to Dragon Island or something...for training I guess. But it sounded boring so we didn't go." Just then, Hookfang stands up and nudges his Rider's back. Snotloud waves him away and turns back to Stoick, laughing nervously. "I-I don't know why he gets like that sometimes! Haha..."

"Dragon Island...?" Stoick mutters, ignorning Snotlout now.

"Um, if you don't mind me asking me, why? Aren't they back yet?"

"No and I'm starting to get worried. That wind storm that blew through here today was pretty harsh..."

"You don't think they could have crashed again, do you?"

"I don't know." Stoick mutters as he begins to walk away. "But I'm going to find out."

"Huh? Are you going to Dragon Island?" Snotlout calls after him.

"Yes."

"O-okay! Hookfang and I will come too!"

"Good, bring the twins as well. We might need all the help we can get if something has gone wrong."

"Yes sir!"

Hiccup grunts as he's shoved forward onto the docks. Astrid and Fishlegs are right behind him, followed by the dragons. Alvin is already standing on the shore, smiling at them.

"Take the dragons to the arena and keep an eye on them." He says to the men who are struggling to pull Toothless, Stormfly and Meatlug. "Don't let them escape."

"Yes sir."

"The other two kids can be sent to the cells." He smirks. "You know where to send the Dragon Conqueror..."

Hiccup frowns at him but doesn't try to fight back, much to Alvin's pleasure. Perhaps this brat has finally learned his lesson. Although he doubts it.

As all of us friends are led away from him, Hiccup lowers his gaze to the ground. An angry scowl on his face, especially when he hears the sad whimper that comes from Toothless. Don't worry, bud. We won't be here for long. I'll figure something out.

Astrid growls something under her breath to the men who are leading her away. Then, with one violent thrash, she manages to break free for a moment. She uses that time to turn and face Hiccup. "Remember what I told you!" She barks.

He nods, a determine glint in his eye. "I know."

With that, Astrid is grabbed again and shoved in the opposite direction. She hisses something else inaudible that makes the guards look at each other in shock and go red in the face.

Hiccup can't help but wonder what it was that she said. But his curiosity is cut short when Savage grabs him by the back of his tunic and pushes him forward. "Keep moving, boy. The sooner we get there, the sooner you can start training dragons..."

"Words cannot describe my excitement..." Hiccup grumbles, sarcastically.

"Nor mine." Alvin agrees, wearing a vicious smile.

The look on his enemy's face makes Hiccup gulp and lower his gaze. I have a feeling this isn't going to go well for me...