AN: A new chapter for you guys. It is hot out of the oven and ready to be read. I'm glad to see you all are enjoying the story so far. Please review as it gives me further motivation.

This chapter is also not beta'd.

In the meantime, enjoy the show.

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And here we go.

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OF BOWS AND DRAGONS

Chapter 13: Riders on the Storm

Merida woke up with a start to a new burning smell. Her dreams were full of the faces of her recent kills and brimstone. The smell in her waking hours gave her chills. She was comforted and frightened by the fact she was still in the cave from the night before. The fire before her was nearly burned out making the scent she detected coming from outside the cave area.

A shuffling noise from the gravel outside the cave had her scrambling for her bow which was nowhere to be found. Neither was Hiccup. On instinct, Merida drew a dagger from Hiccup's discarded armor and took a defensive stance. Despite the events of yesterday she was prepared to fight.

Hiccup rounded the corner into the seaside cave to see Merida up and ready to fight. "I know I haven't been the best of hosts, but this is just ridiculous," he remarked weakly. Merida released the breath she had been holding and sat back onto the ground after being handed her bow and quiver. "How are you feeling?

Merida shrugged her shoulders. "I'm fine."

"No you're not. I know that look. From experience." He sat down across the fire from her. "You're burning up inside and both of us know it."

"How would you know?" Venom filled her voice. She wanted nothing more than to talk about something else.

"I was fifteen at the time. Almost sixteen. Our village was attacked. It… it started a war." Hiccup rubbed his chin. "I know exactly what you're going through princess."

"So?"

Hiccup took the dagger from Merida and set the blade in the fire with the handle sticking out. "You'll need to talk about it. I'm just saying if, when, you need to talk I'm here. Don't hold it in."

She gave the young man a small smile, then eagerly changed the topic. "What are you up to with that dagger?"

The Chief of Berk grimaced. "The bleeding still hasn't stopped fully. I have to sew them shut…. Or cauterize the wounds."

"That sounds unpleasant."

"It will be. Why don't you find us some food? You're the only one in any shape to do so." Merida nodded and strapped on her quiver and prepared to leave. "Stay out of sight. The Viking tribe is around the far end of the island but it doesn't mean they don't wander away from it."

Once he was sure the princess was far enough away from the cave, Hiccup prepared to seal his wounds. There wasn't anything he could use as a suture in his bags. This left him with the option to cauterize. Lovely. Good thing I started heating the dagger, he thought dryly. He set to work undressing his wounds. The dragon on the far side of the cave lazily glanced at the sight. He wished he could help but in his current state he'd do more harm than good. Toothless would end up destroying Hiccup rather than helping him.

Hiccup gagged himself and tried to gather his resolve. Taking the hot iron from the fire, he pressed it into the first two of the four holes his leg. The interior of the thigh is a sensitive area. Pressing a red-hot dagger into it is nothing short of pure agony. It took twenty seconds to sufficiently seal the wounds on the interior of the leg shut. The gag muffled his screams. Sweat poured from his brow and tears leaked from his eyes. His breaths came in short bursts. He put the knife back into the fire and he leaned back against the rock.

Toothless gave his human a huff of anger and sympathy. He hated seeing Hiccup in pain. Struggling to his feet, the dragon stumbled over to his friend and laid down by his side. The young human gave a nod of thanks to his partner and moved to do the less sensitive side of the thigh. He took a deep breath. Then, without hesitation he pressed the dagger into his flesh.

-_-With Merida-_-

Not far into the interior of the island, Merida was tracking rabbits through underbrush. It was a slow moving trek through the harsh terrain made dangerous by the threat of more Vikings. She would have argued to stay in the cave and help Hiccup but her hunger was growing steadily. Not to mention the storm on the horizon, she thought to herself as she watched the storm cloud rumble towards her.

The tracks of the rabbits were converging on a single location. The warren. Hopefully enough meat for all three of them laid inside. It took nearly an hour to set up the trap that would draw the small creatures from their home. The appetizing greenery was hanging directly in front of the opening and she sat in the shadows with her bow ready. She had several arrows ready and lined up and ready to fire.

It didn't take long for the bait to draw attention. In a few minutes, four rabbits of healthy size emerged and began to nibble on the delicious morsels. Merida took careful aim prepared to fire. She felt sweats breakout on her hands and brow. The images from the day before flashed through her mind as her arm began to shake. All she could think of was the blood showering onto her face.

She slowly released the tension in the bow and sat back. Her head rested on her knee as she cried silently. Through all of the tears and despair, a single picture shone her mind. It was of a one legged man and his dragon bleeding in a cave. Taking a deep breath, she cleared her head and picked up the bow again. People are counting on you. Those rabbit will save a village. Quickly, she fired four arrows and killed all four of the rabbits.

Grabbing the game she ignored the blood and rushed back to the cave. She hoped to reach the cave before the storm raised hell on the island.

The trek back was downhill and much easier. She slid into the cave in time for the heavens to open and unleash a storm of celestial proportion. Before her was a bit of a sight. Hiccup lay against his dragon, both of them fast asleep. Hiccup's leg was propped up and re-bandaged in a clean, bandage. The fire which had started to die out when she had left was steadily burning and near it was a pile of dry wood. In the pot from the supply bag was full of what looked like fresh water. Hiccup had been busy.

Merida decided to set to work cleaning and cooking her trophies from her hunt. I didn't take long. She may be a princess but she had spent her fair share of time with her father after a hunt. With practiced hands, she made quick work of them and set to cooking.

The smell of cooking meat woke Hiccup from his usual nightmares. It was a pleasant scent to wake up to, given their current situation.

"Good evening, lad. Pleasant dreams?" asked Merida looking up from her cooking.

"Uh, not usually, no." Hiccup sat up and rubbed the bandage on his head. "So, I take it that the hunting trip went well?"

"No, I decided use my mystic powers to create rabbit out of thin air."

Hiccup put his hands up in defense. "Whoa, so sassy."

That evening's chef rolled her eyes. "Well, if that's how you feel there will be more rabbit for me and Toothless."

"Awwww, and here I thought our relationship called for more humor."

"Relationship? Ain't that moving a bit fast there, lad? I haven't even seen your village yet," said Merida slyly with a raised eyebrow.

Hiccup's face flushed crimson. "I- uh… uh… I- I didn't… mean-" The fearless Viking warrior's stammering was cut off by hearty laughter from his female companion. "You like to mess with my head, don't you?"

"It is an easy source of entertainment," said Merida with a massive smirk on her face. The smirk fell shortly after and her eyes fell onto the bandages on her friends leg. "Look, Hiccup. I'm sorry that my reaction got you and Toothless hurt."

"Don't worry about it. We're Vikings. It's an occupational hazard." Hiccup flashed her a smile. "Besides I probably could've picked a better time and to let you know." Merida nodded glumly. "It doesn't matter anyway, that term only applied if you gave your permission. Berk will not be participating in the games."

Merida stared in shock. That was not what she had expected at all. All that did was increase her guilt. She shook her head to clear it, eager to change the subject. "So when can we get off this island?"

Hiccup scratched Toothless' chin. "A few days. Minimum. Toothless is in no shape to fly right now. Not to this storm. We aren't leaving anytime soon."

_-_Two Days Later, Off the Coast_-_

The storm had been raging for two days, following the small ship from its dock. The ship rocked up and down and pitched side to side as the waves battered the boat. This had been the constant motion for the day and a half they'd been at sea. The trip would have gone quicker had the storm not been battering them.

The occupants had been sent to find out what had happened to the black dragon and his rider that had been reportedly shot down. The trading ships had been passing by and when they saw what happened they made a bee-line for the village. After all, how many villages had an infamous rider of a black dragon?

These riders of Berk and their dragons were sent immediately as the news reached Valka's ears. There were three pairs sent with the boat: Astrid Hofferson and her deadly nadder, Stormfly, Snotlout Jorgenson and his monsterous nitghmare, Hookfang, and finally Fishlegs Ingerman and his gronkle, Meatlug. They hadn't needed to be appointed to go on this mission. All three had volunteered. Valka's missive was clear, "Bring me my son. Bring us our salvation."

Currently the dragons had been sent below deck to get them out of the rain and have them dry in case they needed fire. Astrid stood at the bow with her hood up, looking out for obstactles and their target: the Isle of Bjorn. If Hiccup was returning with news of a place that could actually support the village, they needed to find him. Meanwhile, Fishlegs controlled the sails and Snotlout guided the rudder. If they all hadn't been trained as sailors since they could walk, this would be difficult work. Still, if they could find land soon then everyone would appreciate the break.

"Astrid!" yelled Snotlout over the storm. "Any sign of land yet?!"

Astrid started to turn to tell the young man that there was no sign yet. However, before she could turn fully, she spied a glow to her right. It was almost invisible with the storm raging around her.

"ASTRID! Do you see anything?!"

Astrid pointed at the glow. "Starboard! Over there!"

Snotlout nodded and steered the rudder into the direction of his friend's finger. "Fishlegs! Tighten up the sails! We don't need to smash on the rocks!"

AN: Rescue in the form of dragon riders is just a beach landing away.

Next Chapter 14: Homecoming.

Review and let us know what you think of the story so far.

War and Peace,

-RedHoodandtheOutlaws