He sat behind a boulder, the wind gently whistling between the trees. The airship lay in a small cave, big enough to fit the small ship but small enough to not draw attention, mainly because it was covered in foliage. He had a perfect view of the main island, the inside being like a small archipelago. Once you where through the rock filled mazes, where deadly, unexpected gusts of winds could slam your ship and balloon against the sharp rock walls, you would arrive in a lush and rich opening, about the size of a large town, where small islands dotted the water. It was calm here, small creeks and rivers originating from the rock-filled mountains around them. Bright blue waterfalls cascaded down the sides of the stone, ending either in the sea or in small, fresh puddles and lakes. They sure had picked out a place for a meeting.

He had made a crude map of the area, the insides of Fenrir's Teeth were never documented. Since the strong winds between the rocks had cost many airships, and the deadly currents had cost the lives of many small boats, since large ships wouldn't fit. Luckily for him he had a small craft, meaning that he could slip through one of the holes on the rocky ceiling, where large craft wouldn't fit through.

He was checking the area with his binoculars, they had to arrive some time now. He kept checking the large holes in the rocks, where airships could, if they had an experienced pilot, fly into the central area. They had to arrive, they just had to. He promised, he said he understood his need. The need to see her again. Every time he thought about packing up and leaving he thought about her, there was a chance he was going to see her, that he could finally see her again. But as the feeling of hope rose, it also feel with a different thought. Was he betrayed? Was the deal nothing but a false promise made by a privateer? A pirate?

His hope rose and fell like the tide of the sea, inevitable and constant. He felt hope and he felt betrayal, both flowing freely through his mind like the wind would through the sky.

But he knew he wasn't betrayed when he saw a familiar airship arise form one of the openings. With four dragons swarming it.

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Hicca did the best she could, they had made this trip one time before and almost crashed their ship against the rock walls. But they were almost in the clear. Her crew stood at each end of the ship. Sithera stood at the left side, now resting for she was far away from the wall. Brynn stood at the right, yelling the distance from the rocky side. Ray was on the top of the airship. At the last possible moment he would throw a rope to one of the dragons, which would grab it with either their mouths or their claws. Ready to pull the ship away from danger.

They finally made it out of the passage, the wind drastically decreasing as they entered the large opening. They picked out one of the islands in the centre of the opening, where a small piece of grassland would be enough for them to land. Hicca steered the ship towards it, descending slowly so that they could lay anchor there. Thick ropes with large, self-expanding hooks on the end were thrown into the trees, where they got stuck behind branches and roots. Once safely secured they were greeted by friends. Apparently the sub had arrived before them, and was waiting in the shallow water.

"Greetings mates!" Marcus called out. "It's good to see that you made it again!" "Sorry to disappoint Marc!" Hicca called out as she slid down one of the ropes that kept the airship in place. "It'll take more than a bit of wind to take us down." "I can believe that." Marcus said with a chuckle.

Brynn threw a rope ladder down the side of the ship before climbing down herself. It really wasn't necessary to get down, but it would be useful to get back onto the ship. The rest of the crew soon followed.

It didn't take long for the small destroyed to arrive, towing an amphibious aircraft, which was safely secured behind the ship. Thuggory stood on the deck. "Ahoy mates!" He said as the ship came to a halt and the anchor was lowered. "How are you all?" They lowered a plank onto a rock that stood next to the water, so that it was somewhat levelled. "Thuggory!" Hicca greeted the captain. "Good to see you."

The silence in the opening was cut off by plane engines as the amphibious plane slid up the beach. From it, the two crew and their dog emerging. Their dragons landing a bit further on the island, directly finding friendship with the other ones. "It does looks like everyone is here doesn't it?" Hicca said as she found as tree stump to stand on.

The introduction was pretty much the same as last time. It was good to have some form of organization in your plans. Since most of them would be eighty percent improvisations. They only new ones to introduce were Thuggory, captain of the new addition to their fleet; Max the mute, a close friend of Thuggory and his first mate; Katie, their first gunner. Since their destroyed had quite a crew they didn't take time to introduce everyone.

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He was peering through the powerful spyglass, scanning the crowd. He couldn't find her, he saw some females with brown hair, but if they glanced in his general direction he could quickly see that they weren't Hicca. He kept scanning as they formed a group, their leader, the same one legged, leather clad person that had been on their ship with a Nightfury, standing on a stump to address them all.

He had spotted his contact, so it had to be true. Sadly enough that was the only lead that he had. He kept searching, even as the group stopped their meeting and started to build sites for campfires for when the temperature dropped. The sun shone through the holes in the stone and foliage roof, ending straight upon him. He had lays the spyglass down and was now just staring at the arrangements of ships, men and women.

A glint caught his eye, and he grabbed the spyglass to look for the origin of it. The stump where the leader had stood on was now occupied by his contact, sharpening a weapon and looking his way. Always on the lookout. The weapon moved again, shining his way. Gobber quickly grabbed a dagger he kept on him and used it to reflect light back when the rest of the privateers weren't looking.

His informant nodded, then shone the reflection to him, before shaking his head slowly, and shining twice. Gobber understood the message and shone back two times, indicating that he hadn't seen or recognized her.

The contact caught the glimpse and looked away, taking care of his weapons again.

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The different crews functioned as one, playing instruments and singing 'Take to the skies'. They had been drinking and feasting, except for a few who kept guard. They had decided in earlier discussion that the island would function as a base of operations. Nothing too big, just a few docks made for different craft and a few houses for the crew. Since ship bunks and hammocks weren't comfortable after a month.

Hicca was sitting on a log near one of the fires, where the sober and calmer people sat. Through the heat she could feel the drops of sweat build up on the inside of her helmet. Which she had on for most of the day now. But she was on guard duty so she decided to keep it on for a bit.

Ray sat down next to her. "Sure is something, isn't it?" "It never ceases to amaze me." Hicca said as she flung a rock into the water. "Do you ever have regrets?" Ray asked as he took a sip from the mead that he had gotten from Toby, something he savoured every drop off. With these people, sober meant 'not as drunk as the rest'. "You know, miss anyone, homesickness?" "Not really." Hicca began. "My dad was an ass about me taking over the island, and the only one who was nice to me was Gobber."

"That was the one handed man, right?" Ray asked for confirmation. "Aye, one handed and one legged." Hicca answered with a chuckle. "And there was the stupid crush I had on Aster." "That's the blond guy who punches a lot, right?" Ray asked for confirmation again, not wanting to mistake him for anyone else that he met. "Again, aye." She answered. "But he's nice if you get to know him."

"I bet." Ray said as he looked at the ground sadly. "Once you get to know someone they are all nicer." "Definitely." Hicca said as she flung another rock towards the water, which skipped 2 times before sinking in the sea. "And you?" "Wha?" Ray asked as he took a sip from his drink. "Do you ever have regrets?" Hicca asked more clearly. "Anything you've whished you'd done differently." "I've had one," He said calmly. "I wish I could have stopped what happened to, you know, my folks." He said calmly. "That and I would have taken more mead from Toby." He said a bit more jovially, hoping to lighten the sad mood.

"I bet you would like that ey?" She responded with a giggle. "But besides our mistakes, our lives are amazing, aren't they?" "They sure are." Ray responded. "What's more to wish then an adventurous life, filled with fighting, exploring, near death experiences, girlfriends with short tempers." He quickly looked back to see if Brynn was near to hear the last statement, which earned a laugh from Hicca. "Aye, what could I wish that I don't have?" She said. "A ship that moves at my commands, a partner that flies faster than anything else and a crew that's like a family, supportive and loyal." "Loyal." Ray slowly repeated. "To loyalty!" He said as he raised his bottle to toast, making it meet Hicca's halfway in the air. "To loyalty." Hicca replied as she took a flicked her helmet upwards and took a sip.

"Care to go for a walk?" Ray suddenly said as he stood up. "Come, let's walk a bit." "Sure." Hicca said as she checked with the other 'sober' people, before following Ray.

They walked a through the woods, carrying an oil lamp for light as they moved through the thick foliage. They passed a few parts where the water was low enough to walk through and eventually reached an island on the far side of the island. "Why did you want to walk anyway?" Hicca asked. "Mapping is more easy when it's day right?" "I want to bring something to your attention capt'n." He said as he stopped walking and hung the lantern from a tree.

Hicca grew curious by this request, she was pretty certain that she knew everything that went on inside their little operation. But apparently not. Maybe he and Brynn wanted a day off, or they found a new, better airship. But what would require such a distance from the group.

"What did you want to tell me?" Hicca asked, she had full trust in her crew so she knew this would be important. "Treason capt'n." Ray said. Hicca stood shocked. Treason had been unheard off so far, and she had hoped to keep it that way. Ray grabbed his dagger and rifle, having left his halberd and pistol back at the camp. This caused Hicca to grow a bit frightened, she did have inferno with her, but this was the perfect moment for an ambush.

She slowly moved her hand to her hip, where inferno was safely strapped to her leg. "Who's?" She asked slowly, readying herself for the worst. Ray dropped his weapons and satchel to the ground and lifted his hands above his head.

"Mine."

AN:

MUHAHAHAHA, I really like cliff-hangers, for as bad and predictable as they might be, did you notice?

Anyway here it is! Another chapter. I hope everyone enjoys the story and I am still planning to write a lot more. I'm also beginning with a new story soon, it will be probably be called 'Nothing is true, everything is permitted'. An AU about Hiccup becoming an assassin after leaving Berk and then returning to the archipelago.

Anyway, I hope everyone enjoys the story. If you have OC's or ideas for me to add, please do tell.

You can put them in the reviews or PM them to me, that way it stays a surprise for the other readers.

Take care!

R4y