Authors Note: Hello pups! This chapter isn't my favorite but its better than nothing, right? ;)
Thanks for your support guys! You are SO AMAZING! I'll do shout outs next chapter. ;) 'Cause your all awesome.
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Sorry for any grammar/spelling errors.
WARNING: Mentions of blood (nothing to graphic though).
Chapter 6: Berk At War
Hiccup,
An awkward silence flutters through the air after Astrid finishes her sentence. I greatly desire to flee and hide under a blanket for a while but the stubborn streak running through me prevents me from doing that. I study Astrid's face instead.
She's watching me as well but it's not a my-eyes-are-boring-into-your-soul kind of stare. I...don't know for sure what it is but it doesn't make me uncomfortable. After a few seconds I realize what seems so off about her appearance. She changed her hair. It's usually swept back away from her face and out of the way but it's currently in a side braid pulled over her left shoulder.
And a hood, she's dressed for colder weather, like most sane people would be at this time of year, I myself did grab a thicker jacket before running off to the forge earlier this morning. "You changed your hair." I say quietly and her free hand flies up to it as if in surprise before fingering the braid. She nods.
"Yeah, we had an...incident with one of the islands we searched and I lost a good portion of it." She says and shakes her head slightly a small smile on her lips as she recalls a memory I wasn't present in. I move my hand forward and slow grab Inferno tucking it onto the straps on my leg I made a few hours ago.
"You finished the prototype." She states gesturing in Inferno's general direction. I nod.
"Yeah. It took a few tries." I admit.
"It blew up in your face, didn't it?" Astrid asks with a hint of humor. I open my mouth to argue before slowly closing it. It did. Not a bad explosion per say, but one nonetheless. Astrid laughs and I look up at her in surprise. It's been so long since I've heard her laugh.
A small smile spreads across my face, "Not too badly." I smirk and she laughs again before giving my hand, still clutched in her grip, a small squeeze. Her laughter dies as she stares me in the eyes. "Thor I've missed you, Hiccup." She whispers her tone dropping to a dead serious whisper. I meet her eyes. I've missed her too. A lot, actually.
I open my mouth to answer her but am stopped dead as a horn blows in the distance. I jerk forward my position jumping to alert. Astrid's eyes widen. That wasn't any horn, it was the war horn. Berk is under attack.
From who?
I leap to my feet and offer a hand to Astrid, she stares at it for a second before taking it and I help to her to her feet trying to look beyond the arena, Thor, why did we have to put in one of the worst positions for finding Berk? I race towards Toothless, "C'mon bud." I say and he nods. I swing onto his neck as Astrid jumps onto Stormfly.
I glance at her before urging Toothless forward silently.
The Night Fury races forward and leaps into the air, I duck as he dives through the doors to the old Dragon Academy and into the open air. Stormfly is close behind us.
"What do you think it is?" Astrid demands her dragon gliding up next to me and Toothless.
I shake my head, "I don't know."
I don't. Berserk is our alley, so is are the Outcasts and we haven't really butted heads with any of the other islands beyond the Meatheads but I really don't think they would attack us. The horn blows again, more urgent. The weather is cold, but as we dive around the rocks to stare at the island my heart sinks a cold feeling running through me.
I want to find the nearest bed and curl up in a blanket then have a good hearty cry.
Or run.
Hide.
Scream.
The island is starting to smoke, as the Vikings pour across the streets. But familiar, too familiar.
Tijikes.
Jink is attacking Berk.
No, no, no, no, no, no!
NO!
I grit my teeth and suck in a sharp breath as Astrid gasps, "T-that's the simple you had on your des-"
"I know!" I interrupt in a low hiss looking back at her sharply. She turns grabbing to grab something from off her saddle but it isn't there. I hardly give it a second thought.
"Let's find your dad!" She says and I nod looking around at the smoke rising up. How did they get here so fast!? Me and Toothless flew around the island...in the other direction. It's been days, it wouldn't have taken that much time to get here. A breath of frustration pumps through me as I look down at my island. Jink was overstepping a line when he took interest in Toothless but this...this is overstepping, snapping and dancing on it. I'm going to kill him. With my bare hands.
"Uh, I hate to be the voice of doom at this moment of...well doom but we have a problem." Tuffnut declares as he and his sister fly up towards them. Smoke is rising upwards in heavy gusts, the sky, though it's the morning looks like late night. Me and Astrid had been so busy with our duel we completely missed it.
"Like a large problem." Ruffnut declares ducking as an arrow sails over her head.
"What is it?" I demand scanning around the village. I spot my father near the Great Hall, he Gobber and my uncle are near him taking out the Tijikes with ease. A woman races towards him bearing a double sided sword and I still. Hitisha. The woman takes black heart to a new level.
"The fires." Tuffnut says pointing behind him. I lift my gaze from the battling duo to the outskirts of Berk. "Whoever these guys are they are thural. They set Berk on fire, and I don't just mean the village, they set the entire island on fire." Tuffnut says.
Fishlegs and Snotlout fly up towards us, "It's bad, they're circling us with the flames, burning the island from the outside in." Fishlegs reports.
"Please tell me you have a plan." Snotlout pleads. Panic wraps around the fear settling in my chest and I force a deep breath. Plan? I have no plans!? I haven't even really processed the fact that this is actually happening yet.
"Jink wouldn't put himself in the middle of the battl-" I start to think aloud but am stopped at the chorus of four confused voices: "Jink?" Snotlout, the twins, and Fishlegs echo.
"The chief." I answer distractedly. My brain is spinning. Jink isn't a man to throw himself into the middle of the action, he likes to pull out his prey then hunt them to death. He'd be with more men, setting the fires in the northern forest...I think.
I hope.
"Wait, you know these guys?" Snotlout screeches as Astrid sucks in a sharp breath. I look up at him a sharp answer of "no" on my lips but I stop. Why am I lying? They should know the truth. I...trust them. Every single one of them despite how much my brain is screaming at me to not.
"...It's the island that captured me and Toothless." I answer quietly after a moment. There's silence for a moment before Ruffnut and Tuffnut break into a chorus of angry threats.
"I'm going to strangle every single one of their necks and-" Ruffnut starts.
"I'll use every choke hold I can find, the Outcast choke hold, the Berserker choke hold-any choke hold that isn't there's!" Tuffnut cries.
"-with an axe and-" Snotlout starts.
The chorus of threats grow more deadly and painful as they do. Not helping, not helping, not helping, not helping, not- "GUYS!" I cry in frustration and they stop looking at me, "That won't help-"
"Bro, I saw the injuries they did to both of you." Ruffnut says darkly her voice gaining a new edge that isn't heard often. When? The only person I let see them was my dad and Gothi...the cove. When Toothless and I fell asleep in the cove they must've seen something. I shake my head.
"You can avenge us later, right now we need to get to the forest and stop Jink from burning everything to the ground." I say and they look at me before nodding slowly. Toothless dives forward the other riders following quickly.
"What about your dad?" Astrid yells towards me.
I glance back at him watching him tackle Hitisha. "He's doing fine, come on!"
We make it to the outskirts of the forest before a dozen plus screams rip through the air. I twist around in the saddle the dragons stopping in shock. Boulders smash against the ground and the Berkians on their dragons fighting in air are hit. Distaste for Jink settles in me. He did this.
"Ruff, Tuff, Fishlegs Snotlout go help the others. Astrid and I will take care of Jink!" I shout and they nod Ruffnut giving me a small salute.
"You got it boss!" She calls.
"FIRE IN THE HOLE!" Tuffnut cries.
"Snotlout, Snotlout Oi! Oi! Oi!"
Stormfly and Toothless dive towards the forest leaving the village behind. Smoke is rising heavily here, it's impossible to see anything less than two inches from your face. I purse my lips tightly trying to calm the unease settling in my stomach. Fire. It had to be fire.
No more fire, please.
Astrid looks over at me, "What are we looking for?" She demands.
"A troll." I answer without really thinking.
"Hiccup."
"Think my dad but slightly smaller and blond." I correct and squeeze my eyes shut, "The edges of his hair are silver. He has this weird spiky thing he wears on his left shoulder." I explain in one breath.
"Got it." Astrid says with a firm nod.
I scan around us trying to see through the smoke but failing. Where would he be? He has to be around here somewhere. I don't know where else to look for him.
"You got a phobia of fire?...We can change that, don't you agree?" Fire. He set the island on fire. The one thing he desperately tried to break me with.
I release a shaky breath, "Hiccup, look out!" Astrid's voice suddenly screams snapping me from my thoughts. My senses jump upwards but I can't see anything, for what!? What's coming towards us, what is it!? Toothless jerks down, heading for a dive as something smacks around my ribs and chest pulling me into the saddle. Toothless's wings jerk inwards what I'm sure is painful or in the least highly uncomfortable as the net takes hold.
Pain racks through my rips, face shoulders and I feel myself jerk from the saddle. "HICCUP!" The voice is blurry and sounds more like "pick up!" than my name. Panic overtakes the pain and my fingers scramble for the dagger I wear at my belt. I rip it from within the leathers grasp and attempt to cut the ropes on us.
The sharp edge slices across my hand and I hiss through my teeth before Toothless smacks into the ground. We skid several feet and I let out a groan as Toothless struggles in the ropes around us. I bite my tongue and glance at the gash on my hand before looking around for the dagger. It's not here.
Crossbows lock and I pause scanning around us. It's a clearing, with more than a dozen, maybe two dozen men all armed to the teeth. The fire is roaring around us but a snow is starting to fall softly dimming the fire's effect. "Well, well, well," A nasally voice declares that makes my blood run cold.
Toothless stiffens beside me.
Jink.
The voice has haunted my memories for days. "You two really are a sight for sore eyes." Jink laughs and my fingers scramble down before I grasp Inferno and pull the weapon off my leg snapping the blade outwards. The fire lights instantly and I snap the blade down on the ropes, they snap immediately and Toothless and I leap to our feet in near sync.
I hold the blade out towards him.
Toothless moves in front of me hissing angrily, a threatening growl a take-one-more-step-forward-and-I'll-blast-you-to-valhalla snarl.
Jink laughs.
"Ah, cute."
"S-stay back!" I command waving Inferno threatening. I inwardly curse at the stutter that slips into my voice. Yes, he's very intimidated of you. Shut it.
Jink rolls his eyes. "You don't scare me boy." He says and Toothless snarls. Jink's eyebrows shoot up in slight surprise. "Ah, you on the other hand." He says looking Toothless in the eyes. Toothless growls in warning his back arching slightly as with a quick movement he sweeps his tail around my legs. I point Inferno out towards Jink.
"Stop." I command my voice shaking and seeming terribly small.
Jink halts, a snicker building up in his throat, "Hmm, let's see, I ah," he lifts his hand up and with a quick movement backhands me across the face. Inferno flies from my grip landing a few feet away, the blade diving back into the hilt. Toothless roars in anger as I stumble backwards my vision fuzzy. "Don't follow orders very well."
Toothless looks back at me for a second and I can see the confliction playing in his eyes. Jink waves his hand and a rally of bolas fly from the men's' grip wrapping around Toothless, barely missing me. "No!" I protest and sit up grabbing one of the ropes and tugging on it.
"Take him." Jink says with an almost bored wave of his hand.
My upper arms are jerked back as I'm pulled roughly to my feet. I struggle in his grip trying to get to Toothless. I have to. I can't let Jink take him again. I won't. No. No. No!
Jink walks forward towards Toothless's struggling form and runs a hand along the Night Fury's neck, "Be still." He whispers and my eyes widen with horror as his fingers slip into the spot under Toothless's chin and the dragon goes limp, unconsciousness taking him. How does he know about that-Thor doe sit matter now? He can take Toothless easily. I'm not much of a resistance.
No! No! No!
"Oh, don't be so morose, child." Jink says looking at me with a roll of his eyes. Frustration boils through me before it's quickly replaced again by panic. Raw, fierce never dying panic.
"No! Please! Let him go, take me!" I plead struggling against my captor's grip. My tired muscles protest but the panic racing through me overshadows it. I can't let them take Toothless. No! I may not have been able to protect him a few months ago but I have to this time. I will.
I have to.
"Nah," Jink says and smiles striding towards me, "You know what your problem is, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the third, son of Stoick the Vast heir of Berk?" Jink says throwing the title out with complete and utter mockery. I glower at him darkly. "You're always getting in everyone's way. I have to say it's annoying. You're a bird fluttering around without any wings." Jink says and a wry smile spreads across his lips.
My heart sinks.
"Wings." I repeat dubiously. Toothless. Toothless is my wings, my other half-oh Thor I can't let Jink take him! I struggle harder my jerks forcing the man gripping me to strengthen his hold. Jink waves his hand and a handful of men race forward grabbing the bola's wrapped around Toothless. I snarl and Jink looks at me in amusement.
"Yes. You're not as dumb as you look!" Jink praises. "You stopped me from taking your mighty Night Fury, stopped me from conquering him and now, you've stopped me from taking him again. Truthfully, I didn't plan on killing you."
I freeze the blood rushing from my face.
Kill?
Jink moves forward his stride powerful and grips my shoulder with bone shattering grip. My color bone groans in protest. The man behind me releases my upper arms and I struggle in Jink's grip. Jink smiles pulling a dagger from his belt with his other hand. I freeze, meeting the taller mans eyes.
"You're so very broken, but I'll tell you what: I like broken things, it's fun to see how much more you can get them to shatter again." Jink says and smirks with satisfaction. Broken, shatter again. "This," Jink says all humor slipping from his deep, thick accented voice, "is over, Hiccup Haddock." Jink shoves the blade through my chest to the hilt and my mouth opens in a voiceless scream agony washing over me, pulsing, aching, burning, killing... My vision dims my muscles twitching everything screaming. My breath escapes in a huff of unvoiced agony, I can't breathe, Thor, I can't breathe! Jink leans forward his foul breath pouring over me as he whispers one word victoriously, "Checkmate."
Jink releases my shoulder and laughs turning around yelling something at his men. My legs crumple beneath me and my body hits the ground but I hardly feel it everything is murky. My eyes slip shut as I let out a groan curling in on myself. Toothless. Hiccup Horrendous Haddock get up, Toothless needs you.
I move my hand away from the bleeding wound and press my fingers into the dirt attempting to shove my way to my feet. I make I about an inch before my breathless body gives up. I can hear my heartbeat slowing in my ears. Oh Thor, this is it. I'm dying.
Toothless will have no one.
Stand up! Stand up! Stand up, stand up, stand up!
My muscles don't move. Everything is slowing, distantly I can see through my hazy vision Toothless being dragged off. My hand lifts weakly in protest but not enough to do anything. No! No! No! Please no! My consciousness fades and I squeeze my hands against the wound my vision going black.
"To..tooth..." My eyes slip shut.
Authors Note: *Wrings hands* I'm gonna say nothing...
