After they walked some more, I suddenly saw them stop as Heather pulled out a map and Ingrid pointed a spot on it. Both of them looked like they were arguing with the bald man.

He looked taller than the others and was better built comparison to the other hunters. He was wearing a sleeveless olive tunic that was made out of dragon skin… a shoulder pad that I bet was also made from the armor of a dragon, wristbands with the same type of armor as the pad. A leather belt and a dragon skin skirt. Pants that looked like they weren't out of dragon skin and Zippleback boots.

I wanted to rip his head off just for wearing those. How could all of them be so heartless towards dragons? Damn hunter.

Then he pointed towards the mountain and he said something about it but I didn't hear it. He had an accent of some sort and he's voice was gruff and low. They argued some more and then started to move again as, I supposed, Ryker walked forward.

After like an hour of walking it started to snow again. It wasn't so bad now, it would provide us more cover and we could maybe get closer to them.

I almost ran into them when they suddenly stopped. Phantom grabbed me by the tunic and dragged me behind some big ice formations that stood close-by. I looked through a crack in the big ice chunk just to see Ryker get down on one knee near something in the snow. It looked like some footprints. Then he looked up towards something and as he got up he glanced to where I was hiding.

I got away fast from the crack as if it burned me and felt my heart still. What if he saw me or saw our tracks…

Nothing happened though and when there were gasps and growls I inched back to the crack to look through it. I saw Ryker throw himself to the ground as Nadder spines landed near his form, one just a few inches away from his head.

He got up fast and turned towards something, or better said someone. There was a silver tail and I was ready to bet it was Ingrid or Heather.

I couldn't see more and I wasn't sure if it was a good idea to look around the corner so I leaned my back against the ice and waited for something to happen, anything. There were some more roars, growls and shouts but I stayed still in my spot until I heard the hunter shout "Hiccup Haddock! Let's talk this out! Like men!"

I got closer to the corner and looked around and noticed that Heather and Ingrid were outside the cave and I suppose Ryker was inside. I heard a familiar voice but couldn't make out what he was saying.

Then Heather walked in and I heard the metallic sound of the Razorwhip's spikes and Astrid screaming "Hiccup it's a trap!"

There were roars, blasts and the sound of arrows cutting through the air. Heather walked out of the cave, hopped off her dragon and pretended that nothing happened. After some moments Ryker walked out, grabbed her wrist tightly and yanked her forward "I saw that. You did that on purpose" he growled out as she yanked her hand back.

"Of course I did! How many times do Dagur and I have to tell you that Hiccup is more valuable to us alive than dead?!"

He seemed to be thinking a bit while he straightened up and rubbed his scruff "Shoot the cave"

I had heard enough. I couldn't let that happen. I didn't even realize when I pulled out my dagger and ran out of hiding. I punched a hunter hard in the jaw and kicked his shin. He fell down and I heard Phantom roar from behind.

As I ran towards Ryker I let out a battle cry but as he turned around I almost stopped in my tracks. His eyes looked familiar… now that I was staring in them. I shook off the feeling though and as he was about to say something I punched him as hard as I could. He stumbled back a step or two, then looked up at me with a murderous look.

I realized what a big mistake I made as he easily grabbed me by my arm and smashed me against the ice wall behind. I groaned in pain and debated a bit but he wouldn't loosen his grip on my arm. I tried to stab him with the dagger so he would let go of me but he grabbed both my wrists in one bear like hand of his and made me drop the dagger.

He looked at Heather and Ingrid who were staring at me concerned "Have your animals shoot the cave"

Both of them were about to protest but he cut them off "Just do it!"

They did as they were told as I tried to wrestle my way out of Ryker's grip. I debated, kicked in his shin and tried to pull my wrists away but he was like made out of stone. I heard the loud thud the ice made as it fell and sealed the entrance of the cave but that's not what actually got my attention.

A distressed growl came from behind and I saw Phantom lying on the frozen ground with an arrow stuck into his front paw and another in his shoulder.

"Let him!" I yelled as I saw three hunters toss him in a cage and lock him. I was about to try to run to him when Ryker yanked me back a few feet away into the snow and I fell on my back.

I stood up slowly as I tried to look as fierce as I could, even though my limbs ached so as my back.

Ryker walked to me casually and I was about to lunge at him when he pushed me back into the snow and I landed on my ass again.

"I am going to kill you and every single one of those damn hunters" I snarled out as I glared up at him.

The man chuckled heartily "I can put you on your ass just by pushing you and you say you're gonna kill me?" he placed his hands on his hips and kept laughing as his men joined him in.

I got up once again and clenched my fists tightly, but before I could do anything he grabbed my arm firmly and leaned forward "Someone's gonna be happy to see you" he said in half voice.

I wanted to ask what the hell he meant but found myself tossed in a cage "Hey!" I shouted.

"If you so much as make a sound I am slitting that pretty neck of yours and you'll be the Snow Wraiths next meal" he paused for a moment and then continued with a big grin "Even though Viggo wouldn't agree, but who the hell says I am gonna tell him"

With that they started to move, a hunter pushing my cage forward.

Viggo? As in Grimborn? As in the actual head of the hunters according to Heather? I furrowed my brows as I chewed on the idea. What would he have against killing me?

After a while we stopped and I tried to see what was happening but all I saw was the other cages and the hunters walking with some gear forward. I waited and waited for them to start moving again but the only thing I heard was ice breaking and metal.

In like half hour or so I heard some roars and then the men. One came to my cage and yanked me out as I saw two others dragging a dragon in a net towards the cage I was in.

The dragon was white like the snow and its eyes where blue like the ocean with a weird white slit in them. It had a long bone on it's under chin like the horn on its snout. The tail had white spikes on it like the edge of the wings and there a slight bit of fur on the place where would be its armpit. Damn Snow Wraith.

They tossed it in the cage and locked it. I looked around and saw another two Snow Wraiths, one smaller stuck in a net that a hunter was holding by the ends so the dragon couldn't escape and the other one they tossed in another cage. I decided that this was my chance to escape and find the others so we could save this dragons after that and Phantom as well. So I stepped hard on the foot of the man who was holding me and hit his side with my elbow multiple times before he let go of me with a groan.

I ran away from them as fast as I could through the now starting blizzard. I didn't stop for a long while before I hid behind and ice formation.

My chest was rising and falling fast as pants left my mouth and my heart was racing. I waited for a good few minutes till I caught my breath. Then I walked out of my so said shelter and looked at the sky, searching frantically for any of the guys, but found nothing. I let out a long breathe and thought that maybe I could try to free the dragons myself. I ran back towards the place where the cages where.

I got back fast but found nothing, just footprints and the prints from the wheels of the platforms the cages where on. I walked slowly forward and noticed a giant hole in the ice. Pickaxes and hammers tossed on the floor.

So this is how they caught them…

I started to walk again, on a fast pace so I could catch up to the hunters before the traces would disappear.

After a while I heard the faint growls of the Snow Wraiths and saw the figures of the hunters and the cages. Further I saw a bigger blur that I supposed was their ship. I kept my distance until I noticed the silhouettes becoming more and more clear as the snow storm was starting to settle down. Perfect damn time.

Fast I ran and hid behind a tall hunk of blue ice.

Suddenly I heard some flapping and when I looked up I saw Hiccup and the others. Relief washed over me as I started to move my hands above me from side to side in hope that they would see me. And to my luck they did. They stayed on the same place though.

I looked towards the hunters, they were about to get the cages on the ship when there was an explosion just above them, which caused an avalanche.

Ryker swiftly stepped out of the way of a big chunk of ice as it almost fell on him. The other hunters were running frantically from the snow and ice that was falling upon their heads.

I ran out of my hiding as Astrid, Snotlout and Fishlegs landed and started to free the Snow Wraiths. I ran to Phantom's cage and opened it. I got it fast and hugged his head gently "I am here… I am so sorry I let this happen… I should've stayed where we were hidden…"

He looked up at me tiredly "You're a mutton head, you know?"

I chuckled a bit "Mutton head is an understatement. Stubborn as a damn boar? Yes"

He laughed a bit in his way as I got up slowly and took the arrows carefully out, then helped him get out of the cage. He was pretty weak still so I guess I would have to ask one of the riders to take him back.

Heather, Ingrid, Hiccup and Astrid where nowhere to be seen but as I thought Hiccup and Astrid appeared back soon. Hiccup didn't look as happy though, he looked rather angry.

None of us said anything as we flew back to the Edge. Not even the twins.

Hookfang ended up grabbing Phantom and I flew back with Snotlout.

When we arrived back it was already dark outside. The others walked to the clubhouse but I stayed some more with Phantom as I nursed the two wounds he had. After that I headed up to the clubhouse just to hear Hiccup's voice "We're supposed to be a team, Astrid"

"I know… I… I should've told you… I wanted to… I really did"

"But you didn't"

I walked in and looked at the scene. Astrid was staying in front of Hiccup who was looking at her with hard eyes. The others were staying across the table, all quiet.

"I am sorry… But without Heather, the Dragon Hunters would have a key to the Dragon Eye right now and those Snow Wraiths would not be safely hidden on another island" she said as she took some steps towards Hiccup.

"That still doesn't explain why you wouldn't let me take her and Ryker down. We could've captured the head, of the dragon hunters" he replied with furrowed brows.

I let out a breath and walked towards the table "Ryker isn't the head of the hunters"

All looked at me with questioning looks, all but Astrid who knew it as well as I did.

"It's Viggo Grimborn, according to Heather" I stopped for a bit and then continued as I looked at Hiccup "I am sure Astrid actually meant to tell you about all of it, she just didn't find a right time to do it. Also if it wasn't for Heather and Ingrid we really wouldn't know any of this. Both of them are risking their lives, but how otherwise would we get information?"

Astrid gave a small nod after she looked at me with a small tired smile "According to Heather he leaves in the shadows and everyone's afraid of him, even Ryker. She hasn't met him yet but she's our best shot, so as Ingrid"

"And both of them integrate pretty good in there. Ryker didn't have any suspicions as Heather said"

Hiccup looked at both of us and shook his head "And from where you know Anne?"

"I found out just today when we were on Glacier Island"

He let out a breath and gave a nod "Let's just hope they won't fail… For all of our sakes"

I looked around at the others who nodded slowly in agreement.

All wished each other good night like the past evening and then headed for their huts.

I followed Hiccup though because I wanted to discuss with him about what Ryker had said. It wasn't such a good time now, but I needed to talk with someone about it.

"Hiccup! Wait!" I whisper-yelled out as he turned back and looked at me tiredly.

"What is it Marianne?"

I bit my lip, slightly hesitating but still spoke "It's about Ryker… and Viggo"

His jaw clanked a bit as he visibly tensed "What about them?"

"Well… When we were back on Glacier Island, when they sealed the cave I attacked them. Foolish, I know. But I couldn't stand there and do nothing. Ryker caught me and he said something like 'someone's gonna be happy to see you' and then he said, and I quote 'If you so much as make a sound I am slitting that pretty neck of yours and you'll be the Snow Wraiths next meal. Even though Viggo wouldn't agree to that but who says I am gonna tell him'.

"Like what the actual hell. Why would the head of hunters be against killing me? I am just another rider…" I looked down as I continued quietly "And… I sort of recognized him… I don't know how or why… But when he looked at me I felt like I should know him…"

"Well guess it's a good thing that it stopped him from killing you… But yes, it's weird and how did you recognize him?" he asked and I could hear the insecurity in his voice. He was suspicious?

I looked up at him in the eyes "I have no clue. Like literally none. His eyes looked familiar, in some way. They looked like…" I trailed off and stopped as I remembered the nightmare. They weren't those that I had been seeing but they did look a hella lot similar.

"Like what?" Hiccup asked with a questioning look as he eyed me like he was about throw me in a damn cage.

"Like in a memory I have…"

He was intrigued now and even more confused "Marianne, what memory? Just spill it out already"

And with that I proceeded to tell him the whole thing. Then how I went to the Ship Graveyard because I wanted to search for Johann and how I ended up seeing them.

Till the end I bet I looked like a crybaby, my eyes were watery and it took all I had not to cry in front of Hiccup.

Arms pulled me into a hug and rocked me slowly "It really sounds too real…"

I hugged him back and sniffled softly. He pulled away after a few moments and looked at me tiredly "We'll figure it out"

"Thank you" I mumbled out as I hugged him again to his surprise. He hugged me back softly "No problem. Now I suggest we go to sleep. It's been a long day" he said as he pulled away.

I looked at him a bit hesitantly but the words let my lips anyway "Can you… Can you stay with me till I fall asleep? I know it sounds silly and childish… but please…"

I was freaking seventeen and I was asking for someone to stay with me till I fell asleep.

I was a walking shame.

He chuckled a bit and gave a small nod "Alright"