Chapter 9! I'm writing this one furiously to keep to my schedule. However, it's a very difficult chapter because there's not really enough to make a chapter, but I need it to be one so that the next one starts right.

"Stormfly!" Astrid was instantly at her dragon's side as the Nadder tried to get to its feet. The dragon was weak from the fall, her wings twisted and limp. Astrid could still see Blueflame's teeth imprinted into the flesh, the sight of which made her sick to her stomach. That beast had injured her precious Stormfly. "I swear, if I see that dragon again, it will be the last time it ever sees the sun..." the blonde snarled, her hands holding Stormfly's chin in a comforting, gentle grip. The Nadder croaked softly, gathering her legs underneath her, her broken wing twitching ever-so-slightly as she tried to move it.

"Astrid!" The cry came echoing down the street, accompanied by the sounds of pounding footsteps. She turned to find Hiccup rushing towards her, Toothless and Snotlout hot on his heels.

"Hiccup! You should be resting!" She chided, letting her Nadder place its head softly on the ground before moving away to meet them.

"I'm fine, Astrid," Hiccup replied briefly. "I saw you crash. Are you hurt?" The worry was loud and plain in his voice.

"No, but that monster broke my Stormfly's wing!"

Hiccup turned hurriedly to Snotlout. "Go and get Gobber. Tell him Stormfly needs a wing splint, immediately!" With a nod, Snotlout shot off towards the forge. Hiccup looked at Astrid again, trying to tell what she might be thinking or feeling, but she quickly turned away and crouched by her dragon's side, slowly stroking her brow. The Nadder had fallen asleep, maybe to combat the pain, or to escape from it.

"She was so brave..." Astrid whispered. Hiccup placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"It's gonna be okay, Astrid. We'll sort this out, don't you worry." The chief's son flashed her one of his reassuring grins, a hand clasping her shoulder. "I'll stay with Stormfly. You need to gather everyone else to fight these fires, or they'll destroy Berk!"

"But Hiccup, we-"

"No, I know what you're going to say, but I was never trained. You were. Besides, I can take care of Stormfly for you. No problem." There was a look in his eyes that Astrid just couldn't argue with. Her shoulders slumped in defeat. "Go one, go!" He urged, watching as she turned and bolted away into the darkness.

WHAM!

The door flew open on it's hinges. Inside the infirmary, Fishlegs started, staring at the blonde who had tossed open the doors in such a fury. Snotlout wasn't far away; he'd returned after completing his errand to make sure Fishlegs was safe and was currently engaged in the task of bandaging his wound. Astrid stormed inside, letting the door swing closed again behind her.

"Hey, Astrid, what's up?" Snotlout asked, almost casually, tying the last knot to secure the bandage.

"My dragon's been mauled and now Hiccup's stuck me on stupid fire duty." She snarled savagely. Snotlout took a small step away, as if trying to use his friend as a shield. "That means I need you guys," she continued, "So get your butts out of here and get quenching!"

"So, wait, you mean all of us? Even the twins?"

"Of course. Where are they, anyway?" Astrid searched the long barn, but couldn't see hide nor hair of the duo.

"In the corner, asleep." The Jorgenson boy replied, shrugging. He lifted a finger to point.

"Oh no..." Astrid glanced over to find the two twins in a pile in a dark, peaceful corner. Previously, she couldn't have seen them behind Snotlout, who had moved to show her. The two blonde teens were both sleeping in very odd positions, Ruffnut curled up with her body pressed into the wall, Tuffnut with his head on her ribs and, strangely, one leg up in the air. Amazingly, it was actually the girl who was snoring the loudest. "Well, wake them up! We haven't got an time to waste! Oh, and Fishlegs? I'm borrowing Meatlug."

"Am I not going too?" He asked, oblivious to the fact Snotlout had snatched a metal jug from a cabinet and was aiming for the sleeping siblings.

"No, you need to rest your shoulder. Don't worry, we've got this."

It was that exact moment that the Jorgenson boy decided to throw the pot, with all his might, so that it bounced off Tuffnut's forehead and landed with a deafening clatter beside Ruffnut's ear. Both twins woke with a start, then the girl gave a loud shout of disgust and threw her brother off her, complaining loudly. Astrid scowled as an argument struck up between them.

"Come on, let's go."

The next hour or more was spent extinguishing the flames left behind by the battle. Great swathes of the village were left in a smoking, blackened mess, smouldering after water was poured over them by the three dragons. Meatlug took a little convincing to get into the air, and by this time, the others had already made two trips. Surprisingly, it was the Zippleback who was making to most progress quenching the flame, perhaps due to the riders' experience, or perhaps because Barf and Belch was carrying a huge, meter-wide water trough. Whatever the reason, the twins were putting out the most fires as they swooped overhead. That is, until the two riders began to argue, confusing their two-headed dragon and sending them all spiralling into the ground.

"For Odin's sake, can those two ever stop?" Astrid snarled, looking at Snotlout from Meatlug's saddle. The boy simply shrugged, directing his dragon down to rescue the two teens. Astrid quickly followed.

They found the twins in a heap alongside their dragon, beginning to pick themselves up and brush off their now dusty clothes. The Zippleback had landed between high-sided buildings, all of which were burning brightly in the aftermath of Blueflame's rage. They looked at each other, smirking, and butted one another's helmets, their usual gesture of success. Barf and Belch copied them like eager children desperate to please, then looked around at the flames beginning to grow higher around them, growling nervously.

"Guys, you have to get out of there! Come on!" Astrid called. However, with the crackling of the fires and the winds beginning to pick up, she found they couldn't hear her. Meatlug descended slightly, only to bolt back up a second later, afraid the flames were to close to her rider. With a sigh, she looked imploringly at Snotlout, who by now, with a Monstrous Nightmare, should be used to being near fire. Rolling his eyes, the broad-shouldered teen consented, directing Hookfang down and landing near to the crash. Jumping off, he ran over to the twins and quickly told them they had to get back into the air. However, something caught his eye as they hurried off to mount up on Barf and Belch.

"Wait... is that..?" Treading closer, he got a better view of the figure stumbling out of the smoke. His clothes were in tatters, his helmet sagging over his head, beginning to melt slightly. As he realised this, the little boy tossed it off, staggering as he did so. He looked weak, blackened and scorched.

"Gustav!" The Jorgenson boy cried out. The child stood to attention as he heard his name. With a grin, Snotlout dashed forwards and swept the small boy up in his arms, bringing his away from the fire and the smoke. "Are you okay?"

"S... Snotlout?" Gustav Larson croaked, before a coughing fit consumed him. Now away from the buildings, Snotlout could see that the child was very, very sick. He bit his lip. Gustav's watery, half-blinded eyes searched his face. His whole tiny body shook, his pale skin coated in a layer of ash. Snotlout brushed his messy, blackened hair off his sweat-beaded forehead, tears threatening to pool in the corners of his eyes as he listened to the death-rattle of Gustav's gasping breathing.

"Did my family make it, Snotlout...?" He croaked, choking all the while.

Shaking his head as he summoned his voice, Snotlout whispered, "I don't know, but... they love you, Gustav, with all their hearts, and they'd've wanted you to know it. So now you know, okay?" His voice threatened to break. Snotlout Jorgenson had a soft spot for Gustav. He always had and always would. The boy gave a heart-breaking smile, then, slowly, his eyes rolled up beneath his lids.

Snotlout coughed out an angry, tearful sigh as the little boy died in his arms. His head slid forward, his forehead touching the young boy's. Whatever happened, he would make Kat pay for what she'd done. That was a promise.

I found this chapter a little hard to write, hence why it took so long. Poor Gustav! I always hated him, but I still feel sorry for him now. I hope you will forgive me for the sadness.