Boo!

Ehehehehehehe...

Astrid skidded around the corner of the house and onto the main street. It was bustling with people at mid-day, going about their business as though nothing was happening. Suddenly, the blonde caught a glimpse of the figure disappearing through the crowds. Kat was on the run, and Astrid was determined to stop her.

A few surprised cries went up as people recognised the runaway streaking through their streets. Some Vikings even reached out to grab her, but were too late, too slow and not close enough. Kat weaved and dodged the outstretched arms coming ever closer, knowing she had to either get up high or get off the street to avoid them. She quickly shot to the right and through a darkened backstreet.

Astrid saw her. She shouted to the people in front of her to get out of the way. She needed a clear path. Diving down the same back street, she searched for any sign of Kat in the alcoves of the buildings as they passed. However, as the ally opened out onto another wide street, she caught a glimpse of the girl heading for the forest. With a determined snarl, she gave chase.

"Get back here! I haven't finished with you yet!" Astrid roared, putting on a burst of speed. As they headed down a winding forest path, she found she was getting closer and closer. Behind every bend, Kat disappeared, only a reappear when Astrid turned the corner. However, as the path opened up into a large clearing, Kat was no-where to be seen.

"Where are you? Show yourself!" Astrid cried out, searching the dappled shadows around her. The trees above arched over her, almost blotting out the bright sky, plunging the ground below into darkness. Skidding to a halt, she span around, peering between the trees, but there was no sign of anything unusual. Pacing daintily over the dusty ground, she approached a large rock formation, checking for anything behind it, but there was nothing. With gritted teeth, Astrid clasped her axe, looking the rocks over. If you thought about it, they looked a lot like...

"Blueflame..." She stumbled back as his yellow eyes flashed open. The dragon lifted his monstrous head, turning to glare at the girl who had uttered his name. His lips pulled back, revealing rows of pearly white teeth, those same teeth that had broken Stormfly's wing. Astrid growled and held her axe high.

"Don't think you can kill me, dragon, I'm tougher than I look," She snarled bravely. All of a sudden, there was a noise behind her. She stood to attention, listening to the soft pitter-patter of leather-booted feet. But, before she had a chance to turn around and face her opponent, she heard the soft twang of what sounded like a bowstring, and then a blinding pain in the back of her neck. Her vision flashed bright white, like lightning had struck inside her head, and then the horrible sensation of the entire earth pitching and rolling beneath her as if caught in a storm.

She uttered a desperate cry, unable to comprehend the feeling, groping for the back of her neck, from which the pain spread, but she could feel nothing. Her axe clattered to the ground beside her, slipping through her numb fingers. Her legs buckled, weak and shaking, the blood rushing to her head. With a moan, Astrid finally gave way, crashing to the ground, scared and confused. Her vision was blurred and swimming, lights dancing in her eyes, her hearing muffled. Numbness slowly spread through every limb.

Though the outside was shrouded in a deafening blanket, the blonde could hear her own breathing, loud and harsh in her ears, panting, trying to fight off the blackness that was threatening to consume her. She dragged her fingers through the dust, clinging to any part of reality she could reach, though she couldn't feel the brush of dirt on her fingertips. The last thing she knew was something hard coming down with force upon her forehead.

Kat looked down at her victim, the bruise swelling upon her brow, exactly the shape of the weapon that caused it. She held out the axe at arm's length, examining it.

"Well, at least the blunt end of this thing is useful," She snorted, before tossing Astrid's prized possession away and looking down at the girl, unconscious, at her feet. "Slingshots are very effective. Very effective indeed. Now, we should just dispose of you and then everything will be a damned-sight better. Ready, Blueflame, it's time we left!"

As the dragon unfurled his wide wings, Kat wrestled Astrid's limp form onto her dragon's back, hopping up behind her a moment later and taking a firm hold of the back of her shirt. With a sharp word, Blueflame launched himself into the air, wide sweeps of his wings carrying them higher and higher above the trees. Then, turning on his wing-tips, he swept out across the ocean.

Ruffnut lay on her side, staring blindly ahead, towards the sky. Her life blood drained from her back in a slow, steady stream. Half of the wound had congealed, leaving a dark, flaky mess on her pale skin and soft, woollen coat. The world seemed blurred at the edges, swaying drunkenly. Her fingers twitched and curled into fists. She was completely numb.

She watched the sky as the black shapes of gulls twisted and cried, a few dragons floating here and there. There was a Terrible Terror nearby, nosing the ground in search of food, perhaps attracted by the smell of blood. Dragons won't eat me, though. They eat fish. At least, that's what Hiccup says. She gave a short chuckle as she watched it scrabble around, before it was startled and scuttled away. She gazed after it, uncomprehending.

"Ruffnut?" She started at the sound of her own name, spoken by a soft, young voice. Hiccup. If she could have found her voice, she would have replied. "Oh Gods, Ruffnut, what happened to you?" His single boot and metal prosthetic came into view before he knelt by her head, sweeping her hair out of her eyes. His palms were clammy, she noticed. However, she paid no attention. Her attention was wholly absorbed by something in the sky.

"Come on, say something to me..." She could tell by his breathy voice that he had been running. "Ruffnut, come on, say something!"

"Astrid..." She croaked. Hiccup's brow creased. She was weak and delirious.

"I'm not Astrid, Ruff, I'm Hiccup. See?" He tried to tilt her chin up, but her eyes stayed fixed on something else.

"No... Astrid..."

"I'm Hiccup. Look, up here, you'll see, I'm-"

She scowled, cutting him off. "No, Hiccup," Her voice was stronger. She lifted a shaky finger to point. "Astrid!"

Hiccup turned to look, squinting up into the sky, to where a shape was beating hard into the clouds. On it's back, he spotted two people, One with black hair, and one, lying across the dragon's saddle, with golden-blonde. Kat and Blueflame had Astrid. He watched as they turned out to sea. He couldn't let them escape, but he also couldn't leave Ruffnut here to die. What could he possibly do?

"Where's Tuffnut?" He asked hurriedly. Ruffnut shrugged unhelpfully, though she regretted the movement momentarily as a sharp spike of pain shot up her back. She suppressed a groan, though a little unsuccessfully. Hiccup screwed his eyes tight shut, unable to think of a way out of this. There was no-one else who could help Ruffnut, nor could anyone go and help Astrid. He had a sick feeling in his stomach. One of his friends had to die.

He heard Toothless croon behind him, turned to find a muzzle thrust into his stomach. He took a hold of his dragon and held him tightly, reaching back to scratch him behind his ear-flaps. It was a decision he really didn't want to have to make.

Luckily, Ruffnut, who was watching his emotions play out upon his face, made the decision for him. "Go, Hiccup," She croaked softly, knowing she was just about condemning herself to death. "Go after Astrid. I know it's what you really want to do. Besides, she needs you more than I do."

"No, I can't, Ruff-" Hiccup tried to argue, but the twin was having none of it.

"Go, before I change my mind. Don't look back. Just go."

Without another word, Hiccup took off, glancing back only once as he mounted Toothless and urged him into the air. Ruffnut took a deep breath, closing her eyes slowly and letting the darkness finally swallow her.

Sorry this took so long, I know it shouldn't have, but there we go. Much emotion. Such sad. Wow. But is Ruffnut really dead? Would I really kill a character like this? Also, to clear up any doubts, it was not a dart or arrow, Astrid is not dead and everything else will be revealed in the next few chapters.