So... school's started again. Fun.

…

…...

I have nothing else to say.

That could be an Imagine Dragons reference!

Heh... cuz dragons. Get it? Heheh.. never mind.

REVIEWS!

Everyone: I KNOW! I'M SORRY!

AND NOW THE STORY!

Chapter 15

One after another, bodies were dropping at Hiccup's feet. The chief's son winced internally every time he struck another blow, but he carried on. For Berk. Astrid, however, seemed to have no trouble taking anyone down at all. She tackled another one, narrowing her eyes. Then, after a quick adjustment of her ax, she brought it swinging down. That woman had been given an inevitable death sentence the moment she'd decided to mess with Astrid Hofferson. Flipping a strand of hair out of her eyes, the formerly mentioned turned back to her friend.

"You okay?" she asked, twirling her ax weapon idly. Hiccup nodded.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw it. And thank the gods he did, because he was just in time to tackle his friend to the ground. Just before a sword came whirling over their heads, so very close to becoming the object of their demise.

Astrid inhaled shakily.

"Thanks," she gasped.

"No problem," he replied, rising to meet his attacker. An all-too-familiar face that he wished he'd never had so see again. But, it wasn't Alvin.

~Page Break~

Cold fury coursed throughout Snotlout like a fiery furnace. He sliced through the Outcasts, never faltering, never failing. Right now, all that was in his heart was vengeance, and vengeance he would have.

He took down another one with the swish of his hand, the concept of mercy never passing through his mind. He didn't know which of these soldiers had killed his friend. He didn't know which one of these horrible, horrible humans had ended the life of Fishlegs, but he would keep going until they were all gone. It's what these creatures deserved, wasn't it?

Snotlout was destroying anything, specifically Outcasts, that stepped in his path. Once, he almost accidentally killed a Berkian. He was just so caught up in everything that he didn't realize where he was swinging until it was almost too late.

He only stopped once. Once when he heard the most terrible noise you could imagine.

The agonizing scream filled with grief coming from someone chillingly familiar.

~Page Break~

"Gobber? Gobber! Can you hear me?"

"Eh?"

"Gobber! Wake up!"

"Is that you, Mum?"

"Snap out of it!"

Gobber groggily opened his eyes, taking in his surroundings. There was lots of fighting. Was his sister visiting again?

Oh, wait. He was in the middle of a battle! Well, more on the sidelines of a battle. An...an Outcast battle if he remembered correctly. The blacksmith had been dreaming of daisies in a beautiful meadow. It was very boring until a dragon had come and smashed it all! Where did the dragon go?

There it was! Ooh, a night fury! Gobber didn't think it liked the Outcasts either. It seemed to be trying to burn them.

"Wha..." he mumbled, trying in vain to sit up.

"Sword to the side. You're fine, now. All patched up." Ah! And there was Stoick! Loyal to the end. Wait, did he just say...

"Yes!" he exclaimed. "Now I remember! We were fighting Outcasts, right?"

"Right, Gobber," Stoick said. For some reason, he looked somber.

"Better get back to fighting, then," Gobber said, beginning to stand.

"Oh no you don't" the chief replied. "You're going to stay here and rest."

"But..."

"Listen. Something happened. Do you remember? You went to see Snotlout after..." His friend trailed off. Gobber just looked back at him, blankly. What was he talking about?

Stoick opened his mouth to explain, but was cut short.

He'd heard the scream, too.

~Page Break~

Tuffnut had any dreams about Outcasts coming to chop off his head. He'd charge at them, weapons swinging, ready to defend his life at any cost! He'd even die for the cause! Of course, he always got his head chopped off anyway, but it was a good feeling. A nice feeling.

To be honest, though, he wasn't sure that it would feel as pleasant in the waking world. What if the person didn't do it right?

Well, good news! He hadn't lost his head yet! At least, he didn't think so.

Tuff was fighting with his sister. Not fighting as in that-is-my-ax-leave-it-alone-and-go-jump-into-the-ocean fighting, but continually pummeling an Outcast together, side by side.

Man, this was the life.

Another went down as Ruff kicked him in the head. How she got her legs that high, he had no idea. Quickly getting to his feet, the man scrambled away, glancing back occasionally to guarantee that he wasn't being pursued.

"And stay out!" Tuffnut yelled after him. For reasons unknown, Tuff then groaned and brought her palm to her face. Her brother didn't know why.

Their victory didn't last long.

They, too, heard the scream.

~Page Break~

It was Savage.

"You," Astrid growled, all her aggression vented toward the oncoming traitor.

"Me," he sneered, a sickening smirk etched across his face.

Without any kind of warning, Astrid hurled her ax toward his chest, but he easily deflected it with his own.

"Nice try," he said sarcastically, advancing on the couple. "But you'll have to do better than that."

Challenge accepted.

Before she could make a move, however, Savage had already thrown his sword right in her direction. She ducked and rolled, causing dust and dirt to coat her skin, but she didn't care. Astrid was at Savage's feet now. She made a grab for her ax, but the Outcast kicked it away. She then braced herself, knowing that she wouldn't be in time to stop the next blow from coming.

Surprisingly, someone else did.

Looking up Astrid saw something she thought she'd never see. Hiccup was standing over Savage, hilt aimed downward, as the man clutched his head in pain.

"Thanks," she whispered.

"No problem," he said. Again.

Astrid looked back at Savage the fallen. Had Hiccup really hit him that hard?

He's faking it.

"Behind you!" she warned, but she knew that she'd be too late. Pure fear was coursing throughout her entire being.

The Outcast had already risen and was bearing down on her friend, aiming to kill.

Astrid lunged toward her ax. She grabbed the cold handle and, with all her might, threw it at the head of Savage the Outcast.

~Page Break~

It is indeed fortunate for the Island of Berk that Mildew hadn't discovered Hiccup snooping around his house.

Because, dear reader, if you had decided to look toward two particular teenagers at that precise moment in time, you would've seen Astrid's look of terror as Savage ducked.

You would have heard her agonizing scream as the uncontrollable ax wedged itself inside of Hiccup's skull.

You would've seen them both collapse to the ground in agony.

The darkness is overwhelming.

DO. NOT. KILL. ME. I. AM. ARMED. WITH. BAGELS.

I guess it turned out to be a horror story after all.

Good luck with life.

Again, don't kill me.

Please.

-Shadow