It was just another typical day on the Edge.
Snotlout was falling over Hookfang, Fishlegs was reading a book, and the twins were Thor knows where. Hiccup was in his hut, working on his newest invention, a belt lined with Monstrous Nightmare gel, when Astrid appeared at his doorway.
"Hey, I'm going to train in the woods for a bit. See you tonight at dinner!" Astrid flashed a smile as she walked off.
"Uh, I-, sure, I- yep, sounds good!" Hiccup turned around and sheepishly smiled, caught off guard by his girlfriend's sudden appearance. Astrid chuckled and walked off, ax over her shoulder.
Wow, it had already been 2 years. Hiccup couldn't believe it. It seemed as though it had been just a few weeks ago that Astrid and he had begun their relationship. Aside from the dates they shared, not much had changed. Since they had gotten to the Edge, the two had always been fiercely protective of each other. They knew how to read each other. He had thought that friends couldn't get much closer. Their relationship had only made their affection grow, no doubt. Hiccup smiled to himself, wondering how lucky he was.
000
Hiccup stared again at his blueprints. Where had he gone wrong? The measurements weren't adding up, and his patience was growing thin. He figured a couple hours had passed. Astrid would probably be on her way back soon. A wide-eyed Fishlegs appeared at his doorstep.
"Ah, Fishlegs. Great to see you. You know where-"
"Hiccup, there's not much time. The twins were blowing up stuff as usual but they went too far this time." Fishlegs gulped. "Forest fire."
Astrid.
Time slowed down. "C'mon bud!" Hiccup called for Toothless and took off in a matter of seconds. They shot towards the forest, now a raging inferno.
000
Astrid threw her ax at yet another tree. Something about the training strategy was both calming and useful to her. Her accuracy was deadly and the satisfaction of throwing an ax was unmatched. She glanced over at Stormfly, who had quickly grown bored and had become determined to make her trainer aware. The dragon crowed and rolled around. Astrid grinned.
"Aw, it's okay, girl. Just a little bit longer. Go ahead and fly around." Stormfly crowed and eagerly took off, spiraling upwards.
Astrid sighed and looked back at her handiwork. The trees in the surrounding area had all been well-marked. As she prepared another throw, she heard an annoyingly familiar voice.
"Hey, watch this!" The twins were spiraling above the treetops shooting off fireballs left and right.
"No fair! It was my turn!"
Astrid groaned and looked up to chastise them, when all of a sudden a fireball sent the tree in front of her into flames. Astrid flew backwards, sprawling onto the ground. She struggled for a brief moment to get up, and the world had transformed into a disorienting flame. She tried to reply as she heard Stormfly shriek from above, but the smoke clogged her voice. She began to run. The flames poisoned each breath she took and burned at her skin with each step she took.
Hiccup.
And the world went black.
000
Hiccup scoured the burning forest, looking for any sign of Astrid. The other riders had joined him in the search, having taken off in different directions. Hiccup had taken the direction that he suspected Astrid would have taken. She had shown him many of her training sites, and her favorite spots.
Sure enough, he saw Stormfly diving in and out of a particular area, desperately trying to find her rider. Hiccup guided Toothless into the flames at a nearby spot. It felt as though his breath had been stolen away upon entering the inferno. Hiccup violently coughed, as his eyes teared up looking around through the smoke. Finally, he saw a prone figure in the distance.
"There!" Hiccup held on tight as Toothless sprinted towards Astrid's unconscious body. Hiccup rushed over to her when a burning tree branch fell. "No!" Hiccup shouted as he threw his body over hers, grunting as the tree branch pierced his armor, scraping his skin. Hiccup picked her up and hopped onto Toothless, shooting upwards into the sky and back to their huts.