"Everyone has their own ways of expression. I believe we all have a lot to say, but finding ways to say it is more than half the battle."
-Criss Jami, Salome: In Every Inch In Every Mile
The world was enveloped in a thick blanket of darkness. The only source of light was the soft, silver glow of the moon shining down on the vast and still ocean below. The nocturnal creatures went about their nightly routines undisturbed in this tranquil environment. However, this peace was not to last as high up in the sky, the stars twinkled, and large clouds floated by with purpose.
A magnificent dragon soared through the clouds with its rider, its silver and rusted scales glinting brilliantly in the sunlight. They raced towards two mysterious figures ahead, the rider urging the dragon on, pushing it to its limits. The dragon's wings flapped powerfully, propelling them forward as they tried to close in on their target.
Heather had been leading a double life as a spy for several years now, infiltrating dragon hunter parties to gather information on captured dragons' whereabouts and rescuing those being held captive in inhumane conditions. The fate of these dragons was often worse than death, with hunters using them for their scales, venom, teeth, claws, and other ways to extract information from the various dragon species.
She had seen firsthand the horrific conditions in which these dragons were kept. Most of the dragons she rescued were covered in scars, some even missing limbs, and others left disabled for life. It was heart-wrenching to see the pain and suffering they endured. But Heather never gave up on them, doing everything in her power to nurse them back to health, although some were never the same again. Despite the danger and emotional toll, Heather knew that her work was important and worth it. She would continue to fight for these magnificent creatures until they were no longer hunted and were free to live in peace.
The decision to visit the market was not an easy one, but recent rumors of dragon hunters supplying hundreds of dragons to mysterious "warlords" had to be investigated. She interrogated a few dragon hunters who willingly revealed the information. The warlords' identity was unknown, but the fact that they were capturing an enormous number of dragons and had numerous dragon hunters at their disposal was unsettling. The potential consequences of this information were dire - a total war over the barbaric archipelago would result in widespread loss of life.
Determined to uncover more information, she ventured to the northern market. Her search was interrupted by the sudden arrival of "Grimmir," a name she had never heard before. The dragon hunters and Vikings who frequented the market were familiar with this legendary figure. They whispered about how Grimmir first appeared on the market more than three decades ago and how this figure always carried the corpses of several dragons. What was even more mysterious was the dragon that followed Grimmir's every command - a massive and terrifying creature that showed no pity or remorse for its brethren dying gruesome deaths.
As she witnessed the scene unfold before her, she wished she could erase the barbaric hunter's ruthlessness from her memory. The sight of a dragon hunter being so cruel and merciless towards the dragons was something she would never forget.
Heather could see that Grimmir had a slender but strong build that was unusual for Vikings, who were known to have large figures. The only figure that came to her mind was Hiccup, but this figure, who she could deduce was a man, had broad shoulders, and was very tall. His face was covered by a helmet, and his whole outfit was made of dragon scales and metal. She could not see any ounce of skin, and the armor looked very durable and could take many fire shots and heavy hits without getting damaged. As soon as she saw him leave, she knew that she had to catch up to him and kill him to release the poor dragon under his control. That was the only thing on her mind as she continued to give chase.
I will make him pay for what he has done to this poor creature for so many years and forcing it to partake in these barbaric killings. I hope that his soul goes to Hel where he will never find any peace.
As she soared through the night sky, the weight of the task at hand weighed heavily on her mind. With each passing moment, her thoughts raced, and she knew that finding the location of the Warlords was of the utmost importance. She had concluded that Grimmir was unlikely to be among them. After all, from what she had heard, he had never taken any dragons that were still breathing.
As she trailed behind the duo, her eyes were drawn to the dragon that flew ahead of them. It was a massive creature, slightly taller than a monstrous nightmare, yet it moved through the air with graceful ease. Despite the enormity of its size, it made no sound as it sliced through the air with its powerful wings, which shone under the moonlight. Its scales were like a work of art, highlighting its powerful build. She couldn't help but notice the dragon's skeletal appearance, which was similar to that of a Boneknapper she had seen in the past. It was an agile and sleek predator, capable of silently stalking its prey and launching surprise attacks on unsuspecting targets.
The dragon's ability to remain undetected in flight made it a formidable adversary in any ambush. It was a perfect hunter, and its stealth and swiftness made it a master of surprise attacks. As she followed the duo, her attention was caught by their sudden ascent towards a large cloud formation. She knew she had to follow them, and she urged Windshear to go faster. The dragon's duo disappeared into the clouds, and she followed suit, but her dragon was acting apprehensively. She didn't want to enter the cloud, but she had no choice.
"We need to follow them closely, girl. Otherwise, we may lose track of them," she said, urging Windshear to enter the cloud. As they entered, she was immediately struck by the silence. There was nothing to see, no sign of the duo, nothing at all. She wondered how the dragon knew she was following them. Had he sensed her presence? She had to be cautious now that she had lost the element of surprise. She scanned her surroundings, watching out for any potential threats.
Wingshear made noises of apprehension as they both turned around in the air to spot the duo, but there was nothing. The silence was eerie, and she wondered how long it would take for her to find them. She had to keep her guard up and be prepared for anything that might come her way. Despite the uncertainty, she continued to pursue the duo, determined to find out what they were up to.
"Well,Well, If it isn't a dragon rider. I am so honored to have your attention. Although I have to say it has been a long time since I have seen your kind. Besides the last time I encountered them, it did not end well." A voice filled in the silence and it filled with sarcasm as if he was mocking her position and tried not to rise towards his insult.
"You didn't expect that I would chase after I saw what you did at the market". Her tone was filled with disgust with just thinking about what she had seen in the plaza. It was soon followed by mocking laughter that echoed all around. She was getting angry at how little care he showed for what he had done. She had never met a dragon hunter who wanted to slaughter dragons as they were worried more about profit and it was one of the reasons it was easier to rescue the dragons because these creatures were more valuable than they were alive.
"It always puzzle me why people like you can hold any compassion towards these beasts after all the destruction that they have caused in the last 300 years. It is a mockery to all the vikings who went to Valhalla protecting their homes and families, even you make a mockery of the sacrifices your ancestors have made for you to have a life." His tone was sizzling with uncontrolled anger and hatred towards her and it was the first time a dragon hunter had said those things to her.
" I have seen the damage that these beasts can do, the lives they have destroyed, and it has been my mission to erase dragons from history and drive all back towards the hole they emerge from." The hunter's tone was filled with conviction and a firm stance on his beliefs that would not be changed.
"So, you think you're a missionary, making it your mission to eradicate them in the face of Midgard. Dragons are not monsters, they are compassionate creatures and they are just like us, they are just trying to survive. I will make sure that you do not hunt any more dragons, that is a promise." Ever since Hiccup revealed the hidden, friendly nature of the dragons, Heather had begun to dedicate her life to safeguarding and rescuing them. Her unwavering commitment to the cause is evident as she refuses to back down, even in the face of a notorious dragon slayer's threats. The statement is further reinforced by Windshear, who unleashes a magnificent display of blue fire into the sky while roaring fiercely. The sheer force of the dragon's fiery roar serves as a powerful symbol of their unbreakable bond and shared determination to protect the dragons at all costs.
"You will release that poor dragon you have under your control and I will make sure you never use it against its will ever again". Letting her intentions known to the dragon killer that his control over that dragon will end today and no more will that creature have to suffer from his hands being used to harm his kind ever again.
The air was filled with uneasy silence as Heather and Windshear waited for Grimmir's retaliation, preparing themselves for a fight that was about to happen. The silence was soon filled with snickering that turned into full-blown uncontrollable laughter. Heather was puzzled as to why he found this funny, and she was about to ask but she never got the chance to.
"You're not the only one able to gain a dragon's loyalty and you are going to learn that very soon." Heather and Wingshear dodged a fiery blast, her heart raced with fear and anticipation. The heat was intense, and she could feel it enveloping her face. Wingshear acted quickly, unleashing a powerful blue flame in the direction of Grimmir's attack. The boom of the impact echoed through the air, and Heather held her breath, hoping that the fiery blast had hit its target.
For a moment, nothing happened. But then, a powerful force of wind slammed into them, sending Heather and Wingshear tumbling through the air. It took all of Heather's strength to keep them both balanced, and she had to shield her face from the wind's fierce onslaught. She couldn't see what was happening, but she knew that Grimmir was still out there, somewhere, waiting for his next chance to strike.
The skies were filled with ominous silence as if something terrifying was lurking in its depths. Suddenly, a deafening roar broke through the stillness, and Wingshear barely managed to evade the massive figure that lunged at them. Heather turned around and came face to face with a dragon of colossal proportions, its eyes blazing with a fierce red light. The creature chased them relentlessly, sending out a stream of fire blasts that exploded into the sky with thunderous booms. With each passing moment, the dragon drew closer, its screams piercing through Heather's very soul. Desperate to shake it off, they swerved and dodged, making sharp turns and serpentine moves, but the dragon was relentless. The chase continued, and Heather couldn't shake off the feeling that they were running out of time.
"Come on girl! Give it everything you got!" Heart pounding in her chest, she urged Windshear to fly faster, desperate to escape with their lives. With a quick gesture, she directed the dragon towards the billowing clouds looming ahead, hoping to lose Grimmir's pursuit amidst the mist. The wind howled past them as they soared through the clouds, suspended in a moment of tense silence. She couldn't tell which way they were going, but she knew they had to keep moving. Her eyes darted around, scanning the skies for any sign of pursuit. Eventually, as the minutes ticked by, she began to feel a sense of relief. Maybe they had outrun Grimmir after all.
But she felt something big slam her and she screamed as she was carried off of Windshear she could hear the razorwhip screaming and roaring and she was able to see Wingshear being knocked out by a massive tail towards her head and she could only watch as her dragon plummet below. "WINDSHEAR!" Her scream echoed and she hoped that her screaming would wake her dragon up and she would be able to save herself from plummeting to her death. As she was about to scream again, she yelled in pain as she could feel the talons that were gripping her start to squeeze the life out of her.
The force of the impact sent her flying up into the air. She was helpless as she landed on something hard, causing her body to ache with pain. After taking a few moments to gather her bearings, she quickly got up on her feet and found herself facing Grimmir. He stood before her, holding a spear in his hands. She was expecting to see chains wrapped around his hands, forcing the dragon to obey his commands. However, she was surprised when she saw that there was a well-made saddle in place of the chains, and Grimmir was perfectly balanced on top of the dragon. He looked like he had been doing it for years, and she couldn't help but feel intimidated. She immediately backed away and drew a small sword that she had concealed behind her back, preparing to defend herself. Grimmir approached her slowly, his movements well-coordinated as he maintained his balance on top of the dragon. She launched an attack, but each blow she tried to land was expertly blocked by Grimmir. She had to dodge as he lunged and parried with his spears, and he managed to land lucky cuts on her arms as she attempted to block his attacks with her small sword.
She yelled in pain as she felt a sharp stabbing pain on her side and looked to find that he had managed to slip through her defenses and buried the spear tip on her side and she could feel her blood running down. She took hold of the spear as she felt him push her toward the edge.
"If I ever see any one of you dragon riders again I will make sure that all of you suffer and I will make you watch as I tear your dragons... piece... by... piece." She felt him kick her and she was sent tumbling down from the dragons and felt weightless as she started to fall in the air. She started to scream as the silhouette of the dragon and Grimmir slowly began to disappear as they both left. She tried to angle herself but couldn't due to the force all while she was screaming for Windshear but there was nothing. She slowly saw the water coming closer and closer and she closed her eyes and tried to shield herself but she felt something grab her clothing and the familiar screeching and roars of Windshear who came just in time to save her. She clumsily started to stop the bleeding from her side and she could hear Windshear whine of concern.
"Go... girl... head... to Berk" She was out of breath and she tried to keep her eyes open as Windshear started to fly as fast as possible toward Berk to warn Hiccup and the others but slowly felt herself slip away and her vision turned black.
Author Note:
Hello, my fellow readers I hope you guys enjoy this chapter since I had a great time writing it and I tried my best to write the fight scenes as best as I could since I am still fairly new in writing out fight scenes but as of now I am extremely satisfied.
Guest: I really loved that idea and I did not think of but it would be perfect to add to my story and I think I know which direction I want to head with this. I also agree with you because a lot of people seemed to forget about the trauma he endured as a child and how that would shape him into this madman. I also agree with you on how stories in this franchise have followed the same formula of evil dragon hunters and good dragon riders and that dragons are innocent creatures (Hello, is the Red Death not a perfect example of dragons who are not benevolent; Hiccup sure seemed to forget about it in the last two movies and in the TV shows) I hope you like how I used your idea for the future of this story since I wanted to write the outline for the rest of the chapters that I planned on writing.