(Remember when I joked it would take about 10 years to finish this? It was less of a joke and more of a prediction. Oops!)

So it's been a hot year since the last update. I don't really have an excuse, except for this annoying conversation between Hiccup and Astrid in the next chapter that I still can't get right. I tweaked it a little but it's still not satisfying to me so I don't care anymore. You can have it as it is!

I don't own 'How to Train Your Dragon' or 'Fairy Tail' and I'm not making any profits from this. I just love these series more than I should.

Chapter 8: Past Story

Stoick the Vast was a Viking, and he would never let himself or anyone else forget that. No matter how much life threw at him, he was unyielding. No matter how much the Gods took from him, he was going to push forward. Even if the beasts that have ravaged his home and people for generations stood docile like pets next to others, leaned over for cuddles and rubs, helped carry provisions and worked in the forests, protected the animals and seemed all tame and friendly…

They were dragons. Stoick would never let that go.

Dragons were the be-all and end-all for Vikings. They made their fame and reputation by slaying the things, holding their ground for hundreds of years. Such ingrained aspects of their culture were never going to fade away if Stoick had anything to say about it. Luckily, he was the Chief. Albeit one with no Heir but he and Spitelout were both pushing for Snotlout on that front.

He admitted the boy wasn't his first choice, but few could compete with his son in his opinion. Over the years he thought that Snotlout actually grew as a person and leader. He was still egotistical and liked to flaunt his aptitude and position – he still didn't hold a candle to Astrid Hofferson. He believed that his nephew would learn something from the lass when he put her in charge of overseeing the dragon population.

And he did. Their little group had many adventures as time passed and Snotlout, for all his flaws, turned out a decent Heir as long as he had his friends to counsel him. It caught him off-guard when the boy joined into the madness and claimed that Hiccup was alive.

Did he not realize the shaky grounds such a statement put him on? Spitelout passed it off as unimportant teen angst but Stoick could tell, his cousin was just as shaken about that as he was.

Yes, there was no point in further discussing the issue. He had to prepare the village for Bludvist. That was something he believed. It was one of his worst nightmares come true. He laughed at him once upon a time but considering the changes that Berk went through in the past few years, he no longer doubted the man could control a dragon army.

There was war on the horizon and Stoick was needed on Berk. As the saying went down in the Haddock line: 'A Chief protects his own.'.

The loud clap of a wooden leg on stone reached his ears from his spot at the feet of the Hall stairs.

"Gobber, I need ye ta sort through all weapons at the shop. Bring everthin' in good condition ta the armory." The blonde nodded but didn't move away from him. Stoick ignored him, observing the people running around and preparing the village defenses.

"Ye do realize the kids are gonna leave, right?"

"Ah told them not ta."

"And ye think the're gonna listen? Did age made ya daft or som'thin?"

The Chief glared at him. Gobber was an expert in wordless Stoick speech so he was unimpressed by his fury.

"Ye bought they're story then?"

Gobber rolled his eyes. "I ain't getting mah hopes up, if that's what ye mean. But it is more than we had in seven years." He shrugged, trying to appear casual but Stoick could clearly read his eagerness. "Ah wouldn't mind taking a peek." He grinned impishly.

Stoick furrowed his brow. "This is not a good time fer that. Ah need ta make sure the village is safe."

"Leave it ta Spitelout." The smith said airily. When he still didn't budge he tried again. "Look at it this way. Do ya really wanna tell Astrid's folks that ye let their daughter fend fer herself again?"

Gobber knew he had him when the Chief narrowed his eyes and took that look that spoke of a long headache about to befall him. "Fine! Let's make this quick!"

"Go ahead and make sure they ain't leaving. Ah'll get Grump."

Stoick muttered a nasty curse that had Gobber chortle as he left.

/\\\

Hiccup heard her coming long before she appeared. She was trying to be quiet, but there was no way to soften her steps over the layer of ice covering almost everything. The scrapping of her hands over the stone walls as she used them to maintain her balance also gave her away to his sensitive ears. He closed his eyes and buried his face in his arms, drawing his knees closer to his chest like a child. It didn't matter, he just wanted to hide from the world for a bit.

She held her breath at the cold wind when she finally walked out of the mountain. Hiccup listened as she shuffled her feet in place for a minute. With the sun almost gone, the temperature fell down dramatically. Hiccup got used to it but he imagined Astrid needed a few seconds, especially going around with her upper arms bare like that. She walked closer to him and to the edge, careful of the slippery surface that could sign her death. When she settled down close to him, legs crossed and hands furiously rubbing up and down her arms, he chanced a glance at her.

She didn't seem willing to start the conversation so Hiccup left it like that. He didn't feel like talking in any case. They remained in that silence until all the colors of the sunset drained away and all that was left was the dark blue of the heavens splashed with occasional storm clouds drifting by.

"Are you going to speak or am I gonna have to freeze my ass here?" She finally broke. Considering her words, he thought she would have been more peeved.

"Why are you here, Astrid?" He rolled his eyes tiredly.

She lifted her shoulder in a half shrug. "Your mom sent me."

"M-Mom? What? Why you?"

She turned to face him with a dangerous face. "Is there something wrong with me?"

He furrowed his brows, pointing at her with an accusing finger. "Yesterday you wanted to loop my head off and deliver it to my father."

She at least had the sense to blush in embarrassment. If only it wouldn't have drawn his attention to her pouty lips. "I guess I overreacted. I suppose it happens when people come back from the dead." She gave him a dirty look.

"Oh, c'mon! You didn't do that with mom – no, wait! You tried!"

He held up his hands in surrender, eyes laughing at her when she faced him with a punch ready. The glower on her face disappeared into a tiny curve in the corner of her mouth. Hiccup lowered his arms and leaned back on them, unwinding from his tight position. With his relaxed stance, Astrid also stretched her legs, her ankles dropping slightly over the cliff side.

"Why didn't she come herself?"

The blonde hummed a 'no idea' sound. "I've known you longer than her so, she probably though you would talk to me more easily."

"Yeah, it's a trend with both of my parents apparently. Just send someone else to take care of it." He scoffed. He caught her curious look, but she refrained from following the topic. He heaved a sigh, a puff of white mist forming briefly. "You want to know why I stormed out, don't you?"

"That would be great." She agreed. "And I also uh, y'know, wanted to see if you're okay. After…" She vaguely motioned with her hand behind them. "All that."

Hiccup watched her for a few moments. Astrid stared right back as if daring him to make a comment. "Thanks. I guess." He said softly. "If you really wanna know, it actually happened several months back…"

/\\\

The mountain range of Zonia was one of the northern most inhospitable spots in the Fiore Kingdom, right next to the Higanbana Cape that was stretching out into the ocean to meet the country of Seven's own neck of land further up north. Legends said that ancient creatures fought over the peaks and their magic spilled into the earth, creating a desolate atmosphere of never ending storms and blizzards. Hiccup, twenty-one and a wizard of Fairy Tail, has visited the area once in the past. He didn't make it far, but this time around, he was more prepared and his magic was stronger.

He didn't know if this place would reveal anything about Toothless or his whereabouts but he couldn't give up. The stories circulating in the area about flying beasts, roars that caused avalanches and other scary encounters could very well be due to the harshness of the land and the paranoia of travelers, but Hiccup had to see for himself.

He breathed deeply, hunkering down in the fur collar of his winter coat as he approached the last town of the road, Hinagiku. Nestled in a small valley, the village was a final stop for those looking to brave the wilderness of Zonia. It wasn't very big and most dwellers were making profit by showcasing the area, with more inns, bars and mountain rescue centers than local residences. Hiccup didn't stay there long, taking a few minutes to admire the wooden lodges with sheer roof pitches before moving on.

The wind picked up the further he walked down the marked road. Once he reached near the top of the ridge, he stopped to watch his surroundings. The clouds were stormy above, but no rain had dropped so far. The trees were scarce now that he was away from the town, replaced with low vegetation hanging from the steep, rocky side of the massif. In front of him there was a drop, the river and the village all the way down at its feet. The air was a lot colder and Hiccup had no doubt that a snowfall would begin soon.

He had to continue though. As dangerous as the route was he had to see more, he had to figure out whether the stories held a hint of truth in them or not. Pulling the coat closer to him, he moved on.

It was after nearly a day of walking, trudging through the sleet piling up over the path when he saw something; a lump of rags covered by a thin layer of snow up ahead. Hiccup felt shards of fright stab his heart at the realization that he had found someone frozen to death. Lighting a ball of purple-red plasma in his palm, he hurried to their side. He leaned down to get a closer look when a hand shot out and gripped the wrist holding the flame.

"HOLY CRAP I'M SAVED!" A voice shrieked followed by a familiar mane of red hair.

"G-GILDARTS!"

The man cradled the heat to his chest – along with Hiccup's hand – to a fervent extent. The dragon slayer watched him with exasperation, noting the lack of proper clothing – as usual – under his cloak.

"What are you doing here?" He asked concerned, strengthening the magic and using his other hand to weave more of it around the freezing mage.

"Q-Quest." The man was too enamored with the heat to offer more explanations.

"Let me rephrase that. What are you doing practically naked in this weather?"

The red-head blinked at him in confusion, as if just noticing he was there.

"Yo, Hiccup! What are you doing here?" His jovial voice almost made Hiccup want to punch him.

"Gildarts!"

He laughed, waving his hand in a flippant manner. "I'm fine, I'm fine! See?" He motioned to himself, warm and dry from the magic.

Hiccup's brow twitched. "You would have died of frostbite if I didn't stumble upon you!"

"Nah, I would've just got up and walk it off."

"It doesn't work like that!"

"Yes it does!"

"No it doesn't!"

"Hahaha!" Gildarts shook his head, ruffling Hiccup's hair with a big, ungloved hand. "S'good to see you, kid!"

Hiccup knocked his hand off, masking the contentment from the gesture and words with irritation. "I would've preferred if I didn't find you almost blue."

The older mage beamed.

A while later, they were sitting in a slight crevice in the mountain side. The storm outside had gotten worse; the sky was dark and the snow and ice flying in the winds left little to see beyond the white curtain covering the entrance. Hiccup was still holding out the plasma with his hands, seeing how there wasn't anything to burn around. The two settled down, facing each other. Gildarts had actually packed a shirt in his bag and Hiccup was thankful for that, as little as it did.

"So, how is your one hundred-year quest going, anyway?" He finally asked. Three years ago, the man left to accomplish one of the, if not the, oldest mission that Fairy Tail has ever received. Nobody has completed it in the past century and Hiccup wasn't even aware of what exactly it was all about. Just that it was hard, dangerous and an SS-Class quest and he was definitely not powerful enough to undertake one of those.

The red-head shrugged. "Eh, it's going." Hiccup waited for more. Gildarts smirked. "I'm not telling you what it is."

"Why not?" He sulked.

Gildarts laughed again. "Just don't worry about it. It's my mission. Why are you here?"

Hiccup tensed for a second and he knew the older mage caught it. "The usual. Y'know."

"I know." He sighed. "Nothing yet, huh?"

"It's only a matter of time."

Gildarts smiled, and the encouragement helped bring Hiccup out of his slight depression like it always did. "As long as you never give up, of course!"

The lull in conversation was marked by the comfortable friendliness that Hiccup noticed hovered around the man so many years ago. He settled into that and let it soak into him as he stared into the fluttering ball of plasma.

"Any new friends?"

Hiccup couldn't stop his nose from scrunching up at the question. "You know that's not my thing."

"Yeah, I get it! But it doesn't hurt to interact with others."

"I do." He was quick to refute. "I drink with Cana every time I drop by the guild. And I talk to Erza and Mira too."

The man dropped his shoulders. "Friendships shouldn't scare you. It's been years, Hiccup."

"I'm not scared, it's just that – "

'They're not him.'

He ducked his head. Somehow, Gildarts caught on to his thoughts. He was always able to do that. Hiccup had no idea how the man came to read him so easily but as much as he appreciated his enthusiasm and care, he hated it sometimes too.

"I know I'm kinda running away from the others but… I just want to find Toothless and get my brother back."

Gildarts was silent. "So does Natsu." Hiccup still avoided his gaze and the man gave up with a tired sigh. "Think about it, please? There's no point in doing this on your own when you have people willing to help."

They remained in that uncertain state, waiting for the storm to pass so they could both continue their quests.

/\\\

Hiccup and Gildarts agreed to stick together while searching the mountains. After the storm that had them holed up in the tiny cave, the weather turned around. It was still freezing, and the expanse of white everywhere making it hard to know where the ledge was became annoying after the first three accidents, but the trip was getting better.

Gildarts himself was racked with chills and that was one of the reasons why Hiccup proposed to stay around. With a source of warmth constantly near him, the man was more energetic than the former Viking has ever seen him.

So far, he had not witnessed anything close to the stories circling around about the area. The peaks were gleaming in the sunlight, the flat bed of thick snow stretching in all directions was tricky but with the blue sky above it felt more playful than dangerous. After years of running solo Hiccup forgot how good it felt to have company. He felt like his joy and ease was reflected in the very nature surrounding him.

Food was becoming an issue but they've already decided to go back to Hinagiku the following day. They would take a break and then search another route. There was no need to hurry and Hiccup was glad about that. He wanted to spend some more time with Gildarts before he would have to return to the guild and be the lone dragon.

"Should we go on?" He huffed, stopping his trek through the mounds of snow.

They were approaching an enormous hill, Gildarts having gone ahead to check out the view. Hiccup groaned when the man didn't hear him and forced himself to catch up, while, at the same time, resisting the urge to blow away the cold layers hindering him. The red head was standing straight, hands on his hips and grinning. Hiccup had the suspicion that he wasn't the only one enjoying the spontaneous team up.

Hiccup was a few steps behind him when he heard the rumbling. He stiffened.

"What's wrong?" Gildarts frowned at his sudden alertness.

Hiccup also wanted to know. His eyes swept over the field, trying to figure out where the muffled sounds were coming from. "I'm not sure. But I hear something."

Gildarts mirrored him. He cast his gaze around him searching as well. "Can you be more specific?"

"There is… breathing? I think?" Hiccup tried to focus more. In this way, his hearing was better than Natsu's. Where the younger dragon slayer's senses could cover more territory, Hiccup, instead, trained his precision. He couldn't perfectly hear people whispering from the other side of the guild hall and he couldn't catch days old scent trails, but he could sharpen his senses to perceive the minute changes in his immediate vicinity. Like heartbeats and sweating, which actually helped him discern whether people were honest to him or not.

The rhythmic, deep beats of breathing flowed around him until he pinpointed their location. His eyes widened, staring beyond Gildarts at the rise of snow underneath which the creature was buried.

"Gildarts…"

The red head nodded, holding out a hand and telling him to wait back. Hiccup wasn't very pleased at the gesture but didn't move to disobey him. He then stepped closer to it, his feet and hands pushing away the heaps and trying to determine where the whatever-it-was began.

"Is that really a good idea?" Hiccup asked. He was hesitant to disturb it considering the size of the gathered hill, but he couldn't stop the excitement rolling through him. Because whatever-it-was must have been huge. Maybe dragon huge.

A minor hitch and then a rolling hum warned Hiccup that Gildarts was too close. Before he could yell, the snow exploded. For a second, the man was covered by the powder until he swiftly leaped out, joining Hiccup as they ran away from the waves. A thundering growl filled the air, and Hiccup felt his heart pause with euphoria and dread. The creature rose to cover the sky in front of them, its shadowed figure almighty and terrifying.

Hiccup was left breathless. For the first time in seven years his eyes finally fell upon a dragon. It wasn't the dragon that he wanted to see but it was proof that his efforts were not in vain. At least partially, because the moment he took in the magic aura staining the air all his hopes were shot down.

The blue sky, the shining sun, the wonderful scenery of the Zonia mountains, all of that was discarded in the face of the terrible fear that fell upon the two humans at the sight of the black being staring them down. It said nothing as the snow settled.

It said nothing as its tail lashed out with a speed that Hiccup couldn't comprehend.

/\\\

It was with a lot of will and desperation that Hiccup reached Hinagiku. The crowd hanging around the edge of the town gasped at the sight. He knew they looked awful. He had never in his life felt so horrible. He was amazed that he managed to cling to consciousness for so long – oh well, not anymore.

He dropped to his knees, his legs shaking in fatigue and unable to hold his weight anymore. The edges of his vision were fading in and out, the people rushing to help were blurry and swimming, worsening his queasiness and headache. His fingers slipped from their death grip on Gildarts and the man fell next to him in a growing puddle of blood and gore.

Hiccup couldn't tell what was happening anymore. His body went slack when the first person reached them and he couldn't see anything. He probably passed out. A sliver of light made him rethink that. His head was bursting with pain and the scent of dirt and grass told to him that he had finally collapsed. There was talking above him but nothing came through to his addled brain.

Gildarts. Where was Gildarts? He was holding him a moment ago. He couldn't lose him! So much blood, why was he tasting so much blood? Where was Gildarts?

He wanted to open his eyes more, but the heaviness in his stomach, the rising knot in his throat; he knew that feeling so well but it was a hundred times worse now. Why?

Gildarts…

A big hand settled on his back, rubbing circles over his dirty coat. Ah, there he was… Exhausted and soaked in blood, Hiccup finally allowed himself the relief. Gildarts was safe, the people would help and he just wanted to rest. With the murmur of the crowd covering the roars imprinted in his mind, he passed out.

/\\\

When Hiccup woke up he was confused.

And terribly sick.

He bolted out of the bed, the wood creaking dangerously and reached for the trash can in the corner. When he was finished, his throat was burning and his stomach calmed for a moment. The odd weight hanging in his chest was still present and just waiting for the next round. Hiccup didn't sit back on the bed, he remained on the floor and leaned against it trying to breath evenly as the pains in the rest of his body finally caught up to him.

Small footfall stopped at his door. Hiccup felt too drained to care when the person entered the room and jumped in surprise when they saw him.

"Are you okay? What happened?" The woman kneeled near him, checking his forehead.

"I'm fine." He wanted to get away from her hands but he had the might of a kitten. And he was sick again. He groaned and went to the can again.

The woman stroked his back and shoulders and he was honest to Gods thankful for her wordless support. Hiccup didn't remember the last time he was so ill but it felt similar to when he used vehicles or ate a different kind of magic than his own. He had no idea what happened that put him in this state either.

She left to fetch him a glass of water and helped him hold it as he drank. "Can you sit back in bed while I go and wash this for a few minutes?"

"What happened to me?" He rasped.

The woman, a young girl in her teens, frowned sadly. "You should lay down. You have a fever." She pushed him to the bed, all the while avoiding his eyes.

"Please, I need to know." She poured him another glass of water and he took it gratefully.

"What do you remember?" She sighed.

Hiccup leaned back, taking small sips. He still felt his insides stuck in the back of his throat but he tried to push through. He had a very bad feeling. "Not much… actually nothing."

"You appeared in the town, injured. Everyone panicked when they saw you. Some said you were a spirit or a magic beast and… you were carrying a man…" She saw his eyes light up and hesitated.

"Gildarts! We were, huh… searching the mountains?"

"You were attacked by something."

"Do you know what?"

"You didn't say. You fainted when the Rescue unit came in."

Hiccup tightened his grasp over the cup. "What about my friend?"

He attempted to focus on her heartbeat when she clammed up but a bout of dizziness caught him by surprise. The girl fumbled to catch the glass as he doubled over and whatever she said was lost on him. When it passed he saw that she was gone, along with the trashcan.

"Ugh, what the Hel?"

He didn't want to lay down so he propped himself up against the headboard. With the exception of feeling like crap because of the nausea and a couple of bruises, there was no wound on him. (He was also wearing different clothes.) He closed his eyes and tried to recall what they were doing before.

The shadow falling over them;

the silhouette covering the sky and sun like a God;

soulless eyes looking down;

thick, foul magic wrapping around him –

Hiccup flinched. He swallowed back the bile and drowned it with more water. He didn't want to throw up on the floor. The girl should come back with the bucket and he would be able to ask her more about what happened to Gildarts. As if on cue, she entered. She placed the object next to the bed and gradually straightened, tugging down her long sweater. She gave him a mug with what smelled like tea.

"Um, so my name is Lena by the away. Lena Thanem. Drink this, it should help calm down your stomach and fever."

"I'm Hiccup. Thank you for everything. Where are we exactly?"

She perked up now that the subject switched away from Gildarts. She sat down on the edge of the bed and smiled prettily at Hiccup. The dragon slayer had to stop himself from shaking his head and giving himself another headache when, for a brief second, he saw a different girl in her stead.

Lena was very pretty; he wasn't blind to that. She was small and slim, with long blonde hair bound in a braid and falling over a shoulder. Her eyes were a balmy caramel and there were freckles splattering over her nose and cheeks. She looked similar to Astrid, or an older version of her, and that realization left Hiccup unexpectedly upset. He blamed everything on the sickness.

"This is my parents' house." She spoke, breaking his daze. "They work for the Mountain Rescue Unit as doctors. You won't believe how many people get lost or get injured around here."

Hiccup tasted the tea when no words came to him. It was hot and sweet and strong and Hiccup relaxed instinctively. "Thanks!"

"Try and get some sleep."

"What about my friend?"

Lena closed off.

"Please, you can't leave me like this!"

"Your friend is alive." Lena said, her hands fisting the blanket of the bed. "It's just that… he's in a serious condition."

Hiccup was aware that panic was showing on his face. "What does that mean? Can I see him?"

The blonde opened and closed her mouth, unsure. "O-Okay. Fine."

He put his still full cup on the nightstand and got up. He swayed for a bit but Lena held him up and helped him to the door. The house was bigger than he expected. His room was in the back, opening in a homey corridor. Hiccup was glad there was a rug running down the length of the hallway since he didn't have socks and he just noticed how cold the wooden floor was. They walked a few steps, turned the corner and entered a small lobby area with a few armchairs, a low table and wood cabinets in the background. On the wall right around the corner there was another door. Lena directed him to it but stopped when she touched the handle.

"I mean it when I said he is in rough shape."

Hiccup didn't bat an eye. She pushed the door open and entered in front of him. Hiccup followed and had to grab the door frame at the sight. Gildarts was in a bed in the middle of the room but that's as far as he got before – the blood and decay, the fluids going through the tubes, the space just assaulted his every sense and he felt the dizziness coming back. The man was wrapped from head to toe in bandages and whatever skin showed, it looked pale and sickly. If it wasn't for his moving chest Hiccup wouldn't be able to tell if he was dead or alive.

Also, there was a clear asymmetry in his limbs under the blanket.

Lena was by his side in flash. "I knew I shouldn't have showed you."

She dragged him out and sat him down in one of the chairs outside. Hiccup didn't notice her leaving and coming back with the tea, too caught up in what he had seen. She forced the mug in his hands and convinced him to drink.

"Your friend is very strong. He was nearly gone by the time the doctors got to him but he managed to pull through."

"W-What happened to his…"

The girl regarded him with misery in her caramel eyes. "His left side was… mangled. Everyone did their best but we're in the middle of nowhere. It will take days for more people and equipment to arrive. He can stay here until his wounds are not life threatening and then we can transfer him to a proper hospital for rehabilitation. I'm sorry."

Hiccup scrunched his eyes shut until he could see shiny stars. Amputation was nothing new to him but seven years away from the Viking life kind of downgraded his resistance to it. He had never imagined something so life-changing occurring to someone close to him here. In retrospective it was stupid, they were wizards after all and their job tended to be unsafe.

Black scales shining in the sun;

white light building in its giant maw;

massive claws ripping flesh;

red snow showering around him –

Lena pushed the trashcan in his hands just in time. The tea got knocked out of his hands in her haste and spilled on the floor. She swore. Hiccup was too busy breathing between the heaves to care about the liquid soaking into the rug. His fingers gripped the rim until the metal was bent underneath.

"Dammit!" Lena was stroking his back. When his shoulders started shaking she curled her arms around him in a hug.

/\\\

"… So that was it."

Astrid kept her eyes on the storm clouds rolling in the distance. Hiccup found himself satisfied with her response; she didn't show pity but she was still visibly bothered by the story. She was simply letting everything sink in and Hiccup felt soothed by her stoicism.

"This man, Gildarts?" He tilted his head at her reservation. "He is important to you?"

He thought about it for a moment. Gildarts became his mentor after Toothless disappeared. He was someone that he could depend on for nearly everything and someone that he came to admire and care for like family. Gildarts became a sort of father figure to him, even if every time it crossed his mind he waved it off as impossible because of the man's nonchalant attitude.

But beyond that, he taught him things about the world, gave him life advice, teased him in his sensitive adolescence years and always encouraged and supported him. He jumped between him and that monster even if, by definition, Hiccup was better prepared to deal with it. He went through months of pain and then laughed about it and told him it was nothing.

So, yes! Gildarts was very important to him.

"I am here because of him." He said with finality.

She hummed. "Do you want to kill this dragon then?"

Hiccup's first instinct was 'yes'. It was one of the few things in his life that he truly believed he could follow through with. At the same time, he remembered the Queen. It might have been a fluke but somewhere, deep down, he felt sorry it ended up like that. The Queen was no Acnologia though. That thing didn't care. It attacked them for no reason and it continued to do so even when he tried to reason with it. It was so indifferent, like they were merely insects to be squashed to pass the time.

"Maybe."

She snorted. "It's a simple question, Hiccup! Do you or do you not?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"I'm just curious." He scowled at her flippant behavior. "Well?"

He held her eyes, struggling to read the intention hidden in them. Astrid had always excelled in challenges, whether it was physical or mental, she never liked to lose. Having had to oversee the dragon population on Berk with all kinds of obstacles like Vikings, hunters, pirates and mercenaries, she learned how to face many types of people. Hiccup held no hope that he could make her back off and leave him be.

"You heard the Alpha. It will keep on killing, so somebody has to." Hiccup narrowed his eyes. "It's too strong for me to fight now. But that won't be for long."

He stood up, not waiting to see her reaction and walked back to the tunnel. "Come on, I thought I heard Stormfly."