Toothless awoke at dawn. He looked down at his new mate and couldn't help but smile. Hiccup was everything a dragon could ask for and Toothless was glad they had become mates.

His stomach gave a rumble, and even though he didn't want to leave his new mate, his instincts screamed for him to do his duty. As the dominant partner, his instincts screamed at him to love, feed, and protect his mate. Toothless did not want to leave his mate alone, even for a few seconds. His stomach growled in protest and he gave an agitated snort. His instincts to care and provide for his mate had won.

Toothless gave a gentle like to Hiccup's head before he took off into the forest, hoping to catch something quickly. Suddenly, from the corner of his eye, he detected movement. Stealthily, the Night Fury quietly snuck through the bushes, his midnight scales blending perfectly with the dark forest.

Toothless knew that he had the advantage. His prey wouldn't even sense him until it was too late.

He sniffed the air, making sure to keep downwind of his prey. The prey took no notice of him and only resumed its feast upon the grass below it. Toothless couldn't help but smirk in victory. Before him was a magnificent buck, lean muscles rippling under its fur with every step it took with its rack setting upon its head like a crown.

He had found the perfect meal for his mate.

Toothless stealthily moved closer and closer until he was no further than two feet away. The male deer had yet to notice him. Toothless leaned back on his haunches…and pounced.

The deer was no match for the dragon and it went down screaming in a fit of bucking hooves. Toothless quickly put it out of its misery by effectively snapping its neck. It instantly went limp in his jaws.

•••

Toothless trotted into the clearing where his mate slumbered and gently placed the deer on the ground. Softly, he walked over to Hiccup and gently nudged her.

"Hiccup." He crooned, licking the side of her face. "C'mon. It's time to get up. I caught us breakfast."

Hiccup groaned before stretching out along the ground, jaws opening wide in a yawn. She glanced up at her mate before smiling sleepily.

"Good morning." She greeted, nuzzling into his side.

Toothless chuckled. "Sounds like someone slept good last night."

Hiccup hummed, leaning into her mate. "How could I not have?"

Toothless smiled before nudging the deer towards her. Hiccup poked at it a bit before finally biting into it, moaning at the flavor.

"So when do we leave for the village?"

Toothless sighed, leaning down to also take a bite. "Hiccup, there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about. Why go to the village if we don't need anything?"

"Why go? Toothless, it's my home! I have to return to it!"

"We could make a new home together, just you and me." Toothless frowned.

Hiccup gaped. "Are you saying we just fly away!? I don't even know how to fly and that artificial fin is useless now!"

Toothless sighed. "We don't have to fly away. We could stay on the island."

"But Toothless! If we don't go back soon, my dad will start to think something has happened to me! They may even come looking for us! My dad hasn't changed much and I don't want him blaming you! You could get hurt!"

"I would never hurt you, Hiccup." Toothless cooed softly, licking his mate's head in an attempt to calm her. "I just want it to be us. I don't want to have to share you with anyone."

Hiccup's glare softened and she sighed resignedly. "Okay. Fine."

Toothless frowned. He knew that tone. His mate was sad. "If we went back to the village to get the new tail you made for me, on the condition that I teach you to fly…..would you leave with me?"

Hiccup's eyes widened and she bowed her head. It was a tough choice, but she knew she wanted to be with her mate. They could leave and start somewhere new. She would have to explain it to her father first…she didn't know if she would ever get to see him again after they left.

Hesitantly, she finally answered. "Yes. I will."

•••

It would be easy to find the village as it was a small island, but once they got there, Hiccup knew she wouldn't want to leave. It was her home. She grew up here and even if it wasn't the best of childhoods, her life now was great. She was all that was left of her mother and she knew that. She also knew that her father would be heartbroken if she left.

But what would her father say? Would he even believe that she was Hiccup? She knew she didn't exactly look like she used to, but surely her father would know…right?

Hiccup only hoped there wouldn't be a repeat of the final test in the ring.

She was shaken from her thoughts from a gentle nudge to her shoulder.

Toothless' gaze was worried. "You've been awfully silent this whole time. What's wrong?"

Hiccup sighed. "I'm just worried how my dad will react. He isn't the most rational Viking out there."

"Everything will be fine. If anything happens, I'll protect you. I won't let him hurt us. Besides, I'm sure everything will be fine."

Hiccup was skeptical. "How can you be so sure?"

"How? Because I've got you, there's nothing I can't do." Toothless purred.

Hiccup blushed, but narrowed her eyes. "You do realize you just rhymed."

Toothless laughed mirthfully and nodded. "That I did, my Hiccup. That I did."

Hiccup questioned her mate's sanity, hoping that he hadn't eaten those mushrooms they passed by not too long ago.

•••

It was dark when they came to the edge of the forest overlooking the village. A few Vikings mulled about below in the square, some chatting with others. Hiccup inhaled a deep breath and together, she and her mate made their way towards the village.

One of the Vikings below must have spotted them because their eyes widened before they rushed back to the great hall. A few seconds later, a larger Viking lumbered outside along with several others.

Hiccup gulped, knowing that it was her father.

Stoic took a step towards them, eyes narrowed. "Toothless…is it you? Where's Hiccup?"

Toothless nodded, swinging his artificial fin and then pointed at the Night Fury that stood beside him.

"Who is this?" Stoic walked over to Hiccup and was about to touch her. He jerked his hand back, however, when Toothless gave a low warning growl. Stoic glared at the dragon his boy had claimed a pet and then turned back to the dragon in front of him. "So you've found yourself another Night Fury to play with. However, you still haven't answered my question." Stoics brown creased and his aura suddenly darkened. He clenched his teeth. "Where. Is. My. Son. Devil?!"

Toothless lazily pointed at his companion once again, thinking his mate's dad wasn't the brightest mallet in the toolbox.

Hiccup sighed before reaching out and writing in the dirt with a claw.

Stoic starred in disbelief as the dragon wrote out the name of his son before pointing at itself.

"Are you trying to tell me that you're my son, devil?"

Hiccup nodded, but her eyes widened when Stoic started to laugh, a maniacal glint in his eye. He leaned towards her and growled. "Look Devil, you may be smarter than most dragons, but you can't fool me. You are not my son." Hiccup gaped, her heart hammering. "Lock them up! These devils are Loki's doing!"

"Wait, what!" Hiccup yelled, panic flooding seizing her as she started to back away.

"I'll show you a devil!"

Hiccup swiveled to find her mate roaring and shooting bolts of fire at the crowd of Vikings that were charging towards them."

She cried out as a bola caught her legs, sending her tumbling to the ground.

"Hiccup!"

Toothless screeched and shot two blasts at the feet of a Viking reaching for his Hiccup.

"Toothless!" Hiccup cried. "Don't shoot!"

Toothless stopped mid-breath to look at her, however, the Vikings took advantage of the distraction and tackled him. He screamed and fought, but there were too many. Without his flight, he was helpless. A muzzle was being forced upon him and he struggled to free himself of the binds they were tying around him.

Toothless whined and searched frantically for his mate. What he saw made his blood boil. They were binding and muzzling her just as they were doing him. He struggled and screamed even more. He fought his way through the Vikings, but didn't get far. There was a sudden, blinding pain to the side of his head and the world turned black.