"She'll not come, Snotlout," Ruffnut pointed out, glancing at him, irritated. "C'mon, give it up, and join us."

Late in the evening, when the Village at the further cliff had fallen silent, the arena was buried with darkness, the only sources of light being the inflamed torches, which sparkled with an orange glimmer. Inside, scattered was the group of young adults, who, holding onto their various, sharp weaponry, once by once were hurling them into the wooden textile of the red targets, standing on the pile of dry straw.

Only Snotlout had remained by the entrance, leaning his back at the metal gateway, his eyes getting narrower with each dying minute - when being called by the grey-eyed woman, at last, he gazed at her and sighed. Soon after, he'd bounced from the spot, strode to her, and stood by her side, whereas she'd lifted her brow at him, taunting although comforting - afterward, Astrid came into play, when she snickered, boring her eyes into the man.

"Told ya," she reminded, raising her chin high. "Should've listened to me from the beginnin'."

"Give it a break, Astrid," Ruffnut grumbled, tossing the dagger into the mark, not even glancing if it'd reached. "Besides, ye've got what ye've wanted, she didn't come, so what's the problem?"

"The problem is that he'd invited her, at all," Astrid rasped, with one hand managing to strike the target perfectly down. "He'd invited her, exactly knowin' she isn't welcomed here."

"Oh, come on!" Snotlout shouted, threw his arms, and glared at the taller woman, fiercely. "Now, ya'll be choosin', who do we play with? As if we ain't succumb enough, already."

"Ye've invited the person, that had literally destroyed my life, Snotlout!" Astrid countered and fisted her palms as she approached him. "What a fuckin' friend does that?!"

"Godsdamit, Astrid! Quit with that moanin' for sake!" he yelled whereas the silence took over the space. "Ya'd never thought, that what happened, was really just an accident?"

"Such things ain't happen by accident," Astrid pressed, crossing her arms on her chest, tight.

"I ain't know, I wouldn't say so," Fishlegs commented, beforehand putting his hammer to the ground, carefully. "We've met with worse mistakes than this."

"Yeah, yer birth, for example," Tuffnut sneered, having the mace's handle leaned on his shoulders. "As for me, I think she'd done it purposely, 'though I'm even impressed. Not even I'm crazy enough to get under Astrid's skin."

"But ya'd been enough to burn Bucket's entire house?" Ruffnut recalled, then, after watching her brother shrug, gazed at the other woman, seriously. "Look, I'm not sayin' she ain't guilty, however, that was five years ago! We've been kids then, and so Hiccup, who had it tough, most of the time."

"I had it though, also," Astrid yapped, stabbing her finger into her chest.

"We all had," Snotlout remarked, a line appearing between his eyebrows, whilst Astrid didn't dare to interrupt. "We'd made mistakes, behaved badly, but that didn't write us off, just as it shouldn't her," he clarified, loosening his features, at last. "Try to give her a chance, just try."

Subsequently, she'd stared at him for a minute more, before exhaling, her expression fierce continuously, and responding, "Fine, but she'd better not try anythin', or else, I promise that I'll stain my face with her blood," her voice outright darkening the arena, at once.

"Will I eventually know, where ye're takin' us?" Hiccup asked, her arms behind her back, peeking at Toothless, strolling along her side throughout the woods. "Ye've decided on that execution, finally?"

"Nah, maybe the other day," he responded, smirking at the idea, before answering the previous question, "Actually, I've thought about it long, and decided to teach you shot," he defined and snickered when glancing at her gaping self. "Cat got your tongue, freckles?"

"No, but the mouthy dragon," she countered, although couldn't hide her bright smile, whilst mumbling, "Oh gods, I'll be fuckin' shootin' fire."

"Oh yes, you'll be fucking shootin' fire," he scoffed, not having to even gaze to realize her narrowed eyes at himself, "What's the matter, Hiccup? Somethin' bothers ya?"

"Hillarious," she commented, rolling her eyes, then, hearing him chuckle, tensed her shoulders, irritated. "Ye're so amusin'."

"Okay, okay. I'm sorry," he apologized, straightening visibly. "Ain't ya know, I didn't mean to hurt yer feelings?"

Consequently, as he'd said that, he'd burst into laughter, not disturbed by her eyes, which were drilling into his head, and must have even stopped half-step, incapable of walking farther, whereas Hiccup stroked her eyelids, vexed to the core. At some point, she'd returned her gaze at him, her expression overtaken by annoyance, and not being able to withstand it anymore, impacted her hand into the back of his head, as if scolding him within.

Hence, he'd straightened and stared down at her, his eyes widened as he stated, "I wouldn't do that if I were you," his face serious.

Before even responding, she'd snorted, then crossing her arms inquired, "Or so what?" which she'd regretted, soon.

That's so, because, within a matter of seconds, the man gripped her waist, lifted and turned her upside down as she'd squeaked, before sliding his hands to her feet, and situated them on his shoulder, whereas the woman's figure hung against his back. Surprised, throughout the entire duration of the event, she'd not done much, rather underwent his will, although acknowledging the situation, the blood inside her veins boiling, she bellowed at last, scarlet-faced.

"Fuckin' asshole, let go of me!"

"With such an attitude? Never," he nagged, returning to the track when walking onward. "I'd get used to it, if I were you."

"Buddy, please," she began, pouting beggingly, "Magnificent, beautiful Night Fury," she sang, then her features gained on knitted eyebrows. "Hopeless, freakin' dick," she added, gnashing her teeth. "Let me go."

"Freckles, sweetheart, sunshine, forget it," he crooned, his grin bright as the sun itself.

"Godsdamit, Toothless!" she boomed, attempting to unburden her feet, unsuccessfully. "Ya'll not drag me like that throughout the whole forest!"

"Will I not?" We'll see," he teased, then shook her legs, thus her entire body. "Comfortable there?"

"I hate ya," she groaned, covering her face with her hands. "I can't believe, ye're humiliatin' me like that."

"You'd better do," he noted and peeked at her, smug. "Maybe, you'll get a little less spoiled, now."

"That's it! Ye're goin' down!" she snapped, struggled to put up, although was stopped by the burning stomach muscles. "Damn it!"

"Try harder," he suggested, more and more having his chest stricken out. "That's quite entertaining."

"Fuck yerself," she cursed, allowing her knuckles to shuffle against the dirt, and smirked, glimpsing the prints of his individual feet. "Hey, Toothless? How much ya'll bet, I'll send ya to the ground, in a matter of five seconds?"

"You consider it an option?"

Subsequently, Hiccup reached the edge of her patience, grasped one leg, while the other was in the middle step, resulting in the loss of his balance, and thus, the rather bitter fall as Toothless found himself face-first with the soil. Whereas he'd whined and panted, the woman landed on his back, then sat on it astride, having her mouth curved into the amused smirk, gazing at him, as if the predator would've looked at its prey - smugly.

"So, what was about that consideration?"

"I hate you," he muttered, the sound muffled against the grass. "You think that you're so smart, aren't you?" he spotted, after pivoting his face, so as to gaze at her. "Guess what, in three seconds you'll regret it all."

"Yeah, right," she snorted, raising her brows.

"Three," he started counting, the seriousness painted on his face.

"Toothless, come on," she tsked, unbothered.

"Two."

"Ye're not jokin'," she cracked, the smirk fading from her face.

"One," he said, however, soon later giggled when she'd attacked his neck, brushing them against his skin. "Wha-what are you doing?!" he questioned, not able to deny the laugh, veering around just so as to pitch her out of himself, although even that didn't save him, as she'd only chased him more. "Stop that!"

"Forget it!"

Henceforth, their synchronized laughter echoed throughout the whole space, whereas the man made an effort to escape the woman constantly, and she'd not ever allow that, outright jumping at him at times. Ultimately, he'd managed to capture her hands and nail them to the footing, and, whilst gaping at each other kneeling, they'd panted, their breaths shallow and fast, and at last, Toothless exclaimed, wide-eyed.

"What kind of torture was that supposed to be?!"

"I've only tickled ya!" she giggled, her cheekbones lifted. "Those aren't tortures, just fun for kids."

"Are you fucking nuts?!" he screamed, cocking his brows. "You're touring children with it?!"

"That's not torture?"

"Define tickling, then!"

"Those are spots on our skin," she explained, pointing with her chin to her neck. "They're weaker, so cause us to laugh when touched."

"You see, torture!"

"Toothless, that's not torture!"

"You're so sure about it?!" he yelled, then giving her a once-over, smirked. "If so, then let's see, how much you'd like it," he offered, before tickling her underneath the chin.

"No!" she begged, falling to the ground, pinning her chin to his knee. "I'm sorry, ye're right! Just have mercy, please!"

"Mercy?" he hummed, only tapping her cheek teasingly, withstanding himself. "If you'll promise not to do that again, and also, you'll call me most generous."

"I'll not ever do it again, but please, ain't make me say it," she pleased, although feeling his pointing finger brush against her chin, went on, "Ye're the most generous, intelligent, and bravest man I've ever met!"

"See? Wasn't so hard," he noticed, stroking her hair, having her permission of no objection.

"It'd be easier if that was the truth," she mocked, pressing her face closer to the fabric of his pants, having his permission of no objection.

Thereafter, he'd chuckled, fortunately, because the alternative wouldn't be the loveliest, and massaged her back, shifting his hand up, to the tip of her hair, and down, to the shirt's end, the joyful, delighted grin on his face. Only eventually had she sat up, wiping the glistening eyes with her palm, when out of a sudden, the large fingers drove across her dense bangs, tucked a few longer strands behind her ear, and stayed there, grazing the lobe, much to her confusion.

"They've disturbed you, haven't they?" he overtook her question, staring at the blushed skin, before locking his eyes on her own, and proposing as he stood up, "We'd better get going."

He'd once already handed her his hand like that, and she'd pushed it away then, but now, she felt as if she needed it only.

The female was in such a situation already, when standing at the cliff, the salty wind stroking her scales, she'd had the male's studious gaze at herself, whereas she'd stared onward, into the cloudless air. However, what differed between today's date, was the dark, starry sky, as the whole sense of the lesson itself, and when gathering the courage, she'd gazed back at him, as their eyes encountered and he asked.

"So, ready, at last?"

"Well, yeah," she started, then quickly added, "Although, I have a few questions."

"How could you not," he stated, rolling his eyes as if expecting, already. "Ask away."

"Okay, so why have we walked here on foot?Couldn't we, I don't know," she inquired, waving her wings, making the point. "I know, I am not the best flyer, but I could manage to fly by the ocean, would I not?"

"Maybe, but the matter is the wind by the cliffs, which is always stronger. It would take time to teach you the proper gliding," he clarified, pointing with his eyes to the rustled grass at the stone's edge. "As for the forest, it is the human's territory, also my instinct acted wild, thus better safe than sorry."

"The instinct, huh?" she cited, tilting her head, her eyes narrowed. "How does it even feel, the instinct? Does it speak to you, or anything?"

"The off-topic question, but fair enough," he spotted and smirked at her, whereas the annoyance crossed her face. "The instinct is not something you may hear, but rather feel, and it is up to you, whether you listen to that feeling, or not."

"And what do you mean by that, exactly?"

"In summary, I mean some dragons, me for instance, listen to it, and so, are cautioned over surroundings," he explained, the smug expression overtaking his face. "Then, some dragons ignore it and fight it, hence, being in everlasting uncertainty, they tend to be feisty, aggressive even. Ultimately, some dragons, like you, do not even hear it, namely hatchlings."

"Ha ha, hilarious, really," she ironized, knitting her brows, whilst he'd sniggered, amused. "May we, now, return to the topic, which was teaching me shooting?"

"Alright, but I would like to remind you, that you were the one to ask all these questions," he recalled, and Hiccup knew for the matter, she'd not be able to anyhow wipe that grin off his face, today. "Long story short, it is all about the gas, which our throats produce that is pretty flammable."

"Like Zippleback's?"

"Correct," he confirmed, nodding. "The difference is, it stays inside, and we may lighten it up, push it out while breathing out," he illustrated, glancing at the sky, before, returning his gaze at her, suggesting, "Try."

"Alright, but how?"

"Well," he began, his expression thoughtful, whereas hers curious, interested. "If I was to compare it to any human thing, it would be like breathing in and out, through the mouth. In for loading the blast and out for shooting."

"Okay then," she responded, afterward stood straight, lifting her chin. "Watch me."

Nohow he'd reacted to her overconfident reply, only stank an eye at her, before watching her balance herself on the soil, lessen her muzzle toward the ground, and then, follow his previous instructions, sequentially. Hence, she'd inhaled, whereas the new, warm sense debuted down her throat, held her breath, although didn't shoot, being much too surprised, and instinctively swallowed, the white cloud coming out of her mouth, thereafter.

"Disgusting," she gagged, panting.

"That is going to be a long night," he concluded, sighing.

As he'd mentioned, it indeed was going to be a long night, and whereas the evening changed into midnight, only then had Hiccup mastered shooting - when reaching the limit of fire, Toothless prescribed a break. Consequently, at that point, the female lay on the ground, her eyes barely opened, while Toothless stared at the woods, counting the time until the reload of her limit, and as the form of maintaining herself awake, she asked, suddenly.

"So, what is the further plan?"

"Not very complicated," he acknowledged, quickly glancing at her. "Now, that you know how to shoot, you will work on an aim, using the moving target."

Subsequently, he'd gazed at the sky, and following his gaze, she viewed the prey, more precisely the single, white bird - a seagull - which flew ahead of the night sky's background, and which she detected, only because of her dragon eyes. Soon, her ears crammed the male's snarl, and then, out of the blue, he roared, scaring not only the animal, who bolted itself in the other direction, but also herself, as she tilted her head at him, perplexed.

"Birds," he tsked, his eyes slit in disgust. "Since most dragons, their greatest threat, fly during the day, the majority of them decided to try the night, and so, became the issue for us, the creatures of the night," he explained, at last gazing at her, vexed. "They tend to impact into us because, even if we hold the ability to see in the dark, at immense velocity neither can dodge the other, leading to some deaths, even."

"I am sorry to hear," she said, her features clouded by sympathy. "If so, then you must hunt them down, right?"

"Actually, not right," he rectified, his eyes, fixed on her, loosened. "Their size and speed are much of an advantage, hence it would be a waste of time since we have the more treacherous enemies around," he clarified, pointing his ear to the forest, so the Village. "The best is to avoid them, the Hawks especially. They are not only incredibly fast but also possessing sharp talons - meeting them, most of the times, means the loss of an eye, if not worse."

"Sure, but what does it have to do with me," she inquired, lifting her head, "or with that moment, at least?"

"I am making you aware of the danger, so you are mindful of it," he declared, his serious tone resulting in her nodding, the same seriously. "Also, because you will shoot at it, attempt to do so."

"Thanks for the motivation," she groaned, rolling her eyes at him. "You could have pretended you believe that I can do it."

"Maybe the other day," he mocked, chuckled after, and stood up. "Time is up, freckles. Let's get going."

"Great," she grumbled, standing much unwillingly, then headed after him to the cliff's edge, where standing, she asked, "How do I even aim?"

"Just the same way, as you would aim the exhale," he described, peeking at her and smirking. "Becaude you know how to do that, right?"

"Cut me some slack with that irony, please."

The request, even if pleading, Toothless turned a deaf ear to, as he'd gazed to the sky, and so had Hiccup, whereas she searched for the target, namely the birds, the preys capable of harming the mighty dragon, somewhat. Eventually, catching a glimpse of the said objective, the female didn't think twice and quickly shot it, although the purple fire extinguished before it could reach the animal, thus Hiccup glanced at Toothless for the answers.

"You have got quite a good aim, though you load too little," he lectured, never taking his eyes from onward. "The longer you load, the stronger the blast will be, and so longer-lasting. Try again, now."

For the moment longer had she stared at his side profile, until breathing out, letting out an ounce of her irritation, she'd straightened, and returned her sight ahead, looking out for yet another sign of life in the dark sky. Hence, witnessing the flying creature, she'd loaded, holding her breath for longer than previously, and so, strengthened the blast, although the lack of any background resulted in her aim worsening.

That's how she'd missed the bird, which, experiencing the glimmer of the blast, fled away in panic, soon vanishing from before their eyes, whilst Hiccup watched it do so and Toothless gazed at her, concerned. Frowning, the female stared forward blankly, not letting him know about her shame, but even if so, the male nudged her, thereby glancing at him, and glimpsing the cheerful grin, she smiled herself.

Then, much suddenly, somewhere among the bushes behind them, the leaves rustled, therefore Toothless rotated to the moving flora, his eyes slit, the growl coming out of his chest, whereas Hiccup remained stunned. Unknowing of what to do, she'd only observed how he'd kept his muzzle to the ground, stepping ahead of her, and even circled her form with his tail, as if informing anyone that she was under his protection.

Afterward, she'd not commented on it, allowed the male to take control of the situation, and when the atmosphere tensed to the edge, while they'd glared at the shrub, finally, the bunny jumped out of it, not aware of them yet. Wiping his face, the tiny paws brushing the pink nose, as it'd caught a view of a pair of acid, green eyes, much vexed, the creature escaped into the bushes, and Toothless loosened himself, sighing his burden out.

"Okay, that was," Hiccup started and paused, boring her eyes at him, smirking. "Such a Night Fury and you are scared of a bunny?" she joked, although once he'd shifted away from her, glowering into the forest, she fretted. "Toothless?"

"We should head back," he stated, peeking at her, his expression straight. "It is getting dangerous here."

"Are you worried about an upcoming flock of raged bunnies?"

"Hiccup, I am serious," he pressed, resulting in her fade of the smile. "Let's better get going."

"Okay, okay, fine," she agreed, but then, rounded her eyes at him. "May I have a last try, though?"

"Hiccup," he begged, clenching his jaw at the very view of the large, dark, green eyes, and sighed, defeated. "Fine, a last try."

Immediately after she'd beamed, outright jumped to the border, whereas he'd shaken his head, the weak grin welcoming on his face, and they watched for the bird, rather surprised when taking in the sight of a brownish hawk. The mentioned glided between clouds, his velocity reduced, and, feeling the fury growing inside him, Toothless readied to shoot the rascal, although was overtaken by Hiccup, who took the matters into her paws.

Soon after, they'd eyed the burned corpse, tumbling down into the depths of the ocean, and maintaining a proud grin, the male gazed at the female, however, his smile slippered at the very view of her. Having the fearful eyes, also the breathless body, she'd stared at the empty sea, where the carcass was lost to sight, and recognizing that body language, he shifted nigher, his wing brushing hers.

"It would have died either way, after all, it flew at the open space. Someone would snag it, eventually," he insisted, serious as never before. "You have given it the fastest, painless death, without question. Okay?"

"Okay. I know, I know," she replied, exhaling whilst easing the nerves. "Thanks for that, though."

"You are welcome," he responded, then, nudging her side, pushed her to the right, lightly. "Now, let's go, please."

If it wasn't for the matter of how serious and grave he appeared, Hiccup would roll her eyes, groan the matter of him treating her like a child, but actually, she'd just listened obediently, allowed him to be, whether he'd been annoying or not. Soon, they'd been trekking through the woods, rather far from the human's territory, hence as the dragons, their tails brushing against one another's occasionally, whereas they were next to each other's sides.

In the meantime, he'd been gazing ahead, his eyes sharp, focused, and she'd been taking in sight everything, soaking the background up, from the immense spruces and greenish bushes to the beige rope, spread out tensely. The female reacted too late, she'd not made it in time to warn, roar, nor move anyhow, and hence, the very unaware male, taking that one step more, didn't even realize, when the reality trumbled down at him.

Underneath the overgrowth, just between the grass, the same rope had its position, and so, after merely grazing it, the chains arose from the ground, wrapped him, before taking him upward, inside the hanging, metal catch. During the catastrophe, Hiccul managed to dodge it, although the edge of the rapid chain scratched her wing, whilst she snarled under the pain, and soon, gathered herself, gazed at the tangled Toothless, troubled.

"Are you alright?" she asked, studying each element of the trap, her brows frowned.

"I am fine. I will just need to," he answered, bit into the metal, and enraged, having no results. "What, the fuck, is this?!"

"I have never seen such a trap, must be new," she concluded, walking in circles underneath the construction. "The metal is thick, the dragon cannot bite through, not breathe fire, without harming themselves."

"Awesome, just awesome," he responded, outright stretched out along the silver lines. "I know it must be amusing for you, but could you look any less impressed? I am literally trapped in it, at least pretend to be concerned."

"I do not know, that does not sound any fun," she snickered, smirking the brightest ever. "Maybe I could just leave you here? That would be the lesson, one of the kind."

Consequently, he'd narrowed his eyes, irritated, before his ears shot upright, and the previously round orbs transformed into thin lines, whereas the growl came out of his mouth, much to Hiccup's confusion. Suddenly, she'd realized it all, when hearing the reason for his tension - the fast steps farther north, drawing nearer - afterward, she gazed at him, the scare and disgrace evident on the apologetic face.

"Hiccup, get away from here," he commanded, his eyes lacking any plea as he added, "Now."

"You can not ask me that," she acknowledged, not moving an inch, gaping at him, beggingly. "I am not leaving, and if necessary-,"

"You will not fight for me, got it?" he pressed, refraining from roaring, hardly, "I said go, now!"

"Toothless, please-,"

"For crying out loud, you do not even know how to fight! How are you even imagining that?!" he roared, accordingly the steps hastened. "It was an order, so listen to me, and fucking be gone!"

Startled, the female stumbled back, again feeling as if she'd dangled on the wooden branch, and therefore, unable to argue any longer, glancing at him the last time, continually viewing his forthright self, she vanished into the bushes, fast. Witnessing so, Toothless breathed out relief, and once again looked around his caging, hoping to encounter any way of freeing himself, although finding none, focused his attention on upcoming danger.

Sooner than later, from behind the bushes, emerged the limping elder, his gray, bushy hair scattered by pieces of leaves, his green eyes widened at the sight of the Night Fury as he gasped, then laughed, cheered. Hissing at the man, Toothless only observed, how he'd searched through his belt, cursed, as the dragon guessed, when finding no weaponry, then, dusting his uneven beard, glared at the male, before disappearing the way he came.

He will be back, he realized, afterward squirmed against the hard chains, the urge to get out increasing with each dying second, until having heard another presence, he froze, unable to recognize it. Somehow, he'd been surprised, when glimpsing the pair of dark, green eyes, attached to the black body of the dragonness, and stared at them, as if he'd never gazed at them before, as if baffled by Hiccup's sight itself.

"You are back," he acknowledged, whereas the female approached his caging, slowly.

"Of course," she confirmed, tilting her head, puzzled by his very confusion. "Why would I not?"

Not exactly after had he replied, but only when he'd expressed remorse, and then apologized, "I am sorry for what I have said. I have not really meant it, I swear," he pledged, and she smiled, honestly.

"I understand," she responded, her eyes gleaming bright as if there wasn't any distance between them. "Now, let me help you out," she insisted, examining the chains, foremostly the marks of his teeth on them. "Since you can not bite though, what about blasting them?"

"Maybe I could, if it wasn't for the matter that the blasts' strength would knock me out, most presumably," he spotted, and detecting Hiccup's stare upright, followed her gaze, hence noticed the cluster of the chains over himself, held by the top one only. "That is some idea. One blast and I am free, though I will not reach it."

"Okay then, let's think more," she offered, although narrowed her eyes, whereas he'd rolled his - only when he'd glanced from her to the chains and back she understood. "I-, I just learned how to shoot."

"And now, you have occasion to use it," he pointed out, drilling his eyes into her as he encouraged, "Try."

"I will."

Therefore, her eyes pierced the dense, braided line, as if she'd wished to melt it with her gaze, as if she'd hoped to succeed anyhow other, however, when nothing occurred, she shot and missed the target, transforming the struck leaves into ashes. Afterward, the steps, which Toothless had been listening so attentively to, quickened, ensuring the male, the enemy was getting closer, although didn't even bring it up, allowed the female to take the matter in her paws, whose second shot merely heated the metal.

Consequently, the panic debuted on her face, and she stated, "I can not do it," barely maintaining herself at her feet.

"You can," he countered, grounded his jaw, troubled. "It is not the end yet, you have the last shot-,"

"Which I will fucking miss, we both know that!" she interrupted, hyperventilating, driving him to the edge of anxiety. "I had better spare it, use it at the human."

"And do you really choose to shoot someone down, instead of trying to free me, just one more time?" he asked, then, witnessing how she'd shrank before his eyes, loosened his expression. "Freckles, please, look at me," he cooed, straightened as she peeked at him, ignoring the impending steps. "Everything will be fine, you will get me free, and we will escape, but first, you have to calm down, okay?"

"What if I just can not?"

"Just believe that you could. I do," he admitted, hence receiving the female's gape. "I know you can do it, I am sure of it like I had never been of anything. So, you must believe that I am telling the truth, the only question is, do you trust me, Hiccup?"

It'd taken her a mere second to realize the answer, however, she'd not dared to say it out loud, only nodded and exhaled, the slight bravery crossing her face, before fixing her eyes on the chain, on the most significant target. Thereafter, she'd not even noticed when she'd inhaled, the blast readying itself down her throat, balanced the shaking body, and shot, assumably most accurately, because, following the hit, Toothless fell to the soil, hard.

His tensed eyelids were the only ones that betrayed his pain as the rest of his body worked restlessly, tossing the chains off himself, untangling himself from them, and then standing up - only then had he gazed at the female. Trembling, Hiccup stayed still, her head crammed with thoughts he could not read yet, staring at the same point, which previously took the chain, currently filled the emptiness; she panicked, which he couldn't permit, lacking the time, hearing the steps,

"We must go," he ordered, pushing her forward, which made her move, at last. "Come on, now!"

Surprisingly, the command was enough, and the female raced onward, the male following shortly after her, although even after the passage of time, having escaped the threat already, neither had she spoken, nor stopped. Exhausted by the sprint, Toothless's pace slowed, and he eyed the distancing Hiccup's body, until finally, he leaped, his extended wings sustaining him in the glide as he dashed forward to catch up with her.

Ultimately, he'd leveled her, scanned her slit eyes, startled expression, as if he'd seen the fifteen years old girl again, and wakened when being slapped by the tree's leaves, which she'd ignored herself, and which punctured her face, continually. Eventually, the density of the woods decreased, and so, the starry sky, peeking from between the greenery, caught the female's attention, upon her tripping over the tree root and tumbling to the dirt.

Immediately, Toothless called after her, ceasing his flight, landing on the earth, and then hurried to her, his eyes widened at the very sight of her collapsed self, her muddied scales, and tightly folded wings, raising and falling with each her uneven breath. Soon, he'd approached her close enough to view her claws stabbed into the footing, her compressed eyes, and as a form of consolation, he settled down by her, not too near, just to create a space for her, although not too far, as a reminder of his presence.

For the first time in a while, he'd had no idea of what to do, of how to help, neither being aware of how she could've felt nor having ever encountered such an issue, such a panic, which blinded one, whatsoever. Gazing at her was torture, the remainder of his failure, his neglect, and do, avoiding the very gaze, he looked to the side, stared at the blackness of water ahead, beyond the cliff they were at, and ultimately, talked.

"I hate the ocean," he confessed, firmly, so even nature appeared offended by the insult, the waves crashing into the stone, soundly. "My entire life I have spent over it, either flying over or sleeping by. Thus, it became predictable, notorious, and tedious," he illustrated, smiling whereas her breathing evened. "You have much luck, living on the isle, no need of leaving - you could just turn your back on it, forget it even exists."

"You know nothing," she burst out, at last opening her eyes, inside which he'd glanced. "Oversensitive reptile."

"Do I not really?" he inquired, the corner of his mouth raising as he leaned his chin on his paws. "Enlight me then, shameless human, what good is the ocean, in your eyes?"

"The ocean is a journey, the ocean is an adventure, it is the discovery of what nobody has ever seen," she admitted, her expression light, inspirational. "I have always dreamed of the day when I will be entitled to glance, at least, a little more of it. I live for the life you have - free of the statutes and rules, which deprive me of it, of the unpredictable, unknown, absorbing horizon ahead," she finished and bored her eyes into the staring, grinning male. "What?"

"It is admirable to see you smile, again," he admitted, and astounded Hiccup couldn't help, but brighten as he loosened his muscles. "Though I can not understand your penchant, I understand your dreams. I, also, used to crave to see the world, whole and wide."

"Why have you abandoned it, then?" she asked, the uneasiness crossing her face, momentarily.

"I have not, I merely fulfilled it," he answered, chuckling at the female's relief, then straightened. "Are you feeling better now?"

"I am alright, thanks to you," she stated, only then noticing his tail, circled around her, as she attempted to rotate her own around him. "To be honest, I have never been so afraid in my life, so frozen, so uncontrollable, not even then in the forge," she revealed, glancing to the ground, ashamed. "You must think that I am a coward, are you not?"

"Well, maybe, but that is nothing indecent," he replied, rolled his eyes at the baffled gaze that she'd bestowed him with. "Better be the cautious coward, than the dead daredevil, will you not agree?" he clarified, then, whilst she'd not bucked up, lengthened his wing, coating her within its edge. "Look, as for me, you are not a coward - myself, I have seen you, try to stand against the dragon, which is described as the offspring of the death, even laugh at it facing the cited death. If you have been really so scared, you must have had a reason."

Subsequently, she'd gaped at him, their eyes as if blending, and then, glancing down, she confessed, "Maybe, for the first time really, I could have lost something," only after, she'd dared herself to gaze back at him, and continued, "Maybe, for the first time really, I could have lost something, that I hold dear to my heart."

Hence, Toothless absolutely lost it, the everlasting unreadable expression vanished, being replaced by the surprise, whereas he'd come across touched as he'd never been, the breath ripped out of his chest, abruptly. As he'd beamed, she couldn't have believed it, questioned the actuality, although accepted it, when the acid, bright, green eyes glimmered by the reflection of stars, but also with the delight, which she'd chosen to have the faith into.

At some point, he'd driven nigher to her, his chin almost grazing her neck, although hadn't inched any closer, as if he'd waited for permission, and when glimpsing the mere, quick nod from her side, he dared. Afterward, his navy, under the reflection of the moon, scales brushed her purple ones, like when at the grass field, and she soaked up each his nudge, each touch, even plastered her nose to the crook of his neck, enjoying the scent of the turbulent ocean and burnt wood.

Finally, they'd ended up lying on the ground, his jaw leaning atop her head, whereas she'd rested against his chest, the hastened heartbeat by her ear, at the same time, driving her wild and soothing her down. Momentarily, he'd raised, upon the lift of his ears, and, as he'd gazed around, she'd glanced at him, although didn't manage to follow his example, because soon, he was back at the previous position, and curious, she asked.

"What was that?"

"Nothing much," he answered, his nose rubbing her dropped ear. "Just the flock of raged bunnies."

"I knew it," she replied, and she felt his grin on her skin. "And I have wanted to do so much more in life."

"Me either," he responded, then straightened and drew farther, as to gaze at her, intensely. "Your heart is racing."

"Right," she confirmed, glancing to the side when asking, "Could we stay here a little longer? At least until I calm?"

"Of course, no bother," he answered, his voice, inside her head, gentle. "I will always be here for you if needed. I am here."

Consequently, curving the moved, grateful smile, she'd stroked her snout underneath his jaw, thus he'd caressed the side of her head with his own, both delighted in the embrace, in which they'd found themselves. Anytime soon, they'd be watching the sky, the bright, illuminating spots on a dark background, and for Hiccup, wrapped by the potent wing, having the presence of the male nearby, these were only this - the stars.