#i followed you in under the sighing restless trees and my whole life vanished

[89rooms]

There were flowers at the edge of the forest, cupping The last of the light in their upturned petals. I followed you in, Under the sighing, restless trees and my whole life vanished. The moon tossed down its shimmering cloth. We undressed, then dressed again in the gowns of the moon. We knelt in the leaves, kissed, kissed;

Carol Ann Duffy - 'Forest' in "Rapture"

[maybe-theres-hope]

Of Will and Wildflowers, Interlude - Carlos: “Indecision”

-Hello all. I debated about ever having this see the light of day, as I wrote it as sort of a character study to keep myself honest while writing the main story, which I always intended to be single POV for the drama of it all. 

However, in my heart I feel like I owe you all at least something for how long you’ve waited for the conclusion to this story (I originally intended to post the whole thing before the season even started and...here we are lol), and I figured you’d appreciate this. It doesn’t spoil anything, so don’t be afraid to read if that’s something you’re worried about (unless of course you haven’t read the story at all, in which case here you go!). It’s just a glimpse into Carlos’ psyche in this AU. 

This takes place the second night of the Strand’s visit, after TK and Carlos take their first journey around the grounds that ends in the apple orchard, and subsequently Elena spilling that Mr. de Castillo will be joining them soon.

This is for all those who have encouraged me so much with this story, and I promise you all you will get the conclusion! Life has just gotten in the way so much lately :( @oquinn53, @reyeslonestar, @howtosingit, @a-l-ias, @mtnofgrace, @descending-into-the-crazies if I missed you let me know please! I love you all :)

Carlos was having difficulty dressing for dinner, and it wasn’t because of the fiddly fastenings of his waistcoat.

TK Strand was…The man was…

Carlos was also having difficulty with full sentences, even ones inside his own head.

The morning they’d shared had been as if from a dream, or a fairytale from one of Raquel’s storybooks. Every time TK smiled at the vast landscape of Carlos’ home, every time his eyes lit up at the brush of scent from the wildflowers hitting his nose, Carlos was arrested. Time stood frozen for a few moments in which he could admire the man before him at his leisure, when he could ascend to a higher plane of aesthetic dominated by the gentle slope of TK’s jaw.

Carlos had also to admit to himself—if not out loud just yet—that there was also the man’s intellect, not just his beautiful face and impeccable seat on a horse, that drew Carlos’ attention. When Carlos had asked him of his life in New York, TK had for some reason shied away from speaking of his father’s company and his own part in it, as Carlos might have expected from a man of business on a business trip. Instead, he talked of Central Park and the Fifth Avenue Hotel, and how the architecture compared to that which he’d seen on their journey through the South. He spoke of the air surrounding them and how clean it smelled, even though Carlos knew they were downwind from a herd and they both knew it.

The man was charming in his innocence and captivating in his depth in turns, and Carlos could hardly bear to look away or allow himself to speak in his turn when TK asked him a question about this landmark or that bit of wildlife.

They’d passed the morning gently ambling along wherever the horses saw fit to take them, talking of everything and nothing, and it had been glorious. And their picnic…their picnic! Carlos had never worshipped Mrs. Smith’s blackberry jam quite as much as when he caught a glimpse of it clinging to the side of TK’s mouth just before a deft tongue slipped out to take it away. He was quite taken aback at the weight of his infatuation, to be honest. He’d not ever had occasion to fall so fast into regard for someone, and it was at times disorienting and grounding. His body felt as if it had been given over to some mystical force, using its hands to ensure the movement of his heart when it stopped itself at the sight of TK’s smile in the sunshine and guiding his eyes to alight once more upon TK’s handsome profile.

The apple orchard had been…a risk. Carlos simply could no longer help himself in his desire to be near this man. He made every clandestine endeavor to brush a shoulder or knee or knuckle as they walked. Holding TK’s hand properly to help him down from Flor’s saddle was akin to ascension to the clouds beyond.

His hand still tingled when he thought of it.

Was this what everyone referred to when they spoke of love? Surely not. He’d only known the man for two days. And yet.

And yet.

Just then a knock at his bedroom door startled him out of his thoughts, which he was secretly glad of.

After a word of acquiescence from Carlos, Christina passed through the door before shutting it again behind her quietly. Her face still held a small trace of trepidation in it when she caught his gaze, and he was instantly reminded of the scene on the porch when they’d arrived back from their tour of the property.

Fernando was coming, and that muddied his thoughts more than all the rest.

“I came to see how you were faring, and I see it’s just as I suspected,” she offered in greeting. She stood in the middle of the room with her hands clasped against her skirts, looking at him in earnest.

“And what did you suspect?”

“You’re warring inside your own head as we speak. Your thoughts are plain as day on your face. As is your utter admiration for our handsome Mr. Strand. Don’t try to deny it, I know you far better than you wish.”

“That is the truth,” he muttered with a sigh. “What am I to do?”

“About what? Your obvious inclination toward Mr. Strand? Or your equally obvious promise to Mr. de Castillo?”

“There was no promise!” He flopped himself down on the bed, dressing forgotten for the moment. They’d had this argument before. “It is merely an understanding, built upon mutual need. We can just as easily misunderstand each other as well.”

“But you’re not that kind of man, Carlos. You don’t go back on your word,” she replied, her expression turning miserable. She was perhaps the only one who truly understood what had been going on in his head when he’d made the promise in the first place. Christina was also possibly the only one who truly understood why he was warring over it now. She could read his face, his tone of voice, the shape of his stance like a book.  Sometimes he hated it, but for the moment he was quite glad to not have to articulate the particulars of this struggle in bare words. He was content to skirt around the topic they both knew was on his mind with veiled hints and euphemisms.

“I know. So, esteemed elder sister, what should I do?”

She came closer and laid a hand upon his shoulder, her face still a picture of commiseration.

“You should do what every gentleman and lady wishes they could do, but for which they all lack the courage.” He stared at her, waited for her to elaborate. “You should follow your heart.”

“I can see now why all those other gentlemen and ladies lack the courage! I am damned if I do anything. If I keep my word to Fernando, I will be secure but restless, adrift, unfulfilled and bound to endure it, and it will be no fault of his but completely my own. He is a good man, and he does not deserve my indifference.”

“But he would have it anyway, would he not? You don’t—“

“You’re right, I do not. But that is not the point!”

“I thought it was? And what should happen if you break your word?” Her eyes seemed to bore into his skull despite the soft brown of her irises.

“I…” Words seemed to slip away on the wind from the open window. He thought again of TK asking about the wildflowers, how his smile lit up the landscape more than the rising sun. He could picture a thousand mornings spent just as they had this one, or perhaps instead of combing Carlos’ family homeland on horseback, they would promenade in Central Park among the birds and trees. They would walk arm in arm with no destination, just the inclination to be together in the bright spring air. He would utter some quip about the couple across the way just to hear the bells of TK’s laughter. TK would point out some high society maiden and they’d remark—under their breath of course—about the ridiculousness of her hat. At the end of each day they would return home together to sit by a roaring fire and talk into the night about everything and nothing before lying down beside each other and drifting into dreams that could do nothing to rival their waking lives.

The picture abruptly vanished at the thought of Fernando, however. Carlos was right, the man did not deserve to be slighted after all he’d done to assure Carlos of a life beyond his mother’s death and Rosa’s inheritance. Fernando was handsome, kind, and the catch of the century. Anyone would be envious of Carlos’ position.

Except Carlos.

Christina, who had been heretofore silent while her brother ruminated in his thoughts, finally sat beside him on the bed and slipped her arm into his, laying her head upon his shoulder.

“I know it’s not ideal, but you have to choose the path that puts your heart at ease, the one you can live with for the rest of your life. If you do that, you’ll be content. If you go against your own heart, you’ll never know peace.”

The problem was, Carlos couldn’t make sense of what his heart wanted in the slightest, and because of that he was frozen in indecision.

#tarlos period drama #of will and wildflowers #tarlos #tarlos fic #911 ls #911 lone star #brooke writes

[megairea]

I followed you in, under the sighing, restless trees and my whole life vanished.

Carol Ann Duffy, from Forest; Rapture, 2005

#carol ann duffy #rapture #british literature #poetry #contemporary poetry #literature

[kainablue]

LECTURE ME - Don’t Ask (part 1)

[Chain Reaction]  [Distracted]  [A Quick Smoke]  [Into the Wild]  [Heavy Rain (part 1)]  [Heavy Rain (part 2)] [Moonstruck (part 1)] [Moonstruck (part 2)] [On the House]

-

Okay, wow, I have a small collection here! Yay! 

Here’s the next chapter (finally!) In case you’ve forgotten - this is a dirty little bundle of stories about a professor and his student (and some other peeps). You can read them in any order that you like (except for the ones with ‘part 1′ and ‘part 2′ on them - these chapters were too long and that’s why I separated them like this)

The first part is pretty safe. Only some profanities and a bit of thirst! Enjoy! 🍷

Don’t Ask (part 1)

Oliver

What a shitty day. And not just because of rain.

As if getting scolded by the department's secretary for losing the keys to my office - again! - wasn’t bad enough, a couple of students at my last lecture were particularly annoying. Two wiseasses trying to convince me that morality is completely unnecessary in modern times. I wanted to crack their shit-filled skulls with an iron bar. But I kept my cool, I did. Barely, though. And I wonder was it really worth it because now I have a fucking headache as if someone smacked me with an iron bar.

A familiar smell of petrol tickles my nose. My eyes dart to my dashboard - I’m almost out of juice. Fuck. I rub my throbbing forehead and wonder what the helI did I do for karma to punish me like this. 

Well - I can feel a smirk tugging my mouth - I haven’t been an innocent lamb jumping around the meadow, have I?

As I turn around the corner, two streets away from my home, a slight silhouette darkens my peripheral view. I would have missed Filipa if she wasn’t always on my mind. I do believe my brain is overstimulated and now I am hypersensitive to anything related to her.

I memorized the sound of her shoes walking over different types of floors. From the way utensils are positioned on a plate, I can recognize her leftovers in the dining hall. And I can sense her arousal by breathing in her sweat enriched with musk and floral perfume. Aaah, just the memory of that sex aroma, that perfect combination of refined and vulgar, is making me dizzy.

I pull over next to a willow tree bending over the gates like Juliet over her balcony. A shower started recently, a light drizzle, but strong enough to be annoying. Filipa is pacing, her head bowed down, carrying a box in her hands. Several rectangular stamps are one it. Oh, so she’s been to the post office. But why aren’t her packages delivered to the Academy's department office, like everyone else's?

I open the window. “Need a ride, pretty lady?”

Filipa lifts her head and stops, swaying a bit. There’s something odd. Was she— A tight knot of pain stabs me in the throat. Was she… crying? There are no telltale signs on her face, just… the feeling. Like when you see a famous actor on the street for the first time. They look the same but it’s not the character you know. Like another person. Like someone without a mask.

Filipa doesn’t avert her eyes (she’s never the first to buckle - never!) and approaches my car. A lovely, almost innocent smile curves her lips and the whole costume is back on - the mask, the robe, the hood – the girl I saw just a second ago has vanished.

She places one her elbow on the window edge and the other hand holding the mysterious box on the car roof, bending her back. There isn’t much happening at the front of her clothes: her flat chest covered by her school uniform with buttoned up shirt. But her skirt… I imagine it is now way up. As she lowers her upper body, adjusting herself to my height, the skirt is going up and up, slowly sliding above her knees and her thighs. Maybe even her ass. 

A passer-by checks her out from behind, looking under her skirt like a fucking pervert! 

That ass is mine! 

“We are going in opposite directions, professor.”

Her voice is creamy like always, with some light notes of mirth attached to the word professor. 

“How about a detour?” Really, why not? “Hop on. I have something to show you.”

Her eyebrow jumps in surprise and then joins the other one in vexation. A very different sounding words shoot me.  

“Seriously? Of all the cheesy lines you have, you are offering me 'I have something to show you' one? I know how your dick looks, Oliver.”

“But it’s a very fine dick, wouldn't you agree?”  The rolling of her eyes was expected but always entertaining. “No, something else, but not as big, I’m afraid. Come.”

“Where to?”

“My apartment.”

She tilts her head, amused. “Wouldn’t it be suspicious, professor: a young naive student and her mentor heading to his unholy den?”

“To earn her some extra credit.” 

I crack myself up sometimes. The absurdity of my statement even draws a low chuckle from Filipa.

“All right,” she sighs and pushes herself away from my car. I forgot about the box. Such a dull looking thing, wrapped in a brown paper, and yet she holds it like a treasure… The familiar static fills my brain clouding my every thought. Oliver, don’t do it. Don’t do it. Don’t do —

“What’s in there?”

You. Fucking. Did. It.

If eyes could make a sound, hers would be hissing at me.

“I should head back, professor.” And with that statement, heavy as a concrete block, she proceeds to march towards the Academy.

I fucked up.

I put my Ford in reverse and start to follow her.

“Fine. I’m sorry. Don’t tell me what’s in your damn box. Let’s go.”

She doesn’t stop. There is no other person who can blank you like Filipa can. I turn off the engine and take a deep breath. She won’t like this. Not at all.

I get out, leaving the car door open. In several big steps I catch up with her and immediately block her way. Because she was walking with her head down, probably protecting her eyes from the rain, Filipa headbutts my chest. I touch her upper arms but she springs backwards. She clenches her package and snarls like a monkey holding stolen goods. The ire in her eyes is so forceful I freeze. 

We stand like that for a few moments. Rain is dripping down my face and dampening my shirt. It's cold. I swallow a lump. Filipa is all wet and beyond pissed now. Why do I get horny when she looks like she wants to massacre me.

“Come on, doll. I’m sorry. I made a mistake.”

She hardly blinks. Rain is getting heavier by the minute and she… isn’t bothered even the slightest? Blinking is for the weak, and Filipa is everything but weak, I laugh inwardly.

A much lighter expression takes over Filipa’s features. Not necessarily a good thing. She shifts into a more relaxed pose. 

“Beg.”

Not what I expected. “Okay, please.”

“No. I mean… beg.”

Oh. 

Someone could fucking see us! I turn around: luckily, the street is empty, but that can change in a second. And far more importantly - my clothes! Crap! I stare down at her. I could literally scoop her up and carry her to my car, but… She wouldn’t just kill me then, though; she would literally crush me into a lump the size of a marshmallow and eat me.

The resting bitch face in front of me is unforgiving. I know she doesn’t care. She will just leave if I refuse. And… I don’t want that. Just like I wouldn't want any of my nails pulled out with rusty pincers. 

I take a deep breath in… and kneel. A humiliating wet cold enters my clothes and spreads over my knees and calves. Fuck! 

“Please.” I stare at Filipa’s ugly, dirty shoes, gritting my teeth. Someone will see us! And then I’m screwed! “Please, please, please.”

Filipa is silent. She is enjoying this so much, I just know it. Murky water around my knees is restless from the raindrops hitting it. But I can somehow make out two faces: one pathetic, with eyes wide open in apprehension; the other, upside-down – and victorious.

Her foot moves up, water dripping from the shoe sole. The dirty, worn-out tip has a shallow scratch - just above her big toe. 

"Kiss."

I swallow. I was expecting this.

Let's get this over with.

I close my eyes and press my lips on a dry patch, just above the scuff. The smell of mud and old leather tickles my nostrils.  

“Are you satisfied?” I croak. My head is flying from one side to the other, checking if someone’s approaching. This is so dumb and risky and… exciting. I suck on my lower lip. Fuck me and my sick, twisted brain! I want to bend even more, shove my elbows in this disgusting sewage water and lick her legs. I want her to place her hand in my hair and pull while —

A finger brushes along my jaw and lifts my head up. Filipa’s lips are curved into a poisonous smirk. Her smile is like a drug – a deadly line that boils my blood and ruins my life. And I need it all the time. 

All the fucking time.

“Very,” she whispers, a slight tremble in her voice. She really is. “Let’s go.”

***

Filipa

I expected Oliver’s room to be a bit more… chaotic. More bachelor like. More I’m-overwhelmingly-anxious-to-keep-my-job-but-also-uncontrollably-hedonistic-like. But it isn’t. 

His shoes are neatly aligned next to a hallway wall. The wooden floor is old but clean, not even a pebble stuck between the boards. No weird stains, no underwear on the kettle, no porn hastily hidden bellow a carpet. He has a separate bedroom, but I bet he even made the bed before leaving his apartment this morning. Smell of cigarettes is glued to every piece of furniture and I soon spot a full ashtray. But aside from that dirty metal container and a bunch of papers and books scattered all over the floor and any horizontal surface, this apartment is… quite neat.

“I don’t think you came here before?” Oliver moves the curtains and more grey light colours the room. 

“I haven’t.”

There are no pictures on the walls. I think they used to be white,long time ago when this house was built; but they are more creamy brown now. Years of tobacco using tenants did that, I guess. Except for one spot where colour is still unsoiled and almost completely clean. In the perfect center, opposite from the windows, there used to be a cross. Not a large one, nor particularly prominent judging by the shape. But it bothered Oliver enough to remove it.

“Have a seat,” he points to an armchair in childish excitement, “and get ready to be amazed.”

I humor him and take a seat. Right in front of me, taking up quite a large portion of the living room, is a… table? A desk? Huge tablecloth covering it falls down some unexpected curves. Not to mention the tabletop is set too low for any standard chair. And yet it’s also too high for a coffee table.

Oliver removes piles of books that were covering the top and, with a wiggle of his eyebrows, he asks: “Are you ready?”

This can only be something incredibly stupid when he’s so excited. I brace myself expecting to see a rocking horse or an overly complicated sex toy. I nod.

He takes the tabletop and lifts the whole thing in one swift move. Table cloth flies with it and for a moment Oliver resembles a magician uncovering a rabbit underneath a mystery box.

But there is no rabbit. Only a - bathtub.

Although,  I have to admit, a beautiful one. It is wooden and shaped as those old baths that you can see in period dramas. But this one is brand new and shining like a freshly licked candy. I stand up to get a closer look. It really is gorgeous. 

“You made it?”

“Yup.” This big man’s ego just got a bit bigger. “Touch it.”

I glide tips of my fingers along the rim. It’s like ice.

"I used seven layers of finish so it could be as smooth as glass," he trails off and zones out. For a few seconds I was almost able to observe his tiny thought monkey with cymbals taking a break from wanking himself and actually using his brain for a change. And then he spoke in enlightenment: "...for your lovely, precious, little ass."

I don't know what I expected.

"Lord Byron, step aside, you've been outshined."

Oliver chuckles. “I would be honored if your ass would be the first one to sit in it.”

I look at the bathtub again. Is there a trick? Will something happen? I hardly believe Oliver would do something to openly anger me, but to simply push my buttons for shits and giggles – yes. And I’m not in the mood for it.

“Come on, sweetie. You know you want to soak that wet and cold flesh of yours in a hot bath.” He shifts behind me, a towering presence of muscles and heat. Oliver kisses the top of my head. “I will wash you, my mistress.”

A purr escapes my lips in response to this deep, rich and velvety voice whispering in my hair. It would be quite nice to replace the moldy odor of this sad room to a floral scent of soap. Bliss overcomes me as I imagine warm water clinging to my body and the brisk air biting my flesh when I expose myself. Oliver moves closer to me. A slow shiver shoots up along the back of my thighs, where his legs are touching mine. And, of course, the idea of his hands gliding up and down my skin, feeling me, caressing me, teasing me in all the right ways - does sound divine.

“Fine, my beast. You can have your wish.”

~~~

[to be continued…]

#lemon #writeblr #writing #amwriting #adult writing #writers on tumblr #writer #writers #mature writing #romance #romance writing #dark academia #story #my writing #lectureme

[violettesiren]

There were flowers at the edge of the forest, cupping

The last of the light in their upturned petals. I followed you in,

Under the sighing, restless trees and my whole life vanished.

The moon tossed down its shimmering cloth. We undressed,

then dressed again in the gowns of the moon. We knelt in the leaves,

kissed, kissed; new words rustled nearby and we swooned.

Didn’t we? And didn’t I see you rise again and go deeper

into the woods and follow you still, till even my childhood shrank

to a glow-worm of light where those flowers darkened and closed.

Thorns on my breasts, rain in my mouth, loam on my bare feet, rough

Bark grazing my back, I moaned for them all. You stood, waist deep,

In a stream, pulling me in, so I swam. You were the water, the wind

In the branches wringing their hands, the heavy, wet perfume of soil.

I am there now, lost in the forest, dwarfed by the giant trees. Find me.

Forest by Carol Ann Duffy

#carol ann duffy

[alethiometry]

one more: disaster, nightmares & sparring with whoever you want

oof homie this got real long (title of your sex tape?)

send me prompts!

Afterimages of fire and blood linger long after Kassandra blinks open her eyes to the cold grey shadows of her bedroom. Her hands shake as she swipes at the sweat that’s beaded her brow and pushes herself up to sitting. The night is still and silent, save for the constant chirping of crickets and the soft swoosh of breeze through wheat. It is cool on her brow, her bare arms: no heat or smoke to sting her eyes. No ash to coat her lungs.

Stars explode when she presses the heels of her palms into her eyes, but still she sees the wheat burning. The beams of her house collapsing. Workers screaming, weapons clashing, blood all down her front and on her hands, and the girls—the girls—

—are fast asleep in their shared crib beside her bed, curled around one another as if they were trueborn twins. Two halves of a whole, each protecting the other, and Kassandra stifles a sob as she reaches down to stroke Sophia’s pudgy cheek, Phaidre’s golden hair.

“I’m fine,” she whispers when she hears Brasidas stirring beside her. “It’s nothing. Go back to sleep.”

“Will you join me?” he asks, but she rises to her feet instead. It’s a dance they’ve danced a hundred times or more, but he’ll still ask every time, as if one day she will give him the answer she knows he hopes for.

The hunting spear is light in her hands when she pulls it from the weapons-rack by the door; she wonders absently if she should swap it for the heft of a battleaxe. But she needs to be swift, needs something she can carry while running, a weapon that is simultaneously far-reaching and agile. Just in case…

Just in case.

“I’m going to get some air,” she says. “Lock the door behind me.”

“Nothing is coming, Kassandra.”

She knows even without turning around that Brasidas is frowning.

Nothing will come. Nothing has ever come. We are safe. You are safe. The girls are safe.

He has whispered these things a hundred times or more. Sworn by all the gods, by the sun and the moon and every star that hangs in the sky:

You are safe. You are home.

Home is where nothing will ever, ever harm you.

“Lock the door behind me,” she repeats. “Don’t open it unless I knock twice, then once, then twice again.”

She doesn’t start down the stairs until she hears the heavy bolt sliding into place behind her.

The breeze has blown clouds to cover the moon; what little light seeps through washes the farm in dull greys, but Kassandra knows the terrain well enough by now—has tread this path enough times in the darkness—to navigate without the aid of a torch. This is a good thing; anyone else will immediately give themselves away with their torches, and she can get the drop on them.

(They come from the sea, from the land, from the shadows. It doesn’t matter where they come from; what matters is that they are here. They are here for her, for Brasidas, for their daughters. They are here for blood and war and chaos and she screams and fights and fights and screams and still they come and come and come—)

Still, she thinks, a little more moonlight wouldn’t hurt. Then she wouldn’t have to feel her way around the joints of the perimeter fences to ensure that they’ve held up (they have—the recent spring rains have swollen the wood; if anything, they are even stronger now than they were the day they rebuilt them). Wouldn’t need to squint half as hard to ensure that her traps and snares are just as she left them, poised and ready for unsuspecting lurkers.

(She hears nothing but her daughters shrieking, infants crying out for a mother who cannot reach them. Sees nothing but Brasidas’ lifeless eyes staring at her, through her, blood pooling beneath his slashed throat, trickling from his lips—)

The grain silo stands tall in the moonlight, a fresh coat of whitewash belying the recent mud-coating it’s been given: all the better to keep any fire out, away from the dried, explosive grain.

(An explosion that rocks the foundations of the farmhouse, the sky filled with smoke as burning grain rains down from the ruined silo, only to be caught by the fields which feed the fire and let it grow, and grow and grow and grow, until her home is nothing but a sea of flames—)

The workers’ quarters, too, are well reinforced. They sit squat and cozy on the southern edge of the farm, bordered by the thick, near-overgrown grove of walnut trees. A thin plume of smoke rises from the chimney: just a simple cooking fire to warm the hut where Kassandra knows the oldest workers sleep. That is fine. There is no hiding to be done here, and cooking fires are to be expected. Signs of a thriving farm, a good life. Of a home that is safe and loved.

She moves on, loosening the grip on her spear.

Everything is alright, she repeats to herself. Everything is always alright. The farm is safe. Everybody is safe.

Alexios’ little house sits forlorn and empty, as it does more often than not, and where her worry and fear have begun to lift, sadness settles in their stead. The Adrestia docked in Gytheion harbor two weeks ago, but she’s hardly seen her brother since he’d disembarked, muttering something about an escort mission for some merchant eager to cart his goods all the way to Tegea.

In fact, she’s hardly seen him at all since he’d brought a tiny, shivering Phaidre in from the cold, all those months ago.

Alexios should be back from Arkadia any day now, Kassandra figures. But there’s just as good a chance that he’ll dive straight into the next job. And the next, and the next. She knows too well the restlessness, the voice inside your head that tells you to always keep running. Keep running, and nothing will hurt you. Stay still, and perish.

She wouldn’t trade this life for the world, but she understands. And she will keep his house safe until he is ready for it.

“What the fuck are you doing to my house?” Alexios growls behind her, and Kassandra nearly jumps out of her skin with a hiss.

“Don’t fucking sneak up on me!”

“Then stop trying to break into my house. If I didn’t know it was you, I would’ve killed you on the spot.”

“I’m not—You couldn’t kill me even if you tried.” Kassandra smirks as her heart slows to its normal pace.

“I could, too,” her brother grumbles. Then, “What’s wrong with you?”

“It’s nothing,” replies Kassandra automatically, turning toward the livestock pens. To her consternation, Alexios follows. She glares at him as she unlatches the gate and checks the barn, the coop. He glares right back, strolling the length of the pen and inspecting the fence posts, and she is both grateful for and annoyed by his company.

“The fences are strong,” he tells her. “The locks are secure. Your traps are in place and rigged just the way you designed.”

She makes sure to bump into his shoulder as she brushes past him, but he catches her arm. His grip tightens when she tries to shake him off. The breeze has blown away the clouds, and in the moonlight his narrowed eyes gleam with suspicion and worry.

“Nothing’s changed, Alexios,” she admits with a sigh. “We are safe here; I tell myself that every day. Every fucking day, from dawn until dusk, I am safer and happier than I have ever been in my life. And yet—”

“And yet you worry that it will all come crashing down,” he concludes. “The fear is eating you alive, Kassandra.”

“I know that,” she says, clambering onto a fence post and perching there. “I’m handling it.”

“Is that what this is? Patrolling the perimeter, checking traps in the middle of the night—this is a farm, Kassandra, not a fortress.”

“What the fuck else can I do?”

Alexios shrugs.

“You’re not helpful,” Kassandra tells him, which earns her another shrug.

“I’m your brother,” he says. “I don’t need to be helpful. That’s what everybody else is for.”

Kassandra shakes her head. “You’re infuriating.”

“Would it help if you hit me?”

“Would it—what?”

“When you first brought me home,” he says, “after… after everything, I was angry all the time. I fought with you, with mater, with your crew and your lieutenants and your friends. I was lost, and I was angry. And do you remember what you told me?”

Kassandra nods. “If you can’t tell me what’s wrong—”

“—just fucking hit me, if that’s what it takes to shut the fuck up,” Alexios finishes.

“I’m not angry,” she says. “I’m not lost. I’m—I don’t know what I am. Frightened, mostly, by things I know are unlikely to happen. I’m fighting shadows that vanish as soon as I swing in their direction.”

Alexios raises an eyebrow, spreading his arms wide.

Kassandra rolls her eyes, drives her spear point-first into the dirt, and punches him.

He takes the hit, just this once, staggering back to regain his balance. She takes the opportunity to rush forward, aiming to sweep his feet out from under him, but his stance is solid and he sidesteps her, landing his own blow that she only barely blocks. She deals him another hit to his stomach, then his side, driving him back until he catches a swing that overextends her, sending her tumbling into the dirt.

He offers her a hand, and she lets him pull her to her feet, and they go again. And again. And again.

It has been awhile, Kassandra thinks, since they traded blows like this. She sidesteps his lunges and rolls when he swings wide, striking him from behind before he can turn. His dodging has gotten smoother, too, and he is more accustomed to parrying and redirecting the volleys of punches she throws.

When they are through, they rinse off the dirt and dust at the water-trough.

“Sometimes it’s bandits,” she says, splashing the cool water on her face and letting it trickle down her front, “in my dreams, coming to raid the farm. Sometimes it’s the Athenian army, or the Persians. Sometimes it’s the Cult, and sometimes it’s the krypteia. Sometimes it’s not raiders at all, but the wrath of the gods. Massive waves from the eastern coast washing away all that we’ve built here. Wildfires sweeping through and destroying everything in their path. I’ve watched myself lose everything I have in every way imaginable, and the one thing that stays the same each time is that I am powerless to stop it. The happier I am, the more fuel there is to feed that fear. I’ve never had this much to lose, Alexios.”

“Do you regret any of it?” he asks. “Would it all still have been worth it, even if the worst were to happen?”

Yes.

A hundred times yes.

“What happened to you to make you so uncharacteristically helpful?” she grumbles, and her brother tosses his head back and laughs.

“How are the girls?” Alexios asks quietly. He splashes his face once more, then wrings the water from the hem of his chiton.

“Loud and hungry, mostly,” she tells him. “And Phaidre’s gotten so big. As strong and healthy as any baby her age.”

He nods, but says nothing.

“You saved her,” Kassandra continues. “She will have a good life, now, because of you. You should stay a while, and watch her grow.”

Alexios gives a little grunt. Noncommittal, to be sure, but it’s not a no.

She pulls her spear from the dirt and heads back to the farmhouse.

“Ah,” she can hear Brasidas tell their daughters as she knocks on the bedroom door—twice, then once, then twice again. “Sounds like mater’s back.”

“Mater went to spar with Uncle Alexios in the goat pen,” Kassandra says wryly, taking Phaidre from his arms as he continues to bounce Sophia at his hip. She gurgles happily, grabbing at Kassandra’s damp braid with hands that grow stronger every day, and Kassandra feels her heart swell.

That swelling feeling, she thinks, will never grow old. Not in a hundred years.

When the girls have gone back to sleep, snuggled side-by-side as ever, Kassandra changes into a clean night-shift and climbs back into bed.

“You still smell like goat,” Brasidas grumbles, but pulls her to him anyway. “Can you sleep?”

Kassandra nods, her head resting on his shoulder.

“You’re safe here, Kassandra,” he adds. “You are. You will always be safe now. I promise.”

“I know,” she says, and closes her eyes.

#homestead au #thatsouthernanthemz #asked #this is set between when phaidre is adopted/sophia is born and meli's arrival #my fic #ac fic #acfic

[frosty-tian]

Fan Flash Fiction: A Cold Start:

Ratings: General Audiences

Warnings: None

Genre: Slice-of-life, Comedy/Humour

Fandom: ‘Boomboom-school’

Characters: Rin Hiryu, other Class 1-B students (minor role/appearances.)

Words: 1500+

Extra notes: Idea from my wonderful friend @seersnake! As usual, polite constructive criticisms/feedback are welcome.

Summary:

It’s the new start for Rin, which meant new attitude, and new things to look forward to. However, on this fine morning, an unexpected problem strikes. 

Will Rin still be able to have a great time despite the new obstacle ahead?

Early sunlight slanted through the curtain’s crack. The long, warm beam split my room cleanly in half, turning dust specks into flickers of ember.

Usually, I simply would’ve groaned and turn my back to the light, but I was sure about this day being different.

Why, it’s the first day of December. This meant… Few more steps until Christmas and the long-awaited New Years!

Determined that absolutely nothing will meddle with this happy thought in my head, I enthusiastically threw off my warm blankets (I have the habit of sleeping with two layers during colder nights), wearing an unusually big (and possibly stupid) smile that’s brimming with optimism.

 This optimism fell flat seconds after I yanked open the thin, olive-green curtains.

I blinked once, twice.

How...?

There were small, grinding sounds (I think) when I gritted my teeth, before I hissed softly through them:

“You…!”

Within a brief matter of seconds, I was hunched in front of my laptop’s screen, click-clacking away on the keys furiously. Right after the result page popped up, I hastily skimmed across the bright screen.

“Clear with periodic clouds, wind speed…”

Finally, I stopped cold on a particular text. I gaped with much horror. Even took me a few seconds to process the info.

  “-10C/14F”

 Oh, damn it….!

  “Isn’t this bit of an over-kill?” Setsuna dropped one of her casual remarks while she tilted her head to one side and scrutinized me with a wrinkled nose. She was wearing a stylish, puffy green jacket over her uniform. Parts below the below the belt had scale patterns that’s made of something like green foil burned into the fabric, which gradually faded as it crept upwards from the hem. I can confirm that she’s one of the more up-to-date fashionsta in our class, but this morning, she looked prettier than usual.

Better judgment managed to strike me during the right moment, so I kept my tongue in my cotton surgical mask.

Simply puffed out in my full ‘winter gear’, I wonder why she thought this was something worth making a big fuss about. Okay, maybe I did throw in some ‘extra layers’ for a good measure, but still…

“I ran out of ginger powder for my warming drink.”

“Ah.”

Our conversation was cut short by a cheerful voice.

“Good morning, Setsuna! Good morning… Uhhh.”

Kendo hurriedly strolled past us, clearly not wanting to be late for class. She’s the class president, after all.

I was rather surprised at how little she was dressed for the winter. Along with her uniform, there’s only a simple, pale yellow scarf bouncing with her orange side-tail over her shoulder.

She gave me a rather bewildered look as she passed.

Personally, I don’t blame her.

Who wouldn’t be confused when they see someone dressed up like a run-away penguin? Especially if it’s one with a terrible wardrobe and braided pony-tail.

After she disappeared around the corner, Setsuna turned to me and let out a small chuckle.

“Good-luck for today, dragon boy.” She gave a small wink and flicked her forked tongue as an odd way of salute before walking down the hall, one hand in a pocket, one hand swinging her school bag with a light spring in her steps.

I rolled my eyes and thought grumpily to myself

Yes, I’m afraid I would need the luck… very, very much…

 Not wanting to be too late on the first day of December, I hastily made my way down to the common area (while almost tripping down the staircase at least once).

Across the room, the glass doors with their edges frosted framed the morning scene like a pretty picture. Just overnight, the UA field was transformed into a dazzling white wonderland when the sudden snow-storm frosted over. Small clumps of white stood out amongst the bushes’ dark branches, glittering under the bright sun like millions of diamond shards. The trees stood silently in this wintry world, some of its branches bent down a little from the weight of snow.

Most might’ve spread their arms open with a big smile and deemed this sight a ‘miracle’, ‘beauty’ or even one of ‘nature’s wonder’.

Unfortunately, I’m not much of an admirer for such a cold, dead-looking landscape.

 I stood at least a meter away from the doors, shifting my weight uncomfortably from one foot to the other.

Should I?

Sure, there’s rather the questionable choice of bunking (not like it’s the first time I did it since I began my school career in general), but the image of Teacher Vald and my family wearing a disappointed or disapproving frown crept into my mind…

Or maybe, I could ask someone else, like Shishida or Bondo to carry me? No no, that is bit of a selfish request, and might be embarrassment for both of us (especially them), not to mention…

 After another wasted minute of restless thoughts (and a few in-out puffs of deep breaths), I finally made up my mind.

Fearlessly, (I was trembling just a little) I stepped closer to the glass doors. I still kept my ground as they slid open with a faint whirr.

When the wind slapped against my face like a cold, wet sponge, I instantly tensed up.

But that alone wasn’t going to stop me.

Walking out into the cold, my breath became visible puffs of little white clouds that vanished into thin air. Felt like I was blowing out precious, warm steam instead of simple carbon dioxide.

 It appeared that someone had shovelled some of the snow in the early morning to make way, forming an oddly neat block of hard dirt in front of the dorm’s entrance.

Determined, I advanced my way to the far edge of the block. The thick layer of freshly fallen snow was at least 12 centimetres thick, and the mere sight actually sent a freezing jolt down my spine. That’s also when I realized how in the midst of rushing to get ready, the thought of packing snow boots had slipped clean from my mind. Great.

 Though reluctant, I began trudging painfully through the huge white blanket.

Cringing while my pant legs stuck to my skin as it slowly got soggy, I can’t help but to think, with just a hint of annoyance, to myself:

If only the person shovelled out a path as well…Certainly could’ve made quite a difference!

 It was about ten steps into my journey when a sudden, loud voice pierced the air like a stray bullet:

“RIN, YOU’RE WALKING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION!!!”

Tetsutetsu’s voice boomed across the vast field, making faint echoes that took some time to fade away into the distance. I froze, left foot hovering in mid-air. Turning my head slowly, I saw most of my classmates staring. Directly at me.

To the left, they were walking on a wide, pre-shovelled dirt road that connected our dorm to Class A’s in a T-junction, the middle extending to UA. Which I clearly missed like a dumb egg.

 The worst part about being humiliated in front of so many people is possibly how much focus you unconsciously have on everyone else’s reactions:

Kuroiro wore a huge grin from ear-to-ear. Tsuburaba’s whole body was shaking by trying awfully hard (and failing) to hold in a laugh. Yui just looked disappointed, Manga… face-palmed? Shoda had a really concerned look, Kendo…

Not too far away, a few approaching students from 1-A peering at us with curiosity.

 I felt some sort of hotness slowly spreading across my face. Thank goodness my red mask and hat somehow covered all of it.

Letting out a huge sigh of frustration, I started making my way back.

Should’ve watched if there were any little puddles.

As my foot shot out from right under me before I could even do a complete turn, the world became a colourful, sluggish blur.

For a brief moment, I caught the slightly softened version of my classmate’s shocked expressions out of the corner of my eye before I did a flip and slammed my back against the hard, wet ground. My sling bag went sailing through the wind, landing with an audible thud and sending up sprays of snow as it landed. Just when I thought this was the end of it, the freezing snow’s iciness stabbed into the back of my head as I sunk into it. I barely managed to stuff down the urge to scream. Sounds reminiscent of irritating alarm clocks screaming clashed around in my eardrums. Though I was rather well-cushioned, my spine still throbbed from the heavy impact.

 I groaned miserably as I tried slowly to ease myself up with numb arms, all while feeling hot tears prickling my eyes.

Could this possibly get any worse?

Failing to notice the frantic clopping of horse hooves, I gave a surprised yelp as a pair of small, purple-gloved hands suddenly thrusted out from under my armpits, right before strong arms hooked and helped (say: roughly jerked) me up.

“Are ya alright, Rin?! Did cha’ breakkkk anything?”

“Huh, what…?” My brain was probably half-frozen from the chill. The immediate follow-up of vigorous shaking turned it into a slushy mess.

“How many fingers am I holding upppp?” Despite being able to somewhat make out what Pony was saying, all I can see was a quivering, fuzzy bunny shape in front of my face.

A somewhat gruff yet gentle voice cut in:

“Lady Tsunotori, allow me to take it from here.”

“But…”

“Please.” “Okayyyy!”

Without a warning, Pony’s grip loosened, and I flopped down like a limp rag doll onto my knees, dazed.

Before I was given the chance to come back to my full senses, another pair of arms hoisted me right up. This pair was bigger with tufts of chocolate-coloured fur sticking out from the end of loose khaki jacket sleeves.

I sincerely hoped his glasses were fogged up. The fact that my face were pulling unpredictable, odd expressions made me want to of bury myself deeply, deeply into the soft snow.

Save for a few loud snorts, on one really laughed, but exchanged worried babbles between each other. Maybe one or two “Awwwww”s.

Pony popped up in front of me again, this time holding my (slightly soggy) school bag over her head with a triumphant look while looking up, as though she was showing me a treasure she dug up. Standing next to her like a proud big brother, Monoma was wearing a huge (but surprisingly pleasant) grin, patting her shoulder.

Ah… I’m pretty lucky to have them as classmates.

 To be honest, I had no idea whether we could make it to the first lesson in time.

But it didn’t matter that much, because I dozed off in the new-found warmth, surrounded by cheerful giggles and upbeat conversations about the latest gossips, the next test or future holiday plans.

It was the start of a dreary winter month, but at least it wasn’t a terrible one.

#boomboomschool #my writing #first fic posted whoo #hope y'all like it!

[applebyarrows-official]

A Very Sheri(dan) Christmas 8 PM, December 25th, 2009

Perching uncomfortably in a stiff sitting room chair, near a quiet, flickering spark of a fire left in the ashes of the day’s burnings, Avery gazed out into the living space around them, taking in the wreckage that had sprouted from Christmas Day. Scattered on the floor were the torn remnants of the wrapping paper from many presents, as well as the many colored bows and ribbons that had topped them. Unwrapping gifts had taken place that morning, and it was long past sundown now, but no one could seem to bear cleaning up the holiday cheer. The only being set on doing anything this time of night after the celebrations were Jessica, who was off doing housework, and the dog. Avery had never been a big fan of dogs. Crups were one thing, as they were at least generally intelligent creatures, but even they were on thin ice! They thought fondly of the brief interaction they had had with the Headmaster’s crup as they informed him they’d be taking the holiday to visit family. Proper dogs though, they were a whole different can of worms. This dog, in particular. Avery looked cautiously at the dog in question--Jessica’s dog--and he looked back at them with a completely vacant expression. He was utterly idiotic, Avery thought, as they watched him try, again, to eat the lower branches of the Christmas tree. Jessica was proud of that dog. “He’s purebred, you know! Absolutely perfect in every way!” Jessica had spouted earlier today. The Hogwarts professor had sat through Jessica’s ramblings, thoroughly finding humor in the half-blooded witch being so incredibly proud of her designer idiot. As if he knew he was being thought poorly of, the Pomeranian trotted over to Avery’s exposed ankles and gave them a wet, sloppy lick. They lifted their feet up so they were out of dog-range, and tucked their toes underneath their legs, sitting barely on the seat, just barely out of reach of Chuffy’s mouth. Why were dog mouths always so wet? Avery frowned at Chuffy and shooed him away. As much as they tried to put up with being in this damn house, for Margie’s sake, they were not going to allow themselves to be subjected to and slobber that was not from their own pet, who was unfortunately stuck at the school while Avery was away.

It was just for a couple of days, but Jessica had told them straight off the bat that she didn’t want to introduce Chuffy to any cats, and Avery couldn’t promise that Ganymede would do well with such a small dog. He had hunted bigger things in Brazil than that Pomeranian, so maybe it was for the best, in the end. Sairish had promised to take good care of Ganymede, and Avery had told Ganymede to behave before they left. He might be upset for a little bit, but he’d be okay by the time they came back, and he'd be doubly affectionate upon their return, they were sure. It was just a matter of him behaving while they were away. Surely someone would write if he was causing problems at Hogwarts. A loud clatter from behind Avery, coming from the direction of the dining room caught their attention. They stood quickly, turning to see the source of the noise, only to see Jessica already stooping down to pick up a dropped platter and waving off Avery’s unspoken concern. “You are a guest,” she spoke clearly. “I will not have you lifting a finger to help clean in my house.” Ah, of course. Avery shrugged and returned to the stiff chair. This wasn’t their house anymore-- It was just hers. It would never be Avery and Jessica’s home again. Just…. Jessica’s house.  Avery was nothing more than a minimally wanted guest, staying the holiday to see their daughter. Jessica inviting Avery to stay the holiday had been nothing more than a peasantry, a “look, we’re doing just fine without you here,” now that they were back in the country again. Hell, it hardly seemed like Margie even wanted them here. The nine-year-old had only just barely managed to sit through the uncomfortable dinner with the three of them. She was much more excited to have time off of school this week and excited to wait up for Santa than she was the see Avery again. Perhaps seeing them outside of their regular summers was odd for her. Avery wasn’t supposed to get Margie again until late May. A long, wordlessly tense silence followed Jessica’s quick denial of any help that Avery had to offer. Now instead, they sat, once again returning to the terrible chair. They tried to relax into it, hoping that maybe sitting back into the cushions would soften them a bit. It did not.  Avery returned to watching the dying fire, only passingly noting as Jessica moved on from cleaning up the dining room and moved into another part of the house. Only the occasional sound of a passing car or muggle carolers singing broke through to Avery as they thought.

Suddenly, and with seemingly no warning, the sharp clunk of a heavy glass being set on a nearby side table startled them out of their thoughts. Quickly looking up to the source of the intrusion with a scowl etched into their features, Aver came face to face with the woman they had been thinking about, and the scowl vanished. Jessica held out a second glass towards them. “Ah, thank you.” Avery took a cautious sip of the offered beverage, briefly relishing in the familiar flavor before returning their gaze to the fireplace. “You know, if you stare at that fire long enough as intensely as you are, someone might start to think you were trying to get it to relight it without using your wand. What’s occupying your mind, Avery?” It would be asking for too much for Avery to choose to be completely honest with Jessica. Instead, the chose to keep silent for a long minute, mulling over just what exactly they should say back. “Oh, nothing much,” they replied eventually. “My mind was just wandering. You understand how I can be sometimes. I was thinking about how the other professors are holing up. You remember how restless the students can get when they stay at school over winter break. I just hope they’re managing with all the troublemakers we have this year.” Jessica smiled half-heartedly, most likely thinking about the adventures the two of them had shared over their own breaks, creating and causing havoc in the castle. “I didn’t ever think I’d see the day when Avery Sheridan turned over the ‘concerned professor's’ leaf in the place of the ‘quiet, rebel troublemaker’ leaf. It suits you.” She sighed deeply before continuing. “Taking that teaching position has really done some good to you. I’m glad it brought you to your senses about moving back into the country, even if it was a bit late. But,” she shrugged, “better ten years late than never, I suppose.” Jessica’s words seemed kind and joking on the surface, but Avery could all but taste the disgusting venom they were truly laced with. “Yep… better late than never, that’s what people always say, isn't it?” Avery forced a smile onto their face and gritted their teeth. Surely, Jessica wasn’t planning on having this conversation again, especially not with Margie sleeping upstairs. “But hey, I’m here now, and that’s what matters at the end of the day. Margie won’t have to go across the ocean to go between our homes anymore. I want to be better at this parenting thing. I want to make it all easier for her, you know? Especially before she comes to school. As much as I like being a professor, I want to be Margie’s parent before I’m her professor. I’m grateful that you’re allowing me to take a more active role in her life by inviting me for the holidays and that sort of thing before she comes to Hogwarts, Jessica. Thank you.” The tension that followed Avery’s thanks was thick enough to cut with a holiday carving knife. Avery glanced up at Jessica. “What’s the matter? Dog got your tongue?” “Marjorie will not be attending Hogwarts.” Jessie’s words severed the space between them both. “Pardon?” “I’m sorry, did you not hear me? Margie will not be attending Hogwarts.” “And why, pray tell, is our daughter not going to be attending the prestigious wizarding school we both went to?” “Because, Alberich, our daughter is a fucking squib, which you would very well know if you had spent any more time with your daughter than the couple weeks during the summers you were graciously given! She’s nine! There’s been no leviations, no color changes, nothing! Not a single thing other magical parents look forward to experiencing with their child! And I had to deal with that alone.” Avery stood quickly to their full height at Jessica’s raised voice, towering over their ex-wife, watching as she stood to match their gaze, unfaltering. Both of their faces were covered in deep-set frown lines, each of their furious intents matching the other’s. “How dare you” Avery’s voice came out in a curt whisper before raising to a volume just under a shout. “How dare you call me that fucking name. You have no right! How dare you blame me for thinking that my daughter was going to be an amazing witch one day, and for being excited about it! How DARE you act like it was my choice to split Margie’s time between us and to not have very much time with her. How DARE you blame my focus on my career for me not being around! You don’t think I know that I’ve been a shitty parent? You don’t think I want to try harder? That’s why I’m here, Jessica! I’m fucking trying, which is more than some other shitty fucking parents can say about their goddamn liv--”

“Baba? Mum? What’s going on?” Avery turned quickly towards the stairs where a soft-spoken girl, rubbing her bleary, sleepy eyes stood, and they felt their heartbreak. Of all the things they had wanted, Margie listening to them fight was never one of them. Jessica recovered first. “Go back to bed, lovely. Your father and I were just talking about what school he wanted you to go to when you’re older. I told him that you would be attending the local high school with your friends, as we talked about. It’s nothing to worry about tonight.” Avery bit their tongue and the obvious sleight by Jessica, for Margie’s sake, watching as Margie nodded slowly and turned around to go back to her room. Avery looked backed towards Jessica, an apology already forming on the tip of their tongue. “Jessie, I’m so sor--” “Stop.” Jessica held up her hand and looked away. “I don’t want to hear anything come out of that damn mouth of yours, least of all those words.” Jessica picked up the two glasses that had been left on the side table by the both of them. Not saying a word as she turned away and walked towards the dining room, Chuffy following happily behind her. Without so much as a glance back, she spoke again. “I think you should go.” Avery watched in silence as their life fell to pieces before them once again. Their daughter was likely confused and hurt because her parents were fighting, and Jessica wouldn’t want to try being friends again, not after this. Not even for Margie’s sake. The best they could ever be was cordial. They ran their fingers through their hair, messing it up in the process, before swearing and shuffling to pick up their things from the guest room before heading back to the castle. Hopefully, no one would ask why they came back so much earlier than they had planned.

#pleasant prefects #from the desk of #Avery Sheridan

[minatoiskyuubismate]

Night of the hunters pt 1 and 2-the dagurized version

Its finally finished! Took me forever to write it, and english is not my mother tounge.

Night of the Hunters part 1 and 2

 And the furs were not the only presents.

 For his next visit Dagur brought a round package with him.

“What is this?” Hiccup asked.

“Take a look.” Dagur grinned and handed Hiccup the wrapped disk. He unwrapped it and found a wooden Shield with a painting. When he looked closer he recognized himself and Dagur standing together. The older one had put a hand on the smaller ones shoulder and both smiled.

“Its…like our paintings in the great hall! All the chiefs were there portrayed with their firstborns!”

“I saw that one of my crew is an good artist and I told him to do a painting of me and you. He did treffen you very good, eh? And that’s only from his memories!”

“Yes…it looks great!” Hiccup smiled.

This time Hiccup was shown in his real scrawny form.

“It will get a nice place here in my hut.”

 Later, in Hiccups small hideout…

“You will return to Berserker island?” Hiccup asked as they laid side by side.

“Aye. I must look how things are going on there. And my men need some break and time with their families. Even Berserker have families.”

Hiccup nodded and snuggled near Dagurs side.

“Still cold, little brother?”

“Not really. But I can better sleep with the feeling that you are here. I feel …safe.”

“Safer as with your dragon?”

“Dagur.”

“Okay, your Nightfury is your bodyguard.”

“He is not my-never mind. Let s sleep.”

Dagur laid an Arm over the scrawny form besides him and pulled him closer.

 Some weeks later something happened that would change the life on Dragons edge and of his inhabitants forever.

It was a nice, sunny morning. Hiccup was on an early patrol flight over the island. On his way he trained varios flight maneuvers with Toothless, to be prepared for another attack –but mostly simple for fun. They made slalom flights between Sea stacks and Hiccups favorite move. For this he let Toothless fly under the trees while he jumped from his back on an branch. While the Nightfury glided under the crowns, Hiccup jumped from Branch to Branch took a bendable twig for a swing forward and landed again in Toothless saddle, whooping happily.

“Good Teamwork, Bud!”

The Nightfury laughed and the glided along the river till they landed on their favourite spot, a small ledge near the water. Tootless laid down to rest and Hiccup glided from the saddle to rest against the side of his friend.

“We should do this more often. From now on, I promise, we will—“

He stopped when he heard a roar in the distance. Toothless growled low.

“Yeah, bud. That was a not a normal roar. This dragon called for help!” Hiccup said and mounted Toothless. They followed the sound of the roar who was heard again. Definitly a distress call. Hiccup has learned over the years the different colors of dragon calls. And this dragon needs help.

 When they reached the beach on the other side of the edge, they found several ships docked near the beach. Hiccup and Toothless hid between the rocks and watched as some men were loading supplys on their boats to row them to the ships. And most of them were cages. Cages with dragons in it!

“I never saw those colors before, but I have seen that insignia on the sails! It was nearly the same as on the Reaper.-Those are Dragon Hunters!” he whispered to Toothless.

A monstrous Nightmare, who tried to free himself from the cage, he was locked into, caught Hiccups attention. He frowned, when a man slammed his mace against the bars, Toothless growled low.

“Quiet, you useless lizard!” the hunter said and grinned.

Suddenly another hunter, a bald huge man, slammed the hunter against the bars. He was a muscular giant with a black moustache and goatee. And he wore a different attire than all the other hunters.

“Just load them up!” the big man growled.

“Yeah, Ryker. Sorry, boss.” the hunter stammered.

“Then do it! Or you will end as food for this one!” the leader of the hunters said and shoved the man against a cage with a Gronkle in it.

Ryker smiled evilly at the Nightmare, but the next moment he turned and sniffed.

“Could it be?” he murmured.

Hiccup ducked behind the rock he was peeking and ordered Toothless to be absolutely quiet. But when he heard the nearing steps, he dashed to the Nightfurys side and jumped into the saddle.

“Let s go, bud! We must tell the others!”

In the next Moment Dragon and Rider shot out of their hiding place and up into the air. Rykers eyes went wide.

“So my senses were not tricking me! A Nightfury!” he said. “Get the bows ready! I want this dragon!”

In the next moment, arrows whizzed past Hiccup and Toothless. The dragon fired a plasma blast at the archers, who quickly jumped out of the way. Ryker growled and took a bola from his belt. He whirled it over his head and threw it with all his strength and the fleeing Nightfury, who was a good distance away. But the ropes tangled around Toothless tail and the metal balls smashed the artificial fin of the Nightfury. Hiccup tried to work the pedal but it was blocked.

“Oh no! Toothless!”

The dragon desperately flapped his wings to get higher, but the destroyed Tailfin and the weights of the bola pulled him down and they crashed into the ocean! Hiccup was thrown out of the saddle from the impact.

“Im coming, bud!” Hiccup coughed and tried to reach Toothless, but before he could, the Nightfury was netted, pulled away and hauled aboard the ship who passed by.

“NO! TOOTHLESS!” he shouted, but a wave splashed into his face and he started violently to cough. When he could look again the ship was already out of reach.

 “What a great catch! A Nightfury!” Ryker said proudly to his men. “They are very rare! Do you know what we will get for this dragon? A small fortune!”

“Whats with the rider?” asked one of the hunters and pointed to the floating form between the waves.

“Leave him. We only need the dragon.”

 “No! Toothless!” Hiccup cried desperately as he tried to stay on the surface. Then he spotted a single log in front of him. He swam to it and cling onto the wet bark. With growing fear he watched as the ship vanished between the waves.

“Toothless…” he whined and let his head sunk on the log. “Don’t worry, bud. I will find you.”

 At the late afternoon, Astrid was standing on the platform with Stormfly, looking to the horizon. She sighed. Still no sign of Hiccup and Toothless.

“He never was away so long without telling us.” she sighed.

“Don’t worry. They sure met Dagur and Shattermaster, went out exploring and simply forgot time.” Fishlegs tried to calm her. “Or he found a new dragon…”

“I don’t think so. Something is not right. I can feel it! -Fishlegs, call the others! We are going to look for them!”

Astrid looked worried at the dark storm clouds who approaching the island.

Some Minutes later Hiccups Friends were flying through the storm, it had started to rain heavily.

“We all go in different directions!” Astrid ordered. “I will head south.”

All Riders flew off in opposite directions calling out for Hiccup and Toothless and tried to spot the tow between the waves.

“Still nothing. Oh Hiccup, where are you? Toothless…please take care of him!” she pleaded for herself into the wind and rain.

 Not far away, but out of seeing range, Dagur was on the way back from Berserker island when Shattermaster stared to get restless.

“Hey, Bud. Whats up? Don’t like the storm? I hope you are not getting seasick, my friend.” Dagur smiled and petted the massive head.

Suddenly Shattermaster ran to the railing and looked out into the stormy sea.

“What ´s the matter?”

The Gronkle whined.

“Chief! I just spotted someone out between the waves! Someone hanging on a log! But we are too far away!” Savage said, who looked through the spyglass. He had seen a small figure clinging on a floating log.

“Shattermaster must noticed it too. Okay, bud! Come on! Someone needs our help!”

Dagur jumped on the gronkles back and let Shattermaster soar in the air. The Gronkle had no problems flying steady through the storm.

 Meanwhile Hiccup was at the end of his strength.

“I-I cant hold on anymore and its so cold…my body feels like ice….thats the end…I think…” Hiccup murmurs weakly. His whole body was stiff from the cold water and he had no strength nor willpower anymore to hold on the log. When the next wave hit his face, his clammy fingers slipped from the wood and he sunk under the water. But before everything went dark, he spotted a movement over him. Someone came diving in his direction! Hiccup could only feel that he was grabbed around his waist by a strong arm und pulled upward. Then everything went black.

 Dagurs Head broke through the surface of the stormy water. With his right arm he held Hiccups limp body tightly to his own.

“Shattermaster!” he called. In the next moment, the Gronkle hovered over the waves, so that his rider could grab the leather collar with his free hand. “Up, Buddy! Bring us back to the ship! As fast as you can!”

Shattermaster gave his best. He felt, that the limp body Dagur was holding in his other hand was in great danger. A short moment after he lowered his rider on the deck of the Berserker ship.

“Good work, bud!-Hiccup! By the gods of Asgard, not again! Hiccup, wake up!”

He turned the Hooligan around and began to pat his back hard. Two times.

Suddenly the younger boy began violently to cough and threw up out some seawater. Dagur turned him around again. Hiccups eyes cracked a bit open.

“Uggh…Dagur? What took you so long…” Hiccup murmured weakly before he lost his consciousness again.

“Thanks Odin!” Dagur croaked when he felt Hiccups steady breath and hugged the boy.

“I wonder how often he still must save the little Hooligan.” Savage murmured, as Dagur hurried with his precious cargo into his cabin.

 On the way to the edge the berserker sat in his cabin, Hiccups limp form in his arms, which he had wrapped in this thickest fur.

“You are out cold, little fishbone. And so is your body. How long have you been in the water? I wish you could tell me, but for now its more important to get you back to your friends. And I could be late for my meeting. But nevertheless, you are more important.”

Suddenly the body in his arms began to stir.

“Dagur…” a weak voice called for him.

“Hiccup! You are awake again? Whats up, little brother?”

“Toothless…..hunters….” the Hooligan murmured weakly “Im cold…”

The whole body of the boy began to shiver.

“Don’t worry.” Dagur answered, laid Hiccup back on the bed and headed to the door.

“Savage! Tell Lars I need something strong and hot for the boy to warm him up.”

“At once, Chief!” the second in command answered.

Some times later Lars brought a tankard with a steaming liquid into the cabin.

“Whats this?” asked Dagur as he took the mug and sniffed at it.

“Hot mead with a special herbal mix. A good medicine to warm someone up again and prevent him from freezing to death.” the cook said.

“Good. Thank you, Lars.” the Berserker nodded. Then he returned to the fur bundle on his bed and lifted Hiccup in his lap.

“Here. Drink. It will warm you from inside.” and put the tankard to the boys lips. Hiccups eyes cracked open a bit and he took a careful sip. He scrunched his face when he swallowed the brew.

“I know its tasting awful, but it will help you to warm your icy bones. Come, little one, try some more.” Dagur encouraged Hiccup. After a few more sips the Hooligan refused to drink more.

“So tired….and still cold…” he murmured weakly.

“Then sleep, little brother. I stay by your side.”

“Your armor….cold…”

Dagur nodded and removed his armor, laid beside Hiccup and began to rub his hands and arms to warm his cold skin.

“You were defiantly too long in the cold sea. You could have freezed to death, how skinny you are!” the berserker said.

When Hiccup stopped to shiver, he pulled the boy into his embrace to keep him warm. The Hooligan recognized the familiar scent of the older man, he relaxed and fell into a deep sleep.

“We still have some time till my special meeting. Your outpost is not far away. First I bring you home to the dragons edge, your friends must be worried about you-especially your little girlfriend. “ Dagur smiled and closed his eyes too.

When Dagur awoke again, Hiccup was tightly snuggled against him, still sleeping and searching for warmth. The older man smiled and touched the Hooligans shoulders. He was relived, when the skin of the boy nearly had his normal temperature again.

 Meanwhile, at the hunters ship.

“Have you secured and tested the chains of the Night fury?”

“Aye. And we pulled off this strange harness he wore. He has only one tailfin. The other is missing.

Ryker inspected the harness with the torn tailfin. Toothless who was chained on all fours and muzzled in a cell, growled.

“This looks like an artificial Tailfin. His rider must be a clever mind. Like my little brother. He sure would have liked him as a new playmate for “Maces and Talons”. Maybe we should have pulled him out of the water too. Meh, but now it´s too late. Never mind, the dragon is more important.” the bald man said and laid the harness in a crate near Toothless cell. “Watch good for this one. The old legends told that Nightfurys are the cleverest amongst all dragons.-How long we need till our Rendez-vous-point?”

“About three hours. The storm is beginning to calm down.”

 Meanwhile the dragon riders have returned from a fruitless search.

“The weather is getting better. We rest two hours then we continue with our search.” Astrid said.

Snotlout groaned and left the clubhouse with Hookfang behind him. This would be a long hard day.

Suddenly he stopped dead in his tracks, when the nightmare made a warning sound. When he looked out to the sea he spotted a ship that headed towards the base. And he recognized the crest on the sail. He hurried back into the clubhouse.

“There is a ship approaching the base!” Snotlout said.

“Which one?” asked Astrid.

“Its Dagurs! He is standing on deck, carrying something in his arms….looks like a fur bundle.”

“Come on!” Astrid called the others and they hurried down to the small harbor.

 Dagur walked along the dock with the fur bundle in his arms. The shieldmaid was the first who spotted the auburn mop of hair sticking out at the upper end.

“Hiccup!” Astrid gasped and ran up to the Berserker. “What happened?”

“We spotted him out in the stormy sea. He was about to drown but with Shattermasters help I was able to fish him out of the water. If my bud did not sensed him out in the water-we would have passed him without noticing. He was totally frozen from the cold water but I held him warm. Don’t worry. He will be okay again. Give him something hot to drink and keep him warm. I cant stay, I have an important meeting.”

Dagur handed to bundle to Snotlout, Savage the bundle of clothes to Astrid.

“Thank you Dagur-for saving him- again.” Astrid said. “But where is Toothless?”

“He was nowhere spotted. Hiccup talked a bit in his sleep but all I could understand was “Toothless” and “Hunters”.”

“Okay. We take over from now. But if you get knowledge about the Nightfury whereabouts call us.”

“I will.”

Hiccup was brought into his hut and Astrid stayed with him, watching over his sleep.

 “Toothless!”

When Hiccup shot up from his sleep, he still was wrapped in the warm fur-but he was not on Dagurs ship anymore.

His friends surrounded his bed and gave him worried looks.

“Hiccup! Thank Thor, you are alive! -Take it easy, you had a hard day!-What happened? We searched after you for hours! And where is Toothless?” Astrid said.

“Dragon hunters ….they took him away and let me alone back in the Ocean! I would have drowned if not Dagur –where is Dagur?” asked Hiccup.

“He already left with his ship. After we returned from our fruitless search, he arrived at our base. He gave you to us and told us how he saved you out of the stormy sea. I can´t believe it! This was the second time he saved you from drowning!” Fishlegs answered.

“Yeah. But I hardly remember anything. Damn, I still feel weak and dizzy.”

“Here, I cooked a hot soup. This will warm you up and give back your strength.”

Hiccup remembered vaguely that someone tried to make him drink a hot liquid. Thankfully he took the bowl from Fishlegs and started to eat. After that he was feeling much better.

“So Toothless was captured by Dragon hunters?” asked Astrid.

“Yeah. Three ships. With the same sign on the sails like the reaper… there are so much other dragons…and they are all in cages!”

Fishlegs flinched.

“And then there was this giant bald man, the leader…if he dares to hurt Toothless, then I-I….” Hiccup sighed. Then he put the bowl on his nightstand and jumped out of his bed. “Come on! Lets go!”

“Hiccup, for Thors sake! -Haven´t you forgotten something?” Astrid said and shielded her eyes. Then Hiccup realized, that his clothes were missing. He let out a shriek and pulled the fur around his hips.

“ARRGH! DAGUR!” he cursed. “Uggh…sorry, everyone.” Hiccups face was beet red, Snotlout snickered, till Astrid bumped him in the guts. Then she got Hiccups clothes and laid them on the bed. Fishlegs ashamed looked to the side and Ruffnut ogled the scrawny body with a wide grin. As did her brother.

“Get dressed, we are waiting outside. You can ride with me on Stormfly.”

 “Our leader really is a cutie, eh?” Tuffnutt grinned, while the gang mounted their dragons. “I never saw so much freckles on a-“ He stopped when Astrid shot him a warning look. A few minutes later Hiccup joined them and lead his friends to the beach where he last saw the hunters. But there was nothing important to found, only a lot of empty barrels and crates and some other trash from a deserted campsite. But when Snotlout stepped on something pointy, it was an arrow tip covered with a green substance that Fishlegs identified as high concentrated dragon root.

“In this concentration it can overwhelm a dragons senses completely, making it almost impossible for them to fly. Did Toothless got hit by one of those?” Immerman asked Hiccup.

“No, some bolas brought us down. They destroyed Toothless Tailfin and we crashed into the ocean. Then he caught him with a net and pulled him aboard. And they let me all alone in the middle of the ocean! Damn hunters!”

“How are we gonna find Toothless?” Astrid asked. “We have no idea where they are going!”

“Maybe not. But we do know where they have been. And at this point we will continue our search.” Hiccup said.

 A few hours later they reached the Reaper and started looking around for clues. Hiccup got a weird feeling when he saw the big eels in the water. Here it had all begun. Here he met Dagur again. Here he saved him the first time from drowing and getting eaten by the big eels. Here he encountered the new, changed Dagur. But where was the Berserker at the moment? He could helped them to find Toothless. He wished the oder man would be here now and soothe him, hold him…

His thoughts were interrupted, when he heard the breaking of wood and Snotlouts shriek. The Jorgenson had broken through the old planks and landed in some sort of storage compartment.

“Get me out of here!” he shouted.

One by one got down below the deck and started to look around the storage.

“Just keep looking. We must find something!” Hiccup said.

“What if we don’t? Toothless is in the hands of this monsters-he…” Fishlegs ranted.

“I know. I am afraid for him as you are.” Hiccup tried to calm him. “But this Ryker-he actually enjoying hunting and caging dragons!”

“And he has Toothless!” Astrid growled and slammed her axe against a decorative shield who was hanging on a wall.

“We are going to find him. And if it means to search the whole archipelago!” the Hooligan said. Astrid removed her axe from the shield and when the blade got loose, something fell out and landed on the floor. Hiccup picked it up and stared at it.

“It’s a dragon eye lens!” he said.

 Soon all gathered below decks and began testing the new lens with their dragons, but nothing seemed to work. In the meantime Tuffnut watched the shield closely.

“Mmh, its either the innards of a Yak-or a Changewing in a cage.” he said, rubbing his chin.

Hiccup turned and now he could see it too. On the shield really was an image that showed what Tuff had said. A caged dragon. And one of his two eyes was the dragoneye lens.

“Tuff, you are a genius! So our next destination is Changewing Island!” Hiccup declared.

 On the island they tried to catch one of the Dragons who can make themselves invisible to get some of their acid spew. After they got a sample on Snotlouts helmet, the returned to dragons edge to activate the new lens with the dragon eye.

“Hold still, Snotlout!” Hiccup said who tried to find the right position for the dragon eye in his hands.

“Easy for you to say! You don’t have Changewing acid burning through your helmet and dripping on your skull!” the Jorgenson growled.

The lens revealed some sort of ship movements and Fishlegs began to study it.

“That doesn’t help! We have seen this map before.” he said.

“Judging by the position of the ships there must be some sort of a port. And it’s the closest one to the beach where Toothless was caught. But where they are heading? It seems their base is somewhere else.”

“We should hurry! There is no time to loose!” Astrid said.

“Yeah! Enough of this!” Snotlout growled and tossed his ruined helmet away.

“But how we are going to avoid this dragon root arrows?” asked Fishlegs. “The only dragon here who is immune against the effect of dragon root.”

When all looked at Ingerman he realized what he had revealed and whimpered.

“It seems then its my turn to get shot.” he sighed.

 Ryker was sailing to the hunters port with his new catch of dragons. A hour ago he collected some new crew members on an island. The bald man was satisfied with himself. He had made a great catch with the nightfury and his brother would be very pleased about that.

Suddenly he heard the men screaming and turned to see Astrid and Hiccup on Stormfly gliding overhead and fire at his ship.

“I want my dragon back!” Hiccup shouted and pointed with his sword at Ryker.

“More kids on dragonback? It seems he had brought his whole gang with him!” the Leader of the hunters smirked.

The twins and Snotlout were now attacking, but Ryker wasn’t too concerned.

“Fire!” he said calmly.

The hunters manned their ballistas and fired several bolas at Snotlout and Hookfang.

“Is that all you got?” the Jorgenson yelled. As answer more bolts and stones came flying.

Stormfly circled the ship and destroyed some of the balistas with her hot fire and several hunters fired arrows at them. Astrid shielded them with her axe and knocked them away, Hiccup did the same with his sword.

“You are sure this plan will work? That was pretty close! They have a lot of firepower!” she said.

“But we can´t retreat! -Fishlegs! Your turn!” Hiccup yelled. If we only had Dagur and Shattermaster here too, then our chances would be much better, the Hooligan thought.

 Fishlegs looked at Meatlug. Okay girl, lets go!”

Then they headed for the ship with a battlecry. When they are close enough, the Gronckle fired a lava blast on the ships deck and it did not took long till the archers are aiming for them. Fishlegs doged the arrows but one hit Meatlug and she began to loose control, doing a good fake playing. With a heavy thud, the Gronkle and his rider crashed on Deck and was in the next moment surrounded by Rykers men with drawn bows and swords.

“Meatlug! Come on, get up!” Fishlegs pleaded. Ryker approached them, while a chain was put around the Gronkles neck.

“You monster! How could you do this!” Immerman glared at the leader.

“Its my business, brat! Take them below and toss them in a cell!” Ryker ordered. While the hunters dragged the protesting Gronkle and his rider away, the bald man turned his attention to the remaining Riders. “Damn pests! But I will get you too!” he growled.

 Fishlegs and Meatlug were shoved into a cell and locked. When the hunters were gone, Immerman spotted Toothless in the opposite cell.

“Hey, don’t worry, bud! Hiccup is on the way to save you.” he said. The nightfury warbled and rattled with his chains. “I know, I know, but you must stay patient! We´ll be all right.”

 Meanwhile outside the battle was still going on.

“Ready the catapults-fire!” a hunter yelled.

“Look out!” Astrid yelled. Stormfly was able to avoid getting hit, but Hiccup lost his grip and fell off the Nadders back.

“Hiccup!” Astrid screamed as she saw her friend fall towards the sea. “Come on, girl, fetch!”

Stormfly dived, but before her claws could reach the boy, a chain wrapped around his chest and he was pulled towards the ship.

“NO!” the shieldmaid yelled. Hiccup landed in the sea. She could not go farther because a rain of arrows came towards her.

“Up, girl!” Astrid commanded to get out of firing range.

 “Help us! Please! I think she stopped breathing!” Fishlegs meanwhile tried to get the attention of the single guard in the cell room. The man groaned. “You think your boss want his newest dragon gonna die? And on your watch?” Immerman continued. With a sigh the guard made his way to the cell and saw Meatlug lying moveless on her back. He open the cell door and in the next moment the Gronkle turned on his legs and bumped him hard! The impact smashed the man against the wall and knocked him out. Fishlegs grabbed the key and rushed out of his cell.

“I am coming Toothless!” he said.

 Outside the chain with Hiccup was pulled aboard.

“Heh, look what we have here! A little runt!” Ryker grinned when the chain was removed from the Hooligan.

“Give me back my dragon!” Hiccup roared and charged at the bald man.

“Hey, you are a feisty one! But you cant stand against me!” the hunter chief grinned.

Ryker blocked easy his hits and hit him square into the chest. Hiccup staggered back and lost his sword. Two hunters grabbed the Hooligan by the arms.

“Your precious Nightfury belongs to me now. But I like your spirit. Throw him in a cell. ” Ryker grinned, as Hiccup was dragged down to the cells.

“You´re gonna regret this! You are messing with the wrong Vikings!” Hiccup yelled.

“Well, so are you, little runt.” said Ryker.

Then, suddenly bursting to the door that led to the lower decks came the Nightfury.

“Toothless!” Hiccup shouted happily. When the dragon fired a plasma blast before the hunters feet, the men dropped the boy and he rushed over to the Nightfury. He quickly mounted Toothless and with a second shot the dragon knocked the two following men away. Fishlegs and Meatlug joined them.

“Sorry it took so long, but they had stripped Toothless of his harness and I had to put it back on!” Immerman said.

“Never mind! Lets get Ryker! He will pay for what he had done to Toothless!” Hiccup growled and they charged at the leader of the hunters.

“Snotlout! Twins! Keep ready!” Astrid up in the air shouted.

“Now!” Hiccup commanded.

They charged straight down towards Rykers Ship, but the bald man just smirked: ”Fire.”

Toothless and Meatlug were caught in a pair of bolas and toppled to the deck. A net was thrown over the trashing Nightfury.

“NO! Not again!” Hiccup roared. ”Astrid! Stop!”

Then another bola tangled around his legs and let him hit the planks.

Seeing what happened Astrid and the other riders halted their attack.

“Cursed it!” she growled.

“Watch out!” Snotlout shrieked, when all three ships began to fire arrows at them.

“Evasive action! Now!” Astrid shouted and pulled back. The twins dragon got hit first and spun around towards the ocean, where they crashed and shortly after pulled aboard Rykers ship in a net.

Next Hookfang was hit. He began to wobble and Snotlout tried to hold him up.

“Stormfly! Grab him!” Astrid said and the nadder caught the Nightmare by his tail and pulled him out of shooting range. In the meanwhile Snotlout removed the dragonroot arrow.

“Its no use! We are outnumbered! Stormfly- let´s get out of here!” the Shieldmaid said.

“Hey, Astrid! I didn’t thought you would me drag off someday.” Snotlout grinned while he clinged to Hookfangs neck.

“Shut up or I order Stormfly to let Hookfang go!” Astrid grumbled. She and the Jorgenson were the only ones of the team who were able to get away.

 Ryker approached Hiccup and Fishlegs smirking.

“Your pathetic tricks won´t work on me. “ he said. “I am a Dragon hunter after all! I know that Gronckles are immune to dragons root. I use your worthless escape plan to lure your friends closer. And I got some more of you brats!”

He turned and watched as the net with the twins and the zipper was pulled on deck.

 “Astrid! What should we do?” Snotlout asked.

“We retreat. We had no chance against them at the moment!”

“Sounds like the best solution at the moment.” the Jorgenson said when he saw the archers still aiming at them. Astrid hated it to leave Hiccup and the others with the hunters, but she knew that with an half conscious Nightmare they could not do anything. So she flew with Hookfang in tow away from the ships.

“I will return, Hiccup! I promise!” she murmured as she took one last look back.

 Below the ship Hiccup and the others were shoved into a cell.

“Whrere are our dragons? What did you do to them?” Hiccup demanded.

“If I were you, I would worry about yourself, runt.” Ryker smirked.

“Don’t call me runt! I am Hiccup Haddock the third of Berk!” the Hooligan heir growled.

“Tch, for me you are just a runt-with a very special dragon.”

When the leader of the hunters left, Hiccup suddenly spotted someone very familiar. Someone he had at last excepted on this ship. Heather. Stepping by as she belonged to the crew.

“Heather! What in Thors name-“ Hiccup gasped.

“No way!” Tuffnut said.

And then, to make it even worse, Dagur too appeared and put an Arm around Heather.

“Surprise, Surprise! Did you miss me? Of course you did!” he grinned broadly.

Speechless Hiccup and his friends could only stare at Dagur then at Heather, who was smirking.

“And did you know my sister?-Wait, sure you do! You guys were little pals and buddy buddies!”

Heather shrugged.

“Family is Family.” she simply said. Hiccup just stared at her and her brother.

“Hello, little brother.” Dagur grinned who walked to Hiccup.

“Dagur, I cant belive it! You two joined the hunters?” Fishlegs said.

“I know, its not Dragons edge, but we have to do. “the Berserker said and looked straight into Hiccups eyes. “Enjoy your new home, brother. I am afraid, you would be staying here for awhile.”

Then he began to cackle like a maniac and strolled away with his sister.

Hiccup couldn’t belive it! A day ago Dagur has saved his life and now he betrayed his trust and joined the hunters who caught his Nightfury? He coudnt belive it! Has he returned to his old deranged self?

Like in Trance he walked away from the bars and let himself sunk to the planks in a corner of the cell.

“Hiccup?” Fishlegs whispered. But the Hooligan heir diddnt respond. With a stony face he stared down at the planks before him.

“Woah, must be a great shock for him.” Tuffnut said. “To be tricked from the man who saved his live so often.”

 Part 2

 Evening has come and Hiccup, Fishlegs and the twins were still trapped on Rykers ship.

“I still cant belive it! I thought really Dagur has changed, and now this! Even Heather has betrayed us!” said Fishlegs.

Hiccup, who did not left his place in the corner lifted his head.

“The bigger question is who are these dragon hunters and what do they want with us?” he asked.

“You are about to find out.” said a voice.

Everyone in the cell turned to find Heather and two hunters approaching. The cell was open and the two crewmen grabbed Hiccup and dragged him outside.

“Ryker wants to have a little chat with you.” Heather said and slammed the door shut.

“You are lucky, that these guards are here, otherwise I would take your head off!” Hiccup growled.

“Try it, runt!” Heather laughed as she imitated Ryker.

“After everything we did for you! Took you in. Taught you dragon riding. Risked our heads for you!”

“For that I am thankful, Hiccup. But I have to follow my destiny.”

“Betraying your friends and joining this dragon hunter scum?”

For this offended words Hiccup got a slap on his head of one of the guards.

“OW!”

“Shut it, runt! We are only doing our job!” one of the guards growled.

“Killing innocence dragons?” Hiccup shot back.

“I said hold it!”

The hunter lifted his hand to backhand the Hooligan, but Heather stopped it with her axe.

“Enough! Ryker wanted the boy in one piece, so don’t let yourself provoke!” she hissed, then turned to Hiccup. ”And you-shut your mouth! You are not in the position to criticize someone!-You pampered Chief heir don’t know what it means to be truly alone! Dagur is my brother. I trust him with my life!”

Hiccup swallowed his retort about being called “pampered” and said: “I appreciate that you finally found together. But I would be happier if it had not been on in the rows of the hunters.”

“It was a difficult decision, but I made my choice.”

In the meantime they had reached the captains quarters.

“And your concern is touching but if I were you, I would be more worried about yourself. Ryker is not known for kindness.” said Heather and knocked on the door.

“Come in.” Rykers voice was heard.

“Ryker wants information and he can be very persuasive.” said the female Berserker and open the door. Then she shoved Hiccup inside and closed it again behind her and the Hooligan. The guards remined outside and took their positons on both sides of the door.

“When Ryker is finished with this runt, then this fishbone will not be such a loudmouth anymore.” one of the guards smirked.

 Meanwhile, Astrid, Snotlout and their dragons spend the entire night at a beach recovering from their fight with the hunters. The shieldmaid had spend the night mostly planning the next move. With the sun rising over the horizon, Stormfly woke up and stretched her wings and legs, followed by Hookfang.

“Morning, girl.” Astrid greeted.

Only Snotlout was still snoring near his dragon. With a small bite, only using the tips of his long teeth on his riders butt, the Nightmare did his wake-up call.

“IIAARGH! Hookfang!” Snotlout screeched and jumped up.

“It seems Hookfang is okay again.” the shieldmaid smirked. “Good that the dragon root effect is only temporary.”

The Jorgenson then noticed that Astrid was looking at a map.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Trying to figure out where the Dragon hunters are heading.”

“That’s a bad idea. You remember what happened yesterday? Even if we find them, what can we do about this arrows with this tranquilizing stuff?”

“Well-I had no idea. I wish, Hiccup was here.” she murmured.

“Hiccup! Hiccup! Do you think I could not come out with a plan?”

“To be honest, no.”

Snotlout growled and picked up one of the fishes, Stormfly had caught and dropped on the beach.

“It’s a shame, that the skins of our dragons aren’t as hard as the one of a Boneknapper.” he grumbled.

Astrid lifted her head and rolled the map.

“Snotlout, you gave me an idea!”

Jorgenson turned. “Really?”

“Come one, you two! We ´ve got some work to do!” Astrid said mounting Stormfly.

“And that with an empty stomach!” Snotlout growled as Hookfang snatched the fish out of his hand.

So Snotlout followed Astrid who did not told him her entire plan, cause she knew the Jorgenson would not be very pleased if he would know where are they heading.

 Meanwhile, the other riders exept for Hiccup, were sleeping in their cell when they suddenly woke up by the creaking of the cell door. They looked up and saw Dagur shoving Hiccup into the cell, he looked tired as if he did not slept all night.

“Hiccup! Are you okay?” Fishlegs asked with worry.

“Yeah. I am only tired. They questioned me all night long and don’t let me sleep.”

“They?”

“Ryker and Heather mostly. Dagur doesn’t say much. He was very quiet, did mostly observe what the others doing. - But something was a bit odd. When Ryker got too rough and grabbed me at my collar, cause I refused to answer him at the beginning, Dagur at once interfered and growled at the hunter to release me. They nearly started a fight when Heather got between them and told the two muttonheads that on this way they will never get out something of me. And to finish this ordeal and get back to you finally, I told Ryker everything” Hiccup said.

“WHAT?” Fishlegs gasped.

“I told Ryker what he wanted to know. The location of the Dragon eye.” said Hiccup.

“They know of the dragon eye?”

“Well, Dagur must have told them about it! Its very important to the Dragon Hunters. They are looking for it for a long time.”

“And where did you tell them it was?”

“Back at Dragons edge where its been guarded by all the other riders we left behind.” Hiccup said loudly, making sure the guards could hear him.

“What?” Tuffnutt blinked. “But ther is no—“

Hiccup placed a finger on his lips and nodded. Fishlegs understood, the meaning and continued: “Yeah, Dragons edge is like a fortress. Lots of dragon riders.”

“Under the command of Captain Gustav, eh?” Tuffnutt added jokingly.

“Aye! That’s right!” Hiccup nodded and smirked.

“Errrmm….?” The twins shot their leader a suspicios look.

“Oh Thor! That’s the only thing I could said to prevent them from sailing to our base and overtaking it!” Hiccup whispered. “And to my surprise, Dagur agreed with me and told Ryker the same.”

“He is really acting weird for a traitor.” Fishlegs mused.

“Yeah. But we must stay careful! I don’t know what the Berserker siblings had in their minds. Especially Heather looked determined. Eventually Ryker will send someone down there to check out what I told him.”

“But this will buy us some time.” said Fishlegs.

“Exactly. We need to get out of here before they find out I was bluffing. Dagur knew about the A-Team, so he could belive that they are in charge at the edge at the moment.-Okay, guys. Any ideas how to break out?”

 Meanwhile, Astrid and Snotlout were still flying over the sea.

“Is that the island where going to?” the Jorgenson asked, getting more and more impatient.

“No.” Astrid said.

“How about that one?”

“Also no.”

“That one?”

“For Thors name…-“ she started, then she saw the island Snotlout was pointing at.

“Oh yeah, that’s exactly the one.”

When they got nearer the rocky island, Snotlout got a bad feeling.

“Astrid, I recognized these holes.” he said. “Why did you not tell me that we are going to an island full of Whispering deaths?”

“Because I knew you would react like this. Besides, this isn’t the island full of Whispering deaths. Somebody else lives here too.”

 As if the Somebody should have known, the ground began to shake and breaking through the surface came the Screaming death, he seemed gotten bigger in the last three years since they met him.

“The Screaming death? Just great! Why diddnt wave him over and let him kill us?” Snotlout asked with rising panic.

“Will you just relax? When he gets closer, he will recognize us and calm down….I hope.” Astrid answered.

But the Screaming dead roared and charged at them at once. It was obviously that he did not recognize them.

“This was the worst plan ever! This guy hates us! Lets turn tail and get out of here!” Snotlout shrieked. He and Astrid fled into the clouds and hid there. The Screaming death lost the sight of them and flew past.

“And now?” asked Snotlout.

“What we need is in the tunnels below. Let´s go, till he is distracted!” answered Astrid and she head back to the island and dived into the tunnel system, the dragons had created. Snotlout had no other choice to follow her.

 In the meantime, Hiccup and the others still were not able to escape from the cell. Tuffnut had come out with a weird plan to dig out or to set the cell on fire. Fishlegs brought out the plan of psycology warfare, but this was too boring for Tuffnut.

Hiccup did not notice what his friends were rambling und discussing around. He was leaning at the bars of their cell and looked outside. Dagurs behaviour did not let him rest. What was the Berserker up to?

When Heather arrived, he pushed back from the bars and returned to his friends.

“Ryker wants to see you.” she said.

Fishlegs, who stand in the front, blinked. “Me?”

“No, all of you.” Heathter said. “Let´s go.”

“They walked all out of the cell and were escorted to Ryker and Dagur who awaited them at the other end of the cells tract.

“I am Ryker! And this is my ship! You are my prisoners.” the leader of the hunters announced. “And your dragons are now my dragons!”

“And how they are treated is entirely up to you.” Dagur added and waved to follow him and Ryker. They followed the two men till the last few cells. In the first one they saw Meatlug chained up and force feed to eat Rocks.

“Girl!” Fishlegs yelled.

“This Gronckle is very helpful.” Ryker said.

“Her name is Meatlug!” Fishlegs glared.

“I don’t care about her name. All I care is that it makes me metal, all day and all night.”

Meatlug shot out some lava into a bucket.

“That’s cruel! She is not a metal producing forging fumace!” Hiccup growled.

“For me, Gronckles are.” Ryker retorted coldly. The Hooligan glared at him, but said nothing. His words would be fruitless here. But when he shot a quick glance at Dagur he could see a pained look crossing his face. He started to wonder where his Dragon Shattermaster was. And Heathers Razorwhip Windshear?”

Fishlegs in the meantime looked at the lava Meatlug spewed and recognized it as the same molten mass they used to make Gronkle iron three years ago. A rough shove from Heather ripped him out of his thoughts.

“Toothless!” Hiccup rushed to the next cell, where the Nightfury was chained up and muzzled. “Don’t worry bud, we find a way to free you.” The dragon lifted his head and whined.

“This nightfury is our most precious freight at the moment. I wonder how much I will get if we sell it in our next auction.” Ryker mused.

“You can do this to him!” Hiccup hissed. “He is my friend!”

“Oh, I can. And I will. And you should be careful, that you not end on an auction too, runt. But I doubt someone would place a bit for a toothpick like you.”

Hiccup clenched his fists, he wanted nothing more than to punch this arrogant man. But he know that he would never had a chance to Rykers strength. Dagur grabbed Hiccup by the arms and shoved him forward.

When they passed Toothless cell, something made Hiccup suspicious. The Nightfury did not growl at Dagur or bared his teeth-and he belived to see that the Berserker winked at the dragon and shot him a short encouraged smile. And Toothless did only watch him with his big green eyes and showed no threat.

Barf and Belch, who were in the third cell, were being fed and rubbed down by two hunters with a greasy cream.

“When we had his hide, it will fetch top prices in the northern market islands.” said Ryker.

“What?” Ruffnut shrieked.

“Zippleback boots I always wanted a pair.” Dagur said to her. Hiccup shot him an angry look.

“This is what faces all your dragons. Of course, they could get a better treatment…” said Ryker taking the jar with grease from the hunter.

“And how?” Ruffnut asked. The bald leader tossed the jar straight in her hands and looked at the riders furiously.

“Start giving me the right answers! Tell me what do you know about the dragon eye! How many riders exactly are guarding your base?”

Hiccup and the other riders looked at one another and then at Ryker in silence. The Hooligan crossed his arms in defiance.

“Very well. Keep fattening this one up. Then we have more hide to sell.” Ryker growled, took the jar back and pointed at the zipper.

 Ruffnut suddenly threw herself onto a guard standing next to her and begged for the life of Barf and Belch.

“Then tell me, what I want to know!” Ryker demanded. Ruffnut began to slid off the guards waist making whining noises.

“Ruff! Stop it! Thorstonsons don’t beg!” Tuffnut scolded her. Dagur rolled his eyes. Ruffnut was now lying at the feet of the hunter, groaning in despair.

“If you really want to save your dragons, then give me some informations!” Ryker growled. In this moment, Ruffnuts whine stops, she stood up, a stern look on her face.

“Never!” she spat and returned to the others. “Sorry, I lost my head for a second.”

“Something you and your dragon may have soon in common.” Ryker growled. “Get them out of my sight!”

 Astrid and Snotlout were flying through the tunnels when the shieldmaid spotted something.

“I knew it! The screaming death grew and when he does, he must shed his skin and the too small scales too. And here they are.” she said and landed before a pile of white scales. Astrid dismounted of Stormfly and picked one of them up.

“Yes, that’s it! Come on, Snotlout! Help me collecting as much scales as you can!”

But shortly after, a loud roar echoed through the tunnels.

“Oh no! He is back! And he will find us by our scents!” Snotlout said worried.

“And here he is.” Astrid murmured and put her collected scales slowly down. The Screaming death towered over them. The Nadder hissed and Hookfang screeched. Snotlout chuckled nervously and dropped his scales, except for one which he held before his face like a shield. “We are gonna die.”

The Screaming death roared and prepared to blast the intruders, when suddenly a female Whispering death appeared out of an side opening of the tunnel. She hissed and screeched at the much bigger dragon, who growled low and ten went away.

“What just happened?” Snotlout asked, looking behind his lowered Scale Shield.

“Well, the Screaming death diddn´t remember us, but it looks like, his mother did.” said Astrid and stretched out her hand. The whispering death allowed her to touch her and purred.

“Good girl.-Okay, now get those scales together, fast!”

When Astrid picked some scales up the whispering death shoved some more of them in front of her feet.

“Oooh, that’s sweet of you. Look, Snotlout, she wants to help!” the Shieldmaid smiled.

“Or she wants to get these tunnels clean.” the Jorgenson murmured.

When the two packed the scales on their dragons and mounted they followed the whispering death out of the tunnels.

“Bye, big mama! And thanks for your help!” Astrid waved at her.

 Meanwhile, Hiccup, Fishlegs and the Twins are still locked up in their cell, thinking how to escape. Again a heated discussion went around.

“Listen guys, I have memorized the guards schedule and I got up with a plan. But we need to get this door open first.” Hiccup said.

Ruffnut held out a key.

“You mean with this key I stole from the guard?”

The three just stared at her, dumbfounded.

“How did you-“ Hiccup tried to figure out. Ruffnut explained how during her begging she pickpocketed the guard and took his key wihout someone noticing it.

“So that was the reason for all this fuss before.” Fishlegs said.

“Yeah, you guys should listen to me every now and then.” Ruffnut said and handed the key to Hiccup. He just shook his head and turned to look at his friends.

“All right. As soon as we took out the guards, we spilt up and get our dragons. Then we blast our way out of here.” Hiccup explained.

When Hiccup unlocks the cell he remembered when he was locked in a cell at outcast island.

“Well-lets see if this trick works here too.” he mumbled, then he started to yell:”Guard! Guard! I cant take it anymore! I want to save my dragon! I will tell Ryker whatever he wants to know!”

When he saw the guard approaching the cell, he waited until the man was right in front of it. Then he slammed the door open with all his strength knocking the guard out cold. The same he did with the second guard.

“Okay-lets go. But one last thing: If this ship is like the Reaper, then could be boobytraps anywhere, so be careful!” Hiccup warned. He and the others silently sneaked to the other cells.  

Fishlegs was never happier to see Meatlug again. But before he freed his Gronkle he checked the weapons on the wall.

“They know the formula of Gronkle iron!” he murmured exited.” But what was that guy feeding you to get it? They are so many rocks here.”

 Meanwhile Hiccup had made his way to Toothless. When he open the cell, he nearly stepped on a booby trap, but he was able to avoid setting it off. The he hugged Toothless.

“Hey, bud. You diddnt think I would leave you here, did you? Lets get you free of this chains.”

 The twins had more problems to free their Zipper. Barf and Belch refused to go with them, they rather stuck their snouts in the barrels with fish. When the twins wanted to make clear who the boss was and had to avoid the swatting tails, Tuffnut stepped on a hidden booby-trap in the planks and the alarm bell sounded.

“Great! Really great!” Tuffnut groaned stepping on the trigger trying to stop the alarm.

 Fishlegs was still trying to figure out how to create Gronckle iron. He just needed the last indigredient, when he was interrupted by the alarm sound. And in the next moment he was grabbed by a hunter and dragged out of the cell.

 The twins still tried to move Barf and Belch, but they remind in staying in their cell. Too tempting was the amount of food here. And to make it more worse, two hunters were aiming with their crossbows at them.

“We will talk about this later!” Ruffnut angry hissed back to the Zipper.

 Dagur who stood in a dark corner and watched the whole scene, shook his head. These twins are as dumb as their dragon is, he thought. Then he spotted Hiccup in Toothless cell. The Hooligan was so busy freeing the nightfury that he diddnt notice Dagur walking into the cell.

“I am sorry, but you are not going-or better said-flying anywhere, brother.” he said.

“Don’t call me that, traitor! Maybe I am not going anywhere yet, but I will for sure!” Hiccup hissed and grabbed a spear. Toothless, who was still chained and muzzled, growled.

“Oh I doubt that.” Dagur grinned closing the cell door behind him.

 Fishlegs and the twins found themselves on the deck of the ship with Ryker and Heather looking down at them from the bridge.

“Did I not warn you about them?” Heather told him annoyed “They never quit.”

Then Dagur arrived with Hiccup thrown over his shoulder, who was trashing around.

“Put me down!” the Hooligan growled. The Berserker did- but not before he gave the boy two half-hard slaps on his butt.

Hiccup glared at Dagur when he was standing on his feet again.

“Hey, Rykie, Ryker-man, can we please just work together on this? You know dragons. I know Dragon Riders-OW!”

He jumped when Hiccup kicked him with his peg leg on his shin. Then the Hooligan was grabbed by a guard and shoved to his friends. Dagur rubbed his shin and glared at Hiccup.

Ryker narrowed his eyes. “And?”

“Send a message. Throw one over board.“ Dagur said snickering. “That will be fun.”

“An excellent idea.” said Heather. “Unless you think Viggo might want to question them personally about the Dragon Eye.”

Everyone just stared at her. “Better put them to work.” she continued.

“Then I prefer to go overboard.” said Tuffnut. Ruffnut nodded.

“Split them up so they can plot any more escaping plans and make them serve you, as their dragons do.” Heather suggested.

“A good idea. Put them to work. But the next one who tries to escape goes overboard!” Ryker commanded. Then he looked at Dagur.

“Well, its obvious who got the brain in your family, eh?” Ryker grinned and walked away laughing.

The Berserker turned to Heather.

“What was that all about sister?” he asked her.

“I was protecting you, brother. From what you told me about him, I doubt Viggo likes loosing valuable property. If anything happens to the riders, let Ryker be on the hook for it, not you.”

Dagur smiled and hugged Heather.

“That’s my sister!” he said happily.

 When Astrid and Snotlout returned with the screaming death scales to an island not far away from the last position of the hunters ships, they upload them and Astrid tried to sew them together.

“OW Dammit!” she cursed, putting her finger in her mouth.

“What are you doing?” Snotlout asked, who just finished a small snack.

“I am trying to make a protection armor for Stormfly. These scales are hard enough, to block the arrows. But as a Shieldmaiden I am not so skilled with needles and Threads.

“Aah, now I understand! For THIS you wanted the scales! -Let me see.”

Snotlout observed the work Astrid has begun.

“That stich will not hold long. You should try this.” he explained, took the workpiece out of the girls hand and started to work. With wide eyes Astrid watched amazed how the Jorgenson get to work. With skilled hands he began to sew the scales together.

“Okay. Which one next?” he asked, when he finished the first set of scales.

“Uhh…this one. –That’s amazing! Where did you learn to sew like that?”

“My mother taught me. Its helpful when you tear your clothes as often as I do.”

“Then your mother is a practical and wise woman. - Okay. Then you do the sewing, before my fingertips got all holes in it.”

“Would be a pleasure. At least I have something with that I can impress you.”

“And if this works, remind me to thank her too.” said Astrid and pulled out a map. “All right. When our armors are finished, the next step is to find those Dragon hunters again. And then we will have a surprise for them.”

 On the hunters ship, Hiccup and Tuffnut were scrubbing the deck with brooms.

“So let me get this straight. Dagur took you down all by himself?” the male twin said, leaning lazy on his broom handle.

“If you have forgotten, he is bigger and much stronger than me!” Hiccup grumbled.

“Yes-but you have your brain and cleverness.”

“Oh Thor!” Hiccup groanded.

“This is another argument for why I say: Always carry a sword.” Tuffnut shot back, turning away from Hiccup and started scrubbing around.

 Ruffnut was in the cell under deck scrubbing Barf and Belch.

“Sont try and make up with me, mister. This is your fault. Have you not only thought with your stomach, we would be free by now.” she growled, glaring at Barf. Belch growled back. “And you-don’t taking his side, buddy! You are in this too.”

The two dragon heads began to gurgle to each other, as if discussing something. Then they bowed down and began to lick her.

 Fishlegs was also down below in meatlugs cell sorting through rocks in barrels. However, he was doing a lot more than just working for the hunters. He observed which and how many rocks a crewman shoved into the Gronkles mouth and took note. Then he realized which last indigrend he was missing three years ago.

“One part iron ore, one giant spoon of hardened Gronkle lava, that’s it!” the hought out loud. The angry grunting of the hunter brought him back of his thoughts.

“Oh, sorry. Back to sorting, all right.” Fishlegs said nervously.

 Back on the deck, Tuffnut was standing silently leaning on his broom handly and Hiccup were starting to get annoyed.

“How do you not get having a sword is a huge advantage in a fight?” he snapped.

“It is and if you have a mace….”

“I diddnt have a mace a sword or a crossbow!” Hiccup shot back, gritting his teeth.

“Oh, so now we are getting hypothetical? Bet you diddnt can breathe fire either.”

Hiccup annoyed curled his fingers and lifted his chin in anger.

“One more word and I will do what Dagur planned to do first!” he hissed.

 Fortunately for Tuffnut, a call from a hunter on the watch caught their attention.

“Two dragons heading in our direction! With Riders!”

“That’s Astrid and Snotnose. So they want to try it again.” Dagur said.

“Standby catapults! Archers, take your positions!” Ryker ordered. The hunters loaded the catapults and the archers aimed their arrows at the upcoming dragon riders.

“Wait, until they are in range.” Ryker ordered.

 Snotlout was slightly nervous about charging an entire fleet of Dragon hunters and he wasn’t exactly confident that Astrids plan would work. The Shieldmaiden, who seems to read his thoughts, said: ”Don’t worry, Snotlout. We were prepared this time and knowing Hiccup and the others, I am sure they will cause a nice little distraction on the flagship.”

Then the two flew down straight towards the in the middle crusing ship.

 Dagur looked very excited.

“Look at them! This little walkyrie is coming straight in! A true suicide run, I diddnt think, she hat it in her!” he laughed.

“Foolish girl!” said Ryker.

Heather on the other hand looks quite serious.

“Astrid is no fool. I know her better than you, brother. What are they up to?” she mused.

“Well , I will be sure to ask them after I knock them out of the sky.” said Ryker. “Hunter-fire at will!”

The first arrows flew and the hit both Stormfly and Hookfang.

“Hey, whats going on? I swear, some arrows have hit them!” Dagur wondered and took a look through his spyglass. His eyes widened. “Their dragons are wearing some sort of armour!”

The two dragons blasted the three ballistas right next to Dagur.

When Ryker pulled out one of his swords, Heather knocked him to the ground just as the two dragons shot their fire in his direction.

Hiccup and Tuffnut saw their chance.

“Now or never.” said Hiccup.

The two of them whacked the nearest hunters with their brooms.

“I hate cleaning!” Tuffnut said and whacked another Hunter with his broom then knocking him overboard. “A lot as you can see.”

“Well, looks like there is some more cleaning to do!” Hiccup said. “Lets go!”

They charged at the hunters with their brooms. Several of the men tried to attack them from behind, but Snotlout appeared across the side holding their backs free.

 Under the decks the entire ship shook from the impacts of the two riders attacks and Fishlegs toppled over. Then he saw his chance, grabbed an axe and cut the chains that held Meatlug.

The approaching hunter had no chance as Fishlegs commanded: “Meatlug, hug!”

He was tackled and his head banged against the cell bars, knocking him out cold.

“That’s it. Come on, girl.”

 in another cell, Ruffnut and a hunter were circling on another. First she tried to defend them with two Fish, but the man simply sliced them in half. Ruffnut, out of ideas how to defend herself backed away. When she was swatted away, Barf and Belch got angry and attacked the hunter who had dared to hit their rider. Two good headbutts send the hunter out cold.

“Okay guys, that’s a start. but don’t even think for a second that we are close to be quits.” said Ruffnut to the Zipper. “Now move, you two-headed lizard!”

 Outside Snotlout and Astrid concentrated their fire on the escorting ships. When they pull alongside, the Jorgenson noticed, that the stitches on Stormflys armour were coming loose at one part.

“Oh no! I knew I should have used a lockstitch, not a cross-stitch! Stupid, Snotlout, stupid!” he whined and hit his helmet. “Mom gonna be so disappointed in me!”

“Lets hope it holds as long as we need it! Now we are taking out those two support ships! Go!” Astrid said and began their attack on the two escorting ships.

 On the flag ship Hiccup did his best to defend himself from the charging hunters. And a simple broom was not very effective. But thanks Thor Tuffnut came to help him and slammed the handle of his broom into the attackers face.

“Lets go and get the dragons!” said Hiccup.

They began to head straight down towards the lower decks not noticing, that two archers were aiming at them. But Dagur pushed them aside and ran towards Hiccup.

“The fishbone is mine!” he snarled and began swinging his axe at Hiccup, slicing his broom in half. However this diddnt dishearten Hiccup, he beared a great grudge against the Berserker, who changed the sides. Dagur could see the anger and disappointment in the face of the young Hooligan. The boy let out an angry roar and used his two broom handles to attack Dagur. The berserker was busy trying to block the attacks, he never saw Hiccup so enraged. And when he rammed his shoulder against his chest, Dagur lost his balance and crashed to the ground.

With a scorn look on his face, the Hooligan threw the handles at his opponent and walked away.

“I really have hurt his feelings…” Dagur thought.

 A few moments later Hiccup was inside Toothless cell and began undoing the chains and the muzzle of the Nightfury.

“Toothless, we are leaving.” he said. The dragon warbled happily, finally to be freed again. The Hooligan then heard someone entering the cell and turned to find Dagur standing there.

“Not so fast brother!” he said.

“Dagur, you damn traitor! After all we went through! How could you-and I thought I can trust you!” Hiccup spat. Suddenly Toothless placed himself before Dagur, whined and gave him the “puppy-eye” look. And Hiccup understood in this moment what the Nightfury wanted to say. He trusted Dagur and that could only mean, that he wasn’t a traitor.

“You still can trust me, Brother.” Dagur answered and with one strike, he broke the chains who held the Nightfurys legs. Toothless let out a happy warble and run to his rider.

“Wha-“

“Listen carefully, brother. We and Heather are as spys here. A few weeks before a ship of the hunters with this Ryker came to Berserker island and he tried to buy Cloudstorm and Shattermaster from me! I refused and he made an offer to work for them. So I left the island in charge to my uncle. He is taking now care of the little Skrill, so don’t worry. A surprise for me was, that Heather joined the hunters too and she and I made a temporary peace. She spies with me to find out who the main head of the hunters is. And I and Shattermaster are helping her.”

“Damn, Dagur! I thought you betrayed our friendship!” Hiccup cried and rammed his fist into his gut. The Berserker only flinched a bit and smiled when the boy hugged him. He could see the relive in his green eyes.

“That I will never do! You are my little brother and I will protect you-like I doing with Heather. I know she is still mad at me, but I and she must now work together as siblings, because we had the same goal.” Dagur said and handed Hiccup Toothless harness. He helped him to put it on the Nightfury again.

“Okay, brother. I will give you a chance to flee but it must be real and you and your Nightfury must fight me with all your strength! Otherwise you will blow my cover!” the Berserker said then.

”Now go! I give you some time, before I alert the guards! And always think: I and Heather are your enemies at the moment, and so the hunters must believe it! And your friends too! If one of you gets caught I and Heather will try to help you escape. But if they found out we are traitors….”

“You and Heather are taking a big risk.”

“Hey, we are Berserks. We love risks.”

“Take care, you both.”

“Now get out of here! Your friends and their Dragons are down there!” Dagur told with a hushed voice and pointed to the brig.

Toothless gave Dagur a short lick, before he stepped out of the cell. While the Berserker waited in a dark corner to give him and the other prisoners enough time to prepare their escape, he remembered when he set his first step on Rykers ship.

 Flashback:

It was on a small island, where he and Shattermaster went onboard. After a short introduction and a few instructions, Dagur was allowed to roam free on the entire ship. First he inspected the below decks in hope to find a trace of Hiccups Nightfury. And he found it.

“Toothless!” he whispered when he saw the chained and muzzled Nightfury behind the bars of the cell. The dragon lifted his head when he heard the familiar voice and recognized the scents of the Berserker and Shattermaster. Toothless whined and gave a pleading look to Dagur. Every time he moved, the chains made a rattling sound.

“I know, I know, you want that I free you-but I cant. Listen, I am here to spy on the hunters, they are looking for Dragons everywhere to catch and sell them! Please be patient, I am sure, Hiccup and his pals will come for you. But till then you must behave quiet. We will find a way to free you. You will not end at a market or an auction!” Dagur whispered.

Shattermaster warbled and tried to encourage Toothless on his way.

“Don’t worry, my human and I had agreed to help the hunters, but only to spy how they are hunting the dragons and where they are transporting it.” the Gronkle said. “Dagur will not allow that you been sold!”

“I see. Good, I will stay patient. My human will come for me for sure!” Toothless said.

 “Long time no see, “Brother”!”

Dagur spun around when he heard the familiar voice behind him.

“Heather! Sister! What in Thors Name are you doing here!” he hissed quietly.

“I think the same as you. Serving as a spy. Or am I wrong?”

Heathers eyes narrowed.

“No, you are not. They got Toothless and Hiccup and his gang will soon be here to free him. But we are not helping them. They must think that we are working for the Hunters! When the time Is right, I will tell him about our plan.”

“How did you got in contact with Ryker and his bunch?” Heather wanted to know.

“Well, one day this ship came to our island and Ryker tried to buy my dragon pals from me with not a small amount of Gold! It was clear that I refused, I would never sell my bud Shattermaster or little Cloudstorm!”

“Cloudstorm?”

“A Skrill hatchling I found on my first adventure with Hiccup. A deathsong killed his mother, so our tribe is now taking care of him.”

Heather looked at him. Her brother really seemed to have changed. The way Dagur and Shattermaster behaved was the same bond Heather shared with Windshear.

“But then Rykie made me a special offer. He promised a lot of gold when I worked for him as a scout and warrior with my men in these waters. So I agreed to ally with him, but only to serve as a spy for Hiccup and his riders. The hunters are from the archipelago of shadows. This is the reason why we haven´t meet them yet.”

 “Hey! Ryker wants to talk to you two!” a crewman said who appeared before the siblings.

“Then lets Rykie not wait.” Dagur grinned and walked forward, followed by Shattermaster.

Toothless watched the two Berserkers leaving. He now understands what Dagur and Heather had in planning and he knew that he must not blew their cover.

“Bud, go on deck and fly back to Savage. Wait there for me. It could become a bit rough here in the next two days and I want you out of trouble. Go bud! Go back to Savage!” Dagur ordered with a hushed voice and pointed to the hatch.

Shattermaster wagged his Tail and flew up to the opening.

“Good boy.” the berserker smiled. Then he turned to Heather.

“You cant imagine how clever he is. He understands everything I say to him.” he smiled at her.

“Oh-I can, Brother. Believe me.” Heather said as she followed her brother.

End Flashback.

 Outside on the decks of the ships were everywhere burning small fires from the attacks of Astrid and Snotlout.

“Look! The Nadder lost some of his armour! Get her!” Heather shouted and pointed with her axe at Astrid. The Shieldmaiden looked down at the deck and gasped.

“Eh, did I see right? Is this Heather down there?” Snotlout asked.

“Yes, I see it too. She joined the hunters! I couldn’t belive it!”

“And this after all we did for her! After all I did for her!” the Jorgenson whined.

 “Concentrate all fire at the Nadder!” Ryker ordered-but in the next moment the ship shook from from an impact. The main hatch was blown away by a plasma blast and Hiccup and Toothless came flying out of the now blasted hole.

“I told you, you were messing with the wrong Vikings!” Hiccup yelled. The next were Fishlegs on Meatlug

“Out of our waaayyy!” Fishlegs screamed as they pulled upwards. A few moments later green Gas began to exit from the hole and the hunters backed away when they saw the heads of Barf and Belch sticking out with the twins riding on their necks. Then the Gas was ignited and a large explosion let the men flee and freed the escaping way for the Zipper, who followed the others.

 Ryker looked at his burning ship and then at the Dragon riders who disappeared into the distance.

“I may have underestimated these Dragon riders.” ha admitted.

“I told you so!” Heather snapped and wiped some dust of her skirt.

 “Did I really see Heather on this ship?” Is she with the dragon hunters?” Astrid asked Hiccup, when they brought a safe distance between them and the ships.

“Not just Heather! Dagur is there too!” Ruffnut yelled.

“Yeah. They joined the hunters.” Hiccup said with a dark look. “Guys, we have a lot to talk about.”

Fishlegs fascinated watched the armour that Stormfly and Hookfang wore.

“Screaming death armour? Whose idea was that?” he asked.

Snotlout pointed at Astrid. “But I did the sewing.” he added.

“Excellent workmanship, cousin! And Astrid-this was a great idea!” Hiccup found his smile again.

Astrid smiled back.

“But the armour looks heavy. Maybe we should try a set made of Gronckle iron. I have now the complete formula.” Fishlegs said proudful.

“Well, we might need to do just that. I am pretty sure this was not our last encounter with the Dragon Hunters.” said Hiccup and his face went serious again. A lot of thoughts were circling in his mind and he stayed silent for the rest of the way home.

 On Rykers ship, Dagur and Heather joining up with Ryker. Dagur rubbed his head as if he was hit by something.

“Damn brats! They knocked me out when I tried to captured the little runt and fled on their dragons!” he cursed.

“So whats next?” Heather asked.

“We will report back to Viggo.” Ryker answered.

“And we tell him what?” Dagur asked.

“That we are one step closer to get the Dragon Eye back.” Ryker smirked evilly.

When the Leader of the Hunters stepped with Heather away to inspect the damages of the fight, Dagur was left alone. He looked into the direction where the Riders had disappeared and sighed.

“Please, little one. Take care of you.” he whispered.

 After the council in the clubhouse, Hiccup and Toothless were back in their hut.

The boy stared at the painting, Dagur gave him some weeks ago. With a sigh he took it from the wall and hid it in one of his chests.

“I must keep it secret, that you and Heather are spying out the Hunters.” he murmured and closed the lid of the chest. “For the moment, from now on, it must look, as we are enemies again. And I must keep this secret that they are spies for the hunters for myself-for now.”

Toohtless warbled.

“You know that Dagur and Heather are only doing as if they are evil. And I am glad that they are still our friends-and Dagur still my brother.”

 to be continued.

Next chapter will be “Snow way out”

Some of the episodes wil not be in chronological order.

#httyd rtte #httyd fanfiction #hiccup and dagur