Peter Mercier and the Hunters of Artemis

Chapter 19

It was nearly nighttime when they reached the den, the clouds covering the sky lit up in bright colors. They approached the small dock near the hidden door where Romulus' ship was anchored, the Fury flying low and landing on the barren deck.

Peter and Eret were lazily dropped first onto the wood before everyone got off together. They drew what weapons they had; Peter's bow, Hiccup's sword, and a spear Amber had grabbed from the forge. They had taken the crossbow, too, but still had no bolts. "Hello?" Eret called, looking around. "Anyone here?"

"Doesn't look like it," Astrid said. "Let's be careful." Amber nodded in agreement. "They're sneaky."

The grate on the dock was moved aside and one by one they started to shuffle towards it. After a few feet of movement, the Light Fury growled. Hiccup held a closed hand up and they stopped in their tracks. "Give me the sword," he said.

"No, I'll handle it," Eret offered, gesturing for the blade. Astrid gave it to him reluctantly as Hiccup backed up, the captain taking his place. He held the sword out, quickly walking forwards and peering down. A few seconds of silence went by, with Eret slowly lowering the sword. "They're here," he sighs, turning around, tears welling in his eyes. His lip quivers as he speaks. "They're all dead."

"If it makes you feel any better," Romulus stepped out of the cabin, pushing the door aside with his foot. He had his hands in his lap, a smug smirk on his face. "They didn't feel a thing. We slipped them a few pills in their sleep a few minutes after Mrs. Astrid visited us. Maybe if she'd stayed away and left us alone, they'd be alive."

The Light Fury roared, everyone too mortified to speak. Amber had her hand covering her mouth. Peter gulped. "You told me-" Astrid tried to argue, her face red. Eret's hand was shaking, the sword gleaming in the light. "I know what I said," Romulus shrugged, interrupting her. "It was just easier this way. I'd get going if I were you."

"You'll regret this," Eret shouted. Everyone started moving back to the Light Fury, except him. "I doubt that," Romulus said. "In a few days, give or take, half of you will be dead anyway. The other half will wish they were."

Eret charge forward, holding the sword high in the air. Romulus sidestepped and the captain hit the railing. "I'd really not bother with that," the hunter sighed, walking backward towards the cabin, sounding more annoyed than threatened. The captain swung, his knuckles white on the black leather grip. Romulus leaned backward and punched him across the face, his knuckles cracking as they met skin. Hiccup's sword fell to the ground by his feet and he bent over to pick it up. "Go, before I change my mind," he threw the sword towards the Light Fury, it clattering on the damp wood.

The captain hobbled over to the others, stunned. "I've still got it," Romulus snickered, smiling broadly, going back inside the small cabin and putting the final touches on the map, hearing the dragon quickly take off into the sky.

It was a long, quiet ride through the cold night back to New Berk. They approached the grayish-green island, seeing a few houses missing their roofs and a few gone entirely, melted into the ground. They landed next to the stage, which also had chunks dissolved out of it. Vikings crowded around them as they landed, and in the commotion, the Light Fury flung its riders off. Peter and Eret landed on their stomachs, while the other three tumbled off her back and landed haphazardly on their feet and tailbones. "Chief!" Gobber was near the front of the crowd, awkwardly climbing his way up the stage. "Are you alright?"

"We're fine, pretty much," he answered. "What's going on around here?"

"Changewing attack, I'm afraid," Gobber sighed, straightening the small helmet on his head. "Never seen anything like it."