Splitter- English Version

The Triple spike

Meanwhile, Hiccup paced impatiently back and forth in his prison.His fellow inmates, a couple of half-starved and not exactly cheerful dragons, were squabbling over a fish bone. This can't go on, Hiccup realized in despair.He turned to the bars and reached into the rusty struts. He peered through and the glaring light blinded him for a moment. Outside, in the ranks above the arena, the spectators went wild and screamed loudly for the dragons to extinguish each other's lives. Toothless, unwilling to fight the dragon caged with him in the arena to the death, swung hook after hook to avoid the venom of the ferocious triple spike. Hiccup watched as Toothless tried to calm the terrified dragon down. But this only made the triple spike react even more aggressively to his sounds and gestures. He desperately shook the cage bars, barely noticing that the rough metal parts were tearing open his flesh. Damn, he seriously needed a plan, he thought silently. He must get himself, Toothless and all the other dragons out of here. A wicked task. 

He turned briefly to the dragons, who were watching him suspiciously and curiously. He noticed that they were covered in scars and that their rich color was fading day by day. They were already more tolerant of him than on the first day. When he had been locked in their cell, he could only stay in one small corner. Just far enough so that the dragons could not reach him. Not only were they restricted by their hunger, but the chains also prevented them from even turning on their own axis without getting tangled up. Sleep was simply impossible for them, which only made the reptiles even more aggressive. His gaze lingered on the Gronkel. He coughed and only a few sparks flecked the sand to his claws. He began to lick the wall and Hiccup understood. He was just as hungry as he was. He stood up with difficulty, balanced on one leg and took off his prosthesis. He hammered bravely against the wall and a few pieces broke out. He picked them up and hopped hesitantly on one leg towards the Gronkel. He tightened his reptilian eyes into narrow slits and hissed hoarsely. "It's all right, my friend." Hiccup heard himself say and his tension grew. Slowly, he leaned his upper body forward and carefully rolled the stones towards the Gronkel. "I know it's not much, but that's all I can help you with for now." The gronkel's tense, fighting stance loosened and he licked up the stones with delight.

He gobbled them down with relish. He was the last on his list. He had shared his bread and fish, which he had been shoved into his cell every evening, with the others. He repeated this process a few times, tied the prosthesis to his stump again and after a while walked hesitantly towards the Gronkel. His nostrils flared as he stretched out his hand and he fully expected that he would not succeed this time. He lowered his eyes and turned his head. I believe in my abilities, he kept telling himself. I am a dragon rider. My best friend is a nightshade. And je is fighting for bis live right now. He heard the beast's breathing loudly and felt the hot steam comming out of its nostrils. And indeed. He felt scaly, hot reptile skin on his sore hands. He smiled with relief and opened his eyes. The Gronkel withdrew. And Hiccup ran back to the bars that separated him and his best friend. He saw the triple spike whirling around and sand trickling to the ground. He puffed himself up, ready to rip Toothless's throat out with his dagger-like fangs. Toothless hissed in intimidation as he looked around the arena for help and finally crossed Hiccup's gaze. "You can do it, my friend." 

The triple spike took advantage of Toothless' inattentive moment and knocked him to the ground. The dark shadow hit the ground with a thud. Hiccup shook the bars desperately and looked around his cell just as helplessly as Toothless did a few moments before. But there was absolutely nothing in this arena that could help him.

Of course, all the dragon species were present, but they were so starved that their fire had probably been out for weeks. He ruffled his hair and kicked the gate in anger. It rattled accusingly and he immediately regretted what he had done. A dull, throbbing pain traveled from his metatarsal bone up to his kneecap. Hiccup heard heavy footsteps at the door. He limped to the wall and quickly grabbed the wooden bucket the guard had left hanging there last night, ready to defend himself. Abruptly, the heavy old wooden door swung open. Hiccup gasped and groaned in disbelief, "Ryker?" Ryker laughed "The great Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the III, son of Stoic the Vast, dragon-slayer and next chieftain of Berk, imprisoned among dragon dung and half-starved creatures. By Odin, is it my birthday?" The bald man sneered and unsheathed his sword. Hiccup gripped the bucket even tighter and shifted his weight to the other leg to gain a firm footing. The dragons noticed the power imbalance, reared up menacingly behind him and began to hiss urgently. "Let me go with Toothless and the rest of the dragons, Ryker. Or you'll regret it bitterly." Hiccup tried to say with a steady voice. "I'm sorry, Hiccup. I promised Viggo Grimborn a gift from the heart. Well, I guess he won't be expecting you," Ryker said with a mischievous laugh. "No," Hiccup tried to reluctantly. But Ryker only laughed even louder and walked towards him. He backed away and bumped into the nadder's scaly chest. He spread his tail, which was covered in spikes. The giant nightmare ignited, while the Bladewhip and the Gronkel hissed fearsomely."Take care of the dragons," Ryker instructed one of his companions, grinning maliciously. "I can't believe they've already built up such trust in you after this short time." Ryker said with a cool voice. Hiccup, whose naivety sometimes got the better of him and replied: "Ryker, they're not wild and vicious beasts.On the contrary, they are empathetic creatures. Once you've won their loyalty and affection, they'll stay by your side forever." With his hand, he pointed to the angry dragons behind him.

It was a grotesque sight for anyone who didn't know how to handle dragons. Ryker spat on the ground and thrust with his blade. Hiccup deflected the blow with the bucket, but the iron handle tangled with the sword. With an abrupt upward twisting motion, Ryker disarmed him effortlessly. With a dull clang, the bucket landed a few meters to the right, out of Hiccup's reach. Hiccup backed further away. The dragons were trapped by now. He looked helplessly around the cell and, after a few steps, felt the cold, rough wall at his back. Ryker laughed, pressed Hiccup's body against the wall and held the blade to his neck. "Now be a good boy and follow me," he said, grabbing his upper left arm and pulling him away from the wall, putting him in a headlock and pressing the blade even harder against his neck. Hiccup squirmed under his grip, kicked Ryker's shin with the prosthetic and broke free. Ryker groaned in pain and sank to his knees. His eyes blazed with hot rage. Hicks sprinted towards the door and tugged at the handle. But to no avail. The door wouldn't budge. He tore himself away from the triple spike and rushed to the iron gate. But Toothless was unable to help his best friend. He ran feverishly up and down, hoping to see a gap somewhere through which he could get to Hiccup. There was no way out. Desperately, Toothless shouted a few whimpering sounds at him as the triple spike pounced on him again. Ryker struck him and Hiccup raised his hands in front of his face to protect himself. Dots danced in front of his inner eye and the surroundings blurred until it finally went black.

Ryker stood up with difficulty and walked heavily towards Hiccup. "You dragonrider bastard!" he spat, knocking Hiccup to the ground. Hiccup staggered and screamed for Toothless as he fell.