The Dragon Master and The Lightning Rider *Hiccup Fanfic*

20. The Search

I just watched the season 2 of Race To the Edge, and I felt that it was a good add-on. So ignore the improper timeline and just enjoy the story!

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Toothless and Hiccup had started searching for Skye the next day precisely at dawn.

Hiccup was in no state to do so, though. There were dark purple circles under his eyes because he didn't sleep even for a minute. It was strange and foreign to be sleeping int his room where he couldn't turn and see her sleeping form. Even stranger to find her side of her room empty; no weapons strewn about that he could get hurt on, no papers or clothes. And being the Chief of Berk also brought a new wave of responsibilities that made the sleepless nights full of dread and clustered fears.

They had been flying for an hour, every second making him clutch the handlebars tighter. "Bud, where is she?" Hiccup whined into the saddle. 

Toothless moaned comfortingly. He didn't like seeing Skye and Sin gone either, but he hated it even more when his rider was so exhausted but still pushed himself.

Hiccup suddenly smacked his head. Well, if that had been the solution the whole time, Toothless should've done that earlier. 

"Of course! I'm so stupid. Why didn't I think about this before. She has to be on Bigfoot island!"

With a burst of hope, the Nightfury banked left sharply and shot off like a lightning bolt. Hiccup rode on with strong eyes and determined attitude to find her. He had to find her.

He had to. 

Within another fifteen minutes, the duo reached the island, reaching the plain pasture before Hiccup jumped off and booked it to the hidden cave, his dragon hot on his heels. Hiccup could almost feel Skye with him, running beside him, taunting his speed, hearing her rich laugh.

Sooner than he realized, they were at the cave entrance, exchanging hopeful glances. The smile on his face could've split it in half, but then he stepped in. The glowing algae lamps had been speared through with sharp arrows, the liquid and plant leaking to the cave floor. Any wooden furniture, the bed, barrels, it looked like there had been a war in the cave, poked with more arrows.

The farm animals in their fence had been let loose, and they bleated as they roamed the cave. 

Hiccup had been too late. Something horrible must've happened to Skye and Sinless, something very recent because there was a fresh stench of something wafting through his nose.

Bitter, almost painful and thick. Like poison.

He plucked an arrow, eyes narrowing at the green-tipped arrowhead. 

Or tranquilizer.

Someone had taken them by force. Hiccup had no idea if they had escaped. He didn't doubt Skye's skills for one second, and paired with one of the fiercest dragons in the archipelago, they could've been unstoppable. But how far could they go against tranquilizers?

This wasn't supposed to happen. Hiccup was supposed to find Skye here, and he was going to apologize to her, beg her if he had to, just for her to come back home. Come back to him. He wanted to tell her that she was the fairest lower in the field, that nothing could compare to her smile. He wanted to hold her rough, battle-worn skin of her cheeks in his hands and press his mouth to hers. He always imagined her lips would be chapped and rough, like they were waiting for his mouth to soften it. 

He was supposed to tell her he loved her.

A loud snap made Hiccup rocket back into focus. He himself was surprised at the source, the arrow in his hand broken into wooden shards, and he let it clatter to the ground, almost growling like Toothless, who had been sniffing around in displeasure. A hot pressure built behind Hiccup's eyes, they were burning.