Into the Archipelago(HTTYD one-shots)

Treading Water

Requested by Tuffnut_and_Chicken

The night was quiet, the breeze calm, the waves washing the foot prints from earlier today from the damp sand. I blow out my lantern, crawling into my bed for the night, Toothless already sound asleep. I manage to curl into a comfortable position, eventually drifting off. But, unfortunately for me with my terrible luck, it is disturbed, screams yanking me away from my dream land.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" 

I sit strait up in bed at the sound, completely awake now. The twins. "Oh, what now?" I whine, climbing out of my warm bed. I pull on my boot and metal leg and trudge down the stairs, Toothless on my heel.

When I push up my door, Astrid and Stormfly are already headed to my hut. I can tell by the way she's gripping her axe, she's not happy. "What was that?" she asks.

"I don't know," I answer, scanning the area. "There's no fires anywhere."

"Well, this better be important or they are getting an axe to the head," she warns.

Fishlegs and Snotlout are waiting on the ground when we come down. "Those two Muttonheads better have a good explanation for disrupting my beauty sleep!" Lout complains. 

"You're gonna need a lot more sleep then," Astrid adds.

"Shut it, Astrid," Snotlout pouts, crossing his arms.

"They gave Meatlug a heart-attack. I've never seen her jump so high," Fishlegs says, worried.

"Well, lets go see what we are dealing with," I sigh, walking toward the twin's hut.

"Hiccup! You have to help me!" Ruff shouts, rushing out of her house when she sees us approaching. 

"What happened?" I ask, concerned. 

"They took him. Those stingy yack kissers," she scowls.

"Who?" I ask, confused.

"The hunters!" she wails, throwing herself on the ground, wrapping her arms around my legs. "You have to save him, Hiccup! If they killed him, I would never be able to live with myself. No one hurts my brother. Except me. That's kind of my job. Twins. Fight with each other, but inseparable-" 

"Ruff! Focus. Where were they headed?" I interrupt her rambling.

"I don't know. They just disappeared," she says, standing up.

We follow her inside to see the place destroyed, weapons strewn all over the floor. My eyes catch on a small sheet of parchment, rolled up and tied to the handle of a hunter's sword. I pull it out and unroll it, scanning the words. I groan, throwing the paper aside and stomp out of the hut.

"Where are you going?" Ruff calls, the others all chasing after me.

"To save him. Alone."

"But, we can help you. We are stronger as a team," Astrid objects.

"I'm going Hiccup. He's my brother," Ruffnut adds, stepping up beside Astrid.

"No. They have him in a cave near Dark Deep. It's too dangerous for us all too go. I wont lose anyone else. Besides, they will be expecting all of us, not just me. They would never think i'd come alone. I'll be fine," I tell Astrid. "I'll bring him back. I promise, Ruff. You guys hold down the Edge incase they come back," I instruct, climbing on Toothless.

"Hiccup!" Fishlegs calls out. I turn to face him. "Make sure to be out of there high tide or you two wont make it out," I nod, taking off.

***