How to Save a Dragon Rider

Escape

Fishlegs nervously chewed on a price of dried yak meat. The woman sitting across from him had continually glared at him through the night. Neither of them slept a wink. Her hands were tied to meatlugs saddle. Against his better judgment he offered a piece of his food to her. She nearly bit his finger. He let out a slight shriek and retreated back beneath the comfort of the tree.

Meatlug hated her. She kept growling and looking at Victoria like she was a smoked eel. Victoria didn't seem to fond of the arrangement either

"I know girl." He had whispered to her earlier. "I don't like her either. We'll be home soon"

The yellow sun had risen a few hours before. As it made its appearance he couldn't help but wonder if Berk was still in tact. He stood and finished the last of the meat.

" let's get going girl." he nudged his sleeping dragon and urged her to stand up.

The island they had stopped on was nestled halfway in between berk and Outcast islands. It was a flat and boring place, but it was sufficient for meatlugs eating and sleeping habits.

Victoria awkwardly had to sit behind Fishlegs as they rose into the air and headed south east towards Berk. Her hands still tied to the saddle , she was wedged a little too close for comfort for him. Fish took a long and much needed breath. He could do this. He could spend a few more hours with her, and then she'd be put away forever.

Her icy words shocked him like frozen winds. His heart nearly jumped out of his chest.

"Set down somewhere. Nature is calling." He gulped and turned around briefly.

"Not a chance. I'm not falling for that." He shook his blonde head. How stupid does she think I am? He thought.

Meatlug neared the water enough to see a few ships speckled randomly in the sea. It was a clear day, birds flirted with the boats looking for food. Fishlegs didn't think much of this. He also had underestimated Victoria and what she was willing to do to accomplish her goal.

It all happened so fast he didn't hardly have time to react. He heard the cord which bound her snap and clunk against meatlugs skin. He felt her push off from him, then looked to see a giant splash in the ocean far below. The crazy woman had jumped off of into the ocean. 

He must have searched for over three hours to find Victoria, kicking himself for not being careful enough. He even scouted neighboring ships and fishing boats. Nothing.

Something gave him the chills about the way she had just dissapeared, and plummeted towards the water without fear. Like she was just an empty void with no emotion.  After a while he knew he wasn't going to find her. This realization  sunk in his stomach like a rock.  Frustration  and shame accompanied him back to Berk. What am I going to tell everyone? 

.    .    .

Berk looked like a heard of yaks had rolled over the town. The huts that were still standing were singed. Huge boulders were wedged in the ground, the remains of houses surrounding them. Tents had been pitched all around for the families to stay in. The watch towers were by some miracle still in tact. Fishlegs was in distraught to see this. Dragon riders were all working together to remove the large rocks, in hope they could begin rebuilding. The Great hall doors were wide open people pouring in and out.

He saw Astrid wrapping chains around one of the boulders with some help from Bucket. Her shoulders were bare, and she was red from the work. She didn't wear her usual battle axe. Only a simple brown corset over a tunic, with arm cloths. When she saw him, she waved him down.

"Astrid, hi." He said cautiously dismounting.

"Fishlegs. Thank Thor your ok." She gave a sigh of relief and threw a quick hug around him. Then she hit him, hard. Pointing a finger at him she said; "That better be the last time you pull something like that!" He rubbed his arm and took another look around.

"Astrid, what happened here? This is terrible." He gestured.

"We were attacked by a fleet of dragon trapper mercenarys sent by a woman-"

"Victoria Auber. She attacked while Hiccup and I were gone." He finished for her.

" They retreated this morning." 

Fishlegs rubbed his face with his hands and groaned.

"This is bad. This is really bad."

"It gets worse." She hung her head. "10 riders were taken probably to face the same fate as Snotlout."

"Astrid, I lost the only leverage we have."

"What do you mean?" He stopped himself from answering. No one knows we caught her. He thought. Hiccup didn't tell anyone yet.

"Where's Hiccup I need to see him." He said panicked.

" He's in the Great Hall, dealing with all of this." She pointed.

"Thank you." He headed towards the hall nervously. Above all else he felt shame.

Hiccup was in deep conversation when he crept into the room.

"We are going to have to direct the trainees coming from Berserker island to The Edge where some of our dragon riders will meet them."

"We can't afford to dispatch any more riders out there."one Viking argued. "What if we are atracked again.

"But we can't afford to loose their business. Especially now." Said Gobber, who was sitting down picking at something in his teeth.

"Gobber is right." Hiccup folded his arms. "We will focus on building our defenses back up, and the money coming from Berserker will help repair houses."

"What about the riders. What about them? What is our counter attack? How will we find them?" Someone piped up.

"Fishlegs is on his way back, he is bringing -" Fishlegs panicked and sctuttled in the room cutting him off.

Hiccup looked at him. His face grew darker, as he noticed the shame Fishlegs wore. Fish shook his head, folded his hands and slowly backed out of the room. Hiccups jaw clenched, realizing what had been lost, looking like he was ready to break something, but he didn't. He pushed the thought out of his mind and focused on the current issues.

"Have we gotten any information out of the prisoners?" Hiccup asked. 

Fishlegs ran to his favorite spot on all of Berk. It was a quiet little place on a cliff near the east side. A tall pine tree stood near it blocking the view of the village. He sat at the edge and let his feet hang over the side. Taking off his helmet, he stared at his hands. He had her. And now she was gone. They may never find Victoria again. It was his fault. Ruffnuts gravely voice interupted his sulking.

"You look pretty pathetic sitting out here all alone." He groaned.

"That's because I want to be alone. Go away Ruff."

She ignored his command and sat next to him. She took a good look at his face, then placed a hand on his large forearm.

"What happened out there?"

Then he did something he normaly  wouldn't do. He told her everything. He told her about where they had gone and how they'd found her, and he told her how this had messed with his head. Last of all, he told her how the guilt he felt, was something he just couldn't escape.