I'm Leaving Forever (a HTTYD Runaway Fanfic ~ Book 1)

26 - Escape: Control

"Come on, Stormfly!" Astrid didn't have any other thoughts in her head apart from one: catch up to that Titan Wing. She urged her dragon to fly at her top speed in the direction of that bigger dragon. At first, Stormfly didn't know why her Rider was adamant about chasing after this dragon, but the gradually, as they got closer, she focused on her sight on its back near its head and there, she saw two familiar shapes: a Night Fury and a Monstrous Nightmare and that was when the motivation between Rider and dragon was shared. Stormfly knew that no other dragon had the same shape as Toothless. A sleek, slightly smaller body that effectively cut through the air as if it wasn't there. And she knew Toothless wouldn't get himself into a position like this unless everyone else was there. 

So with that, the Deadly Nadder flapped her wings harder, trying to find a stronger wind current that too her in the right direction. Just as the duo approached the end of the rapidly swirling tail, Stormfly's muscles started to ache, but, like always, she ignored. She didn't find it bad that her muscles started to ache from flying like this. It just meant that she was pushing and expanding her limits, which was something she had grown a liking to do; probably influenced by her rider. But after a few more minutes, Astrid and Stormfly had fully caught up with the Titan Wing Screaming Death and from there, Astrid could clearly see Hookfang and Toothless, and even Snotlout. And she was sure Snotlout saw her too. 

"Snotlout!" Astrid yelled over the wind loudly whooshing past her. She thought her call had gotten lost in the wind, but when she saw some heads turn in her direction, she smiled in pure relief and joy and directed Stormfly so they were both flying directly above them.

"Astrid!" Snotlout replied back and Toothless and Hookfang let out happy roars. It was nice to see the face of a fellow rider after so long. Five days may not sound that long to someone on a normal day, but what Snotlout and the two dragons had faced was anything but normal. Astrid saw Snotlout turn to another person, who she wanted to believe was Hiccup, and thought so before at a distance, but now at closer inspection, she realized that that wasn't her leader. This was someone else. What were they doing near her friends? Who were they?

The person suddenly turned to face Astrid and the second Astrid saw them, she was met with surprisingly familiar eyes. No, they weren't Hiccups, but they had almost the same colour, and this person was actually a woman. A cape flapping violently in the fast winds exposed her shape covered in leather armour with some metal reinforcements in places like the chest, torso, knees, shoulders and knees. Generally, the places where it would be susceptible to an attack from another person. She was also holding onto some chains that seemed to control where the Titan Wing went and using those, she yanked back on them, causing the dragon to stop in its flight; its tail no longer spiraling, but still waving far below it and in seconds, Astrid and Stormfly were caught in the gaze cast by the blood red eyes of the Titan Wing Screaming Death. 

"Astrid!" Snotlout called again. From behind the crown of the Titan Wing, Snotlout jumped up to see his fellow dragon rider hovering in front of them, but he soon back down onto the scaly neck. Not the most comfortable thing, and it didn't help that he was injured either. But in a few seconds, Astrid and Stormfly had landed nearby him and even though this was Astrid, he was beyond happy to see her. "You guys made it," he sighed. Astrid let out a small laugh and let out a hand to help him up.

"Like any of us were going to leave you here," she responded, but with seeing Snotlout, she knew there was still one more person missing, "where's Hiccup?" Her tone went from light-hearted to completely worried, and although Snotlout expected it, it didn't make anything easier for him. How was he supposed to tell her that their leader that suffered horribly in Drago's hands for a second time. Fortunately, Toothless answered for him by letting out an audible whimper. One that immediately caught Astrids attention causing her to run over to his side.