Dark Valkyrie

Eleven: The Bigger Picture

Eleven: The Bigger Picture

Lightning crackled around the Skrill as it brushed past Toothless and Hiccup found himself ducking, the hairs on the back of his neck standing up as the static washed over him. The Night Fury effortlessly flipped and dived down towards the water, knowing the Skrill avoided water as a matter of course because it prevented the dragon from utilising its electricity. Snapping a quick look over his shoulder, Hiccup leaned into the turn and saw the Skrill chasing after him, his eyes wide with surprise before he got his game face on. Somehow, despite the fact he was still injured and down a leg, he was feeling more like himself, his mind clicking through the probabilities and a grin stretching his battered face.

"Head for those seastacks-and the glacier behind them," he said in a low voice and they ripped across the waves. The roar closed as the Skrill raced after them, trying to collapse the lip of the glacier on the Night Fury as they tried to lure the other dragon in. The Skrill recalled being trapped in the ice for so long and tricked back by the same Night Fury that was facing it now...and anger rippled through its veins. A bolt of lightning seared past Hiccup and he yelled in pain as it scorched his thigh. He looked up in anger.

"Hey-you attacked us!" he shouted at it. "And I'm trying not to harm you. Thor-I released you when I should have trapped you again-because it wasn't going to be as bad as the Hunters. It wasn't your fault that we found you in the ice. It wasn't your fault that you were the symbol of the Berserkers and that Dagur wanted you to destroy us. You just wanted to be free. And we were wrong when we trapped you. I mean, I thought I was right when I did it because we couldn't let Dagur have you because he probably would kill us and destroy Berk if you were under his control...but it wasn't fair. I'm sorry."

The dragon stopped and glared at him. Toothless glared back, his pupils narrowed and body tensed, ready to fight. But Hiccup stared at the dragon and slowly reached forward, offering his hand.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I was willing to give my life to stop Ryker shooting you. So was Toothless. And if Odin wills it, I will continue to protect dragons-for as long as I am granted on Midgard."

The dragon paused, then flapped backwards, settling on the seastack. Toothless landed beside it, nuzzling it briefly before the Skrill bowed his head and then turned away, flapping off up into the clouds. Hiccup stared after it and then fumbled in Toothless's saddlebag, finding his spare leg. And despite the fact his stump was a horrendous mess, he strapped it on wth relief, gritting his teeth against the pain. No matter the discomfort, he hated being without the leg and feeling weak and useless, dependent on others. Sitting up straight, a small shiver running through him in the cold breeze, he stared at the horizon.

"Can you sense her, bud?" he murmured. Ears flicking, Toothless gave him a 'really?' look and warbled. Hiccup leaned forward. "Good," he said and clipped his prosthetic into the saddle. "Now let's go find Astrid!"

oOo

The sounds of explosions and roars jerked Astrid from sleep, automatically reaching for her axe and wincing as she pulled the knife wound. Stormfly gave a desperate roar and she raced from her lodging-to see Fliers attacking the village, the Defenders running from the Singetails, for their beliefs would not conscience them attacking any dragon. Throwing herself into the saddle, she urged the Deadly Nadder into the air, determined to drive the Singetails away from the village-and then she saw them attack the main dais and blast apart Mala's throne.

She screamed and arrowed straight up at the Singetail's soft underbelly, spines stabbing into the much larger dragon's hide. It roared and peeled away, though two more took its place. But Astrid flipped round, directing Stormfly to loop the loop, her Rider clinging on with her knees and her axe swinging viciously, decapitating the two Fliers before they even realised she was aiming for them. Freed of their control-and Astrid noted once again the dragons were harnessed with chains and didn't seem at all concerned that their humans had been slaughtered-the Singetails broke off the attack and headed away. The remaining Fliers were still strafing the village and Stormfly swooped down, rolling to use her wing to shield a mother and child, running from their collapsing house. There were flames and screams. Mala and Throk were shepherding the villagers away, directing the bucket chains and trying to save what they had...and Astrid felt guilt crash around her.