The Lost Boy III - Tales of the North

8 - Battle for the nest

They suddenly heard a loud bang, like an explosion. It seemed coming from the outside. Elska immediatly rushed into one of the tunnels, followed by the vikings who had troubles to catch up with her. She was the first to get out of the nest, and what she saw left her frozen in spot.

An entire fleet was at their gates. Hundreds of men, giant weapons and assault towers, dragon traps, war ships...

''Kosmozis...'' She growled.

Hiccup, Joke, Stoick and Gobber arrived behind her, but they barely had time to register what was happening as the queen of Haze clenched her fists, getting back inside. Stoick stopped her.

''Elska ! As I told you so, you're now one of ours. We are a team. So, what do you want to do ?''

She got back her composure and put a hand on his large shoulder, the other one on her son's. One at the time, she looked at them, Hiccup and Gobber too.

''We have to save the dragons.''

''Right, you got it. Come on, Gobber.''

''Aye, aye !''

Several dragons went out of the nest and attacked without order, eager to protect their home, but they had no idea what they were dealing with. The first to strike got quickly hit or captured, without making much damages. The army of trappers was outnumbering them. Within the troups stood the general Kosmozis himself.

''Whatever comes, keep hitting the moutain. We need to draw the queen out.''

''Strike to the mountain !''

As a troup was running to the mountain side, a whole squadron of dragons came out and fought back. Unfortunately, the trappers had dragons too, and said dragons were armored.

They may were just a few, but they were trained and far more agressive.

''Ready the traps !'' The general shouted.

Several already captured dragons had been locked in the middle of said traps, iron copulas. As they were opened, unveiling their prisoners, some dragons came to the rescue. But they barely had the time to enter the traps were closing on them. A Raincutter even had his wing got caught in the closing.

Kosmozis was pleased with his traps and their efficiency, until the moment green gas came out of one of them. The explosion was so violent it bended the iron, while other explosions shook the ranks. Silhouettes took off from the traps, taking averyone by surprise.

''Surprise ! Yeah !'' Tuffnut yelled from his saffle.

''What ?!'' Kosmozis angered.

Eret was holding on as he could, grabbing Stormfly's saddle, he wasn't sitting on it and was panicking from the high. Even if he had been sitting on the saddle, he would be panicking, actually. He still climbed on the back of the dragon, taking a seat, before finally letting out a joyful cry.

By instinct, Stormfly flew to Meatlug, who was carrying Fishlegs and Astrid. The blond viking young woman laughed seeing the ex-trapper riding.

''You really are full of surprises !''

Then she jumped on her dragon's back, just behind him. He felt a bit reassured to know he had some company, yet she let him drive.

''Let's go !'' She said, taking the lead of the group.

The four ridden dragons flew towards the nest before turning around to launch their attack.

''Dragon riders, coming through !'' Tuffnut teased.

''Fire !'' Fishlegs yelled to his dragon, who smashed a trebuchet with a fired rock.

With their riders, these dragons were more efficient than the others, striking at the weapons, towers and catapults. The strategic assets of the army, to sum up. They also freed the dragons from the traps, using explosions the scaled reptiles didn't fear, unlike the men.