Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

He didn't expect that he would come to stumble upon something or rather someone, such as this. They'd only just found a ship of Viggo's hunters leaving an island not listed on their map. Information to be updated, but first it would be necessary to scout just what exactly they'd have to encounter. If it truly was a base or storage area, or even workshop to see if would be easy to eliminate. Upon initial flyby, they could only see a singular cluster of non-vegetation. The dragons antsy and peering down below. If it hadn't been for the abilities of the riders to be able to control their dragon, they would have descended. 

They came back the next day, making sure there weren't men on the island. Just Hiccup, the twins, and Heather. As she had been involved for a short time in the Hunter's operations she wanted to see if she'd understand why they had set up shop in another area. When they were at the corner of the island, the dragons were very attentive of their surroundings, heads continuously swiveling. But now as they harrowed in on where they knew the cluster lay, their gaze was dead ahead.

Hiccup couldn't help but stare around through the vegetation, still thinking that somehow this could have been a lure, maybe a spot Viggo wanted them to find so the group could be gassed. 

Then the clearing came into view. First Barf & Belch giving a screech and attempting to charge forward. Windshear arcing her neck up and down but not breaking the treeline. Toothless tensing from underneath Hiccup, growl reverberating through his body. 

"Take to the air, take to the air!" Hiccup shouted.

Toothless luckily heeded his jerk to the right and no longer advanced, but the Zippleback was beginning to snarl and rear their heads forward. Tuffnut bucked his legs back and the duo shot upward. Windshear had her head turned away, but a gem-green eye watched a covered pile intensely.

"On foot then." Heather said.

Her hands gripping the handles of the saddle so harshly knuckles had gone white. Hiccup nodded, cautiously climbing off his dragon. He chanced two steps forward, torso shifting to face Toothless whose eyes had narrowed. Glower set over Hiccup's shoulder and what lay beyond.

"Toothless, stay."

He watched the pile the Razorwhip had centered on. As the twins had gone into the air, it seemed as if their  dragon had calmed. Just the sound of their wing-flaps. Yet they also watched the same section.

"We've got you covered from up here in case it's a trap." Ruffnut called.

Hiccup continued forward, knowing that whatever lay underneath the tarp was what was setting the dragons off. He was hoping not something that would traumatize them, perhaps not something they hadn't seen before. He almost wished he'd made sure to bring his sword or his shield.

He steeled himself, took a breath, then clutched the thick white canvas and tore it away.

Upon the large tarp cascading to the ground, he was greeted to a familiar sight of a dragon-proof cage, first noting that there wasn't a large dragon inside. As he surveyed the rest of its interior, it was spotting the thick uncut chunks of dragon root scattered around.

"No wonder our dragons almost went rabid, this is a lot of temptation."

At the sound of his voice, now came movement. Seeing something come to rear its head up. Hiccup audibly gasped, shock subsiding quickly enough that he rushed the door and started pulling.

"There's a person inside!" He shouted.

His fingers came to ease into the gap, emitting a small grunt at seeing that it wasn't a latch opening- it'd need a key. He stared at the person inside, looking just around their age. Black hair messily kept, green eyes blearily maintaining eye contact with him. At least they were alive.

"Hey, can you hear me? We're gonna get you out of there."

He gestured for Heather and Windshear to approach.

"She'll be?"

Heather nodded. Now that they knew there wasn't a visible threat among them the dragons seemed to have relaxed somewhat. Their protective instincts coming to surface. She commanded Windshear to slash her tail through the lock. It may work, it may not. As they had continued dealing with Viggo the durability of the cages had come to change.

The tail rose, and fortunately being thin enough the lock fell apart with a clank and Hiccup was able to open the cage door. He got a better view now of the imprisoned. The gag stuffed in his mouth, the puncture wound in his shoulder. How his clothing didn't look familiar to Hiccup, no armor. Not even a pair of boots. Instead a white material with ridges at the sole and thick strings holding them together. He approached slower, seeing the other's shoulders tense, posture coming to straighten.

"We're not here to hurt you."

Raising his hands to show he meant no harm, steering around a final chunk of dragon root before reaching him. He reached forward.

"Is it okay if I-"

The teenager nodded. Hiccup leaned down, first carefully shifting the material to see the severity of the wound. Confirming that he had been struck by an arrow, but once the projectile had been removed they hadn't bothered to treat the injury. Glimpsing over his shoulder, he came to see the manacles holding his wrists to the metal.

Hiccup then moved his hands to the knot of the gag, coming to pry it free.

"How did this happen?" He asked.

At first the thought crossed his mind of how if the individual wasn't even dressed as someone from their region, could he even be understood? But he at least knew the question was worth asking. If further interpretation was needed he and his friends certainly weren't incapable.

"I-" He heaved a stuttered breath, "not like I actually wanted to encounter them. This group of men. Found me on the shore. There was one, definitely their leader. Wanted to know how I wound up here. My answer wasn't good enough, and they grabbed me. Forced farther onto the island."

There was a creak as the cage door was opened wider. Heather came in, starting to gather the various lumps of dragon root.

"The man- their leader- how did he look?"

Opaque green eyes only locked gazes with him for a second before they went to looking at the scattered roots.

"He can't stand?" Heather came to ask.

"He's held to the cage." Hiccup pulled himself upright.

"The guy had a goatee, spiked shoulder guards. Spiked belt. At its center there was- it looked like a fist crushing something." The young man answered.

"Was there someone else with him? Taller, bald head?" Heather kicked another stalk.

He nodded. "Two swords at his back. The pair, kind of looked similar."

Hiccup had left the cage, now testing the manacles from the other side.

"Why were you, left like this?"

He gave a dry laugh. "The leader, he said that if I was truly going to eavesdrop like this he'd make use of me. Tried to fight back, but just one down and an arrow was fired. Next time I woke up they had me in here, the roots already dumped inside. The bigger dude stuffing that thing into my mouth before he slammed the cage door shut. That was the last time I saw either of the two."

"Why?" Hiccup asked a little too quickly.

"Your- your flying creatures. I think those plants, they attract them, riles them up somehow."

"You don't know what a dragon looks like?"

"Not- these ones." His head tilted upward to look at the twins still in the sky. "Apparently a lot of them fly over, and they'd come down, start prodding at the cage. Enough swarming, the men with bows and arrows would shoot them."

"I don't think they left a convenient key lying around." Hiccup said to Heather.

"It'd be on them. And considering we didn't see a single hunter..."

Could they really have left him to die? He almost wanted to ask the question audibly.

"We're going to need to make space." He proclaimed.

"So, you guys do know who did this then?" The teen turned his head to look toward Hiccup.

He helped Heather slide the canvas into the enclosure, where they started loading roots onto it.

"Dragon Hunters. Coincidentally you even managed to land right near their leaders. Viggo and Ryker."

"This their normal treatment?"

"A human being used as bait," Heather heaved the final roots onto the tarp, "is admittedly a new one."

"All the flying reptiles they got."

Hiccup and Heather moved the tarp the farthest away they could, not wanting to risk their dragons continuing to remain on edge. Toothless had now approached the cage, snuffling at the restraints of the unfortunate victim.

"Could he think he was a rider?" Heather asked as they made their way back over.

"No, Viggo would have already been rubbing it in my face. I guess, this way a trespasser regrets coming upon him."

"How could someone even-"

"We got a plan?" Tuffnut asked.

The captive now stared through the open door, watching the group. Leg drawn upward, but from how far down the manacles were held to the bars he wouldn't be able to stand. Their dragons had now surrounded the cage, watching the one inside with curious gazes.

"We don't know if, or when they're coming back. But any of our dragons trying to fire at the cuffs, it's too risky."

"Her tail maybe,"

"Her slash is wide," Hiccup pointed out, "she'll wind up cutting his hands."

"And the whole cage?" Ruffnut asked.

"Same point from before. If they are coming back, we'll take too long to get the whole cage over to the Edge."

"They left it covered. Clearly to keep him hidden."

"But the roots still affect any dragon flying overhead."

"You have something in mind."

He stared at the top.

"A part of the cage. We can blow that much. Make for easier transport."

"But he'll still be chained up."

"At least back on the base we can do better about getting them off. Not while we're out here and exposed."

"Our dragons can really do that?" Tuffnut grimaced.

"Dragon-proof doesn't help." Hiccup said in frustration. "But we have to try."

"There's- a problem?" The teenager called.

Hiccup sighed, dragging the tarp back with him back to where he lay. His gaze flicked to the material sitting in his hands.

"You don't know much about this huh?"

He gave a stunted shake of the head.

"The metal this cage is made of, can't be destroyed by a dragon. And there isn't room so we can just get what's on your wrists."

"Nothing to pry the bars apart?"

"If it was that easy they wouldn't need to be dragon-proofed."

"You're really saying," He jerked against the restraints, "I'm stuck here?"

"My idea, is we center our fire on a section. Dislodge it enough, although you'll still have to be in those a little longer." He held up the thick material. "Can I have your name?"

He still stared apprehensively at the object. "Percy." He finally said.

"Percy." He acknowledged. "I'm Hiccup. The two blondes are Ruffnut and Tuffnut. She's Heather. What we have to do, I want this draped over you so should it skew dangerous you're protected."

"These creatures aren't going to be tearing at these bars with their teeth." He responded.

"It'll be dragon fire."

He gulped. "That thing isn't..."

"Shouldn't catch fire so easy. Or at least we'll have it removed before it could hurt you."

"Well since there aren't any better ideas."

"Sit tight."

With a great sweep of his arms he threw the tarp over Percy. Hearing his sharp inhale as it settled.

"All right guys."

Admittedly he was just as nervous as the one they were trying to protect. Usually in freeing someone from a cage it was getting the door open and that's that. Someone still held inside- the Riders hadn't really tried tearing apart one of the cages before. All they needed was precise enough shots to get them separated, he told himself.

"Concentrate fire on the same section." He pointed. "We take this part by part."

Toothless was the first to fire, three plasma blasts absorbing into the bars someways to the right of Percy's head. Immediately after came Windshear's tail slice, and with a hiss and a click the bars sliced into jagged pieces. They came free and became horizontal, Percy giving a brief shout as his position changed.

"Her tail. One more slice." The quartet pulled on the separated wedges.

All of them collapsing to the ground as the uneven segment broke away. Hiccup rolling over and pulling the tarp off the new companion.

"Oh cool now I actually get a good view of the sky." Percy said with a puff of air.

"Man your lips are so blue." Tuffnut outlined.

"You tell me how you'd fare spending two cold nights chained and without a sweater." Percy grumbled.

"Swe-ter." The word repeated haltingly.

"Two nights, you said?"

Barf & Belch jammed their heads underneath the separated dragon-proof metal and pushed it upright.

"The men only just threw that tarp over the cage this morning at dawn. I guess they left. Had as many dragons as they could. What now?"

"We take you to our outpost. Got supplies there that'll get you free."

"And, then what?"

"Figuring out how to get you home."

Chapter Text

They'd managed to find a net with which to load bars and a chained Percy onto. The Nut twins volunteering to carry it for transport back to the Edge. Percy had asked apprehensively if they'd really need to take to the air. Heather answering that it would be the quickest way back to get the manacles off. But he stared at the empty blue sky as if something sinister awaited him up there. 

He carried that visible anxiety as they flew. Never looking down toward the sea, instead a set gaze at what lay ahead, and if either of the pair of dragon heads gave a light snarl he'd flinch against the ropes.

"Not much of a flyer?" Hiccup called.

"No. The water is better."

"You said you were on a ship that crashed?"

"I don't know how far I could have been carried." He yelled back. "How long away is your guys' base?"

"Another hour."

He was too far away to hear the reaction, but he saw the rapid sway of the net.

"Right there, in the dome. Don't just drop him."

The net was gently set on the ground, and as soon as the claws of the Zippleback released, Percy began to fall back. He tried to stop the tilt, but the middle part of the manacles weren't enough to hold to the sliced section. Halting as Barf & Belch placed their heads beneath the dragon-proof metal. He was still left sitting.

"What now?"

"Heather, alert the others, and tell Fishlegs to bring his care kit."

"How are we going to get him free?" Tuffnut asked.

"I have a key at my hut. Hopefully it works for those."

"So we can keep him company." Ruffnut volunteered.

"Yeah, don't let the dragons get too close."

He wanted to let the new companion become slowly acclimated to the ones he was about to meet.

"What's wrong with our-"

"He's not from around here."

Luckily Hiccup's key had worked. They had to repeat the question to Percy three times of if he'd be okay heading up toward the clubhouse. He'd been staring around the dome, their supplies stacked at the rim, the wooden arc which unfurled the mechanism looming over. If even that was unfamiliar, it was a wonder where he'd come from that the arena was a marvel.

"A single person on the island. And a cage filled with dragon root."

The quartet nodded.

"Why would Viggo even want someone like this?"

The gathered Riders turned to look at the latest addition to the Edge. He wasn't watching any of them, instead was running the tips of his fingers over the abrasions on his wrists. Making sure to sit far away from the dragons waiting on the platform. Fishlegs had yet to arrive, although Snotlout and Astrid had insisted on wanting an introduction regarding the guest.

"He's finding ways to surprise us." He answered.

"Hey new guy," Astrid called, "can you tell us again how exactly you wound up there?"

His head lifted in confusion.

"Didn't like the way your friends told it?"

"I want to hear it from your mouth."

"All right Hiccup I got what you asked for now where's the-"

His basket clanked from the rattling bottles as Fishlegs went silent at the scene. Seeing the stranger sitting distanced away and the Riders standing together at the fire pit. Hiccup thanked him, then pointed in the direction of the one sitting in the lone chair.

"Hi I'm Fishlegs." He clambered over and set his stuff down nearby. "It's nice to meet you."

"Percy Jackson." The other responded cautiously.

"I heard you're our latest rescue here on the Edge. And met the rest of the gang."

"I know them 4. The others..."

Fishlegs cast them an irritated glance. "You guys didn't even bother introducing yourselves before interrogating him?"

"I'm Astrid," She bristled, "this is Snotlout."

"Good." Fishlegs humphed. "You can keep this going after I make sure he's treated properly."

He didn't like how wrung out this visitor looked. His hands dipped down to start pulling out supplies.

"What are you planning on doing with that?"

"Well since we don't have our elder healer present I'm the next best thing. I was told about your injury."

"Healer?" He cast a second look into the box. "Oh you're like a doctor."

"Medic, can be a good term too."

He sat up straighter, hands coming to rest above his knees.

"Okay if you could take off your- tunic?"

"T-shirt," He amended, "wait why I do need to-"

His fingers scrunched into the material while staring at the other Riders.

"Oh you're not comfortable-" Fishlegs glanced back too.

"Something you don't want us to see Percyyyyyy?" Ruffnut taunted.

He gave a short nervous laugh. Though still not releasing what covered his torso.

"I mean I do need sunlight to see it properly, we could do it," He pointed to the platform.

"With the- you know what sorry too many complaints." He stood.

"He's scared of the dragons." Snotlout commented as they watched the two step out of sight.

"Imagine being from a far enough place that you've never seen dragons, and then are thrown into a situation where you deal with dragons jostling the prison you're kept in." Hiccup grimaced.

"Imagine never having to have had grown up with dragons attacking your home." Astrid muttered.

"Looks like you're making some assumptions,"

"At least we were lucky that it was small enough not all of us had to go. Just one kid stuck in that cage."

"We might still need to go back, see if they're continuing to do something there."

The twins had started edging over to the platform where Hiccup and Fishlegs sat. Hiccup almost had a mind to tell them to get back, but he knew how keen any of them were to eavesdrop. What he did start to see is that the dragons were also starting to make their way over. It had him wondering anew just where this stranger may have resided to be nervous around their dragons.

"I would recommend wearing the sling until the wound's fully gone. I can only hope the elixir is enough to stave off any infection, but for now only time will tell how you come to fare."

They came back inside. Percy's shoulder was exposed, but bindings held the fabric over his torso together. His injured arm held in a sling.

"The arrow was- dosed with something."

"It's called dragon root." Hiccup answered.

Calculating green eyes sidled over to gaze at him.

"Viggo's men make it from those roots that were in the cage with you. Turned into a paste that gets put onto the tips of the arrows."

"What's it used for?"

"Well for shooting dragons. Gets them into a docile enough state to be chained and caged." Astrid explained.

His eyes widened. "And for-"

"Humans get knocked out. Haven't exactly been shot with one myself but I've heard they give vivid nightmares."

"Okay yeah now you know what it's used for. Now please, tell us your story of what happened." She implored.

"Why is this so important to you?" Snotlout pursed his lips.

She shot a glare toward the oddly-dressed teenager.

"To see how well he rehearsed the lie Viggo fed him."

"Oh come on, you really think he would be someone sent to infiltrate us?"

"Hiccup," She fixed a pitying look at him, "it would be something Viggo would do. The bounty, it's his acknowledging that we're a greater problem than he thought. Why not go to something this underhanded to finally have us eliminated?"

"And his injuries?"

"The arrow wound is a couple of days old." Fishlegs reasoned.

"Could've consented to being hurt like that to play at our soft spots."

"What a world you live in that you'd think I'd agree to being shot with an arrow, silenced and locked in a cage, then left inside for days while dragons were led into a trap."

"So your story goes."

Percy balked for a vague second, but then rolled his shoulders and sat back in the seat. She turned back to her friends.

"Might not have even been "days" he was in there with that tarp covering it. How do we know dragons were even captured and moved from there?"

Hiccup cast a questioning glance toward the injured teen.

"It doesn't matter. She's got an excuse for everything."

"You're not going to try giving us a reason to trust you?" Snotlout asked.

"When it seems like I'll be called nothing but a liar? I don't have anything to say."

"Okay, what do you suggest?" Hiccup asked her.

"He spends time in the stables until we can gauge his loyalties."

"I don't think so. Look at his clothes. The tunic he wore. He was definitely left there to bleed, Astrid."

"Maybe not his actual-"

"Oh no," Fishlegs shot her down, "it was a genuine injury left untreated. He could have an infection. Viggo was risking a lot if he wanted us to find him in that condition."

"I want him to have a chance to properly rest. If just for tonight."

"And with who-"

"Toothless and I. He decides to try anything or leave, we're on guard."

"He could take in-"

"Percy's definitely not staying in that odd clothing either. Won't be able to hide any weapons."

"Why not?" The younger teenager asked.

"Haven't you been in the same clothes for 3 days?"

He gave a bounce of his head in agreement.

"To go even further, I'm taking him to the bathhouse. You may think he works for Viggo, but he still deserves kindness."

"Treatment he could use against us later."

Hiccup sighed. "Come on Percy. Sooner you can wash up sooner we can get back for dinner."

"You're a very untrusting person." Percy said to her as he started to follow.

"You claim you don't know Viggo very well, let me enlighten you." She crossed her arms. "He was going to sell our dragons, threatened the life of one of my best friends, and just a while ago put a bounty on Hiccup's head. He's getting nervous. Why not rope a gullible someone into tearing us down from the inside?"

"Best I knew I was left for dead too. Something to think about."

Hiccup had promised to get him new clothing after he finished bathing. He was led down a small length of tunnel, coming to a carved-out cave which had a pool filled with steaming water at its center. Percy was pointed toward a small enclosure set up with canvas and wood as a changing area. He could get undressed there, there was soap in a nearby chest, and blankets with which to dry off afterward.

He had waited until Hiccup had left, before undoing the cloths which held his left arm in a sling. Left him wishing he'd remembered to leave his campus apartment with a piece of ambrosia, but then he stared toward the water. 

No, he couldn't let the water touch the wound. No matter how it ached. They'd surely be checking it in the morning- maybe even in the evening. Want to make sure it hadn't festered or whatever. They'd be all too surprised to see it missing.

Percy knew, he probably should have been in a different position were he mortal. Showing more signs of actual infection than just exhaustion. Especially when it seemed that this dragon root mixture was supposed to be cured with an antidote. Something he had also been deprived of from the ruthless men.

He reached into his pocket, remembering to take Riptide out before he'd wind up sacrificing his clothes to his rescuers. However, what he pulled out wasn't a pen. He stared boggled at the object resting in his palm. A leather armband. He didn't understand, he was sure that he'd pulled the cap off a pen when he'd tried fighting the men- it had changed. To fit something suitable to the time period he'd landed in.

About an hour later he returned with the Riders' leader to their clubhouse, where he was greeted by the salivating smell of roasted chicken. He could already see a table set up with boiled vegetables sitting in a tray. Percy was now wearing one of those "tunics" they mentioned, noting the material while just as soft as his polyester t-shirt actually had some weight and provided warmth. For now the long-sleeved fit tight, but Hiccup had said he'd have to make do until they could go to a market and him properly measured for looser clothing.

Luckily the pants only needed to be sufficiently knotted. The boots apparently had belonged to the shorter one, Snotlout. There was fur covering the calf area, but he could feel the reinforced leather at the heel and tips of the toes.

He almost dreaded having to turn in for the night. Being lead up to the building they called a hut painted in dark red with some marks of purple. The door was dragged upward, Percy could hear the gears of mechanism whining as it was eased upward.

"You guys, sleep on beds like this?"

He viewed upon a wooden piece of furniture which looked like a bed, but the pillow looked woefully flat and there was no padding placed over the slats of wood.

"You're lucky we were able to find you one last minute instead of having you sleep on a bundle of furs." Hiccup responded.

He handed him a blanket. "Now you need to rest."

"Hey," Percy called as Hiccup and his dragon started to ascend to their loft, "thanks. For standing up for me. Getting me off that island."

He offered him a small smile. Nodding in answer.

"Just don't make me regret it."

Once the lamps had been snuffed out and Percy had tried puffing the pillow to some fluffiness, he tried sleeping. But all that buzzed incessantly in his head, was having landed at that shore three days ago. Those two men's sneering faces. How he'd wanted to punch the one who wore a skirt covered in red dragon scales. Hand slipping under the sling to feel what remained of the wound.

He tried telling himself that he shouldn't be thinking of this, or it would become part of his dream.

He had come to consciousness fully noting the blaring sun against his face. Then giving a restrained groan at the sharp pain in his shoulder. Craning his neck upright and feeling the bar his head rested against.

“Ah, you’re up.”

His head had turned to see the bigger man with the thin stripe for a beard. “Why-“ 

It was in trying to shift that he shot his gaze over his shoulder. Seeing his wrists placed in cuffs. Unable to move from the spot he'd been placed in.

“We’re going to put you to work.”

“Put me to work?“

“Don’t worry you can be sitting for this.” The older guy sneered.

“To do- hey!”

He had time to cry before the bundle of fabric was stuffed in his mouth. He had tried shouting after the man, but he didn't bother with another word before slamming the cage door shut.

Percy had stared around the enclosure for a good while, wondering why he was imprisoned with some strange large green roots. He already felt like his shirt was cooking when the first dragon arrived. Initial sign being a screech. The shadow then sweeping over him. The cage quaking as it landed, watching him with a scrutinizing stare. Not able to suppress a gasp. A creature unlike any he'd seen before and he'd seen a lot of monsters, a crown of deadly-sharp spines at its head, wings functioning as arms. A dreadful golden iris peering down with a slit for a pupil. It cawed again, scraping the metal with its claws.

Suddenly shrieking in pain, and Percy was only able to see the tip of an arrow at its side once tumbling from the cage. There came the shouts of men, the Nadder trying to evade them instead of fighting back. The sounds- gods the shrieks distinctly of terror.

Two days of this. Seeing various of the scaled creatures landing around the cage, some more irritated than hostile. Luckily never being able to touch before the hunters would emerge from their hiding spots and attack the poor things. His stomach couldn't help but churn as he'd watch them swarm the clearing, cornering another innocent beast. How they showed no fear. If more they relished in seeing the dragons terrified in facing them. First lured in by whatever the chunks of plant could emit, and then assaulted with arrows until they could be forced into their own cage as Percy was.

In all honesty, he was relieved when they'd finally left. Barely even offering him a glance as the tarp was pulled over the cage that past morning. Meant it wouldn't be another day of having to hear screams and feel the rocking of his prison. Even the pain of his shoulder wound had settled to a subtle ache, only complaining when he'd have to lift the arm.

Wondering if he'd been abandoned, or if they would return to try claiming more dragon victims. If they'd move him to force him to partake in another-

"Seems our prisoner's been set free."

He shot up awake upon the voice recognition. Banging his elbow on a wooden slat. That wasn't a memory that was fresh- in real time.

"Percy?" He heard the call. "Are you okay?"

In looking up he saw Hiccup starting to descend the stairs. Sunlight shining in through the bottom of the door.

"Yeah just hit my funny bone." He rubbed his arm.

These people thought he might be a secret traitor. He didn't need to know the nightmare. 

Once he reached the landing, he watched Percy skeptically.

"You did sleep, right?"

"Dozed off for a bit, I think."

Definitely not the whole night though.

"Why?"

"You look more worn out than when we found you."

"My lips are blue again?" He started lifting his fingers.

"Well no. But your eyes are red."

"Oh."

"Everything, okay?" He asked with hesitation.

"Just not used to sleeping on that kind of bed." He gestured with a hand.

"What are you used to?"

"Something softer. Save for the times I had to go camping."

"Ah the dense wood is gonna have to take some adjustment then. Feeling better?"

"A bit." He managed.

Then he opened the door to the hut, just as one of Hiccup's friends flew by on their dragon.

Chapter Text

There were questions Percy wanted to ask. For one, he had no idea where he had landed. Last he knew he'd been in California. Now he was in a setting of islands surrounded by water, everyone dressed in leathers and boots with added armor. Some of them with sharp additions. That they scarcely ever took off. Then some of them wore helmets with horns on them. Including being entirely unfamiliar to a place where there were those who hunted dragons as well as riding them.

But now he had to tread cautiously in getting answers. At dinner the night before he'd hardly been questioned, moreso the Riders just continued about their business as if he were just another face at the table. He was rather thankful for the non-curious gazes, gods knew how they unnerved him when he'd first arrived at Camp Half-blood.

He was a new marvel, and for now he had to play his cards close. Because his "loyalties" were being questioned. They thought he worked with the enemy. If only he could emphasize just how fish out of water he was in this region. And how much he truly wouldn't be working with the one who had imprisoned him as soon as looking at him.

He smelled the food being cooked before coming to the threshold of the clubhouse. First face he spotted being Astrid whose eyes narrowed upon recognition.

"He's going to have breakfast with us?"

"If you really think he's a spy then can't leave him alone to be poking around my hut now can we?"

"Yeah, he needs to be kept an eye on." Tuffnut came and slung an arm over Percy's shoulder.

"And Thor knows any one of us would be starving from being in a spot with no food for 3 days." Snotlout dropped a barrel of juice on a nearby table.

He glanced around, somewhat happy to see that the group helped in preparing a meal. Then his eyes widened.

"Are those my clothes?" He asked with a gaping jaw.

"Yeah," Snotlout answered with a nervous smile, "sorry Hookfang had already wrecked them before I could stop him."

He gave a small sad sigh as he watched shreds of the shirt hanging from the dragon's teeth. There went his last physical connection to the 21st century.

"3 days worth of being in a cage with dragon root, gonna leave behind a strong smell." Tuffnut shrugged.

"Your dragon's name is Hookfang?"

"Oh you hadn't been introduced. Snotlout's dragon is a Monstrous Nightmare named Hookfang. Hiccup's is a Night Fury, super rare by the way, his name's Toothless. Fishlegs named his Gronckle Meatlug, thought she was a male dragon at first; Astrid flies on Stormfly, she's a Deadly Nadder. Our dragon with two heads, a Zippleback. Two heads being Barf & Belch. Windshear is a Razorwhip, Heather practically raised her."

"You do realize I have no idea what you're talking about when you list these right?"

"You really have never heard of these dragons?"

"I'm not. From here." He emphasized.

"We can fix that." Ruffnut said with a smirk.

That statement got him nervous.

There was a sound of a great yawn as Fishlegs strode into the clubhouse. Stretching his arms upward.

"Back from patrol, and I sent a Terror mail to Johann last night."

"Great thank you."

"Morning Percy," Fishlegs gestured to him, "want to go outside so we can give it a lookover?"

He had to glance down at his arm still sitting in the sling to realize. He'd never really had to walk around with something like this. Most injuries he received, he remembered a bite of ambrosia or a sip of nectar, a dunk in the water and he was healed. Having an arm incapacitated, he was really resisting the urge to just be rolling the shoulder in marvel of still having a wound.

In a way thankful that here, there didn't seem to be the threat of monsters looming over his head to be worried about having a slung-up arm. Just by looking at the winged beasts these teens had befriended, instead of being afraid of them he felt they took up roles of protectors. Even if he was still wary of the fact that they looked very capable of ripping him to pieces.

"And how are you feeling?" Fishlegs asked as they walked outside.

He let out a sigh of relief as he came to sit down with them around their bonfire. Luckily the wound hadn't changed too much, only a slight twinge in moving his shoulder. He just wondered how long he should let the injury exist before letting the water heal him.

"Didn't sleep well last night?" Heather asked once everyone was digging in.

"Stayed up stressing out from whether spying on us was the right decision?" Astrid chimed in.

"I had trouble sleeping yeah," He yawned, "spent enough time in that cage to question if I'm truly out."

"Hmm, well maybe you could walk around today to compensate for having been stuck in one spot." Ruffnut said.

"Pretty big island for such a tiny base." Percy pointed out.

"Moving out here was considered temporary."

"So, this isn't your actual home?"

"See any of our parents around?" Snotlout asked with a laugh.

"Then how far away do you guys live?"

"We-"

"Guys." Astrid warned.

"Viggo already knows where we live." Ruffnut answered. "A tiny island on the Meridian of Misery, our ancestors named it Berk. About a day's flight from here."

"Can I ask, why is this your fight? Dealing with this Viggo and Ryker and their army."

"His business is hunting dragons, torturing them, then later selling them for profit. He even stole something we called a Dragon Eye from us a while ago."

"But- we're just teens."

"How old are you?"

"Eighteen."

"Could work different where you're from but our initiation into our tribe is since we're 15. After that-"

"You're considered adults. You still haven't answered my question. Why is this your fight?"

"Because we're Dragon Riders. We're the best ones capable of taking him down."

"Why not involve your fellow tribesmen?"

"Because while our island may have dragon flyers, they're not as skilled to our extent." Fishlegs said.

"This isn't their war." Hiccup interjected.

"The reason 3 of us even went to that island was because we were expecting a fight. Recognized he'd set up somewhere else and wondered if we'd be able to eliminate a new base Viggo was trying to start." Heather explained. "We got lucky that they'd left before our arrival. Just coming to find you instead."

"And didn't it work out conveniently for you to be found a day later."

"Like I will keep saying, his men found me on shore and shoved me in a cage."

"Viggo would take advantage of a foreigner."

He nearly bent the fork in his hand.

"Say I really am some person that this Dragon Hunter leader roped into playing a tortured victim to be saved by you guys and then I pass on information to him as I acclimate to being among your group. The only way he could have convinced someone of our age to actually engage in something as conniving as this, is that he's either threatening someone close to me, or . He went and stole some random kid from a distant tribe and brainwashed him into doing this for him. That would mean torture, further imprisonment, and conditioning. Even then he still decided to subject an innocent person to still being shot with a tinged arrow and left in a cage like that. And even then, would someone of our age still really want to sneak behind your backs to confer with their torturer when you rescued them out of the kindness of your hearts?"

"It's severe," Astrid placed a forkful of egg into her mouth, "but Viggo's skilled at the farfetched."

He set his gaze down at his almost-empty plate.

"I ended up on the wrong side of this guy too."

"I've got an idea." Tuffnut stated, then ran out of the room.

His sister gulped in whatever remained in her cup and left as well. He gazed around the group with hands held slightly aloft in question.

"You're going to have to get used to that for the time being. Their crazy antics. Usually result in something exploding."

"Hmm they definitely look the type."

"They claim they follow the teachings of Loki." Snotlout said with a dismissive hand. "Meaning more chaos for us to deal with."

"Any idea what it is they're-"

"No clue." Heather said with a grimace.

"Might be grabbing Macey." Snotlout joked.

"Let me guess. A weapon with a name."

He received a few laughs in return. Man if he could only introduce them to Riptide. But he didn't even know if they'd be able to see the sword for the glowing Celestial Bronze it was.

Minutes later the twins returned, something in Ruff's arms already partially unwrapped from a cloth. They both wore smug grins, watching Percy with playful intent. She extended her arms, and Tuffnut finished unwrapping the object. Taking it in both hands and holding it high in the air.

"Is that what you guys meant?" Percy asked.

"You still have that thing?" Hiccup said in disbelief.

"This my good sir, is a Razorwhip spine." He brandished the silver spike. "They are incredibly sharp, capable of slicing through a full grown tree,"

"Like a Timberjack." Fishlegs included.

"You said that was Heather's dragon right-"

"Don't want to meet the business end of these." Tuffnut finished.

"And, what was this brought out for?" Percy eyed it warily.

"Swear on this." He held it out to him. "You won't betray us to Viggo and the Hunters."

"And don't cross your fingers behind your back!" Ruffnut shouted.

He eased his way off the bench and walked over. Understanding how this was essentially like what you do in court. Swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. But in this case, instead of someone's bible it was a dragon spine capable of slicing skin, judging from the sharp tip gleaming in the sunlight.

"I swear, that I am not working for the Grimborns and the Hunters and will never betray you."

Then doing something abrupt.

He yanked the spike out of Tuffnut's hands and before anyone could react, dragged the end across his palm. Letting out a small pained hiss.

He didn't know if he could call it desperate. But for now, he needed to earn their trust.

Only two drops of blood had hit the ground before his wrist was seized, arm jerked back, and a wet cloth wiped at the wound.

"You really just gave yourself another-"

"Huh. Didn't think he'd go that far."

"Maybe that was a little unnecessary." Heather watched him in shock.

Tuffnut pried the dragon spine out of his hand.

"Wanted you guys to believe me." He said in a steady tone.

"Well it's a step in that direction." Astrid said lowly.

"Luckily it's not going to need stitches." Fishlegs deduced. "You really should have been more careful. Razorwhips are lethal in every sense of the word."

"They even have poison tears." Ruffnut smirked.

"Not the spine though?"

"No." Fishlegs grumbled, making sure to wipe the cut properly before wrapping his palm in a bandage.

Once the plates were gone, Percy had begun to idle around the clubhouse. Clear that if the Riders weren't engaging him he didn't know where to be. At least he wasn't trying to explore on his own.

"Maybe someone can give him a tour of the Edge?" Hiccup asked aloud.

"Oh we plan to," The twins chimed in, "but we're gonna show him the books first."

"What on earth does that-" Percy tilted his head.

"Well since you don't recognize the region you're in, there's some stuff to learn. Considering you're here for a while."

Then coming to see that the twins had placed themselves on either side of Percy, pushing him onto the bench. Snotlout had returned with their Dragon Manuals in hand.

"Everything we know about every dragon we know of." Snotlout opened the book dramatically.

"But you have two copies."

"This one is from when our tribe still killed dragons. After we befriended the dragons we started a different one that lists dragon characteristics and how best they can be tamed."

"Fishlegs," Hiccup peeked back to make sure the other wasn't listening in, "think you could give him a meditation session in your serenity garden?"

He glanced at him in confusion. His gaze also flicked back for a quick second.

"Any reason why?"

"Just look at him. Luckily he's eating well, but he barely slept at all last night. I think- maybe he's still on-guard as to a potential attack, and it definitely doesn't help he's not trusted-"

"He needs a chance to relax."

"Exactly. And maybe you believe he could be playing two sides too-"

"For now he's my patient. That's all that matters. I want to make sure he recovers properly."

"Thanks." He gave him a smile.

He thought it was cryptic when Fishlegs asked to follow him. From the tour the twins had given, where he'd been reminded even more of the Stoll brothers, he was being escorted to an area of the island he didn't recognize. Hadn't even stopped to consider that the rider ensuring his well being could be suspicious toward him as well. Irritated him a lot, but he knew that they couldn't help it. He had only scratched the surface of what the enemy had committed toward them, they were going to be holding up some barrier.

He followed behind him instead of beside him, in case he would need to turn tail and run. Life of a demigod, you learned when the right time came to flee. There was a reason not many made it to adulthood. He himself was lucky indeed. The boulder-looking dragon following at his shoulder also did not helping to still his nerves.

Their pace finally slowed when Percy could hear the sound of rushing water. He paused in his tracks while Fishlegs rounded a bush.

"Percy?" He called in bewilderment.

"Where are we?"

Taking a quiet swallow as he took the extra steps. Coming to view upon a large isolated clearing, where there lay hedges finely trimmed, rows of sweet-smelling flowers, and a babbling brook with stones at the bottom of the water.

"My garden." The blonde answered. "Set away from the base so it'd be more peaceful."

"This is certainly different from the twins' boar pit." He responded in quiet awe. "Very zen."

"I was thinking we'd try a meditation session. Clear our minds." 

He pulled up the flap for the satchel he'd brought, pulling out what he could swear were bundles of sage.

"Never been much of a meditator." Percy said in a small grimace.

"Might be more relaxing than you think."

He watched the churning water, each inhalation delivering a strong smell of various flowers. Had him recall Hypno's field of poppy flowers. Set you in a trance, have you sleep. Lulled into a false sense of security.

"If you think this will help." He conceded.

He had come to settle on a rock, Fishlegs seated a few feet away. Legs in criss-cross applesauce, in the middle of the creek where leaning too far to either side would result in an unwelcome swim. Since the water would at least reach his knees. He had already attempted to keep his eyes closed, had seen the small-winged reptile named Meatlug aim a lava ball in the water, sending up a thick plume of fog. The aroma of the lit sage billowed around them. There was a hedge to his far right he could swear was trimmed to look like a heavy-set Viking warrior, complete with the lofted ax.

"You need your eyes closed for this."

"There's just- it's a lot-"

"The world will slow down when you do." The husky blonde answered.

"Fine." He said shortly.

Straightening his spine, placing a palm on a knee, eyelids coming down. Riptide as the armband sliding down a bit.

"I know there's a lot on your mind right now." Fishlegs spoke. "Here, it'll be gone, even if just while we're in the garden. I want you to follow along with my breaths okay?"

He responded with a 'hmm'.

"Breathe in for 4, then out for 6. In, one, two, three, four, then out." He counted out the exhale.

As his chest continued to rise and fall in the same pattern, his surroundings seemed to still. As if the water were now flowing close to his ears, as if Fishlegs stood meters away instead of just an arms reach. The incense inhalation reminded him where they sat, how if for moments he were separated from the world.

Then came the count again. The world here wasn't a physical aspect that could hold him down, nothing he had to bear. Nothing to inflict another white strand. This churning water, the warm mist floating around him-

He was already reacting before the screech assaulted his ears. Eyes shooting open to see two dragons swoop over them, claws locked together while in the air. Percy threw himself back, slamming into the water below.

For a second he spluttered, before his breaths settled as the water allowed him to breathe. He placed his arms beneath him, easing himself upright as water dripped from his hair and tunic.

"Percy, oh gods I'm so sorry."

His hand went to his bicep and pulled him back onto the boulder.

The hit from the rocks only hurt for a few brief seconds, and the water had quickly healed his injury. Even if this wasn't Poseidon's domain, the water still healed him.

"How did that-"

"Sometimes the other dragons get a little rowdy."

"And very close to hurting others."

With a free hand he wiped at his forehead. Hoping Fishlegs wouldn't realize just how quickly his clothes were drying.

With dread, now thinking about his shoulder definitely had no arrow puncture now. And the bandage over his palm had slid off in the creek.

"I really don't see why I need to be quizzed about this, I just learned this stuff today-"

The Riders had wrapped up dinner and Fishlegs had pulled out his dragon cards and attempted to question Percy. The twins all too eager to be sliding slips out of the others' hands.

"This is in case you wind up getting cornered by an Edge Nadder that you know how to react so they don't spray their spines toward you."

In all honesty Percy just wanted to go to bed. He'd really had no choice in where he landed, but seeing just how obsessed this group was with dragons, it made him wish he'd studied those Mythomagic cards better for some vain chance in being able to rival their knowledge.

"You guys don't carry weapons with you at all times?" He tried to ask.

"Even worse they catch you with a weapon and they will attack first."

"Noted, sharp object make fire-breathing creature antsy."

He made a show of writing invisible words in the air.

"Okay, what are the distinctive features of a Whispering Death?"

He shuddered. "The spinning teeth in their mouth, that they're practically all tail, they dig deep holes and can decimate the foundation of a whole island-"

"What gave a Scauldron its name?"

"Sprays scalding water at their victims. And they live underwater."

"Name the dragon we defeated 4 years ago." Tuffnut said with a toothy smile.

"The, some color Death."

"Oh come on-"

"Hey this is your lore not knowledge of the Manual."

"The Red Death." Snotlout answered.

"There's a new dragon on the island that we rescued. What species?" Ruffnut asked.

"Mentioned three tails," He muttered, "a Triple Stryke?"

"Hey that was good!" Fishlegs clapped a hand on Percy's shoulder.

"We could even update it where we can bring the dragon over and you name it."

"You know where to find another Red Death?"

"Okay not like that."

"All done with your dragon quiz?" Astrid asked. "Look like you've tired out the newbie."

"Honestly my brain can only handle so much in a day." Percy side-glanced.

"All right then I can be showing you where in the stables you'll be spending the night-"

"Hey! No."

Percy's arm was grabbed and was pulled behind Snotlout.

"We object."

The twins moved to stand beside him.

"Object?" Astrid asked.

"Guys to give her-" Hiccup tried to reason.

"But we've gotten to know him today."

"This is a democracy isn't it?" Tuffnut asked.

"We should get a vote of where he gets to stay." Ruffnut insisted.

"So," Astrid glanced around, "seems we're split up."

"Oh no I'm not picking sides."

Hiccup went to stand in the middle.

"You're agreeing with Astrid putting the new kid in the stables."

"Because we should all be comfortable in going about this." He tried to reason.

"We have known him too little to know where his loyalties lie." Heather said lightly.

"Promise by blood or not my dragon can still rip him apart when he goes back on his word." Astrid jabbed.

"Guys, then tell us why you think he shouldn't be in the stables."

"We like him better than Gustav."

"Anyone's better than Gustav." Astrid scoffed.

"Okay how about we want to get rid of Gustav asap, but him we want to stick around."

"I guess this Gustav person isn't a popular one."

"I mean the cutting hand thing was almost Thorston-level dramatic-"

"At least until Johann figures out where he's from."

"Meanwhile he can spend time with us." Snotlout inputted.

"If you guys really want this," Heather looked to Percy, "you're going to have to pull your weight around here."

He shrugged. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

"And where would you want to spend the night?" Snotlout finally stepped away from blocking the latest arrival.

"My word isn't really relevant. This is because you're in debate of where to place your trust. I'll sleep wherever, I'm only the guest."

"You're the only one who would want to raise an ax to him still." Ruffnut said to Astrid.

"Because it's still too convenient of where you found him."

"Not like I could have controlled where I got stranded." Percy replied.

"Does that mean it's time to vote whether or not he'll be a Dragon Rider?"

"Oh wait maybe not-"

"You don't want to be a part of our group?" Ruffnut stared at him wide-eyed.

"After a single day with you guys? I mean- I barely even know anything about dragons, much less flying on one. Maybe I need more of a trial period no?"

"Trial period?" Heather asked.

"Time for you all to think about whether I truly fit in here."

"Got any idea of where we can dump you afterward if you're not worthy enough?" Snotlout crossed his arms.

"Know the warmer region of the world?"

"Not really." Fishlegs answered.

"Then maybe one of these traders you mentioned can get me over there."

"We can figure that out later. First we can only wait until Johann comes to talk to you."

He didn't know how long he spent tossing and turning with little success of falling asleep. He knew he was tired enough, but somehow the bed didn't want to allow him to settle sufficiently. In a way he was thankful the gang had stood up for him in not sleeping in the stables. He might have been wide awake sitting in there. Knowing he would also be locked inside.

A sudden anxious sensation and he threw himself upright. Seeing that Hiccup's dragon was easing its way down a pillar, an acid green eye pointed in his direction. He stayed stiff until they were at the side of the bed.

"I'm not up to anything I swear." He whispered, hands raised in surrender.

Their eyes weren't narrowed into slits, instead the pupils were startlingly wide. Peering at him, he could swear with concern. Their head jerked toward the pillow. He stared boggled for a few seconds before he locked gazes again.

"Believe me I want to be asleep. But they don't sleep with mattresses, and you're not going to get me to believe smoothed wood is something easy to get used to. Oh what am I saying I saw how you heat up that rock bed upstairs."

Then Toothless' head leaned forward, teeth snatching the end of the pillow and pulling it off the bed. Taking two steps back, then coming to lie down and placing the pillow at his neck. Eyes staring at him imploringly. The teen still watched him cluelessly. Then he could swear the dragon rolled his eyes at him , then lifted his tail and placed it behind Percy's back.

He slid off the wood at the pressure of being pushed toward the black-scaled beast.

"What do you-"

A quick flick and he was sat down. Feeling Toothless shift until his torso supported his spine. He still sat up straight, the sensation of the scales reminding him of when he'd have to fight a serpent monster. Like they wanted body contact before devouring their victim. Then the dragon's tail lifted again, and the blanket was dragged off the bed and draped over Percy.

"Really good with that tail," He chuckled nervously.

Final note of limb coming over his knees. Snuggling the half-blood lying against him by shifting their neck.

A minute of feeling his heartbeat vibrate through his body, and Percy started to feel his eyes flutter shut. Like the dragon had cast a sleep spell on him. He finally allowed himself to relax, and sagged back fully onto the warm scales. 

And he could swear, not a single plaguing dream that night.

Hiccup couldn't stop the smile on his face once he came down the steps in the morning. Normally he'd be in panic wondering why his dragon wasn't in bed, how he hadn't heard any noise during the late hours- maybe even some paranoia that Percy was a threat they should have expected- but he still heard Toothless' gentle snores drifting through the hut.

He silently went down the stairs, seeing his dragon curled up near the bed they'd set up. Seeing Percy laying against the Night Fury in a deep slumber. Toothless had pried open a lazy eye, aiming his gaze to Hiccup. Making a little rumble in his throat as a chuckle, then a wing slowly unfurling and poised like a shield over the messy-haired teenager.

At Toothless shifting, the kid's head shook abruptly and he sat upright. Hand for a brief second stroking the scales beneath him. He heaved out a great yawn, eyes still wavering from open and shut, then he noticed the Rider's leader stood over him.

"Sorry I didn't mean to steal your dragon for the night."

"No it's okay," He peered upon them contentedly, "looks like he was as worried for you as I was."

"What do you mean?" He gently pushed the wing aside, pulled himself to his feet and stretched.

"Wanted to make sure you were well-rested."

"Oh and he isn't- usually,"

"Well I am his favorite, but that's bonding with a dragon. Their loyalty is strong."

"Might be a better judge of character than Astrid." He glanced behind Hiccup. "The sun's barely even out."

"Oh yeah." He looked back to see the faint light coming from beneath the door. "We got a Terror Mail last night. Time for you to board your first dragon. We're meeting up with some allies."