Chapter Text
Shouts could be heard from the sky, arrows flew pass them, yet Hiccup and his friends did not give out. Fires shot back at the ship, smell of burning wood and ashes brought to them by the wind. Hunters retreated, dragons freed. Another successful ride to free dragons. The anonymous intel proved once again to be reliable. "Okay gang! Let's wrap it up and go back to the edge!" Hiccup yelled towards his friends just as he turned around, flying in the direction of the edge. They flew in silent victory, only one thing on their mind: who was this person that kept sending them intel? They have been receiving information for this person for weeks now, working with them. Yet they could never send a reply, nor began to understand as to why a dragon hunter would be helping them from the inside. What did this person gain from this? "Are we going to say something about this, spy helping us? I mean, who else finds it suspicious?" Snotlot exclaimed, throwing his hands up in a quick sudden movement. But in doing so, he almost falls off Hookfang. The twins laugh at him as he shot them a glare. Astrid glances at Hiccup with a worry look. In the first place, Hiccup alone suggested that they give the piece of intel a chance. Which has helped them greatly. But with the identity of who provides them with this information unknown, it brings great risk with each letter they receive. "I know Snotlot, but until we can find Viggo's base, we have to trust it." Hiccup stares into the sun setting before them, refusing to look at Astrid. Knowing what look she bore on her face, he can't help but choose to ignore it. Will this be a one huge mistake? Or will it be a game changer?
Night falls, everyone is in their hut with great tension between them. With the unanswered question hanging above their head, it is hard to focus on sleep. Hiccup paces back and forth in his hut, dragon eye on the table. Trying to come up with any possible reasons of as why this person would aid them. Toothless on the other hand, watches Hiccup with great boredom. Having seen this state of him many times, Toothless seems unfazed. "What do you think bud? Maybe their parents are held hostage? Like that time with Heather." One says to the dragon, which the dragon then replies with a simple grunt. "No, you're right. Maybe it's a trap. To gain our trust, and lure us in when they decide it's time." He seems to understand the dragon regardless, and frowns. Arms crossed, he paces in circles, fingers tapping his arms. The boy is deep in thought when the door of the hut opens. Astrid walks in with a shimmer in her eyes that looked as if she would not back down from this. "Hiccup. We can't keep doing this, it's dangerous. If not for us, for them." She stands in front of him, mirroring him with crossed arms. The tone suggests she leaves no room for disagree. He seemed to have considered this, and with a frown, he sighed. "No…no, you're right Astrid." His hand found it's way up his hair, then dragging it down to his face. "All the information given so far has been accurate and precise. The more we follow them, the more obvious it is to Viggo he has a mold in his ranks." Hiccup walks to his table, laid out in front of him are letters from the mold. His hands brushes over these letter gently, as if he will miss them. Astrid opens her mouth to say something, but it shuts as a carrier dragon flies in. Landing on the table. "Hiccup. Don't open it." She warns, face stern as she walks closer. "I won't. It's late, and we had to long day. Why don't you go to sleep?" Even as the words came out of his mouth, he knew it sounded suspicious. Regardless, he went with it and gives her an awkward like smile. They both know he's going to open it, so she leaves with a disappointed sigh. As soon as the door closes, he basically rips the paper open to view the contents inside.
Dear Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the third ,
I hope this letter reaches the intended person. For it has become increasingly difficult to write one. As expected, Viggo is now aware there is a spy among his grounds. For my safety, I cannot disclose any information of who I am. But know this, we will meet one day, and soon. This is my last letter for you, which does not contain any useful information that could help you against Viggo. You don't know me at all, yet you took my advice and did exactly what I had instructed. For you to take that risk, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. May we meet soon.
From — I.
As Hiccup reads the letter, his hands tremble in confusion yet excitement. This was the first letter the person has directly addressed to him. The first time a letter came, it was only an estimated time of where a ship will be, and what it holds, and the best course of action to free the dragons. Hiccup found it amazing how good the letter's strategy was. They had the element of surprise half the time they followed the letter. With their help, they were able to free much more dragons than they did in a week. Ships still expected them of course, but was unprepared for their fury. Questions began to swarm around his head. They would meet soon? What did this mean? And the initial, was that the first letter of his name? His heart was practically trying to jump out of his ribcage. He sets the letter down, picking all of the sent letters from before and keeps it safely aside for now. That night, he went to bed with more questions than before. All of them left unanswered.