Chapter Text
She had never flown before; she has been able to travel by ship or the occasional wagon ride. She has always preferred to walk or run. That is how she grew up and that is how she will always be. She could never understand how people could just sit there and do absolutely nothing. It felt smothering when she was not moving. The heaviness of the world cutting off her air like she thought she deserved for all of her mistakes. She didn't but she thought she did.
Astrid had to move, had to be active. It was now just the very root of her soul, the need to do something. To be better, to take care of others, to launch into battle for those you love. Astrid was a Hofferson and that is what Hoffersons were born to do. To protect. She has failed once before she will not again.
She is now on a blasted dragon now for that very reason. To protect her tribe. This is yet another reason for the anger Astrid has. She must be on the dragons that she despises. The dragons that kill the people in Berk. The dragons that she would prefer dead more than anything. The dragons that took people from her. Yes, those very same dragons. She was more livid than anything but she did her best to but on an indifference to the matter.
Didn't really matter though. She had no choice but to be riding a dragon right now. To be grasping the woman's middle that sat in front of her. When a bunch of crazy people say they will kill everyone you love and have the means to do it. Yeah, you comply. Because what other option do you have.
The trip started two days ago. Berk got visitors that foggy morning. The light was just coming over the treetops when they arrived.
There were six dragons that appeared that morning. All of different color, shapes and size. The oddest thing that the dragons had people riding them. Mean and woman wearing dragon scale armor the same color as the very dragons they rode on. They demanded to see the Chief and the island bravest warriors. Astrid could not see their faces, but she had heard two of their voices. The woman who sat in front of her and the large man in front of Stoic. Both were demanding and hard. They were also angry really angry. Like they wanted to be anywhere else than Berk at that moment. Their stance was tense and mood was dangerous. They were dangerous. It felt odd though. It seemed like they knew the people of Berk, but Astrid had never seen these people before.
This led to why Astrid was here. She was the best warrior in Berk; the gang was the next best option. All young and able to sacrifice if ready. That’s how Astrid saw it. The village so ready to sacrifice more young people in their greed. Like… like Hiccup. So ready to kill anything that was not like them. Hell, even Stoic the Vast hunted down his own son for becoming friends with a dragon. Astrid would regret telling the village for as long as she lived. Poor Hiccup. He was dead by now she assumed. No way a 'walking fishbone' could live.
She smiled at the memory of Gobber telling her their conversation when she visited the forge a few times. She always liked Gobber and was sad that he was without an apprentice. She did that. She caused that. Great pain took place in her heart. A sort of heavy that could never be lifted.
Astrid snapped back when the dragon benign her roared and the woman she was riding with chuckled. The other dragons roared as well. It was annoyed Astrid until she heard another call in the distance. More answered until it felt they were flying to death. Maybe they were. She had to idea where they were and what their purpose there was.
She felt her stomach flip as the rider dove straight down. She screamed despite herself. She closed her eyes and waited for the cold water to hit her like rock.
But it never happened.
At the last moment the woman dove up and glided toward the misty land a couple miles away. Opening her eyes she was thankful. Thankful that she was still breathing and not drowning in the ocean below. She was also curious, where were they going to go to. She came out of her mind when several screams sounded behind them. She looked over, scared at what horrors she would find. Only to find the gang screaming. Stoic didn’t scream he looked mildly uncomfortable.
Stoic tried to appear stronger than the rest but the look in his eyes betrayed it. He hoped that whoever they were going to did not see inside his soul like it felt the world could at the moment.
Astrid gasped when they started gliding above the green grass and black rock of the island below. There were dragons. So many blasted dragons. All different species, shapes and sizes, different colors. They were all dangerous for sure. Because what else could dragons be? They looked up in wonder at the people arriving. Some flew up to them, gliding like a pack. They seemed happy when they saw the other dragons, maybe even the humans as well. They all had spikes and dangerous features, but the people seemed to hardly notice. Some waved hello while others just kept flying.
Many roared up at them and she avoided looking down. She looked at the hills instead. She found many houses and towers built in the distance. But they appeared unused at the moment. Seeming so cold so far away.
They passed over a jungle which was odd to her, being so cold over here. She was surprised that nothing had snow or was frozen. In Berk it was winter at the moment. The animals were dying from the freeze, food was rationed, storms on the daily. How is this island not getting it? They can't be that far away from home? Can they?
They swooped down even more. Getting further into the jungle, she looked ahead. Peaking over the woman in front of her. They seem to be headed to a cave. A small one at that. They went down even more and decreased in speed.
They arrived at a black cave, smelling of mold and something ancient. Astrid could hear so much noise, but she had no idea of where it was coming from. It scared her but she made no show of it. Should stood proud. Walking side by side with the woman that was in 'charge' of her. She resisted rolling her eyes at the thought. It was odd to have someone is charge of her when she was in charge of 5 meatheads on the daily. Not including the whole island on bad days.
The woman got off and tugged her with her. Astrid came down with out and argument but was seething in the inside. The others dripped less precise as her. They fell on their backs or faces. Snotlout fell on his face making Astrid calm her anger a bit. It was always nice seeing that particular buffoon in pain.
The woman tugged her forward by the scruff of her neck. It hurt. Astrid grit her teeth and tried to find her inner calm. They made their way deeper into the cave. The dragons roared again then flew off in different directions. It was fascinating but also felt like they were walking into doom itself.
They reached the very back of the cave. In the back there was a hole large enough to fit the dragons they were just on. The woman pushed Astrid down then jumped after her. The others did the same with there respected people.
Astrid did not land with grace that time. She landed on her stomach with a grunt then faced the woman angrily. The woman’s face was covered but Astrid could feel her boredom a mile away. That just made her more mad. The girl continued on and beckoned her to follow. She closed her eyes and followed, listening to the others foot steps behind her.
The tunnel they were currently in was dark and musty. It smelt like wet earth and had bugs crawling about every now and then. It also felt important which was again odd. Astrid wondered where they were really headed when she saw light up ahead.
They stepped out of the tunnel and were awarded with gorgeous light that filtered down from every angle. Rich new bright colors spread on every inch of the land like it owed it to the world. There were greenhouses all over and it seemed like they were in a giant cave. It seemed like the island from above was just a cover up and this is what it was really like. A network of caves and tunnels under the ground. It was breath taking.
The people however pulled the group forward from their aw. They dragged them to the main square of the village? City? World? Whatever you call it it was wet either people like them were. Held by faceless people in dragon armor while they wore metal and fine wool clothing.
They were not the only ones. There were people from other islands and tribes here as well. Astrid could see the Berserker warriors clearly, but it took her a bit more time to see the others. Meathead, Bogs, Hooligans and the Outcasts. Odd again. No one has seen the Outcasts in a few years. Not since their leader Alvin the treacherous was killed by a dragon.
As they got closer Astrid saw that it seemed like they were all going to the main dining hall. Once their group had joined the others the massive oak doors opened. A woman with black hair and grey armor stood there. Her face was pale but her pretty blue eyes shone brightly against her braided hair. Astrid recognized her. Heather.
Astrid has met that woman twice and that we enough to leave such an impression. A while ago she was exploring the archipelago alone and she came across an island. It was beautiful, a perfect place to make camp. No, she was chased away by a Raserwip and their rider. Was this the very island Heather kept her away from?
The second time was when she was getting intel from Trader Johan. Heather walked in in Astrid threating him and they engaged in a fearsome combat where she lost but learned her name.
Heather signaled to the people holding them and escaped back into the great hall. She was pushed forward and lead the large group into the hall. She was hesitant but so was the group. Stoic stood at her side. He was tense. Ready for any battle that was yet to come.
The hall was well lit and seemed very welcoming at the start. Carved murals on both sides depicting dragons and man alike. Delicious food and good drinks. It seemed nice. She stepped forward more and looked to the back of the room. A chill stepped threw her.
There was a dark throne that was up several steps. A man in black dragon scale armor sat upon it. He had a mask on and seemed to be assessing them. Trying to predict any one of their moves. His eyes landed on her and she stepped forward. She keeper walking until she was at the front steps to his throne.
Now that she was closer she could see the detail. It was a very dark, almost black red. His armor has accents of red in it as well. The throne was carved in magnificent shapes that seemed very little compared to the man above her. He sat with his back to the throne. His green eyes were the only thing that could be seen of his face. That was until he took his helmet off and handed it to Heather who stood beside him like a guard.
He looked familiar to say the least. Looked young. With shaggy brown hair. Some sections were braided in little tuffs, but the hair didn’t go past his shoulders. He had a hard look in his face that held to many secrets. He was also littered with scars. The big ones went from his jaw to throat. A large in went vertical across his right eye. Another under his left. As she looked closer at his body it appeared that he was also missing a leg, having a prosthetic in place. Just who was this mysterious Chief? Where did he come from? What was his name? Questions circled her mind as she stepped closer to get a good look. He had a scar on his chin. She had seen this scar before but from where?
The others frolicked over to look at him. A man who sat in the big throne, held such a dangerous presence, yet could be no older than her. A freshly twenty-six-year-old. A roar sounded behind him and a soft smile made its way to his face. A smile landed on Heathers, but she looked behind her, as the man just looked at them. A black dragon appeared and she stepped back in fear.
A Night furry.
They were all scared except the man and Heather it would seem. They all stepped back in fear as the sharp toothed baring dragon stooped up to the man and sat beside him. The dragon roared. It was loud and terrifying. She had no idea a dragon could make such an evil noise. It forced Astrid to cover her ears and yelp in pain. It only stopped when the man scratched the dragons head. It was unnerving. It looked exactly like the dragon Hiccup had a long time ago. Of course, with updated gear, but the same dragon. She felt hope rise in her chest and imitatively tried to squish it down. It failed. That scar...
“Hello my fellow tribes. I am told you are the strongest warriors and chiefs in the archipelago. Don’t prove me wrong.” His rich voice echoed in the room. It filled up the air with tension think enough to suffocate a sheep. Stoic tensed up beside Astrid looking at the boy. Stoic looked confused inspecting the an. Could he also recognize him? But no, he is dead. He has to be dead. Right?
“Who are you? What tribe do you lead?” Stoic asked the man, stepping slightly in front of Astrid the process.
The man shook his head in disappointment. “You would think a father would recognize the son he cast out…” he paused and waited for it to settle in before continuing. “ I am Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, I am the chief of the Dragon Riders.”
“Hiccup..?” Astrids voice sounded off. Her eyes grew glossy and confused grief filled her soul. No, no, no, no... This can't be real.
“Yes? Astrid.”