Chapter Text
The noises and smells confused Jack to no end. On the island, one could sit in the tranquility of the trees, the only sound being of the wind, the only smell being of the flowers. Here, though, covered under the white sheet, he heard the constant bussing of many voices, all loud, talking above the other. The smell burned his nose. It smelt dirty, of soot, of dung. Jack may have gone crazy.
He pressed himself closer to Toothless, gently stroking his brother's neck and murmuring soothing words. He could almost feel his brother's pain. It left a wretched feeling in his stomach. He held his staff closer to his chest, and spared a glance at Hiccup, Jack wanted to break through the metal bars; he wanted to drag Hiccup as close to him as he could, to coddle him and scent him further, to kiss away the bruises on his face, to gently carry him instead of him nearly crawling everywhere. Jack longed to do many things, but he sat still. No matter how much he wished to those things, Jack willed himself to sit tightly next to Toothless. Jack knew better than to try and fret over his poor Hiccup. His Hiccup was stubborn, but he was strong.
They rocked side to side on the strange land boat that carried them. Occasionally stopping before moving forward again. Hiccup sat with his back to the bars, occasionally lifting the sheet carefully and peeking outside, muttering under his breath, and glared at the distance. Hiccup had told them they would be arriving to a 'University' whatever that was, and there he would be able to help Toothless.
"How are you doin'?" Jack nudged Toothless. Toothless whined, He could have been better. Jack smiled slightly, his brother could have been on the brink of death, but his sense of humor would still remain.
"I think we're almost there..." Hiccup said, not looking at him. The land boat finally stopped completely, the strange roaring coming from it cut off abruptly and they sat in eerie silence.
"We can't be there yet." Hiccup lifted the sheet again and gasped, He turned around, grinning radiantly, his eyes shined and he laughed as silently as he could.
"Jack, we're at the zoo!"
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Astrid groaned, she felt light headed, her body ached, but she was alive.
She opened her eyes carefully, blinking away the blurriness, and marveled her surroundings. She still lay on the dirt ground, next to the lake. She coughed, and pushed herself up, looking around; there was no trace of Daggur anywhere. She spotted Fishlegs unconscious a few feet away from her. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw no harm was on his person.
Gently she shook him awake, he blinked rapidly, and gasped standing up as fast as he could, and he wobbled on the spot, but remained standing. Astrid stood next to him.
"Are you okay, Professor?" She laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. Fishlegs snapped his face to hers, face appalled, gaping at her.
"Am I okay? Am I okay?!" His face turned red, he shook uncontrollably, snarling, he grasped he shoulders with a surprisingly firm, but gentle, hands.
"That blasted savage chocked you into unconsciousness, and you ask if I'm okay? Astrid, are you okay?" He peered at her neck, glaring at the purple bruised that were beginning to show on her delicate neck.
"I-I'm fine..." Astrid struggled to speak, unprepared at Fishlegs' sudden concern. "But more importantly, where's Daggur?" Astrid stepped away from the professor, looking around the area, eyes narrowed.
"After he… Attacked you, I did my best to fight him off." Astrid now noticed the red tint of Fishlegs knuckles. "He was much stronger, he managed to wrap his arms around my neck, but before he… made me unable to remain consciousness." He grunted, taking his handkerchief out of his pocket and wiping his face furiously with it.
"Questions? What sort of questions?" He looked at him in panic.
"He asked about Jack, and Hiccup. He asked where they would be at Berk…" He whispered.
"What did you tell him?" She whispered back.
"I told him they would have probably be sent to the University-"
"FISHLEGS!" She screamed. A string of curses slipped her tongue, she was furious, she felt betrayed. "How could you!"
"How could I?" Fishlegs stared at her indignantly. "He threatened to kill you!" he growled at her. "What was I to do?"
"You could have lied!" She screamed louder.
"He could had killed you-"
"He could have been lying too!" She threw her arms in the air.
Time had raced out. Daggur knew where Hiccup was, and she was sure he would fight tooth and nail to get him now. Astrid though fiercely of a plan. Daggur had let them live, so he had yet more use for them both. He would be coming back.
"Damn the gods!" She cursed at the sky. From above the scavenger swooped down to the clearing.
Its wings were raised in alarm; it smelled the edges of the trees, hissing here and there before making its way back to Astrid. It nestled its head to hers. Absentmindedly she rubbed at its neck.
"What can we do, what can we do..." She muttered to herself, ignoring Fishlegs sputtering. She paced back and forth.
"If we wait for the next boat to arrive, it would be too late by then. Daggur could have us killed by then…" She walked to the edge of the lake, watching her reflection ripple when Stormfly dipped its head to drink.
"We need something fast. Something he can't take away from us, something so unpredictable..." Stormfly chirped and submerged its entire head into the water, jumping back and spreading its wings, letting the falling water to splash on its wings.
"Something faster..." Astrid's eyes roamed over to Stormfly. Her eyes widened, stepping back, she watched Stormfly with such adoration, and she smiled brightly.
"FISHLEGS!" She jumped to Fishlegs side. She embraced him tightly and jumped back.
"Pack the lightest suit case you have with food and water!" Fishlegs swayed for a moment, cautious by Astrid's sudden enthusiasm.
"Why?" He asked as Astrid ran towards the almost forgotten satchel, pouring the rest of the chicken to the floor, cooing at Stormfly when it ran to her and began to eat the food, petting her and laughing.
"Where going to Berk!" Fishlegs choked on his own saliva.
" G-going? To Berk? How?" Astrid pushed herself on the dragons back, hugging its neck from behind, before turning back to him, smiling more radiant than before.
"On dragon!" She laughed.