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Alternate title:
Beneath the Frozen Veil
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
———————————
(3rd POV:Cinderwing)
Dusk painted the sky in bruised purples and fiery oranges as Cinderwing observed the fifth iteration of Gronckle Iron armor being tested on Toothless. The air hummed with the whir of the ballista and the flap of dragon wings. Even from a distance, the subtle shift in the armor around Toothless's belly was apparent – a looseness that, Cinderwing knew, would be far more than an inconvenience if those weren't paint-tipped arrows exploding in harmless bursts of color.
Snotlout's triumphant "Oy-Oy-Oy!" echoed across the training grounds as another paint arrow streaked from the ballista, narrowly missing Toothless. Fishlegs, meanwhile, launched clumsy nets that billowed in the wind, easily evaded by Hiccup and his Night Fury.
As Hiccup urged Toothless higher, a fatal flaw became evident. The belly and chest plates of the armor shifted, then detached completely, clattering to the ground. A satisfying splat of red paint bloomed on Toothless' chest.
"Snotlout! Snotlout! Oy-Oy-Oy!" Snotlout's chant grew louder, laced with smug victory.
"Alright, alright, nice shot, Snotlout," Hiccup conceded, a hint of annoyance in his voice. Another thwack and a splatter of red on his arm elicited a surprised "Really?" He leveled a mock glare at Snotlout.
Snotlout's booming laughter was cut short by a low growl from Toothless, followed by a focused, low-powered plasma blast that sent the Viking tumbling from his perch. "Ow," Snotlout grunted, landing unceremoniously.
A snort rumbled in Cinderwing's chest as the group, the sky deepening to twilight, began their trek towards the stables.
(Scene break)
Fishlegs trudged out of the stables, his shoulders slumped with frustration. "Ugh! I really thought we had it this time." He wrung his hands, his gaze fixed on the discarded pieces of Gronckle Iron armor.
Hiccup, leaning against Toothless and wiping a smear of red paint from his cheek, offered a weary smile. "Hey, this batch of Gronckle Iron armor lasted longer than the last one."
"Yes, but not long enough," Tuffnut commented as he, Ruffnut, and Snotlout sauntered out of the stables. "Wait, unless..." he trailed off, eyes narrowing, "...you wanted Hiccup to get shot down."
"Interesting hypothesis, brother," Ruffnut chimed in, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Tuffnut stepped right up to Fishlegs, jabbing a finger at his chest. "Why are you trying to kill Hiccup?" he accused dramatically. "I'm not trying to kill Hiccup!" Fishlegs stammered, holding his hands up in defense.
"That's exactly what someone trying to kill Hiccup would say," Tuffnut declared, unwavering.
"Indeed," Ruffnut echoed sagely, before leaning in to whisper conspiratorially in Fishlegs' ear, "We're keeping our good eye on you, pal."
Tuffnut punctuated this with a playful, yet slightly unsettling, wink at his left eye. "Our good eye."
Fishlegs, visibly uncomfortable, turned to Hiccup, dismissing the twins with a nervous glance. "So... what do we try next?" He held up a mangled piece of armor.
"Well, I think we have to go thinner." Hiccup suggested, rubbing his chin. "That should make it lighter and more flexible."
"But it won't make it Snotlout-proof. Nothing can." Snotlout interjected with a booming laugh, puffing out his chest. "It's a good thing that for you guys that I'm on your side." He preened, only to be promptly head-butted to the ground by a dryly amused Stormfly.
"You are, are you? Huh. Honestly, sometimes it's hard to tell," Astrid, perched on Stormfly's saddle, said with a healthy dose of sarcasm.
Just as Hiccup and Astrid began to converse, Cinderwing trotted up to Stormfly, nudging his snout against hers in a familiar greeting. "Back from Berk already? That was quick."
Stormfly huffed softly. "Didn't even make it. Ran into Trader Johann." She chirped, flicking her head. "Said something about Dragon Hunters and winter clothing. Astrid's filling the others in, so no point in me repeating it."
A teasing smile tugged at Cinderwing's lips. "Alright, sweetheart." Stormfly rolled her eyes good-naturedly at his teasing, and they began to head towards the clubhouse.
(Scene break)
Cinderwing settled down between Toothless and Stormfly, his ears swiveling as Astrid explained. "Johann flagged me down on the way to Berk," she recounted, "said he'd seen Ryker, Heather and the Dragon Hunters in the Northern Markets buying all the cold weather gear they could get their hands on."
"Why would you buy winter gear in the summer?" Snotlout asked, utterly bewildered.
"Hello. That's when you get the best prices." Ruffnut interjected matter-of-factly, as if it was the most logical thing in the world.
"Ruff is an excellent shopper." Tuffnut affirmed, Ruffnut humming in smug agreement. "She even snagged both our outfits for the price of one!"
"No one's surprised by that." Snotlout muttered under his breath.
"Where would the Dragon Hunters be going that would need heavy weather gear this time of year?" Hiccup pondered aloud, a thoughtful furrow in his brow. "Did Johann mention anything else?" he asked Astrid.
"They needed the gear right away. And they were after something rare. A bone, or a claw..."
"Or a tooth." Hiccup suggested, his eyes widening in realization.
"The Snowwraith! Of course!" Fishlegs breathed, realization dawning. "The Dragon Hunters are after the Snowwraith to get one of its teeth."
Tuffnut snorted derisively. "Yeah. Good luck with that. We barely got out of there alive."
Cinderwing stretched languidly, a yawn hinting at his slight boredom with the obvious. "The Dragon Eye used to belong to the Hunters." Hiccup affirmed, holding up the ancient artifact. "They must know they need a Snowwraith tooth to make it work."
"Who cares?" Snotlout interjected, crossing his arms with a dismissive smile. "All it means is that they aren't coming our way."
A shadow of worry crossed Hiccup's face. "Which means, if they do get their own key, they'll be coming for us next."
Cinderwing shifted, leaning against Stormfly's warm flank to enjoy the warmth. She huffed, a mixture of annoyance and amusement in her gaze, nudging him gently. Toothless watched the exchange with a deadpan stare, his eyes rolling almost imperceptibly as he mumbled something unintelligible.
"Please tell me you're not thinking what I think you're thinking," Astrid said, arms crossed, her expression serious.
"Oh, he's thinking," Ruffnut quipped with a knowing smirk.
"That's definitely his thinking face." Tuffnut added helpfully.
"We can't let that happen," Hiccup declared, his voice firm. "Get a good night's sleep, gang. We leave for Glacier Island at first light." He turned and headed towards his hut, Toothless following close behind.
Cinderwing rose and stretched again, wings flexing. "Alright, see you all in the morning," he said, starting to trot towards the exit. "...Birdie." He added with a quick, teasing glance at Stormfly before launching into the dark sky.
Stormfly watched him go, a bewildered yet fond expression on her face. She then turned as Astrid gently guided her back towards the stables.
(Scene break)
As the first rays of dawn kissed the horizon, the dragon riders and their mounts were already winging their way towards the distant, icy peaks of Glacier Island. Hours later, the stark white landscape slowly materialized on the horizon.
A discussion began amongst the riders, their voices carried on the wind, about the urgency of relocating the Snowwraith to a safer, unknown island, far from the grasping hands of the Dragon Hunters.
Cinderwing maneuvered to fly alongside Stormfly, his gaze intent. "Alright, Birdie," he murmured, his voice low and inquisitive, "who really told Astrid about the Dragon Hunters' winter wardrobe?" A flicker of unease crossed Stormfly's eyes.
"What do you mean?" she asked, her tone a little too innocent.
Cinderwing huffed, giving her a gentle nudge mid-air with his wing. "Come on, Birdie. Don't play coy with me." A knowing, toothy smile spread across his face. "Based on everything you and the others have said about Trader Johann – a nervous, gossipy sort – there's no way he'd have that specific information about their cold-weather shopping spree"
"He's too timid," he added, his eyes narrowing slightly, "too... easily persuaded to share sensitive information. So spill. Who really told her?"
Stormfly avoided his gaze, her attention fixed on the approaching island. "I'll... tell you another time. Just... not right now," she whispered softly, a hint of unease in her tone.
Cinderwing hummed thoughtfully, then surged ahead of the group, a low, melodic hum suddenly emanating from his throat. "🎶 Mmm, I love, I lo-ove, I love, I love, I love... 🎶"
To the riders, it sounded like gentle, resonant roars, but the dragons, especially Stormfly, exchanged surprised glances. Cinderwing was... singing?
"You can sing?" Hookfang blurted out, causing Cinderwing to break off his tune with a flourish.
"But of course, my fiery friend," Cinderwing replied with a suave grin. "Not only is it... artistically fulfilling," he paused for dramatic effect, "but it's also a rather effective way to... attract the fairer sex." He winked, his gaze flicking teasingly towards Stormfly, who rolled her eyes with a fond exasperation as they drew closer to the icy shores.
(Scene break)
On the frigid expanse of Glacier Island, Toothless and Cinderwing swept low over the snow-laden terrain, their echolocation clicks and soft growls cutting through the howling wind and swirling snow.
"Anything out there, guys?" Hiccup called out, his voice barely audible above the storm. Toothless and Cinderwing both shook their heads, their expressions conveying the biting cold and the lack of any discernible Snowwraith presence.
"This is summer on Glacier Island?" Ruffnut quipped, her arms crossed tightly against her chest, shivering visibly. "No wonder they don't get any tourists."
"What would their slogan be?" Tuffnut mused aloud, teeth chattering. "'IfIf the Snowwraith doesn't kill you, the weather will.'"
"Hey, that's a good slogan." Ruffnut conceded, rubbing her arms.
"That's a terrible slogan," Hiccup countered, his hands planted firmly on his hips, his breath misting in the frigid air. "But the good news is, if we run into any Dragon Hunters, they won't have much luck with those dragon root arrows in this weather." He gestured to the swirling snow and icy conditions.
"And the bad news is..." Snotlout began, his voice laced with irritation as the twins clung to him like frozen barnacles, their shivering a loud, synchronized tremor.
"What are you doing?" Hiccup asked, a bewildered expression on his face.
"It's called 'body heat management'," Ruffnut explained through chattering teeth.
"Also known as the Thorston sandwich," Tuffnut added, his voice muffled against Snotlout's side, "served cold."
"That's... horrifying. Okay," Hiccup said quickly, clearly wanting to change the subject. "Why don't you guys set up camp? Astrid and I will scout the island."
"Gladly," Snotlout groaned, struggling to dislodge the clinging twins. "Come on. Let go!"
As Snotlout wrestled with his unwanted companions, Hiccup and Astrid mounted Toothless and Stormfly, launching into the turbulent air, with Cinderwing keeping pace close behind Stormfly.
(Scene break)
The storm was even worse higher up. "You see anything down there?" Hiccup called out to Astrid, his voice struggling against the roaring wind.
"I can barely see you half the time!" she shouted back, her own voice strained. "Maybe we should split up. Cover more ground."
Cinderwing's eyes narrowed, a flicker of suspicion in his gaze. Unnoticed by the riders, he subtly shifted, flying even closer to Stormfly.
"No! Stick together! It's safer, okay?" Hiccup insisted, his voice rising. From his position, Astrid, Stormfly, and Cinderwing seemed to dissolve into the whiteout. "Okay?!" he called out again, but only the wind answered. He sighed, realizing she was gone.
(Scene break)
Cinderwing followed closely behind Stormfly, his dark form blending perfectly with the swirling snow, making him utterly unnoticed.
"There," Stormfly growled softly, pointing her head to her right. On a jagged ledge of a snowy cliff-side, barely visible through the blizzard, a dragon and its rider could be faintly discerned.
"Easy, girl. I see 'em," Astrid acknowledged, her voice low. "Let's go in another way." Stormfly banked left, landing on a lower, more secluded ledge. They began to move towards the other plateau on foot, picking their way carefully through the drifts. Cinderwing landed a moment later, disappearing into the snow beneath them, tunneling silently.
Astrid and Stormfly moved with practiced stealth along the hidden path, until they reached the snow-covered platform. There, a figure emerged, Windshear draped protectively over her rider, shielding her from the relentless storm and the biting wind that threatened to extinguish a small campfire.
Astrid stepped closer, then, with a glint of steel, brandished her axe. "Well, well, well, Heather. Fancy meeting you here. Surprised to see us?"
"Surprised?" Heather scoffed, rising from the log she'd been sitting on. Windshear turned swiftly, her gaze hardened, ready for a fight. "Not really," Heather added, a hint of weariness in her voice. "I've been listening to you stomp through the snow for the past five minutes."
Heather unfolded her twin-bladed axe, its polished surfaces gleaming even in the dim light. Stormfly and Windshear unleashed guttural growls, both dragons poised to strike. From beneath the muffling blanket of snow, Cinderwing could feel the vibrations of the tension, the muffled commotion above him.
The stand-off was taut, crackling with unspoken threat. Then, unexpectedly, Heather pulled down her half-mask, revealing a genuine, tired smile. "What took you so long?" Her voice softened considerably as she lowered her hood.
They walked towards each other, embracing in a relieved hug. Their dragons, sensing the shift, immediately relaxed, their growls fading into soft rumbles. "Hiccup isn't the easiest person to sneak away from." Astrid admitted, pulling back. They moved towards the inviting warmth of the campfire.
"Tell me about it," Heather replied, a wry chuckle in her voice. "Ryker thinks I'm out scouting." Stormfly snorted softly at Windshear, who offered a rumbling response, before both dragons trotted over to their riders, who now sat on the log.
"How did you even get him to come here, anyway?" Heather asked, extending her hands over the flames.
"I just told him what you told me, but let him think it was coming from Trader Johann," Astrid replied, her hands warming. "Any problems on your end?"
"Well, Ryker doesn't trust anyone, and Dagur is paranoid, but so far I think I'm okay," Heather nodded, a fleeting shadow in her eyes.
"You took care of Dagur?" Astrid raised a skeptical brow.
"I sent him on a fool's errand, looking for a second Dragon Eye," Heather answered, a small, mischievous smirk playing on her lips at how easily she'd outwitted her older brother.
"That should keep him busy," Astrid replied, rolling her eyes in amused disbelief. "So, fill me in."
Heather nodded and pulled out a map of the island, spreading it across the snow-covered ground. "We've been here for two days, searching pretty methodically. According to Ryker, the Snowwraith digs itself an ice cave to hibernate in during the summer."
"We didn't know that," Astrid responded with genuine wonder at the new information. "That explains the rush to get out here, probably to get a tooth from a hibernating Snowwraith." She realized.
"Exactly," Heather nodded.
"Too bad we don't know where the cave is," Astrid noted, rubbing her arm, a shiver running through her.
"But I think I might," Heather said, a glint of triumph in her eyes. "Windshear and I spotted a cave on a plateau about halfway up that mountain." She pointed to a towering peak not too far away, its summit shrouded in the blizzard. "You find a way to get Hiccup to check it out. Meanwhile, I'll tell Ryker I didn't find anything and try to keep him as far away as possible."
Once Heather finished explaining the plan, Astrid looked down, deep in thought. Heather noticed the hesitation. "What?"
"We should tell Hiccup what we're doing. This doesn't feel right," Astrid answered, her discomfort with the secrecy palpable.
"No. We agreed," Heather denied softly, her voice firm.
"I've never lied to him before," Astrid rebelled softly.
"I know," Heather comforted, placing a reassuring hand on Astrid's shoulder. "But this is the best way to take the Dragon Hunters down, from the inside." She affirmed.
Cinderwing continued to move silently through the snow beneath them, every word crystal clear.
"Hiccup could help us. He's really good at this stuff," Astrid explained, pleading.
"He also cares too much," Heather rebutted, crossing her arms stubbornly. "Astrid, if we told Hiccup that I was spying on the Hunters, we both know he'd try and pull me out of there."
"I get that, but—"
Heather interrupted, her voice firm. "I'm this close to getting to Viggo. I can't quit now."
"I really hope you're right," Astrid said, her voice strained, "because if any of the Riders got hurt, or you got hurt because I held something back..."
Heather put a hand on her shoulder. "Nothing will go wrong. Trust me." They stood up, preparing to mount their dragons, their eyes suddenly widening as they finally noticed the muffled movements beneath the snow.
They simultaneously brandished their weapons, Stormfly and Windshear instantly splaying their wings in defense, deep growls rumbling in their chests.
"Snowwraith?" Astrid whispered, her voice tight with tension.
"I don't know, but be ready!" Heather responded, her muscles tensing, axe ready.
Cinderwing's lips curled into a mischievous smile. 'Time to put on a show,' he thought. With a sudden, guttural roar, he burst out from under the snow. "Well, well, well. Birdie, to think that you would be teaming with the enemy!" A feral, mock-threatening smile spread across his face.
Astrid's axe lowered slightly, her shoulders slumping in relief as Stormfly shifted nervously, caught red-handed. Windshear and Heather, however, tensed even further, eyes locked on the emerging dragon.
"It's just Cinder," Astrid breathed out, a wave of relief washing over her.
Meanwhile, Heather unconsciously stepped back, her hand instinctively grabbing her right arm, remembering the phantom pain of a dislocated shoulder. Astrid, noticing this subtle reaction, quickly moved to stand in front of her, blocking Cinderwing's path. "It's okay, boy, she's a friend," she said in a soothing voice, hoping to calm him.
Cinderwing continued his slow, deliberate prowl towards Heather, circling them. Astrid consistently repositioned herself, a shield between her friend and the predatory Night Fury.
Windshear stepped forward, a low growl rumbling in her chest. "Get away from her," her voice firm, protective.
"Cinderwing, please," Stormfly pleaded, still nervous, tail twitching. "They're not an enemy."
Cinderwing turned his attention to the Razorwhip, dismissing Stormfly's plea. Windshear began to prepare a fire blast, her scales glowing. "Most illogical," he quipped, then, with a blur of motion, he pounced. He pushed Windshear onto her side, holding her jaws closed with his massive forepaw as his maw began to glow purple, the familiar whistling sound of a plasma charge building.
"Cinder, no!" Astrid cried.
"Windshear!" Heather called out simultaneously, eyes wide with alarm.
The situation was taut with suspended danger. Cinderwing held his position for a few agonizing seconds, the purple light intensifying, before it suddenly faded. Smoke emitted from his maw, signifying the canceled plasma blast.
Cinderwing began to snort, then, as he got off the Razorwhip, it turned into full-on, booming laughter.
Windshear still lay on the ground, lifting her neck to stare at him in utter disbelief and confusion. Astrid breathed out a shaky sigh of relief, while Heather stared at Cinderwing, bewildered, before rushing to her dragon to check on her.
Stormfly's wings drooped as she looked at him with a deadpan expression, sighing dramatically. 'I should have expected this,' she thought, rolling her eyes in exasperation at his usual theatrics.
"He's... laughing?" Heather watched, still bewildered, as Windshear slowly stood up.
Astrid face-palmed. "Yeah. He pulls this kind of stunt on me and Stormfly all the time. I just didn't expect him to do it to you. That's usually the twins' territory." She referred to Ruffnut and Tuffnut.
Windshear trotted up to Stormfly. "So, he's the one you talk about so fondly." Stormfly's scales flushed a faint pink. Cinderwing's ears twitched, picking up the hushed words.
"Can we not talk about this now?" Stormfly hissed, glancing at Cinderwing. "He can hear you!"
"Oh my, Birdie, you were gossiping about me with a female friend?" He teased, rising onto his hind legs beside her with a wide, innocent smile.
Stormfly's blush deepened, and Windshear let out a short, amused snort.
"Windshear, come on girl, we have to go," Heather called out, her voice still a little shaky. Windshear trotted over, and her rider mounted the saddle.
Astrid and Heather exchanged quick goodbyes, and just as Windshear prepared to launch into the air, Cinderwing's voice cut through the wind. "See you later, Windy!"
Windshear froze mid-step, then rolled her eyes with an irritated huff before launching into the turbulent sky.
"Windy, really?" Stormfly tilted her head, a smirk playing on her snout. "It was either that or 'Silver'," Cinderwing replied, shrugging his massive shoulders playfully.
(Scene break)
The dragons, with their riders on their saddles, began the laborious climb up the mountain towards the plateau Heather had mentioned. As they trudged through the deep snow, Astrid skillfully explained what Heather had told her, subtly twisting the information to make it sound like her own ingenious idea.
While the riders conversed, Hookfang trotted up alongside Cinderwing. "So, where did you and Stormfly disappear to?" he grunted, a knowing glint in his eye.
"Can't say. I promised her not to tell," Cinderwing replied, shrugging his massive wings.
Barf and Belch, hovering nearby, exchanged mischievous glances and giggled. "Did you mate with her?" Barf asked, barely stifling his laughter, his twin head bobbing.
Stormfly, who had been listening, stumbled slightly, a furious blush spreading across her scales. "Don't say stuff like that out of the blue!" she squawked, mortified.
Meatlug chimed in with a sympathetic nod. "Yeah. Whether they did or not, it's their private life." Stormfly's blush deepened further at Meatlug's unintentionally pointed comment.
Barf and Belch dissolved into even harder giggles, snorting between their chortles. Hookfang let out a deep chuckle, while Toothless snickered, a small, amused rumble in his chest.
Cinderwing chuckled, letting the moment hang for a few seconds before answering. "No, no. We didn't mate." He trotted smoothly between Toothless and Stormfly.
"But if we did," he quipped, a sly smirk on his snout, "she wouldn't be walking for a while."
"Cinder!" Stormfly shrieked, her face a fiery red, immediately slapping her wing against his head with a resounding thwack!
"Okay! Okay! I'm sorry!" Cinderwing attempted to block her furious slaps with his own wings, laughing all the while. Stormfly paused, huffing in indignation, before turning her back to him and continuing her indignant trudge up the mountain, leaving the riders slightly confused at their antics.
(Scene break)
Once they reached the plateau, the biting wind whipped snow around them as they began to search for the cave. Suddenly, Hiccup raised his hand, signaling them to stop. He'd caught the faint sound of something, or somethings, rustling through the deep snow.
Everyone froze. Astrid pulled out her axe with a practiced motion, and Fishlegs, his eyes wide with apprehension, fumbled for a small pocket knife, whimpering slightly as he pointed its tiny blade forward. "So much for your hibernation theory," Snotlout complained, his voice a low grumble, only to be shushed by Hiccup with a sharp glance.
Cinderwing merely chapped his lips, a bored expression on his face, already knowing precisely what would emerge. 'Time for the inevitable pig reveal,' he thought with mild amusement.
"Toothless, make the first shot count," Hiccup whispered, his grip tightening on the saddle.
Toothless's throat began to glow, preparing a plasma blast, the familiar whistling sound growing eminent. Suddenly, three squealing boars burst from behind a small snowdrift, their panicked snorts echoing across the plateau. They skidded to a halt, freezing at the sight of the assembled dragons. Toothless immediately cancelled his plasma blast, the glow in his maw fading at the sight of the non-threat. Fishlegs, meanwhile, let out a piercing scream, wildly waving his pocket knife and his free hand erratically, startling the boars further and sending them scattering back into the swirling snow.
Hiccup turned back to look at Fishlegs, an expression of awkward disbelief plastered across his face. Fishlegs stared down at his pocket knife, then nervously glanced around, as if expecting the boars to return for revenge.
"There it is." Astrid pointed, her voice cutting through the lingering tension, at the dark maw of a cave not too far to their right. "I'll go check it out."
"We'll all go check it out," Hiccup rebutted, already urging Toothless forward. The dragons trotted towards the cave entrance, their large paws crunching softly on the ice-crusted snow.
Hiccup dismounted, inspecting the entrance, running his hand over deep, jagged claw marks etched into the icy rock. "Look at these claw marks," he murmured, tracing one with his finger. He gazed further into the gloomy interior. "I'd say we found the right cave."
Tuffnut crossed his arms, assessing the opening with a critical eye. "It's nice. It's no boar pit, but it's nice." He commented, moving his hands to his hips, nodding sagely.
"Alright. Let's take it slowly and quietly," Hiccup instructed, gesturing with his thumb toward the cave's dark depths. "Snotlout. Get the Nightmare gel out." He referred to the ignitable gel produced by a Monstrous Nightmare such as Hookfang. As Snotlout reluctantly began to retrieve the vials, the group prepared to enter the cave.
Cinderwing hummed thoughtfully, his eyes gleaming in the dim light. 'I wonder what would happen if I covered myself in the gel, then ignited it,' he pondered. 'Would I be harmlessly covered in flames like Hookfang, or will it simply burn me to a crisp?'
A few minutes after entering and cautiously exploring the dimly lit cave, Toothless' and Cinderwing's ears twitched almost simultaneously, catching the faint sound of metal clinking against ice.
Hiccup noticed them looking around wearily. "What's wrong, bud?" He too, began to scan their surroundings, straining to hear the faint noise.
"Was that..." Astrid began, her hand already on her axe.
"Behind us!" Hiccup exclaimed, whirling around just as a volley of arrows, tipped with various types of dragon-catching nets and ropes, shot out from the shadowed entrance.
Toothless instantly looked under himself and unleashed a powerful plasma blast, narrowly missing the hunters but hitting the icy cave wall with a thunderous CRACK! Shards of ice exploded outwards. "Everybody down!" Hiccup called out, pulling his shield up.
"Spine shot!" Astrid yelled, and Stormfly, with a swift flick of her tail, sent a flurry of razor-sharp tailspins whistling through the air, forcing the hunters to scatter and retreat hastily outside the cave.
'I can only imagine how annoyed Ryker must be at Heather and Windshear for 'accidentally' giving their position away,' Cinderwing thought, a knowing smirk playing on his muzzle, as he also began to unleash small, precise plasma blasts at the remaining hunters within the cave's reach. Some were incapacitated instantly, while Tuffnut, caught off guard, was hit by an arrow that luckily embedded itself harmlessly in his helmet.
"Oh, shoot my helmet, will ya!" He complained mockingly, pulling the arrow free. "Ha-ha! Yeah!" Ruffnut laughed, before they gave their signature head butt to each other, a loud THUD echoing in the cavern.
"Keep it down, will ya!" Hiccup hissed, exasperated. "We wake up that Snowwraith, things get a lot trickier."
Cinderwing lightly scratched the icy cave floor with a claw, only managing to scrape off flakes of ice. 'Can't dig through this. Guess that means no sneak attack from below,' he thought, looking around the empty cavern for any other potential advantage.
"What do you think Ryker's next move is?" Astrid asked, peering cautiously towards the entrance.
"Surrender?" Ruffnut commented, ever the optimist.
"Or I guess he could do that," Fishlegs said, his voice a nervous squeak as he spotted Ryker's imposing shadow from behind the corner. The outside light cast his silhouette, enlarged and ominous, against the cave wall as he seemingly entered alone.
"Dragon Riders!" Ryker's booming voice echoed through the cavern. "Send out your leader to talk."
The riders looked at each other, slightly surprised by the direct challenge. "It's gotta be a trap," Astrid stated, her jaw clenched. "I should go out. See what their game is." She suggested rashly, already taking a step forward.
"Yeah, let Astrid go," Snotlout quickly agreed, subtly pushing her forward.
"Hiccup Haddock! Let's talk this out, like men!" Ryker demanded, punctuating his challenge with a loud clink as he struck his massive sword into the solid ice floor.
"Oh! I don't like the sound of that," Fishlegs whimpered, visibly shrinking.
"If there's one chance to settle this without bloodshed, I have to try," Hiccup said, pulling out his shield and securing it on his arm.
He began walking around the corner and towards Ryker. Toothless attempted to follow, a low growl rumbling in his chest. "No, bud. If this is a trap, I may need you to get me out of it," Hiccup gently, but firmly, shot down his advance.
"Word of advice, open with a compliment," Tuffnut suggested, oblivious to the gravity of the situation, as Hiccup continued forward, stopping in view of both Ryker and the hidden Dragon Riders.
The muffled crunch of Ryker stomping his boot against the snow-covered ground outside the cave could be heard. "Hmm. Dagur was right." He hummed, a predatory gleam in his eye. "You don't look like much." He snarked, a sneer twisting his lips.
"Astrid was right. You look like a psycho," Hiccup snarked back in retort, his own jaw set defiantly.
"Not exactly the compliment I would have led with," Tuffnut commented to no one in particular, shaking his head.
Cinderwing began to scale the icy cave wall with silent, deliberate movements, until he hung upside down on the rough ceiling, his dark form barely visible against the shadows. "What are you doing?" Toothless questioned Cinderwing, his ears swiveling to look up at him, as did the other dragons and their riders.
Cinderwing tilted his head to look down at him, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Recon," He answered simply, his voice a low rumble. As he slowly and stealthily moved across the cave roof, flat against the ice, Stormfly reprimanded him firmly, slightly annoyed at his lone-wolf antics when it came to sneaking around. "Elaborate."
Cinderwing gave a dismissive gesture towards the ceiling. "You'd think that would be obvious." He said with a hint of sass. "I'm going to sneak outside." Stormfly reluctantly conceded, a soft huff escaping her.
Ryker chuckled, a low, guttural sound, at Hiccup's defiant response. "What do you want, Ryker?" Hiccup asked, dropping his shield to rest against his prosthetic leg, his stance casual but wary. Cinderwing, meanwhile, continued his slow crawl across the ceiling, flattening himself as much as possible against the shadows.
"The Dragon Eye," Ryker answered, his voice devoid of humor.
"Not a chance," Hiccup denied immediately, his resolve firm.
"It belongs to us, the Hunters," Ryker rebutted, his voice rising in volume. "You stole it from our ship." He pointed a thick, accusing finger at Hiccup. "And I will have it back." He added threateningly, clenching his fist, knuckles white.
"Not today, you won't," Hiccup rebuffed, a flicker of defiance in his eyes. Cinderwing's scales lightly crackled with internal lightning as he entered his cloaked state, his form shimmering slightly before becoming almost invisible, allowing him to move across the cave roof a bit faster.
"Oh, no? Look around." Ryker began, gesturing expansively with an open hand around the cave's entrance. "We're in front of you. The Snowwraith is behind you." He pointed a finger towards the deeper part of the cavern. "One time offer. Hand over the Dragon Eye and you're free to go." He affirmed, a smug smile spreading across his face.
Hiccup slapped his hands against his pants, patting his pockets with an exaggerated air of searching. "Hm. Uh... Sorry. I must have left it in my other pants," He quipped, crossing his arms with a feigned sheepishness.
Cinderwing chortled softly, a barely audible rumble in his cloaked form, as he moved directly above Ryker. From his vantage point, he spotted a hunter with a bow and arrow lurking behind a corner, out of Hiccup's line of sight, with Heather and Windshear not too far away behind him.
Ryker growled, his face darkening. "In that case, surrender and you won't meet the same fate as your dragons." He demanded, his voice dropping ominously as the hidden hunter chuckled quietly, shifting his weight.
"Okay, here's my offer." Hiccup retorted, his voice unwavering. "Leave now and your men won't have to find out what burning flesh smells like." Ryker sighed, a frustrated exhale. Unnoticed by Hiccup, he subtly switched his tone, his hands moving to his hips in a casual, almost conversational pose.
"You really don't have the Dragon Eye with you?" Ryker asked, an unnatural calm settling over his words. The hunter raised his bow and drew the arrow back, aiming precisely at Hiccup.
"No," Hiccup replied, his gaze sharp on Ryker, missing the hidden threat.
"And, you aren't coming out?" Ryker asked, his voice still unnaturally calm, a dangerous quiet.
"Not any time soon," Hiccup narrowed his eyes, a flicker of suspicion finally crossing his face. Ryker sighed, a long, drawn-out sound of resignation.
"Don't say I didn't give you a chance." Ryker bent down to grab his sword. Just as the hunter was about to shoot Hiccup, Windshear subtly, yet effectively, tail-whipped a Dragon Hunter holding a lantern, knocking him down with a surprised grunt. The lantern clattered to the icy floor, its light reflecting off the ice in a blinding flash, causing the hunter with the bow to instinctively turn his head away with a curse. "My eyes!" he grunted, his shadow enlarged and distorted by the chaotic light, revealing his precise position.
"Hiccup, it's a trap!" Astrid exclaimed, her voice ringing out, allowing Hiccup to instinctively kick up his shield, holding it just in time to block the arrow shot by the now-disoriented hunter.
Another hunter, a burly figure with a grim expression, immediately joined the first, both unleashing a flurry of arrows towards the riders. Stormfly, with a defiant shriek, flared her tail spines, sending a volley of sharp projectiles whistling back at their attackers.
Simultaneously, Meatlug lumbered forward and shot a concentrated lava blast at the hunters' feet, causing the ice to sizzle and crack. Toothless, with incredible agility, sprung off the icy wall, firing a plasma blast mid-air, its purple glow illuminating the chaotic scene.
(Scene break)
Cinderwing was now outside, a silent observer. He watched as Ryker angrily pulled Heather aside, dragging her by the arm, his grip tight. Windshear's eyes narrowed, a protective glint in their depths.
"I saw that." Ryker snarled, his voice low and dangerous. "You did that on purpose." He accused, his frustration evident.
Heather pulled her arm from his grip, her gaze unwavering. "Of course I did." She retorted with equal intensity. "How many times do Dagur and I have to tell you that Hiccup is more valuable alive than dead?" She argued, her voice rising slightly.
Ryker pondered her argument for a moment. "Maybe you're right, Heather." He slowly agreed, a reluctant nod. "Maybe Hiccup can be helpful to us." He concluded, a new, cunning glint entering his eyes. "Shoot the cave." He suddenly ordered, his tone abrupt.
Heather, taken aback, immediately questioned his motives. "What?"
"Have your animal shoot the cave." He emphasized, pointing a thick finger at the cave entrance. "Why?" Heather asked, confusion and concern etched on her face. "Just do it!" He demanded with a burst of frustration.
Cinderwing, sensing the immediate danger, quickly moved away from the cave entrance, flattening himself against the snow. "Windshear." Heather patted her dragon's shoulder, a silent confirmation. Windshear unleashed a concentrated stream of bluish-white fire, a searing ribbon of flame, at the cave roof. The ice fractured with a deafening crack, and the entrance collapsed in a cascade of snow, rock, and ice, trapping the Dragon Riders inside.
Ryker chuckled, a satisfied, chilling sound. "Let's move!" He commanded, and the hunters began moving towards another side of the plateau, their figures fading into the swirling whiteout. Cinderwing, cloaked and unseen, followed silently, his keen eyes fixed on their retreat.
(Scene break)
On a lower part of the plateau, Cinderwing watched as Ryker slid his hand across the icy wall, tapping his finger, listening for a hollow surface.
He stopped, kneeled down, placed a hand on the ground and tapped. "Here." He moved to another spot, pointing his sword at the ground. "And here." Hunters immediately began to chisel away at the ice. Heather then walked up to Ryker. "You want to tell me what you're doing?" Ryker turned and walked back the other way, a dismissive wave of his hand. "No."
Cinderwing, meanwhile, carefully picked off one of Windshear's metallic, blade-like tail spines. Windshear flinched, pulling her tail away, looking around for what touched her, only to find nothing but faint, barely noticeable paw prints that she assumed were from the Dragon Hunters roaming around.
As the hunters chipped away at the ice, two Snowwraiths burst out, disoriented, with one holding its third dazed companion in its claws. "Fire!" Ryker grinned, a triumphant sneer on his face, as his men swiftly shot down the dragons with dragon root arrows. The majestic creatures thudded to the ground, subdued, before being locked up in sturdy cages and moved down the plateau towards their waiting ship on large wooden flatbed carts.
Cinderwing could feel his cloaked state beginning to fade, the internal lightning losing its crackle. He quickly launched into the air as he became visible, with only the diminishing snowstorm providing a veil against detection.
As Cinderwing followed the Hunters to their ship, his keen eyes spotted a fairly large ice sheet perched precariously above the path not too far away. As the snowstorm began to die down, he flew ahead of the Hunters and landed silently on the treacherous ice sheet. 'I could cause an avalanche if I hit the right spot,' he mused, a cunning plan forming in his mind.
Once the storm had completely subsided, he spotted the Dragon Riders flying in, not far behind the hunters, their forms stark against the clearing sky.
Cinderwing launched into the air and prepared a plasma beam, aiming precisely for where the ice sheet connected to the mountain. He fired, and with a thunderous roar, the massive sheet fractured, collapsing into a churning avalanche.
The dragons and their riders flew alongside him. "Great idea, Cinder!" Hiccup exclaimed, his voice cutting through the rumbling snow. "Aww!" The twins groaned in unison. "I wanted to cause an avalanche." Tuffnut complained, pouting.
Tremors from the cascading ice could be felt by those on the ground. The Dragon Hunters scrambled to get away from the falling chunks, their frantic escape causing the guards watching the captive Snowwraiths to abandon their posts. The caged dragons remained unharmed, nestled amidst the chaos.
Ryker looked up as a large chunk of ice hurtled towards him, but with a casual, almost arrogant step to the side, he avoided it. The massive ice fragment wedged itself deeply into the ground, and Ryker looked up at the Dragon Riders, his face contorted in a growl of pure anger.
"You guys get the Snowwraiths out of here!" Hiccup called out, his voice firm. "I'll deal with Ryker." He added, as Toothless banked sharply and flew towards Ryker. Stormfly, Hookfang, and Meatlug, meanwhile, swiftly grabbed the caged dragons and took off, their powerful wings beating against the icy air.
Cinderwing inspected the spine he had snatched from Windshear, careful not to cut himself on its lethal edge. 'The Razorwhip's tail spines are the sharpest in the known dragon world,' he mused, the spine's metallic silver sheen catching the light.
'Sharp enough to even cut through dragon-proof metal with enough force. I suppose that's why beauty is dangerous,' he added thoughtfully, carefully holding the razor-sharp spine between his teeth, extending them from his gums to avoid injury.
He hovered a few feet away from Toothless, who had begun to chase after Windshear. Heather, mounted on her Razorwhip, had evidently told her to snatch Ryker off the ground to make their escape.
Cinderwing, already knowing the outcome of that particular chase, decided not to follow. Instead, he turned and flew towards the other dragon riders to check on the Snowwraiths, his priorities shifting to the rescued dragons.
Cinderwing landed next to the caged dragon, observing Fishlegs being his usual kind self, attempting to check the Snowwraiths for injuries. He tried and failed due to their aggressiveness – caused not only by being drawn out of their den but also by being shot, captured, and caged by the Hunters. The dazed Snowwraiths feebly gnawed at the dragon-proof bars.
Stormfly, now riderless as Astrid had hopped off to help Fishlegs before Cinderwing even landed, trotted towards him, stopping in front of him with a nearly unreadable expression. Cinderwing stood upright on his hind legs to match her natural height, tilting his head innocently.
He could tell what she felt: it was her unique blend of upset and worry, secretly relieved that he was okay – an expression she always wore whenever he did something seemingly reckless. Stormfly huffed. "Why do you keep doing things like this alone?" She rumbled softly, her melodic voice cracking slightly.
Cinderwing sighed, a soft smile playing on his muzzle. "It's just how I do things, Birdie."
Stormfly ruffled her wings at his response. "Why can't you tell us when you're going to do something like that?" Her tone carried genuine worry. "Why can't you tell me?" She added, almost pleadingly, her voice conveying an affection deeper than mere friendship.
"I don't know. I... [sighs in defeat] Listen, Stormfly, I've lived alone on Dragon's Edge, and many other islands, for a long time." Cinderwing explained solemnly, a touch of loneliness in his voice as he looked up at the dwindling stars.
"No matter how outgoing and enthusiastic I may seem, I've always had to do things alone. I've even killed other dragons before to defend myself," He continued, his draconic memories resurfacing as he spoke. "Night Furies are meant to live in packs, even if that pack is made up of multiple dragon species. We are social creatures, and while we can bear solitude, when you've been alone as long as I have... it becomes more difficult to fully return to a group of dragons and not do things solo." His eyes held a glimmer of frustration.
"Even if this pack has a dragon as beautiful as you." He added with a suave smile. A blush spread across Stormfly's face as she fidgeted nervously, her tail spines flaring involuntarily as her tail wagged.
She took a deep breath and attempted to suppress her blush, fighting the urge to smile. She lightly nuzzled her nose against his affectionately. "Just... please tell me the next time you're about to run off and do something dangerous alone."
Cinderwing hesitated, before returning the gesture with equal affection. "I'll try to. I promise." He whispered.
"Stormfly!" Astrid called out. "Come on girl, we need to catch up with Hiccup."
Before Stormfly left, she turned back to Cinderwing. "Let's continue this when we get home... Shadow." Cinderwing raised a brow. "The nickname is something to be worked on." He commented.
She huffed sassily in response as Astrid mounted her saddle, before flying off towards Hiccup and Toothless.
Cinderwing silently chuckled, knowing that the secret of Heather being a spy would surely come out by tonight, fully expecting Astrid to get chewed out for keeping said secret. He and the remaining riders and dragons awaited their return so that they could relocate the Snowwraiths.
(End)
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I'm finally done, I swear it feels like the httyd chapters are harder to make.
Please let me know how you liked it.