For the past hour, Hiccup and Toothless had been soaring aimlessly over sea stacks.

Edon wasn't far off, but through the fog, it was very feint.

The two of them were the only ones hovering about, just the way they liked it.

Frankly, the last thing Hiccup wanted was for his friends to wander where he is and follow him.

They must probably be worried, but they know him well enough that he had a habit for sneaking out unexpectedly.

Today had been quite eventful, he had to admit.

So being up here with just his scaly companion was a nice break from it all.

No matter how long they stayed in the sky, Hiccup's mind replayed everything Megadon told him and the entire village.

For a Viking living in a peaceful tribe, Megadon seemed such a shady, unnerving character.

His resentment towards Night Furies did send tingles up Hiccup's spine.

What sparked Hiccup's suspicion was the man's history with the chief, and possibly the Night Furies.

Has he ever encountered one? Were the scars on his neck actually from a Night Fury?

If a Night Fury had attacked him, then there must have been a good explanation.

Hiccup thought the man must have provoked the Night Fury to attack. Perhaps that was what led to the scars, thus his vengeance for the so-called 'unholy offspring of lightning and death.'

A loud croon from his companion broke Hiccup out of his thoughts.

He peered down to see his reptilian friend with a worried expression.

"I know you're worried about me," Hiccup smiled, gently stroking the dark dragon's head, "But trust me, bud. I'm fine,"

Toothless glanced up at his rider, letting out an apprehensive grunt.

His rider had a way with bottling up his emotions. So it was obvious the young Viking was troubled about something.

Being Hiccup's close companion, Toothless knew his rider well, especially when he was bothered.

It wasn't just this afternoon Toothless suspect something was up.

All day today, the young Viking had been nothing but distracted.

Hel, the boy was clumsy enough to cut his arm, even if it was unintentionally.

Indeed, the cut had made the boy wince in pain.

Luckily, Night Fury saliva really does the trick.

Hiccup closed his eyes, enjoying the breeze calmingly nip on his pale freckled face.

He blinks his eyes open to find dusk was slowly creeping its way in.

Up ahead, the sun was slowly beginning to set with its luminous rays shedding its remains of light.

Realising they had been flying for some time, Hiccup knew it would be time to head home.

Besides, his friends, and Bjorn must probably be anxious of his absence.

Hiccup's stomach growled; a sign he needed something to eat.

The last time he ate was around midday.

Hiccup leaned forward, gently patting his dragon.

"Well, bud, I think we should-'' he was suddenly distracted by a hunched shape sprawled on a beach nearby.

The auburn haired teen furrowed his brows, frowning.

"What is that?"

Toothless grunted in confusion. He cast his gaze towards a secluded beach connected to a lone island.

There he saw something in the sand, bounded in ropes.

From up here, Toothless could hardly tell what it was.

A troubling feeling twisted in Hiccup's stomach as both rider and dragon moved towards the island.

"Take us closer, bud," Hiccup instructed.

The Night Fury did what was obliged. Slowly, he swooped closer towards the beach.

As they came in close, that's when the pair got a closer look at the shape.

Bounded in ropes, covered in flakes of sand was a dragon.

There it lay on the beach, abandoned and helpless.

Judging by its impressive whale-like features, it was most possibly a Thunder Drum.

The Tidal class dragon was covered in beautiful pearl blue scales that shimmered in the light.

Chains and ropes were bounded around the dragon.

It looked hurt and completely helpless that it could be dehydrated. Yet, Hiccup didn't know how long it had been out in the sun.

The poor dragon seemed to be strangling from the restricted hold.

Tossing and turning violently, the Thunder Drum roared desperate pleas.

Hiccup leapt off Toothless once they landed several paces from the creature.

Cautiously, Hiccup approached the struggling dragon, who was trying to break free from the chains.

One question crept in his mind; who did this?

"Whoa! Easy there, fella," the auburn haired teen lifted a hand, calming down the hurt dragon.

But the Thunder Drum would not stay still.

Instead, it violently kept tossing and turning, roaring in great pain.

When Hiccup crouched down to inspect the Thunder Drum, it viciously snarled at him. As if it had a strong distrust in humans.

It opened its jaws, almost biting the teen's fingers off his hands.

Hiccup flinched, backing away.

Frightened for his rider, Toothless leapt forward in defence.

He gave a snarl to the Thunder Drum, who growled viciously in response.

"Whoa, whoa! It's okay, it's okay," Hiccup gently pushed Toothless aside, who was growling protectively, "I'm okay, bud. There's no scratch on me. The poor guy didn't try to hurt me,"

Toothless crooned at his rider concernedly. His eyes immediately dilated to his usual calmed emerald eyes.

"This poor guy is hurt," Hiccup kneeled down to inspect the downed Thunder Drum, "He obviously needs our help. I am not leaving him until we do,"

He held his arm outstretched, hoping to gain the dragon's trust before he could help him.

Gaining a dragon's trust was vital, based on his experience with Toothless back on Berk.

That was two years ago, and he could not forget it.

"Easy there. I'm not going to hurt you," Hiccup reassured him as the dragon's growl softened, "I'm Hiccup and I'm a friend, trust me. I could never hurt you,"

Toothless watched in awe as his rider tried calming down the Thunder Drum.

The Night Fury did worry for the downed Thunder Drum. After all, it was his kin and he'd do anything to help his own kind. Even if they do try to attack his rider.

"I know you're hurt," Hiccup spoke as the Thunder Drum's growling ceases, "I know you're scared. I don't know who did this, or what did this, but I'm not a threat. I'm here to help you,"

The Thunder Drum tilted his head sideways, his eyes narrowing suspiciously at the human.

He's seen many like this human, doing things to dragons that were truly inhumane and grotesque to witness.

So how could this human be trusted?

Humans have been hurting his kind for centuries, and they would never learn.

However this human didn't seem to be like the rest he's faced.

Once the Thunder Drum calmed down, Hiccup got a closer look at him.

As Hiccup briefly inspected the Tidal class dragon, he gasped at such a horrific sight.

Pierced through his back was an arrow, covered in dark red blood.

No wonder the Thunder Drum had been in pain.

Then to his horror, Hiccup noticed deep red scars slashed across the Thunder Drum's backside.

Hiccup fingered the scars, his green eyes brimming with rage.

"What...Who could've done such a thing?" he croaked, frowning.

"That would be I," a stranger's voice suddenly spoke.

Alarmed, Hiccup whirled around to see five men clothed in chainmail with cloaks covered in shades of green scales.

They wore boots resembling a lot like dragons' feet.

The young Viking eyed their boots closely.

Suspicions rose in his brows, realising what their boots were made of.

Zippleback feet.

Hiccup gasped, backing away slightly.

He knew who these men might possibly be, which made his blood boiled.

One of the men stepped forward, pulling down his hood to reveal the face of a man with scruffy dark brown beard.

His eyes were muddy brown with not much life left in them.

Half of the man's face was burnt, leaving a pinkish white unpleasant sky.

The man did looked intimidating, and the black patch on his left eye could really scare naughty children.

Hiccup assumed the man was the leader of the group and everything about him brought shivers down his spine.

The man moved closer, grinning to reveal his grotesque yellow stained teeth.

Hiccup had to admit, he felt a little threatened.

There was no denying what this man was capable of.

When the man paced closer, Toothless immediately leapt forward, defending his rider.

Startled, the man yelped in surprise. Then he gave a grim smile.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" the man sneered, "A Night Fury? I thought they were extinct. Nobody has seen them in years,"

Toothless' eyes turned to slits. He growled viciously at the man, sensing trouble.

"What price do you offer for this beast?" the man declared, unsheathing his sword.

He pointed his sword towards the Night Fury, who snarled at him.

"Nothing. He's not for sale," Hiccup narrowed his forest-green eyes, "So you did this?"

He pointed to the wounded Thunder Drum.

"You were the one that hurt the Thunder Drum?"

The man chuckled darkly, sheathing his sword.

"Yes. We're dragon hunters. We..." he moved towards the Thunder Drum, pressing a foot firmly on his snout, "kill dragons for our desires; that is profits,"

A desperate roar escaped from the Thunder Drum.

The man then unsheathes his sword and ran the blade along the dragon's flesh.

A deep crimson scar spread across the dragon's face.

Enraged, Hiccup clenched his fists, his teeth grinding.

The man circled around the Thunder Drum.

An evil, disgusting smirk formed along his chapped lips.

"Who are you?" the auburn haired teen fought the courage to speak.

The man stopped in his track, turning to the lanky teen.

"Oh, where are my manners?" the man gave a small curtsy, "The name's Horas the Relentless. Most successful dragon hunter in the archipelago. So you've ever heard of me?"

Hiccup gave the man a deadpanned look. He gave a clueless shrug.

"No idea who you are," he crossed his arms, letting out a sigh, "Probably somebody I couldn't care less about. You know what; you're probably some pathetic nobody sunken to the bottom of the food chain,"

Horas gawked at the lanky teen, bemused. He growled, his thin patience driving him on the edge.

In most situations, Hiccup would rely on his sarcasm to get through. Though, his sarcasm and snarky remarks did pissed off so many people, including his father.

Hiccup gave the man a massive eye roll.

"Look, I obviously know who you are," Hiccup's voice transitioned to a serious tone, "I've heard about what you do and your purpose in life; hunting dragons for profits," he stepped closer, his face scrunched with disgust, "That just shows how unimaginative you are. I mean, keeping dragons and selling them for fashion?"

Hiccup pointed to the men's boots, who grunted in response.

"Selling them to make profits? Wow. That's real low. Surely you could come up with something better,"

The sarcasm in his voice dripped like venom, which seem to confused and irate most of Horas' men.

Horas growled at the snarky teen. He unsheathed his sword and pointed it threateningly at the boy.

Hiccup flinched by the touch of the blade on his neck.

Now, he realised what kind of trouble he had gotten himself into.

"Don't play childish games with me, boy," Horas sneered, his foul breath brushed against Hiccup's face, "Just what in Thor's name do you think you are doing?"

Hiccup's anxious green eyes fell on Horas' blade. He then shoved it aside and let out a breath.

"I'm telling you what you're doing is despicable, demented and completely disgusting," Hiccup spat, narrowing his eyes.

Horas exchanged looks with his men, letting out a dark chuckle.

He immediately turned back to Hiccup, drawing his sword closer to his neck.

"I do what I want," he sneered, his eyes filled with rage, "I am Horas the Relentless; best hunter on the archipelago. I make tons of gold by decapitating a dragon's head for a helmet. And..." he peered over at Toothless, grinning, "your Night Fury would be worth tons,"

Toothless stepped forward, growling viciously at Horas.

Gently, Hiccup backed him away, not wanting his companion to get involved.

The auburn-haired teen glared icily at Horas.

"I am Hiccup Haddock and I don't approve of dragon hunting," he said distastefully, "What you're doing is hardly sporting at all. I won't let you get away with this,"

Horas and his men exchanged funny looks. He then paced around both Night Fury and rider, hands behind his back.

He let out a snort, oblivious to everything the boy said.

"Your Night Fury would be worth a fortune," Horas motioned to the growling Night Fury, "How much would you take? I am open for any price. Just say the word,"

He swung his head, chuckling darkly.

"The skin of that Night Fury would look fetching as a coat,"

Hiccup shook his head in disapproval. He quickly grabbed out his shield; then positioned himself to defend.

"I don't think so. Like I said, he's not for sale," he announced.

Horas chuckled silently to himself. Then his eyes cast over Hiccup's prosthetic, his brow rose suspiciously.

"How did you get such a battle wound?" Horas' eyes then widened in realisation. He let out a mocked laugh, "Wait, are you the one who brought-''

"Now, Toothless. Plasma blast!" Hiccup commanded.

Horas growled at the lanky teen. He then turned to his men barking commands.

"Get them, lads! Both of them! They are not leaving here unharmed,"

Nodding, the men charged forward, unsheathing their swords and letting out mighty war cries.

Toothless advanced on the men, releasing lethal plasma blasts.

Two men got knocked down, which the rest were charged forward.

Men launched towards the young Viking, who managed to block them with his shield.

Unsheathing his sword, Hiccup fiddled around with the handle's mechanism.

Flames engulfed the blade and to his advantage, Hiccup swung it around, defending him against the men.

The sword, which he referred to as 'Inferno' could retractably switch from the flames of a Monstrous Nightmare to the gas of a Hideous Zippleback.

Just with a fiddle of the handle.

It was used as a device to gain dragons' trust, by assuring them he was not a threat.

On the other hand, it was also used to frighten off any incoming enemy.

Alarmed, the men backed away, trembling.

Hiccup clicked his sword to its ordinary state. He then pulled the centre of his shield, which instantly transformed to a multifunction contraption, which resembled a cross bow.

With grunt, Hiccup released a bola, knocking down some of the men.

"Come on, bud. Let's get out of here," Hiccup urged, mounting on his companion.

He gave a look at the pity to the wounded Thunder Drum.

Part of him wanted to help it; however, he did fear he would be risking his own safety.

Horas and his men were relentless, Hiccup would give them that.

At times like this, perhaps it was best to leave it be.

Toothless gave a concerned groan at the Thunder Drum.

"I know, I know, bed," Hiccup drew a crestfallen breath, "He's wounded and I want to held him. But it isn't safe here. We need to go. Now,"

Horas groggily rose up after being knocked down. He straightened his clothes, dusting off debris, while he muttered something bitterly.

He glared at the retreating Night Fury and Viking.

"Oh, no. You're not getting away that easily," Horas murmured bitterly.

Grabbing out his bola, he swung it with great force. Then with an effortless grunt, he tossed the bola, aiming it for the Night Fury.

The sound of the fired bola was enough to jolt Hiccup out of his place.

"Toothless, look out!" Hiccup yelled as the bola advanced on them.

As the bola came in close, Toothless shot a plasma blast.

The bola incinerated, the ropes attached completely crumbled to pieces.

"Nice shot, bud!" Hiccup whopped with joy, "Now, let's get out of here before they try to do anything else,"

Toothless blasted a plasma ball in the sky.

Quickly, he accelerated his speed, leaving the hunters grumbling in defeat.

Once they were out of ear shot, Hiccup peered at the island.

"I sure hope we won't get to see those guys again," he murmured, sighing.

Toothless glanced over at the Thunder Drum. He let out a worried moan.

"I know. I want to help him too," Hiccup hunched his shoulders, letting out a crestfallen breath, "But there is nothing we can do now. I'm sorry,"

Guilt wrenched in his heart. He knew he could have saved the poor Thunder Drum when he had the chance.

But he had no idea what these hunters were capable of. They were a ruthless bunch, and if he provoked them, then that would be unpleasant.

Sometimes, a downed dragon must meet a horrible fate.

-JenniferTjandrajana