Through A Dragon's Eye (A Httyd Fanfiction)

Chapter Twelve: Old Enemies

The tall man before me sneers, showing a row of missing teeth. A black eye patch covers his left eye and his brown hair is closely cropped, making him easily recognizable as Tolrock, one of my many enemies. He is probably one of the most brutal out of my foes. He hunts dragons as a sport, not really for the money. I still remember the day I first met him...

It was around seven years ago at the Northern Markets where, for once, I was trading with the people who were set up on the island instead of the trade boats. I was looking for fabric for a new sail on my boat. While I was searching through the fine fabrics, Tolrock came up to me with a few of his men. His men all wore dark green coats with hoods, perfect to camouflage in the undergrowth. He had asked, "What's a girl like you doing in a man's trading center? Getting pretty fabric for pretty skirts?"

His men had laughed and I growled deep in my throat. "Get lost," I had said, trying to contain my anger.

"Oh no, the little girl is so scary," said Tolrock, mocking me. His men had laughed cruelly, making the anger inside of me come to a boil. Coolly paying the man selling the fabrics, I had whipped around, taking out my daggers.

"Mock me again and you'll see what a 'little girl' can do with her daggers," I had replied.

Tolrock had looked uncertain for a split second, but he laughed it off and said, "I doubt you can even use those daggers."

"Try me," I growled. The truth was, I wasn't that good with my daggers yet. But, I was hoping their shocking power would be enough.

Before he could respond, one of his men had come rushing over, saying, "Your weapons are ready for the hunt tonight."

"The hunt?" I had asked, lowering my daggers slightly. My curiosity had overcome my caution. "What are you hunting?"

"Dragons," Tolrock had smoothly replied. It was that moment in which I had snapped. I had never met someone who hunted dragons before that day and it came as quite a shock that anyone would try and hurt the majestic beasts. Yelling, I had charged at Tolrock, with no form of attack except to hit him or one of his Hunters, daggers at the ready. He had easily avoided my first attack, so the second time I head for one of his men. I stabbed him with my daggers, but he blocked them with his sword. An electrical shock had gone through him, causing him to collapse. At this point, Tolrock was backing away, still guarded by his men.

As I was still fuming with rage, but reason had overcome it.. barely.. and I had decided to also back away slowly. Looking back, I realize I had probably looked like a coward as I ran away, back to my boat. However, I was redeemed as on the night of Tolrock's hunt, all the dragons mysteriously disappeared...

Ever since that day, I have protected dragons from both natural threats and bad vikings. And I've frequently stopped the dragon hunts, more so than any other hurtful operation. So, Tolrock and I have met on more than one occasion...

So, Tolrock is standing right in front of me isn't the happiest of reunions. "Hey, Tolrock," I say nervously, slowly getting to my feet. "Long time no see."

He grins at me with an evil glint in his brown eye. "Yes. I'm surprised you managed to get in. And I'm guessing it was you who freed the famous Dragon Riders? Very impressive, even for you."

I shrug, stepping back a little. "It was really quite easy. They should have better defenses." As I speak, I try putting more distance between me and Tolrock without him noticing. My hand still clutches my dagger, ready to use it.

"I wouldn't move back anymore if I were you," says Tolrock.

"Why not?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

"Because if you move, there will be an arrow stuck in you before you can speak," he says. I slowly turn my head and notice one of Tolrock's men patiently pointing an arrow at my head.

I laugh. "Come on; you know I can easily avoid a measly little arrow." Please don't put that to the test. Please don't put that to the test...

"What about a knife?" asks Tolrock. I'm about to ask what he means when I feel cold steel pressed against my throat. My eyes widen in surprise. How did he sneak up on me?

I glare at Tolrock. "Ok, fine. You win. Now, what is it that you want?"

"First, drop your daggers," he says.

"Never..." I start to say when the knife presses harder into my throat. "Fine," I say, an idea forming in my head. I release the dagger in my hand, causing it to fall on the man who-has-a-knife-on-my-throat's foot. He yelps in pain and drops to the floor, instantly unconscious. I quickly reach down, grab my dagger, and run away into the bushes, pulling back on my hood. I look up into the sky as I run and see Hiccup and Astrid disappearing around the side of the rocky mountain on the back of their dragons. I smile at my accomplishment and keep running, hoping Tolrock isn't following me.

My heart beats wildly as I stop to take a breath. Hearing no sound of pursuit, I relax a little. Now that I am far enough away to be safe, I try to think about what to do next. The best option would probably be to find Hiccup, Astrid, Tuffnut, and Dagur so we could free the other riders, I muse. Unless, of course, Tuffnut and Dagur have already managed to free them. So, right now I should find Hiccup and Astrid and make sure they are ok.

With a plan now in my head, I head off to find Hiccup and Astrid. Remembering they had gone around the mountain, I head in that direction. As I walk, I realize how small the island really is. It is easy to access any part of the island as everything is so close together. And, of course, riding on a dragon is even faster.

I get to the other side of the mountain in record time, yet I am worried Hiccup and Astrid have already flown off. It's not like I told them to meet here or anything and they are sure to be worried about the other riders. I am looking around, searching for any signs of life when I hear a roar from the top of the mountain; a roar that sounds all too familiar. "Toothless," I breathe, rushing towards the sound. Toothless roars again and I can faintly hear an explosion, probably from Toothless's plasma blast.

My feet pound against hard stone as I climb my way up the mountain, following the sound of Toothless's roar. I can tell I am getting closer since Toothless's roar gets louder and I can hear his plasma shots clearer. My hair stands on end the closer I get to Toothless which is weird since no storm is in sight. As I get closer I can also hear the faint crackle of lightning and something else...

Tuffnut? I wonder. What's he doing here. The closer I get, the clearer Tuffnut's words are.

"This is amazing!" I faintly hear him whoop. A weight lifts off my shoulders as I hear him say this.

But then, the weight comes crashing down again as I hear Hiccup faintly say, "Don't worry Tuff, we'll save you!"

I climb quickly up onto a ledge and my eyes widen at the sight that greets me. "What have I done?" I mutter.