Howling Echoes - A How to Train Your Dragon Story, The Echoes, Book 1

Chapter 82: The First Raid

   "The scouts reported Trappers off the south side of the island."  Hiccup said.

   "So now it's finally time to put all of that training to good use,"  Astrid added.

   Our first raid!  We had spent WEEKS practicing (although we still aren't the best at it) and I was SO EXCITED!  Dagur and I had also had become slightly closer through the training, and Frostflake WOULD NOT GIVE ME A BREAK.  

   

   We approached the ship at the perfect hour; it was mostly dark, extremely early in the morning, and shrouded by fog that sent chills down my back.

   Hiccup and Toothless landed on the ship with a loud thump.  Great job being stealthy, guys.  I mentally noted as Frostflake and I landed, Frostflake's eyes shining in the darkness.  

   The other Riders landed.  "No, guys, you have to wait a little bit later.  You're here for cover fire and to keep track of the rescued dragons, remember?"  Hiccup said.  I frowned.  "I also remember never agreeing to that plan,"  I said, dismounting and rushing over to a purple Deadly Nadder's cage.  I slid the lock and opened the door.  "Ssh, ssh, we're gonna get you out of here,"  I whispered, waving to where Meatlug and Fishlegs were waiting.

   "Thanks."  The Deadly Nadder rawked.  "Any day,"  I replied absentmindedly, already moving on to a blue-and-yellow Montorous Nightmare.  I opened the cage in the same way, and suddenly the dragon rammed into Astrid with a roar of happiness.  Astrid's gaze lit up with surprise.

   "Ssh, ssh."  I scolded the two.  "Hello, I'm Sagefruit, this is my friend and you don't hush me."  Snarled the Nightmare, flaming up.  "Seriously, we can't attract the attention of the Trappers..."  I tried, attempting to calm him down.  

   I quickly moved on as Astrid calmed Sagefruit down (terrible name for that dragon, by the way).  I opened a cage with a pack of Terrible Terrors, who replied by snatching up a piece of meat I was saving for lunch.  "Hey!"  I growled quietly, almost silently.  "That one was mine!  Gah,"   I shook my head and moved on.

   I had freed three Snow Wraiths (the same ones from Glacier Island, so we reunited swiftly), two Changewings, a Shadowwing and a Slitherwing, who thanked me by not killing me and flying back to her own island on her own.  Venom Fang was a great name for her.

   "Attack!"  I gasped, hearing the battle cry.  Suddenly, an axe came down toward me through the mist.  I swiftly drew my sword and blocked their axe, parrying it blow for blow until the Trapper kicked my legs out from under me.  I scrambled to get up, but he kicked me back down and raised his axe again.  To my surprise, Dagur was there in an instant, using his axe to hit the Hunter away with a fierce battle cry.

   I kicked a Trapper in the stomach who was coming at me and twisted another's arm while Frostflake swung two hunters into the ones that Snotlout and Dagur were fighting side-by-side with her tail.  "Aw yeah!"  Snotlout laughed, opening the cage next to him.

   I was getting slightly overwhelmed by the number of Trappers on me, which is why I was grateful when Frostflake flew threw the mist and froze a few.  A few meaning more like a couple dozen, and a couple dozen meaning more like half.

   I blocked a Trapper's blow with my sword and ran him back to the guy behind him, jerking my head back to hit a Trapper that had grabbed me in the nose.  I kicked the legs out from several Trappers at once, but another one hit me.  He raised his mace, but Frostflake snatched it out of his hands and flung it toward his rear, making him collapse and yell in pain.

   I turned and ran to open up the last cage, a Night Terror, who fled to Dragon's Edge.  Maybe it won't be so forgotten, after all,  I thought sadly, waves of memories from Whiplash rushing through my head like the strongest tsunami.

   I jumped over the edge of the deck and Frostflake quickly snatched me up.  "You really need to stop doing that."  She commented.  I laughed.  "Nope!"  We flew back to Berk, with a herd of colorful dragons by our side.