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Chapter Text

This is Berk. It's twelve days north of Hopeless, and a few degrees south of Freezing to Death. It's located solidly on the Meridian of Misery. Perched on the side of a mountain, lies a village of formidable Vikings . They have fishing, hunting and a charming view of the sunsets. The only problems are the pests. You see, most places have mice or mosquitoes. They have... Dragons.

Having settled here for seven generations and after weathering a multitude of dragon raids, the villagers have demonstrated their fortitude against hardships. During the feud between the Vikings and dragons, despite being on Berk for over seven generations, every single building is new because of the continuous war.

Along that, through the never-ending war between the two sides, hundreds of Vikings had fallen in battle throughout the generations, leaving the population small. And with the raids taking away more of their provisions and resources, the village suffers greatly.

As such, it was made clear that they'll all be killed off and their village will be left in ruin.

The Chief of Berk, Toshinori the Vast of the Yagi Tribe and chosen Heir by the late Chieftess, Nana of the Shimura Tribe before dying in battle, had resumed the continuous war between Vikings and dragons for over thirty Winters. From when he'd completed his dragon training and was given the honor on killing his first dragon in front of the village and his successor to this very day, he had fought and killing hundreds, even thousands , of dragons, alongside many of his Shield-Brothers and Shield-Sisters who many had fallen in battle and had rejoined Nana in Valhalla, or could no longer wield a weapon and are reduced to either blacksmithing weapons, foragers, aiding the injured, or training new recruits who are of age to start dragon training.

Here on Berk, killing a dragon is everything to the village. As such, all who prove their worths in fighting and killing dragons, are considered heroes in the village. And one day, Thor shall grant them strength to kill off their enemies and put an end to this never-ending war of bloodshed.

...

...What they never expected to being the answer to ending the feud, would come from two unlikely unfortunate souls, who were cast aside by them for not being like the rest of them.

...

...

...For being born, as Hiccups.

"Katsuki, above you!"

"Yeah, yeah! I see it, Spiky-Hair!"

A violet-colored Deadly Nadder charged down from above, extending their talons to grab both of them... Only to end up having one of the wings sliced off from the whitish-blonde boy's axe and when it struggled to get back to its feet, the red-hair teen finished it off by hitting it in the head with a mace and crushing its skull from the force.

Blood sprayed the two, which the two Shield-Brothers didn't minded in the least and, in fact, relish to be painted in the blood of their enemy they killed.

"Hey, you two!"

Running towards them from behind, Ashido ran in. A spear in her hand, covered in blood and panting from running and fighting.

"Come quick! They found the hidden barn we hid the female sheep and younglings in!" She informed, pointing her spear in the direction she came from.

Both of the boys cursed at the news and quickly took off into sprints, leaving Ashido behind to catch her breath before rejoining them.

When they got there, they see a dark-brown Monsterous Nightmare setting itself on fire, fighting against Satō and Tokoyami, while a few Deadly Nadder try to grab the frightened sheeps from Hagakure, Jirō and Kōda.

"Hey, you burning Bastard!" Bakugō yelled, throwing his axe for its head to stun it, resulting its fire to stop and giving Tokoyami a chance to toss his bullhook to pin one of its horns to the ground keep it still long enough for Satō to cut its head off.

As soon as they saw the Monstrous Nightmare die, the three Nadders decided to save their lives than take the risk on Bakugō and his group and left, leaving the sheep with the human.

The herbivores bleated in fear, trembling from nearly being grabbed and a few attempted to run for the woods, but all seemed unharmed and the group grabbed the runaways before they could escape.

"Thanks for the help, Bakugō." Satō gasped out, a bit out of breath from fighting for hours throughout the night.

The older-boy scoffed at his gratitude, as he went to collect his axe.

"Next time, you won't be lucky and I won't be around to save your sorry asses." He growled, sounding very much a warning and reminder that they're now fighting in a war that they can die.

Still, that didn't prevent the others to glare at his criticism.

Coming up from behind them, Ashido joined in and heard what the oldest of the group just said.

"While we're grateful that you and Eijiro came to our aid, you don't have to be so rude, Katsuki." Ashido argued, picking up a sheep that tried to run off. "You know how dangerous a Monsterous Nightmare is to take down. You would have difficulty taking one down on your own, while trying to protect the sheep."

The older-teen simply glared at the sandy-blonde, tan-skinned viking, but didn't argue with her when she made a valid point.

"Be that as it may, we need to remember all of our dragon training and use them, efficiently. For most taught us to fight, independently, and rarely involve teamwork." Fumikage countered, retrieving his bullhook and wiping the blood off his face and raven-hair. "However, while it has proven to aid us to win on our part, I feel like those Nadders retreated on purpose."

The others turned to the pale teen.

"What do you mean, Tokoyami?" Hagakure asked, holding on to a little sheep and trying to get it from trying to eat her light-blonde, curly hair. "They may be mindless beats, but even they know when to run away when seeing another dragon being killed right before their eyes. We succeeded in saving the sheep!"

The raven-haired teen looked up at the sky, seeing mixture of smoke and stars.

"Perhaps, but even a flock of birds can organize a well thought out plan, when in search for food or when one of their own is targeted by prey." He replied, brushing his large-bang away from his right-eye when the wind blew.

Then, hearing a cry from a raven, he raised his left-arm into the air, where a raven lands and perches gracefully.

"What brings you here, Dark Shadow?" He asked the bird, stroking its beak and looking all around its body.

Attached to the bird's leg, a note.

Taking the note, he read the letter... And snarled a curse to Loki.

He turned to the others, a bit startled by his curse.

"The Night Fury! It's been spotted!" He hissed, crumpling the note in his fist.

As soon as they heard the name of the dragon, all of the teens forced the sheep back to their hiding place and making sure the door is secured, all took off back to the village.

When they arrived, they found that the large-torches were lit and raised in the air, revealing the flying dragons. Some of the beasts were bound to the ground, either by net or bola that coiled themself around their wings.

A couple were found dead. Killed by the Vikings of Berk... Sadly, a few vikings were found dead. Some of them didn't even have their weapons, but at least they had their shields or even their helmet, a great importance for all warriors to have beside them before they die to ascend to Valhalla.

At one of the watchtowers, they noticed their chief, an axe in hand, fighting off against a lightish-gold Monstrous Nightmare, to prevent it from setting one of their catapults on fire. From the other, they see Hizashi, one of their teachers in Dragon Training, with a few other vikings, shooting down a group of Gronckle that tried to take off with their fishes.

"Hey, you eight!"

Immediately, the eight teens turned and saw their other Dragon Training teacher, Shōta Aizawa, covered in dragon's blood and holding rope-chain around each arm and kunai-like knives connected to his belt, coming their way.

"You got my message. Good. Head for the forge and get ready to assist in fire containment. Higari Maijima and Mei Hatsume have their water transportation devices ready to haul around the village." He instructed. Then, he turned to Kyōka and Kōji. "Jirō, Kōda, we need help at the healing hut. Assist the injured. -Then, to Katsuki.- Bakugō, head for the hidden bola launcher Mei invented at the cliff and when you see a chance, shoot down the Night Fury."

They all know not to argue with their teacher, especially if it's to assist their chief and their village.

Besides, Katsuki had been practicing for this very moment to happen. With him being the most skilled Viking in Dragon Slaying and all warriors are needed to fight the dragons, the honor has been giving to him to shoot down the Unholy Offspring of Lightning and Death, itself.

Then, Toshinori will finally avenge his late wife, Inko... And their late son, Izuku.

...

...Plus, her dearest friend: Cindy of the Arashi Tribe, and her unborn child. Both of whom died, the very day his wife and child's clothing were found where the Night Fury left some of its black-scales and found blood on their clothing.

Katsuki faintly remembers the boy his mother tells him to being his little cousin, but only remembered that he was born as a Hiccup and had always teased him whenever he would try to play with him and the other kids.

And while he never regretted treating him like an outsider, he does mourn for his aunt's death and swore to Thor that he would avenge her death... And, yes, Izuku as well.

He, also, remembers glimpses of Cindy, but always thought she was too quiet and weak, even with a round belly. But, she always taught him how to make yummy food and had a kind smile like Inko.

So, he, also, vowed to avenge get death, too. And, her unborn child that would've been his cousin, too.

And so, as his teacher instructed him to do, Katsuki head for the hidden sling to get ready, where said catapult and its supply of bola are waiting for him to shoot down his objective.

As he left, the others left to do their tasks, as well.

Shōta watches his students head for destination, letting out a deep sigh. He was leaving a hefty load on the younger generation, but knew they don't have much of a choice.

And, as Toshinori had told them, all who can wield a weapon, are needed to protect their home.

'Odin, help us.' He prayed, hoping the God of War and Death will hear his plea and let them succeed on bringing down the most dangerous dragon. And, then, find the Nest and destroy it.

At the hidden bola launcher, Katsuki loaded up the bola and pulled back the sling, holding it in place to wait on his mark to shoot.

"Come on. Where are you, you nighttime bastard?" He grumbled, searching throughout the darkness to detect any movement in the sky that isn't any of the common dragons attacking Berk.

So far, all he can see are stars, smokes and a few clouds.

But, none gained his attention to alert him for the Night Fury.

...

...

...Until, a few minutes later.

Screeeeeeeee...!

"Night Fury!"

"Get down!"

His body tensed and his eyes zone out in the air when the screeching grew louder.

...Then, he saw a faint light-purple glow in the sky... Followed by a silhouette of a dragon, as the purple shot straight for one of the catapults on Berk and blasted it to pieces.

Fortunately, the Vikings on the catapult jumped off before the blast and landed safely on the ground.

...

...Bakugō watches the figure swoop around the blaze. giving him the perfect angle to let loose the bola.

"Gotcha!" He hissed, and then released the bola.

The force from the recoil impact did make him jump back a bit, but he was quick to pick himself back up to his feet and see if Thor, Odin and the other Gods offered him aid to hit his target.

...

...

Screeeeeeeeee!

He heard the cry of the dragon in the sky, as it echoes closer to their island.

And knowing for certain that he hit the Night Fury, thanks to the rising of the sun but still dark for a few stars to be out, sees a faint dark-brown color item come diving down with a dark figure. Heading for Ravens Point.

At first, the teen thought Loki was playing tricks with his eyes, but the stinging of scrapes on his elbows assured him that he wasn't dreaming or seeing things.

And when his mind reminded him that the dragon he just shot down was the Unholy Offspring of Lightning and Death, itself... He raised both fists in the air and let out the biggest yell he ever made.

"I HIT IT!" He bellowed. "BY THOR'S HAMMER, I HIT YA!"

He cheered and yip in victory, proud that he was able to shoot down the most dangerous dragon in viking history and within the Book of Dragons.

...

...Then, without warning, a blast of purple came out of nowhere and blasted the sling to pieces, pushing the teen backwards and back down to the ground.

His smile was wiped away from his face and his eyes grew wide in horror.

'The fuck?!'

His vision scanned for whatever it was that destroyed the bola launcher. Not wanting to believe that he, actually, missed and it was the Night Fury.

...Only to watch the same blast of purple come down out of nowhere and destroy the other catapult. Again, the Vikings got out of the way, but now, with both of their main catapults out of commission, the Vikings can't shoot down any dragons in the air and can only attack the ones already on the ground, and are a severe disadvantage, since the dragons can blast them with fire from a distance, even if they have shields with them.

In his frustration, Katsuki let out a big roar.

"DAMN IT!"

He knew it would be pointless, but still, he pushed himself to sprint back to the village to try and aid his village to fend off their home and food.

Just as he leap to the bottom and proceed to sprint, something caught his attention.

As the sun rose higher, four figures in the sky shot straight for Raven Point.

...The same, exact path the Night Fury fell towards.

And, before they vanished, he could've sworn that one of the figures, the biggest of the group, had a weird lump-like shape on its body... And, he was positive, that it moved!

Katsuki looked over to where the four figures vanished, in case they, somehow, reappeared, for a few seconds, before reminding himself that he must get to his chief and Shield-Brothers and Shield-Sisters. Hoping to help out on killing the stagglers before they try to escape.

...And, regardless that his actions had made a difference to the raid or not, learn that another raid had resulted some loss.

At the Great Hall...
As soon as the last dragon had been killed and all warriors, who aren't seriously injured, had been told to gather, Chief Toshinori stood at the top of the steps and before his throne.

He wore an iron helmet, with four horns embedded, all belonging to two Rumblehorn he took down with his predecessor, Nana, when on a trial-run to prove he can fight deadly dragons, head on... His helmet, was made with the half of his wife's breastplate.

...The other, made for their son, remains at home.

Draped over his shoulders, a pelt of a bear, covering the back of his large, muscular body. Underneath, a dark-blue tunic, with some red in the mixture (Some of it being blood from the dragons he killed.), covers and shows the colors of his family crest. A leather belt can be seen coiled around his waist, keeping his Skjoldehamn Trousers in place. Red-dyed yak covered boots covered his feet.

In his right-hand, he held a large axe. In his left, a white-shield with red and blue markings. Strapped behind his back and poking out from his pelt, a sword... Given to him, by Nana Shimura, herself, when passing the title of Chief to him.

Like many, he is stained within the blood of their enemies, killing dragons and defending his people. Of course, he gained a scratch to the arm by a Monstrous Nightmare, but it wasn't too serious and, when he jumped off the catapult when it was blasted by the Night Fury, he quickly clotted the cut with a nearby fire before he finished off the dragon that nearly chomped his hand off.

His right-hand man and one of his Shield-Brothers, Mirai Nighteye, stood to his right. He, too, is covered in blood of the dragons. Though, because of his smaller figure and specialties on gathering herbs, he was in charge on guarding and defending the healing quarters and the injured.

His hewing-spear, held in his right-hand, glistened in blood. The weight in his grip becoming a support, reminding him that he's alive and survived another raid. And when he dies, with his polearm in hand, his grip will die with him... And, it'll be a relief to finally let go.

Nighteye looked over at the Vikings before him and his chief, before he slammed the end of his hewing-spear against the stone floor beneath them, making a big thumping sound that echoed throughout the room.

One loud thump, and the room went silent.

"Berkians!" He began, yelling as loud as he could for all to hear. "Your leader, Chief Toshinori, has news for us to hear!"

Taking it as his signal to take over, Toshinori took a few steps forward, as Nighteye takes a few steps back.

"Thank you, Nighteye." He thanked, nodding towards the smaller viking, before turning to his villagers... His people, he swore to protect.

...And what he and the councils has discussed for many moons, will be the toughest decision they have to make.

But, right now, more important matter must be brought up.

"My people," he start. "Before we begin, let us raise our weapons and give praise to Odin and Thor, for another victorious battle against the dragons!"

To his words to celebrate another raid, almost every viking within the Mess Hall raised their weapon as high as they could in the air and raised their voices as loud as they could. Their voices echoed off the walls, that it almost sound as if they could shatter the very mountain their Mess Hall had been built in.

Their cheers lasted almost a minute, before all went quiet and Toshinori continues his speech.

"Now, my people, as we must remember the joy and gratitude of life and while there may be fewer dragons alive, not all of our warriors are with us to give praise to our gods, for they have been taken away from us by our enemies. And so, as we must do, we shall send them off to Valhalla and ask them to lend us their strength, for the next raid we shall surely face, once more, and avenge their deaths."

Driven by the deaths of their fellow Vikings, most to almost all being Shield-Brothers and Shield-Sisters, many voiced out how their clansmen's death effected them.

"Hear! Hear!"

"Damn those monsters!"

"May they one day cease to exist, within the great destruction of Ragnarök!"

Again, to get them to be quiet, even when he's in an agreement to their response, Nighteye slammed his hewing-spear against the ground multiple times until all went silent, once again.

Given the chance to continue his announcement, Toshinori resumed.

"Yes. To all of those. We shall one day be rid of these vile creatures, and make our ancestors and loved ones proud." He swore, raising his axe in the air. "And our stories shall be written in stones, songs of our noble deed shall rise in the wind and give younger generations the strength and bravery to face future conflicts, head on."

Clasps echoed within the Mess Hall, touched by their chief's comforting words and great vision of such a future.

When the clapping ceased on its own, Toshinori chose that moment to move on to the next announcement.

"With that said, In happy to inform you that such a future will come to pass, for today, one of our newest and most experienced viking have done the impossible. That while we'd trained to one day accomplish, but never believe to actually take place, has finally occurred."

Katsuki, standing off to the side with his fellow vikings and Shield-Brothers and Shield-Sisters, took his cue from Nighteye beckoning him to come up, slowly walked up the steps to stand beside Toshinori.

"Here before you, Katsuki Bakugō, has shot down the very dragon, the Unholy Offspring of Lightning and Death, itself. The Night Fury!"

To such a claim, all Vikings raised their weapons in the air, once more, and all cried out, louder than before.

"Well done, Lad!"

"Praise Thor, for giving you strength!"

"YOU'VE SAVED US FROM THAT MONSTER!"

Down at the bottom steps, he sees his few friends and the other teen Vikings, most smiling and beaming at him.

He sees his two parents, Masaru and Mitsuki, wailing and jumping from where they stood, obviously proud and ecstatic that their son was the one to take down the Night Fury.

"NICE JOB, YOU BRAT! WE KNEW YOU HAD IT IN YA!"

"We're so proud of you, Son! Inko and Cindy would be proud of you, too!"

The mentioning of his two aunts did made his heart quivered, both of pride that they would be proud of him... And, guilt... For he knew that he didn't saved them, when he saw the silhouettes of dragons that appear to be Night Furies, themselves.

...Along with that weird object riding one of them, that doesn't seem to be part of the dragon's body.

Hopefully, they were different, weaker dragons and that fighting all night against the dragons was messing with his head. And, regardless, if they were weak dragons or, the slightest chance that they are Night Furies, they will all die by the end of his axe.

Looking on ahead, he let out a deep sigh, as his chief patted him on the back.

"You've made us all proud, Katsuki." He praised, rubbing the to of his head and grinning big from ear-to-ear. "As such, as soon as its body is found, you shall be given the honor to do whatever you see fit to do with the body. And all shall know you as 'Katsuki, the Night Killer'!"

To such a title, many Vikings chanted out his given name.

"Night Killer! Night Killer! Night Killer! Night Killer!"

Bakugō grinned at the chanting, as he raised his weapon in the air.

"Damn right, I'm the Night Killer!" He replied, his ego getting bigger. "And when I find it, I'll mount its skull on a spear, skin the scales and bones to become my new set of armor, and cut its heart out for the chief to have, as payment for the death of the late Chieftess, Nana Shimura, his wife, Inko, and their son, Izuku!"

All those before him went wild, no doubt wanting to witness such an event and in agreement to what he plans to do with the Night Fury.

Toshinori patted him on the shoulder, nodding once to show his thanks to such a gift that'll restore his strength and honor to Nana Shimura... And, as revenge to the death of his wife and son.

Taking it as his sign to leave, Bakugō placed his weapon back to his back and walked off to rejoin his friends.

But, instead of stopping, he walked passed them.

"Let's go, you wannabes!" He growled, heading for the giant doors.

Kirishima, Ashido and the others were confused to his orders.

"Where are we going, Bro?" Kirishima asked, catching up to the older-teen.

...The whitish-blonde teen grinned darkly at his Shield-Brother.

"We got a Night Fury to find."

Watching his students leave, from the back of the Mess Hall and leaning against the wall, Aizawa let out a tiring sigh.

...And within the sigh, relief could almost be detected.

'At last, your deaths will finally be avenged, Cici... My child.' He thought

"Looks like some of our Little Listeners are going off to find that beast, Shō." To his left, Hizashi poked out, grinning big at his Shield-Brother.

To his comment, Shōta let out a big yawn, indicating his drowsiness.

"Looks like it." He grumbled underneath his breath, rubbing the back of his neck from how sore and exhausted he is for fighting another raid multiple days on end.

"Well, I'm off to bed." He told his friend, waving him off. "Tell me how the rest of the meeting goes, later."

The blonde-male wasn't surprised that his friend is leaving before their chief finishes his speech, though was a bit taken back that he didn't seem concerned for their students' well-being on going after the Night Fury, on their own.

"Shouldn't we go with them? You know, in case the beast tries to fry them and give them a glimmer of a chance to escape?"

Shōta turned his head to his Shield-Brother.

His blank stare, alone, is all the answer he was going to get. Then, he continued on for home and sleep.

Hizashi let out an irritated groan, running his hand through his hair.

"Beard of Thor, Shō, you have just as much right as the chief to seek justice for Cici and your little one." He muttered, as he turned his attention back to the chief and the meeting, knowing it'll be the damage report the dragons caused and some to go check on their livestocks and hunts they tried to defend and/or hid.

Though, none would know how severe the damage was, when some of their livestocks had been found. And by the time they learn of this discovery, a secret decision amongst the Councils and Chief Toshinori may come to take place... Knowing many to nearly all will be against the decision.

Meanwhile, at Raven's Point...
Staring down at the drawing of a map Momo drew from copying the village's map of Raven's Point, Katsuki added in another cross mark on the map when finding no traces of the Night Fury.

He growled lowly, before, in his frustration, scribbled more charcoal marking all over the area of the map.

"Damn it! Where is it?!" He snarled, crumpling the makeshift map into a ball and tossing it to the ground.

A few feet from the seething teen, Kirishima and the Ashido looked over their shoulders after looking behind a large boulder to see if the Night Fury chose to hide after landing roughly and was able to escape the bola. Both had concern looks on their faces at the angry look on his face.

They knew, along with Kaminari and Sero, how important this was for him to find the monster and kill it.

Even if the other teen Vikings heard from Katsuki's speech on how he would finally avenge the chief's wife and son, they didn't know that he wanted to avenge the two aunts he loved as much as his own mother, even if he'll never admit it out loud. And, his two little cousins, whom he picked on one and never gotten the chance to meet the other.

And, yes, they knew that he teased the son of the chief... Even, once or twice, bullied the boy to prove how weak he was and that a Hiccup can never be a great Viking. Let alone, a Chief.

But, they knew he changed. Not his belief that Hiccups will never be true Vikings, like so many of them believe, but saw that his actions aren't acceptable to many of the Gods they worship or what a warrior is supposed to do to their own villager that have done no kind of evil.

As such, finding the Unholy Offspring will not only avenge his fallen family members, but also absolve him of his past sins and actions, towards an innocent.

Kaminari, joined by the shortest male of their class, Mineta, ran up the hill. Both looked awestruck.

"Yo, Bakugō!" Kaminari called out, panting a bit. "We found a trail!"

Katsuki, Mina, Eijirō and Sero, who came running up from behind to report not finding any sign of the dragon on his end near the cliff, turned to the two males.

The whitish-blonde teen immediately stomped towards Denki and Minoru, pulling his ax from behind his back with his right-hand.

"Did you see the dragon?!" He growled, grabbing for the younger-blonde's black tunic with his left.

Kaminari raised both hands up, looking a bit nervous.

"Settle down, Bro." He replied, wanting the older-teen to calm down. "We didn't see it, but it definitely looks like something came crashing down from the sky, recently."

"Yeah, and the fact that the book explicitly said to 'Never to engage the Night Fury', wounded or not, we're not taking any chances with the Unholy Offspring!" Mineta added in, looking as if he was going to piss his trousers from the mentioning of the Night Fury.

Katsuki's red-eyes glared down at the shorter-male, but didn't say anything but grunted in irritation and released Denki from his grasp.

"Show me," he growled. "And after that, you can go squabble back to the village. I got a Night Fury to kill."

As expected, Mineta hid behind Ashido... Resulting him to be kicked towards a tree, when he grabbed for her backside.

Nobody bothered to check up on the unconscious perverted teen of Berk, knowing he'll be fine by himself and will head back to the village the moment he wakes up, and followed Kaminari to where said trail was.

When they got there, they were surprised by some of the damage trees and disheveled dirt before them. It looks as though a boulder from a catapult could cause this, instead of a dragon that's been shot right out of the sky. And because of the thick fog before them, it was hard to tell how far the trail was.

And with Katsuki's guidance, the five teens slowly and silently entered the fog and proceed to follow the dirt trail. All going by stealth, thanks to Aizawa's training.

"Haaaauuuwww!"

As soon as they heard that sound, they immediately stopped and Bakugō signaled them to lay down.

"You hear that?" Kirishima whispered, eyes wide and adrenaline kicking in.

"That's got to be the beast." Sero replied, swallowing a lump that's lodged in his throat.

"Haa! Uaah! Hawuu!"

Katsuki's eyes narrowed, as they slowly crawled on the ground, using the rocks and trees as coverage, as they continue to follow the sound of the dragon.

Though, he noticed that, compared to the cries he heard during the raid, these cry were the same as the Night Fury's... But, they were almost similar to wailing dogs and the volume of its voice was higher.

Like, it was a hatchling.

"Bro, up ahead." Kirishima whispered, pointing to where the fog seemed to grew a bit thinner.

...

...

...And, there, tangled up in the ropes of the bola, dangling on a tree-branch and hanging over the ground, a black-body of a dragon hangs in the air.

The dragon appeared to be twenty-six feet in length and, from the way one of its bat-like wings is wrapped in one of the ropes and hangs in the air, a forty-five foot wingspan on average.

It seems to resemble a large black-cat, but a little over three times the size and length of a horse. And where it lacks horns, four ear-like appendages are seem protruded out of its head. Two pairs of tail-fins, one at the base of the tail and the other at the tip, are slightly folded and curled up from the lack of room of the net it gave them.

...

...

... There was no doubt about it. This dragon is the Unholy Offspring of Lightning and Death, itself. The Night Fury.

...

...

...But, that wasn't all there was before them that caught their attention.

Underneath the dangling dragon, a small-figure stood.

...A human girl, to be precise.

"Who's that?" Sero whispered, pulling out his bola from his belt. "I don't recognize her from our Dragon Training Class."

"I don't think I've seen her in the village, at all." Ashido replied, watching the girl run for the trunk of the tree, before running back down beneath the dragon. "Is she even a Berkian?"

Katsuki glared at the clothing the girl wore. At least, whatever he could see from underneath her black-hooded cape... That looks exactly like the Night Fury's scales.

Though, to his dismay and irritation, her tunic and pants are, also, black. Her hands are covered with black-gloves, but they don't look like the usual wrapped-up gloves or the finger-less gloves that some of the Vikings wore... They look like bird talons or paws of a feline or canine, because of what looks to be claws on each of the fingers of the gloves.

She shown to wear the dark-brown boots, but in the of the legs, black-wrappings covered the middle of both boots... And, on the back of the legs through the bindings, small rows of claw-like spikes, probably from Terrible Terrors, ran down.

Clearly, she's not from Berk... And, from how scrawny and small she is... She's a hiccup.

"Wherever she's from, she's a fool, for getting near the Night Fury. Doesn't she know never to engage this dragon? She doesn't even have a weapon, even a shield to protect herself." Denki stated, thinking the girl was going to get herself killed, regardless if the dragon is trapped or barely conscious.

They then watch, as the girl went back to the tree... Then, like a cat, crouched on all-four before launching herself to the tree and proceed to climb. Heading for the rope snagged in the branch.

She opened her mouth and, to their shock, made the very sounds they heard, earlier.

"Haa! Hurrah! Haau...!" She barked, as she slightly pushed her hands against the branch to jostle the dragon.

"Wait a sec. She's been making those cry?" Kirishima whispered, taken back by her cries sounding like the Night Fury, as he turned to Bakugō. "You don't think she can talk to them? Do you?"

The older-teen growled low.

"I don't really care if she can, or not." He replied, clenching his axe. "If she's associated with those beasts, she's just as much our enemy as those fire-breathing lizards."

And when they watch the Night Fury, seeming to regain consciousness from the shaking and let out a few bark, and the mystery girl letting out more dragon-like sounds and slashing at the rope, that was all Katsuki needed to blow his cover and jump out from hiding.

"Hey, you!" He yelled, startling the girl from her attempt to cut the rope and a bark of a roar from the dragon, gaining their attention.

Instantly, the dragon growled at the teen, which the girl joined in.

Bakugō wasn't scared in the slightest, as he pointed his axe at the girl.

"What in the name of Thor are you doing?!" He yelled, as the others slowly came out of hiding and brought out their weapons. "Back away from the Night Fury; he's my prize to claim and kill! I'm Katsuki, the Night Killer! And I'm gonna cut out its heart, and take it to my chief!"

That earned him a hiss from the girl, before turning back to the rope and cutting more of its strands.

"Hey! Knock it off!" Sero yelled, tossing his bola towards the girl.

...Though, to their shock, the girl allowed herself to fall to her right and hang upside-down on the branch, having her legs crossed tightly, to dodge the bola.

She flashed her teeth at them, imitating the Night Fury's actions, as a glow of bright-purple shined behind its fangs and the high-pitch screech grew.

Immediately, the five teens scattered to avoid the attack.

A hole formed in the ground, leaving nothing but dirt and ember.

However, from its blast, some of the rope released its hold on its body and the dragon, barely unfolding its wings to start flapping, landed roughly on the ground and on one of its wings.

A yelp of a whimper left the beast, slowly getting to its feet, before the net of the bola dropped down and, in its panic, got retangle in its grasp.

Seeing the beast had injured itself and trap in the bola, Katsuki charged for the dragon.

"Die, dragon!" He bellowed, raising his axe in the air.

...Then, without warning, something slammed at him to the ground. And through the struggle, it was the girl that came from the tree and interfered his attack on the Night Fury.

She was able to get on top of him, kick his axe out of his hand in the process, and snarled down at the whitish-blonde teenager.

Katsuki sneered back at the girl.

"Get the fuck off me!" He yelled, pushing her to the side to get his weapon back. Only, the girl landed on all-four and launched herself back on the boy.

And, this time, she let out a shockingly scream of a Night Fury's roar.

"Ouaaah!"

...

*Drip*

Something red landed on Bakugō's face... Blood.

And when he found the source of where it came from, he sees a neck-wound on the girl.

This sudden realization told Katsuki that she was with the Night Fury, during the raid. That she was the weird lump on the dragon's back, with her cape being more evidence on how she blended with the dragon.

And when he shot down the dragon, she clearly got caught in the trap with the beast and must've gotten hurt from either the slamming against the trees, or when breaking free from the trap and ended up landing roughly on the ground when the momentum left the Night Fury caught in a tree.

And if the injury to her throat left her unable to talk, then the next best thing is to make dragon-like sounds.

And the way she glares down at him... There was something from the way she stares at him that made him a bit unease... Almost familiar.

Before he could make a comeback to her incoherent yelling, Kirishima came and pulled her off of Katsuki, locking her in a nelson hold.

"Stop it!" Eijiro yelled, having to shift one of his arms to wrap around her neck and drag the both of them to kneel on the ground.

She let out a yelp of a bark, grabbing at the arm around her neck with one hand to try and bite him.

Soon, Denki and Ashido came and each grabbed for her leg to assist Kirishima to keep her pinned to the ground and allow him to keep both arms on place.

The girl hissed and snarled, unable to break free from the three teenagers keeping her pinned down.

Sero came and offered Katsuki his axe, who got to his feet and went towards her.

From behind, the Night Fury bark and roared at the teens, eyes slit and fangs bared.

To their greatest shock, the dragon looked deeply concern for the girl they held in their grasp. As if she was its hatchling. And knew that they have it in its mercy, by threatening its human.

And in response to its cry, the girl let out a few coos and wobble crones to the dragon. As if to comfort the beast.

Katsuki glared down at the girl, who still tried to fight to break free from their hold.

He turned to Kirishima, Ashido and Kaminari.

"Make her sit up," he ordered.

To his command, the three kept a firm grip on the girl and forced her to sit up, kneeled down before the whitish-blonde teenager.

He glared at the dragon... Then, held one of the side of his axe near the girl's neck.

"Listen here, Devil." He growled. "You try to blast us, and she dies. Got it? -Then to prove his point, he grabs for some of her hair to lift her head up and rested the blade against the left-side of her throat, that wasn't bleeding.- I don't know why you care for her, but make no mistake, she'll die if you even charge up your fire. Behave, and we might let her walk away, unharmed."

The Night Fury snarled at the boy, but didn't show to either charge up its plasma blast. Let alone, move from its spot.

Clearly, it was cooperating with Katsuki.

Seeing the beast is listening to him, the teen turned back to the girl. He removed his hand from her dark-brown hair, which had some scales and feathers entwined in her hair, and pulled his axe away from her neck.

"Girl. Can you understand us?" He growled.

Said girl kept her head down, growling lowly.

Katsuki scoffed, pulling her head back up to look him in the eyes.

"Can. You. Understand. Us? Yes, or no?" He hissed, his patience wearing thin. "Your voice may be messed up, but you can still nod or shake your head. Now, answer my question! Can you understand what we're saying?!"

This time, the girl raised her head and snapped her teeth at him, nearly getting his face if he hadn't pulled away, letting out a bark of a snarl.

Kirishima, Ashido, Kaminari and Sero were surprised by her response; none were ever to defy Bakugō's threat, especially when he threatens to kill them.

The whitish-blonde teen did look a bit surprised, even a little stunned... Then, he flashed her an evil sneer and stomped back towards her.

"You got spunk, I'll give you that." He commented, which was a bit of a surprise to the other teens. "But, don't think I'm stupid to not know when somebody's playing dumb. Let alone, you and that beast didn't come to Berk, alone."

To that revealing, the others looked at their Shield-Brother in shock.

"What? Are you saying there are more Night Furies, here?" Mina asked, getting nervous and looking all around her.

The older-teen kept his hard gaze down at the glaring girl.

"The way their bodies silhouetted looked to be Night Furies, but I have a gut feeling that they aren't. Otherwise, there would've been more than one purple-blast of fire whenever it attack and multiple high-screech sounds, since dragons of their own flock and kind always attack, together. That, and like many dragons, they have a limit on how many times they could keep using their fire before they run out of gas and/or spark*. -He, again, raised his weapon to her neck, which she hissed when the steel pressed against the left-side of her neck.- You can mimic their cries. Which means, you can call for them... They listen to you, don't they?"

The girl narrowed her eyes up at the older-teen, but had stopped growling.

Kirishima was a bit nervous by what his friend is getting at.

"What are you trying to say, Bro?" He asked, looking down at their hostage. "Are you suggesting that she's been causing the raids? Cause, there's no way she can lead a nest of dragons and have them listen to her, on her own!"

"Plus, she looks to be around our age. A Winter or two younger than us, at least. There's no way she's doing this." Denki added in, looking back at the Night Fury and seeing its eyes glaring entirely at Bakugō's axe to the girl's neck. "But then, not much is said about the Night Fury in the Book of Dragons and, so far, it hadn't blasted us to smithereens, yet."

"I'm not saying she's the one behind the raids; the Night Fury shows up around the time our catapults have been repaired." Katsuki clarified, kneeling down to be close to eye-level with their hostage. "But, I do believe she'd been joining the dragons on destroying our watchtowers and catapults, whenever the Night Fury is involved. And, judging by her tunic and cape, she's not completely feral as she's leading us to believe. Which means, she came from a tribe, who live amongst dragons. Control them."

He then turned to his friends and flashed them with his shark-like smile.

"Meaning, she can be of use to us to putting an end to these raids and finding the nest. And, since she's with the Night Fury and it clearly shows to care for her, we can make that beast do whatever we want, so long as we have leverage over it. And, the way I see it: An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth. A life for a life. -He then looked out towards the trees, yelling as loud as he could for his voice to echo within the fog.- AND IF THERE'S ANY MORE OF YOU OUTSIDERS, NIGHT FURIES OR WHATEVER KIND OF DRAGONS THERE ARE, IF YOU CARE FOR THEIR LIVES, YOU STAY THE FUCK OUT OF BERK AND CALL OFF THE DRAGONS THAT RAID US! OTHERWISE, I'LL ALLOW OUR CHIEF TO KILL THEM BOTH, AS PAYMENT FOR THE DEATH OF OUR FAMILY!"

He then removed his weapon from her neck, smirking at the glaring girl.

"You get what I'm saying, Girl? You want the Night Fury alive, you comply to our demands." He informed, as he motioned for Sero to come to him. "Which means, as of this moment, you're going to be our temporary guest. -He turned to the black-haired teen.- Get the bola."

Just as he was instructed, Sero handed him one of his bolas, leading to him to wrap and tie around the now hissing and growling girl, with the others keeping her in place to let their leader tie her up.

The Night Fury let out barks of snarls and roars, but winced when it jostled its injured wing and could only watch as the humans tied up its youngling.

Katsuki then went towards the Night Fury, snatching up one of Sero's bolas he had around his belt.

"Alright, you overgrown lizard. I'm gonna muzzle your trap, so you don't get any ideas on attacking us from behind." He informed the dragon, who slightly jumped on its hind legs to make itself look bigger but unable to flap its wings due to the rope and injury to its wing. "If you truly care for her, you won't resist and let us shut your mouth. Got it?"

To that, the dragon opened its muzzle, fangs bare, as if ready to fire a blast of fire.

...

...

...Only for it to screech at the top of its lungs at him, who stood still in his spot. Somehow, as if he knew that the dragon wouldn't attack him.

The dragon stomped its paws against the ground... Then, with great reluctance, lowered its snout down, hissing lowly that held great hostility towards the boy.

Seeing it was going to listen, Katsuki wrapped the rope around its snout, along with some of the rope that still coil itself around the beast.

Then, he raised his axe in the air, prompting the girl to screech scream and try to charge at him only for Mina and Kaminari to hold her in place by holding the ends of the bolas and pulling her back.

Before Kirishima or Sero said anything, they watch their friend bring down his weapon and cut at the rope bound at its feet, allowing it to be able to walk.

As soon as he cut the rope, he grabbed for the ends of the ropes wrapped around its muzzle, using it as a makeshift halter.

"Kirishima, Sero, grab part of the ropes that's collected to its wings and tail." He ordered, keeping his eyes on the dragon so it won't try to attack his Shield-Brothers.

Both hesitated to take a single to the dragon, but not wanting to get on Katsuki's bad side and that they have it under control, for now, they slowly went towards the beast and grabbed for the rope that has its wings and tail ensnared.

With both having a good hold on the dragon, Katsuki turned to the girl.

"It may be listening, but I'm not going to trust it to not attack our chief, Girl. Tell it to not attack anybody in the village, and we'll make certain to keep it safe in the Death Arena."

The girl glared at him. More specifically, at his axe. And when he looked down at his weapon, she grunted a hiss.

As if telling him to put away his weapon, or to move it away from the dragon.

Normally, he wouldn't care what others would say or ask of him to do... But, the way her eyes gave him a bit of an uncomfortable feeling, again, made him want to scream at her to stop making him feel unease.

...As if to pull her out from the rope and pull her to him, so to protect her from everything and everybody.

...

...

...Like he wished he'd done for his cousin.

He bit his tongue... Then, grumbling out a swear, placed his axe to his back. A big surprise to the four teens.

"Just tell him to behave, and I'll keep my weapon put away." He growled, folding his arms over his chest, with his right-hand keeping a firm hold on the ropes. "But, don't expect the village to be cooperative with their weapons as I do. Got it?!"

...The girl, while still glaring at him, cocked her head to the side. Most likely curious if he were serious, or was going to pull a prank on her and go back on his words.

...

...Then, to their shock, she growled out non-verbal words... Like a dragon would make.

"Urrr, aah haw aaa! Ruah ah aawo haar!"

The dragon let out a low growl, ears slightly lifted to show its uncertainty, followed by a croon when its eyes turned to the girl and mouth slightly opened. A sound that didn't sound as aggressive as its growls and/or snarls.

It was the first time any of the teens heard such a sound is made from a dragon, before.

"I think that means it'll listen." Mina guessed, though not certain.

Kirishima, holding the ropes around its wings, curious on what gender the dragon was, looked between its hind-legs.

"It's a he. He will listen." He corrected, earning a tail slam against the ground by the beast for checking his private area.

"Male. Female. Doesn't matter what the beast is." Katsuki stated, then pulled at the ropes to get the dragon to start moving. "Let's get back to the village, and show the Chief what we found."

"Do you think Mineta woke up, already, and is back at the village?" Kaminari asked, as they pulled at the ropes to get the girl to follow.

"Does it really matter?" Ashido replied, not concern in the slightest if their 'friend' had woken up and went back to the village or is still left unconscious where they left him.

Sero shrugged at the response.

"Eh. Not really." He answered, making certain that the fins at the base of the tail are still caught in the rope. They may be small, but they can cause as much damage as the tail can. And even if the wings are freed, they're needed for the dragon to fly just like the tail-fins.

As they followed the dirt-trail to lead them out of the fog, none of them took notice of five pair of eyes glaring at them, taking their loved ones away from them.

Four of them, being dragons... And one, riding on the back of a pure-white dragon, a human-male.

TBC

Chapter Text

"Do you think it was wise to let them go off to find that beast, on their own?" Nighteye asked his chief, as they walked within the village to visit the Forge, after checking with the fishermen on how many fishes they still have.

Only five baskets full of fish were all they have, since the dragons took all of their freshly caught fishes hanging on racks at the cliff closest towards the direction of the sun.

"Also, despite that he shot down the Night Fury, you have just as much right, even more rights, than the boy does, to find and kill the dragon. Why are you allowing him such an honor to kill the Unholy Offspring?"

Toshinori looked over his people, as they continued for the Forge to discuss with Higari on the number of damage armory they have.

Many have started rebuilding homes; either their homes had been burnt to the ground, or sustain severe amount of damage that results demolishing their home to start all over. Meaning, more trees to cut down, which isn't too much of an issue. The real problem, is using metal on newly built home and not on rebuilding weapons, fixing some of their ships or making new shields. They didn't even have enough metal to help make new farming tools for their crops, and it'll be another few days until Trader Johann comes to Berk to trade and/or sell.

Some, who've went to the Healing Quarters to get treated by Chiyo and are back on their feet, tried to pull their weight to assist the rebuilding of their village. Others, however, had to be guided to their homes to rest up or, if their wounds require to be evaluated, remain in the Healing Quarters.

The chief cares for his people, just as his chief, before him, and the chief before her. All the way back to the first chief, when they first came and settled on Berk. They weren't just a tribe... They're all family.

And nothing means more to Toshinori, than family... Especially more so, after losing his wife and son.

...

..And it was all his fault, that they're gone.

"Chief?" Nighteye's voice pulled him away from the memory, turning to face his right-hand man.

The blonde-male gave Nighteye a calm, collective expression.

"While you may be right that, by my status as chief, I should be given the privilege to kill that monster. But, by rights and the way of our traditions, Katsuki shot it down and, as such, is the one to kill it." He explained, as they continue for the Forge. "And even if I wish to be the one to put an end to the Unholy Offspring, he honors me by going to cut out its heart and giving it to me, as payment for my wife and son's deaths."

Nighteye raised an eyebrow to his response, but didn't argue with the 'payment' he'll be getting from the Night Fury, as they finally made it to the Forge and see Higari and one of his pupils, Mei, already working and mending metal to become armor.

Higari, having the skull of a Gronckle over his head, lifted his head from pulling out a newly formed armor from the kiln and waved at the two Vikings.

"Ah, Chief!" He called out, as he went to place the armor into the water to instantly cool it down. "Need any repairs on your armor? We've noticed a few dents up near the chest-area, and a few rust to the shoulders.."

"Please, say yes!" Mei replied, goggles over her eyes and pulling out newly made rivets and bolts from the kiln and dumping them in another bucket of water. "I have this new armor made, just for you! Made from the materials Trader Johann sold me, two moons ago! It'll guarantee any dragons won't be able to bite through, no matter how strong their bite are!"

All two males sweatdropped at the girl's excitement and pulling out the thin armor before them, while Higari laid a hand on his Gronckle skull and shook his head.

"Pardon her, Chief." He requested, waving the girl to get back to work. "You know how wild her inventions are."

"Which one, actually, ended up aiding Katsuki Bakugō on bringing down the Night Fury." Toshinori reminded, beaming down at the two Blacksmith and his pupil.

Hearing the reminder on what happened in the raid and praise in his voice over her invention, Mei beamed widely at her teacher.

"See?! I told you that one of my babies can do it, Sir! And the chief loved it!" She exclaimed, laughing like mad as she hammered away on a piece of metal to get it to take shape of a rivet.

"Which, ended up being blasted away..." Higari muttered, before turning to the chief and his right-hand man. "Well, Chief? Did you need something? Cause, if so, we got our work cut out, I'm afraid. Even with my other pupils assisting me, it'll be three days, at best, until all armors are either repaired or replaced. And that's if we finish fixing and build the weapons before the next raid."

The news was a bit troublesome to Toshinori, but there wasn't much he can do about it and understands that Higari and his pupils are doing the best they can.

"So long as the armors and shields are at least ready for all to carry, that's better than nothing. Just do the best you can to get our weapons and armors ready, Higari." The chief replied, patting his friend on the shoulders. "And if we run low on metal, let me know and I'll have volunteers assist you and your pupils to get you more."

Higari nodded his head.

"Whatever you say, Chief. But, no promises." He replied, and then went back to focusing on the armor he just finished and went to hammer it to give it shape as chest-plated armor.

Nighteye let out a tiring sigh, a bit disappointed of the news.

"Let's hope what few weapons we have that's still functional, will be enough for the next raid." He grumbled, as the two left the Forge.

"Even if we must resort to using rocks or tree branches as weapons, anything is better than nothing." Toshinori replied, sounding confident.

Sir Nighteye, while a bit relieved by the reassurance of his chief that they'll be all right, didn't feel certain that they will help them.

"In that case, we might as well bake the dragons a cake, to celebrate their great success at finally taking killing us all when they learn we don't have much weapons to take them down." He suggested, being sarcastic and a bit of his joking-self.

The chief gave him a deadpan look.

"...You just love to make this conversation depressing and point out how right you are of our situation, don't you?"

Nighteye's response is a raised eyebrow.

"Who said they'd be getting a cake, that won't have anything that a dragon would hate?" He answered, lifting one-side of his lip to a smirk.

Toshinori, getting what he meant, let out a chuckle.

"And there's the Nighteye I know and love," he commented. "If we're going to give them a cake, we'd best find some 'ingredients' to make them dragons a cake. Perhaps, we should make a bunch of them, for all to get the chance to try our cakes, before they leave Berk."

Both men laughed, feeling a bit better than they did, earlier, as they proceed to the Healer's Hut to see Chiyo to check up on their injured warriors and if she needs help on gathering herbs.

Just as they did, though...

"Chief! Chief!"

Both men turned to the sound of the scream and sees Mineta, running as fast as he could, over. Looking panicked, with some blood leaking from underneath his black-hair*.

Non-surprisingly, neither were concern from the blood, since its normal to see him injured when dragons aren't involved. Meaning, he touched one of the girls, again, and paid for it.

Toshinori fears he'll never become a proper viking and join them in Valhalla, let alone find a girl that'll put a stop to his perverted antics.

"Mineta. What seems to be the problem?" Nighteye asked, though gave him a stern, raised eyebrow. "The Chief is very busy, right now. If it isn't an emergency, please take the issue with your teachers or wait until he's done with his evaluat-"

"It's the dragon! The Night Fury! We saw it!" The boy cut him off, drawing their attention and the attention of some of the nearby vikings all around them.

Toshinori patted Nighteye on his shoulder, then came to be in front of the teen and kneeled to be close to eye-level with him as possible.

"So, Katsuki had killed the monster, and are here to inform us that he's bringing its heart to me?" He predicted, beaming down at the boy. "Thank you for telling us this, Mineta. We shall send some of our men to get the body and prepare to skin it, so Katsuki can use its hide and scales to be used for his choice of new clothing."

...The fifteen year-old sweat-dropped, a bit scared on what'll happen to what he's about to say.

"...Uh... A-Actually Chief... He didn't."

The smile on the chief's face fell off, replaced with confusion... With a hint of anger, and disbelief.

"...Excuse me?"

Mineta gulped, paling at the change of his chief's voice and seeing the anger being revealed.

Sir Nighteye folded his arms over his chest.

"Explain, Mineta." He demanded, just as stunned by the news.

"W-W-Well, you see. I got knocked out by Mina, because of a missunder-"

"You groped her, again." Nighteye interrupted, glaring disapproval and disgust at the short teen.

"Y...Yeah," he admitted. "So, when I woke up, I almost blacked out when I saw them dragging the beast, bound in ropes and under Bakugō's control."

"'Control'? The boy controlled the Night Fury?" Nighteye replied, not believing what the boy is saying.

The Vikings nearby were just as surprised by the news and whispers began to travel.

The teen quickly corrected himself.

"Sort of? More like contained it." He clarified, before turning back to the chief. "But, look, Chief. Katsuki sent me on ahead, and wants everyone to gather around the Death Arena. It's really important."

Toshinori raised an eyebrow to the teen's message.

"...He's bringing the Night Fury, here? Into the village?" He asked, which earned him a quick nod from the teen.

"Believe me, Chief. I'm just as stunned and really, really, terrified by the thought. But, he has something that's keeping it from blasting us to smithereens! And, you're not going to believe it, when you see it!"

Seeing him begging him to listen and the awe and shock written on his face, told Toshinori that this was something very serious. So serious, that even Mineta, the slacker of Dragon Training, can see that this must be seen and heard.

He let out a big sigh, slowly stood up to his feet, and turned to some of his people.

"Everyone! Gather all, and head for the Death Arena!" He announced, pointing a finger towers the direction of the arena that they keep some dragons they use for training... And kill.

A bit taken back by the news, but just as curious to see what they'll see, many heed their chief's command, either immediately heading for the Death Arena or heading home to get their loved ones to head for the arena.

He then turned to Nighteye.

"Find all of our Shield-Brothers and Shield-Sisters, get them to the Death Arena, and have them bring their weapons." He ordered.

Then, he felt a tugging from his bear-skin cape.

"Uh, Chief? What do you want me to do?" He asked, still scared of the Night Fury coming to the village.

Toshinori gave him a calm look.

"First off, Mineta, thank you for coming to me and informing me what Katsuki wanted you to tell me, even if It's something that would make me upset." He commented, making the teen abit more at ease. "If you wish to help, find the rest of your classmates and Sekijirō's class and bring them to the Death Arena, in case they didn't hear the news."

Hearing his assignment, Mineta nodded his head and took off running for the multiple destinations his class and the second class of Dragon Training would be at.

The chief let out a deep sigh, feeling a bunch of emotions going through his mind and body.

Disbelief. Anger. Confusion. Determination... Hope.

Nighteye laid a hand on his shoulder, bringing him back.

"You sure we should do this?" He asked, a bit hesitant by what they're doing. "The Unholy Offspring of Lightning and Death, itself, coming into our village? Alive?"

Toshinori looked just as uncertain as his right-hand man.

"I'm not as on board about this as you are, Nighteye." He answered, bring honest. "...But, if he found something about the Night Fury that's important for us to see, even if it must be brought here, alive... Then, by Freya's Flame, we must see this."

*Knock! Knock! Knock!*

Shōta slowly opened his eyes, annoyed that somebody woke him up from his sleep.

He pulled the sheep wool quilt over his head.

"Go away..." He grumbled.

"Shō! I know you hear me and I'm not going to leave, until you get up and open up! Or, do you want me to get Mom?!"

One of his eyes snapped opened, knowing Hitomi will get their battle-axe of a mom and have both Shōya and Shōma drag him out of bed if he doesn't get up.

And with both his father, grandfather and big brother, Makkuro, still out to sea to catch some fish and make some trades with the nearby islands, all know better than to test Sumire's authority. And with an additional three daughter-in-laws, one son-in-law and eight grandsons on her side, none can defy her power in the household.

He let out a growl, as he forced himself to sit up from his wooden bed. Even with hay and wool as the cushions, Shōta finds sleeping on grass to be more comfortable than his own bed.

"...Fine... I'm up." He moaned, stretching to pop some of his bones from his spine and shoulders. "I regret ever having my home built close by to home."

"I heard that, young man. Now, get out of bed. We'd made brunch."

'Which means, you helped yourselves to whatever I was able to catch, hunt or scavenge... Great...'

He shouldn't complain; his mother makes great meal, even if it was a handful of nuts and beets she had to make for soup.

Still, with the shortage of food going on within the village, Shōta was planning on rationing whatever food he finds and stores to last him at least a moon cycle.

And with the ice beginning to set in, now was the time to save up all he has to get through another tough Winter.

Letting out a deep sigh, he swung his feet to the side of his bed and, with his socks still on because of the cold, put his black-boots on and got out of bed. Not even bothering to make it, since he plans to go back to get some more sleep before he goes off to check on his traps with some of the other gatherers for the village.

He drags his feet to the door, grabbing his black-wolf vest to put over his black-tunic and his chain weapon along the way.

*Knock! knock! knock!*

The second set of knocking for an irritated growl to leave his throat.

"I'm coming already, Hitomi." He hissed, reaching for the handle.

...

...Only for the door to open from the other side, nearly getting his hand and foot in the process, revealing a very stunned and awestruck Hizashi.

From his gasping for breathe and sweating, he ran the whole way here... That, and he looked as though he'd seen a ghost.

...Or, a dragon.

"Shō! Come quick!" The blonde-viking yelled, grabbing for the now stunned Aizawa's arm. "We need to head for the Death Arena, like yesterday!"

Before the raven-haired man could say anything, he found himself being pulled out of his room and running down the stairs, straight for the entrance and running down the hill.

"Damn it, Hizashi! Slow down!" Aizawa yelled, slamming both feet into the ground to anchor him in place. "I just woke up from both my mom and sister threatening to get Shōya and Shōma to drag me out of bed, I didn't get to eat any food and, to top it all off, I need to go forage for more food before I go with the other foragers and hunters to gather whatever vegetation and games we can find for the village! What is it that's so important to drag me away from my ho-"

"It's the Night Fury! Katsuki brought the Night Fury to the village!"

Hizashi's answer immediately shut Shōta's brain off.

"...He what?"

The blonde-viking nodded his head, frantically.

"Yeah! He brought the Night Fury to the village, at the Death Arena! But, guess what? It wasn't by itself, and you're not going to believe what it was that's with it!" He yelled, pointing a finger towards the direction of the Death Arena and tugging his friend's arm. "But, right now, we need to go join the village and be at attendance with the chief! You'll see what it is that the kids brought with them, with the Night Fury! Your family will meet us there, after they clean up the small mess they made in your place!"

Because he knows about his Shield-Brother has a scattered mind when he's frantic and talking loud, Shōta wasn't going to get any more answers from him. And, the only way he was going to get anything, is to follow him to the Death Arena.

And so, with a deep sigh, he pulled his arm out of Hizashi's hold and the two friends continued to head for the Death Arena.

There, they see all of Berk standing around the metal-cage. Talking amongst with one another.

"Can you believe it? He, actually, brought the Night Fury, here?"

"Finally, we're going to see the devil of a beast, before it dies!"

"First, he shoots down the Unholy Offspring. And now, he brings it here?! This boy is going to be a legend, for sure!"

"I don't know. Honestly, I thought he missed, since it blasted at our second watchtower before the sun had risen? Could this just be another dragon that rarely comes to Berk? Maybe, even a dragon with a similar fire attack?"

They ignored their curiosities and opinions, heading straight for the stone-throne with the rest of the teachers, Sorahiko Torino, Chiyo and Nighteye.

The Shield-Brother and right-hand man of the chief raised an eyebrow at the two Shield-Brothers. More specifically, at his black-dyed Jorvik boots that showed to be a bit muddy.

"What happened to your boots? Did he dragged you right out from your home to get you here?" Mirai asked, smirking at the irritated look on the younger-male's face.

"...You sent him to get me, rather than send a raven to my home?" He replied, sounding very threatening but clearly too tired to do anything but sound cranky.

"Well, you did leave the Mess Hall, before our chief finished his announcement on whether or not to look for the nest, again, before the ice begins to set. Plus, Hizashi said you wanted him to tell you how the meeting went after your nap. And, since this is an emergency meeting and our meeting at the Mess Hall had ended, this should be good enough reason to wake you up and drag your sorry, lazy, whiny ass over."

"Hey, you youngins'! Hush up!" Torino from the other side of the throne yelled, waving his cane in the air and stomping the end against the ground. To his left, Chiyo stood by his side, smiling cheerfully and looking down where the metal-gates are at. "Its bad enough that we have to deal with that hothead of a child for making such a Loki-minded idea, but to have the two of you bickering when there's more pressing matters at hand is enough to make me come over there and toss you both into the arena, to let that dragon have at the both of ya!"

His threat and words were enough to shut both Shōta and Mirai from their argument, making them see that they're bickering like children when they're adults.

"Now, if you two are done fighting, straighten your backs, keep your weapons ready and stand in attention! Toshinori is about to make his appearance!" The older-viking informed, looking out in front and glaring daggers to where his wife is looking at.

...Where, no doubt, Katsuki and some of his friends are waiting... Along with the Night Fury.

To their left, the villagers parted to allow their chief to walk through, heading straight for his stone-throne. But, he didn't take his seat.

Instead, he stood tall and proud, looking rather serious and stoic.

Seeing him before them, all went quiet. Even the few children knew better than to try and talk, when their chief is here.

The blonde let out a deep sigh... Then, raised his voice at a proper level for all to hear.

"My people! I assume many of you have heard on what is the meaning of coming here, to the Death Arena..." He began, looking amongst all who came as he had ordered, just as his nephew requested him to do. "While I'm just as much as in a lost as the rest of you, my nephew, Katsuki Bakugō, number one student in Dragon Training and the one to shoot down the Night Fury, has requested us to witness a certain discovery of the beast. And though I'd prefer he had kept his word and killed the beast, I'm willing to hear him out and see what it is that he wish for all of us to see! -He then raised his sword in the air with his right.- Now then, Katsuki Bakugō, the Night Killer, please come out and show us what you wish for us to bare witness!"

Given his blessing to come out, Katsuki slowly came out from the shadows of the metal-gate.

...Then, with a few ropes in his hands, stopped for a moment to tug at them to pull whatever it was to come out of the shadows with him, before continuing towards the center of the arena.

...

...

...There, many gasp of shock, fear, horror and rage left the many voices outside of the arena, as they watch a dragon slowly walk forward, bound by ropes and being led by Katsuki and two of his Shield-Brothers... The Night Fury, itself.

"Great Odin's Ghost! It's the beast!"

"Look at it! It's so menacing!"

"Mommy, I'm scared! Make the monster go away!"

Many voices traveled, mixed with boos and hisses, as the dragon slowly followed the whitish-blonde teenager to the center, wincing a bit when the rope to one of his wings agitated the sprain.

Kirishima and Sero kept firm gross on their ropes, keeping them as tight as possible, as they followed beside the beast.

When they made it to the middle, Katsuki and his friends got down on one knee and bowed down to their chief.

The dragon looked up to what it was that the three teens are bowing to, only to pull up part of his muzzle and snarl up at the chief, showing off some of his fangs at the large man.

Yet, remained where he stood. Knowing he can't do anything in his condition, let alone risk danger coming to his human hatchling.

The chief glared back at the dragon, but he brushed off the monster's deadly glare to focus on the teen, who he and his friends got back on their feet.

The oldest key put a deep sigh, then began to speak.

"Chief Toshinori. My companions and I have brought before you, the Unholy Offspring of Lightning and Death, itself. The Night Fury."

To the declaration, almost all of Berk cheered, wildly.

Their screams and cheers did cause the dragon to wince, yelping in shock and flattening his ears closer to his skull. All around him, he growls lowly at all who cheers at his capture for subduing him.

Vikings, who've killed thousands of his kind for many generations... To the point, to being murderers of their own... Most of which, being runts they called, 'Hiccups'.

...

...

...Like his two human hatchlings are born as Hiccups.

When Katsuki held up a hand in the air, signaling all to go silent, all the cheering went quiet. He then turned back to his uncle, the chief.

"But, Chief, when three of my Shield-Brothers and Shield-Sister aided me on finding the Night Fury, we discovered something rather unexpected." He continued, as he used the same hand to beckon forward from the metal-gate. "And what we found, is something you must see for yourself."

From the shadows, Kaminari and Ashido came out, both holding ropes and guiding something else to follow... And when the figure came into the light, being the girl with the black-hooded cape, bound by the ropes of the bola and keeping her head down, many gasps of shock echoed all around.

"Is that a girl?"

"What is she wearing?!"

"I never seen her, before. Is she even part of Berk?"

"She was found with the Night Fury?! Why was she even with the Night Fury?!"

Toshinori looked just as stunned at the girl, who growled lowly at them and hissed at them. And when Denki and Mina both got down and bowed, both pulling at their ropes to make her go down, she stomped her feet and pulled back. Refusing to bow to him.

Nighteye, finding her actions to be rude, despite that he'd never seen her at all in the village, stomped his hewing-spear against the stoned-ground.

"Insolent child," he scolded. "You will show respect to our chief, and bow!"

...His response, was a snarl of a roar from the girl, completely taking him back.

"Haarrr!" She hissed, and began to pull back at the ropes.

...Which, in their neglect to think about taking away her clawed-gloves, were stunned when the ropes broke and she sprung forward towards Bakugō... Running on all-fours, like a wolf, or a mountain lion... Or, perhaps, a dragon.

Kaminari and Ashido were so stunned, that their brains couldn't process to do anything but watch the feral girl charge for their Shield-Brother.

...However, Kirishima, being the closest to the girl, let go of his ropes in order to dive down on her and pin her to the ground by wrapping his arms around her.

The crowd gasped in shock, as the girl tried to get back on her hands and feet and try to buck the red-hair boy off of her, hissing and snapping her teeth.

"Hey! Quit it!" Kirishima yelled, surprised that he was having some trouble keeping her steady from how much she was wiggling. "Somebody, get over here and help me bind her!"

The Night Fury, finding his wings are free from their bindings and watching the others coming towards his hatchling, both holding a few strips of ropes to use to stop her from escaping, flapped his wings to push his body up, ignoring the pain in his right-wing, and roared.

Katsuki struggled to keep a firm grip on his reigns of rope, while Sero, unfortunately, got whacked by the injured wing and let go of his ends of ropes.

And when his tail was freed, the dragon shot it straight for the whitish-blonde teen and sent him straight for the stone-wall.

And with nothing holding his binds, the dragon turned to the three teens and lunged straight towards them.

Above them, many of the vikings screamed and yelled.

"Its going to kill them!"

"Quickly, we need to stop it!"

In response, Hizashi, Aizawa and Mirai all went into action to going through the gasps of the metal-bars to enter the arena quicker to save the teens, as a few other Vikings from within the crowd began to do the same.

Just as Toshinori ran to do the same to rescue his nephew and his friends... He saw something, unexpected.

The Night Fury came down and grabbed for the girl by her cape, after Kirishima pulled back to avoid the beast's attack. And after grabbing the girl, he ran to the metal-cage and, after letting go of her hood, charged up his attack and blasted a hole through the gate. Cutting and burning the ropes off his face.

...And... Is coursing the girl to go through, and escape?

Both Sorahiko and Chiyo were just as awestruck by the sight, watching as the dragon forced the girl through the hole.

Obviously, as the girl was nudged through the hole, she let out a few wobbling sounds and whimpers. Refusing to leave the dragon behind.

But, after a few wobbling roars and barks, the Night Fury turned back to the Vikings coming for him, holding both wings up and flashing his fangs at them, snarling loudly and eyes slit.

Knowing this was her only chance to escape and get help, the girl took off running on all-fours, heading for the village towards the woods.

Seeing that the girl was free and proceed to run, Katsuki pointed a finger at her.

"Stop her! Don't let her get away!" He ordered, looking a bit frantic at her running away. "She's the only leverage we have to keep that monster under control!"

For that reason, Toshinori, having his axe out, turned his head to the left towards Aizawa.

"Shōta, you and your brothers go after her!" He ordered, as some of the vikings advanced to attack the dragon.

To his command, Shōta placed two fingers to his mouth and let out a few whistling sounds, sending a message to Shōya and Shōma to help him stop the girl. And, with the dragon distracted and forced to jump away from the metal-gate, the thirty-one Winter-old man launched himself through the hole and took off running for the girl.

At Berk...

She bit her tongue, tasting blood, angry that she has to leave her Dragon-Father behind to head for the woods. To find their Flock, and head back to Caldera Cay for help.

From the very start, she knew it was a terrible idea to come here. A village, that's basically on its last leg, before they die off from hunger, frantic and scared dragons getting more serious on killing them for food, or the people decide to grow wise and abandon their home for another island.

But, the few dragons that came to Caldera Cay, hungry, terrified and injured from being attacked by their own flock, by orders of their Queen, the Red Death, begged for their help to free them and put an end to the never-ending raids at Berk.

Of course, her brother was immediately on board... While she, however, was hesitant.

...Considering that the island that's being raided is their birth home... Where Hiccups are cast out to sea, and die from either drowning or the cold environment. And, as their Human-Mother, her brother's birth mother, had told them, Berk won't hesitate to take them hostage and will execute them, as soon as they even set foot on their island.

However, they're Dragon Hatchlings. They don't abandon their own to die from the claws of their cruel, abusive Queen, to be killed by the hands of Vikings or being eaten by the Red Death for not bringing enough food to barely satisfy her ever-growing hunger to consume all.

And so, after informing their Human-Alphas on what they're going to do, which they made promises to come back and/or send help in case they're in danger and/or informed them of the situation of the Nest of the Red Death, the two siblings and their Dragon Flock took off for Berk.

And now, after barely a moon away from Caldera Cay and taking out their watchtowers and catapults, she and their Dragon-Father had been shot down by a hidden bola launcher, bound and captured by viking-hatchlings and taken to their caged arena that reeks of blood and death.

'Head for trees and woods,' she thought. 'Find Dragon-Mother, Dragon-Kins and Brother. Find help. Escape!'

As she continues to run, she can hear the sound of running feet coming towards her, warning her that she's being chased.

"Hey! Stop right there!" One of them yelled.

She grunted a snort.

'Like I'll listen.'

She doesn't listen to order, and pushes forward into the woods.

"Wait!"

The shadows from the trees and rocks completely made her hard to see, especially with her hooded-cape covering her and blending within the shadows.

'Almost to cove! Almost to Flock!' She thought, making a hard turn when she sees the large-rocks and slip between the gap to hide behind them.

She slightly gasp for breath, but covered her mouth with her clawed-glove to make herself even more quiet when she hears them stop where the rocks are.

"Damn it! Where'd she go?!" One yelled, stomping around.

"Do you think she went for Badmist Mountains? Or, maybe, back to Raven's Point?" The other asked, sounding a bit out of breath.

"I don't know, Shōma! Why you asking me, when I don't have a fucking clue where she ran off to?!"

Clearly, from the way they talk, the first voice has a serious temper problem. And, in his anger, took off running away from the rocks she's hiding behind and away from the direction of the cove.

"...You don't have to yell," the second voice whispered, as he follows after his kin.

She remains still within her hiding spot for a minute, in case they head back to retrace their steps and double-check if she comes out of hiding.

And when she heard no sign of them coming back, she crawls out from the gap of the rocks and pushes her body into a full sprint on all-fours to the opposite direction.

...

...Only for a bola to come down from above her and coil her arms to her side, stopping her in her tracks.

The girl let out a frustrating snarl, realizing her mistake for not being able to smell, let alone heard, a third person had followed her, due to her bleeding neck-wound clouding her sense of smell with the scent of copper and life.

She pushes her legs to get up, only to be grabbed by the back of her neck by her capture, who kneels to her level.

The one who carries metal rope-like weapon that she sees blacksmiths use to lift the metal-bowl over the fire. Who stood beside the blonde-Alpha of the island.

"Nice try, Kid." He said, panting a bit. "If not for your injury, you would've, actually, had gotten away from me and my brothers."

He then pulls the both of them to their feet, keeping his hand around her throat. Ignoring the slight seeping of blood flowing between and underneath his fingers.

"Come on, back to Berk." He gestured, forcing her to follow him back towards the direction to the village.

She grunted and hissed at his gripping, then send him a dirty, angry glare.

...

...Her gaze made Aizawa froze in his steps.

Her eyes are a peircing green, with a mixture of gray blending within the iris.

...

...They were so similar to his late wife's green-eyes.

And, at a closer look, pass the weaves of feathers and dragon scales in her hair, the curls are just like Cindy's, but appear more wavy and more of a very dark-brown/black hair-color than her brownish/dark-red.

Her skin, to his surprise, is tan. Almost to a dark-tan. As if she's been sun bathing within the sun's light every day, or next to a volcano.

Other than those differences, Shōta is positive that this girl can pass as the spitting image of his late wife.

Before he can ponder any further of the girl's heritage and figure out where her parents could be, Shōya and Shōma came running back, both gasping for air.

"Nice going, Shō. You caught the little fox." Shōya praised, glaring down at the girl. "Can't believe she almost gave us the slip."

Shōma, after catching his breath, came closer to examine the growling child. It was there, he noticed the blood covering his brother's hand.

"She's injured?" He asked, turning to his older-triplet brother. "You didn't have to hurt her that hard, Shō! She's a child! A Hiccup at that!"

Aizawa glared back at his younger-triplet brother.

"I didn't cause her neck-wound, Ōma." He stated. "She already had this injury, since I followed the trail of her blood to her hiding spot and waited for her to come out to catch her. Unlike you two, who ran off, without any trace of her trail."

The oldest-triplet brother glared at his brother.

"You just love to hear how great of a tracker you are, don't you?" He taunted, stomping over and poking a finger to his brother's chest. "Just like how you like to show off on how you're one of the Chief's Shield-Brothers, and appointed as the top teacher of Dragon Training."

The third brother came between the two brothers, giving the first triplet a serious glare.

"Ōya, don't start that, again." He begged, clearly not wanting his brothers to fight, again.

The girl gave all three of them a disappointed gaze, as she tries to pull out of Shōta's grip around her neck.

His response was to tighten his grip, but kept glaring at his older-brother.

"And I told you, I didn't asked to be selected to be that fool's Shield-Brothers. And I sure as hell didn't enjoy what my 'privilege' resulted of me to do. Which led me to leave my wife and unborn child, unprotected, and to die from the raids." He countered, jabbing a finger back at Shōya. "Which you, our brothers and sister swore to protect and care for, until my return."

His words did more impact than he intended of causing, seeing the two winced from the reminder of their failure to protect one of their own, fourteen Winters ago.

Of breaking their promise to their brother, while he and a selected few other Vikings left to attack and kill Outcast Island, with their Chief.

Back when they were still at war with a tribe that betrayed Berk. With the one who killed Nana, during a raid, without knowing the Outcasts tresspassed onto their island.

A viking known as, All for One.

Whom Toshinori had the greatest pleasure at cutting off his left-arm, and leaving him to die in the fire.

Unfortunately, very few Berkians who joined him, survived the war, given that Outcast Island was full of dragons and traps.

Shōta, was one of the few to survive, but was barely clinging on to life and ended up have his vision damaged from hitting his head after falling off a cliff.

...And when they returned to Berk, a few weeks later than expected, was the day both fathers lost their wives and children.

To this day, Shōta held a grudge against the chief, and never let his family forget on how they didn't keep their promise to care and protect Cindy and their unborn child.

He never gotten the chance to know if his child was a boy, or a girl. To know what their name would be, as a small, unmarked grave sits next to his wife's. A reminder of his failure as a husband.

His failure as a father.

They were so lost to their argument, none of them were prepared for the girl to let out a howl of a roar.

"Haaaarruuuuuu!"

Her cry was so loud, the ravens in the trees flew out from their nests and let out warning caws in the air.

The three brothers, actually, jumped from her howling roar, as she continues to raise her head to the sky let out another hoarse, howling roar.

"Haaaaaaaaruuuuuu!"

...

*Rustle!* *Rustle!* *Rustle!*

Snap!

Shōta, Shōya and Shōma immediately turned to the sound of a twig snapping, weapons drawn and looking around frantically of what it was that came to them.

Aizawa had one of his chained-weapon uncurl partly off his arm, as he got down and had both him and the girl kneeling... Shielding her with his body, in case they get attacked.

Even if she isn't one of his students, let alone a Berkian, she's still a child. And within him, a paternal instinct tells him to protect this child.

His two brothers stood before the two, drawing out their hidden knives from underneath their sleeved tunic, eyes set towards a few bushes shaking.

...

...Finding that, when the intruder came jumping out, found that it was a rabbit that got them all spooked.

Though, the three brothers were taken back to see the rabbit, itself... A white-rabbit, to be precise.

Instantly, one thought came to mind in all three of them.

'Freya!'

The Goddess of Love, Fertility, Beauty and War. Daughter of Njörd, God of Wind and Sea. Sister to Freyr, God of Prosperity, Fortune, Peace, Pleasure and male virility. A Goddess that symbolizes Love and War, fruitfulness, maternity, and poetry.

Also, the Goddess of the Full Moon... Served, by hare attendants*.

Rabbits, included.

They watch as the rabbit, after scratching its ear, took notice of the tied up girl and, as if the three males weren't there, hopped over to the child.

The two stared into each others' eyes, as the rabbit placed both paws on her knees to be as close to her face as possible.

After a few sniffs... The white-rabbit leaned forward and nuzzled its nose against hers. Then, when the girl leaned her head forward, the animal rested its forehead against her own.

The triplets couldn't believe what they're witnessing. Frozen in place, not able to speak a word.

As soon as the two pulled away, the white-rabbit turned and looked up at the three brothers... Then, as soon as it appeared, it took off sprinting back into the woods.

None of them could believe what they've just witnessed, as they looked down at their hostage, who stared out to where the white-rabbit ran off.

"Was that Freya, herself?" Shōma asked, putting away his knife back within the sleeve of his tunic. "That was no ordinary rabbit, if it came to her, without any coaxing or fear towards us. It had to be Freya. Or, at the very least, one of her servants."

"If that were Freya, she would've taken the form of a falcon, or a wild boar." Shōya reminded, glaring down at the child. "But, that definitely wasn't a normal rabbit. And, because she can take the form of any animal and chose to take the form of one that represents fertility and the moon, it must've been her. But, why would Freya be interested in her?"

None could come up with a good answer, but one thing Shōta is certain: Regardless if the rabbit is Freya, herself, or not, if she came to the child, that meant she's something special and blessed by Freya.

Meaning, Berk needs her and must please Freya and the gods, by keeping her safe and not harm her in any way.

With that thought, the middle triplet got the both of them to their feet. Once on his feet, he removed his hand to pull out a cloth from his pocket and went to tie it around her throat to stop the bleeding.

Then, instead of placing his hand back around her neck, he laid a hand on her shoulder and ushered her to move forward.

He turned to his brothers.

"We need to head back to Berk, and inform the chief about this." He told them, as he looked around their surroundings, being on edge in case something else jumps out of nowhere and could end up attacking them. "If what Bakugō said is true and what we've just witness, then our very survival on stopping the raids, relies on having this girl with us."

The two brothers turned to one another, both in an agreement with their triplet-brother, before following him and their hostage back to the village.

Unknown to the Aizawa Triplets, the white-rabbit had ran back to the boy at the cove, jumping right into his arms and nuzzling against his face. Unafraid of the four dragons that accompanies him, sniffing the small-creature and letting out coos of the scent of their missing flocks it carries on its fur.

TBC

Chapter Text

Three Suns Later...
Shōta walks down the stone-steps. His steps echoing off the stone-walls and hallway.

...He doesn't know why he's here.

He continues to walk down the hallway. In his hand, a small-loaf of bread.

From afar, two vikings, each holding spears, stood on both side of the metal-bar door. When they saw him, both stood up straight and nodded their heads to him.

"Aizawa." One of them greeted.

Shōta nodded to the one to the left, before turning back to what was within the small room, on the other side of the bar-cage door.

It was almost bare. Only a small pile of hay with an old woolen blanket on top of it, and a bucket is all that's in the room.

...

...In the back corner of the room, within the shadow, he can barely see the body of their 'guest'. Curled up in a ball, covered within her hooded-cape.

Almost making her look like a very small version of the Night Fury.

He let out a tiring sigh at the sight of her in her little corner, in the same spot he last saw her in.

And, to further prove that she hadn't moved, the cold, stale, piece of chicken on top of a wooden-bowl that he gave her last night sat where he placed it.

Indicating that she hadn't eaten... Making it three days without food, since her capture.

Shōta let out a disapproving sigh, drawing the attention of the two guards to see what he's staring at.

"If she refuses to eat, we'll have to hold her down and force-feed her." One stated, though not sounding that much concern for her health. "Though, after she nearly attacked Chiyo, when trying to treat her neck-wound, I'd say starving her to make her weak, is the best choice of action to do, before she should eat."

Aizawa glared angrily at the one who just suggested at letting the girl starve, but didn't say anything, as he yanked the metal-key from the guard to his left and opened the door to let himself in.

'Even if she isn't a Berkian and is allies with dragons, she's still a child. How dare they suggest on allowing a child to starve?' He thought, as he slowly walked over to the girl.

She knows he's in the room with her. And still, she makes no move to even look up and see him.

Either her energy draining from her to make her too tired to even move a finger, or being stubborn to not face one of her captors, Shōta doesn't know.

He got down on one knee, being close to her level as possible.

"Hey," he said. "You haven't eaten the food we left out for you. That's perfectly good waste on food, you know? -He then extended his right-hand out, holding out the small-loaf of bread.- Fortunately for you, I brought you new food, fresh-made."

The girl, finally, lifted her head up a bit, sniffing the air when she detected a new scent, and saw the bread held out to her.

...

...

...Unfortunately for Aizawa, the girl turned her head away from him and laid it back down on the ground, letting out a tiring sigh.

This made Shōta worried, and irritated.

"You seriously going to starve yourself to death?" He asked, standing back up to his full-height. "Why? Why won't you accept what we're offering to you, and eat? You're clearly hungry, and you're getting weaker."

As if to prove his point, her stomach chose the time to growl.

When it finished growling, the girl sit up from her spot and, on all-fours, slowly made her way to the pile of hay and blanket, walked around in a circle before curling herself on top of the old-quilt.

The thirty-one year-old clenched tightly to the bread, breaking the food and forcing crumbs to land on the ground.

Again, he went up to the girl and kneeled down to her level.

"You can't not eat, forever." He continued, placing the damaged loaf next to the hay she laid on top of. "And you need to stop attacking Chiyo, when she comes in to try and help your neck-wound. It's going to get infected, if you don't let her treat it."

The girl didn't so much as flinched, let alone lift her head up. Once again, his words did little to nothing to gain her attention to even care what he's saying to her.

...

...Shōta let out a tiring sigh, once again getting back to his feet.

"I'll be back at dawn, to check up on you." He informed her, as he turned to head for the door.

Just as he reached for the door, an echoing cry of a dragon let loose within the air.

"Aaaaaaaaoooooooooouuuuuuu!"

To the sound of the dragon, the girl lifted her head up, sitting up from where she laid, slightly gasping.

As if gaining a sudden burst of energy, she went for the back of the wall, where a high barred-hole showed the outside of her prison. She laid both her bared-hands against the wall, as she struggled to stand on her feet.

Aizawa watches, as the girl let out chocked up chirps and cooing sounds, raspy and sore from her crying for the Night Fury for a full day and night, since they were separated.

"Huu- *Cough* *Cough* Urrah! Haa-...! C-aah! Haauw!"

She jumps, reaching to grab for the slightly raised barred-up hole to lift herself and look out the window. To where she can see the cage of the Death Arena.

Where they have her Dragon-Father, imprisoned with some of their captured dragons. Kept in a cage, like she, herself, is in.

Her bare feet slipped against the wall, her fingers grazed the bar and, without the aid of her clawed-gloves to get a proper grip and the cold setting in her hands and feet, collapsed to the ground, landing on her side.

Aizawa continues to watch as the girl frantically struggles to her hands and feet, letting out more forced out barks and coos as loud as she could.

To him, it was like watching a child trying to get back to their parent, while being locked up and kept far away, to slowly die from isolation and starvation... And, if he was honest, it was very painful to watch.

"Haaw!" She hissed out, curled up on the ground and leaning against the cold stone... Her shoulders shook, as she buried her face within her hooded-cape.

Shōta let out a sigh, his hand on the bar of the door.

"You should eat, if you want to keep up your strength." He told her, as he pushed the door open. "If not for yourself, then at least for your dragon."

He left the room and closed the door behind him. He took a step towards the hallway.

...

...

Thump!

Something hit him in the back.

The two guards were surprised by the throw. Even Aizawa was taken back when he saw it was the loaf of bread that hit him. And when he turned to the cell, he saw it was the girl who threw it.

She gave him a dark, angry sneer. Hunched on the ground, trembling and panting rapidly.

'I didn't hear her make a sound,' the adult thought. 'She can barely keep standing, but is able to not make a noise, despite her weakened state. Did the Night Fury taught her to do this?'

"Hurrrr..." She growled, hands clenched tightly into fists against the ground.

Then, seeing the cold chicken still on the ground, she launched towards it and, plate and all, tossed it through the bar and hit the wall when the guards and Aizawa ducked.

"Hey, quit that!" One of the guards yelled, slamming his spear against the door.

"Ungrateful bitch!" The other called out, being the one who suggested that she should starve. "You dare toss away our kindness, after we spare you and your dragon?! If not for Freya, you'd already be dead!"

Just before Shōta could shout at the guard, something unexpected happened.

...

...She forced out a word!

"Moe-...Stauh!" She screeched, voice hoarse and slightly cracked.

But, as she slams both her hands against the ground and ran to the door to slam her body against the door, startling the three adults to back away, she continues to speak that one word.

"Moe-Stauh! Moe...! Stauh...!" She roared, slamming her body against the barred-door.

Aizawa's eyes were wide, realizing what she's saying.

Monster.

...

...She was calling them, monsters.

They've been trying to get her to talk, despite having an injury to her neck so close to her throat, and now that she's finally saying something, it was very heartening and sharp, like a Deadly Nadder's shooting its Spine Shot from its tail and piercing through the armor.

After the seventh time she shouted "Moe-Stauh!" and slamming her body against the barred-door the ninth time, she slowly stalked back to the pile of hay and blanket. Her sharp gaze remained on the three vikings, baring her teeth at them, as she circled around her sleeping area and laid down like an animal.

...A dragon, no doubt.

She kept glaring at them, growling lowly from time to time, as she slowly began to fall back into slumber. When she fell asleep, Aizawa let out a deep sigh.

He turned to the two guards.

"Keep an eye on her. If something happens to her health, send a raven." He told them.

The two guards nodded their heads to his orders.

Before he left... He grabbed for the first viking and twisted his arm behind his back, pinning him to the wall.

"Ah! What the fuck?!" He yelled, wincing in pain.

The second viking was a bit nervous at Aizawa pinning his friend, as if he was one of the Outcasts from Outcast Island.

"What you said, earlier, that she should starve, for almost attacking Chiyo, is shameful and disrespectful towards our gods." He stated, using his left-hand to slam the viking's head against the wall, protected by his helmet.

"She's a Hiccup, Aizawa! So what if Freya came and 'blessed' her?! Hiccups are weak, mistakes, and she threw her lot with those beast!" The viking hissed, fighting to lift his head to stare at the raven-haired viking. "That makes her a mistake, a curse! Just as much as the Unholy Offspring!"

That ended up having his face slammed against the wall, again. This time, the force was strong enough to leave a dent to his helmet.

"My wife was a Hiccup." Shōta snarled out. "My sister is a Hiccup. Hel, Mirai, the Chief's own Shield-Brother, is a Hiccup and had proven to be a great warrior. Both my wife and sister were weak in combat, but both aided Higari, another Hiccup, on upgrading his Forge to keep the fire going longer and lessen the resources on making weapons. And, if not for their intelligence, we wouldn't had been able to make bread, quicker, by making a Grain Mill."

The viking yelped from the tightening hold on his arm, beginning to lose feeling to his right.

"Don't forget, the chief completely abolished the tradition of banning Hiccups the day he and the Katsuki Tribe burnt his own wife's ship... The same day I set fire to my wife's ship, when sending them off to Valhalla." Shōta hissed out, before shoving him to the ground and standing over him. "And with how there's very few of us, barely being over a hundred of us left, any child born within Berk should be considered a sacred blessing from Frigga, herself. Unless you want to taunt Freya and suffer the consequences, for wanting to harm her chosen? Or, even get on Odin's bad side, for calling a blessing from his own wife, a mistake?"

The viking on the floor rubbed his injured arm, slowly gaining feeling to his hand, and glared up at one of the chief's Shield-Brother. But, didn't say anything. Knowing he speaks the truth, and sees its best to not taunt him, any further.

Seeing that he wasn't going to argue, Aizawa slowly took his leave.

"If I hear you speak one more ill-word of the girl or anything involving Hiccups, and I'll see to it that the Chief gives you a rightful punishment to prevent any chances of you ever baring a Hiccup for you to father. Let alone, any more children for you to bare and father."

His threat lingered in the air, even as his presence left them.

The second guard gave his friend a disappointed gaze.

"You know? You did, kinda, asked for it." He pointed out, as the first guard collected his spear and got up from the ground. "I mean, I do agree with you on being suspicious of the girl for choosing dragons over her own kind and that she'll likely won't help us. But, at the same time, she's still a child and, by the Aizawa Triplets' own admission to what they've witnessed, Freya claimed her as her chosen."

The first viking grumbled underneath his breath, glaring at his friend.

"Don't you patronize me," he growled. "Regardless what they saw, there's no way in Hel that Freya would choose a Hiccup as her chosen. Besides, we both know Shōta has a soft spot for kids, because he lost his unborn child the same day his wife died and is making it up by giving a damn to any child he sees that 'needs' his help."

That time, his friend whacked him upside the head with the butt of his spear.

"Hey!" He yelled, righting his dented helmet back on his head.

"He may seem to be a softie, but he isn't that soft towards the young teens. Remember his training methods, with his students?"

The first viking shivered at the question.

The last time he went over to the Death Arena to see how the new recruits, his heart almost jumped right out of his chest when the Gronckle nearly blasted a student in the chest and slammed another with its tail.

And the whole time, Aizawa stood off to the side, arms folded in front of his chest and not in the least concern that his students were almost burnt to death.

And one time, he heard a rumor that Shōta, actually, opened the door of the Monstrous Nightmare's cage and left his students to fight the raging beast, with only a shield and dagger as their choice of protection and weapon.

"Point taken," he admitted underneath his breath.

As they stood guard, the second guard turned to stare at the sleeping girl. Still curled up in a black-ball and covering her while body within her hooded-cape, barely making a sound.

He then raised his gaze towards the barred-hole of the cell, hearing the Night Fury screeching out, again. Continuing its cry for the girl.

He let out a tiring sigh.

"Sounds like it's going to be another long night of restless sleep for Berk."

The first grunted out a reply, agreeing with his friend.

"At least we're not keeping guard over the beast." He stated, standing in attention.

The second guard turned to his friend.

"Which one: The dragon, or Enji, the Great Endeavor?"

"...Yes."

At the Death Arena...
"Blasted beast, shut up!"

A large, muscular man, slamming his Skeggøx against the large iron-door.

The vibration of metal against metal caused the raging Night Fury to screech even louder, slamming his body more so against the other side of the door and releasing a few blast of purple-fire through the gap of the door.

The large-man dropped down to dodge the attack, glaring at the black-spot on the stone wall that the dragon caused, for the forty-nineth time.

He got back on his feet, this time, slamming his left-fist against the door, glaring back at the black-dragon.

"Don't think I won't go in there and muzzle you up, again, Devil." He threatened. "Or, would you prefer I visit that human of yours and bring her severed head to you, to make you permanently shut you up?"

His threat made the Night Fury even more angry and, standing up on his hind-legs, let out a massive screech that could make a deaf man hear.

"HAAAAAAAAAUUUUUWWWWW!"

Clearly, he didn't like anyone make any threats towards his Human Hatchling. Promising, if the human does keep true to his threat on the girl, he'll kill him, back.

Enji sneered at the dragon, didn't move when the beast practically screamed to his face, spitting off to the side to show the animal's scream didn't mean anything to him.

"Can't wait for the day your blood will be spilled, Monster." He said, as he placed his Skeggøx to his back.

He head for the basket of dead animals, grabbed for a recently dead chicken, heading back for the door, tossed the dead bird through the gap of the door.

The dragon glared at the dead chicken, then back at the human that threatened to harm his hatchling, then with a sneer of his own, whacked the bird to the door with his tail, turning his back to the human.

Once again, rejecting the food they're giving him to eat.

Endeavor growled at the dragon's refusal to take the dead animal to eat, again.

"Stubborn beast," he growled.

"Enji."

Turning to the voice, Enji glared at his chief, Toshinori, who came walking towards him.

"Toshinori." He growled, though nodded his head to show respect to his chief... Who, also, happened to be his cousin.

The blonde-male nodded back to his older-cousin, before turning to the door to see the dragon.

Giving the dragon the same angry, hateful gaze, as the beast circled around the ground, letting out fire in the process, before taking his burnt spot to rest in.

"How goes the dragon?" He asked. Though, seeing another rejected food on the ground, told him the same answer before Enji answered him.

"It still refuses to eat and nearly took out six of our men, when they try to muzzle it, again." Enji informed, glaring at the dragon, glaring back at the two. Though, as soon as Toshinori came into view, the beast pulled its lips up and flashed his fangs at the chief.

His claws dug against the ground, both wings expended in the air. His right, however, was held in an awkward angle and can't stretch out, fully, than his left-wing.

Endeavor scoffed at the dragon. A bit intrigued, but mostly thinking it didn't look as scary after a few times looking at it, now that his appearance is now known.

"Seems the dragon doesn't like you one bit, Toshinori." He smirked, folding his arms over his chest.

"You don't say, Enji?" The chief replied, glaring back at the dragon. "Well, the feeling's neutral. On account he's the reason both my wife, and son have been dead for over fourteen years."

The Night Fury hissed at the viking's words, eyes slit and mouth glowing purple.

Immediately, the two vikings dropped down to the ground and avoided another blast of plasma-fire, adding another scorch mark to the wall.

The two cousins got back to their feet, but crouched close to the gap of the door in case it tries to blast them, again.

Enji turned to his cousin, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't think it likes to be scolded for something it did a long time ago, Cousin." He stated, before turning back to the dragon. "Either that, or it doesn't remember doing such a thing and is being defensive for something it believe to not have done."

The forty-five year-old chief grunted at the dragon's action, and his cousin's suggestion.

...

...Though, recalling the way the dragon went out of his way to save his human and fought some of his men to prevent any to go after her, despite Shōta being able to escape and having his brothers assist him on capturing her, made a small piece of him feel as if the dragon, actually, didn't do such a claim.

But, at the same time, finding the blackest scales he ever laid eyes on next to Inko and Izuku's clothes, both covered in blood, made him reconsider of the dragon's innocence and convince this is the right culprit, almost fourteen Winters ago.

The dragon, now up on his feet and slowly stalked to the side, with his eyes still on the two until he reached the wall, stood as high he could on his hind-legs and laid both paws against the stone wall.

Then, as he's done for days, let out wobbles and screeches to the smallest-gaps to the ceiling.

"Haaaaauuuu! Haaooooouuuuu!"

The two vikings knew, immediately, that he's calling out for his human. Even when her cries went silent or barely over a whispering wind, the dragon still continues to call out for her.

Just like any worried father, when separated from his child.

Enji let out a tiring sigh, slowly getting back up to his full height.

"Sounds like it's going to be another long night, without any peace and quiet for Berk." He stated, grumbling and wincing when the dragon let out another wobbling roar.

Toshinori looked down and saw the dead chicken on the ground, next to the dragon's tail. Completely ignored.

Just like the last few dead animals they offered the last few days to the dragon, and all had been rejected or pushed off to the side.

Enji looked to where his chief is looking at.

"It's still refusing any food we're giving it." He informed. "It'll drink the water we're giving it, but for some reason, it won't eat."

Toshinori, having a hunch this would happen, pulled out a fish from underneath his bear-skin cape and tossed it through the gap, landing near the dead bird and the reptile's tail.

The dragon ceased his cry when it felt a nudge to his tail, and looked down at the dead fish.

The Night Fury stared at the fish for a few seconds, then looked back at the two Vikings...

...And, with a quick flick of his tail, sent the fish right back at Toshinori, before his brain could tell his body to duck. Hitting him square in the face.

Seeing he made a direct hit to his target, the dragon let out a wobbly chuckle, laughing at the chief.

As the fish slid down Toshinori's stunned face, Enji couldn't help but fall to the ground and laugh at his cousin.

"Ah, Odin had forsaken you!" He taunted, bellowing and slammed a fist against the ground. "You should see your face right now! It's priceless!"

Toshinori glared down at his older-cousin, not finding the whole thing funny. Especially, since he'll smell like fish until he bathes.

He then turned his glare at the still chuckling dragon. Which, to him, sounded like a deep croaking of a frog.

He picked up the fish from the ground, held tight in his fist.

"I don't find this amusing as you do, Devil." He growled, tossing the fish back in the pen. This time, aiming for the dragon's face.

The Night Fury, unlike the chief, was prepared and used his injured wing to block the fish from hitting his face.

The dragon snorted, as he smacked the fish to the other side of the pen with his tail and turned back to the stone-wall, placing both paws back on it and let out more roars and screeches for his human hatchling to hear him.

Enji continues to laugh on the ground as the chief stared at the dragon, neither of them taking notice of somebody coming towards them.

"Should I even ask what happened?"

Both turned and saw it was Shōta, giving both a raised eyebrow.

More so, towards Enji, seeing the tears in his eyes and smirking up at his younger-cousin, struggling to keep a straight face.

He turned to his chief.

"What's up with him?"

He then took notice of a smell coming off of Toshinori and, taking a few sniffs, grimaced when he recognized the smell of fish.

"Beard of Thor, you reek of fish!" He growled, holding a hand over his mouth and nose. "Why you smell like fish?"

His answer, was Endeavor letting out another fit of laughter, while Toshinori glared into the pen, as the dragon finally stopped screeching and sat down on the ground, looking straight up at the ceiling and letting out a soft whimper.

Shōta looked within the pen and saw the fish on the ground, taking a guess gamble that the dragon had something to do with his chief smelling like fish.

He turned back to Toshinori.

"...Well, anyways, I came to tell you about the girl's condition." He informed, folding his arms over his chest. "She's still refusing to eat. -He rubbed the back of his head with his right-hand.- She, also, threw a fresh loaf at my head."

Hearing something similar take place, Enji chuckled, as he finally got to his feet.

"At least it was bread that hit you, and not a smelly, dry fish." He pointed out, jerking a thumb towards the chief. "Like Toshi, did."

The chief ignored his cousin's teasing, focusing to what one of his Shield-Brothers had informed them about their other 'guest'.

"She's still not eating?" He replied, very much concern by the news. "Judging by her physical condition, if she doesn't start eating, she'll be dead before the end of next week."

Enji, no longer having the fits of laughter, had on a serious look when his cousin spoke of great concern over the girl.

"Who cares if she dies?" He asked, not in the least showing to care. "We should be more worried about the beast. When she dies, we'll lose any form of leverage to keep it under control and will start killing us. -He glared at the dragon.- We should get out over with and allow Katsuki to kill the Devil, already."

The dragon lifted part of his lips, flashing the red-haired male his fangs. Indicating that he heard the human's suggestion, and understood what he wants them to do with him.

Shōta shook his head to the suggestion.

"If Katsuki is right about there being others from her tribe on Berk, waiting to save them and learn that we've killed the Night Fury, they'll suspect we've killed the girl as well and may get reinforcement to attack us. They could, even, aid the dragons from the raids to take us out. Either that, or suffer from Freya's wrath for not keeping her chosen alive. Frigga may, also, get involved, if we dare harm her, since she's still a child. Which, I'll have to inform you on some of the guards' comment on how to keep her 'tamed', later on, Chief."

Toshinori was a bit surprised by Shōta's report, but nodded his head to confirm that he'll be available to listen and want to know what his men are saying that seems to rub Aizawa the wrong way.

"Shōta's right." The forty-five year-old replied. "We can't kill the Devil, until we eliminate other potential threats that may befall us. Fortunately, dragons can last for almost two moons without food*. So, until we can figure out how to get the dragon to eat, what we need to do is focus on getting the girl to eat, first. Starting first thing in the morning. -He then turned to his cousin.- Still, just in case, keep giving the beast food and water. At least he'll drink to stay hydrated."

Enji let out a low grumble, but forced out an "Aye.", confirming that he'll do as his chief has asked of him to do and will pass along the message to the others in charge of feeding and watering the dragons.

Seeing as there isn't anything left to do in the dragon's pen and, with the Night Fury burning the ground underneath him and taking his new spot against the wall to sleep, the three vikings decided to take their leave and head back to the village.

Night Fury's POV
As the three men took their leave, the Night Fury lifted his head to where he sees the gap of the outside world of his imprisonment.

His concern for his Human Hatchling grows, with each passing day. From what the Vikings were saying, she'll grow sicker if she doesn't start eating and her wound will get even more infected.

At least, his mate, his first clutch and older Human Hatchling are safe and keeping hidden until the right opportunity.

To the left of his pen, he hears the rumble of the Monsterous Nightmare. The one called Hook Fang.

He was caught over four moons, ago, during a raid. He was trying to aid a few Gronckles on escaping with the haul, when a viking threw a wooden cart at the back of his head and left him disoriented when he dropped to the ground, ending up muzzled and dragged within a net.

He's still haunted, to this very day, by the sight of the Monsterous Nightmare that was imprisoned before him. Left bleeding out in the middle of the Death Arena, an axe through his chest, by a an eighteen Winter-old human, who was given the honored on killing his first dragon to the entire village.

Apparently, he was delayed to be a true viking, due to being selected to be trained to become the next right-hand man of the chief, should the current Viking end up falling in battle.

The dragon from the other side of the wall was the leader of the small group of imprisoned dragon of Berk, until they smelled the Night Fury's scent and recognized he's a true Alpha and taken under the wing to a King of All Dragons.

"Save strength and spark, Friend. Scream all sun, tomorrow, at Vikings. Let Hatchling know you're still alive, then."

The Night Fury let out a huff to the suggestion, but knew Hook Fang is trying to remind him that rest is important, if he ever ends up being rescued and reassure his Human Hatchling that he's still alive.

"Grateful, Friend." He replied, a rumble of a purr came out from his throat.

To his right, a growl of a whimper of the Gronckle pulled their attention to Meatlug.

"Food. So hungry. Scared. Don't want to die, here."

She barely grew out of adolescence, a moon ago, when the queen threatened to eat her and her kins of she didn't join the raid. And when joining her flock to steal fish, she was the first to be caught in a bola and left to watch many of her siblings to die in their attempt to save her.

The few who survived, left to take what little they stole back to the queen... And none ever showed up in the raids, suns later.

The Night Fury let out coos of comfort, hoping to soothe the whimpering Gronckle.

"Rest, Young Wing. You'll forget hunger in your dreams." He rumbled lowly, scraping one of his paws against the wall. "Alone, we're weak and vulnerable. Together, we're strong and brave."

Meatlug whimpered, but from the sound of scales rubbing against stone next to his, told him that she's taking his words to comfort and will start to rest.

A Few squawk-screech, close to Hook Fang's pen, pulled his attention.

"Cruel human. Lock up own kind, a youngling, for being Dragon Hatchling. Being born a runt. Unforgivable!"

It was Stormfly, a Deadly Nadder, who voiced out hatred and anger towards the Vikings of Berk.

Surprisingly, she wasn't caught by the Vikings, like the rest of the group.

...She was born, here.

Some of the Vikings were able to capture her mother, who was carrying her egg within her womb at the time, a few Winters ago. Her father, sadly, was killed in his attempt to rescue his mate.

She would've been killed, herself, if her mother hadn't hidden her egg from them and by the time they'd discovered Stormfly, her mother contacted an illness and passed away in her sleep.

The only one whose been there for her and taught her how to fly, is the Hideous Zippleback, Spark-and-Smog*, and the Terrible Terror, Sharpshot.

The Night Fury didn't bother to change her mind. He's in an agreement with her and understood her point of view for her rage towards them. Although, he has more of a historical reason for hating the Vikings of Berk, rather than just the fact that they've shot him down and kept his Human Hatchling away from him.

And he swore, as soon as he breaks out of here, help the other dragons to escape and rescue his young, he'll set the whole island on fire. Regardless, if it'll cause the Red Death to be enraged that one of her food sources had been destroyed. Let alone, if the king approves his decision as Alpha to all Night Furies, or not.

Right now, he needs to rest. Hopefully, his mate, first clutch and older Human Hatchling will aid them on spreading the chaos within Berk for capturing them.

A Few Suns Later...
A girl of fifteen Winters-old, short-brown hair and warm Auburn-brown eyes felt a bit jittery today.

Today, she's going to be giving the guards food... The ones guarding the girl, who's with the Night Fury.

Ochako knows that this feeling isn't really acceptable; the girl they have, while convinced to being Freya's chosen, is their prisoner until she cooperates with them on how to deal with the dragons and finding the Nest.

But, if she were honest, she's really excited to meet her. Curious as to where she's from, if there are dragons amongst her tribe and if everyone have their own dragons.

'Maybe, all of the dragons are Night Furies and they have status of them all over their village. Do they even worship any of the Gods? I'm guessing Loki, if they do. Or, perhaps, Thor.' She pondered, slowly walking down the stone-steps down to the cells, making sure she doesn't drop either of the two plates full of bread and cooked chicken leg.

Normally, another viking in charge of cooking would be the one to deliver food to the guards. But, because some of them had caught an early Winter Chill and the rest are behind to check on the chicken and yaks to gather their eggs and milk, Ochako's mom had to take over the cooking at the Mess Hall and had asked her daughter to deliver the food to the guards, today.

And because she's very eager to see the girl, being very much concern for her safety and witnessing her breakdown when being force to separate from a just as upset Night Fury, Uraraka was more than happy to take over on delivering food.

As she nears the back of the cells, she hears a commotion going on.

"Will you stop struggling?! She's only here to help!"

"Hey! Quit that! Don't make us muzzle you, Brat!"

Wondering what was going on, Ochako picked her pace a little, being careful to not trip on her way to the end of their prison.

When she got there, she was greeted by Torino, who stood outside of the bars of the cell. And within the cell, his wife stood by the door, patiently waiting and watching the two guards trying to keep their prisoner/guest under control.

...Ochako was a bit taken back that, despite how thin she's gotten and weak she became without food, the girl is able to weave around them and make them trip over each other.

The girl hissed at the two guards on the ground, crouched low to the ground, her hooded-cape discarded on the ground near Chiyo, and slowly walking on all-fours close to the wall.

Sorahiko took notice of Ochako's presence, turning to the girl.

"Came to watch the show?" He greeted, smirking down at her. "They've been at it for almost an hour, now. It's quite impressive, that she's able to keep fighting them, even when weakened from hunger and cold."

"While it may be entertaining to you, Sweetheart, leaving that neck wound unattended and refusing to eat isn't something that'll ensure she lives a long, healthy life." Chiyo replied, letting out a deep sigh when the two guards tried to charge at the same time to grab her... Only to end up slamming their heads against the walls when the girl leaped over their backs to dodge.

The girl snorted at the two guards, as they stumbled to get back on their feet and pulling off their helmet, since they have a bit of a dent where their foreheads are. She hunches over the ground, growling lowly as the two adults try to grab her, again.

Ochako, while a bit taken back at the younger-girl's purposely taunting the two to chase her, couldn't help but be in awe from the way her swift movement and body appear feline-like.

She was, also, intrigued by what her choice of clothing she wore underneath her cape. Though, was certain that it looks more like she's wearing a tunic completely made out of Dragon scales. Most definitely, Night Fury scales. The pants seem to be normal, black as her tunic and look a bit torn to where the knees are.

What caught her attention, however, was her bare feet out in the open, appearing a bit purple from the cold. And last she was certain, she was wearing black-York Viking boots. And, from what she heard from Ashido and Kirishima, she had on gloves that had claws at the end of her fingers.

"Wait a second. Where are her boots, and gloves?" She asked, placing both plates on the ground to her left.

Sorahiko let out a groan, appearing very unhappy and disapproval.

"The guards took them away, so she wouldn't escape and/or cause damage to them; her gloves had been under the care of Higari and his pupils, since they're curious by their designs, while her boots have been given to Tsunagu."

Uraraka was just as angry as the old viking. And when she watches the girl finally get grabbed and pinned her to the ground, her face pressed against the ground and arms folded behind her back, Ochako's anger grew.

Without thinking, she opened the door and ran in, pushing the adults off of the younger-girl.

"What in the name of Thor is wrong with you two?!" She yelled, standing in front of the girl.

The girl looked up at the older-girl that stood before her, protecting her from the two adults and the elder one. She cocked her head to the side, curious.

The two guards stared at Ochako as if she grew a second head, like she became a Hideous Zippleback.

"Step aside, Uraraka. We need to contain her, so Chiyo can take a look at that neck wound." One stated, glaring down at the girl on the ground.

"She won't stop biting anybody who comes into her cell, so we need to prevent her from injuring us!" The second exclaimed, grabbing his spear and holding it up. "Get out of the way, before she attacks you, too."

Ochako didn't like either of their answers. Thus, remained standing in place.

"After what we've done to her and her dragon, what did you expect her response would be?" She asked. "We shot her and the Night Fury down, injured them in the process, bound them in ropes and are now keeping them separated. It's no wonder her reaction is to refuse the food we give her and keep fighting us, especially since you took away her boots and gloves."

Chiyo and Sorahiko watches what goes on before them, wanting to see where this would go. Seeing as Ochako is handling this well, on her own.

The two guards turned to each other, a bit taken back by her defending their prisoner/guest.

The second guard then tried to counter with the obvious excuse as to why they need to keep treating her as such.

"She's siding with those bastards," he hissed. "They destroyed our catapults, multiple times, allowing those thieving monsters to keep stealing food and livestocks from us and killing us! Burned down our homes, and set fire to the ships! -He pointed an accusing finger at the girl, who hissed at him.- So what if she's Freya's Flame Chosen? She deserves to be punish. Even be put to death, just like every dragon in the entire Archipelago!"

Again, Ochako didn't back down. Even stomped her foot to the ground.

"Don't you think there's a reason as to why they come to our island, stealing our food? And why do you think they're killing us, when we're killing them for over seven generations?!" She yelled. "And last I checked, the Night Fury hadn't killed anybody, at all, since we've caged it. That proves they have individual thoughts, of intellectual thinking to know what's going on! -She extended a hand down at the girl, who seemed to be just as in awe by her speech as the adults.- Which means, she has reasons to be here. Despite what you choose to believe, I believe she's been sent here to help! But, we have to do our part, by earning her trust! -She then walked up to the viking holding the spear, grasped it in her hold and pulled it out of the adults.- And that starts, by not using our weapons on her or her dragon!"

She then tossed the weapon to the side, leaving it to roll to where Chiyo stood.

The girl on the floor stared to where the spear was tossed to, then back at the girl who blew up at the now stunned guards.

Sorahiko and Chiyo both had looks of intrigue and even a hint of approval by the girl's actions; there are a few times she would go to somebody's defense when they see something is wrong, but this is the first time she lost her composure and blew up at older-authorities, even when she knew she'd be in big trouble for speaking any hint of being on the enemy's side.

The first guard recovered from his shock, then his face turned angry.

"Are you siding with those beasts, Uraraka?" He growled, grabbing for his own spear he placed against the wall. "You know, that this can be viewed as treason, girl. Even if Freya did, in fact, chosen her, your loyalty to your tribe and your chief should always come, first. And for standing in our way, for doing our jobs, which the chief told us to do, we can keep you in this cell with her."

Ochako suddenly felt nervous, even a bit scared, from the threat. She didn't know how to answer, when she doesn't know what the right answer to say to them.

Sorahiko and Chiyo glared at the two guards, knowing what they're trying to pull.

"You, seriously, trying to place the blame on the girl, for standing up to you two yak-heads and speaking the truth?" The old-viking questioned, making a threat of his own. "Such actions, and the threat on imprisoning her for embarrassing the both of you, is not acceptable by either our chief or the gods."

And as if to speak out her own opinion, the girl on the ground snarled at the two men, making hissing sounds into the mixture.

Chiyo smirked at the girl's choice on making dragon sound, before turning to the two men and went to open the cage door.

"I believe, gentlemen, that you both have overstayed your welcome and it would be best if you both leave and send in two new guards to watch over our guest, before I let my husband inform Toshinori on your attempt to frame dear Uraraka for a crime she didn't commit." She threatened, pointing the way out with her cane.

The two stared down at the elder/Head-healer of Berk. Even if they go tell the chief their side of the story to make it seem as if they're doing the right thing, Toshinori will believe Sorahiko and Chiyo and once he hears their account, they'll be caught up in their own lies and be punished.

So, knowing they were left with no other choice, the two guards walked out of the cell, with the second guard picking up his weapon when walking passed the healer, and left the dungeon to go switch places on guard duty with.

As soon as they left, Ochako felt the pressure of fear leave and can finally relax. A deep sigh left her chest.

She then turned to the girl on all-fours on the ground, who looked up to meet her gaze when she knew the two guards were gone.

Her gaze seemed to be a bit softer. Still showed the same fear and anger towards them, but they didn't look as sharp as they did, earlier.

Thinking she now sees her as a friend, or at least an ally of sorts, Ochako beamed down at her and raised a hand towards her. Offering to help her stand.

"He-"

"Back away, Girl!"

Sorahiko's voice carried in the air, as instinct kicked in within the fifteen year-old when the girl suddenly sprang up and tried to bite her hand. Fortunately, she was able to pull away on time and jump to the side, as the fourteen year-old snarled at her and got in a crouch position.

Ochako then noticed something dripping on the girl's right-hand, coming from underneath her head.

It was then that she figured out that her neck-wound has gotten even more infected and, most likely ill and has a high fever, is being delusional from sickness and hunger.

A hand grabbed for her arm, it being Chiyo, pulling her to follow her out of the cell.

Ochako looked upset.

"But, Chiyo-...!"

The old woman shook her head, keeping her eyes on the girl in the cell.

"I need Anan to get me herbs to help with the infection, since the herbs I brought are for minor injuries." She informed the girl, as her husband closed the cell door. "I'd assumed her hood would keep the wound from getting dirty. But, from the dark-red coloring, this most likely isn't the first time her cloak was removed. And, from how long she's been going without treatment, I'm gonna need my dagger to help flush out the wound."

Sorahiko watches the girl in the cell growling at them, as she slowly and limped, probably hurt her arm or lost some feeling from being grabbed roughly by the guards, to grab her hooded-cape by the teeth and bring it to the corner closest to the small gap to the outside world of the dungeon.

It was then they hear the Night Fury calling out to the girl, as if he can tell something wasn't right and needed to hear her call back to him.

She let out a few coos and leaned against the wall, trying to let out whimpering shrieks to call back to her Dragon-Father. Forced out coughs left her lungs, resulting her to curl in on herself and shiver from her overheating body thinking she's cold, pulling her hooded-cape over her.

Sorahiko and Chiyo turned to each other, looking very worried. Unfortunately, neither of them can do anything about it.

Ochako, grabbing onto two bars of the cell with both hands, glared down at her. Not of anger towards her, but with determination and trying to figure out how to help the younger-girl.

Both her and her dragon, knowing the Night Fury will go on a rampage if she doesn't respond to his cry and is left coughing her lungs out.

It was then that a thought came to her. As if she was struck by Thor's lightning. Or, a Skrill.

She turned to the two elders.

"We need to see the chief," she informed. "We need to get them, together. Now."

TBC

Chapter Text

"We can't do that!"

"Out of the question!"

"Absolutely not!"

"Are you serious?! There's no way we should do that!"

Just as Ochako had expected, everyone was against her idea.

Even Mirai, standing to the right of Toshinori, lost his calmness and joined in on the yelling.

"We can't take that risk, you foolish girl! Who knows what'll happen, if we have her placed with that Night Fury!" He exclaimed, slamming his hewing-spear against the ground. "For all we know, she could control the dragons within the pens to go berserk and attack us, as soon as we open the doors to the pens!"

"And what about the death of the Chief's wife, their son, Izuku, Cindy Arashi and her unborn child?! We demand justice, for what the Night Fury had done to them!" Mitsuki added in, raising a fist and her axe in the air. "As such, my son has earned the right to kill that monster!"

Standing off to the side on the left-side of the chief, next to Sorahiko, Aizawa stared down at a blushing, embarrassed, but determined Uraraka.

She wasn't one of his top students in Dragon Training; not one to favor killing living creatures, unlike most of his students. But, has proven to be a reliable protector to guard/protect others, and one of his most dedicated observational student, besides Yaoyorozu and Katsuki.

He still worry on whether or not she'll ever become a true Viking, if she doesn't make a dragon killing in the raids. But, on the fact that she'll help gather herbs for Chiyo and the healers, hopefully she'll gain the gods favor on becoming a healer.

She stared up at her chief, who folded his arms over his chest. After a few stomping of Nighteye's weapon, everyone present within the Mess Hall finally quieted down.

"She may have been chosen by Freya, herself, but she's still a trespasser on Berk. And, on top of it all, she's on the side of dragons." Toshinori stated, reminding the girl. "Not only that, but after examining her gloves and removing all of the hidden weapons she carried on her person, it's obvious that she's more dangerous than she appears. What guarantee would we have, that she won't use the dragons against us?"

The fifteen year-old glared up at the blonde. While she's scared for what she was about to do, she also felt it was injustice of them to not see what they were doing was killing Freya's Chosen.

So, she didn't hesitated to speak her mind.

"She's literally starving herself to death, and is sick from the infection in her neck wound that Bakugō caused. And, truly feral or not, her response to refuse medical treatment is her not being able to trust us, after said attack towards her and her dragon." She pointed out. "She damaged her voice from calling out to the Night Fury, and is still trying to call out to him, trying to let him know she's okay. If she was going to have the dragons in the Death Arena to attack us, she would've done so, as soon as she was placed in the cell. Or, better yet, when we separated her from the Night Fury in the Death Arena. Not reassuring her dragon that she's still alive. And, from how sick she is and how thin she's getting, she won't be alive for much long and we'll have to deal with a grieving, angry dragon."

"Which will be resolved, once I chop off its head and mount its head on a pike!" Katsuki cut in, standing with some of his friends off to the side, glaring at his classmate.

Ochako glared back at the older-teen.

"We can't always solve our problems with violence, alone!" She stated, hands clenched into right fists. "Otherwise, we wouldn't be forced to fight in a seven generational war with the dragons that our ancestors fought in!"

Coming up to her right, Asui Tsuyu came up.

"Our opinion and feelings towards the dragons shouldn't be important, right now. Kero." The younger-girl chimed in, agreeing with her friend. "What truly matters, is the safety and protection of our village. And if we don't find a new method to stop the raids, we'll all starve or freeze to death."

Then, Kōji Kōda raised his hand in the air and, using his hands, formed words to speak. Yaoyorozu, nearby, translated for him.

"'Not only that, but the animals are so scared, some have already stopped giving us milk and/or eggs. And their food supplies are either burnt, or spoiled from the dragons' blood soaking the ground.'" She translated. "'And while I understand survival of the fittest and want to fight to protect my family and the animals, I don't want to keep killing, anymore, when it hasn't been working all these years.'"

Momo nodded her head to their extremely shy friend.

"We should, also, consider the fact on how much resources we've used up, that have been wasted on continuous repairs." She added in. "Even if we found a way to ward them off, that would be more effective to our survival than continue a war we aren't going to win in."

Ochako turned to some of her friends, smiling in gratitude of them backing her up to her argument.

Around them, some Vikings whispered amongst themselves. Some seemed to be considering what she was trying to say.

Seeing as a good time to step up, Sorahiko stepped up and turned to the now thinking chief.

"The youngsters have a point, Toshinori." He commented, pointing his cane towards the Mess Hall doors. "Instead of stubborn pride and following viking traditions, we should find another way to put an end to this war. And that girl, whether she truly is chosen by Freya or not, could very much be our last chance to save our home. And you know we need to act fast, or we will have to tell our people what we may have to do, if we keep losing this ongoing war."

Bringing up the topic, made the forty-five year-old viking wince and clench his teeth.

His cousin, next to Mirai, took a step forward and raised his Skeggøx in the air.

"You can't be serious, Old One!" He yelled. "We're Vikings! It's an occupational hazard! We know the risk, like our ancestors before us! Did they backed down to the dragons, when they were out numbered?! No! Thor gave them strength, and helped them claim Berk for us! We won't abandon our home, and we won't turn away from our heritage!"

Sorahiko glared at the forty-six year-old glared at his chief's cousin.

"So, you would rather we die, following our ancestors actions, hoping Thor would grant us his help as he did the first generation of Berk, instead of taking this offer Freya has given us that could help us put an end to this war?!" He replied, pointing his cane towards the younger-viking. "That is treason! You wish to sentence us to death!"

Mirai then stepped forward, getting between the two before they attempt towards each other.

"Cease this argument! Both of you!" He demanded, becoming the peace keeper. "This is not the time to claim treason, nor is it the time to lead our village to genocide! -He turned to stare down at Ochako.- What we're here for, is to decide on whether to go along with this Ochako's suggestion or not."

Many eyes turned to their chief, who seemed to be in thought on what he should consider on doing or not.

Aizawa raised an eyebrow, curious as to what Toshinori will do. While he isn't keen on continuing this war and will do anything to put an end to it, he isn't really comfortable on having the girl be anywhere with the dragons.

Especially, the Night Fury.

Raised by them or coexisting with them, it didn't matter to the thirty-one year-old male. Dragons are dangerous to humans, that just one breathe of fire will kill a whole person.

'Why would her own parents allow her to be with the dragon? Let alone, a Night Fury?' He pondered. '...Unless... They're dead...?'

Just then, the doors to the Mess Hall opened and came running is Iida, another of his students.

"Chief!" Tenya called out.

Other vikings moved out of the speedy viking, allowing him to the front and, before the chief, he kneeled on the ground to bow in respect.

He was slightly panting, a bit out of breathe. Indicating that he came running, without stopping.

As soon as he caught his breath, he raised his right-hand up.

In his hand, an arrow. And, wrapped around the arrow, is a note.

"An arrow had been fired at the Yak Shed!" He informed, clearly worried and a bit shaken. "My brother and some of his men are scouring the area to find out who fired the arrow! But, so far, there's been no sign or reporting of ships coming to Berk!"

The news was very troubling to the Vikings of Berk.

Including Toshinori and Enji.

The chief took the arrow from the teen, and removed the note.

Within the note, a letter was written... The letters were written in red.

...

...And, from the smell of it, it was blood.

People of Berk,

You've imprisoned two member of our Flock.

To show you that we don't intend to do any harm on your island, we've coursed the dragons to uninhabited islands nearby to scavage for food. In exchange, we require the release of the Night Fury and his rider.

You have until the New Moon to release them.

Do so, and we shall leave Berk. We'll even fix your raid problem, permanently.

Refuse, and the next raid will commence. And you'll end up losing more than just your livestocks.

...Kill them, and we'll bring forth your demise. Gods, be damned.

This is your only warning.

-The Eldest Human Hatchling of the Night Fury.

Toshinori glared down at the note, hands shaking in rage.

It's already the half moon. Meaning, the new moon will take place, soon.

Whomever dares to make a threat upon his people, will fall to his axe. Even if what they're doing and offering is a message from Odin, himself. This is their fight, and they'll handle it, themselves.

He turned to his cousin, handing him the note to read.

"Scour every inch of Berk," he hissed. "And when you find them, bring them here for execution."

Just as pissed off when he read the note, Enji stormed off, letting out a quick whistle for some of his best men to follow him out of the Mess Hall.

When he was gone, Toshinori turned back to Ochako.

An answer has been made.

"We shall wait until tomorrow. If she's alive in the morning, I shall permit her to be moved to the Night Fury. If she dies, the Night Fury dies... When that happens, we must evacuate off of Berk."

Hours Later...
Ochako stares down at the cooked chicken.

She isn't in the mood for food.

She didn't see what was written on the letter, but whatever it said, she found it unfair that her chief is going to wait until tomorrow to allow the girl to be moved to the dragon's pen at the Death Arena.

As if he was punishing her. Like she was the one who wrote it.

'It's not right,' She thought. 'He knows that we need to let the Night Fury know she's okay. If he doesn't see her, he'll believe that she's dead and will start going through a frenzy. If not him, then Freya will bring forth her anger unto Berk, for harming her chosen.'

"Hey, Ochako."

The fifteen year-old looked up and saw Ashido, Momo, Jirō, Hagakure and Asui standing before her, each holding their own cooked chicken.

They all came over and sat at the same table with her. Asui and Hagakure sat to her right, Ashido in front of her, while Yaoyorozu, Ashido and Jirō sat across of her.

Clearly, they want to know what's on her mind.

"You doing okay, Ochako?" Mina asked.

The second youngest-girl of the group let out a deep sigh of disappointment.

"Not really," she admitted. "I was hoping the chief would see reason, and let her be reunited with the Night Fury."

Her friends felt bad for their friend. They can tell this was really eating her.

Hagakure looked a bit nervous at the bringing to of the Night Fury.

"Well, I mean, you gotta admit, the suggestion is a bit crazy; the Night Fury is the Unholy Offspring of Lightning and Death, itself. So, you can't help but see why he would hesitate to the idea."

"That, and the fact that the Night Fury is the very dragon that killed his wife and son, over fourteen Winters ago." Yaoyorozu added in, not in the least sorry for bringing up the truth and showing her anger towards the dragon.

Jirō let out a deep yawn. She appear to not be able to get much sleep.

"Yeah, but if it'll get that beast to shut up and stop keeping us up all night, I'm willing to go along with Uraraka's plan." Kyōka replied, resting her head into the palm of her hand and picked at her meal.

Ochako knew better than to be angry at their words, since it's almost instinctive of Berk to hate dragons for any reason, with reason or no reason.

She went to eat her meal, only to then stop and her mind to go towards the girl in the dungeon, starving and getting sicker from her infected neck-wound.

'Is she still refusing to eat? Is she getting too sick, that she can't stomach food without pain or puking it up?'

Ochako can't bring herself to eat her chicken. Instead, she got up from her seat and grabbed her chicken, heading for the doors of the Mess Hall.

Her friends were taken back by her sudden choice to walk off.

"Ochako! Where are you going?!" Hagakure called out.

The short-haired girl turned to her friends. Determination shined over her face.

"If the chief wants to have our guest hold out one more night in her cell, without caring her condition is, then the least Berk can do is ensure that she keeps up her strength and show Freya we deserve her favor."

"You sure you want to go in there?" One of the new guards asked the teen.

"The chief may not approve of this." The second new guard added in, as he looked over his shoulder and stared down at the girl within the cell. "Even though we can't stand the sight of a child suffering, and being treated as some criminal from Outcast Island."

Ochako stared down at the girl lying on the floor, on top of the hay pile.

Because of her hooded-cape, she can't tell if the girl is breathing or not. Fortunately, though, when the girl curled in further into herself of a tight ball, reassured Uraraka that the girl is still alive.

However, the fact that she hadn't eaten in a week and hadn't gotten medical treatment, means she can still end up dying.

The fifteen year-old turned to the guard closest to the door.

"I'm certain," she answered. "Please, let me in. I need to try to get her to eat something."

The two guards turned to each other, both still looking uncertain if they should be doing this. But, knowing this was the right thing to do and wanting to help in any way possible, the guard closest to the door opened the cell-door and allowed the teen into the cell.

"She may be weak, but don't let your guard down." He instructed, as he closed the door behind her. "If she attacks, we'll intervene and you must leave the cell."

The teen nodded her head to his warning, then turned back to the girl she came to see.

She hadn't raised her head to see who came to her cell. Either she was tired and didn't want to use up whatever energy she had left in her body to see who it was, used to the sound of the door cell opening and closing and wasn't interested on what was going on behind her back, or is deep in sleep and her body is slow to wake her up, Ochako didn't know.

But, she knows whatever it takes she must help her survival.

She kneeled beside the girl and placed the clay-plate on the ground, purposely having it make a scraping sound against the stone to get the girl's attention.

The sound did seem to rouse the girl, her body shifting a bit from within the hooded-cape. But, other than moving a bit in her spot, the younger-girl didn't look over to see Uraraka and seem to went back to sleep.

The fifteen year-old let out a deep sigh.

"Sorry to have to do this," she muttered.

She raised a hand and tapped against the girl's shoulder.

After a few tapping, the girl jumped from her spot and stumbled to shift her body to face who it was that touched her, flashing her teeth and growling a low, crackling sound.

When her blurred vision sees that it was the girl from earlier that touched her and is in the cell with her, she stopped growling and allowed her lips to rest back over her teeth. Though, her eyes still glared mixed feelings: Curiosity, confusion, a bit of relief and irritation.

And when her green eyes looked down and saw another cooked chicken is presented to her, she seemed to figure out what was going on.

...To Ochako's disappointment, the girl crawled towards the back corner of the cell and took a spot on the cold ground. Her back turned to her visitor.

The older-girl let out a deep sigh, picking up the plate and getting to her feet.

"Here we go," she grumbled.

She walked over to the girl, knelt down and sat the plate on the ground, tapping the girl on the shoulder to get her attention.

A low rumble came within the hooded-cape.

Ochako, however, wasn't going to take no for an answer.

"You need to eat," she ordered. "You're going to die, if you don't eat. If you won't let us treat your wound, at least keep up your strength by eating."

Again, the younger-girl uncurled from her spot and crawled towards the other side of her cell, taking a new spot.

That got Uraraka to force out a firm smile, going over and doing the same action.

"You're not going to get rid of me, that easily." She stated, folding her arms over her chest. "I don't care if we end up doing this all night, you are going to eat. Whether you like it, or not."

And so, for nearly half an hour, Ochako kept true to her word and kept following the girl, chasing her and having her barely take up her new sleep spot before moving to a new one.

The two guards would look over their shoulders and see the older-teen pestering their prisoner/guest, intruiged of her stubbornness to complete her task but certain it'll be in vain. Still, they do hope she would, somehow, succeed.

After moving to a new spot for the seventy-eight time and Ochako taking her spot close to her and setting down the plate of food, did the younger-girl finally grew tired of being chased and forced to eat their food.

She got up on all-four and faced Uraraka, snarling at her.

The fifteen year-old was a bit taken back of the sudden tone, knowing this could end up with her getting attacked, even if the one issuing the threat can barely do much.

Yet, she held her ground and folded her arms over her chest.

"Eat the chicken, and then I'll leave." She promised.

When the girl came towards the girl, being almost face-to-face with her, the two guards got on high alert and went for the door.

Ochako, but breaking eye contact with the younger-girl, held up a hand towards them.

"Don't." She hissed, not in the least concern over her safety. "This is our only chance to get her to eat. We must get her to choose life, if we are to put an end to this war."

The two hesitated, but didn't open the cell door. Though, one of them kept his hand on the bar, ready to force it open if she gets hurt in any way.

When the girl stood back to be in a couch position, almost towering the older-girl, both hands held up to her chest, as if ready to pounce, it looked as though she was going to attack.

...

...

...What happens next, was something none of the vikings expected.

She had her right-hand grab for part of her cape and held it in a way like a bird would hold it, but a bit crooked and odd. She then let out a low rumble, a bit scratchy, but still able to imitate the sound of a wound animal.

A dragon.

At first Ochako didn't get what she was doing.

Seeing the confusion, the younger-girl leaned on the ground and, with her right-hand still holding out her cape in an odd angle, limped around the ground on her left-hand.

She made coo sounds, as she continues to imitate an injured dragon.

"Her. Haw! Urah-! Ah-hack!"

Still, Ochako didn't get what the girl was trying to make her see.

Annoyed, the girl stopped limping and crawled towards the barred-hole at the back of her cell, pressing her body against the stone-wall and stretching her hands as close to the hole as possible.

Then, she barked, screech, snarl or cooed out as loud as she could.

"Haur! Haur! Ha haw rauh! Aaow!"

Seconds later, the cries of a desperate, concern, yet relieved Night Fury called back to the girl.

Uraraka and the guards felt guilt in their chests, as the girl couldn't keep standing and nearly dropped to the ground on all-fours, if she didn't keep pressing her body against the wall.

She then turned back to the older-girl, who could only shrug her shoulders and shake her head.

"I'm sorry, but I don't get what you're trying to tell me." She apologized.

A grumble left the girl's throat, face-palming herself.

She then grabbed for part of her cape in her right-hand, again, flapping it in frustration, pointing a strict finger at it with her left-hand.

"Urrah." She grunted.

Then, she pointed a finger to the barred-hole over her head. Where they can still hear the Night Fury calling for her.

"Herrrahk!" She barked, slamming a hand against the ground. "Aur, urraw!"

And, again, she grabs for her cape with her right-hand and made it flap. But, this time, she crouches and used her left-arm to flap alongside the cape.

To Ochako, she appears to be imitating a dragon, flapping its wings.

'Wait a second... Wing... Night Fury... Awkwardly holding the right-wing... Flapping...'

Suddenly, she was starting to put in the pieces, as to what the girl is trying to tell them.

"...You want us to help your dragon's wing, that Katsuki injured?"

To her answer, the girl ceased her little game of charades and pulled her hooded-cape around her body.

...And, to her shock, the younger-girl nodded her head, once.

It was more than enough to tell her that their guest/prisoner can, without a doubt, understand them.

Ochako turned to the two guards. Both were stunned that their prisoner answered the teen's question.

"Inform Chief Toshinori that she can, in fact, understand us." She ordered. "I'll continue communicating with her. Also... Ask Chiyo if she or one of her healers can go over to the Death Arena, and see if they can evaluate the Night Fury's injured wing."

Both didn't seem so certain of her request, since the chief may want to interrogate the girl, himself, despite unable to properly speak from an injury to her neck. And unless they are Enji, Bakugō or the chief, himself, none would be willing to set a single foot towards the direction of the Night Fury.

However, this was something important, that the chief must know about. And, perhaps, if she does cooperate, maybe she'll see that they aren't as bad as she suspect them to be.

"You sure you want to stay in the cell with her?" One of them asked, as the second guard left to go for the Healing Quarters to ask Chiyo to take a look at the Night Fury.

"She's too sick and weak to even leave the village. Let alone, escape the dungeon and fight off the guards standing in attention outside of her cell. Which is you two." Ochako pointed out, as she turned back to the younger-girl. "Besides, I sense that she won't attack me. And if she does, I can protect myself and subdue her, thanks to my training from my teachers."

Both are aware of the training she's been put through, and had witnessed her teachers training method that had them taken back that none had been killed. So, they know that she can take care of herself.

With those thoughts in mind, the two were finally convinced to leave their post. Though, told her if, somehow, their guest overpowers her and run away, to alert any guard nearby to help her recapture her.

After promising them she would do as instructed, the two left, leaving Ochako alone with their guest/prisoner.

The fifteen year-old stared at the younger-girl. Her brown-eyes narrowed, getting serious.

"I have them go check on the Night Fury, just as you'd asked. Now, I need you to help me, by getting your strength back and eat." She instructed, pointing at the plate of the cold chicken.

The girl stared to where the chicken was, growling lowly at the food like it offended her. Then, turning back to Ochako, she shook her head.

...Then, raised a hand and pointed it to the ground... And... Drew a dirt-drawing of a wood on fire, then that would turning into a pile of ash.

Ochako, while impressed by the drawing, was very confused.

"Ash, from wood?" She asked, earning a nod from the girl. "Why wood ash, when we can get you fire from the torches to help warm you up a bit?"

The younger-girl shook her head. She pointed at her drawing of ash pile, then to her neck-wound, where it continues to be red, leaking of pus and infection.

Ochako was stunned by what the girl was trying to tell her.

"You want me to get wood ash, to put on your wound? -She got up to her feet.- Let me get our Healer. If you let her treat you-!"

The girl snarled up at the older-girl, stomping her left-hand into the ground, over her drawing. Clear that she wants wood ash to be brought to her, to treat her wound. Nobody else, but herself.

She, again, grabbed for her cape, shook it a bit to imitate quick flapping, and pointed out the bar gap of the wall.

Making it clear that she wants the Healer to heal her dragon's injured wing.

Ochako let out a deep sigh of defeat.

"...Alright." She submitted, getting to her feet. "I'll go and get some wood ash, for you. But, I'm going to lock the gate."

The younger-girl let out a low rumble, but nodded in understanding. Then, patted the ground with her hand and drew more drawings of some herbs.

One that looks like aloe vera, one that seems to be leaf-shape of mint and some garlic. She drew a circle around the mint and garlic, and then pointed to her belly. Indicating that they're for her stomach. While for the aloe vera, she pointed to the neck.

The older-girl looked over to the chicken next to the girl, then back at their guest.

"...Will you, actually, eat them?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. "If I get those items, you'll eat?"

The younger-girl, curled on the ground within her hooded-cape, nodded once.

Given the answer she was hoping to get, Ochako beamed down at her.

"...Okay. I'll go get those, too. And, I'll see if Chiyo or one of her colleagues are checking up on the Night Fury." She reassured, leaving the cell and closing the door, locking it in place. "I be right back. Just, rest up for a moment... -She gave her a look that seems to be full of hope.- I swear, if you do this, we'll reunite you with your dragon, tomorrow."

As the older-girl ran off to gather the stuff the younger-girl requested, the prisoner/guest turned to the cold chicken on the ground.

While she has no intention on eating it, she does have use for it.

Grabbing at the leg with her mouth, she crawled towards the back-wall of her prison. When she got to the wall, leaning her burning body against the cold-stone, she used her left-hand to take the chicken out of her mouth.

Then, after some wincing from the dryness and pain in her thought, made some cooing sounds, similar to a Terrible Terror.

...She knew that her brother had convinced and lead the raid to the other islands close to Berk, since their scent had faded into the wind. But, despite able to hear the Queen's Song like the other dragons, the Terrible Terror were wise to not join the flock to steal, being too small to carry anything heavier than a single salmon and easy picking to be killed off by the Vikings.

And while most remain in the forest, others will sneak into Berk to try and scavenge whatever leftovers they can find to bring back to their flock.

And after calling out for a Terrible Terror for a few minutes, a reddish-brown Terrible Terror crawled through the bars and skittered down the wall to the girl, purr-chirping at the girl and the sight of the chicken, the girl held up the chicken.

"Urrrr~... Heek, kau!"

"I need your help."

Ochako returned, posthaste. In her left-hand, a bowl full of wood ash and a few aloe vera. In her right-hand, a full garlic and a few mint leaves.

She would've returned earlier, but had to convince Chiyo and Anan to go into the Night Fury's pen, with the agreement on having Ryō and Sekijirō go in with them to help pin the dragon down, to examine the wing and treat it. Apparently, the dragon didn't comply until Endeavor left the Death Arena, entirely, to even allow the other Vikings close to him. And where he threatened them with his Plasma Blast if they muzzled him, he did surrendered to binding him in chains.

...To her surprise, despite the warning growls and snarls, she was amazed that the dragon didn't so much as flinch when they came to his wing. He did winced in discomfort when they splint his wing and wrapped it in wool-bandages, but didn't dare make a step towards them when they finished examining him and when the two teachers/vikings unbound him from chains.

Though, he did went back to going for the small-opening in the wall and coo-wobble for the girl. As if he knew that none of the vikings would try and attack him, with his back turned to them and after they just splint and wrapped his wing.

'Something just ain't right,' she thought. 'The Night Fury is supposed to be one of the most dangerous dragons, in all of the Archipelago. In fact, not much is known about them, except them being the Unholy Offspring of Lightning and Death, itself. The only thing we know from the Book of Dragons, is to hide and pray that they don't find us. And yet, we've all seen the dragon before our eyes and that a human is accompanying it. Which means... Is the Book of Dragons, wrong about them?'

She paused in her steps, staring down at the bowl of wood ash and aloe vera in her hand.

'...The chief had stated, even proven from the black-scales he presented to the village, that a Night Fury came to our island and killed both his wife and son. And, from what Todoroki told us from what his father told him, the chief is positive that this dragon is the one who killed his family.'

Her hands clenched slightly around the garlic and mint leaves, but not hard enough to crush them.

'...I... Don't think Chief Toshinori is right about this... I think the Book of Dragons, is wrong about the Night Fury... Maybe, even about what we know about dragons.'

She then looked up and continued for her destination, back to the girl locked up in the cell.

'What I do believe, is that Freya has sent us an answer, and it lies with the girl and her dragon. As such, we need her to help her get through the night and reunite her with the Night Fury.'

When she arrived to the cell, the two guards had returned to their posts and when they saw her, they allowed her to go back in the cell, where the girl remained curled against the wall.

Ochako went to her, kneeled beside her and laid out the items to the shivering girl.

"Here," she announced. "I've brought you what you've asked. Now, will you please allow yourself to eat and have your neck-wound treated?"

The girl stared down at the items the older-girl presented before her.

A low moan left her, as she shifted from her spot to hunch over the bowl of wood ash, aloe vera, garlic and mint leaves.

First, she took the aloe vera leaf and, clenching her hand into a tight fist as it can be, brought it down in the middle and crushed it to have its middle open. Then, she dabbled three fingers into the sticky liquid producing from the plant and when the three fingers are coated in its sap, brought her left-hand to the right-side of her neck and rubbed the sap against her, now, opened, leaking neck-wound.

Ochako watches with great focus, as the younger-girl winced and hisses in pain from rubbing the sap against and around her neck-wound, as she uses her right-hand to gather some of the mint leaves and garlic, eating it.

After dabbling her left-hand into the aloe vera and rubbing its sap against her neck-wound a couple more time, she gathered a hand full of wood ash, which had a few ashes that are still warm and holding heat, and dropped it into the plant and rolled the ash into what remains of sap it had left, making an ash-like paste. Making the inside of the plant completely black, and sticky from its sap.

And after gathering the paste into her left-hand, she covered the whole right-side of her neck in it, coating the wound in wood ash aloe vera sap.

And to finish it off, she pulled the inside of the leaf from its connection to its bottom-half, having two strips of the leaf in her hands, and then placed both of the two strips of the plant against the opening of her neck-wound, covering it from anything that could try and get in. Like makeshift-bandages.

As soon as she was done and pulled the hood to cover her head and neck-wound, the girl went to eat the rest of the mint leaves and garlic, satisfying her hunger without overrunning it with food that won't soothe her sick state or fight off the infection that's in her body.

Ochako was very much taken back by the girl's choice to treat her wound with the few items she was given, though wasn't certain if she should've had wood ash go into and against the open wound in her neck. And when she thought about it, the fifteen year-old was curious as to how the wound remained opened, the whole time she was in the cell and had her claws and few small-knives removed from her person.

'Her cloak shows to be made of dragon scales. Perhaps, she was able to remove one of the scales to cut open her wound to drain it and have it open to place the aloe vera and wood ash into it.' She concluded, finding it to be the only possible solution.

A deep sigh of relief left her, as she watches the girl slowly stalk today's the bed made of hay and curled into a tight-ball, letting out a big yawn from having food in her belly.

Ochako smiled gently at the younger-girl, as she gathered the bowl of wood ash that still remains and heads for the door.

"Thank you," she said to the tired girl. "And I swear, as soon as our chief wakes up and sees that you're still alive, he'll keep his word on allowing you to be reunited with the Night Fury."

...

...As she left the cell, she didn't expect a low moan of a howl to come from their guest, who lifted her head and muster what little strength she had left to howl, like a wolf.

The guards and Ochako were surprised, to say the least, as the girl curled in on herself and seemed to have, finally, fell asleep.

"That was weird," one of the guards commented.

"Maybe her voice has gotten worse, that she has to result to howling like a wolf." The second guard suggested.

"Maybe..." Ochako agreed, but didn't sound completely on board to the thought. 'It was like she was trying to talk to us, but what is she trying to say? Maybe, there's something about wolves that she wants us to look for or be weary of.'

She waved a goodnight to the two guards and checking on the girl one last time, Ochako makes her way for the exit of the dungeon and for home

Not once taking notice of a Terrible Terror flying in the sky, heading beyond the sea for a merchant.

The Next Day...
Toshinori, Mirai and Shōta walked down the hallway of the dungeon. Their footsteps echoing all around them.

The two guards, hearing their steps and seeing their chief, immediately bowed when the forty-five year-old chief came forth and stood between them.

Within the cell, the girl sat in front of the back of her cell, looking up through the gap. Beside her, a bowl of wood ash sat, seeming to have been used from her hands coated in ash.

She slightly turned her head to her left and as soon as she saw the chief, she lifted part of her lips and snarled.

Nighteye glared back at the girl.

"You Insolent child. You still refuse to show any respect to our chief?!" Mirai scolded, holding his hewing-spear up and went to open the door.

Toshinori laid a hand on his right-hand man's shoulder, stopping him.

"Stand down, Mirai." He ordered. "She doesn't have any loyalty of Berk to see reason to show respect to one who isn't of her tribe. Don't take her response to show signs of anger, as any insult. -He turned to Aizawa, who simply stared at the child.- Go on in, Shōta."

The thirty-one year-old went into the cell, prompting the girl to turn her back to the wall and snarl up at the adult. Her eyes zooming in on the rope he held in his hands.

To him, she almost looks like a hissing cat, when wearing the hood of her cape over her head.

He stood a foot away from her, then couched to be eye-level with her.

"...So, you lasted through the night." He said, which was the closest to giving out a compliment.

He then took notice of the aloe vera covering her neck-wound.

"And I see you've, finally, have your neck treated."

The girl, still, didn't answer him and kept lifting her lips and flashing her teeth at the adult.

He was never one to become favorite towards any child within the village. Not even his nephews can convince him on who he should favor more.

...He wanted his unborn child to be the only child to ever be held close to his heart.

...

...Yet, having this girl reject him and view him as a threat, did made his heart clench a bit.

He glared back at her.

"We're going to take you to the Death Arena, where your Night Fury will be waiting for you." He gave it to her straight.

Her lips lowered and her snarling ceased. Her eyes remained hardened, but they weren't glaring daggers at him.

'This confirms to what Ochako and the guards have informed us. She isn't fully feral as we expected. Good.' "Here's the deal: Regardless of your current state, we aren't going to take any chances of you trying to make a run for it. And because of that, you are going to let us bind your arms in ropes. -He held out the rope.- And if you refuse or fight us, we'll back down on our deal and will consider killing your dragon."

The threat caused the fourteen year-old to growl lowly at him.

...

...And, again, hissed out her words.

"Moe. Stuah."

Toshinori and Mirai were taken back by her words.

Shōta let out a deep sigh.

"Yes. I know. To you, we're monsters. But, guess what? Your dragon is the true monster, for aiding the raid for stealing our provisions and killing us." He countered. "And if you want to see him alive, let alone to have us treat him for his injuries, you'll not fight us and will comply to our demands. Deal?"

...Her response, was to lean her back against the wall, stand up as high as he could, all while using the wall as support to loom over Aizawa.

...

...And, much like the Night Fury did in the woods with Katsuki, let out a loud shriek of a scream to his face.

The thirty-one year-old didn't flinch in the slightest. As if he was dealing with a demanding, spoiled child that was throwing a tantrum when they didn't get their sweet roll.

Her shriek of a scream did caused her to collapse to her hands and knees and cough, but it wasn't something too concerning for the adults, as they'll have Chiyo to give her something for her throat to help ease the soreness.

Shōta waited for her to catch her breathing and when she remained hunched over, he went over to began binding her arms up in ropes. She did turned her head to glare at him, but other than give him a serious, angry look, she didn't fight him once at tying up her arms together.

As soon as her arms are bound in front of her and in a tight knot that would be difficult to break out of, Aizawa stood up and slightly pulled on the rope, prompting her to began following him.

Toshinori and Mirai both take a step back, as the guards opened the cell door to allow Shōta and their guest/prisoner out. The girl did glared up at the two vikings, but then lowered her gaze back down to her bound hands and awaited for her captor to pull her to wherever he wanted her to follow.

The chief gave thanks to the two guards and went around the girl and Aizawa, taking the lead for them to follow him, with Mirai following a step behind him.

Aizawa pulled the rope slightly, indicating the girl to follow, though went at a slower paste to follow his chief since the girl showed signs of still be physically weak from self-starvation and illness.

'Whoever it was that written that threat of a note, could possibly be someone this girl knows.' His thoughts went back to the letter was found on an arrow that was fired at the Yak Shed. A dark, uncomfortable feeling trickled down his back. 'If we don't find out who sent the letter before the New Moon comes in, I don't want to think about what the chief will decide to do to the girl, if it means drawing out the sender of the letter.'

TBC