Chapter 11: Personal Tragedies

(Warning: Semi-Mature Content up ahead!)

The strong scent of seawater clung in the humid air. Stormfly awoke to the muffled voices that buzzed her ears. Her eyes were still shut close, but she can still feel world spinning around her uncontrollably. She slowly blinked her eyes open, and was blinded bit by the dim light the lantern emitted at the far corner of her cell.

"Deck the ship!" a gruff voice roared over the buzzing sound of engine.

Her whole body was sore and stiff. She winced as the pain shot through her spine and joints when she forced herself to sit up. Stormfly realized she was lying on a stone-cold metal ground and her wrists were bound in rusty metal chains. There was narrow rectangular slit window that allowed her to peek outside and observe her situation.

She's bound in the bottommost part of the metal ship and was already miles away from islands the she's familiar with. The ship looked barren and cold from the inside. It was certainly different from all of the ships in Berk. For some odd reason, her senses heightened and she could feel the presence that loomed outside the room.

"Slept well, love?" Fritjof greeted her as soon as he cracked the main door open. He looked different from the Fritjof she knew. The wrinkles in his forehead deepened and the shadows under his eyes were darker. All the comfortable feeling she felt with him was completely turned to hatred. Fritjof wasn't surprised to see that Stormfly was already awake. In fact, he expected her to be.

Stormfly's glowered at him as he took a step towards her. "Where are we? How dare you chain me!" she spat at him dangerously.

Fritjof looked unfazed. He sat on his hunches and stared at Stormfly like a specimen in a boxed experiment. The stench of stale seawater, humid air, and the man in front of her, made Stormfly sick to her pit. The lantern at the corner and the cage suddenly shook violently. The boat have finally found a land to deck on.

She turned her face to the side and avoided the brute's stare. She heard Fritjof clicked his tongue distastefully. The part of her face that was facing Fritjof, has exposed a huge blue-black bruise that spread onto the upper half of her cheek. Her left eye was also swollen and has some greenish-tint of discoloration on her pale milky skin.

"Such a pity," he sighed, displeased at mess he did. "Maybe I hit you too hard." He murmured. He was quite angry with himself that he ruined her beautiful face; the face that have reminded him of Her.

"Oh by the way, thanks for this." He reached inside of his vest and pulled out the brooch, and grinned at her.

Stormfly snapped and tried to charge at him. But the chains held her back. "You won't get away with this. They'll looking for me by this time and they will kill you!" She growled at Fritjof and her eyes became feral.

"Little flower, you'll hurt yourself more." Fritjof told her softly as he lovingly caressed the bars that caged her. "Don't worry, Astrid won't be looking for you anything time soon. She knows you'll be in good hands."

Fritjof guffawed and Stormfly looked at him confused. He took him a few seconds to recover and swiftly pocketed the brooch again.

"I sent her a letter stating that you chose to run away with me." He flashed her a triumphant sneer. "It's all been taken care of. Looks like you're going to stick around for quite some time. Living the dream, huh?" with that, he entered in another fit of menacing laughter.

Stormfly felt a blow on her gut. She felt her world swaying again and her stomach threatened to spill out. Cold sweat started to form on her forehead and her body quivered. The memories of last night and the days before, reeled in again. This is all her fault.

"No…" Stormfly let out a soft distraught sob. She can only pray to the gods to save her now.

Fritjof just grinned at her.

"Hiccup!"

"In here milady!" Hiccup was wearing his usual green tunic and leather apron. He poked the coals and hammered the sizzling iron. Astrid appeared on the doorway and completely out of breath. She looked disheveled and panicked; a far cry from her usual composed self.

"What's wrong?" He quickly set down his work tools and strode to the blonde hair Viking, frowning.

"Stormfly ran away!" she blurted out and shoved the crumpled parchment in Hiccup's chest. He looked at her incredulously. But Astrid's eyes pleaded him to look at the paper.

"This is absurb!" he told Astrid. He turned the letter and read it over. His confused expression contorted into a grimace. "Why would she do this?" she looked at Astrid's pained face.

"Because she hates it here." Toothless said, and emerged from the back door. He ran his hand through his hair and sighed.

"Do you know about this, bud?" Hiccup turned to face him. Toothless hesitated to answer, but when he saw Astrid's expression he nodded.

"Stormfly, wouldn't! …She couldn't!" Astrid argued. She knew Stormfly too well. She knew she was happy in Berk with them, with her, but all her knowledge about started to wane. "…Right?"

The more she caught sight at the parchment, the more she felt she's the one who needed to be convinced.

Toothless couldn't feel anything. He felt empty. The memories of last night played in his head like a wheel. He was stumped, because he knew why she left and she finally did it. Resentment, embarrassment, and hurt bubbled up inside of him. To make a fool out of himself was the worst thing that could ever happen to him. To actually think, he believed that there was something more between them.

"Apparently she chose to leave Berk to be with Fritjof. If we're going to be stuck like this forever, might as well take advantage of it," Toothless spat motioning at himself angrily. Astrid looked at them helplessly.

"Toothless, this is not the right time…" Hiccup reprimanded. But Toothless just sneered and went outside to cool off.

"Is it true?!" Meatlug popped in the doorway. Fishlegs was behind her looking confused.

"I found this note on my bed this morning. I looked for her everywhere!" Astrid's voice was breaking, she felt shaken up and couldn't think straight.

"She really did it, she went off with Fritjof. Unbelievable." Barf shook his head at them looking appalled with the information that they divulged. Belch and the twins were hanging behind him. The three teens looked at him startled at their sudden appearance.

"Stormy can't do that," Meatlug chirped. "She just can't leave Toothless alone,"

"Guys, you're forgetting one vital thing," Hiccup looked at the crumpled parchment again, "Stormfly's a dragon. How on earth did she write this letter?"

"Because she didn't." Hookfang with Gothi riding on his back approached the teens. Toothless's head perked up when he heard this.

"Gothi!" They all exclaimed.

"I saw her heading to Fritjof's hut last night and she had no intention of leaving Berk," Hookfang helped Gothi down, while narrating to them what happened the night before. "I was patrolling the docks. Fritjof's main ship have already sailed away before dawn broke."

"Plus, I found Gothi's boat floating just by the docks." Hookfang added. Gothi rested on a nearby benched and looked worn out from her travel. The teens and their dragons gathered around her.

"Gothi, where have you been? You've been missing for days." Hiccup offered her some cup of water. The old healer, downed the cup and let out a long sigh of relief. She scribbled on the dirt while the teens and teen-dragons watch her.

"Gothi says she visited an old friend to consult about what happened to our dragons," Fishlegs read the scribble out loud for everyone to hear.

"Any findings?" Astrid asked, a bit shaken up. "This might help us have a lead on Stormfly." She offered. Gothi erased the first scribble with the end of her stick, and scribbled another passage.

"She says that Stormfly has the Mani's Brooch and that she needs to use it by the next full moon." Fishlegs looked at her questioningly, unsure of what he had just interpreted. Gothi nodded at him.

"But that's tomorrow night!" Hiccup exclaimed. The teens and the dragons suddenly felt alarmed.

"What's with the brooch?" Astrid pressed on. She went in front of Gothi and held her hands. "Gothi, we need to know what happened to Stormfly!"

The group was starting to panic. It was evident that there's been something happening that is bigger than all of them. Gothi started feeling uncomfortable with the amount of tension that's surrounding her.

"Guys settle down! Let Gothi be for a while," Hiccup pacified the group, noticing Gothi's weary expression. The old healer nodded at him gratefully and proceeded to scribble on the dirt again.

"The flower was the reason why you changed into humans, but you will need Mani's Brooch to turn back into dragons. If you missed the next full moon, either you will stay human for good or you will perish." Fishlegs translated.

"P-Perish?" Meatlug said in disbelief.

"But why?!" Hiccup looked at Gothi much alarmed from before.

"It's because you are not born to be humans. You're dragons. This will create a ripple." Fishlegs continued. The teens and teen-dragons looked at one another. Something tells them that if they don't act fast, they might be too late.

"We must find Stormfly immediately!" Astrid panicked. They left Gothi and proceeded to search Fritjof's camp site to find some clues of Stormfly's whereabouts.

"Hiccup!" Stoick's voiced bellowed. Hiccup and the others were already walking towards the docks for inspection.

"Dad, we're kind of in the middle of something here!" Hiccup replied, not bother facing his father. He needs to focus on the task at hand.

"Okay, carry on." Stoick was about to leave, when he remembered what he wanted to ask Hiccup. "Ah by the way son, I've meaning to ask you this. Who is the guy who was winning the race?"

Hiccup looked at his dad incredulously. "That's Fritjof, dad."

"Fritjof?"

"Yeah, Garth's son."

"That's impossible!" Stoick told him in disbelief. "Fritjof died two years ago from an pirate attack. Such a tragic loss." He said remembering about the funeral he went to.

"And besides, that man is too Viking for that boy. He was just like you before you met Toothless." He added and gave out a hearty laugh. Hiccup and Toothless froze. Stoick patted his son on the shoulder and wished him luck whatever his doing, and went on his way.

"If Fritjof is dead…" Hiccup's blood ran cold. "Stormfly's in trouble!" Toothless shouted in alarm.

The teens and the dragons hurried to the site and scouted the place in panic.

"Scout the area! Make sure you'll find anything that will lead us to their wheareabouts!" Hiccup commanded. Time is not on their side, and each second that passes by could derail them from finding Stormfly and to get the cure for their dragons.

"Hiccup, I found something!" Snotlout alerted them, crawling out under the bed. Hiccup and Astrid hurried to him.

"Blood?" Astrid inspected the dried blotches on the sheet that was hidden under the bed.

"Not just blood. We also found this." Tuffnut and Ruffnut held out locks of gold hair on their palms.

The locks looked like it had been accidentally cut from a struggle. The teens looked at one another.

"It seems like there was a struggle here last night." Fishlegs looked worried. They confirmed that Stormfly was indeed here last night, with no intention of leaving Berk. He looked at Astrid who was trying to keep it together.

"I hope we still have time." Astrid voice was laced with worry and anguish. Hiccup put a hand on her shoulder, comforting her.

"We will." Toothless assured her angrily. He held the locks tightly in his hands and clenched it into a fist. The next time he sees Fritjof, he'll cut his throat open.

Back at the ship, Stormfly was still held prisoner. She never touched the food that was served to her by Fritjoj's men, even though she was extremely feeling famished. She would rather die of hunger that to give into that bastard's whims.

"Love, you need to eat." Fritjof sweetly coaxed her. He sighed and changed the plate in her cellar.

"Why are you even doing this? Why don't you just kill me?!" Stormfly shouted at him. "If you don't, I'll end it myself!" Stormfly threatened him.

She fished out a small dagger from the inside of her boots. She stole it from one of the guards when they were changing her plate.

"What are you doing, you dumb girl?!" Fritjof laughed. "Laugh at this, " Stormfly closed her eyes and readied to stab her chest.

"I won't lose you the second time!" Fritjof quickly reached into the cell, and pulled out the chain that's attached to Stormfly's cuffs. The dagger was yanked away and flew to the other direction.

"I'm not Caileigh!" Stromfly yelled at him frustrated and collapsed on the floor. "Please, just let me go or kill me…I'm not Caileigh, I'm Stormfly!" she repeated, her energy and body caving in due to hunger.

"No, you're Caileigh. You just don't know yet, I know that it's you. You've come back to me." Fritjof told her. "Caileigh, my love we will be together again." Fritjof caressed the bars lovingly again while gazing at Stormfly.

"Your eyes are as beautiful as I remember," he sighed longingly. Stormfly conceded. She can see and feel the love in Fritjof's eyes.

She was really confused why in the world he would mistake her for someone named Caileigh. Sure they look somewhat alike, but she knew, that he knew, that she wasn't Caileigh. The sense of curiosity washed over her. Maybe it was her hunger, or her lack of her sleep, but she wanted to know who this Caileigh is.

"What happened to her?" Stormfly asked Fritjof, genuinely curious. Fritjof a bit startled, eagerly shared his tale.

"She was killed in a battle. She was trying to protect my brother." He said. "Just like you, Caileigh was also a Helle's Nadder. And with the Mani's brooch, she transformed into a human girl." He touched the locket hanging around his neck.

"I never got to say good-bye,"Fritjof let out a faint sob. "She never wanted to leave me, we were supposed to be together. She was happy being a girl. But she was taken away from me!"

Stormfly felt pity. She felt sorry about what happened to Fritjof, she felt sorry to what happened to Caileigh. The world can be such a cruel place sometimes. With a renewed sense of understanding on Fritjof's part, Stormfly extended her hand and held his, offering some comfort.

"I know what you're feeling Fritjof, I lost someone who was dear to me, too." She told him gently. Fritjof looked at her with wonder.

"But you don't have to do this. Caileigh wouldn't want you to do something like this."

Fritjof was lost with words. He hung his head low appearing to be ashamed. "I-I don't know Stormfly…" he started.

" I know that deep down, you're a good person Frit. Caileigh knows that, too. " lightly cheered him on. Maybe Fritjof wasn't really a villain. Maybe he was just lost, Stormfly thought to herself.

"Stormfly, do you really think that?" Fritjof asked her doubtful.

"Anybody could change," Stormfly assured him.

"Stormfly, I can't—"

"Yes, you can if you only wanted it to Frit!"

"I-I-can't take this anymore!" Fritjof gurgled a laugh. Stormfly looked at him dumfounded. Fritjof broke into fits of laughter.

"Dear Odin, you actually fell for that?!" he guffawed.

"W-what…" reality dawned into her being, "You lied to me?!" She felt her blood boiling.

"Oh, I didn't lie." Fritjof wiped a tear away from his eyes trying to compose himself. "She did die, while protecting my traitor of a brother." Fritjof smirked at her.

"You mean—" Stormfly gasped, realizing what Fritjof meant.

"Yes." Fritjof laughed. "No more games, Storm. I'll tell you what really happened. But let me tell you that I was the victim here. Not them."

Darick was tending the herd when he heard voices booming at the horizon. His brother was supposed to be home by now, coming from the latest pillage from the nearby island.

"Egil's back!" Caileigh excitedly ran over to him. Darick immediately put down his tools and ran to where the voices are.

"Hey guys!" Egil hugged the two in greeting. "We missed you!" Caileigh chirped. Egil laughed and patted her head. "I missed you guys, too."

"Let's get you home. You must be tired from the quest." Darick beamed at him. Egil nodded "And I have something that I brought from the pillage. I can't wait to show them to you." The three of them went home.

Egil started to prepare the food for dinner. Darkness was already covering the sky. Darick was helping Egil while Caileigh was tending the hearth.

"So how was it when I was away?" Egil asked Darick. The boy shrugged. "Same old."

"Are you okay, Dar?" Egil looked at his brother who seemed to be absent-minded. He saw that he was looking at Caileigh intently. The glow of the ember illuminates her beautiful golden orbs.

"If you keep on staring at her like that, you might burn her instead of the fire." Egil laughed. Darick snapped out of his trance and turned red.

"I-I was not!" he replied indignantly.

"Darick, when are you going to admit your feelings for Caileigh?" his brother asked him. Darick looked flustered.

"W-Why are you asking me that?"

"I was just asking. Don't get so worked up." Egil laughed heartily and gave him a wink.

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Darick hissed at him, quite annoyed with his brother's teasing. Egil just laughed and proceeded to prepare the food.

"You do know that it can't be, right?" Egil reminded his brother. "Dragons and humans cannot be together." Darick became very quiet.

"I know."

The moon was high, and Caileigh was sitting on top of the roof watching the moon, humming a tune.

"Hey, you aren't sleepy yet?" Darick climbed the rafters and sat beside her. Caileigh greeted him with a warm smile.

"And you yourself aren't sleepy, I suppose? She returned the question. Darick smiled at her sheepishly.

Caileigh watched the moon again. She closed her eyes and let the light flood her being. Darick looked at her in wonder, amazed at her beauty. Her beautiful gold hair shimmering, her pale white skin glistening in the dark; she was ethereal especially basked in the moonlight.

"What is it?" Caileigh asked him her eyes still closed.

There was a strong wave of desire that washed over Darick. He inched closer and kissed Caileigh on the lips.

Caileigh opened her eyes, shocked to see Darick kissing her. Caileigh immediately pushed him away.

"What are you doing, Darick?!" She gasped and put her hands over mouth.

"I-I'm sorry! I don't know what came over me! I'm really sorry, Caileigh!" Darick apologized. He took a huge breath, "Honestly, I-I've been in love with you." He confessed to her shyly.

"You know that this is not possible, right?" Caileigh told him. "What would Egil say?!"

"I-I know that. Egil told me. I just wanted to tell you." Darick started. "But I don't care. I don't care about Egil, I know that it's not right, but can you give me a chance?"

"I'm going to bed, Darick. You should get some sleep as well." Caileigh stood up and went down the roof, leaving Darick alone in darkness.

Caileigh and Darick barely spoke to each other after that incident. Caileigh would usually hang around wherever Egil were, marvel at what would Egil do or say. And it sparked an ill feeling in Darick's pit.

When Egil left again for another pillage, Caileigh would stay out all day from the house and come back when the sun would go down. Darick was feeling less and less important everyday. Caileigh, made him feel that. One day he could no longer stand the silence between them, when looked for Caileigh in the woods. He found her sitting beside the lake.

"Caileigh," Darick called out. The girl startled, looked at his direction with questioning eyes.

"Darick. What are you doing here?" She asked him.

"I know you wanted to forget what happened on the roof, but I just want this to stop. I can't go on like this Caileigh. I can't go on with my life knowing that I don't matter to you!"

"Darick, you've got it all wrong." Caileigh sighed. "I'm not avoiding you because I don't want you to do anything with me. I'm avoiding you because I felt like I'm not being fair with you."

"What do you mean?" Darick asked him confused.

"I'm in love with Egil, Darick. I always was." She told him sadly. "I'm afraid that couldn't return your feelings. I don't want you to think that I am giving you chance, when in fact, I cannot. I cannot lie to my heart."

Darick's heart dropped. All along the love of his life was in love with his brother. The brother who he adores, the brother who was so great with everything, the brother who is his dad's favorite, the brother who brings good news, the brother-who he realized was the one making him feel like shit. He got everything in his life, now he has Caileigh?!

The ill feeling started to boil in his pit again. But this time it was stronger, and he felt it sip through his bones. He felt rage, anger, most of all, jealousy.

"I understand. It's a good thing that dragons and humans cannot be together, huh." Darick replied tight-lipped. "Good evening, Caileigh." he excused himself and went back home.

"Darick, I'm sorry!" Caileigh called out after him. This irked him more. She felt pity for him, not love. The idea of Caileigh having feelings for his brother just fills him up with uncontrollable rage.

After that encounter, Darick was less than kind with Caileigh. In fact, he was downright cruel with her. He made her life quite miserable, mistreating her every now and then. He became cold and unapproachable.

Egil was coming back home tonight. Caileigh was excited to see him. She couldn't wait to tell Egil how horrible Darick has been. But she wasn't sure if she would tell him, because mainly she felt it was her fault. Darick wasn't excited to see him. Everything about his brother changed his view on him. Darick swore to himself that his brother was nothing more than someone who was trying to suppress him.

"I'm so glad that Egil's back. You never do anything around the house!" Darick's father scolded at him as soon as he entered the house. "You should really take in your brother's shoes. Both warrior and a housekeeper!"

Darick just went pass his father and gone up to his room. "I'm not feeling well, I'll just see Egil in the morning." he told him coldly. He toss and turned in his bed but he could not get the feeling off his chest.

The next day, their father was off to the fields again. Egil, Caileigh, and Darick was left in the house. Egil was narrating about his latest pillage. Caileigh was intently listening to him, marveled by his story. Darick was looking disinterested. Apparently, Egil felt Darick's sullen mood.

"Hey Dar, I have something to show you." Egil pulled out a golden dagger and showed it to Darick, who just sighed and looked at the blade disinterested.

"This will be yours when you're older. You'll be joining the pillage next season, and I can't wait to teach you my ways." Egil told him excitedly.

"Sounds fun." Darick replied sarcastically. "I have to tend the sheep." He got up and left the door when Egil stopped him.

"What's up, bud? You don't seem to be spirited. Is something wrong?"

"Hm? I'm fine, Egil. A lot of things have happened when you're not around." He retorted.

"Is this about Caileigh?"

"What makes you say that?"

"I just have a hunch. But you know that it's not-"

"I know. You don't have to tell me twice. She's a stupid dragon. And frankly I don't give a rat's ass about her. Now if you would excuse me, I need to tend the sheep." Darick felt his blood boiling. This bastard wouldn't get to say what he should do.

"Darick, I know what you've been doing to Caileigh. Hurting her won't make you even. That is not even right! Did you forget what I taught you? You're better than that, Dar!" Egil scolded him.

"I have to tend the sheep, move." Darick shrugged and passed by his brother without giving him a second look. He felt strong stepping up like that.

Darick was collecting some wood when he realized he forgot his knife. He went back home and went straight to the shed. When he got his knife, and as soon he was going to step out of the door, he heard voices whispering just behind the shed.

"Shh, you're too loud!" A woman's giggle hushed her companion.

"I'm loud? You're the one who's making a fuss." A quiet laugh retorted.

Darick inched closer and recognized the voices. Just to confirm it, he peeked into the small hole at the wall.

"I can't believe you'll be leaving me again," Caileigh wrapped her arms around Egil's neck. Her face contorted into a frown.

"It'll be just for a while, love." Egil said caressing her face.

Darick's head started to spin, the deceit, the lies, it's all unfolding in front of him.

"Darick, is getting worst everyday, Egil. I'm afraid that he wouldn't forgive me. Especially if he knew about us." Caileigh sighed. "He's such a kid."

Egil laughed. "He'll get around."

"No, but I'm serious though. Being away with you is such a pain. I am missing you everyday." Caileigh told forlornly.

"You don't have to worry the next time, my love. In my next pillage, I'll take you away from here." Egil tucked a loose hair on her ear.

"What do you mean?" Caileigh's eyes widened with surprise. "What about Papa and Darick?"

"Let's elope. We'll live them here and we'll build a family or a litter of our own!" Egil laughed. "All I do know is, I love you so much Caileigh."

"I love you, too. And always will." Caileigh and Egil sealed it with a kiss.

Darick went around the shed and caught the two kissing. "You traitors!" he shouted at them fuming. The two lovers quickly detached themselves from each other shocked at Darick's sudden appearance.

"What is this?!" He demanded. "You told me that dragons and humans are not supposed to be together! You knew I love her!" Darick screamed at Egil.

"Darick, calm down! I can explain—" Egil started, but Darick cut him off.

"Explain?! You never wanted me to be happy! You want me to be miserable. And now you also want to take Caileigh away from me?! You bastard!"

"You do not own me, Darick!" Caileigh shouted at him.

"Shut up, you whore! After all I've given you before when he's not around, you tell me that I'm not worthy of your feelings! How dare you!" Darick was seething, he couldn't think properly.

These two don't have any shame in their bodies. Especially his brother, who he taught was different, but was exactly everything he thought about him all along.

"You're no brother of mine." He spat at Egil and walked away screaming. "You'll be sorry!"

"Darick, wait!" Egil tried to run after him, but Caileigh held him back.

"Leave him be, first." Egil looked at her worriedly. "We'll talk to him later. Everything will be alright, I promise." Caileigh held his hand.

Darick was out of his wits. He couldn't feel anything. All he knows what that he hates his brother. The moon was already high up in the sky but Darick has still not returned home. Caileigh, Egil, and Papa was getting worried.

"I'll go look for him," Egil offered, looking tensed. "I think it is best if you should. This never happened before. He usually goes home early." His father replied.

"I'll be off then. Hopefully he'll be home when I come back." Egil left the house to search for Darick.

"Maybe I should help Egil, just in case," offered Caileigh. She soon followed Egil's trail.

Darick was wondering the forest alone for hours. He couldn't snap out from the void he's feeling. His hands are all bloodied from punching the ground and the tree barks. The feeling of pain was his feeling of euphoria.

"Darick!" Egil shouted all over the forest, he has been searching that almost seem to be half and hour, but he still couldn't find Darick.

Likewise, Caileigh was also shouting Darick's name every now and then. She wondered if Egil already found Darick. A few minutes passed, she decided that it was time to go home. Maybe the two boys already found each other.

"Caileigh," a familiar voice called out.

"Darick! Thank Odin! Oh my gods, what happened to your hands?!" Caileigh rushed to him worried.

"E-Egil, he's injured. We need to help him." Darick sobbed. Caileigh panicked.

"Where is he?!"

Darick led Caileigh deeper into the forest, the moon's light is growing dimmer and dimmer.

"Are you sure, we're on the right path?" Caileigh asked Darick feeling alarmed.

"Yes, we're almost there." Darick replied flatly.

Darick led her into a clearing she never been before. She looked around but she couldn't see Egil.

"Where's Egil?" she asked him confused

"Oops, must have made a wrong turn." he shrugged.

"Is Egil really injured?" The alarm on Caileigh's chest was growing.

"Nope. I actually don't know where he is." Darick said as a matter-of-factly.

"Why would you do this, Dar?! He must be so worried sick about us right now!" Caileigh scolded him.

"Egil this, Egil that. Tell me Caileigh, what is that I don't have? I was the one who was always there for you. I was your best friend!" The fury inside of Darick flourished again. But this time it is eating him up.

"I don't love you, Darick! And you just can't force someone to love you!"

"If I can't have you, nobody will! Especially Egil!" Darick pushed Caileigh and pinned her to the ground. "You're mine!" Darick kissed Caileigh forcefully, as he ripped her blouse off.

"Darick, stop!" Caileigh begged tears running down from her eyes. But Darick didn't stop. He won't. He kissed her until her lips were bleeding. Her scent was overwhelming and was driving him insane. Her pale white skin was so soft under his grip. He dreamt about this for years. She's his. He'll mark her.

"Please," Caileigh screamed pleading for help. "You're mine," Darick whispered into her ear. He flipped her skirt up to her belly, exposing her lower half to the cold ground. Darick began to untie his belt.

"No please, Darick! Please! Stop!" Caileigh sobbed hysterically. Bruises were forming on her wrist because of Darick's tight grip.

"Egil! Help!" she screamed on top of her lungs, while trying to kick Darick off her.

"Shut up, bitch!" Darick reached for a rock and slammed it into her face. Caileigh felt her face go numb, her vision was fading and she was getting nauseated. Crimson liquid was starting to cover her left eye.

"Fuck, I messed your face. Fuck." Darick hissed under his breath.

"No…please.." Caileigh pleaded weakly. But she couldn't move. She was paralyzed. And then she felt it. The pain. She couldn't run away, she was useless.

The deed was done.

"Egil, I'm sorry," Caileigh sobbed silently. Everything was hurting. Darick stood up and put back on his pants.

"Don't worry, Caileigh, I'll take good care of you. I'll be better than, Egil." Darick caressed her face while like licking the blood of his fingers.

"I mean, he wouldn't want someone who's damaged now, right?" he let out a manic laugh.

"Caileigh! Darick!" Egil's voice was heard in the distance.

"Aw, shit. Always the spoiler." Darick bit his lip in annoyance.

"Egil…help…" Caileigh sobbed weakly.

Egil emerged from the trees looking worn out, he was shocked to see Caileigh on the ground, with a bloodied face.

"C-Caileigh! What happened to you?!" Egil voice was breaking. He ran to her and cradled her head on his lap. He noticed her skirt was hiked up to her belly. Egil realized the harsh reality of what transpired.

"D-Darick, you- did you-how could you?!" Egil's voice was filled with anger and disbelief. "How could you do this to Caileigh?!"

"She's mine now. I marked her." Darick replied.

"You'll pay for this!" Egil's stood up and pinned Darick on the nearby rock. "I will kill you, you monster!"

Darick smirked and looked at him in the eye, "You'll kill your own brother, your own blood, just for a whore?"

"Don't test me! I will kill you! What you did was unforgivable!" Egil screamed at him with so much hatred. Tears running down from his eyes. "You're my brother, how could you!"

"Do it, kill me." Darick goaded. "I should be the one getting mad at you, for being a traitor!"

Egil readied his knife, Caileigh was moving weakly, "Egil.. no, don't…" the words barely escaped her lips. Darick was teasing Egil, "Do it, brother."

Egil raised his golden dagger and stabbed the surface, inches away from Darick's face.

"Thought so," Darick scoffed. Weary, Egil let go of the dagger and dropped down to his knees and sobbed. "I'm sorry, Darick, I'm sorry Caileigh."

"Sorry, but I don't forgive people easily." Darick swiped the dagger off the ground and stabbed Egil on the neck.

"No!" Caileigh screamed.

"Remember what I said? You're no brother of mine, " Darick spat. Egil's body convulsed. He was gasping for air. Caileigh reached out her hand, "Don't die, please, No!" she silently begged the gods.

Darick slashed Egil's throat multiple times. Blood was pooling from his body, he cut his brother's arm off and gutted him on the stomach.

"Hmmm, what's a better story than getting killed by dragons that you would love so protect, hm, Egil?"

Every cut he made on the flesh is euphoric. This feeling, he never felt it before. He feels so strong, so in control. He basked himself in that feeling of wonder.

Caileigh gathered all her strength, she managed to push herself up.

"Where you going, love?" Darick asked her, laughing. Caileigh looked at him in the eyes filled with hatred.

"You will never have me!" She bellowed. She took the necklace off her neck and when the moonlight hit it, she transformed into a dragon. But she was too weak to fend herself. With the remaining energy she has, she pushed herself of the ground, with her wings flapping feebly.

Darick backed away, "You're not leaving me, Caileigh!" He threw the dragger and it hit her necklace. The brooch scattered into a million pieces into the air. Caileigh lost her strength and fell down to the ground.

"No!" Darick ran over to her dying body. "Caileigh, no, no, no!" he sobbed. Caileigh looked up at the sky with tears running down her face. With a deep sigh, her golden orbs turned grey.

Darick ran away from the forest, the rain suddenly poured down washing the blood off him. He rested for a bit and collected himself. The love of his life is gone. And it is all Egil's fault. If he hadn't been such a traitor to him, then Caileigh would have never died.

He went home soaking and his father worried. He asked if he has seen his brother and Caileigh. Darick shrugged and told him that he was at the sea to get some fish, but the tide was high so he didn't have a catch.

The next day five burly men knocked on their door. It was Darick who answered it.

"Egil, we found him lying on the ground next to a nadder." One guy broke the news. "He's dead."

Darick obtained the golden dagger afterwards and joined the pillage, topping his brother. He soon learned of the brooch in one of his quests, when he got hold of an ancient text. He then adopted the name Fritjof when he killed Garth's son on one of his battles.

"You like my story?" Fritjof asked Stormfly amused. The nadder girl looked at him in disbelief.

"You're disgusting!" She spat at him. She couldn't believe that she thought he was better. This scoundrel in front of her has a special place in Loki's dungeon. She feels sick learning of his ways.

"Fiesty, feisty. That's why I like you." Fritjof laughed.

"You're going to regret this, I swear." Stormfly snarled. She would not forgive him. She would never forgive him.

The teens and the dragons have set out to find Stormfly Each teen and teen-dragon shared a dragon. Going by boat will take them too much time. What seems like hours with no luck, Hiccup finally found a shipped docked in the nearby island.

"That's the ship, alright." Hookfang confirmed it. They flew to other side of the island to set up camp and plan on how to carry out their plan.

Toothless was feeling restless and distant with the others. So much is running on his mind. He took a stroll at forest keeping a look out.

"Hey, Toothy." Hookfang greeted him. Toothless only nodded his head in acknowledgement.

"I just came by to ask how you're holding up," Hookfang started awkwardly.

"I'm fine," Toothless replied coldly. He doesn't need anyone nagging at him.

"It'll be okay, man. Storm's a fighter. Don't give up." Hookfang encouraged him. Which is usually a far cry from his usual cold hearted-macho feat.

Toothless just stared at him incredulously. "Is this guy for real?" He thought to himself.

"I know that it hurts to lose someone you love and we're here for you." Hookfang added.

"And how would you know? You always think about yourself, Hookfang." Toothless scoffed at him. The monstrous nightmare sighed.

"Everything will be alright Toothles, hope isn't lost yet." Hookfang patted Toothless' shoulder and went back to the camp.

Toothless rolled his eyes at the Nightmare, what's gotten into him. Meanwhile, Meatlug overheard the whole exchange.

"Toothless," Meatlug called out. Toothless sighed and gave her a wave.

"I'm fine. Really. I just don't need anyone to talk to right now." Toothless bit.

"That's not what I'm here." Meatlug crossed her arms. "I heard the conversation between you and Hookfang."

"Crazy, right? I mean, who knew someone like Hookfang could actually say something like that?" Toothless laughed sarcastically.

Meatlug frowned. "You don't know anything everything about Hookfang, Toothless."

Toothless raised an eyebrow at her. "Excuse me?"

Meatlug gave a deep sigh, "Hooky is more than what he seems to be. Or what he wants to appear as. Hookfang lost his family during a dragon raid, his wife, his hatchlings-everything. He's like that because he does not want to appear weak, just like the time when his family died. He knows what you're feeling and is offering you his support. "

Toothless looks at Meatlug dumbfounded. "I never knew…"

"I know that this is not the right time, but I suggest that you should start considering how view others and how you act. Everything is not what it seems." Meatlug added. "Anyway, I'll head back. Meatlug went back to camp leaving Toothless alone.

Toothless realized what Stormfly meant about him to grow up. He was such a child to think that everything should revolve around him. The reason why he was angry at Stormfly because she couldn't return his feelings. Because he wanted her to feel the same way, he wanted her to stay.

He wanted, he wanted, he wanted. He never considered what she wanted.

Toothless felt like a complete dunce. He knew now. Now all he needs to do is to get her back and show her that he understood her. Oh, and how he appreciates Hookfang now.

-Hey all, it's been so long. Here's the next chapter. Uhh, I didn't get to proof-read it but I hope it's still readable, hahaha. I know that it completely has been a year? Or half? I don't know I lost track. I was so busy with life that I forgot to update this. But a promise is a promise and I would finish this. So thanks again, for reading Blossoms of the moonlight!