Again, this is not my story, the original author, TidePoolDevil, gifted it to me after some problems prevented them from continuing it. Hopefully those problems resolve soon.

Anyway, hope you enjoy!

Chapter 2

}Run. Run away, and never come back{

~Astrid~

I ran back to the village, dodging tree branches and hurdling mossy logs. The moon was high in the sky, shining amongst the stars, taunting me. I paused in my dash for a moment and rested my right hand on a tree trunk as I caught my breath. When my palm came into contact with the rough bark I hissed in pain. I pulled it away and examined it in the pale moonlight. There was a large bloody scrape on my palm, the blood had clotted into the beginning of a scab. I frowned in confusion, it wasn't there before...before I confronted Hiccup. I must've scraped my hand on a rock or something.

I shook my head and set off at a brisk jog, I'll have time to worry about it later.

The forest gradually thinned and I knew I was close to the village. I dropped some of my speed until I stopped at the edge of the village. I looked around briefly, checking for unwanted attention before stealthily moving through the silent village. I made my way to my house, ducking into shadows whenever someone passed by.

I finally made it to my house but I hesitated outside, should I say goodbye?

I shook my head, they would just try and stop me, after all, I am their only daughter. I made my way around the side of our house and stopped below my window. I looked up, the window was open and the faint glow of a candle lit up my room. I braced my foot on one of the grooves in the wooden wall and began to climb upwards. I stopped just below my window sill and peaked over the edge. I looked around my room and spied my second youngest brother curled up on my bed, a stuffed Deadly Nadder clutched in his little arms.

I smiled to myself, I'd always loved Garrett the most.

I waited for a moment, listening. Listening to his even breathing, the calls of night birds and the silence of my home. Satisfied no one was awake I lifted myself up and into my room. I settled silently on the wooden floor and paused, checking once again for signs of wakefulness from the occupants of my home.

Finally satisfied I moved near silently around my room, collecting what I needed for my new life. My satchel slowly began to fill, a knife here, a change of clothes there, thick leather gloves for when I used to climb the mountains around Berk and another knife. With much thought I reached under my bed and pulled out a small wooden chest. It rattled slightly when I moved it, but thankfully not enough to wake my brother. With shaking fingers I opened the chest and removed the contents, placing my life's savings in the bottom of my satchel. I pushed the now empty chest under my bed and stood. I glanced around my room briefly and bid it a silent goodbye, I'm never going to see it again.

In a surge of sisterly instinct I quickly crossed the room and pulled my bed furs up over Garrett. A small smile curled his lips and I pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead.

"Goodbye Garrett." I whispered and like a wraith in the night I left my room, descending the stairs to reach the first floor.

I made my way to our food storage, thinking Hiccup probably packed only enough food for one person. And I would probably be right.

I took only the barest minimum, a couple of bread rolls, a few pieces of salted yak meat and a piece of pickled salmon. I wrapped them tightly in a rough cloth and shoved them in my satchel. I took a full water skin and put it in my satchel as well

By now my satchel was bulging and I briefly wondered if it would be too heavy, but quickly shook off the thought. It's a gods damned Night Fury for Thor's sake! Of course it won't be too heavy.

I took one last look around my home before leaving silently. I padded through the village, deep in thought. Have I made the right choice? Will my family be okay? What will they think happened to us? Will they mourn? Will whatever honor my family still has be taken from them with my abandonment? Will they hate me?

I shook off those thoughts as I reached the edge of the forest and looked into the looming darkness. I threw one last look over my shoulder, bidding my home goodbye for the final time before setting off, longing for the adventure awaiting me.

Little did she know that she'd left behind her treasured mother's axe in the Night Fury's cove.