Wow. Okay, I am so sorry this chapter took so long. I have been suffering from writer's block, but hopefully I'll be able to write more now.

Disclaimer: I don't own HTTYD.

What to do when stuck in a cave with two dragons (A list by Astrid Hofferson)

Avoid said dragons. Do not antagonize them. They are probably hungry.

Explore cave to find any other exits.

Try to sneak past dragons. You will fail.

Politely ask dragons to move from cave entrance. When they do not, glare at them. (It will not make them move, but it will make you feel better).

Sleep. Try not to sleep during the day - make sure you are only sleeping when it is dark.

Find some small stones to entertain yourself in the cave. Make up games.

Do not - DO NOT - hit the dragons with the stones. This is a sure way to get you eaten.

Watch the dragons to find out their sleeping and hunting patterns.

If one of the dragons is a night fury, accept any half-eaten food they give you. They will be offended if you do not eat it.

Do not offend the dragons.

If there is any wood in the cave, build a fire to keep yourself warm. Alternatively, ask dragons to light a fire.

To vent frustration, kick the cave wall. It will not help you escape or make you any happier. On second thoughts, don't kick the cave wall. You will injure your foot.

If the cave is relatively large, try to keep up an exercise routine. Alternatively, stretch your muscles to keep them from tightening.

When the stronger dragon goes to hunt, attempt to sneak past the second dragon.

Yell at said dragon when it refuses to let you leave.

Sulk in the back of the cave.

Astrid fumed silently. One week. One whole bloody week. That was how long she'd been stuck in this godforsaken cave. The dragons had shown no sign of wanting to let her leave, but at least they had been decent enough to bring her back some fish, and the Nadder had even lit a fire once the black one had growled at it. So she was coping…sort of. She had started up a conversation with the dragons on day three, unused to the lack of company and isolation, not really caring that they wouldn't respond. Astrid was, at heart, an extrovert, and needed to be around people. At least talking helped break the uncomfortable silences that stretched between her and the black dragon when the Nadder went hunting.

The black dragon was still injured, and as it looked at her each day through it's one, pain-filled eye, she couldn't help but feel just a little guilty. She could see intelligence in those eyes now, something she had never noticed before. The dragon's green eye had the look of wisdom that an owl's did, and showed the same deep pain she had seen in the eyes of wounded and dying vikings after dragon raids.

She had told herself she was being stupid at first. That she was just telling herself the dragon had feelings to stop herself being so lonely. But as the days had dragged on, she had begun to realize the extent of the dragon's intelligence. It was like looking into the eyes of a very old person - someone who had seen so much war and pain and suffering that their faces had begun to show it.

It was the same when she looked at the Nadder now - perhaps not exactly like when she looked at the black dragon, but then, no two people were exactly alike, so why should dragons be? Could it be possible that dragons were just as diverse as vikings?

Astrid woke. She wasn't quite sure when she'd fallen fallen asleep - she had been sure that the black dragon's moans of pain would have kept her awake long into the night. It seemed like it was determined for Astrid to share in it's agony - and she had spent hours with her hands clamped hard over her ears in an attempt to block out the noise.

She was lying alone in the cave, cool stone pressing into her side from beneath her. Her skin was cold, the darkness and slight damp of the cave making her shiver. The remains of the fire were black and lifeless. It had gone out a while ago. Sitting up slowly, she pushed her hair out of her face, turned around, and saw the black dragon lying on it's side at the entrance of the cave. The blue dragon was standing above it, fussing over it like an over-protective mother. Astrid almost laughed at the sight. Almost. The dragons were acting so… human.

As she watched, the black dragon gave a quiet moan, tried to stand, but stumbled and fell with a cry. It shook it's head roughly, rubbing a paw over it's injured eye and moaned. Astrid shifted her position so that she was sitting cross-legged on the cave floor, a few loose stones rattled against the hard stone. The blue dragon twisted around to glare at her, and Astrid fought to keep her expression blank as she stared resolutely back at it. This was hard work, mind you. Facing off a dragon barely five meters away is no mean feat, but to do it without a weapon and no means of escape except past the dragon is even harder. Still, Astrid was a viking, and vikings were known for their stubbornness. She stared back at the dragon, a scowl creasing her brow, despite the fact that fear coiled in her stomach like snakes.

After a second, the Nadder turned back to the dragon on the ground, crooning softly to it. Astrid stood up, stretching her muscles with a yawn. A growl from the cave entrance caught her attention. Her eyes flickered to where the Nadder's head had snapped around to look at her (the movement unnervingly like that of a chicken), it's large eye focussed on her. It growled again. Astrid slowly sat down. The dragon huffed softly, and went back to crooning at the black dragon.

Astrid sat with her back against the wall for what felt like hours, wondering uncertainly if this cave was where she would die. Would the dragons keep her here forever? Once the black dragon healed would they kill her? Would the blue dragon decide to end it before then?

Was she ever going to see her family again?

Would the Vikings ever find her body, her bones, in the corner of this cave? Would they even look?

They would, she told herself, although she didn't fully believe it. They'll come and find me. They've got to.

It was a long time later that the blue dragon left the cave. Astrid barely heard the noise as it moved out of the cave - it was only the telltale clack of it's claws against the stone floor of the cave that gave away it's movements. Astrid leapt to her feet, her right leg almost giving out from under her - she had lost feeling in that leg some time ago from sitting still too long. She winced as the blood rushed back into the limb, tingling. A growl from the entrance made her look up again. The Nadder was glaring at her, it's expression alarmingly easy to read. It cocked it's head, then bared it's teeth, the message clear. Try to escape and I will kill you.