Author's Note:

Hello everyone and welcome to another chapter. This one is set roughly around the time of HTTYD 1 and the first two TV series. If anyone has any suggestions for a chapter, then please let me know either via PM or in a review. Thank you everyone for your continued support and I hope you enjoy the chapter.

I own nothing.

Others

Snotlout sat anxiously beside his aunt, bathing her fevered brow with a damp cloth.

Valka had been ill for several days now but it was only recently that she'd become bed-bound. For his part, Snotlout had no idea what to do, his aunt had never been ill before and what little healing he knew wasn't working, her fever refused to break and she was spending less and less time awake. He knew that if something wasn't done soon, he'd lose her and he couldn't stand the thought of that happening. As he re-soaked the cloth, his mind wandered onto how he could help her.

She needed medicine, that much was obvious, but he had no clue as to what kind she needed. He entirely lacked the skills or the resources to make his own and it wasn't like they had a stockpile to choose from.

The only option he really had was going out to a human settlement and getting some but that came with a whole host of risks.

His aunt had told him many times of the dangers of the world beyond the Sanctuary, he'd encountered Dragon Hunters several times before and he'd been told about the Outcasts, pirates and other such evils. He knew that many Vikings were not friendly to dragons and how some were not friendly to any strangers at all. The thought of deliberately going to a human settlement and trying to barter for medicine scared him but he needed to do just that.

He looked up to Cloudjumper, who'd been hovering near his rider since she'd fallen ill, "Can you look after her Cloudjumper?"

The Stormcutter rumbled in response and Snotlout stood, "Thanks." He looked back to his aunt, "I'll be back as quickly as I can, promise."

Asleep as she was, Valka didn't answer and the boy was soon hurrying out of their cave to Hookfang, who was waiting just outside. He quickly mounted his dragon, "Okay Hooky, we've got to find some medicine for Aunt Valka!"

A low roar stopped them just before they took off and Cloudjumper strode out of the cave, he rumbled at another dragon before gesturing at them with his head to follow him. He took off and Hookfang and Snotlout looked at each other in slight confusion before following.

Cloudjumper led them across the sea and far away from the Sanctuary.

Snotlout had never been this far before and he didn't recognise where they were heading, however, the Stormcutter seemed very sure of his destination and the boy was certain he was leading them somewhere where they could get medicine.

After one of the longest flights he'd ever had, they descended towards a large island which was dominated by a volcano. Landing on the beach, Cloudjumper nodded towards the thick forest that started behind it and slowly walked towards it. As he dismounted Hookfang, Snotlout glanced around nervously, "Are you sure we'll find medicine here?"

His answer was a grunt and the boy cautiously followed the dragon in, Hookfang sticking close to his rider.

As they walked, Snotlout couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, going by the way the two dragons were looking around, it seemed that they also felt the same way. Every so often, the boy thought he heard something but whenever he looked, there was no one there.

Suddenly, Hookfang got distracted and darted off into the trees and Snotlout called out to him, "Hookfang, where are you going?" He then noticed that Cloudjumper had also vanished, "Cloudjumper…?"

Before he could blink, he was pounced on from behind and tackled to the ground. He struggled violently but the people holding him had a strong grip and they hauled him to his feet, he looked around wildly for the two dragons, "Hookfang, Cloudjumper!"

"Be quiet!" He was shaken roughly by one of the people holding him and they pushed him onwards through the trees. Snotlout kept quiet as they walked but he constantly glanced around, trying to spot where the two dragons had gone but he saw no sign of them.

Soon, he was brought into a village and taken before a large dragon statue at its centre. People in odd, black armour gathered around as he was pushed to his knees in front of a stone throne. A sturdily built man, with slight ornamentation on his armour stood beside the throne and spoke in a commanding voice, "All hail, Gefn, Queen Defender of the Wing!"

At once, everyone present bowed as an elderly woman appeared and regally sat on the throne, following behind her was a young, blond woman, possibly in her early twenties, who stood to the right of the throne.

The elderly woman addressed the one who announced her, "Beli, is this the possible Dragon Hunter?"

Beli bowed respectfully, "Yes your Majesty, he arrived here with these two dragons."

He gestured over to the side and Snotlout looked that way to see both dragons being fed some sort of fruit and couldn't stop himself crying out, "Hookfang!"

"Be silent, Dragon Hunter!"

The younger woman stepped forward but Queen Gefn stopped her, "Mala, that's enough!"

As Mala retook her position, the queen studied Snotlout thoughtfully, "He's but a child, I cannot see how he could be a hunter."

"That's because I'm not!" Snotlout insisted, "I've lived with dragons all my life, there's no way I would hunt them."

"Yet you've clearly enslaved these two." Mala scowled at him, "We saw you arrive on our island, you force the Nightmare to carry you on his back."

"I don't force Hookfang to do anything!" The boy argued, "He's been my friend ever since I was a baby, he lets me ride him."

This time it was Beli who spoke, "Your Majesty, this boy could well be in league with the hunters, these claims of his nothing but lies to fool us as part of a plot to steal the Great Protector."

Snotlout shook his head, "That's not why I'm here at all! My aunt's sick and I need some medicine for her, I'm not here to steal anything. I didn't even know this place existed until Cloudjumper led me and Hookfang here."

"So, you manipulated the other dragon into bringing you here." Mala turned to the queen, "I think it's clear that this boy is no friend to dragons."

Queen Gefn had remained silent throughout the exchange, but now she stood, "Tell me child, what illness does your aunt have?"

"But, your Majesty…!"

She held up a hand, halting Beli's words, and nodded at Snotlout to speak.

"Well, it began with a headache about six days ago, but she was slightly feverish after two days. Two days after that, she went to bed early saying she was tired and she had a full fever by the next morning, she barely wakes up and I don't know enough about healing to do much for her." He looked up at her pleadingly, "Please, apart from the dragons, she's the only person I have."

The queen continued to regard him for a long time then smiled, "We'll help you child."

The gathered people gasped and Mala stepped forward in shock, "But why, the dragons…"

"Look perfectly healthy." Queen Gefn responded, "If they were truly being mistreated, there would signs of it all over them yet both are completely fine. In fact, they are possibly healthier than some of the dragons of our island." She came over and placed a hand on Snotlout's shoulder, "There is no dishonesty in this boy's eyes or voice and it is clear that he is indeed as desperate as he claims, it is likely that the only reason the dragons have not yet intervened to protect him is the fact that they've been eating the Sagefruit."

She gestured to the crowd, "Lofn, please prepare some medicine for the boy to take to his aunt."

A woman bowed and hurried away as the queen continued to speak, "This boy is our guest and will be treated as such, this is my decision."

Though some did not look happy, they all bowed and slowly the crowd broke apart. Snotlout slowly stood and bowed himself, "Erm…thank you…your queeness."

She smiled, "What is your name child?"

"Oh…yes…Snotlout Jorgenson, milady."

She nodded, "We'll have your aunt's medicine prepared as soon as possible Snotlout, but until then…" She turned to Mala, "Mala, please show our guest the village, I expect you to extend every courtesy to him."

The young woman frowned but nodded, "Yes grandmother."

"There stands the Temple of the Wing and beside it is the Healing centre where they're preparing your aunt's medicine, we treat both dragons and humans there."

Snotlout grinned, "My aunt heals dragons as well!"

Behind him, Hookfang rumbled in agreement and lightly nudged his rider, Snotlout laughed a little and patted his snout as Mala watched in amazement.

"Your bond with him is unlike anything I've seen."

The boy shrugged slightly, "Well, I have known him pretty much my whole life. My aunt told me that when I was a baby and Hookfang was a hatchling, he used to visit every day to play with me. When he was big enough, he started letting me ride him and we flew all over the Sanctuary, freaked my aunt out the first time though."

Mala glanced over to where Cloudjumper was sat where he could watch most of the village, "And what about him."

"That's Cloudjumper." Snotlout answered, "He's known me my whole life as well but he's really my aunt's dragon. He was the one that brought her to the Sanctuary in the first place and showed us this island." He frowned, "I guess he knew that you were friends to dragons. I wonder why he's never showed us this place before?"

He got distracted from his thoughts and pointed up at the central statue, "By the way, what dragon is that?"

Mala smiled, "That is the Great Protector. The Eruptodon. He makes his home in the volcano behind us and eats the lava within, he is the reason we are safe from it."

The boy stared up at the statue thoughtfully, "He's kind of like the Bewilderbeast."

"The Bewilderbeast?"

Snotlout grinned at her question, "The Alpha of the Sanctuary, he's a massive dragon that can breathe ice, he built the Sanctuary with it and all the dragons that call it home are under his protection. He's kind of like a Dragon King."

"A Dragon King!?"

"Snotlout."

They both turned to see Queen Gefn standing before them, Mala respectfully bowed as she approached them, a small bottle in hand, "From everything you've told us about your aunt's illness, we've managed to prepare the medicine she requires. Simply give her two mouthfuls a day and she'll soon recover."

Snotlout gratefully took the bottle, "Thank you, your Majesty."

Hookfang grabbed the back of his shirt and tossed him onto his neck, ready to get going. Cloudjumper Came up and rumbled at them impatiently, wanting to return to his rider as soon as possible. Snotlout smiled at the queen, "Thanks for everything, but we need to get this back to my aunt as soon as possible."

Queen Gefn nodded understandingly, "It is quite alright child, the dragons are right to hasten your return home." She smiled, "Please know that you and your aunt will always be welcome among the Defenders of the Wing."

Snotlout nodded, "Thank you, maybe we'll visit again someday."

With a quick goodbye rumble, Hookfang shot into the air alongside Cloudjumper and they winged their way back to the Sanctuary.

Valka was just as she was when they returned and Snotlout wasted no time.

Quickly measuring out a mouthful into one of their wooden beakers, he shook her awake, "Auntie, you need to drink this. It'll help."

Slowly, she opened her eyes, "Snotlout…where have you been?"

He smiled, "Getting you some medicine, here."

He held the beaker to her lips and she drank, she pulled a face afterwards, "It really doesn't taste good."

The boy chuckled, "Well, you always told me that medicine wouldn't work if it didn't taste horrible."

She gave a small laugh of her own, "I guess I did." She frowned slightly, "Where did you find it?"

He held her hand, "I'll tell you about it when you're better. You should probably rest."

She smiled and let her eyes slip shut once more. She wasn't obviously better yet and it might be a couple of days until she was but, Snotlout was confident that she'd make a full recovery.

PS-So Snotlout has met the Defenders of the Wing considerably earlier than he would've done. Please let me know what you thought and I'll hopefully update soon.