The riders were sat in the club house eating dinner.

"What are we going to do about Viggo?" Asked Fishlegs.

"I dunno," said Tuffnut, "But these yak chops are amazing! What's in the sauce?"

Heather smiled. "Chillies. Trader Johan got them from Mexico, wherever that is."

"Awesome! It's like my mouth is on fire! You know, without all the smoke."

"Nah," Said Ruff, "I reckon if you ate enough you'd burst into flames!"

"Aha, we must check your hypothesis, Sister Nut!" Tuffnut grabbed a handful of the unused chillies sitting in the middle of the table.

"Guys, please," Hiccup wiped his hand over his face. "Viggo's attacks are getting more dangerous for us and the dragons."

"We need to cut off his supply of transport ships. No matter how many we sink he always seems to get more." Said Astrid.

"Okay," Fishlegs lent forward, "I think Meatlug and I should follow a ship to-"

They were interrupted by a shout from Snotlout, "Oh my Thor will you mutton heads give it a rest!" The others turned to look at the twins; who were both attempting to stick chillies up Tuffnut's nose.

Hiccup sighed and confiscated the remaining vegetables. "I think that's a good idea, Fishlegs. The rest of us will scout the island to the West of the Northern Markets. I've heard of sails and catapults being illegally traded in those docks. We'll see if anyone knows anything about the Dragon Hunters. Meet up with us there when you've found where the ships are going."

"Alright. I'm going to catch some sleep, got to be up early in the morning. Come on, girl!" Meatlug followed her rider from the clubhouse.

Hiccup and Astrid cleared away the dinner plates, and then followed the others to bed. The couple had been dating for nearly a year now, and Astrid sometimes spent the night at Hiccup's hut. She slipped silently into his bed.

"So, uh, did you like my new improved shield?" Asked Hiccup.

"Hmm."

That was strange. Astrid usually at least feigned interest in Hiccup's inventions. "You know, I really think the built-in signal flare could be useful if we're separated from our dragons and need to communicate. Also, the-"

"Would you shut up, Hiccup?" Astrid's voice had an edge that was usually reserved for Snotlout.

Hiccup was taken aback. "Astrid, um, are you okay?"

"I'm fine." She snapped.

"Why did you come to my hut if you didn't want to talk?"

Astrid sat up. "I just... I didn't want to be by myself."

Hiccup was at her side in seconds, his arm around her waist. "You don't have to be alone, Astrid. Is something wrong?"

"I'm fine, I think Heather's chillies just aren't agreeing with me." She put her head in her hands, and in the half light of the candle Hiccup noticed that she wasn't looking well. He softly rubbed her back.

"I'm fine, Hiccup." Astrid shrugged his hand away. "Go to sleep." Hiccup lay down and took out a book Gothi had lent him called How Herbs Heal Vikings. He and Fishlegs were trying to work out which plants could be adapted to treat dragons. He wasn't really paying any attention to what he was reading though. He watched Astrid out of the corner of his eye. She had swung her legs over the edge of the bed and was shifting uncomfortably. He debated asking her again what was wrong, but she'd only get angry. After a few minutes she stood up, covered her mouth and stumbled into the bathroom.

"Astrid!" Hiccup followed her and found her on her knees gagging into the toilet. He held Astrid's hair out of the way and rubbed her back. "You're alright, it's okay." He whispered gently as she threw up. She braced her arms against the toilet seat and was violently sick. Hiccup patted her back. "Gods, you poor thing." Astrid heaved again and her elbows buckled. Hiccup let go of her hair and slipped his arm around her front to support her. With the other hand he rubbed her shoulders. "It's going to pass, Babe." He told her over and over again.

When Astrid was finally done, she sat back on her heels. Her eyes were bloodshot. "Gods." She spat into the toilet bowl. "Sorry, Hiccup."

"Don't apologise, Astrid, it's not your fault."

"I threw up in your bathroom."

"Doesn't matter." Hiccup kissed her cheek. "You did it very neatly down the toilet, anyway." Astrid fell against him and buried her face in his shoulder. He heard her sniff and realised she was crying. He'd never seen her cry before, not even when Dagur burned down her house and almost killed her parents. Hiccup wrapped his arms around Astrid and held her close as she sobbed. He wasn't sure how long they stayed crouched on the bathroom floor, but eventually Astrid got up and walked to the sink. She turned on the tap and Hiccup ran a cloth under the water. He went to wash her face, but she held up a hand to stop him.

"Hiccup, I can do it myself."

"I know." Said Hiccup, "Just let me take care of you." She didn't protest again, which concerned Hiccup. He washed the tears from her cheeks, then wiped her mouth and cleaned as much vomit as he could out of her hair. Astrid shuffled back to bed and Hiccup lay down next to her. He reached over to her, but she brushed him away. For about ten minutes they stared in silence at the ceiling, their candle having burnt down by now. Hiccup wanted desperately to take Astrid's hand and offer some comfort, but she seemed determined not to let him.

"Hiccup?" Astrid whispered so quietly he wasn't sure he heard her.

"Yeah?"

Astrid didn't say anything else, but Hiccup felt her move in the darkness beside him. She rested her head on his chest and he silently stroked her hair. She sighed, and after a few minutes fell asleep.

When Hiccup woke up the next morning sunlight was spilling through the gap in his curtains. Astrid wasn't beside him, and fearing the worst, he checked the bathroom. She wasn't there either. "Astrid?"

Her voice answered from the ground floor of his hut and he slipped down the stairs. She was sat at his desk looking at his sketches. She glanced up at him. "Hey."

"How're you feeling?"

"Much better, thank you." She gave him a small smile, and stood to face him. "And, erm, thanks. You know, for," Astrid fiddled with her tunic, as if searching for the right word in the frayed material, "For looking after me."

Hiccup took her hand, "You don't have to thank me. I'm just glad you were with me instead of alone in your hut."

"I'd have been okay. Stormfly would've taken care of me."

"I know." Hiccup pressed his lips to hers. "Are you well enough to eat? I'll bring you some breakfast and then you can rest here until I get back from the mission."

"Erm, I don't think so!" Hiccup smiled: here was the Astrid he knew. "I'm coming with you. It was just an upset stomach, I'm fine now."

"I really don't think that's a good idea. You were so ill last night. I know I'd feel better if you rested."

"Not happening, Hiccup!" Shouted Astrid over her shoulder as she walked out the door. Hiccup followed his girlfriend down to the club house, where Ruffnut had made breakfast.

"I'm telling you," Said Snotlout, "I have the accomplice so I can take your chief!" He flicked a small clay figure off the table. Tuff began to wail.

"Let me guess," said Astrid dryly, "Tuff has gotten emotionally attached to his Maces And Talons pieces again."

"Yep!" Heather smiled at Astrid from across the table. "I saved you some eggs."

"Actually, I think I'll just have toast."

Ruff gasped. "But eggs are your favourite!" Astrid shrugged and chewed the corner of a slightly burnt piece of bread.

"Hiccup!" Fishlegs came barrelling through the door and Hiccup jumped to his feet.

"Fish-! What?"

"I found it!" Fishlegs held a piece of parchment in the air. Everyone looked at him blankly. "It's the map of Viggo's base! The one we stole from that Hunter ship several moon cycles ago?"

Snotlout snorted, "Oh yeah. The one you lost as soon as we got back to the Edge."

Fishlegs stammered, "I have a... I have a lot of papers, okay. Things sometimes get mixed up."

"This is great, Fishlegs." Hiccup went to look at the map with his friend. "Wow, it shows so much detail. We absolutely need to study it later!"

"Yes!" Fishlegs grinned. "I should take it with me today in case the ship goes to Viggo's base!"

"No, Fishlegs. Entering Viggo's base alone and without a plan is only going to-"

"Get you killed!"

"Thank you, Snotlout." Hiccup turned back to Fishlegs. "You know I want a shot at Viggo as much as you, but we've got to be careful."

Fishlegs opened his mouth to protest, but Heather interjected. "Hiccup's right. I've never been to Viggo's base, but from what I heard it's heavily armed. It'll be impossible for you to get in without being noticed, never mind getting out again." Fishlegs nodded.

"When do we leave?" Astrid had finished her toast and was packing the satchel she carried on missions.

"Ten minutes." Hiccup tried to catch Astrid's eye but she looked away. He wanted to ask her again to stay behind but he knew she'd kill him if he said anything in front of the other riders. He sighed, and went to get ready. He needed to switch Toothless' tail to the new one made for long distance flying.

The flight to the island was uneventful. They stayed clear of the Northern Markets, which were probably crawling with Dragon Hunters, and landed on the far side of the Western Isle.

"Okay," Hiccup jumped down from Toothless' back. "We know that the ports are here," he drew a rough map in the dust and indicated the far side of the island. "We need to approach from

the eastern side to avoid the Western Isle Mountain Range."

"Err, we have flying war machines." Snotlout raised his eyebrows, "Why don't we just drop from the sky and blast the living Thor out of these Hunters?"

"You have missed the point, my dear Snotlout." Said Ruffnut. "You see, we need to gather information. Whilst murdering Hunters in cold blood with huge explosions is most enjoyable-"

"We cannot extract any information from charred bones." Tuffnut finished.

"Fortunately," Ruff was pacing backwards and forwards, "You are in the presence of Twinvestigators. We are the best detectives in the Archipelago. We shall search for the data you require." The twins began looking behind a nearby rock.

"Man, you two are mutton heads. Is it too late for me to go join Fishface?"

"I thought you said Fishlegs was on a suicide mission, Snotlout?" Said Heather.

"Yeah. That's exactly why I want to join him."

Astrid rolled her eyes. "Be my guest."

"I'll wait for you in Valhalla, Babe!" Astrid groaned and pretended to gag. Hiccup tensed but quickly realised she was fine.

"Okay, Snotlout, Ruff and Tuff; you're going to scout this side of the island. Look for any signs of permanent residence. I don't know for sure whether this place is inhabited." Hiccup glanced up, "Oh, and be quiet. We don't know if any people who might live here are friendly."

"What are you guys doing?" Asked Ruff.

"Surveying the ports." Said Astrid.

"Meet back here?" Heather spoke over her shoulder as she searched for something in Windshear's saddlebag.

"Yep." Said Hiccup. "Signal fire in an emergency."

Once Hiccup, Heather and Astrid were in the forest, Astrid turned to Hiccup. "Are you sure sending Snotlout and the twins to make contact with a potential ally is a good plan?"

"They're not making contact, Astrid. They're... observing. Anyway, would you rather they blasted a port full of potentially innocent people with their dragons instead?"

"Hiccup's right." Said Heather. "We don't know for sure whether the merchants here are Dragon Hunters, or even if their trade is illegal at all." Astrid held up her hand and they all stopped walking. Up ahead, something was crashing through the trees. Toothless growled and Windshear flicked her tail ready to shoot spines. A dragon burst into the small clearing that the riders were stood in.

"Flame Whipper." Whispered Heather.

"You've seen one before?" Said Hiccup, eyeing the large gecko-like creature in front of him. He'd read enough to know that the detachable tail was full of poison.

"Only once, right after I rescued Windshear." The Flame Whipper was approaching them cautiously, it's tail held above its head.

Hiccup moved forward, eyes averted and hand outstretched. "Here you go, big boy. Just your pal Hiccup." At the edge of his vision, he saw the dragon lower it's head. This was going to work. Suddenly Stormfly let out an alarmed snort. The Flame Whipper turned and stuck out it's long tongue.

"Take cover!" Screamed Heather. Hiccup dived at Astrid, pulling her out of the way just before a swirling torrent of fire destroyed the tree Astrid had been leaning against. They scrambled to their feet, got to their dragons and took to the air. Heather was already in the sky. "Flame Whippers can't fly, but they're good climbers."

"Right." Said Hiccup. "Stay clear of the trees." The three of them flew back in the direction they'd come, hoping to avoid being spotted by the merchants at the port. The Flame Whipper followed them, leaping nimbly between the large branches of the canopy below.

"We need to lose this dragon." Shouted Astrid.

"Yeah, we-" Hiccup was cut off by screams. Snotlout and the twins broke through the trees followed by a flurry of arrows.

"So," Said Snotlout, "Apparently this island is inhabited. And apparently the people don't like dragons very much."

"They don't like dragons? Or they don't like you?"

"Shut up, Astrid