★彡[ ɪ ꜰɪɴᴀʟʟʏ ᴍᴇᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴꜰᴀᴍᴏᴜꜱ ᴠɪɢɢᴏ ɢʀɪᴍʙᴏʀɴ ]彡★

Kai watched both Hiccup and Fishlegs make another one of their inventions at the workshop, having nothing better to do. The twins and Snotlout were playing cards together on the table while Astrid had gone out for another patrol since morning and was seemingly ignoring the winged hero as always.

Hiccup presented his goggles to Fishlegs. "This is strong enough to stare straight into the eyes of a Flightmare."

Fishlegs stared at it in keen interest. "Fascinating, may I see?"

"Please, I insist." He offered it to him, who took it eagerly.

"So, they're basically sunglasses," Kai stated, her chin leaning on her palms in boredom. "Kinda like my goggles here."

Before Hiccup had the chance to ask what sunglasses were, Astrid walked in, looking pale and a worried expression plastered across her face.

"Astrid, are you okay? What's wrong? Did you see something on patrol?" Hiccup asked in concern but she remained silent.

"Hunters? Trapped Dragons? Viggo?" Fishlegs listed but she shook her head.

"Oh! I love this game. Okay, now it's my turn, everyone be quiet. Astrid, is what you found bigger than a yak box?" Tuffnut asked.

Astrid sighed. "I found a fishing boat."

"I'm supposed to guess before you tell me. Doesn't anyone know how to play? But, just for the record, a boat is bigger than a yak box. So, I'll just score this one a win for the old T-Nut. Scratch one off in the Tuffnut column," the male Thornston stated before getting cut off by Kai who elbowed him to shut up.

"It was just drifting out there. We went to take a closer look. But what we found inside it was ..." Astrid paused.

"Was what?" Snotlout asked, a worried look on his face.

"Bodies. Skin was all pale and green. We got out of there as fast as we could," the blonde rider shuddered.

"Survivors?" Fishlegs questioned.

"One."

Hiccup stood up. "Then we need to go back out there and help them. Toothless."

Astrid reached out to stop him. "Hiccup, it's too late."

"Um, Hiccup, pale green skin? I hate to be the harbinger of doom, but-" Fishlegs got cut off by Hiccup.

"I know what you're thinking Fishlegs, but-"

"The Scourge of Odin," Fishlegs finished.

Hiccup let out a nervous laugh. "Oh! Let's not throw that word around too loosely, because-"

Snotlout's eyes widened. "Wait. Back it up. Did he say Scourge of Odin?"

"Yes, but there's no need to panic," Hiccup tried to reassure.

"Right. No need to panic. The Scourge of Odin. Just the plague that tore through the archipelago centuries ago, wiping out entire Viking villages!" Snotlout practically yelled. "Yeah, why would we worry about that? Quick, Hookfang! I need a mask for my mouth."

Kai's eyes widened at the plague while Snotlout and the twins began bickering with one another about burning their clothes, needing a mask and eating mouldy bread which disgusted the winged hero.

Hiccup cut in between them. "Let's not jump to conclusions and set ourselves on fire, eat mouldy bread or hyperventilate."

"There hasn't been a single case of the Scourge for centuries. Plus, Astrid got out of there right away. Are you sure you're okay?" Hiccup asked in a worried tone.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Really," Astrid nodded, hugging her arms.

Kai was the only one who noticed the scratch that she tried to hide, narrowing her eyes at the blonde dragon rider who avoided eye contact with the winged hero and looked terrible.

Astrid reassured them all before walking back to her hut as the rest all exchanged uneasy glances.

The next day, Kai woke up to find that Astrid's health had gotten worse overnight, the scratch being behind it all. Hiccup and the winged hero now stood at her door, staring worriedly at the blonde who was currently resting.

Fishlegs walked up to the two, a worried expression plastered across his face.

"What is it?" Hiccup asked.

"You saw that scratch, right?"

"She said it's nothing," the brown-haired rider said while Kai rolled her eyes.

Fishlegs sighed. "You know Astrid. It's not nothing. All the signs are there."

"All right, let's assume for a second that you're right. What's the cure?" Hiccup asked in a hopeful tone.

"I'm not sure. The only thing I know is that the scourge moves swiftly, overtaking its victims in less than three moons," Fishlegs replied.

"One moon has already passed," Hiccup said dreadfully. "Snotlout is on his way back from Berk with Gothi's notes. Hopefully, they'll tell us something more."

As if on queue, the said viking landed in front of them with Hookfang.

"Hey Astrid, how are you feeling?" Snotlout asked in concern.

"I feel fine. I just wish everyone would stop worrying," Astrid groaned.

"Fishlegs, look!" Hiccup showed him the notes. "In Gothi's notes there's a cure for the Scourge of Odin. A green solution made from the saliva of a Buffalord dragon. What? What is it?"

Fishlegs stared at him with a certain look. "Well it's just ..."

"There aren't anymore Buffalord," Astrid stated grimly as she sat up. "They were all hunted to extinction during the Scourge's last outbreak."

"But you guys aren't sure about that, right?" Kai asked hopefully.

"But we don't even know where to start looking," Fishlegs pointed out.

"There's no mention of the Buffalord anywhere. It's like they were wiped from history."

Astrid tried to stand. "Come on, I told you guys, I'm ..."

Before the blonde could finish what she was saying, she felt light-headed and faint, falling over. She would have face planted on the ground if Kai, who was the nearest to her, hadn't caught her.

"I'm ... fine," Astrid mumbled weakly in the winged hero's arms before coughing again and closing her eyes, feeling feverish and falling asleep.

Kai laid her back in bed before sharing a worried glance with the three who then decided to regroup with the twins to find out more about the Buffalord dragon and where they could find one for an antidote.

The riders all left to find the saliva while the winged hero stayed behind, keeping an eye on Astrid. Another night passed and Kai tried her best to remain calm and collected.

A groan escaped Astrid's lips as she stirred slightly in her sleep, waking Kai up who was seated on a chair next to her bed, her chin leaning on her palm. Stormfly squawked softly, nudging the winged hero who gently rubbed the dragon's head in reassurance.

"Hey, don't worry. She'll be fine. Hiccup and the others are finding the cure right this moment." The deadly purred in response before huddling on the ground next to her.

Kai glanced worriedly at the blonde dragon rider who's condition was getting worse every hour and her skin was turning pale and a sick green. The winged hero stood up and stretched before walking outside.

As if on queue, Hookfang landed in front of her before Snotlout jumped down.

"We found the cure, but we have to take her there quickly."

Kai nodded as she made her way towards Stormfly, climbing on her while Snotlout carried Astrid towards the deadly nadder before the winged hero lifted her up on the dragon's back. Hookfang then took off into the air with Stormfly following after him.

Astrid shuddered weakly in Kai's arms who wrapped them around the blonde's waist and under arms to prevent her from falling off her dragon.

"Hey, just rest. You're gonna get well soon. Just hold on and keep fighting. Who else would I annoy then?" Kai said softly, more so trying to reassure herself, not noticing that the blonde heard her and smiled weakly.

They soon arrived on the island as Hookfang and Stormfly landed on the ground. Hiccup took Astrid from Kai into his arms before carrying her and placing her against a rock. He quickly brought the antidote to her as she drank out of the cup.

Everyone watched worried, waiting for it to take effect but it did nothing. Kai glanced between the riders in silence as they debated about the cure being green before realising that it had to be mixed with the herbs that the Buffalord ate.

But before Hiccup could grab the green solution, the dragon hunters appeared and ambushed them, stopping the brown-haired rider from retrieving it in his cup.

"Viggo!" Hiccup growled, glaring at the said dragon hunter.

Kai finally found out who exactly Viggo was and the dragon hunters.

Viggo smirked at him. "Hello, Hiccup. Thank you so very much for this gift. I do apologise that you won't be able to use it to save your little friend."

The riders quickly climbed on the dragons before engaging with Viggo's men. Yet, the dragons couldn't get a clean shot without risking hurting the Buffalord dragon, making Hiccup to stand down.

Kai was itching to help but Hiccup shook his head not to do anything, standing protectively in front of Astrid instead.

"Viggo, release that dragon. You have no idea what you're doing," Hiccup warned.

"Oh, I beg to differ, my dear Hiccup. I'm keenly aware of my actions," Viggo stated. "This dragon is exceedingly unique. It will elicit a considerable bounty on the open market. You should have left well enough alone, Hiccup. My fishing boat was no place for you or any of your Riders."

Hiccup furrowed his eyebrows. "Your fishing boat?"

"It's simple really. Supply and demand. I knew where to get the supply if only I could generate the demand," Viggo replied, a sly smirk on his face.

Kai was ready to burn him to a crisp but restrained herself, clenching her fists tightly to keep herself calm.

"You're a monster!" Fishlegs snapped.

"Fishlegs, I'm shocked," Viggo had a mock hurt expression. "I'd have thought you were above name-calling. Monster? No. Savvy businessmen? Indeed."

"And what if the dragon was extinct?" Hiccup remarked.

"I tend not to dwell on the what-ifs, my boy. Leaves you barren," the dragon hunter replied smoothly before turning his attention to Kai. "Ah, I see you got a new recruit amongst your group. Where are my manners? I'm Viggo Grimborn."

Kai glared dangerously at him in response which only made him smirk wider. Hiccup was then engaged in another argument with Viggo who soon agreed on an exchange with Hiccup getting the antidote and Viggo getting the dragon.

Astrid drank the antidote, and slowly began to return to herself. She slowly stood up, nodding at the group in gratitude before making her way towards her deadly nadder and giving Stormfly a big hug who squawked happily in response.

Viggo and the dragon hunters were nowhere to be found, seeming to have left immediately after the exchange, while the riders soon made their way back to the edge, relieved to have Astrid back healthy and well.

The blonde rider offered Kai a ride with her to which she accepted and it was a quiet and peaceful ride back.

"Thank you," Astrid said softly, surprising Kai as a smile formed on her face. "I didn't know you cared for me that much. I guess you are a nice person underneath all that annoying personality after all."

"Shut up," Kai remarked. "Don't let it get to that thick head of yours."

"But I'm glad that you're alright," Kai added softly as the two fell in a comfortable silence during their ride back.