I'm Damaged/ But somehow I've managed /This far /But I don't know if I can find my way back home

I'm Damaged/ But somehow I've managed/ For now/ But I don't think I can face this on my own

Assemblage 23, Damaged

After Savage left me I accessed the cell I was in it was enormous must be meant to contain dragons which was confusing why such a large cage just for me? and I was in the back of cell far from the door so picking the lock was not an option. It was dark only light source coming from torches in the hall of the dungeon and it air felt moist and dank. The air was chill as I rubbed my hands against my arms. I then felt the iron collar about my neck it wasn't tight but it wasn't comfortable either. I wondered if I had anyway to pick the lock to remove it but at the same time did I want to risk the wrath of Alvin again? I had never seen him so vicious before and I had the bruises to prove it.

I felt my lip which was swollen and still bleeding and winced it would bruise and I would hate to see what I look like right now. My stomach was in a great deal of pain the corset may have prevented the damage from being worse but I held an arm to my stomach and grimaced as I continued surveying my injuries. I lifted the skirt of my dress to look at my right leg and I could see the bruising starting in the faint light. I decided to try standing so I put my weight on my left leg which had my metal peg leg and pulled myself up grimacing in pain then I moved my right leg and collapsed back to the ground groaning and whimpering in pain. "Bad idea! Bad idea!" I whined.

A growl and a snarl was soon heard on the far side of the cell. I snapped my head up wide eyed. 'You've got to be kidding me' I thought. Movements were heard of heavy thuds on the stone ground, a scraping of claws across the stones, growls and heavy breathing. I felt my heart rate pick up in a panic I was not alone in the cell obviously the bastards had put me injured and unarmed in a cell full of dragons. Not just any dragons but frightened and abused dragons if I had anything to go on from earlier.

A dragon soon moved closer a Monstrous Nightmare enflamed and enraged that a human was in it's cell and it saw me. I could feel my blood pounding in my ears as I panicked what do I do. I forgot all about my injured leg and attempted to stand once more only to fall to my knees and cry out in pain. Meanwhile the raging dragon drew closer it's mouth wide open fangs protruding and eyes in narrowed slits. 

Breathing heavily I started crab walking backwards only to meet a stone wall then I curled in on myself.  I stayed in my prone curled up position, ducked my head, and reached my shaky hand out while I trembled in fear. All I could think in that moment was I would never see Dagur and Heather or Toothless oh my poor Toothless who was like a brother to me how would he manage with no one to help him fly?

I waited expecting imminent death when the most surprising thing happened I heard another roar echo in the cavernous cell of the Whispering Death. I felt a snout to my palm and looked up and saw the Whispering Death. Then it turned around and roared at the Monstrous Nightmare causing it to back down and to extinguish it's flames and assume a submissive pose as did other dragons in the cavern now that I could see clearer since the Nightmare caused a fire. There were several other dragons in the cell the Whispering Death must be some sort of matriarch of the dragons to bother protecting me.

A gronckle came forward and nudged my palm and then caressed it's face into my palm with it's eyes closed. Then it came closer to me sniffing at my injuries and made sympathetic coo's it was then I noticed the gronckle was blind in it's left eye and scarred across it's body. I felt myself start to relax when I realized the dragons weren't going to kill me right away and sympathetic that Alvin and the Outcasts had been abusing dragons. The Monstrous Nightmare came forward sniffing at my hand for several minutes till it too gave me its trust and nuzzled my palm. It then sniffed out my injuries and lay its head on my leg I could feel his body warm up and then I let out a moan when I realized he was applying heat to my injury to help with the pain.

A few terrible terrors crept forwards sniffing me and then began crawling about me and nuzzling me as though they were housecats I felt my breathing return to normal and my heartrate calm. I let out a yawn and laid out on the pile of hay the dragons gathering about me for warmth and protection. While it was not the same as being wrapped in Toothless's wings I still managed to fall asleep.

~~~~~

I was flying on Toothless the wind in my face causing my braid to whip behind my head and I let a out a cry of joy. We soared through the clouds then swan diving down till Toothless pulled up just before hitting the ocean waves the salt water spraying my face. I stretched my arms out and closed my eyes feeling the sun on my face and smile stretch on my face from ear to ear. Toothless let out happy roars as well as he shot out plasma blasts and then lifted up to avoid me being singed. Then I saw a sea stack in front of us and everything went black...

I heard the clanging of metal which meant the cell door was being opened and voices bellowing and shouting.

"Easy, Savage it's not like she's alive to worry about no more"

"You fools you better hope she's alive or ALVIN WILL have what's left of you once I'm done with YOU!" Savage snarled enraged.

I could feel the dragons around me move and stir at the sound of the voices they were anxious and on edge and also protective. Protective of me. They went on the defense immediately.

I opened my eyes slowly feeling groggy from the sleep I had no way of knowing how long I had been out since it was dark and there were no windows in the dungeon. I began to sit up and rub my head and neck. A Terrible Terror crawled in my lap and one leapt to my shoulder growling. 

"HICCUPA YOU IN THERE" Savage shouted.

I cleared my throat and called out "Yes I am. Calm down your upsetting the dragons."

Outcasts swarmed the cells and began cracking whips and hurtling weaponry at the dragons as they tried to fend them off. I struggled to my feet upsetting the terrible terrors who leapt at my feet and stood in a protective stance. I felt the pain in my leg again and collapsed obviously Alvin knew what he was doing when he attacked me.

Finally I called out. "STOP! Your upsetting the dragons their only trying to protect me." 

But my words fell on deaf ears. Savage came charging over to where I lay in the cell fumbling with a key and began unlocking the collar around my neck. Once removed  I began to rub at my freed neck.

"Are you alright? did they hurt you?" he asked his voice suspiciously filled with worry.

"They actually took care of me which is more than I can say for the humans of this island" I said with venom in my voice.

Savage quickly gathered me up into his arms in a bridal carry and rushed out of the cell causing a great din from the dragons who were upset to see me being taken away by the cruel humans. 

"Savage please I beg of you call your men off they were only trying to protect me. These poor creatures have suffered enough being trapped in these cells and then being tortured." I pleaded on behalf of the dragons.

"Alright Men, out of the cell!  Away from those beasts remember Alvin still has plans for them." Savaged hollered out. 

The other Outcasts soon came out slamming the cell door shut locking it the dragons angry or upset and giving out mournful calls as they saw I was no longer in the cell.

"Oh, your skin is like ice here I brought you a cloak" Savage said setting me down and draping it about my shoulders. Then he tilted my chin up to see my lip which had stopped bleeding and he ran his thumb over it causing me to shudder. "Come let me apply a salve to your injury it will help it heal faster." Then he gathered me back up in his arms and went up and out of the dungeon.

I remained silent I had little to nothing to say to Savage seeing as he was nothing more than a minion of Alvin or his second in command. Still I was curious where we were heading we entered the main building of the Outcast compound. I wanted to ask where he was taking me but I remembered Alvin's threats and I realized maybe Alvin was making promise on his threats after all I had failed in his eyes to help him train a dragon. I felt myself grown pail and nausea pool in my stomach first chance I get I will kill myself before I become used by any of the Outcast's I thought.

Savage then entered a bedchamber and I tensed even more Savage must sensed this because he spoke.

"Hey, hey, calm down Hiccupa nothing's gonna happen to you. I'm just going to tend to your wounds alright. Also, your not going back to the dungeon you'll be safer here." 

He set me on the bed and set about gathering medical supplies from around the room.

"Only problem with that statement Savage. Where is here?" I asked drawing the cloak around myself tighter.

"Well get to those petty details in time now let me see about your wounds" he said stepping forward with a cloth and a bowl. He started dabbing it at my mouth where it had scabbed and bruised over he brows furrowed in concern. When he was satisfied he gestured to my leg and began feeling about it as I grimaced and hissed in pain.

"Well it's not broken but severely bruised and sprained" he said. He began applying salve to my leg and then wrapped a bandage around it. "You'll have to stay off of it till it's healed."

Then he inspected me for any other injuries and when he satisfied he set the material aside. Then he turned to face me clapping his hands together. "Alright, well I spoke to Alvin and I got him to agree it was not your fault what happened in the ring but you'll have to train his dragons for him."

"Uh, ok" I said confused. "Not like I have much of a choice in the matter."

"Meanwhile I'm gonna watch over you and protect you. I'll keep you safe. No one, not even Alvin is gonna hurt you no more" he said a smile on his face.

"That's very generous of you Savage but may I ask why?" I said feeling more confused by the minute.

"Because Alvin has promised you to me" he said proudly.

"I'm sorry. I don't think I understand." I said my voice shaking.

"You are to be my intended and eventually we will marry of course. Oh, naturally I thought Alvin would want you as Chief but he says you aren't his type so I asked him for you.  He agreed since you won't be leaving Outcast island ever again. You'll stay and train our dragons and then you and I will be man and wife."

"Sa-Savage I already have an intended" I said tears spilling from eyes.

He came over kneeling before me and taking my hands and gazing up at me "Oh yes. I know about Dagur's little game my pet. I also know you don't love me now but surely in time you will grow to love me a little." he said a hand coming up to wipe my tears away.

I shook my head "No, no, no please no. Anything but that" I begged as my shoulders shook and tears slid down my cheeks burying my face in my hands.

"Shh Hiccupa it's alright Ole Savage will protect you" he said rubbing my back and pulling me in for an embrace even as I struggled against him. "Savage will take care of everything from now on."

He stood up and said "It's late why don't you get some sleep. I'll lock the door so no one can get in and I'll bring you food in the morning because you must be hungry. Sleep well my pet." 

He pat my head and left the sounds of a door locking was all I could hear over my breathing and silent sobs. The tears ran down my face and I lay down on my side pulling my knees to my chest feeling a sense of dread and heartache. It was then I began feeling a sense of de ja vu  as though I had experienced a similar situation but with Dagur? No, that couldn't be right Dagur loves me he wouldn't take me against my will.

After sometime I finally fell asleep due to emotional exhaustion.