𖣯 ✹ 🌷(úlfheðnar) ꏍ ！┈─❟
╰───►chapter twenty-six; yrsa
❝ rogue dragon rider! ❞

     YRSA heard Hiccup's furious yells before she saw him. She felt her heart squeeze, not sure how to comfort him. She believed in him━of course, she did. How could she not? She seriously believed that he had the ability to change minds and that Drago might not be any different. His good heart allowed him to give people a second chance. To trust even after trust had been broken. But Stoick's story settled in the pit of her stomach and made it churn with worry. Could a man like that be reasoned with? Could Stoick be right? And if he was? What then? Yrsa agreed with Hiccup, they couldn't wait for that to happen. They had to find Drago. But Yrsa also was thinking about what to do if they get there, and no matter what, Stoick was correct. What would they do then?

    Hearing the beat of wings through the soft clouds, Yrsa expected Hiccup to explode out a: "Dad━seriously━!" he stopped when he saw Yrsa, and his furious stance faltered enough for Yrsa to see his shoulders slump. She knew that look━she has seen that look far too many times, and no matter what, it always controlled him.

     Yrsa remembered the days when Hiccup used to be shorter. She remembered the days where he could barely hold up her axe each time she went to the forge to sneak a glimpse at the way he'd stumble, go red in embarrassment and try make up some excuse as to why he couldn't hold it up. And she'd watch him, and feel her heart flutter, and find it cute. Now, he was taller than her, now he was a man, and a warrior, the best dragon rider there was, but he was still that same boy who crumpled with defeat in her arms when Toothless had been swarmed by Vikings in the arena, thinking he wasn't good enough.

     She didn't say anything, just let her gaze fall, solemn as Hiccup fell back against his saddle, sighing up into the clouds. He lied there for a few seconds, briefly glancing at Yrsa who took a deep breath, forging onwards. Helrose gave a worried purr towards Hiccup, sharing a glance with Toothless as well.

     Her betrothed said nothing to her, but Yrsa didn't need him to say anything to know he was glad she was flying there beside him.

     So, he turned his attention to the dragon beneath and set a gentle hand on the side of his stomach, "Don't worry, bud. I'm not gonna let anything happen to you. I promise."

     Yrsa found her fingers sliding along Helrose's scales herself━a silent promise to her dragon, as well as Toothless. She took another deep breath, glancing at Hiccup again who was still lying on his back, brooding. "I'm thinking we should head North from here then North-East, maybe that's where ..."

     Her voice trailed off when she heard Helrose growl. Immediately, she became rigid, reaching back for her axe as something appeared up out of the dust clouds. A hook━blue, wrapped in leather ... something was below. Helrose reared her wings a little, edging closer to Toothless who peered below, and emmited his own low and dangerous growl.

     "Hiccup━" whispered Yrsa, breath hitched.

    But she couldn't manage another word, eyes wide at the figure that appeared. Yrsa's heart raced━she was staring right into the gaze of a spiked helm, dashed with blue paint like the hook which now Yrsa could see belonged to a long, intricate staff wrapped in twine, flexible branches.

    Her grip on her axe made her look brave, but she didn't feel it. The figure grew taller and taller as they ascended up above. From the chin of the helm, extended two twisted tusks, dashed with blue━like the ice Yrsa and Hiccup had seen when they first found Eret. The rest of this stranger's armour was bulky, made of leather and bark. They held a shield, dashed in red, blue and yellow━the same colours as the shredded cloak billowing in the wind behind them.

     Realising Yrsa was completely silent, and in hearing their dragons' growls, Hiccup clenched his fists, "Oh, come on, Dad, really━?" he sat up, but his words were cut off immediately.

     There was a breathless silence. The stranger said nothing, just slowly descending back into the clouds.

     "O━Okay ..." whispered Hiccup slowly. He held out a hand to Yrsa, telling her to keep at a hover and close to his side. She knew what he was thinking ... was this Drago Bludvist? Toothless let out another growl and Yrsa sunk low to Helrose's saddle, hearing her body vibrate with her own. "No sudden moves," ordered Hiccup. Yrsa nodded, letting him know she understood.

     Then━out from the clouds━burst forth a large dragon. Yrsa gasped, tugging Helrose back. Her dragon reared her wings, roaring in surprise. Her eyes followed the dragon as it ascended higher, turning around to face the group of them with the stranger on its back. This dragon had two sets of wings━all four beating furiously to keep it aloft. Yrsa saw intelligent eyes━eyes narrowed into slits peeking under the triangular horn of its crown. She knew this species: a Stormcutter. Sharp Class; Speed: seventeen. Firepower: twelve. Dangerous? Very.

     Hiccup hovered in near to Yrsa, so close their dragon's wings almost touched each time they extended. The Stormcutter soared through the clouds━elegant as all Sharp Class dragons do with three tail fins, blue-orange spikes along the back and low, characteristic bellow like wind hollering through branches of trees. Its rider stood with no saddle, keeping rigid and strong in the winds and sharp movements.

     Hiccup and Yrsa were circled, and they pulled at the saddles of their dragons to try and keep an eye on this strange rider and their dragon. Was this Drago Bludvist? Wondered Yrsa again, though something told her that she was wrong.

     The stranger pointed their hooked staff towards them, dipping in close until their Stormcutter towered over by inches in distance. The wind of its strong wings set Helrose and Toothless's flight into staggered, sharp jolts. Yrsa clung on, unable to take her eyes off the pair.

    "Hold on," managed Hiccup, though she wasn't sure whether it was to her or to Toothless, or both of them. "Hold on..."

     Helrose snarled, wanting to let loose her strong flame desperately. Yrsa kept a palm to her neck, stopping her from doing so. The Stormcutter peered at them, if not curious, but also flared with dominance.

     Then, Helrose faltered. She shot her head underneath and let out a warning cry━

     Yrsa's eyes widened. She only had just enough time to glance back before a pair of claws snatched her right from her saddle. She let out a scream of alarm, kicking her legs. "NO!" she heard Hiccup shout. "YRSA━!"

     Helrose roared with fury and tried to race after her. But then━not even a few seconds after━a similar dragon that sprung Yrsa from her saddle snatched him up as well, and Toothless lost control.

     "Toothless!" cired Hiccup.

     "No!" Screamed Yrsa, trying to reach the dragon as he tumbled down to the icy waters below. "Helrose, save him━!"

      The Devilish Dervish was torn between saving them and saving Toothless. Yrsa's heart was dropping with the Night Fury, hearing his pained wails as he thrashed and spun, trying to get his wings to work, but without Hiccup, he was stranded.

      Helrose waited far too long. A larger dragon swooped in and snatched her just like the others had Yrsa and Hiccup. She fought, shrieking and twisting, but this magnificent beast━a dragon only spoken in legendary tales kept her razor sharp tail pinned. The dragon, a Mystery Class Silver Phantom tugged her past Yrsa and into the clouds.

"No!" Yrsa cried, still struggling in the Snafflefang's grip.

There was a crash down below and Toothless hit the freezing cold water.

Night Fury's were horrible in cold climates. Toothless couldn't fly. He was going to drown.

"No!" Screamed Yrsa, kicking her legs━she didn't know how she was going to reach the two dragons, but she'll find a way. She had to find a way. Toothless jumped forth from the water, thrashing his wings and breaking the ice around him. "Toothless! Helrose!"

They were being carted further and further away. Soon, Yrsa couldn't see Helrose and the Silver Phantom, and Toothless was just a black dot amongst the cold, frozen ice.

Hiccup tugged at the legs of the Shovlehelm holding him, desperate. Snafflefangs and Shovlehelm's were both of the Boulder Class, similar in weight and colours, but could be separated by the delicate coral crown of the Shovlehelm. "HEY!" he shouted, struggling. "You left my dragon back there! He can't fly on his own! He'll drown!"

The mysterious Dragon Rider paid them no attention. Their gaze was fixed onwards to the island fast approaching. Yrsa's struggles subsided for a moment as she was ducked under and over wrapped snow-capped sea stacks, glaciers and icebergs. She shivered in her furs, her fingers growing numb with the sheer burning cold air. Ducking around a final iceberg, Yrsa's breath was lost in the wind.

Another mountain of jagged ice, like the one found at Eret's fort exploded forth from rock and snow. Except is was far larger in size. As they got closer, Yrsa's neck strained to see the tip of it. It stretched up━the tallest shards extending into the grey clouds above━

And they were heading right towards it.

Yrsa's eyes clamped shut in anticipation as they darted in through a break of the glacier. Rumbling sounds of moving and crunching ice broke around her like teeth grinding. She opened them again and let out a shout of alarm as the Snafflefang holding her dived in between stepping-stone rocks and further into the mountain of ice. It was dark━black around the edges. Yrsa could barely see, but she could feel the heat of dragons. She could hear their heavy breaths and curious moans as she was dropped down.

She hit the ground a little harder than she expected, her axe clattering along the stone. Yrsa hissed, hand flying to her shoulder. Looking around, she could see silhouettes of clawed feet, talons of wings and peering yellow eyes. She was surrounded by dragons.

There was another thud as Hiccup was dropped down with her. He scrambled to his feet, his metal leg scathing the stone to race to her and pull her up. Yrsa kept a firm grip on his hand as they stood back to back, trying to count the dragons that crowded on every side. Numerous species and numerous classes, some not even from Berk, but surrounding islands outside the Archipelago. Yrsa could name most of them, but some even she has never seen before. She searched for Helrose━thinking that she'd be taken here, too, but she saw her beloved Devilish Dervish nowhere.

Yrsa stepped in closer to Hiccup, feeling better at the warmth of his armour pushed against her furs.

"We have to head back for our dragons━!" Hiccup's last words were caught in a gasp. One of the dragons━braver than the others, stepped forward with narrowed eyes and a menacing snarl. Another Shovlehelm, but this one seemed to have multiple scars along his jaw. One of his largest fangs were chipped and crooked. Hiccup stepped back, and Yrsa followed. She held a hand out to the dragons opposite, black flushed with his.

Hearing the sound of Inferno being taken from the clasp of his armour, Yrsa let go of Hiccup's hand. In the light of the flame, she could see the dragon's better and ducked as the blade was swung over their heads. The dragons' eyes followed it, immersed with curious moans and bellows.

In the light, Yrsa found her axe at the foot of a Windstriker. The dragon bend down to sniff it. It recognised the smell of steel and stepped forward with a snarl. Hiccup pulled Yrsa behind him and switched his blade. The fire dimmed and he flung a canister into the hilt. A tail of Zippleback gas surrounded them in a protective circle, and Yrsa was pulled into a crouch when the fire lit, exploding the dragons back.

The growls faded. The dragons stared at the two in wonder. Yrsa steadily got out of the crouch and approached the Windstriker carefully. Her eyes met the dragons, and she held out a hand for her to meet as she swiftly pulled her axe back into her grip. Feeling her father's markings and the Windstriker's snout at her palm, Yrsa was relieved. She stepped back into the centre of the circle, towards Hiccup as the rogue dragon rider broke forth from the rows of dragons.

Yrsa was smart enough not to brandish her weapon, but her fingers tightened on the grip as the stranger tilted their head. They looked so much like the rest of the dragons, some part of Yrsa wondered if they were one. She stayed behind Hiccup, careful of the dragons as he held out a wary hand to the stranger. "Who are you?" He asked as the rogue rider circled them in a crouch. They moved swiftly and animalistic, peering up with a tilt of that strange helm. "The ... the dragon thief? Uh ..." as they got closer, Hiccup's other hand spread out protectively in front of Yrsa, keeping her behind him. "Drago Bludvist...?"

They said not a word. Could they even speak? We're they mute? Did they not understand? Yrsa's heart was thundering against her rib cage, vibrating along with the dozens of guttural purrs and moans.

Hiccup's shoulders tensed. He was just as afraid as her. "Do you even understand what I'm saying?!"

Yrsa gasped when suddenly, the rider brandished their staff. Swinging it around their head and sweeping the stone ground, pieces of rock and tree nuts rattled within. It hit the rock, and the sound echoed. In immediate reply, two dragons swept up from the group. In their clutches, were Yrsa and Hiccup's dragons; alive.

They were set onto the ground, and Yrsa let out a cry of relief. "Helrose! Toothless!" she ran towards them with Hiccup, arms latching around her dragon's snout. Helrose moaned, tail beginning to wag as she recognised the scent of her rider. "Oh, I'm here, girl! I'm here! You're okay! We're okay!" She crouched down with her, reaching an arm towards Toothless, too as Hiccup held him around the neck, shaking in relief. The Night Fury moaned, nuzzling towards her touch and Yrsa set her forehead against his while Helrose sniffed Hiccup, checking whether he was okay. His palm rubbed her snout gently, and she settled. The four of them embraced, thankful to be reunited.

The staff's rattle made Yrsa look over, still relaxed against Toothless's neck and her hand back to clutching Hiccup's fingers. To its command, each dragon around them opened their maws and produced a low flame within their mouths. Like torches, blazing and creating a bright glow to which Yrsa had to squint. She and Hiccup stood up, their dragons curling protectively around them with snarls and hunched backs.

Unable to speak, unable to move, Yrsa stayed within the shadow of Helrose's wing as the mysterious rider approached. Dropping their staff and shield, they crept forwards on all fours, extending a palm out to Toothless who backed further away, curling his tail around Yrsa and Hiccup. Helrose snarled, bringing out her razor-sharp tail and readying a blaze. Yrsa shuffled back with them, tugging Hiccup along with her by his fingers.

Then, to Yrsa's shock and horror, the Rider jerked their fingers and Toothless's growls stopped. His eyes widened and he was on his back, purring and following the trail of the riders fingers that coaxed him to a pleasant moan, as if he had just sniffed Dragon Nip. Hiccup stood in front of Yrsa, eyes wide and breath shaking as the rider stepped onwards to Helrose, and the same thing happened. Yrsa's dragon stopped her hoarse breaths, the fire returning into her belly as she, too, began to purr, dipping her neck down and exposing her underbelly━completely vulnerable to this stranger. Finally, the rider moved onto Hiccup and Yrsa.

She didn't know what they planned to do. Yrsa could barley see for Hiccup kept her behind him. Her grip on her axe was tight, but unsure. She didn't know whether she should step out and attack this stranger for getting so close and━and doing whatever they did to their dragons! But she had a feeling if she did, all these dragons around them would immediately come to this stranger's aid. It would be a firestorm, and Yrsa and Hiccup would be dead in seconds.

So, Yrsa had no choice but to keep stumbling back, the heat of the dragon flames behind her getting so close she was scared they'd light up her fur hood. Her hand snaked around Hiccup's arm, trying to keep him safe from this stranger as he was for her. The rider grew closer and closer, rising up from their crouch and extending their fingers to Hiccup's face━as if trying to do the same to him as they had done to their dragons.

"Uh ..." Hiccup reared back, and his scar shined in the firelight.

The mysterious rider froze.

And for the first time, there was a sound from their lips. A strangled gasp.

Their slender fingers snapped away in shock, and Hiccup heaved, both he and Yrsa breathless and silent as they wondered what had just happened.

The rider shrunk back into a crouch, like a dragon cowering under its wings. Finally, the stranger found their voice:

"H━Hiccup?"

𖣯 ✹ 🌷(úlfheðnar) ꏍ ！┈─❟

a/n: I'm not proud of this chapter, but oh well. Some days writing is harder ahaha. But I'm here to show you so far of what I've gotten done of this painting. It's not the best, like hiccup's chin is too small, but I can't be bothered to go ahead and just fix up the rest of his face that took a literal hour to do, because I'm still learning but here we are:

all of this was done with free brushes on procreate! most of it was from this set I downloaded I can't remember the name but it was free so! I'm pretty sure someone asked for a drawing where they're just gazing out at the ocean and so I just painted a scene from the actual movie, which was a bit easier considering I had Astrid's body placement to help me draw up yrsa.