'2.9' Leaving the cage

I couldn't completely register what just happened. All I felt was sadness and guilt. I didn't know how long I stood there before I felt a hand on my shoulder. I quickly snapped out of it and shoved the person to the floor.

" Hiccup! I thought she was on our side!" Snotlout screeched as he tumbled in the sand. I glared at him, embarrassment evident on my rosy cheeks. " I'm not one of you." I threatened, holding a dagger to his now stumbling body.

" Mind explaining?" Astrid demanded, her voice cold as she narrowed her eyes at Hiccup. " We can do that later, for now we have to get back. It's getting dark." Hiccup said, climbing onto Toothless. " What about her?" Fishlegs asked, imitating Hiccup.

All of them climbed their dragons in silence.

" We leave her here." Heather said, making ready to take off. I stood there bewildered at what just happened. One second I was on my island, casually walking, now, I'm stranded who knows where and relying on Hiccup to get back safely.

The irony of life is just unbearable sometimes. My mind instantly wondered what would my brothers do if they were in this same situation. Simple, really. Viggo would try to persuade Hiccup with a deal and Ryker, well, he would stupidly try to fight. Something I can't do, half because I'm outnumbered and half because I'm injured. ' Fantastic.' I groaned mentally.

" You know..." Astrid trails off. They all look at her expectantly. " We could always make a deal." She proposed, most of them groaned, already discouraging the idea. " What kind?" I asked, surprising not only them but myself. " We can give you a ride home... If you tell us what your plans are for your next attack."

A chill went through my spine - Valhalla only knows what Viggo would do if he found a traitor and that being me. I snorted - already knowing the risk wasn't worth it.

" No thank you, I'd rather die that suffer the wrath of Viggo. " I said bluntly." Isn't he your brother?" Dagur asked, confused.

" Yes. That makes it ten times worse." I spat. Then, an idea clicked in my head - something that would definitely be worth the risk of betrayal.

" But... " I smirked, pulling out the map thats surprisingly still intact." I would like to offer something else, in return I'd be happy if you could do me a small favor."

Toothless growled - sensing the mischief I'm about to ensure. " Easy bud." Hiccup cooed, trying to calm him down. " What's your deal Grimborn?" He growled.

I reached out my arm, displaying the map I was inspecting a few hours earlier." Give me a ride home, I'll give you the plan. Steal a spesicfic book from Viggo for me, I'll give you all of his plans and strategies. " I purred in satisfaction. It was a perfect plan - The Riders would cause havoc and steal the book and then give it to me - making everyone think they were the reason its gone, not me.

Still, a part of me kept saying that what I was doing is wrong. It was probably...

After a long silence of waiting I got my answer.

" Deal." Hiccup nodded, shifting back on his saddle. I couldn't open my mouth properly, so I just walked over and jumped in front of him, holding the iron beams at the neck.

After a few minutes of flying, we were hovering over Hunter island - me being scared out of my wits. They silently glided over the trees, blending in perfectly with the surroundings. My chest began to pain making me lean forward and shut my eyes. I was feeling nauseous and my stomach churned with anxiety. This felt right but it felt so wrong.

I couldn't explain what I was feeling, I just felt pain or bliss - I couldn't tell. I felt like a bird being set free, now completely free from my cage. But now, I didn't know where to get food, I didn't know how to survive. So was I really free? Am I really being set free from a cage I was in my whole life? Only fate would know.

Thumps of feet landing on the ground made me open my eyes. I slowly slid off, feeling eyes on me the whole time we walked over to the edge. They landed at the peak of a mountain so that we had an upper hand in sight.

I pointed to a tent. A tent I was afraid to go to. It was in a ditch surrounded my dirt staircase that spiraled upwards. " There." I said simply. I looked towards them, watching as they observed the clearing. I was finally going to get the book. The book I was never able to steal, a book Viggo hid like it was more worth than gold.

My stomach turned around and washed against my insides as if it was the sea - I watch them enter the tent. I held my breath, my heart beating in my ears. ' Please, please, please.' I prayed that they would escape in time before Viggo comes back. The chilling air above made my mind ache with nerves of possibly being caught.

I then spotted a shadow, a shadow I recognized all too well - Viggo. My eyes widen as my hands grab the air nervously. ' Come on, come on, come on!' I stand, forgetting for a moment that I'm supposed to be a shadow - not a person.

' Please Hiccup.' My mind fumbles back to when I explained how the book looks, feels, smells, everything I could remember about the book I couldn't read. A large figure sprung out of the tent, flying high above the mountain I was perched on.

My nerves calm down, but my stomach still churned around. Toothless landed with a quiet grunt and soon Hiccup slid off. He watched me with hooded eyes, trying to determine if this was a trick. I caught a glint of the silver glimmer that was carved on the cover.

He reached out the book, simultaneously as I took out the map. This was it. This was when the cage door would swing open and let the bird fly out. This was it's moment. It had total freedom, but the bird couldn't help but think to itself.

' How on earth am I going to fly, if I don't have wings?'