the head of the Monstrous Nightmare! Not too close, we've got one, we got a rider!"

Snotlout was dumped on the wooden floor and he thrashed, fighting against the men. His left arm was useless and he was easily subdued as he shouted obscenities and struggled, feeling a few noses break under his right fist, but there were just too many. Then the ship lurched with the heavy weight of Hookfang landing, sending many sprawling. He was on fire, a crazed look in his slitted eyes as he bellowed an ear-piercing roar. He easily tossed two men to the ocean and clamped his jaws on another's arm to send him flying. A jet of fire narrowly missed Snotlout.

"Hookfang!" Snotlout called, he was restrained and was being forcefully dragged away.His panic begin to rise as several men approached his dragon, weapons drawn. "Hookfang, go! Run!"

Swords glinted and men ran forward. Two were torched with fire, another pinned beneath the dragon's sharp talons as his tail thrashed and sent men overboard. Snotlout could only watch in horror as Hookfang snapped at one man as another ran into the dragon's blind spot.

"HOOKFANG NO!"

The sword was swung in a perfect arc and connected. Snotlout felt his world go silent. The Monstrous Nightmare's eyes shot open in pain and a shriek of a high-pitched roar escaped him. A wide, deep gash opened on his long sinewy neck, and hot blood poured out like a fountain. It splattered loudly on the wooden floor of the ship, and the dragon convulsed, rearing on