Hiccup wandered slowly through the sanctuary, his boots crunching softly on the icy floor. Dragons of every shape and size filled the cavern’s many ledges and crevices, their scales shimmering in the glow of stalactites catching the faint sunlight that filtered through cracks above. Some tucked their wings around themselves like blankets, others stretched tall, heads swiveling curiously as Hiccup passed. Toothless padded at his side, his head darting this way and that, pupils bright and alert, ears flicking at every rustle and distant chirp.

Ahead, Valka moved gracefully, guiding a Stormcutter back to its roost with gentle clicks of her tongue. The cavern smelled faintly of moss and mineral, and the air carried the soft hum of dragon wings.

Then something dark and smooth caught Hiccup’s eye—a black egg nestled in a shallow bed of moss, glinting softly from the crystalline shards scattered around it. He froze, leaning forward slightly, brow furrowing.

“Mom… is that…?” he whispered.

Valka stepped closer, her expression softening, eyes filled with awe. “Yes, Hiccup. That’s a Night Fury egg.”

Hiccup blinked, barely able to form words. “A Night Fury? But… Toothless was supposed to be the last.”

Toothless moved closer on silent pads, tilting his head and sniffing the egg. His pupils narrowed thoughtfully, ears rotating, and a low, questioning warble escaped his throat as if he understood the importance of what they’d found. Valka rested a hand gently on Hiccup’s shoulder. Her voice was quiet, reverent. “Night Furies are incredibly rare. Nearly vanished from the world. But sometimes, life finds a way. This egg was hidden deep in a cave, untouched for years. I brought it here to keep it safe.”