I am the son of the chief of Berk, Stoic. Ever since befriending Toothless, the Night Fury, I dedicate myself to protecting dragons from the clutches of ruthless hunters. The stakes are always high, and raiding hunter ships is a perilous task that I undertake with my trusty group of dragon riders.

I wake up with a pained groan, every part of my body sore from the ordeal. My face even hurts, reminding me of the scrapes I endure. For a moment, I think I’m back in the dragon hunter ship, captured and vulnerable.

But I’m not. I sit upright, a blanket the only thing covering my bare, aching upper body. The cave is dark and damp, with the smell of moss and earth filling the air. Water drips rhythmically from the stalactites overhead, creating small puddles on the rough stone floor. The cold, abrasive surface sends a chill through my bones. The air is thick, heavy with moisture, and every breath feels like inhaling mist.

Panic flares inside me as I search around desperately for Toothless or the twins, Astrid, Snotlout, Fishlegs, any of my friends and fellow dragon riders. My heart races with the fear that I am alone, and a sense of dread coils in my stomach.

Flashes of the raid flicker in my mind. Everything goes wrong so quickly. We plan to stealthily approach the hunter ship, hoping to free the captive dragons without detection. But a misstep, a loose plank on the deck creaking under Ruffnut’s foot gives us away. Dragon Hunters see, yell, and the crew swarms us like angry bees. In the ensuing chaos, I remember the blinding light of fire, the clamor of swords clashing, and the cries of dragons echoing in the night. I’m separated from my friends, caught in a struggle against several hunters. Toothless’s roar of defiance is the last thing I hear before darkness envelops me.

“The hell…”

But in the cave, my eyes land only on you. Relief mixes with lingering fear, and a sharp pang of worry cuts through me. Where are my friends? Are they safe? My mind races with questions.