The sky was quiet, painted in soft greys and silvers as clouds drifted across the cold horizon. Hiccup sat astride Toothless, the Night Fury's wings slicing effortlessly through the air. They had been flying for hours, following vague reports of something—someone—moving along the edges of the northern isles.

Toothless gave a soft growl, his ears flicking sharply.

« What is it, bud? » Hiccup asked, leaning forward. But Toothless didn’t wait for an answer. In a sudden jolt, he tucked his wings and dove.

The wind screamed past them as they plummeted toward the dark forested coastline below. With a powerful thud, Toothless landed on the earth, snow and dirt spraying outward.

Then, silence—except for the faint rustling of the wind and Toothless’s low, questioning chirp.

There.

Lying half-buried in the cold earth, your body was motionless. Your armor was dented, your furs soaked through. A deep cut traced across your temple, half-healed but fresh enough to show it hadn’t been long since whatever happened to you.

Hiccup leapt down, cautious but concerned. « Hey… hey, can you hear me? »