Prologue

Hiccup hid in the lumber on the side of the road. The other teens his age were walking down that same street talking, joking and laughing. Hiccup's eyes were only on one person though, Astrid. He watched her walk down the street with the rest of the group but she seemed distant compared to the rest of them. Confident as she was she seemed too serious for this group. Everyone knew her goal was to be the best, the best dragon hunter.

Like my father, Hiccup thought. She had her long blond hair braided down her back, and every step she took showed her confidence. Her eyes showed only her determination. A scowl bit at her lips but she said nothing.

Hiccup wished that she knew him as more than the one who made a mess of everything. He wanted her to appreciate him. He wasn't sure if that was possible, not with him at least. Hopefully someday he'd be able to win her over, somehow.