Chapter One

A/N: Ahh, here we are once again!

Just a few notes I want to make before we get started: This is going to be a 'simpler' story than the last one (Captivated/Bewitched). No OCs, no arabesque, crazy plot that hurts my brain to write. But hopefully, it will be just as enjoyable!

It will probably end up being an 'episode-like' story. (Along the same lines as my first HTTYD fandom fanfic "How To Crash Your Dragon") but very different plot. I incorporated a few things some of you have been asking for. (You'll find out as we go along.)

Anyway, I hope you guys like it and here we goooo~

Snowstorms are not a rare occurence on the isle of Berk. After all, winter lasts most of the year and it snows nine months out of twelve, only stopping so that hail can take its place for the remaining three. However, every so often, there is a storm so massive, so fierce that the viking inhabitants begin to fear that the gods themselves may be feeling a bit chilly up in Valhalla. It is during one of these storms -or more precisely, right before one of these storms- that a smallish viking and his not-so-smallish dragon are gliding through the cloud caked sky, hooping and hollering excitedly as they pull a thrilling mid-air twist.

Hiccup's heart is in his throat as Toothless folds in his wings and nose dives toward some sea stacks. The auburn haired boy laughs as his Night Fury lets out a carefree roar, narrowly avoiding the first of the steep canyons.

A nest of seagulls shriek in terror and flap away, fearful that the duo is going to attack them or something. They scatter into the grey skies, showering Hiccup in pale white feathers and squawking loudly as they recede into the distance.

He smiles apologetically and shouts, "Sorry!" after them.

Toothless rumbles with ornery purrs and beats his wings faster, stealing a glance back to his best friend. Struggling with his rarely-used lip muscles, he forces a gummy smile at the boy, who is eyeing him as if ready to scold the dragon for scaring those innocent birds.

And it works. Hiccup laughs instead and pats his friend's neck. "Yeah, yeah, I understand. It 'wasn't your fault', right bud? It's their fault for nesting in our flying zone, am I right?"

Toothless gives a sharp nod as if to say, 'got that right!' before corkscrewing into a thin space in the rocks. He feels Hiccup instinctively lean in, the boy's chin brushing the top of his dragon's head as they dodge through the canyon.

When they finally reach the other side, Toothless fans open his jet black wings and they just glide for a while. Hiccup sits back up in his saddle and relaxes, taking a moment to catch his breath and steady the rapid thrums of his adrenaline-stricken heart. Once he's all settled down, the young Dragon Rider glances up at the sky to determine how long they've been out here.

He finds himself frowning when he realizes how dark the clouds are. Hiccup shivers as a particularly cold wind gushes over him, seeming to bite straight through his fur vest and thick tunic. "I don't like the looks of those clouds..." He mumbles to himself. Then, tapping Toothless's side, he leans closer to his ear and says, "Come on, bud. Let's head home."

The dragon looks at him over his shoulder and whimpers, seeming reluctant to end the fun so soon. And Hiccup can't help but almost agree. With all the stress and responsibility of running the Dragon Training Academy, they barely have time to just sit back and relax anymore. Sometimes, it's almost a miracle they're able to get out in the morning to do their usual lap around the island at all!

"I know, Toothless." He sighs. "I don't want to go back yet either, but we've already been out too long, anyway. The others are going to start looking for us soon."

And as much as he doesn't want to, Toothless does understand what his little human is going through. He's got a job to do and it's Toothless's job to make sure he gets there safely. Or at least in his mind, it is. And so, with an annoyed groan, the Night Fury banks off to the right and turns around. It will take about a half an hour for them to get back to the village but he doesn't try to fly any faster.

Might as well enjoy the time they do have together and try to make it last as long as possible, right? With that thought in mind, he stops beating his wings and they just slowly glide back toward Berk, riding a wind current.

Hiccup doesn't hurry him either. Instead, he smirks at his dragon's attempt at prolonging their morning flight and mentally decides to use that as an excuse for why he's late...

When the first flakes of snow begin to fall, Hiccup doesn't think twice about it. He's spent more time in the snow than in any other weather condition so at this point, the feeling of the tiny, cold crystals landing on his skin has become as common as breathing or blinking. His eyes barely even pick up on the fact that it's snowing.

That is, until Hiccup's tiny frame begins to shiver with the cold and the air in front of them turns a distracting shade of white. He reaches up to rub his arms, hoping the friction will warm him a little. And for a few seconds, it works. Hiccup blinks in surprise. The ground below them is already frosting over. When had it started snowing so hard?

Toothless's emerald eyes dart back and forth across the frozen landscape with a suspicious look on his face. His body feels rigid below his Rider, his jaw set in a tense kind of way. The dragon's ears perk up and turn from side to side, listening to some distant sound that Hiccup's inadequate sense can't pick up on.

But before Hiccup can question him about what he hears, a monstrous clap of thunder shakes the sky and Hiccup nearly jumps out of his skin. The boy's heart flutters nervously and he bites his lip. When there's thunder, there's usually-

"AH!" Hiccup yelps in fear as the clouds flash with a violent bolt of lightning. He leans closer to Toothless, trying not to become a target for Thor's deadly spears. "C-come on, bud!" He stammers, stepping on the foot pedal so Toothless gets the hint to beat his wings a little faster.

This storm came on so suddenly! Hiccup swallows because that's not a good sign. They're still many miles from home and this storm is getting more and more dangerous with each passing second.

And to add more fuel to the fire, this snow is so dense now Hiccup can hardly see a foot in front of him. At this point, he can only hope his dragon's echolocation will be able to pull them through...

As if reading his friend's mind, Toothless's throat screeches with a charging plasma blast and he sets it loose, fighting to hear where it goes. He snarls as the sound echos back from the dense wall of snow in front of them. Then, trying again, he growls in frustration. He's as good as blind.

"Oh for the love of Thor..." Hiccup mutters, anxiously. "This isn't good, bud. I think we have to land and walk the rest of the way."

Toothless grumbles in annoyance, feeling irritated at how something as fragile as snow could practically cripple his ability to fly. But regardless, he slows his pace and hovers toward the ground.

They land in small clearing of the woods, clumsily avoiding the jutting branches of slush-covered trees. Hiccup is shivering violently now, his ears and fingers burning with the low temperatures, and on the verge of going numb. Squinting through the wall of white before him, he tries to figure out where they are. He knows these woods pretty well and can probably find a quick route home in he could...just...tell where they...are!

Toothless tries as well, sniffing the air to see if he can pick up on any familiar scents. But all he smells is mud and ice and pine needles. The same smells that exist everywhere on Berk... With a little dragon-esque sigh, he looks at Hiccup. Maybe his human can find a way home.

But Hiccup can't see more than a foot in front of him. And it's very hard to focus when you're trembling uncontrollably and the sky is practically exploding with lightning and thunder. "Ugh, great. Just great..." He rakes a shaking hand through his hair and looks around their clearing. (Or what he can see of it, anyway.) "As much as I hate to say this, bud...I don't think we're getting home until this Thor-forsaken storm lets up..."

And the dragon snorts angrily. Not at Hiccup, he would never be mad at Hiccup. But at whatever infernal force it is that is going to force them to seek shelter in a cave all day. Over these past few months, Toothless has gotten more or less...well...spoiled. He had been very much looking forward to taking a long, peaceful nap by the fireplace which Stoick, Hiccup's father, religiously keeps lit this time of year.

But no. It can't be that easy, can it? So with a tiny huff he nudges Hiccup, cooing at him. For a moment, his human only stares, trying to figure out what he wants. So Toothless helps him out by walking a few inches away and then turning to face him. He's saying, 'follow'.

So Hiccup does. He carefully picks his way across the slippery grass, always keeping a mindful eye on his dragon, not wanting to get separated from him. He can only assume the dragon is trying to lead him somewhere where they can hide from the elements. After all, dragons have instincts like other animals, right? It should be no problem for Toothless to track down a cave or something.

And within two or three minutes, he has found one. It's a deep alcove in the side of a cliff, icicles the size of swords dangling off its mouth like jagged, dripping fangs. Hiccup keeps a close eye on them as they pass underneath, not liking the idea of one of those falling off and hitting him...

Once inside, Toothless stops and waits for his friend. Hiccup places a hand of his Night Fury's back and gazes around, still shivering. "Give us some light, bud?" He flinches at the loudness of the plasma blast within the confines of their little shelter. But it works. The far wall flickers with left over flames and, for a moment, the cave remains illuminated as if by a flare or a dying lantern.

It isn't a huge area, being mostly comprised of more openings that lead into endless tunnels, but it's big enough that they can find a corner somewhere to curl up in so maybe they'll be protected from most of the roaring wind and biting snow. And it's at that moment that Hiccup wonders something.

Dragons are fire proof...but are they ice proof too?

A/N: And there you have it! Chapter one, folks! And I've gotta say, it turned out better than I would have thought. Thanks for reading and don't forget to review!