Prologue

This is my first FF story, hope you guys like it. Thanks to DiamondGirl140 for beta'ing.

Disclaimer: I don't own HTTYD or any of the characters in the universe, although I do own the story idea

"Well, there's going to be no attacks tonight." Stoic sighed slightly, then stood up from his chair by the fire place. He grabbed the battle axe from its place on the mantle, then walked over to the stairs. Stoic started to ascend, before pausing for a moment. He looked back at the woman still sitting in her chair, her gaze focused on the dying embers of the fire.

"Valka, honey, are you coming up?"

The woman looked startled for a moment, her features changing from a look of contemplation into surprise, before she turned around to face Stoic.

"I was thinking of going for a quick walk before bed."

Stoic sighed again, this time deeper. It had become a habit of Valka's to go for midnight walks around the island when raids weren't happening, and even though the island had lookouts all night, and no dragons lived on the island, Stoic still worried. He had offered to come on some of these walks, but Valka had refused, claiming that she wanted some 'alone time'. Stoic respected this, but didn't like that she was going out by herself.

"Ok, but please be quick, and make sure you take a torch with you."

Valka smiled. "You worry too much. Of course I'll take a torch, and I'll be back within half an hour. I just need to clear my head." Stoic nodded at this, then continued up the stairs. He turned again, then watched as Valka walked over to the door, grabbing her second cloak, a torch and flint and steel to relight it if need be. He shook his head at the second cloak. Recently, Valka had always worn a cloak inside, and even though it was winter, when the fire was roaring, it gave out enough heat to be unnecessary to have to wear a cloak or fur inside. Stoic watched as she opened the door and slipped outside, quietly shutting it behind her, before he finally walked up the rest of the stairs and into his bedroom.

As Valka stepped outside, she was hit with an icy closet gust of wind. She shivered slightly before it died down, and she took that opportunity to light the torch. She walked down the path leading from her house to the village, then moved through the center of the village as quickly as she could. She only encountered one lookout, and they exchanged brief nods before Valka was on her way again. She continued through the village, passing house after house, until she finally reached the end. However, Valka kept going, venturing into the forest that surrounded Berk. She knew that is Stoic found out just exactly where she walked and what she did, he would freak, but for now, Valka just enjoyed the peacefulness of the night.

She passed through the small patch of forest quickly, the trees and shrubs eventually opening up to clear ground. She blew out the torch, as it would just draw attention to her, and no one could see what she was about to do. She walked out and started up the base of a small hill, quickly reaching the crest, as she had walked up this hill many times before. Valka found herself looking out over the ocean, the moon reflecting off the dark water. Just in front of her, the land dropped away into the raging sea below, and she could hear the waves as they relentlessly crashed against the bottom of the cliff.

She took a step back, taking it all in. Every time Valka came here, the view always amazed her, whether it was cloudy, making everything just a little bit darker, or the moon was shinning brightly, almost sparkling off the water. Valka eventually brought herself back to the present, as she didn't have much time left. She turned around and shed her thick cloak, folding it and placing it a few meters from the edge. She then took of her second cloak, placing it next to the other, before turning around and steeping right up to the edge. Valka took a deep breath, the salty air tickling at her throat, and rolled her shoulders, before she threw herself off the cliff

Valka was free falling, hurtling towards the ocean. She loved the rush of it all, and as her body was pumped with adrenaline, she slowly levelled out. Now Valka was zooming across the water, running her hands through the spray from the waves, feeling the mist on her face. She looked back over her shoulder, eying the pair of wings on her back, before looking back at the water. She wished she could share this experience with the entire village, but not even Stoic would except her for … this.

She flapped her wings, gaining altitude, before turning and heading back towards the cliff face. She didn't have much time left, and needed to make what little time she did have left count. As Valka soared back to the island, she spread her arms out, and felt her leathery wings brush lightly against her arms as she flapped them. She did a barrel roll, before levelling out again and pulling up. She hovered in front of the cliff for a few seconds before she noticed a dark shape seemingly melt off the cliff and head out towards the ocean. Valka tucked her wings in and dropped, turning in midair and levelling out, following the shape.

She beat her powerful wings a few times before she finally caught up to the big creature that had exited one of the many caves that dotted the cliff face. The creature slowed down when it felt Valka approach, then hovered in place. Valka pulled up in front of the massive creature, staring at its owlish face, and as it started to beat its second pair of wings, Valka did as well. They stayed like that for a few seconds, before Valka headed off towards the horizon again. The giant Stormcutter followed, and the flew together, doing looks and rolls and racing each other until Valka realised that they didn't have much time left. With a whispered "Cloudjumper", they were headed back to the cliff.

Valka landed gracefully on the cliff, closely followed by Cloudjumper. Despite being such a large dragon, cloudjumper made almost no sound and for that, Valka was grateful. If a villager found them here, they might kill Cloudjumper before he could get away, and Valka would never forgive herself for that. Valka turned around to face Cloudjumper, patting him gently on the muzzle before quickly donning her cloaks and picking up the torch. The Stormcutter crooned softly as Valka started to walk off and she turned back again when she heard it.

"Don't worry, I'll be back tomorrow night, hopefully for longer." Valka turned back, and started walking towards the village. As she relit the torch and walked back through the village, she couldn't help but think what her life would be like if Berk wasn't at war with dragons.