When they arrived back everyone was up and all eating breakfast. "The next time you decided to get up early, Could you not be so LOUD," Snotlout said annoyed "Some people are trying to SLEEP!" Astrid laughed "Maybe if you didn't go to bed so late..?" "Hey! That S needed to be fixed, It's not my fault that is was loose, it was there's" He pointed at Tuff and Ruff, Ruff gasped "How dare you!" "It's not OUR fault your house is flammable!" Tuff said Hiccup sighed and looked at Astrid. "I'm going to go see if I can finish that Flight Suit."

Astrid smiled as Hiccup walked out of the Club House. Astrid turned back to the group. Ruff had just smashed a mace over Snotlout's Viking helmet when Tuff jumped on top of him. "Alright, you three!" Astrid shouted right before she launched herself into the mess and the door closed.

Hiccup stopped and sighed. He closed his eyes against the wind, that happened to be blowing harder this morning. The sun was hidden behind the beginning winter clouds, it was getting cooler by the day. Very soon it would be snowing, it would be there last winter on the edge. It had been 4 year's and so much had already happened. Hiccup felt a nudge on his back. Toothless gave him a toothless smile. Hiccup laughed, "Come on bud let's get back to work."

Astrid left the clubhouse feeling exhausted, despite her best efforts the twins were still going to stink bomb Snotlout's house later today. She thought about going to Hiccup, but he had enough to worry about already. Instead, she climbed onto Stormfly for Midday patrol since Snotlout had refused to stop guarding his S. Astrid flew over the tree top's and smiled. She went once around the island when she saw something moving the trees.

Stormfly had noticed it too she looked in its direction, It must be a dragon she thought Stormfly neared the other end of the island and landed. Astrid dismounted that's weird she saw the shuffling of tree's right here. Looking around she spotted a huge claw mark on a tree with broken branches. "That's definitely a dragon…" Astrid approached the tree, "I wonder what type of dragon it is.." Fishlegs would know. She smiled at herself. There was a low rumble, the ground was vibrating softly. Astrid grabbed her ax of the ground. Whatever dragon it was it was coming this way, the tree's rustled harder and harder until it burst through the bushes.

A long slender head poked its way out, it's long blue scaly neck followed and towered over the ground. Astrid backed away "Ahh Stormfly" she called with uncertainty. Stormfly turned to approached the strange dragon. It's long tail snaked out from behind the bush and knocking Stormfly over. Wrapping itself around Stormfly's legs. The Dragon's long head leaned in close to Astrid, she backed away "Stormfly!" Astrid said. Stormfly was desperately trying to free her legs. Stormfly shot her fire and hitting its tail, the dragon was distracted for a moment this was her chance.

Astrid ran towards Stormfly, horrible pain shot up and down her right leg. Astrid cried out in anguish "Ahhghhhh" dropping the ax she turned, the dragon released her leg. Stormfly shot her fire into its face, the dragon screeched looking around disoriented. Astrid shifted all her weight to her left and quickly limped to Stormfly, she reached inside the pouch strung over Stormfly's side and pulled out a small red ball. Stormfly continued to spray the Dragon. She grabbed the fallen ax and struck the ball hard causing a spark. Then as hard as she could she chucked it into the sky. It exploded with a loud clap and shot red smoke in every direction. Stormfly shot one last boiling stream of fire before the dragon disappeared. Astrid exhausted collapsed to the ground, clutching her leg. She was so tired, oh so tired. No, she had to stay awake.

Hiccup sat at his desk he had made some progress, he finished designing the mask, with a cushion for comfort and leather for the cold. He added some fancy designs of his own style because what was the purpose if not having fun. He picked up his saw and reached in his drawer for the role of leather. Grouping around he found it, it was the tiniest smallest roll possible. He had forgotten he used most of his leather for Meatlugs new saddle. He could have sworn he wrote down that he needed m- Get more leather. "Damn it," he said maybe there's some in the forge. He exited the hut and heard a loud clap of thunder, "Oh great now it's going to rain." he said turning around to look at the sky.

A large explosion and red smoke hovered in the sky to the far North. A distress signal. "Toothless!" he screamed. Toothless burst through his door and Hiccup mounted. He looked across the edge and saw the other rider's. They heard the explosion too. Fishlegs, Snotlout, the twins, but where is. "Astrid!" Toothless shot towards the smoke. They dove landing quickly on the ground. Stormfly turned and ran to them. Hiccup searched until he saw her laying by a smoldering bush.

"ASTRID!" He dashed to her side. "Hiccup.," she said weakly. Her upper thigh pant leg was ripped to reveal a large deep gash almost the size of her entire leg. "We have to get you back to the Edge." He slipped his arms around her and lifted. She cried. "I know… I know it hurts," he said softly he mounted Toothless and they sped to the Clubhouse. She shuddered in his arms and closed her eyes. "Astrid! No no, you have to stay with me! Please!" Toothless landed, Fishlegs followed Hiccup to the med bay.

"What happened?" he asked trying to stop the bleeding. "I'm not sure, there was fire destruction everywhere, It had to have been another dragon." He placed Astrid onto the bed."I've already called Heather." Hiccup turned "Heather? I thought she was at Berk" "She arrived late last night." The door slammed open "What's going on?" Heather said "Oh my Gods" seeing Astrid. "Hiccup, I need you to get me some Willow Bark." "But i-" he objected not wanting to leave Astrid's side "Now Hiccup!" Heather commanded Hiccup stood and left. "Okay, Fishlegs can you place this here."

Hiccup left the room, "What's going on?" Tuff asked Hiccup explained what happened. "But what dragon did this, I thought all the dragons here were peaceful" Snotlout said, "I thought the same thing." Hiccup said, "I have to go, I need to find Willow's bark." Hiccup said he left the group and walked to the landing deck. Toothless was still there waiting. "Hey bud," Hiccup said he stroked Toothless's head. Toothless gassed up at him "It's okay, she'll be alright, I know it." Although Hiccup said it more to convince himself. He mounted and took off to the sky.

Only 4 hours ago Astrid made him fly to feel better. All it did now was making him sick. He circled the island, he knew that there was a Willow tree here, He remembered when his relationship with Astrid was new and they wanted some alone time, they decided to have a romantic picnic when they carved their initials into the willow tree. He tried to remember where it was but all he could think about was Astrid lying there dying in his arms. No, Hiccup though he can't think that way. The tree all I need is the tree.

He squinted above the treeline. Then closer to the large mountain, a large crooked tree with stretching arms and waving branches stood its vines outstretched to greet him. The long vine's waved in the breeze as if daring him to enter. Hiccup walked to the tree, he pushed the dense thin vines away and entered. The tree was visibly older than the last time, Although so was he. He scraped bit's of the tough bark into his bag with a dagger. Now a gaping hole lay on the tree, he knew he should race back to Astrid but he wanted to stay, besides he doubted Heather would let him back in before she finished.

He walked around the tree looking for the carving, there is was slightly grown over but there. The bark had closed over Astrid's A as if it knew she would be leaving him. Hiccup became suddenly angry so angry he didn't know what to do. He vicious cut the A back in it' spot, and shouted: "She's not leaving!" Toothless dashed through the vines, thinking there was danger. Toothless purred trying to calm his friend. Hiccup breathed staring at the damage he had done to their tree. He knew it was stupid but he wrapped the tree in spare gauze he carried with him. At least it would keep the parasites from destroying something of theirs.