Morning finally came on Dragon's Edge, the sunlight plunging the riders' base into warmth. The dragons in the stables snorted as they slept while Astrid passed by to her dragon's pen. Stormfly jerked her head up as she sighted her rider coming and couldn't be happier to finally be out. The young girl opened up her Nadder's door and the sky-blue dragon allowed Astrid to climb on and quicker than expected to her rider, she ran out of the building to start their usual morning patrol.
There was something off about Stormfly, realized Astrid as she hanged on to the saddle as her dragon soared above the ocean, seeming to be searching for something. They met the first island to check out on the map, and ignoring her rider's command of going easy, she plunged down as she spotted a stream crossing the island.
''Easy, girl.'' said Astrid, patting Stormfly's neck gently as she seemed very agitated. Stormfly landed heavily on the grassy ground, causing her rider to fall off suddenly as she plunged her beak into the cool fresh water she'd missed all night after eating her strange tasting feed.
Astrid groaned as she picked herself off the ground, brushing off the dirt and grass from her shirt. ''You know, you could at least sent me a warning...'' said Astrid as she walked over her thirsty dragon. Stormfly raised her head after a moment and squawked in alarm as her eyes turned wild.
''I believed I'd find you here,'' said a voice from behind her, and instinctively, Astrid grabbed her battle-ax with both hands and twisted her body, coming face to face with Viggo Grimborn, head of the Dragon Hunters. His light party stood a distance behind, still all heavily armed. For a moment, all Astrid did was narrow her eyes, waiting for any sudden movements to act, same for Stormfly behind her. ''You know, it's quite surprising how predictable you Dragon Riders are. To be honest, I expected more.''
''Good for you. But what do you want Viggo?'' snapped Astrid immediately, caring very lightly about politest for her position right now.
''What I want,'' said Viggo, rising his head higher as he spoke. ''Is everything I have. You see, all I need right now, is you.'' He said, jabbing his index at her. Astrid held her ground, tightening her grip at the weapon's handle with Stormfly growling lowly as a warning for the man. ''Ryker.''
A sharp noise caught her ear, but before Astrid or Stormfly could react, both were hit by a tinny dart to the neck and in a short matter of seconds, they collapsed to the ground, seeing to more than darkness with zero consciousness of their surroundings.
...
The day was going on rapidly, and no rider had noticed Astrid's absence until night was falling.
A Night Fury soared above the base and landed on the landing platform of the stables, meeting Fishlegs standing at the edge. Hiccup dismounted and hurried for updates from his friend, the unmasked concern covering his face from every corner.
''Any signs of her yet?'' asked Hiccup once he stood by his side, overlooking the ocean.
''No. It's like she vanished...'' said Fishlegs, also worried about their missing teammate.
''This really doesn't seem like her at all...'' said Hiccup, reaching his fist up to his chin.
''Maybe she lost track of time..?'' proposed Fishlegs, which came out more like a question than else.
''No.'' said Hiccup immediately. ''Astrid knows it's too dangerous to be exploring when we haven't gotten any sign of Viggo's location.'' A shock of guiltiness shot through him as he thought about last night and his encounter with the man. He should have just told her about that... What if Viggo's words that echoed through his head last night were what was going on?
''Then what do we do?'' asked Fishlegs. ''We could head out for a search party.''
''No way. If anyone's to go out, it should be me.'' said Hiccup, almost cutting Fishlegs off before he even finished.
''So, you're saying you'd go out with no backup?'' asked Fishlegs. ''What if you run into Viggo or Ryker – or worst, both – and you end up captured before you've even found Astrid? That sounds like the worst that could happen if you ask me.''
''Well, trust me, it isn't.'' said Hiccup, hopping on Toothless' back, ready to go out to her search. ''I'll be back by morning. If, by any unfortunate case I end up as you say and don't come back, then you can head out.''
Fishlegs nodded hesitantly, and after his confirmation, Hiccup and Toothless climbed the darkening sky at Astrid's search, hoping to find her and that she's all right.
...
As the sun came out, its reflection dancing on the wide ocean's surface, the gang – well, what was left of it – joined at the Clubhouse, waiting for their leader's return, hopefully with Astrid found. All except Fishlegs, who was busy with research.
''Are we sure he said morning?'' questioned Snotlout grumpily. ''It's getting pretty late. You know, there are many kinds of 'mornings' for Hiccup.''
''We don't even know if he's found Astrid.'' said Ruffnut, leaning against the wall while her brother stood outside, looking up at the colorful sky.
''Oh, that he didn't sis.'' said Tuffnut suddenly, speaking the opposite way from the other riders.
''Oh, and how do you figure?'' demanded Snotlout, uncrossing his arms.
''Wait... Bing!'' said the male twin, pointing his index up to a dark figure flying straight for them.
They all rushed out of the building to get a look, and by that time, the Night Fury landed in the Clubhouse's entrance, dropping heavily to the ground from the long flight none stop searching for their missing Dragon Rider. Toothless walked away to his rider's hut as soon as Hiccup dismounted to give the news to the other riders.
''So, did you find her?'' asked Snotlout hurriedly, showing worry only now.
''Does it look like?'' said Hiccup, and none of them were sure if that was said kind of harshly or not.
As he was on his way to his hut to get some rest just like Toothless was, his named was called and he turned around to see Fishlegs waving from the stables, gesturing for him to come.
''You go rest, bud.'' said Hiccup to Toothless who had looked back at him, offering his help even though he was exhausted. ''I'll catch up with you.''
He made his way to the stables, finding Fishlegs investigating Stormfly's pen where she slept in last night they'd seen her.
''Fishlegs? What is it?'' asked Hiccup, walking closer to his friend who immediately backed off from the zone, allowing Hiccup to take a look. Hiccup understood he was wordless at his found. He kneeled down in front of the paddock, and ran his fingers on the wooden floor, picking up a strange substance off the ground close to Stormfly's feeding bucket. ''Is this ... salt?''
''It appears to be,'' said Fishlegs nervously, and then he gestured to the water bucket. ''And she had no water when I came here. Did Astrid make a mistake or...''
''No.'' said Hiccup. ''I was there, I saw her give Stormfly a bucket full of water. She wouldn't have done this to her.''
''Than what do you think happen? Who put that salt there?'' asked Fishlegs, touching his fingertips nervously.
''If I had to guess,'' said Hiccup, examining the salt in his hand. ''I'd say a certain someone came overnight and put that in Stormfly's feeding.''
''And, who could that be?'' questioned Fishlegs.
Hiccup fixed his gaze on the empty buckets in front of him, thinking of the enemy's whole plan. First, the intruder put salt in Stormfly's feeding. So when the dragon would eat up, she'd get thirsty. But, he emptied the bucket of water, leaving Stormfly with this awful thirst. And when Astrid went on patrol last morning, the only thing the dragon could think of was drink. Using the exact same pattern for patrol, she knew where the closest stream would be... and that's where the enemy would have waited.
Hiccup shut his eyes and sighed. ''Viggo...'' he breathed.
''Viggo? Why would you think that?'' asked Fishlegs, lost.
Taking in a deep breath, Hiccup rose to his feet. ''There's some stuff I have to tell you guys.'' he said.