Water...drifting and swaying...the edge lapping at his hand...

Hiccup turned over in his sleep, not expecting to be abruptly woken by what he had been dreaming of moments before. He sat up on the cave floor, looking at the area before him. Water was coming in, from the mouth of the cave. He had thought they would have gone far enough back, but the water was continuing to rise.

"Guys...we got to go" He stood, grabbing his bag.

Astrid and Fishlegs were up, the twins wrestling a bit as they got up as well.

"Mmm...five more minutes" Snotlout turned over.

"I don't think we have that long" water already at his feet.

"The tide" Astrid said, "it must be higher due to the storm."

She was rushing to get her stuff, before kicking Snotlout in the side.

"Ah!" he sat up, "I'm up..I'm up!"

The twins snickered.

"We have to find another way out" Fishlegs said, "the mouth is at a downwards slope towards the beach, and the rate the water's rising.."

He walked to the hill's top, that looked out to the mouth of the cave. Only about half of it was above water. Fishlegs began chewing on his nails.

"No way we'll fit out that" Astrid said.

"Yea...specially with Ruffnut's big butt" Tuffnut laughed.

Ruffnut glared, punching him.

"What do we do then?" Snotlout moved up to their side, "there's no back exit."

"In a few minutes, this cave is going to be underwater" Fishlegs said, "we're gonna die!"

"No we're not" Hiccup said, "we're going to have to swim for it."

"Are you kidding me!?" Snotlout followed Hiccup over to Toothless, "there is no way Hookfang's going to get into the water."

"We don't have a choice...he's going to be in water one way or another...would he rather live through it?" Hiccup adjusted Toothless' saddle.

Astrid petted Stormfly, who seemed to be very unsure about it.

"It's alright girl...we can skim the surface and get out through the opening" she said.

"We have to go now" Hiccup pulled Toothless reluctantly to the water's edge.

All of the dragons were hesitating in the presence of water.

"Come on, lets go!" Ruffnut and Tuffnut were pulling on their dragon.

"Come on bud...trust me...one straight shot, let's show them how it's done" Hiccup climbed on.

Toothless gave a slight roar, lowering his body to the ground, judging his distance. He pushed off, heading towards the mouth of the cave. His belly and legs skimming the water. He pulled in his wings as they reached the entrance, before he slid through. He opened his wings, and shot up into the air.

"Your turn girl" Astrid said to Stormfly.

With a ruffle of her wings, she followed. Fishlegs gulped, holding onto Meatlug. Her body sunk lower in the water due to her weight, and by the time they surfaced outside, both rider and dragon were coughing water. Next came the twins, who barely managed to miss some hanging rocks as they came out.

"Woohoo! We did it" the two high five.

"Stupid water" Snotlout glared, getting on Hookfang, "come on, we got to get out."

Hookfang shook his head, moving back from the water's edge.

"Come on, lets go!" Snotlout tried to edge him forward.

"What's the hold up?" Hiccup called back in.

"He won't budge" Snotlout said, "stupid dragon's afraid."

Hiccup looked at the others, how could they get him out of there?

"Allow us" Tuffnut smirked.

They moved to the mouth of the cave, releasing gas into it.

"Oh don't you dare!" Snotlout called.

"Fire in the hole!" Ruffnut yelled.

With a spark, the cave ignited, propelling both Hookfang and Snotlout out.

"YEOW!" Snotlout yelled, jumping off Hookfang, his pants on fire.

Everyone busted out into laughter, Snotlout glaring from the water below.

"Ha ha...Hookfang, get your sorry tail down here!" the Monstous Nightmare flew down to get him.

The group made their way more inland, the rain had stopped for now, but it still looked gloomy out. Snotlout looked really mad the entire way, the back of his pants now blackened from the fire. The twins couldn't stop laughing, Astrid and Fishlegs hiding that they wanted to laugh as well. Hiccup scanned the land below, as they got closer to where he had been held before.

"Be on guard guys...if trouble is here..we have to be ready" he said.

They nodded, swooping down to get a closer look.

"doesn't look like anyone is here" Fishlegs said.

He was right, the area was deserted, there were remnants of the time here, but no people.

"Split up and look...if you need help, call" Hiccup began walking.

They all moved in separate directions, taking a look around. Nothing was found so far by Hiccup, everything was deserted. After awhile though, a loud sqwack told him Astrid and Stormfly needed them. They took off, heading in that direction. The group came upon her standing over a cliff.

"What is it?" Hiccup asked.

She pointed down below, and he moved to the edge. His breath caught a bit, as down below a group of ships stood waiting. All of them had the DragonBane symbol on them. It was not that that made his stomach twist though. Down below on the front ship with a blood-red flag, stood a viking who's one arm was all to familiarly mangled and scared now.

"Striker"