Hope and Hiccup pushed through the underbrush. The plants were sparser now, and the only sign of the trail was an occasional bent twig or scratched tree.

"It's certainly a larger dragon," Hope commented as she ducked under a tree branch. "Smaller dragons don't leave trails like this, do they?"

"It depends on the dragon, I guess," surmised Hiccup. "But yes, smaller dragons can be harder to track."

"Why would it shred the trees?" asked Hope, studying a nearby pine with torn bark.

"I'm not sure yet. Territorial markings, maybe?"

"Maybe..." Hope studied the pine closer. "It doesn't look like that to me,though. It almost looks like..." she paused. "Oh, never mind."

"Almost looks like what?"

Hope hesitated and ducked her head. "Like it's bored. My cats do that same thing."

"But there's plenty to do on this island. Why would it be bored?"

"I'm no dragon expert, Hiccup. Or maybe it's a mating ritual." Hope threw her hands in the air. "It could be anything."

"I suppose we'll know more about it when we actually find the dragon."

"Which we're not going to do just standing here."

Hiccup nodded and continued walking.

Hope took one last look at the tree and continued on.

They soon arrived at the edge of a clearing-or what used to be a clearing.

"Fluffiness," Hope whispered as she took in the damage. The ground was completely blackened, and what little foliage that had stood in the clearing was now mere ashes. "Why would it do something like this?"

"It may have been attacked or felt threatened," suggested Hiccup.

Toothless nudged past them and stepped into the clearing, a growl rising in his throat.

"What is it, bud?" asked Hiccup, following close behind.

Hope remained at the edge of the clearing, peering out nervously.

Toothless shot a plasma blast and roared at nothing in particular.

A hush fell in the clearing, and Hope held her breath as she scanned the skies.

A green fireball fired from seemingly nowhere, and Toothless threw himself in front of Hiccup just in time to absorb it.

"Run!" shouted Hiccup, pulling Toothless away from the clearing. Another blast came, this time hitting a nearby tree.

Hope tripped as she turned to run, yelling as she fell.

Hiccup pulled her to her feet, but she collapsed again.

"My ankle," she whimpered. "I think I twisted it."

Toothless grabbed her and placed her on his back. "Hold on!" Hiccup told her, mounting behind her.

Toothless took to the air moments before another blast hit the ground, mere inches from where Hope had been standing.

Hiccup scanned the area for a hiding place.

Toothless dodged a fourth fireball and whirled , trying to find his opponent. He fired four blasts in quick succession, and one hit what looked like thin air. There was a brief flash of pink and a screech, then the beating of wings.

Silence fell again, broken only by an occasional sniffle from Hope, who was trying hard not to appear weak.

"Let's go take cover in that cave, bud. Who knows when whatever attacked us will be back." Hiccup pointed at a cave in the opposite direction.

Toothless complied, and soon all three of them were resting by a fire.

"How's your ankle?" asked Hiccup, turning to Hope.

"It hurts," said Hope shakily, her eyes tearing up.

Hiccup knelt by her and gently examined it. "I'm not Gothi, but I think you just sprained it." He tore off a strip of his tunic and used it to wrap her ankle.

Hope gritted her teeth and held her breath until he was done. "Thanks," she choked out.

Hiccup nodded and handed her a bottle of water.

Toothless purred and nuzzled her.

She smiled through her tears and hugged his neck.

"I'm going to make sure the surrounding area is safe. I'll be back," Hiccup announced, pulling out a sword.

Toothless stood, ready to follow, but Hiccup patted his head and told him, "I need you here with Hope, bud. I won't be gone long."

Toothless grumbled as Hiccup disappeared, then curled up next to Hope, ready to defend her from any danger.

Hope placed her hand on his head and closed her eyes, suddenly exhausted.

Toothless purred as she drifted off.

Just like my cats, she thought, the sound lulling her to sleep.