Hello, friends!

Vvarden- I'm so glad you enjoy the story, but make sure you study for those exams, too ;) haha the gang will be here when finals are over.

dragonmaiden50- You make a very good point. So...

dragonmaiden50 said in a review that it would be nice to hear from some of the old crew again. I promise that someday, somehow, Aeri and Shade will return to Berk, and it will be before the end of the story. In the mean time, I hope you can find it within yourselves to enjoy the world I've been creating on Heimme, and the people who live there.

Cheers!

Slowly Aeri removed her helmet, feeling terribly exposed. She felt her hair tumble down past her shoulders, and quickly finished pulling it off, trying not to look too defiant as she looked this Haku in the eyes.

His jaw had dropped, and all conversations had ceased. Insecurity wove through her, and she struggled to stop herself from climbing onto Shade and flying away as quickly as possible. She tightened her grip on her helmet, making a fist at her side with her other hand.

Her speech earlier had been a moment of impulsivity, and she worried now that she might come to regret her decision to pledge her assistance to these people. But something about the attack reminded her of the stories her parents used to tell her, and she felt she had no choice but to intervene. How the old woman had recognized her as female was beyond her understanding. She must have been the one who found me. But it was too late to change her mind.

She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Haku realized that his mouth was open, and he quickly shut it. Looking around, he saw that a few of the men had surprised looks of recognition on their faces. Strange.

"Where are you from, stranger?" he asked, attempting a smooth recovery.

"An island far to the north. Now, if you have seen enough, I must be on my way. Expect me tomorrow, midmorning."

Slightly stunned, he nodded, and she quickly leapt up to her dragon's shoulders, who immediately spread his wings, crouched, and took off, flying quickly over the forest and vanishing between the mountains.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. The entire village seemed to have something to say to him, and he struggled to answer their questions. Finally, when the last of the distraught people had wandered off, his sisters approached him.

"I hope you know what you're doing," Vasara said, a little grimly.

He could only shrug. "I hope I do, too." Turning to his other sister, he forced himself to ask, "How's Dad, Maara?"

"He's the same. Elama is watching him now. He woke up long enough for me to feed him some bread and water last night, before, well…"

"But he doesn't remember who he is, or where he is, or how to speak." Haku was frustrated. Everyone knew he didn't want to take his father's place, but since the attack more than three months ago, he'd been forced to assume many of the Chief's duties. Especially since his older sister, Lyse, the rightful heir to the chiefdom, had been killed the same night.

"I'm doing the best I can, Haku," his sixteen-year-old sister said, her voice trembling. Haku immediately softened.

"I know, Maara. I know. You're doing an incredible job. You know I just get grumpy and frustrated when I don't get enough sleep."

She smiled slightly. "Yeah, I know."

Haku lightly patted her on the shoulder, sending her on her way, before turning back to Vasara, who still looked deeply troubled.

"I know Vahna said we should trust her, but I still don't know, Haku."

"Listen. There is no way for us to avenge our sister's life, nor our father's… mind. We have to be realistic. The dragons will always be stronger than us. But this stranger, this woman, has crossed what we once saw as an impossible divide. Maybe the best thing we can do is honor the lives of those we have lost by doing our best to prevent the loss of anyone else."

Vasara looked down, battling her feelings. Finally she looked up, her gaze filled with emotion that she didn't usually show. "I trust Vahna, and I trust you. I don't trust this stranger, not yet, but I suppose if she wanted to hurt us, she would have already destroyed us. I've never seen a dragon like that before."

Haku thought of the creature's vivid blue eyes, piercing his very soul. "Neither have I," he said quietly. "Neither have I."

Leaving a nervous Shade at the clearing, Aeri picked her way back down the mountain, attempting to retrace the path she had followed on her way up. Finally, after a few questionable turns, she saw through the trees a familiar structure, with open windows.

Quietly she crept around it, ducking beneath one of the downstairs windows and listening in. The two younger women from the square were chatting, and Aeri heard the sound of splashing water. They were probably washing dishes or clothes, distracted. That meant the older woman, Vahna, must be upstairs. Making no sound, Aeri jumped up, grabbing hold of one of the shingles on the side of the house with her fingertips. She had become an expert at climbing things that really had no business being climbed.

Fortunately, the wood on the side of the house was uneven, giving her easy footholds to clamber up and silently roll through the window.

Standing, she gazed at the old woman's back. She was sitting at a table on the other side of the bed, drawing or writing something, Aeri couldn't tell. Before she went any closer, though-

"I suppose if you were going to kill me, you already would have done so."

"Yes."

"To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"Are you the one who found me?"

"No, but I am the one who sewed you up and got some food and water down your throat."

"How did you recognize me?"

"Who else would you be?"

Fair enough. Aeri walked closer, peering over the old woman's shoulder, doing her best not to gasp in surprise.

Before her was an incredibly detailed sketch of Shade, just as he was about to take off. On his back were two figures, one masked, and the other looking slightly terrified. Is that what she looked like? She was… slightly intimidating. Good. A small smile curved on her face.

"Where is your dragon?"

"He's up the mountain, nervously waiting for me to return."

"You should bring him by sometime. I'd… like to get to know him."

Aeri was surprised. "Okay, I will." After a brief pause, she spoke again. "I just can't figure out how I got here."

Vahna finally turned around, piercing Aeri with sharp blue-gray eyes. "Some fishermen found you on the beach before dawn with a strange leather strap around your waist that had been torn away from whatever it was attached to. You were half covered in blood and barely breathing, so they brought you to me."

"I must be grateful to them and you. I don't know what Shade would do without me," she said with a smile. The old woman searched her face, looking for something, before her face crinkled into an answering smile.

"Shade? What an appropriate name."

"Far more appropriate than his father's."

"Which would be?"

"Toothless."

"Is he actually-"

"No. Technically."

"Interesting. So there are more of these dragons where you come from?"

"Yes. For a long time, before I was born, there was believed to be only one, but it turns out that there's an entire island full of them a few days to the southwest."

"The unholy offspring of lightning and death itself, hmm?"

"You heard that?" Aeri laughed.

"Everyone heard it. While it might not have gained you many fans, it certainly garnered some respect."

"I could care less about anyone respecting me. I hardly deserve it. But Shade is a noble and fierce being, from a line of powerful, dangerous dragons. Night Furies, as they are called on Berk. They were the stuff of legends, nightmares… until one human decided to bridge the gap, to throw down his weapon and rescue the one that had been shot down, the supposed last one, thus beginning the formation of a deep and unbreakable bond. The two defeated impossible foes together, becoming heroes, legends in their own rights."

"That's a very interesting story."

"It happened within your lifetime."

"Are they still alive?"

"Yes."

"Who was the dragon?"

"Shade's father."

"And who was the human?"

"Mine."

Later on, mid-afternoon, Aeri and Vahna were still deep in conversation. It had been a long time since Aeri had actually had a real conversation with a human being. Asti and Alkaa, Vahna's apprentices, had come upstairs to bring Vahna tea, and nearly dropped the kettle and cup when they saw Aeri.

"Come on in, girls," Vahna had said, waving a hand. "This is the dragon rider."

The two quickly overcame their shyness and began hesitantly asking questions.

"How old are you?"

"Does your dragon have a name?"

"Where are you from?"

"Are you really here to help us?"

Aeri didn't know how to respond, still not wishing to share her name or her past, until Vahna intervened. "Alright, girls. Let's not overwhelm our guest. Take the rest of the afternoon off, just don't forget to bring some flour back from the village."

Once they were back on their own, Vahna asked Aeri: "Where is Berk?"

"I… I don't know." She told Vahna of the pirates, then of the storm that had landed her and Shade on Heimme.

"So you are lost." Then she asked the question Aeri had been hoping to evade. "What is your name?"

Aeri thought about it, before answering slowly. "I lost it when I left home."

"Well, we must call you something, Rádgatá." Mystery.

"I will only take a name I have earned."

The old woman paused, clearly thinking. "Perhaps you will appreciate this, then."

After considering for a moment, Aeri decided it was the most fitting name that could have been chosen for her. As she made her way back up the mountain alone, it resonated in her mind, and strengthened her resolve.

This is who she had become. Because of her choices, because of her very nature. This was who she was now.

Missti Einn. Lost One.

Haku anxiously watched the skies. It was about midmorning, so he waited for the stranger and her dragon to appear.

His house was backed up against the forest, with the ocean on the left and the village to the front and to the other side, so he figured he would see her coming no matter which direction she came from. Haku stood on the deck, which wrapped around the entire structure, facing out towards the village. He was situated near the door, in case Maara needed something.

Slowly his mind began to wander. What was her name? Could she really be trusted? She said she was from the north. Where? What other surprises were in store for Heimme with this alliance?

Something made him pause. A feeling. The feeling of being watched. A chill ran down his spine, and slowly, he turned around.

Just a few feet behind him, leaning against the outside of the house with her arms crossed, the stranger looked completely at ease. Haku, on the other hand, nearly jumped out of his skin. "How long have you been there?!"

Pushing herself off the wall, she closed the distance between them, her footsteps making no sound on the deck. "Long enough. Do you often daydream?"

"How did you know I was daydreaming?"

"I didn't."

Damn. "Very clever. Where is your dragon?"

She looked thoughtful. "He's around here somewhere. I told him not to eat anyone, but he has a habit of not listening to me."

"That's not funny!"

"Who said it was?"

Damn it again. "So." Haku ground out. "What are we doing today?"

"Trust exercises," she said mysteriously, fluidly grabbing the railing on the deck and swinging herself over it to land gracefully on the ground below. Dusting off her hands, she began to walk towards the village.

"Wait!" Haku shouted, running to catch up. "You're just going to walk into the village like you didn't ride a dragon out of here yesterday?"

"Yes?"

"Ugh." Then they walked past the first row of houses. At first, no one paid them any notice, but then, people began to whisper, turning their heads as they passed. By the time they got to the village square, half the population of Heimme was gathered, watching with curiosity, fear, and distrust.

The stranger hadn't looked at anything as they passed. Her gaze remained level, eyes forward. If it were anyone else, Haku would say that they were ignoring everything. But with her, he got the sense that she was taking everything in.

"Well," he said, slightly nervous. "We're in the middle of the village, with most of the villagers present to see what wonders you will perform for us today."

She finally took her eyes off whatever it was she was focusing on and swung her gaze to meet his. Her eyes were green, and they glittered with something Haku couldn't identify. "Perform?" she asked.

"You know what I mean."

"Yes, I think I do." Turning she looked out at the crowd, scanning their faces with her steady gaze. "Hello."

No one said anything. Her serious expression slowly became a small smile, and Haku found himself mesmerized by the change.

"I hope that someday, when I greet you, you will not be afraid to return the gesture." Some of the people looked a little embarrassed. Heimme's people prided themselves on their hospitality, not that many people came to visit. Trading ships came several times a year, with captains and crews longing for a comfortable place to eat a hearty meal and get a good night's sleep. But was this stranger someone to be welcomed?

The stranger seemed to sense this. "Do not worry. I am not used to being welcomed, as I either arrive at my destinations disguised or with a large, firebreathing reptile at my side. Let me tell you firsthand, not many people stop to say hello to that." A few people laughed, unable to help themselves, and her smile widened, until almost everyone was drawn in.

What kind of power was this? Haku wondered.

"I know I have done little to gain your trust. Granted, I didn't kill your Chief's son yesterday, so that must place a mark in my favor. But overall, my presence must be causing you some anxiety, perhaps even some genuine fear."

She paused, looking around again, and Haku's mind caught up with him. How does she know who my father is? "I could tell you a hundred times over that I am a friend. But I get the feeling that shallow placations won't change much. So, today, I am here to learn about you. I wish to understand you, to earn your trust."

"What about the dragons?" a voice called out, and Haku frowned.

"If I told you to get on a dragon's back and fly with me to its nest, would you do it?"

Many people shook their heads.

"Then the dragons will have to wait, until you can accept me and learn, if not to trust me, to at least believe that I speak the truth when I tell you that I am your friend."

The crowd began to murmur, people speaking to each other, trying to figure out what to make of this stranger.

Someone shouted, "Who are you?" Another: "What is your name?" Several others: "Where is the dragon?!"

Suddenly they quieted and parted, forming a path. Vahna emerged, followed by Asti and Alkaa. The stranger, oddly enough, smiled at Vahna, who offered her a smile in return.

"People of Heimme," the old woman began to speak, and everyone leaned in close to hear her words. "I said before that I believe we can trust this stranger. Who she is, is not important now. Now, having held counsel with her, I know with great certainty that her word is her bond. I have given her a name. It is the name by which we shall address her. Trust her. Respect her. She is our only hope." With that, she turned around, and slowly walked away.

The crowd immediately broke out in hushed conversations, everyone wondering the same thing.

Haku stepped closer to the stranger, and she looked over at him, her eyes full of hidden thoughts that he could not even begin to discern.

"Well, stranger. It seems that you are here to stay, at least for the time being. Vahna said she "gave you a name." What does that mean? What is it?"

She looked away from him, focusing again on the crowd, who quieted upon hearing Haku's questions.

"As Vahna said. The name I once had no longer belongs to me. It is a part of a past that I may or may not return to. For now, I am Missti Einn. You may also call me Rádgatá. I am at your service."

Lost One. Mystery. For a moment, her words sank in. Then, almost as one, the crowd converged on her, each with questions of their own. She didn't even blink, but Haku raised his hands anyways.

"Please, everyone! Settle down!" Slowly the crowd subsided, and the stranger- Rádgatá-looked over at him expectantly. "Go about your tasks. Today is no different than any other day. Missti Einn will accompany me to visit you all, so that she may become accustomed to our ways. Go on," he urged them, and slowly the people went back to their business, necks craned to watch Rádgatá's movement.

Haku turned to face Rádgatá, who momentarily looked a little overwhelmed. As soon as their eyes met, however, she was as composed and unreadable as ever. "Shall we?" he asked. With a short nod she turned and began to follow him as he made his rounds through the village.

"How did you know my father is the Chief?' he asked. She shrugged. "Did Vahna tell you?"

"No. It wasn't hard to guess. Everyone turns to you for answers and guidance, but they don't call you Chief. Either your village has no chief at all, or you are in line for the position."

Very insightful. "It's a little more complicated than that," he finally said.

"It always is."

People stared at her as she passed, but she seemed to pay them no mind. Haku was reminded of her earlier words.I hope that someday, when I greet you, you will not be afraid to return the gesture. He found himself hoping that, too, as he explained the everyday workings of the village.

She stayed for a few hours, then expressed that she had learned enough for one day. Haku walked her back up to his house, wondering where she was going.

When they arrived, they looked at each other in silence. Haku cleared his throat, and Rádgatá tilted her head slightly. "Do you, ah…"

"Yes?"

"Do you need someplace to stay? You can stay here if you like." Immediately Haku regretted his words. While he might not mind the stranger's presence, his sisters very likely would, and then there was the matter of his bedridden father…

"Thank you for the offer, but I think everyone will be better off if I keep out of the village for the time being."

Haku tried not to sigh in relief. She seemed to notice this, but showed no sign of taking offense.

"I'll be back in the next few days. Let your people digest that I am here, and that I am, in fact, human." Her eyes twinkled with amusement, and Haku laughed. She really was quite perceptive.

They both turned to look out at the village, the streets busy with people going about their daily work. In the distance, Haku could hear the clanging of his sister's hammer, and he smiled. "Next time we'll-" he started, but when he turned to address her, he found that he was standing alone. Had she even ever been there?