When we landed back at the landing zone, the salvage team that was with us was already loading up their findings into the helicopters. Val was the first to notice me come in. "Find anything useful?" she asked. "Glad you asked." I said, reaching into the bag. When I took out the helmet, everyone froze. "Whoooooaaaaa…." John whispered in awe. "I-is that?" Ben stammered. I nodded. "Sure is." Julie pushed past her brother. "Did you try it on yet?" She asked excitedly. "Uh, yes?" I answered, not expecting that question.
"Without us to see it?!" John shouted. "Aw man!" I quickly decided to change the subject. "So, um, what did you come up with?" Val took out a book that had illegible Norse writing on it. "I skimmed through this. Even though I can't read a thing, I… I think this is Astrid's journal." "Hm." I responded. "Never thought she would have one."
Fred stepped up to me. "Found some notes on dragons." He said, showing me a few papers and diagrams. "Oddly, I found two or three that were written on cards." I placed a hand on his shoulder. "Perfect, buddy. That might give us an edge in learning more about them."
"Ooh! Ooh!" John yelled, waving an arm around. "What about this? Will this suffice?" He hoisted up an old mace that had blunt spikes. Before I could comment on it, the handle snapped and the other end clunked to the ground. "Darn it."
"Don't think that's gonna work." I suggested. As John gave me a defeated expression, one of the chopper pilots came into view. "If you're all finished with your little show and tell, we gotta get moving!" he shouted before moving back into the cockpit. "Base wants our results as soon as we get back!"
"Alright…" Ben spoke almost sadly. "I think our time here is done." I turned to see the massive mountain stretching to the sky, overlooking all of Berk. A part of me wanted to stay here, but I knew otherwise. "No, it isn't." I said with a small smile. "It's not?" Val asked, confused. "No." I said. "We'll come back. One day. And who knows? Maybe we can change this place. Make the whole world know it again. Make it remembered."
One by one, everyone started to get my idea. "Maybe we can…" Val whispered hopefully. Spike, who was carefully resting on top of a metal perch, leapt off and glided down, sensing we were about to leave.
"Alright, guys." I said, walking towards Nightwatcher. "Let's go home." Val mounted Spike as Ben, Fred and the twins boarded one of the helicopters. One of the salvage team members signaled for takeoff and the blades started spinning.
Once all the choppers were airborne, Nightwatcher and Spike took off and began to fly alongside them. Val and I took one last look at the lost land. The land where both of our ancestors called home.
A land that, one day, would be restored.