The Storm was heavy with freezing rain dropping the temperature below normal.

Ronde (POV)

Cold...

It's cold...

I...can't...move.

Am I...going...to... die...like...this?

Why...is...it...so...cold...in... here?

I...need...warmth..." help"...

I...need...heat..."somebody"...

I...need...to... get...out..." please"...

I...need..." help"...

I...need...to...change...before... I..."me"...

Oh, something or someone just laying next to me I can feel their warmth. They're wrapping themselves around me, I'm too tired to open my eyes but I placed my hand on whoever it was. "Thank you"... I drifted off to sleep.

Hiccups (POV)

I woke up with a banging on my door whoever it was must be in a rush. I went downstairs to see who it was; I open the door and it was "Astrid"?

"Hiccup we have a problem"! She told me.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa calm down what's the problem"?

"We can't find Stormfly or Hookfang"!

"Wait, what do you mean"?

"We've been looking for them for hours and we can't seem to find them".

I thought for a moment for places where they could be probably somewhere in the forest, by the looks of it there was a night's storm night, that might have frightened them. " alright, me and Toothless well check from above to see if they're in the forest".

"Toothless come on bud we got to go".

No response

I walked back to my house" toothless come on we have to-". There are no signs of Toothless in the house.

"Toothless. Toothless!" " he's gone"! "Where could you have...wait where's Ronde"?

"You don't think he took our dragons to you"?

"It's very likely he did, come on"!

We ran towards Berks holding the cell to see if what I said was true instead what we saw shocked us.

Hookfang was right next to the cell where we were holding Ronde and was asleep.

"Hookfang"? The dragon responded by opening its eyes. " What are you doing here"? Hookfang only responded by looking at Ronde cell. That's when I noticed that the cell door was flung open.

"Oh no". My immediate reaction what's to see how he broke out. But instead of the cell being empty toothless and Stormfly was in there together huddling up around something.

"Toothless what are you doing"? Toothless only looked at me then got up started walking towards me. That's when I noticed Ronde was laying on Stormfly, side.

"he didn't break out the dragons broke in". Stated Astrid.

"I can see that but why"?

"Hiccup there's something you should probably know about Ronde".

" what is it"?

"Ronde told me he can communicate with dragons".

I stared at her and I was baffled," you mean like he can talk to them"?

She laughed," I said the same thing to him, but he said no I'm still having a hard time trying to explain it".

"wait a minute, so is that how he was able to calm down Toothless when we were on his island"? "And now that I think about it the flock of dragons, he was able to stop them as well".

"It would seem that way, that's why Stormfly didn't attack him when he threatened me, she didn't sense any malice intent from him".

I turned towards her," do you think that's why he left his home"?

"That might be a part of it but no, his people probably thought he was crazy but what you told me it was his father was the reason why he left".

" because of the way he was"? " what does he even mean by that"?

" I don't know but I doubt he'll tell us; he hates discussing his pass". She thought for a moment, "Maybe he did something that he's trying to forget". "Or maybe he was forced to leave by someone or something".

" Astrid those are possible ideas but remember he ran away at 10 years of age for what his book told us". "He doesn't seem to be a thief he doesn't have any valuables on him besides his book". "And I don't think he'll actually hurt anybody besides those Hunters".

I looked towards Ronde he seems to be asleep still." Maybe I'll just ask Fishlegs to see what's in this journal or his diary if he won't tell us maybe his book will".

I was about to walk out to see where Fishlegs was but then Astrid stop me. "Hiccup maybe there's a reason why he doesn't want to share his past with us". "It might have been traumatizing for him, you saw how he reacted every time someone mentioned his pass". "He would literally have some sort of mental breakdown, maybe he'll tell us on his own time when he trusts us more right now, we need to prepare for his so-called trial".

I sighed, "I suppose you're right". " I suppose we should probably wake him; the trial starts later today there's not going to be that many people there".

We walked back to his cell he was still sleeping on Stormflys side, " Stormfly can you please wake him"? Ask Astrid.

She chirps in response and began nudging Ronde. He began to stir then said in a sleepy voice, "no...please...not...now...just...give...me...more...time...to...sleep...Sire".

Me and Astrid exchange looks towards one another. "Sire"? Who is that?

Stormfly nudged him a little harder this time, his eyes were open and unfocused while looking up at Stormfly. "...Dam?...where am I"? His eyes began to focus more and more then realization struck him.

"Stormfly"? " how did you get..."? Then he looked towards us. " right yesterday, I completely forgot about that". He began to stand up and that's what I noticed his shirt was starting to slide off towards his shoulder almost as if had gotten smaller or his shirt was stretched.

"I must thank you for sending your dragons in here last night I could have died". Ronde said to us.

Both me and Astrid were shocked, " we didn't send our dragons to do anything we were just looking for them".

"Wait a minute then how-"? Toothless barked to get Ronde's attention. "It was you wasn't it, you must have heard or felt my distress". And he began to look around towards Stormfly and Hookfang. " you all must have heard it".

Now I'm confused, " how did you almost died last night"?

He was silent for a moment then said, " it was the storm last night, by the way, this place is structured I can tell that it doesn't keep heat in very well". "I almost died by hypothermia, it was storming with freezing rain and the temperatures dropped very quickly I was begging for help, but no one came until your dragons showed up".

Then he looks towards me, " I know I did something wrong but did you have to keep me here during the storm all night"? Then he back away from us, "Were you trying to kill me"? He said with pain in his words.

"What no"! I tried to answer as quickly as possible, "we weren't even aware that a storm was coming last night".

Now he was angry, "Well you should have, I may be your prisoner, but I do deserve respect Damn it"!

As soon as he was done yelling at me Stormfly went to go Nudge him in a friendly manner then he began to calm down.

He sighed, "I'm sorry it's just the idea that no one heard me begging or crying for help and I would have died if it wasn't for your dragons, I should be grateful not expressing my rage towards you". Then he looks towards Hookfang, " and you, thank you for being the furnace in this place last night if you want to you can go". And was that Hookfang tipped his head and left.

I was left baffled, "You really can talk to our dragons"?

"It's a little more complicated than that". He said while stroking Stormflys head.

"What happened to your shirt"? Astrid asks.

"Oh um... I guess the dragons we're pulling on it while they were trying to keep me warm". "Oh, which reminds me before you banish me, hurt me or possibly kill me can I get some new pair of clothes"?

I was confused did he really think we were going to do that to him. "Ronde we don't do those things here, banishment Maybe but why do you think we're going to kill you?

He was shocked and started to explain, "Because where I'm from if a person commits the same thing what I've done they were rather be executed or have their limbs cut off, usually both depending on the crime".

I was horrified trying to imagine that image. "Ronde I don't know what you have experienced during your childhood but you're safe here from those things".

" then why am I here if you're going to banish me just banish me, I would have left last night".

" if you would have left last night you would have certainly died in that storm, but to answer your question why you are still here is because you said you wanted a trial so you're giving you one".

"I suppose but what about clothes"?

"I'll buy you some clothes at the store," said Astrid.

Ronde looks angry not at Astrid but something else, "Astrid you don't have to do that".

She turned around towards the exit and said, "I know, come on girl".

I turn towards toothless, "Well bud I think it's around that time for us to set everything up to let's go". I was about to leave as well.

"WAIT"!

I turn around to see Ronde outside of his cell, "So you're just going to leave me here in a busted cell free to roam around"?

"Yeah I am, I trust you enough to stay in here"

It wasn't anger in his face, but it was something, "I don't understand anyone anymore"! He looks me dead in my eye, " how can you be so trustworthy of a stranger who you're putting on trial, that has taken one of your own and endangers their life. I could be a spy or someone trying to earn your trust just a stab you in the back later why would you trust me"?

"Like I said I trust you enough to stay here, you had every opportunity to escape, to steal and kill but you decided not to". "No, I do not approve of the way you decided to get our attention, but I understand why you were so desperate". I chuckled a little bit, "Plus if you are any of the things you just said you wouldn't have mentioned it so I trust you even more now.

"I don't get any of you people anymore". He said

"And I don't get how you could change moods so quickly one minute you're angry at me next minute you're happy then you're sad."

He sighed " I have a cap when it comes to my emotions that I must never go above and for the past few days you guys have to push me to my limits".Yesterday is when's your dragon shot me, the other when I almost died last night".

A spark lit up in my head, " that reminds me how did you not get hurt from Toothless's Plasma Blast".

he lifted his shirt to reveal his undershirt it had dark purple scales, "because of the training that I had when I was younger and these dragon shed scales, it protects me from their fire".

"Fascinating so the training you had when you were younger must have been intense".

he didn't say anything he just looked at me and walk back towards his cell. It must be because I mentioned his past. "Ronde I-".

"Just go chief, I'll be here when you come back".

I didn't want to say anything to upset him, so I left with Toothless. We went to the middle of Berk to find Gobber. "Hey Las, is the kidnapper giving you any trouble"?

"No, it's just we couldn't find our dragons this morning and we found out they were helping him last night during the storm".

"What, helping him escape"?

"No just helping him keep warm during the storm. I don't understand it myself but somehow they heard his distress he almost died last night for what he told us".

" well we don't want him to die now do we, not before his trial, speaking of which what are we sentencing him to"? " you don't seem the type to banish him so what are you going to do with him"?

"I was thinking about maybe putting him on some type of community service to help us build our village".

"Ahh I see, hard labor we could use a few extra hands to help us create a few new buildings".

"Yeah he's really good with his hands he took out about 30 Dragon Hunters by himself".

" hiccup don't you think that's a wee bit of an over-exaggeration"?

"I'm not exaggerating I'm being serious Gobber. he's good at stealth and combat I noticed that while we were on that island, he was even surrounded by 20 of them and beat them all without a scratch".

"Las that's not possible especially for a kid"

"Gobber you can ask my mother, Eret and everyone else that was in that group they saw to".

"Maybe I will during the trial but right now we need to get everything set up in the Great Hall. there's going to be at least 15 people to come especially our Elder to judge if he's lying about anything he says."

"Yeah, let's go."

Astrid's (POV)

After buying Ronde some new close his trial had started it was fairly quick with only a few people there. Ronde was explaining the whole situation with me and him and the island full of Dragon Hunters. But every time someone tries to ask where he was from or why he was away from his home he was completely silent then said, "It doesn't matter where I'm from I'm not going back there". He also tried to calm himself when people were asking about his past, but he refused to answer any of them.

After everything was said and done Hiccup sentence Ronde to a week of hard labor. Ronde was shocked and was about to say something, but he remained quiet, meanwhile, everyone else was dismissed and headed back to the Village.

I went to go see Ronde who was later free, "Well you're trial it's over what are you going to do now"? I asked him.

"Well for starters I'm getting something to eat, I haven't eaten since we were on an island" then he starts walking towards hiccup, second, I got to find out where I'm sleeping because I'm not going back into that prison cell during the night.

"Oh, that might be a problem". Berk doesn't have any places where guess can't sleep, he can't sleep in my house because of my parents.

He sighed, "it's fine I'll find somewhere to sleep I might sleep here, or I might just go back to the boat that I stole".

"That's a long walk are you sure you want to do that"? I tried to reassure him.

"It's better than freezing to death but I might just stay here". Then he clenched his stomach in pain, "But I can really use some food right now".

" right what do you want"?

" if you have any, just a few slightly roasted fish and whatever meat food that you have".

"Alright" I went to the Great Halls cook and ordered the food that he wanted. It took around 10 minutes for him to cook but it was done he gave me the tray of food and I went to go deliver it to Ronde.

"Wait, stop right there just place the food at the end of the table". He told me, I was confused and shocked when he said that. He must have noticed it too then, he said, "it has nothing to do with you it's just...", he paused for a moment, " I'm not sure the others told you because I know that they read my diary but I can't completely control my emotions and I can't think straight when it happens, last time I was this hungry when someone brought me some food I almost...attacked them".

I was shocked when he was explaining this, "okay, I'll just set it right here, grab it when you feel more comfortable". I was about to leave but then he called my name.

"Astrid".

I turned around to see him "yeah".

"I'm...sorry for everything I have done to you".

I sighed then, I walked towards him and punched him on the shoulder, " that's for scaring and kidnapping me".

Then he was confused and stood up, " that's what I was apologizing for".

And I hug them patting him on the back," this is for everything else, I already told you that I forgive you and I understand why you did what you had to do just don't do it again alright. Then I got off of him.

" Alright, thank you I'll make it up to you one day".

I left the Great Hall; the sun seems to be setting, I don't even realize the day has gone by so fast.

Hiccups (POV)

"So, what do you think Elder"?

She began writing on the ground then Gobber translated. "She says, He's lying and he's going to kill us all".

"What"?

The Elder bangs him on the head tells him to look again.

"He doesn't seem to be lying at all". Then the Elder began to write again.

"But there's something different and off about him".

I was confused, "what do you mean different and off"?

She began writing again. "He seems to have a strong connection with dragons almost like he is one of them".

"Well, that's probably because he's been living with them for almost seven years now, for what his book told us".

She started writing again, "That may be true, but I didn't sense the same thing when it came to your mother when she's been living with them for 20 years". "He's just very different for what I've seen in my years as an elder.

"So, he's that different just by spending time with dragons"?

She shook her head saying no and began to write again, "There's something about him specifically that is different from any person I made contact with, He's not normal in the body but he seems to be broken in the mind like something traumatizing has happened to him".

"He said his father tried to kill him when he was younger and he had to run away, and for what his book told us he was 10 years old at the time does that have something to do with it"?

She looks shocked and begins to write again, "That might be why he seems to be broken into in the mind, to experience that is such a young age, but that still doesn't explain his body".

"What do you mean his body like his complexion"?

She shook her head saying no, "He's from the opposite side of the world I can tell that much but there's something more that I can't explain I can only see".

and with that, the Elder went back inside our house.

"Wait, Gobber what is she mean by he's from the opposite side of the world"?

"It means he's from the other side of the world, I and your father had traveled there a few times before you were born, it's was hot but beautiful over there".

"Are there any tribes are natives that you guys ran into".

"not going to lie to you las I don't remember".

"Of course, you don't well when something jogs your memory could you please let me know".

"I will, but right now I'm going to bed you should too, tomorrow we are getting ready to build our defenses and houses and we're going to put your little friend to work".

"Actually, Gobber he's going to work on cleaning the Great Hall first, he's also going to be doing small things with the dragons".

"You're probably right, trying to put a kid to handling our defense is probably a bad idea anyway, see you tomorrow then".

"You too".