Hiccup walked through the forest on her way to the cove. She had healed completely and was walking to the cove to get some water. Her wings were still weak from the illness, but at least she wasn't dead.

She was nearly at the entrance to the cove when she heard something in the bushes. She looked to the source of the noise. Nothing.

"Hello?"

"Is anyone there?"

"Hell-"

Suddenly something jumped on her from behind and slammed her body against the ground. Hiccup felt a small but incredibly strong hand grab hold of her hair and wrap some around a knife. The hand pulled so hard that Hiccup feared that her hair would be pulled out of her scalp. Hiccup screamed at the pain.

Hiccup felt her hair being cut. The hand let go. Hiccup rolled over and looked up a Mildew. He had the knife in one hand and some of Hiccup's hair in the other.

"Mildew? What the hell was that for?"

Mildew pounced onto her again. He held his knife to Hiccup's throat as he leaned in and whispered in her ear, "If you even give so much as a hint of what I did, I will use this hair to make you kill those dragons. Starting with your precious Night Fury." Mildew sat up and smiled, "I'm sure you've heard of witchcraft Hiccup. You'd know what possibilities can come with it.

Hiccup froze. She wanted to kill him, but she knew it was wrong. As wrong as his actions were, killing him would make her no better.

Mildew stood up and left. "Remember this moment Hiccup. The lives of your friends could depend on it."

Hiccup panted with relief as she stood up and ran home.

She walked up to the door, and was greeted by Astro.

Astro noticed the shock in Hiccup's eyes, "You okay? You look like you've seen a ghost. What's wrong?"

Hiccup shook her head, "Nothing. Everything's fine. I just... I'm still kind of shaken from that Scauldron experience."

"I don't blame you. After getting bitten by one of those things, even I'd be scared myself... Are you sure you're okay?"

"Honestly, I'm fine."

"What happened to your hair?"

"Huh?"

"Some of your hair seems shorter."

"Uh... I don't..."

"Don't know how that happened?"

"Mm-mm."

Astro didn't buy it. But he respected her privacy.

As he walked back to his hut, he turned back, "Just don't go pulling stunts like that again."

Hiccup chuckled, "Astro. You know me. I'm always pulling stunts like that. We're Vikings."

Hiccup walked into her hut and closed the door. No one else was home. She was by herself.

She walked up her room and collapsed on her bed. She thought about what Mildew had said. She doubted his claim of having the skill of witchcraft, but she couldn't ignore his warning. It was too risky.

Mildew was terrifying. Now he was worse. He had become a living nightmare. From now on, Hiccup would have to live in fear of this man. If his claim was true, that would have meant that he had control over her life, her health, and worst of all, her mind.

Hiccup was scared. She was so scared that she cried herself to sleep that night.