Much can change in a day. A week. A month. Hiccup could attest to that in full.

A month ago, he had been disowned by his father. A month ago, he had watched as his father had Vikings strap his best friend, Toothless, to the deck of the tribe's flagship. A month ago, he had watched as almost everyone he had ever known headed to what he knew was annihilation. A month ago, he had flown off with teens who once ignored his very existence, to rescue a tribe that he no longer belonged to. A month ago, he had helped destroy a tyrant from the worst nightmare imaginable. A month ago, he had fallen off his dragon and into an inferno.

A week ago, he had awoken from an induced sleep to recover from wounds sustained in that battle. A week ago, he had seen the same teens who flew with him walking with their dragons through the village with no one immediately reaching for weapons. A week ago, his father had spoken to him with none of the usual disgust the once lined the chief's voice. A week ago, Gobber had handed him a new tailfin for Toothless and welcomed Hiccup home. A week ago, Vikings and dragons lived and worked in harmony. A week ago, no one yelled or screamed when a wild dragon visited the island

A day ago, his father listened to him. A day ago, his father had been quick to openly praise him on things he did. A day ago, Mildew had no real way to rile up the village. A day ago, Hiccup had no worry his father would run every dragon off of Berk.

Now, Hiccup had no idea what to do. The wild dragons began using the village as a place to relieve themselves. Unguarded food was flinched without remorse and devoured in front of the Viking it was taken from. His father, stressed with Mildew's constant complaining, had ordered Hiccup to deal with the dragons or he would. Hiccup was clueless. He did not know why the wild dragons were acting the way they were and had no means to actually stop them. He mainly ordered the teens with dragons to join him on patrols in the hope they could prevent some of the chaos. Astrid and Fishlegs responded with clarity. Snotlout and the twins had to be threatened by Astrid to come. None of this seemed to work as his father still did not appear happy or pleased. Hiccup sighed. He should have known nothing would truly change when it came to his father or his tribe.

Hiccup went to step down, intending to meet the others in the plaza for another patrol only to stop as a white light burst across the sky. When it faded, and Hiccup could see once more, his jaw dropped. A massive black and silver dragon hovered over the plaza. A hooded figure sat upon the dragon's back. Hiccup rushed down the steps as fast as he dared.

He stopped beside Astrid. Toothless came to his right side, while Stormfly moved to stand at Astrid's left. His father arrived as the other Dragon Riders and their respective dragons hurried into the plaza. The new dragon and its rider landed. Hiccup blinked. Two Terror-sized dragons peeked over the rider's shoulders. Both were blue, but the one Hiccup could see the most of had a pale blue wing. The figure drew back its hood, revealing a young woman with brown hair.

"Who are ye?" Stoick asked, his voice stern and unyielding.

The woman chuckled. "Always with the demands," she muttered causing her dragons to laugh. She tilted her head. "I apologize, this will hurt."

Before anyone could comment or react, she snapped her fingers. Hiccup jerked and cried out as his head began to pound. Memories he did not know he had rushed by. A cavern. A see-through barrier separating him from his tribe. Images on dual stone walls. The woman and her dragons. Eating with Astrid sitting beside him. The headache began to recede as the memories reached their conclusion. Hiccup looked up at the rider.

"Gyda?"

"Hi, Hiccup."

"Wha- what are you doing here?" Hiccup questioned.

"Are ye here to wisk us away again?" Stoick asked at the same time.

Gyda swung her leg over Shadowfire's neck. He lowered until his belly almost touched the ground and shifted a foreleg forward so Gyda could use it as a step down. Frostfire and Palewing, stretched their wings and hopped off Shadowfire's back. Shadowfire stood and shook himself, bags tied to his saddle, jingling.

"No, Chief," Gyda said. "You all saw the message you were to receive. I am here for another reason."

"What is that?" Stoick asked.

Gyda sighed and looked down before facing Stoick. "Our home and land were taken from us by a man from a noble house. He has always wanted my family's land and worked to get the lawmakers to declare it his. Because I aided your gods, I was allowed to come here to escape him."

"Escape?" Stoick asked, eyes narrowed.

"The land wasn't the only thing he wanted," Gyda said. "He wanted my sons and daughter-in-law."

"Is Berk in danger from him?" Stoick asked.

"No. The way is sealed shut by a power he can't have the law order about."

"I see. Well, if you wish to live here you must remember I am the chief."

"I knew that back home, sir. I just didn't hold a great deal of respect for you then. I despised how you treated your son."

Stoick sighed. "You were right to not respect me, lass," he said before looking at Hiccup. "I don't respect myself for any of that. It won't happen again."

Hiccup blinked. The past few days, his father had been stressed and demanding. To hear him speak so openly about something he had done wrong surprised Hiccup. It also took a weight off Hiccup's shoulders to hear that his father would not treat him as he had before, though part of him wondered if it was because of the memories from Gyda's home or because Stoick actually cared to treat his son better. Hiccup squashed that voice. His father was trying. It was not Stoick's fault the wild dragons were causing issues again.

Toothless warbled something that caused Shadowfire's horns to flare and Frostfire and Palewing to chitter. Hiccup frowned as Frostfire scurried up Gyda's back and peeked over her left shoulder.

[Did the magic not work?] he asked. Hiccup gasped, hearing the others in the plaza do so as well. [Well, guess that answers that.]

[Lag,] Shadowfire said earning a snort from Frostfire.

[Goofball,] Frostfire muttered.

[Short legs,] Shadowfire returned.

"Be nice, boys," Gyda said.

[Yes, Mom,] Shadowfire and Frostfire said at the same time, causing Palewing to snicker softly.

"Wait," Hiccup said, "how? We're not in your cave anymore."

"It's the Common Tongue," Gyda said. "Once, long ago, humans and dragons conversed freely. No one knows why the connection was severed, but magic allows humans to understand it once more. My cave was home to mages for years. Magic weeps from the walls. While you all visited, you were exposed to that magic. That is how you were able to hear the dragons. Now that your memories are no longer blocked, you retain the ability."

"But your magic didn't always work," Hiccup said. "Several times the dragons spoke but I never understood them."

[We spoke in the Old Tongue of all dragons, brother,] Toothless said. [Humans would never have the means to understand that language.]

"Why would you do that?" Fishlegs asked.

Toothless tilted his head. [The Old Tongue is faster.]

"Oh, okay," Fishlegs said before looking at Gyda. "Why's it called the Common Tongue?"

"Because Trade Language got too cumbersome to say," Gyda replied, winking.

Hiccup snorted. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Astrid's lips thin. He looked over only to have her turn away towards Stormfly. Hiccup frowned but he did not push the issue. She would not appreciate it. He would ask her when they were on their daily walks through the village later that evening.

"Where will ye be staying, lass?" Stoick asked.

Gyda shrugged. "You could point us to the closest cave if you want, chief."

"No."

Everyone turned as Eydis and Brynjar walked through the crowd in the plaza. Eydis placed a hand upon the shoulder Frostfire was not peeking over. She then stared at Stoick.

"Gyda and her family can stay with us until a house can be built for them. We owe her that, chief."

"Would ye want a house, lass?" Stoick asked.

Gyda turned to her family. Frostfire hopped down, landing beside Palewing.

[Mom,] Shadowfire began. [I know why we lived in the caves back home, but can we do something different here?]

[I agree with Shadowfire, Mom,] Frostfire said.

[I would wish a house, Mama Gyda,] Palewing said.

Gyda nodded and turned back to Stoick. "I'd like a house, sir."

Stoick tipped his head. "I'll speak with the wood cutters and the builders then." Stoick stared at her and frowned. "I know ye know the future, lass but we'll walk the path the gods wish."

Gyda nodded. "I understand, sir."

"Good," Stoick said before walking away.

"Would you like to join us on a patrol?" Hiccup asked as the crowd began to disperse.

"I need to get my things off of Shadowfire first," Gyda said gesturing to the saddle bags.

"Astrid," Eydis said, "come help us get Gyda and her family settled and you can help her find the patrol afterwards."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Riders," Hiccup called. "Let's go, Astrid and Gyda will catch up with us later."

The other teens mounted their dragons and took off. Hiccup could not help but look back. He and Astrid had grown closer since he awoke and she kissed him in front of the entire tribe. They talked often, though lately their conversation had been discussing ways to deal with the wild dragons. Not having her at his left as they flew off Berk felt weird. Toothless grunted and shook himself slightly. Hiccup knew what his dragon brother was saying even without the Common Tongue.

"You're right, bud. Duties first."