Author's Note: Hello there, another week another chapter. I bet you all are eager for it especially after how I ended things last week. Well I hope this will sate your curiosity for now. I had to rewrite things for this and change some events as it flowed better, still I hope it's good and you all like it. So without further word, Enjoy.

Chapter 3: Strangeness

The chirping of birds is the very first thing Hiccup heard as he slowly started coming to. A painful groan coming out of his mouth as his eyes slowly fluttered open, only to be greeted by the rays of the sun. Prompting him to squint and turn his head to the opposite side. It was then he could feel stiffness within his body, his limbs slowly moving about and not quite limber as they were before. Taking a few deep breaths he then opened his eyes once more, only for them to rise up in confusion as he saw...trees?

"What the…" his breath came out a bit deep as he looked more around at his surroundings, and was surprised upon finding himself in the forest, flat on the dirt ground. Grunting, his stiff joints tried to move, both hands planting themselves down onto the ground, and pushing himself up. His body was a tad bit weak as his arms shook a bit, but he managed to get to his knees and shifted himself to a sitting position. A sigh of relief blew out upon being in an upright position as he looked around once more, the light revealing more of the forest, and the sun's positioning showed that it's way past morning.

"Why am I out here?" Hiccup rubbed the back of his head in confusion.

The one-legged teen tried thinking back to the previous night, or any time before, searching his mind for an answer. He remembered talking with his dad, about his new book...and then following Toothless outside...and then...he couldn't recall anymore. Both eyes rose in confusion as he tried to remember but nothing was coming to mind. Concentrating hard enough only caused his head to ache some, making him lose focus. What in Thor's name happened that caused him to come out to the forest? Did he...did he spend the night out here?

"That would answer why my body is stiff," he spoke out, rolling his shoulders, only to cringe as the joints popped. Reaching down he started massaging his legs, trying to get them loosened up. "Well, I won't find any answers sitting around here." Berk's heir responded as he took a few minutes but managed to finally get limber enough to stand back up.

Once up he winced, as an uncomfortable ache radiated from his neck, his right hand going up and touching the skin, rubbing at it. Another bout of confusion hit him as he felt nothing, no stiffness, knots...or anything at all. Odd, but decided not to question it. Without thinking of it any further he started to walk, knowing his exact location and headed for Berk, yet as he walked one question came to mind, as he became fully away of the situation.

"Where's Toothless?"

That question hung heavy in his mind, knowing full well that unless told, the Night Fury would always be stuck by his side, never wanting to leave him defenseless. This only confused him even more as he wondered where the dragon could be. That thought lingering in his mind as he continued to make his way to Berk, from Raven's point. Sometime later he approached the back of his home, the walk already doing him good as he's fully awake and limbs back to normal. The sun was already high up and is a welcoming relief to the teen, despite him trying to think back to what could have happened, but his mind still ringing a blank.

He approached his front door but stopped as voices could be heard within...fast and...frantic? Both eyes rose up in confusion as he figured his dad was inside, talking with someone. Is there an emergency going on, or something else? Not sure, but he opened the door, the muffled voices becoming clear as he recognized one of them belonging to Gobber, "I know you're worried but maybe he went out on a long flight and all."

"But that's just-," Stoick spoke up next, but stopped as they heard the front door open, prompting them to look over, the teen seeing both their eyes lighting up. "Hiccup!"

"Hey there-Dad!" Hiccup barely got those words out as the chief came over and brought him into a big hug, lifting him off his feet as nothing but relief washed over his face.

"Thank Thor you're ok," the chief responded, glad to be holding his child in his arms as the worry left him.

"D-Dad...air…" Hiccup started to wheeze.

"Oh, sorry," Stoick apologized as he put him down, able to breathe properly. It was then the chief adopted a slightly irritated expression. "Where were you?"

"What do you mean? I just walked in and was instantly hugged by you," Hiccup responded in confusion, looking up at the man, and trying to wrap his head around things.

"Hiccup you've been gone all morning, no one has seen you at all, no matter who I asked, even your friends didn't see you," Stoick explained fully. "I woke up just before the sun rose, and went to check on you, only to find your room empty. At first, I thought you woke up early and left, but after a while I checked around town and no one saw you. I was about to start a search party when you came in."

"I...I was gone most of the morning?" Hiccup responded as he walked in further, going over to one of the chairs to sit down.

"You were," Gobber answered next. "Your father practically came up to me to ask if I had seen you. Should have seen his face when I said no. I had to calm him down and explained that maybe you went on a long flight and-"

"Wait...speaking of which...where's Toothless?" Stoick asked, looking about, and not finding his son's companion, which really confused him. As far as he knew it the two were practically inseparable, so seeing his son here only just made things more confusing.

"He's not here?" Hiccup then asked, making both males raise their eyes in confusion.

"He wasn't with you?" Stoick then asked frantically, not liking that response. This only made the earlier concern return. "Where were you!?"

"I...I don't know dad, I just...woke up in the forest-," Hiccup now looked more confused than ever as he answered.

"The forest?!" Gobber and Stoick responded in shock.

Hiccup jumped at their combined response, surprised they would say it like that. Still, he nodded slowly, "Yes…At Raven's point but I can't remember how I got there." A small bout of silence filling the home as the two adults looked at one another.

"Lad...what's the last thing you remember?" Gobber asked in curiosity, moving closer to his apprentice.

"I...the last thing I remember was talking to you dad...and then going out with Toothless...and that was it," Hiccup responded back, shrugging as he looked down at the brazier, not sure what else to say.

Stoick was silent, remembering the conversation from last night, but this didn't quell the worry as his parental side is getting worried more. Waking up in the forest...wasn't really an uncommon thing, as many Vikings on Berk would do so at times, mainly if some were drunk, or if they decided to have a fight out there and the loser was knocked out. And judging how Hiccup didn't cringe at their loud voice, nor looked injured he could rule those out...yet this only made him worried. Stoick then approached and kneeled before his son, hands going about checking him over.

"D-Dad, what are you-"

"Hiccup waking up in the forest, and not remembering is troubling to me, I'm just trying to see if you're ok," Stock interrupted as he checked his face, then patted his body to see if there were any wounds. There were no facial expressions, so there were no wounds or the like. He got to his hands, and upon checking his right palm, both eyes rose as he saw saw, "Hiccup...is that blood?"

"What?!" the teen asked in curiosity as he looked down, raising his right hand up finding his palm and fingers covered in red. Blood? But it dried, which confused him big time. "Ack!" Upon staring at the limb his neck suddenly ached, causing that same hand to reach up and clutch the radiating spot, yet his mind started to ache as well, small images were flashing in head but were going way too fast for him to see.

"You ok?" Gobber asked with raised eyes.

"I...I...I'm not sure...my neck and head just hurt all of a sudden…" Hiccup panted softly as it quickly passed, but it left him confused as to what that was about. Nothing else followed as silence filled the home, prompting Hiccup to look up, seeing the confused faces of Stoick and Gobber. Both of them looked at the teen with some worry. "W-What?"

"How is he?" Stoick asked Gothi. Hiccup sitting down on a stool as the elder looked him over.

After the bout of silence from before, Stoick promptly grabbed at his son's arm and proceeded to take the confused, and startled, teen out of the house and towards Gothi's. After hearing and seeing the so-called symptoms his son addressed to him, this got the chief pretty concerned to the point that he needed some reassurance that he's ok, which led them to know.

Gothi leaned her head in closer to the teen, who slightly moved back due to his personal space being invaded, as it was a normal reaction and couldn't help but do it. They have been here for a while as Gothi checked him over...all over. Starting with his face, limbs, hands, legs. She even had him take his tunic and vest off so she could check out his flesh. So far, she didn't say anything as she proceeded to continue with the examination, which of course made Gobber and Stoick anxious for the news. After a while she then looked down at his hand, which had the dried blood on it, and took her time looking it over. After that she released the limb, walking back and placing a wrinkled hand to her chin.

"Well?" Stoick asked again, getting a bit impatient.

Gothi then grabbed at her stick, and started to write in the dirt, which Gobber looked over, yet his eyes rose. "Are you sure?" She nodded back.

"Gobber, what is she saying?" Stoick asked, needing the information now.

The Blacksmith looked down as more writing followed, "She said Hiccup is completely fine, she can't find anything wrong with him, and there's no illnesses that match what the boy is feeling."

"What?" Hiccup couldn't help but scratch his head. "But...what about the blood, or the ache in my neck and my head?"

Gothi nodded and continued to write, which Gober translated, "Your neck could probably be from sleeping outside, lying your head on dirt in an uncomfortable position could cause the muscles to tense up. As for the headache, she is not sure, as well as the blood on your hand. She says that she figured you cut yourself and it's yours, but she can't find any kind of wound on your body at all. She's perplexed by it but says you're completely fine."

"But how can that be?" Stoick asked in disbelief, knowing well that wasn't the answer he was looking for. "There has to be something!" All he got was a shake of the head.

"Well, that should at least be a good thing," Gobber responded back. "If nothing is wrong with him, it should be good news."

"True...but, that doesn't fully settle with me," Hiccup responded as his hand reached up and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Guess there's nothing more to gain," Stoick folded his arms, sighing deeply as this didn't go the way he wanted.

Gothi then resumed writing as Gobber translated, "She says just take it easy for a day or so, just to be sure."

"Understood, come on Hiccup," Stoick responded, motioning for his son to get up. Gothi then pointed to a nearby bucket of water and rag. The teen instantly understanding as he went over and washed off his right hand. A few minutes passed as he got most off it off but there is still a bit of it still visible. Still, it would have to do as he tried off and left with his dad and Gobber.

"Thank you," Hiccup turned to say to the villager's elder as they left. All Three males were walking away from the hut and heading back into Berk. Looking up at his father he could see a bit of stress on his face, making him worry some. "You ok dad?"

Silence came at first before a small sigh as he came to a stop, turning to face his child, "Not really, this still distresses me. Hiccup this isn't normal, waking up in the forest, no memory of what happened, and of course the dried-up blood on your hand...Gothi is the best healer here, yet she says you're fine? I'm not buying it and I think it's something more than that."

"Well, Stoick you do have to admit stuff like that has happened to a few others on Berk," Gobber tried to quell his friend's worries."

"Yes, but not all at once like that," Stoick responded, giving the blacksmith a look before turning back to his son.

"But dad, I feel fine," Hiccup tried to protest, being honest as he felt nothing is wrong. Yet, he's a small bundle of nerves on the inside as he too wanted answers, still it was best not to show that side now.

"I don't see it like that son," Stoick responded, getting closer and placing both hands on the teen's shoulder. "I'm concerned and as a parent, knowing that something unexplainable is happening to my child just gets to me."

"Dad...I'm good, I wouldn't lie to you about that," Hiccup responded, which only earned him a look from his dad, one that said 'really?' That made him change his words. "Ok, bad use of words but with something like this I wouldn't lie to you, I'm fine."

Silence once again filled the area as father and son looked at one another in the eye, the chief seeming to mull over something mentally before letting out a sigh. "Alright Hiccup...I'll trust you for now...but please if anything is wrong, please come to me, I'm serious about this."

"I will dad," Hiccup nodded in understanding, being serious this time. Unlike the other times he will follow through as he was worried of something else happening.

Gobber then reached out and took the one-legged teen by the shoulder, "Don't worry Stoick, I'll look after him, besides I'm going to be working with him and the Riders for the next couple of hours anyway."

Hiccup sighed once he heard that, "Hand to hand combat again?" Not liking that at all as he always got creamed at it. Well, at least it was better than hand to claw combat, as he could get away with less injuries.

"Like I've said you all will be in a position where your dragons may not be able to help you so you'll need to use your own physical strength," the blacksmith smiled and patted the boy on the back, yet it still didn't settle him.

"As bad as I don't want him doing anything strenuous, I trust you Gobber, keep him safe," Stoick responded, getting a nod in return. He then looked back down at his son, "Hiccup…just please be careful today. And right at sunset, can you just please come home and stay there?"

"Ok dad, I'll do it," the teen nodded, not liking this one instruction, but after everything he would rather give his father peace of mind. Besides, he's a bit spooked after waking up in the forest and think it would be best to just do as his father says.

"Good boy, be careful," Stoick said, ruffling his son's auburn locks, both smiling from the action before the chief walked off, leaving both behind.

Once he was out of sight Gobber came up and placed a hand on the teen's shoulder, "Actually going to listen to your father, lad?"

Hiccup blew out a sigh of relief, "Might as well, this whole thing has me spooked too…I mean I never forget anything, yet I all of a suddenly did?"

"Everyone has their off days," the blacksmith tried to reassure his apprentice, making light of the situation. He never likes seeing the kid down like this, so he would always do his best to try and reassure him. "You were bound to have one sooner or later."

"True…but never like this," Hiccup responded with a shrug of his shoulders before rubbing at his belly as it started to growl. "Hey Gobber, I'll see you later at the academy, I need to get some food in me."

"Fair enough, besides gives me extra time to fully prepare the lesson plan," The Blacksmith smiled as he started to walk. "Take it easy till then."

"I will," Hiccup nodded as he watched his mentor walk off, sighing in relief at being alone. Not sure why, but he did. Deciding it was best to get food in him he decided to head for the Great Hall, making a mental note of trying to Find Toothless afterwards. He really wanted to find his dragon but wouldn't be able to last long on an empty stomach. Hopefully, he'll run into him from here to the Great Hall, as that would save him time. For now, a nice stroll through the village was good enough for him, as he passed by many of the other Vikings, some passing by some giving him greetings. Yet he was confused as that's all he saw and was curious as to where the-

"Hey there!" Hiccup heard before he felt a punch to his arm. The teen stopped before turning around only to find it was Astrid. "Where have you been? None of us has seen you at all day."

"Hey there Astrid," Hiccup responded as he turned to face her. "I have no idea to be honest."

"What do you mean?" she placed both hands on her hips, giving a questionable look.

Hiccup looked around, noting if anyone could be looking at them as he really wanted to keep this quiet. Seeing they were alone and in the clear he looked back at her, "I have no idea…I don't really know what I did last night…I woke up in the forest."

"The forest?" Astrid questioned with raised eyes. "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine, and that's the problem," Hiccup responded, shaking his head. "I came back home and found my dad worried…after telling him everything he took me to Gothi, but she couldn't find anything wrong with me."

"Hiccup it's not normal to black out like that, nor not remember what happened," she responded, like a broken record of the boy's father, as concern started to overcome her. "Try very hard, what's the last thing you remember?"

"I don't know…all I remember is going out for my flight with Toothless and-"

"Where is he by the way?" she suddenly asked, now realizing the Night Fury wasn't around.

"I have no clue, when I woke up, he wasn't around, and I don't see him anywhere," he explained in concern, really wanting his companion here with him now.

"Well…I can help you look for him," she offered.

"That would be helpful, thank you," Hiccup smiled as they continued their walk, the Great Hall steps nearing. Yet the area is empty as it's just the two of them, reliving the auburn teen as he could speak freely without worry, "It'll be helpful to put all this behind me, as…as…"

"Look," Astrid then elbowed his arm, motioning over towards his house. Hiccup looked over and both eyes rose upon seeing a familiar black mass walking up past his home.

"Toothless!" The teen smiled as he changed directions, heading for the Night Fury. The Dragon's ears perked upon his name being called, head turning only to see his rider approaching. His heart swelling with relief…yet that quickly changed. "Boy, you have no idea how relieved I am to see you and-"

All of a sudden Toothless back up some.

"Huh?" Hiccup stopped upon seeing that, raising an eyebrow at the action. "Toothless, what is-" he took a step forward.

"Hiiisssssss!" The Night Fury suddenly bared his teeth at the human, hissing deadly towards him.

"Hiccup!" Astrid came up and pulled her friend back a few steps, both eyes raising upon seeing that.

"T-Toothless?" Hiccup questioned in confusion, his dragon all of a sudden in a predatory stance, with both eyes silted. This shocked the teen big time as Toothless never did to him before…not since after he shot him down and then freed him. Ignoring Astrid's he took another step forward, "B-Bud, what's wrong-"

"Hiiissssssss!" the Night Fury hissed once more, looking like he's ready to pounce as his teeth were now exposed.

"Hiccup stay back!" Astrid grabbed her friend by the arm and pulled him away, this time holding onto him.

Hiccup is in utter shock as he saw this, speechless as to why his dragon, his best friend, is being hostile towards him. This didn't make sense, why is he doing this? He could do nothing as he watched his dragon back up some, hissing once more before turning around and bolting back into the forest, leaving the two teens shocked in place.

"Toothless…" Hiccup responded in a low voice as he saw his best friend leave him…and he had no idea why.

A/N: Hope you like. Didn't see that coming did you? I bet it's giving you more questions than answers, but that should be a good thing as it adds to the mystery. Having Toothless threaten to attack his rider is not like him but it's how I see things when I started this story. Still, I hope you all enjoyed it as I did my best. I look forward to hearing what you all have to say about this chapter as it always helps. I'll make sure to have the next chapter up soon. Till next time.