CHAPTER 2

The next morning, his wakening could no be more brutal.

''Hiccup !'' Fishlegs cried as he hurtled in his hut.

Hiccup jumped and almost fell off his chair whereas Toothless, on guard, prepared a plasma blast and aimed it in the intruder's direction. He immediately stopped when he recognized the squeak of the dragon rider.

''What the- Fishlegs ? What's wrong?'' Hiccup asked as he ran to his friend.

This one was leaning forward, his hands resting on his knees. With much effort, he tried to explain the problem to his leader.

''We… we found… someon-'' He stopped to swallow and started coughing. Hiccup patted his back gently and Toothless joined them, purring, as if he wanted to apologize.

''Easy, catch your breath and try to explain to me calmly.'' He said while trying to hide his own worry. Did something happen to one of his teammates? What if the hurters had attacked?

Fishlegs nodded and took a deep breath before trying again.

''We found someone washed up on the beach, he's breathing but unconscious. We don't know for how long he was here.''

Hiccup gasped and frowned.

''Bring me to him.'' He said with an urgent tone.

The two men rushed outside, followed closely by Toothless, and headed towards the clubhouse. They crossed ways with Snotlout and Tuffnut who were carrying the stranger. It was a man barely older than him, tall, with tanned skin. His muscular arms were draped around his friend' shoulders, his head was hanging down as well as his long brown hair that hid his face. Hiccup also noticed that he wasn't wearing any shoes and his clothes were pretty light for this time of the year.

''Hello? Maybe you could give us a hand?'' Snotlout groaned while readjusting the strangers arm around his neck.

''Let's bring him to Fishleg's hut.'' Hiccup said, grabbing the stranger's legs.

The three of them carried him to Fishleg's bed. Once settled the latter started to examine him, the young man murmured something but did not wake up.

The boys were quickly joined by Astrid and Ruffnut who brought up a basin of water and fresh clothes.

''How is he?'' Astrid asked as she laid down the cloth pile on a chair.

Fishlegs finished his examination then straightened up.

''I found no visible injuries, I think he's simply exhausted and probably starving.'' He announced.

''He probably swam a long way before washing over our island…I suppose we'll just have to wait for him to wake up now.'' She sighed.

''Where did you find him exactly?'' Hiccup asked the blonde. Her gaze landed on Fishlegs who seemed to have the answer.

''I was on patrol when I saw something laying on the beach in the west part of the Edge.'' He started.

Hiccup's eyes widened, the west beach, that's the one he went to last night.

''Did you see anyone else?'' The chief promptly asked.

''No... no ship, no one, just him.'' He tilted his head toward the young man, still unconscious.

Hiccup approached him and cleared the hair from his neck, looking for a tattoo or any sign that might tell him where he came from.

''Didn't he have anything else on him? No tribe mark? No weapons?'' He asked while slowly turning the strangers' hands to inspect his palms.

''Nothing, and even if he had, don't you think it would be better to ask him instead of handling him like that?'' Snotlout quipped.

Hiccup stopped and put the blanked back in place.

''A stranger mysteriously wash over our island, excuse me if I'm trying to know if he's on our side before waking him up.'' He said, crossing his arms.

''Oh, can I handle him too?'' Ruffnut asked, evidently under the spell of the newcomer.

''Me too, me too!'' Tuffnut exclaimed as he ran towards the bed, but his sister purposely made him trip so she could overtake him. They fought wildly before getting stopped by a furious Fishlegs, ready to protect his patient.

''Ok, the twins, everyone, out! We're going to let Fishlegs work okay?'' He nodded in his friend's direction before adding, ''Call me if you need anything.''

''Alright.''

Everyone exited the hut except Hiccup who turned around one last time to his teammate..

''Fishlegs, are you sure you didn't see anyone else?'' He asked once again.

''No, I'm sure, Hiccup!'' Fishlegs answered, a bit hurt by the lack of trust coming from his leader.

Hiccup accepted his answer before leaving, something wasn't right, how this man could've ended up on their island without anyone seeing anything?

As he exited the hut, he met Astrid who directly noticed his troubled expression.

''Something's wrong?'' She asked.

''I don't understand… we didn't see any ship last night, and yet someone washes over our island the same night? It doesn't make sense!''

''Yes it's weird, but there are plenty of possible explanations, maybe he had a dragon or maybe he found something to float on for miles…'' She paused, remembering her own experience.*

''Hiccup! He's waking up!'' Fishlegs cried from inside the hut.

The couple met each other eyes with surprise before rushing inside. Toothless was ready to follow them but his rider stopped him right away.

''We don't know what kind of relationship this man has with dragons, maybe its better if we could avoid frightening him. Sorry bud.''

The NightFury, a bit frustrated, went to pout next to the nearby huts. But he understood his rider's decision.

Astrid and Hiccup for their part joined their friend inside.

The stranger was sitting on the edge of the bed, a hand reaching for his head.

''Where am I?'' He asked with a rough voice before he violently started coughing. Fishlegs brought him a cup of water, asking him to take it easy.

Meanwhile, Hiccup kneeled before him, his palms in plain sight to show him he meant no harm.

''My name is Hiccup, you are on our island. Fishlegs found you on the beach, unconscious.'' He pointed at said rider who waved at the man shyly.

''Thank you.'' The young man said, smiling at Fishlegs. He drank the cup in one go, meanwhile, the rest of the group entered the hut to gather around him. He looked at them curiously, as if he didn't expect to see that much people. Hiccup felt his confusion.

''I present you the rest of the group, here's Astrid.'' She waved at him.

''Snotlout.''

''Hey!''

''Ruffnut.''

''Hey handsome.'' She purred while approaching way too close for anyone's comfort. Hiccup groaned as he pushed her away before moving on with the presentations.

''And finally his brother, Tuffnut.''

''Hey, is it true that you are not from Earth?'' He asked, and Hiccup had to stop himself from face palming.

''I…Thanks to all of you for saving me.'' The stranger said, visibly confused. He laid down his empty cup of the table before introducing himself.

''My name is Thoril, I'm an artist traveler.''

''Traveler? You mean like Johan?'' Snotlout asked.

"Yes, like Johan.'' Thoril confirmed.

''Wait, you know him?'' Hiccup asked with surprise.

''Yes, I often visited him to buy Yak oil for my fire show.''

''Fire shows? With explosions? What is your record?!'' Tuffnut exclaimed, pushing everyone to face him.

''Sort of…I'm making all kind of demonstrations with any kind of weapon to entertain people.''

''This sounds cool! Can we get a show too?'' Snotlout asked him.

''Guys, I don't think he's in the mood right now…'' Hiccup started before this could get out of control.

''No it's alright, it would be my pleasure.'' Thoril assured, making the others scream with joy.

''You said you're going from island to island, do you have a boat?'' Hiccup asked carefully, not wanting to bring back painful memories or mention the dragons.

''I had one.'' The man answered sadly. ''I was coming back from my last show when a group of person attacked my boat with their dragons. I managed to swim out.''

''With dragons?'' Astrid repeated.

''What kind of dragons?'' Hiccup asked urgently.

''I don't really know…They were large, with multiple wings. Their blast seemed to come out of multiple places at a time. I couldn't do anything, my ship was wrecked.'' He cried as he lowered his head.

Hiccup placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

''I'm sorry.'' He said before exchanging a worried glance with his teammates.

''It can only be the dragon hunters!'' Exclaimed Snotlout.

''But why would they attack a traveler's ship?'' Fishleg asked himself, frowning.

''Did they tell you what they wanted?'' Hiccup asked Thoril.

"They were after a trinket I received as gift during one of my performances… a kind of lens.'' After hearing those words, the group members were speechless.

Hiccup immediately went to fetch a pencil and a piece of parchment to sketch a dragon eye lens. Then he showed it to Thoril.

''A lens like this one?'' The stranger nodded.

''Did they managed to seize it?'' He asked urgently.

''I don't know, I think I still had it when I jumped off the ship…but now I don't have it anymore.'' He explained, his voice trembling.

''Did it fall into the ocean?'' When Thoril did not answer, Hiccup topped his question with a new one. ''Did they follow you? Thoril please it's important, try to remember!'' He pleaded.

Thoril clutched his head in his hands, clearly troubled.

''I'm sorry, I don't know. I only remember the flames, the water and then nothing.'' He cried.

Hiccup was about to ask another question when he felt a hand on his shoulder, he whirled around to face Astrid.

''I think that's enough for today, we should let him rest.'' She said firmly.

Hiccup's eyes softened when he understood he went too far.

''You're right, thank you Thoril. Call us if you need anything.''

The man nodded slightly, still trapped in his memories as the group exited the hut. Their dragons rushed towards them, happy to see their trainers again.

''Okay everyone, no work for today.'' Hiccup called. Snotlout and the twins exploded with joy as they heard this.

''However.'' The chief insisted on the word to catch their attention again, ''I want you to stay on the edge and keep an eye on our guest okay?''

''No problem, I could watch him all day.'' Purred Ruffnut, which made Astrid eye roll.

''Fine, we'll see each other for lunch.'' Hiccup announced, and the group dispersed, leaving him once again alone with Astrid.

''So…are you up for a flight with me and Stormfly?'' She asked shyly, taking advantage of this time off to try to spend more time with him.

''Hum…yeah sure. But I have to finish a couple of things before.'' He said, mounting Toothless.

''Do you want some help?'' She proposed.

''No thanks, I just have to check something, it won't take long, promise!'' He shouted as he took off the platform. Not noticing the lowered shoulders of his partner or the disappointment that filled her face.

He even less heard her sigh ''Yeah, not long, as always…''

She didn't see her lover again all morning, since he decided to go on patrol avec checking up the beach. The group just finished the dishes when he finally showed up. Astrid decided to stay back and not welcome him.

''You're all here, perfect.'' He sighed, relieved.

''Like every midday Hiccup, and like every midday you're not here.'' She remarked coldly.

The man frowned, not understanding why she was mad.

''Astrid…'' He started.

''Did you find anything?'' She interrupted, clearly showing they weren't having this conversation right now.

''Nothing at all, no hunter ship, not any debris on the shore.'' He said, shaking his head.

''Isn't it supposed to be good news?'' Snotlout asked.

''Well, if Thoril really was attacked by hunters, don't you think we should have at least seen a ship around?''

''The attack probably took place at night'' Fishlegs said, but Hiccup shook his head.

''Toothless and I didn't see any ship last night.'' The dragon crept closer, purring in agreement. He deliberately decided to leave out the light episode, since he wasn't sure of what he saw.

''Yeah well he didn't wash up on our island on his own!'' Snotlout defended.

Something clicked in Hiccup's head and his eyes widened.

''What if he did?'' He proposed, his teammate's reaction were understandable, crazy as it sounded.

''What?''

''Nonsense!''

''Why would he no that?'' Astrid asked.

''Think about it, if his ship really got pulverized, then the current that brought him to the shore should have brought debris with it.''

''Maybe his ship sank much further away from the Edge.''

''In this case how could he have swam all the way to the Edge without drowning from exhaustion? Not to mention he doesn't have any scratch, despite suffering the Singetails' blows.'' Hiccup argued.

''That's not entirely true, he came to check on him a moment ago, he couldn't stand because of his ankle.'' Fishlegs spoke.

''He's still in bed?''

''Yes, he is exhausted, I came to bring him food but he was still in shock and couldn't swallow anything.''

"Poor thing, it hurts me to see him like this.'' Ruffnut cried, bringing the back of her hand to her forehead.

''Maybe he won't even be able to spit fire…'' Tuffnut murmured darkly.

''And you think he's here to attack us or something.'' Snotlout scoffed, gesturing to Hiccup.

''I'd rather not take away any possibility! This story doesn't hold up. Viggo or even Krogan are perfectly capable to set up a plan like this to infiltrate our base.''

''Or he was just here at the wrong time and you're totally paranoid!'' Snotlout shot back.

''I also think it's too soon to bring up such accusations on him.'' Astrid said, falling in with Snotlout

''Anyway, I don't think he's in shape of doing anything dangerous for now.'' Fishlegs added.

Before so much resistance, Hiccup understood it was useless to try to reason with them anymore.

''Well, I really hope you're right.''

''Don't worry, our twintuition is always right!'' Tuffnut said.

''Oh yeah!'' Tuffnut agreed.

Hoping he at least managed to warn them, Hiccup pinched his lips and moved towards the exit.

On the way back to his hut, Toothless drew the attention of his trainer to a noise coming from it. As he heard it too, the young man drew out Inferno and marched to the main door. He signed his dragon to go through the side before pushing the door open.

He found Thoril, his posture as frozen as the expression on his face. Hiccup's gaze darted between the intruder and the wooden crates behind, was he searching them?

''What are you doing here?'' He asked, tightening his grip on his weapon.

Toothless felt his trainer's distrust and growled. Thoril jumped in surprise and gazed at the dragon with worry.

''I-I was looking for the other dragon riders.''

''Well as you can see there's no one here. The clubhouse is the other way.'' Hiccup pointed his thumb in its direction.

Before the hostility of the viking and his dragon, Thoril grimaced and escaped the hut, taking care of knocking Hiccup's shoulder as he did so.

The dragon rider clicked his tongue in annoyance as he watched the man stride away. Something was wrong, what if really was searching his hut?

Worry gripped his stomach as he ran to his desk, opening every drawer until he reached the last one. He quickly emptied it, throwing away the papers in every direction, scattering them everywhere in the room. Hiccup removed the bottom plank of the drawer, revealing the Dragon eye II prototype he was making.

He almost cried in relief and slumped in his chair, then he straightened up, noticing the mess he just made. In the middle of the papers scattered on the floor, Toothless was trying to catch the ones still flying.

Hiccup tenderly shook his head before picking up the plans of his last inventions. Then he sat down at his desk to continue the dragon eye. Toothless yawned before lying down on the ground, knowing his friend was going to stay here a moment.

Neither of them noticed the forgotten parchment next to one of the crate which fluttered slightly in the breeze created by the dragon's breath.

*Note: Astrid was referencing to RTTE S2 EP 2: Night of the Hunters

So, what do you think? Is Thoril really who he pretends to be? Has he something to do with the mysterious light Hiccup saw at the beach? Mhmm…