The sound of soft rain lightly hitting the roof of the hut made Hiccup tiredly blink as a dim light hit his eyes. Judging by the brightness, he could easily tell it was morning.

As he opened his eyes, he noticed the blurry shapes of four figures sitting near him. It was hard to tell who they were however as his sight was still adjusting, but upon clearing up he could finally make them out.

In front of his bed were both of his parents. Stoick and Valka shifted in their chairs and looked at Hiccup with relieved faces as if they were given a miraculous gift on a Snoggletog morning.

To his right were both Toothless and Astrid who was sitting on the side of his bed. She smiled as she noticed his eyes staring back at hers, exhausted, but it was definitely a thankful sight.

"You're awake," she said, relieved. "Thank the gods…"

Hiccup nodded, rubbing his eyes as he slowly sat up straight against his pillow, only to be met with a light and warm nudge from Toothless who leaned his head forward.

"Hey, bud."

The lad placed his arms around the dragon and patted his head as he settled it on his rider's lap, relieved to see Hiccup was well in one piece.

Hiccup then looked back at his parents and Astrid. "Are you guys all right? Did I miss anything?"

"We're all fine and well, son," replied Valka, standing from her chair as she went up to Hiccup and softly placed her hand against his cheek. "Astrid told us what happened last night, that you touched the runestone in the plaza. We came as soon as we could after you fell asleep. We were worried and wanted to make sure you were alright."

"Mom, dad," Hiccup began. "I- I had a vision last night after I touched it. At least, I think it was a vision. It just..."

He stopped short of his words. Stoick rose his brows, surprised, yet also finding it hard to believe. "That's something new... But that can't be possible," he said. "How were you even able to receive visions through that stone, Hiccup?"

"Like I said before, it was already glowing and activated as soon as we came near it, Chief," Astrid immediately added on. "But we think something else may have triggered it, because the runes were of fire and ice."

"How can that be? The runestone can only use one magic at a time," replied Valka, giving a questioning look as she sat back down in curiosity. "For generations that stone has stood under the protection of each passing elder, and yet it somehow answered to Hiccup... This cannot be a coincidence, can it?"

"Maybe the gods are up to something?" asked Hiccup. "There has to be some sort of explanation of why the stone gave me that vision."

"But the question is, what did you see? What did you hear?" questioned Stoick, becoming more curious. "We must know, Hiccup."

The young lad let out a sigh as he shook his head. It was difficult for him to remember every detail. "I only remember bits, dad. Other than that it wasn't much…"

"Relax, son." Stoick said as he leaned in with attention. His voice became softer. "Just take your time, and it will all come back to you. We are listening."

Hiccup nodded as he narrowed his eyes down in thought before closing down his eyes lids. He began thinking deeply about it, recalling as much as he could, and thankfully he started to pick up whatever he could.

"There was fire all around me, and then there were whispers," he began slowly. "They said to me things like, "Wings, Midgard, Fallen, Reunited, Valnr, Shadows… Wrecked." However, I don't know what any of this really means."

He paused for a moment. "...Eventually the fire dissipated and I saw myself standing on a beach, and there before me was a longship wreckage many yards off in the distance, with the bodies of several vikings around it."

"Were they alive or…?"

"Don't know, mom," Hiccup shrugged to his mother. "I couldn't get a close enough look of who they even were because next thing I knew was that everything went black with just a soft blue mist as my only source of light."

"...And then there was a calming voice that called out to me, saying "Seek it out in two days times. Only then will you find your answers." But I don't know what it is."

"Could mean anything," Stoick replied as he rubbed his hand against the bristled hairs of his ginger beard. "Whoever spoke to you must have been someone of great power. Could have been a shaman, another elder, or maybe even some mage that knows about us. Whatever the case however, we should be on the watch."

"Agreed," said Hiccup. "I don't want anyone messing around with my head so that they can hope to get answers out of me in exchange for lies. I think I'll stay away from the runestone for a while, and question whether what I saw was-"

The sound of a pair of steps quickly coming up the stairs immediately cut Hiccup off short of his words, causing everyone to turn their heads towards the door of his room - almost startled.

The door swung open and in came Fishlegs, breathless.

"C- Chief," he began. "You're needed outside. Fifteen of Snotlout's warriors are here."

"What do they want?" he asked, lowering his brows in a frown.

"They come with a demand from Snotlout."

…

Hiccup was soon back on both legs as he, his parents, Fishlegs, Astrid, and Toothless walked hastily under the light rain towards the rear-gates of the town which was right beside Stoick's hut; along the path leading into the woods.

Astrid sighed with her furred hood raised over her head. "Like we needed more rain."

Upon reaching the small wooden gatehouse, they saw Gobber, Eret, the Twins, and their growling dragons along with a few guards at their side standing before Snotlout's warriors who were a couple of yards outside the gate, all of whom were on horses.

However, there were three Jorgenson warriors that stood out from the rest of them, all of whom Hiccup immediately recognized.

"Oh no," he groaned in irritation. "Dogsbreath, Wartihog and Agatha. What are they doing here?"

Aside from Dogsbreath who was muscular like Snotlout and slightly larger than Hiccup, Wartihog and Agatha were both a different story.

Wartihog was a large viking like Gobber. He was around back in the day during the time that Hiccup was bullied and pushed around by Snotlout and the others. Though there came a point where both he and Hiccup became acquaintances, their ties would not last long at all as he soon sided with Snotlout. Overall, the large black-haired blimp had no respect for others.

Agatha, a scrawny brunette headed viking, was another story to them. Though she too harassed Hiccup in their younger days, she was not well known by the riders from the day they trained their dragons until months ago when Spitelout was murdered. She like many others joined Clan Jorgenson, and quickly but surely she rose through the ranks until she was Snotlout's left hand like Dogsbreath who was his right hand man.

Still, despite her ignorance to others, Snotlout favored her above many others. To him, she was more than what he could have dreamt of during the days that he flirted with Astrid.

As Hiccup, Stoick, and the group approached the Jorgenson warriora, Dogsbreath suddenly noticed them, and gave a wicked grin.

"Well well well, if isn't Useless and his fat ginger keg!" he mocked, causing the other warriors to laugh in amusement. "Snotlout told us that one way or another, you and your lot of jesters would show up!"

Hiccup's brows lowered in annoyance to the commotion Dogsbreath was already trying to make. Even Toothless begun to lightly growl at the ugly pig-faced viking, who sat straight on his horse, blinded with pride.

The young viking looked up at Dogsbreath. "Please, do tell us what you have to say, and say it quick without dismounting."

"Who are you to tell us what to do, Useless?!" grunted Wartihog from atop his horse. "We came here by Snotlout's orders, and we will do what he wants us to do!"

"Yeah, well this here is our village," replied Astrid, motioning her hand towards the town that laid behind them. "If you want to do what's best, then kindly shut your beer kegged mouth."

Agatha sighed. Her brown eyes narrowing back at Wartihog. "Don't mind her, Wartihog. She's just a high horse like every other Hooligan in this village."

"High horse?!"

"Regardless," spoke Agatha interrupting Astrid. "We come with a demand from Snotlout."

"And what does he want?" asked Stoick, stepping forward in front of the others. "Your leader has already caused enough trouble for my tribe."

"We know," smiled Dogsbreath in a mocking manner. "Now, as for the demand…"

"Snotlout wants you to gather for us at least three dragons. He wants you to cage them, and to give them over in the name of Clan Jorgenson. They will become Snotlout's new favored pets, as well as the clan's first dragons."

"Consider this as a way to make... Peace."

Dogsbreath's eyes then narrowed towards the Twins, grinning with his gritted teeth showing. "Snotlout also did mention you two muttonheads. Who knows, maybe your dragon will do?"

"Whoa, not cool man!" immediately spoke Ruffnut, raising her arms out in front of Barf and Belch. "No way any way is that happening!"

The group could not believe what they were hearing, and Hiccup in particular was outraged. To him, Snotlout's demand was beyond mad or crazy; it was insane. Giving away three random dragons would leave three whole Berkian families in tears, and that was the last thing the lad would ever want to do.

Stoick glared angrily, looking up at Dogsbreath. "And if we refuse?"

"If you refuse, then you can ready yourselves for a civil war over this island. You will be considered enemies and brigands to Clan Jorgenson."

And with that, everyone was angered, especially Eret, who was tempted to pull out both of his short-swords on Dogsbreath. Yet as he reached for the hilts of his blades, the Jorgenson warriors replied by laying their hands on their sheathed weapons, including Agatha and Wartihog.

"Careful now, muscle-man," said Wartihog, sneering at the former trapper. "Make a move against us, and you'll find yourself squealing in the dirt like a dog."

Eret glared. "Why you insolent son of-"

"Wait!" Stoick said as he moved his hand out in front of Eret, motioning for him to not take action.

What followed was a moment of silence; a long and dreadful pause as they all stood there in the rain, soaking. Stoick paced back and forth in deep thought, considering what other choicss he had. Perhaps there was something he could do without starting a civil war over the island.

...And yet, it seemed there was no other option.

With a sigh, Stoick turned to Dogsbreath and said, "I accept the demand. Just give us time to-"

"We will return in two days," the muscular viking replied, sneering with a smile. "Until then, prepare the dragons before our return. Snotlout wants his payment on time…"

"Now, if you'll excuse us, we have other matters at hand. Wartihog, Agatha, let's ride out - hyah!"

The two young vikings nodded at Dogsbreath, turning their horses around and shouting at them "hyah!" as they and the guards accompanying them rode back into the woods, making their way back towards Clan Jorgenson's village.

However, the demand left Hiccup shook. He looked at his father and said, "Why is this happening, dad?"

…

"I never thought it would come down to this," spoke Stoick, looking down at a map of Berk on the chieftain's table. "That boy has crossed the line too far this time, and now he is demanding dragons from us!"

They all stood in the great hall, having a heated discussion about Snotlout. Hiccup, the riders, his parents, and Gobber and Eret were all over the place with the arrogant Jorgenson, arguing that his demand could not happen.

Yet they all knew that there was no other choice but to accept the demand, thus they needed an alternate solution in approaching it. Maybe even get back at Snotlout.

"Snotlout's move is possibly just the start of what he plans to do next with the dragons," commented Astrid, leaning forward in her chair next to Hiccup. "If he decides to continue going on like this then many dragons on Berk just may go extinct or start to migrate until there are too few left."

"Aye," agreed Valka who stood near Stoick. "But even with Toothless as their alpha, his role is to protect them all, not to control them. The dragons will choose to either follow their alpha or to leave Berk if this continues to go on."

"Snotlout won't get away with this. I'll make certain of it. In two days alone he has already riled up enough from us." Hiccup sighed, putting a hand over his forehead.

"He's gone insane."

"So what can we do?" asked Fishlegs, standing nearby. "We can't let Berk to continue suffering under Snotlout and his stupid ploys and strategies, but at the same time war is not the answer to fix this."

"Pfft, I doubt war will ever happen," replied Tuffnut, arms crossed as he leaned in his chair. "Y'know, Snotlout never held onto his promises or threats. It's why sis and I always managed to Loki him when we were younger… like usual."

"Hehe, yeah." giggled Ruffnut.

Hiccup shook his head. Clearly he wasn't in the best mood. "That's not the point. Point being is that we have to find a way to get back at Snotlout without causing a civil war over the island. We could try negotiations, but I doubt that could work."

"Aye. Negotiations are not Snotlout's thing," nodded Stoick. "But getting back at Snotlout without starting a conflict may not work. One way or another, he will point at us for anything he finds blameful."

"If anything, we should prepare for the worst."