When my eyes fluttered open, the first thing I saw was fire. The normal reaction would be to quickly jump up and move away, but I was too tired to move in a fast pace. Instead, I remained lying down, and moved my gaze away from the fire to observe my surroundings, which left me confused. I'm not in my room. I'm not in any room. I'm in a sort of...cave?

I slowly sit up, wincing only a little at the mild pain in my head. I go to touch the area, and found a piece of cloth wrapped around it. Did someone treat my head? Was I wounded? What-

And just like that, everything came flying back to me. The Saboteurs, my tribe giving me away like property, me coming clean to Stoick about Hiccup and me saving the dragons, Valka and her dragon barging in and stealing me away-more like rescue actually...it all happened. Holy shit. Did it really? Or was it all a dream? Am I still dreaming now? Honestly, I don't know if I should wish I was.

I know I'm not dreaming though. I'm smarter than that. Everything that happened yesterday, or whatever day it was considering how long I've been out, felt too real. Right now feels too real. Because it is real. And if that's the case, where the Hel is Valka? I have a shit load of questions to ask, and number one on the list is if she knows Hiccup. Did he convert her to love dragons as he had done with me? Or was she already a dragon rider? If that's the case, then she would be the first person to ride a dragon, not Hiccup. Have they met though? I hope they did. Maybe she can tell me where he's at. Oh my gods! What if he's with her now?!

I immediately stood up, faster than lighting, and bolted out of the cave, ignoring every throb in my head. However, as soon as I made it outside, I stopped and stared out at the scenery in bewilderment. "Oh my gods," I breathed out, my eyes wide and unwilling to blink.

Towering over the landscape and I was a roof made of ice, but despite the icy sky the climate is warm and the plant life is thriving. Green lichen clings to basaltic rocks and ferns have made a home for themselves in the relatively flat plateaus, steps, and cliffs. There are waterfalls, hot springs, and most importantly, what really caught my interest…

Dragons.

I couldn't stop myself from walking further away from the cavern to observe the breathtaking scene. Hundreds, probably thousands of them, flew everywhere, and there were so many species. There were a lot I knew, but there were even more that I had no name for or any knowledge of. They flew together in groups, and the ones that weren't flying were either playing, sleeping, or eating. They all looked so at peace, and didn't even notice me as I slowly walked by.

I spoke too soon, however, because next thing I know, something tackles me to the ground. I yelp in surprise as I fall and immediately reached for my axe, only it wasn't there on my back. I would have gone for my knives, but by then I realized that it was only a group of large baby-like dragons who had tackled me and were causing no harm. All they did was lick me like their life depended on it, and it tickled me more than my mother's human hands ever did. I couldn't stop the laughter that escaped me.

"Okay, okay," I say as I squirmed and tried to catch my breath. "I can see that you're all very excited to see me," I pause to laugh when the purple one licked my neck, "but hasn't your mother told you not to mess around with strangers? Especially humans?"

To my surprise a voice answered me. "They don't have a mother to tell them such things."

The dragons all suddenly left me and as I sat up, I saw the three of them run towards a woman. She fed each one a single fish and told them to run along. They did as she said, and of course I was left amazed.

"But I do suppose I'm the closest thing they have to one," she continued, smiling, "but telling them not to tackle human strangers isn't something I normally do because we don't ever have visitors. You're the second one we've had in 18 years."

"You've been here for 18 years?" I asked, once again left in shock. "Where exactly are we anyway? And who are you? Are you…" I pause to remember the name of the rider who saved me. "...Valka?"

The woman nods. "Yes, I am. As to where we are, we're hidden away within a mountain range far from civilization," Valka answered as she walks toward me. Despite the fact that she rescued me from Sylvester and despite the fact that she hasn't killed me yet, I still stiffened in alert when she approached me. She's still a stranger after all. I can't get too comfortable with her so quickly. "This place is like a safe haven for the dragons, a sanctuary. I bring many dragons here when they have nowhere else to go or if they're on the brink of death."

"Wait," I interrupt, slightly confused but heavily impressed, "you saved these dragons?"

Valka nods. "The majority of them, yes. However, when I first arrived, there was probably already about one to two hundred of them here. Now they total in the thousands."

"You said you've been here for 18 years. How old does that make you?" I asked. She doesn't look that old, she's actually very pretty for a woman her age, but since she's not dreadfully aged it makes me wonder how young she was when she first arrived.

Valka chuckles. "You never ask a woman her age," she teased. "But I'm feeling generous. I'm 38 years old. I've been here since I was 20."

"You were only two years older than what I am now," I say and realized as I took a moment to look around that we were the only humans around. "Are you...the only human here? Have you been alone all this time?"

Valka scoffs. "Alone you say? I was never alone. I had the dragons to keep me company, and from time to time I would mingle around in towns, stealing supplies, socializing with humans when I felt lonely, and whatnot. But yes, I am the only human here."

"So," I begin, moving on as I noted what she said, "you were in Berk when you saved me. Does that mean the only reason you were even there was so you could steal from us? Have you stolen from us before? If so, how long have you been doing so?" I suddenly felt a bolt of anger surge through me. We barely had enough food and supplies. What all has she stolen from us? Another sudden thought comes forth and I couldn't stop myself from angrily saying: "Did you ever participate in the raids? Have you ever controlled the dragons to do your bidding? Do you work with the Dragon Queen or does she work for you? Do-"

"Whoa, slow down," Valka interrupts, "I know you have a lot of questions, and I promise I'll answer every one with pure honesty, but first I really think you should go wash up. Your wound needs a new wrapping, and a dragon's saliva is hard to wash out."

She's right about that. I've been licked by a dragon before as its way of showing me gratitude for saving it, and never have I ever struggled with washing my clothes. I'm also covered in sweat and dirt. I probably look like scum, and I know I sure as Hel smell like it too.

"Okay," I say, "but first you're going to answer the ones I just asked."

She nods. "Very well. Yes, the reason why I was there yesterday was so I could steal some supplies. Yes, I've stolen from Berk before. I've been doing it for years. I only ever go at night though, but I was desperate yesterday and decided to take my chance and go during the day. That's when I overheard everything going on with you and the Saboteurs and came to your aid. I only participate in the raids whenever I'm drastically low on supplies, but as I said earlier I was desperate yesterday and couldn't wait for night to fall and for the dragons to attack. I also help any trapped dragons whenever I come, which is probably only twice a year. Since I am the dragons' caretaker a lot of them do listen to me and do as they're asked, but I never tell them to do anything evil if that's what you meant. And no, I don't work for the Queen Dragon or vice versa."

As a warrior, I should have been skeptical and cautious, but I believed every word she said. There was just something about her, and no it wasn't because she helped me. Maybe it's because...I lost my mom and...Valka just has this….motherly flare to her despite her not being a mother. Unless...she is? I guess I'll have to ask her later. In a weird way, she also reminds me of Hiccup, who I also need to ask her about. But first I need to keep my word.

Valka gave me some spare clothes and pins in case they were too big, along with soap and bandages for my wound. She then took me to a isolated hot spring and left me to care for myself. I would have taken my time with my bath, but I was too anxious and impatient. I need my other questions answered badly. So I washed myself as quickly as I could, and when that was done and my clothes were on, which were big but not by much, I made my way back to the cavern and was surprised to see Valka preparing a plate of food for me.

"Don't worry," she said when she saw me, "I didn't poison it." She turns completely around and hands it to me.

I take the plate, which I realized was cooked fish, and felt my stomach rumble with hunger. I may not like fish anymore since it's all I've been eating for months, but I'm starving. I'll take what I can get with no complaint. "Thank you," I say and follow her when she sits down by the fire.

"You're welcome," she said when I sat across from her, the fire burning brightly between us, "It's not everyday I make a meal for someone else."

"You mentioned earlier that I was the second visitor," I begin as I recalled her words from before, "who was the first?" I prayed she would say Hiccup and when I heard her answer I nearly choked on the piece of fish I ate.

"A boy your age." Valka said.

"What?!" I exclaimed, eyes wide. "What did he look like? Did he have brown hair, green eyes, and freckles? Was he scrawny looking? Was he with a dragon companion? A Night Fury, to be specific. When was he here? Wh-" Valka's laughing cut me off.

"I must say, I wasn't expecting this reaction. You Hofferson women usually keep your cool."

"How did you even know my family anyway?" I asked as I ignored her comment and remembered her mentioning yesterday that she was an old family friend.

Valka's expression suddenly turns sad. "I...grew up with your mother. She was my best friend."

Everything seemed to stop. My heart, my breathing, the flowing of my blood in my veins...She knew my mom. My mother knew this woman. They were best friends.

"Then that means...you're from Berk." It came out as a statement and not a question because a question is where you look for an answer; I already had mine. It was the only logical explanation. Mom was born and raised in Berk, and if Valka grew up with her then that means she's from Berk too.

She nods, proving me right. "Yes, I was," and what she said next shocked me even more. "But we'll get to that later. As for the boy I mentioned, he does in fact match your description. He even has a Night Fury. Last I saw Hiccup," she clarified, "was four months ago."

My breath caught in my throat again and I wasn't sure if it was because she said his name or if it was because he was literally right here in this exact location just a mere four months ago. I don't know what got over me, but my eyes started to sting with unwanted, but happy, tears. "Oh my gods. So you really did meet him. He's alive. Thank Odin. I...I always knew he was alive, but now I have actual proof. Unless….unless he died sometime during these last four months."

"No, I refuse to believe it," Valka said, sharply, and I nodded.

"Yeah, so do I-" I start, but she went on.

"Him being dead is something that just cannot be," I took another bite out of my fish as she spoke. "My son is too smart and too young to join the fallen in Valhalla."

With another shocking surprise just thrown out like that, it was no surprise that I started to choke. "Oh my," I hear Valka say as my coughing fit went on, "Are you alright?"

"You're…" I breathed out, too impatient to catch my breath first, "you're Hiccup's mother?!"

Valka smiles, proudly. "I am indeed."

I can't believe it. Out of everything that has happened to me these last three years, this is what I can't believe the most. I can believe that Hiccup tamed a dragon, I can believe that I've been going behind my tribe's back to help the beasts, I can believe that my mother is dead, I can believe that Hiccup is alive and well, I can believe that my tribe sold me away, I can believe that Valka rescued me, but I cannot believe that she, the very real woman sitting in front of me, is his mother. "But…," I pause, thinking of what to say, unsure if there was even anything I could say that would help me process this better, "you...you're supposed to be-"

"Dead," Valka interrupts, sighing as she leans back against the cave wall. "Yes, I know. Everyone thought I was eaten by a dragon."

"If you don't mind me asking," I start, "what exactly happened that led you here?"

A small smile forms on her face, but her eyes were glazed over with sadness as the memory must have played in her head. Her expression told me it's a bittersweet tale. "It was just another raid," she started, "but I had no idea that it would turn out the way it did."