I didn't return for hours, the sun was setting by the time I made it back to the cave, and when I did Valka looked relieved. "I was afraid something bad had happened to you," she said once she saw me approach, "I was debating if I should go after you."

I'm glad she didn't though. I threw the biggest crying fit ever. It ended with me punching a tree, which resulted in a bloody and bruised hand that I tended to myself. It's a good thing I let Gothi take me as her apprentice for a short while. The Sanctuary is thriving with all kinds healing herbs and other properties. After that, I just watched the dragons. I've never seen them so at peace before. To be honest, I envied them.

"I can take care of myself," I say, softly since my voice still hurt from my previous sobs and angry screams to the Gods. "But thank you." I meant it too, because not only did I watch the dragons, but I also tried my best to see things through her point of view. "And I'm sorry."

Valka smiled, though it was small. "There was nothing to forgive. I appreciate true honesty, and I'm…" She releases a shuddery breath and that's when I realized she had been crying too. "I'm sorry for your loss."

And just like that, the water works started to fill again. "Our loss. She was your loss too."

"Can you tell me about her?" Valka asked. "What was she like as a mother? I saw how she was with you when you were a newborn to when you were six months of age. How did she handle your teen years?"

I smiled a genuine smile at the memories. "I'll tell you my tales as long as you tell me yours."

Valka's new smile mirrored my own. "Very well."

And so, our bonding began.

.

.

.

The bond Valka and I had grew the instant we talked about my mother that one night a year ago, and throughout the year many more tales were told. She told me everything there was to know about my mom when she was a child, teenager, and adult. She talked about my father, her parents, Stoick's parents, my parents' parents. She talked about my grandparents. She talked about the embarrassing things that have happened to her. She talked about Stoick and Gobber. She talked about every family I could remember on Berk. She talked about her time at the Sanctuary and the adventures she had here.

She talked about the first time she saw Hiccup when she was in Berk and how it broke her. She talked about the first time they met face to face and how shocked she was when she found out he was a dragon rider like her. She talked about their time spent together and their first fight, which was about him leaving to save other dragons from around the world from not only the dragon Queen but also some dude named Drago, to which she replied with: "A chief protects his own." Which he in return had said: "And the Alpha protects them all."

I couldn't help but be proud, but at the same time, I hated that he's doing it alone.

Sure he has Toothless, but I personally think a human with a voice of reason such as myself should be with him. Hiccup may be smart, but he's equally reckless. There were days where I was tempted to just leave and go find him, but I couldn't. Why? Because 1) I had no idea where to start looking and I wasn't going to leave without knowing where I was going like Hiccup had done, 2) The fastest way to find him would be to fly a dragon but I wasn't skilled in that department yet, and 3) I didn't want to leave Valka here alone.

Could I have just convinced her to look for her son with me? Yeah, but what good would that have done? She didn't go with Hiccup when he left, which she should have done, which I should have done, so why would me asking her make a difference?

She even refused my suggestion to go back to Berk when our supplies were low. I suggested it because I was homesick, but I quickly got over it. I can't miss a place that didn't want me. Instead, she and I raided different villages when we needed to. I truly felt bad, but you gotta do what you gotta do to survive, and to be honest...I actually quite like my new life. I've never felt so...free. Despite being hidden. Although really, the Sanctuary is an amazing place. The only stress/worry that I experienced came from the ignorance of Hiccup's whereabouts. All my other worries, my secrets being exposed and the death of my people, ceased to exist the moment I was taken.

I no longer needed to worry about my secrets because I had exposed myself, nor did I need to worry about my people dying because they're not my people anymore. At least the ones who voted me out aren't. The ones who didn't vote me out don't need my worry either though and it's simply because I know they can take care of themselves. Whatever happened after I left, I know they're okay. They have to be. Anybody who declares themselves as an ally of mine won't die so easily.

I sometimes think it was my mother and the Gods who made Valka and I come into each other's lives, and I couldn't be more grateful.

Another thing I'm grateful for are Valka's teachings. She talked about every dragon she has ever encountered and told me everything there was to know about them. She left out no detail when she spoke of every species and subspecies of dragons she knows, which includes Night Furies. Of course, they gained my interest the most.

"Their subspecies are called Light Furies," she had said, "They're white, have less nubs, less spikes, smoother skin that beautifully sparkles, and have the ability to turn invisible. They absorb light or heat into their scales, which, whenever they fly though their own fire blasts, gives the interpretation that they teleported, when really they didn't."

"Fascinating," I had said, in complete awe. "I hope I get to see one some day."

She even told me of a thing called Soul Bonded. "I made it up completely, but it makes sense. I wouldn't be surprised if such a thing actually existed."

To put it shortly, Soul Bonded is when a human and dragon lock eyes and see themselves in the other. It's what she said had happened between her and Cloudjumper, how his soul reflected her own, and it's what she said happened to Hiccup.

"He told me that he couldn't kill Toothless because when he looked at him he saw himself," Valka had said, "It was then that I knew that it has to be a real thing."

"Do you think every human has a dragon and vice versa?" I had asked.

"I'm not really sure. I like to believe that it's rare, but it's possible that everyone has their soul linked to a dragon and vice versa. It'd be a shame if someone had killed the dragon they were linked to."

I had merely nodded in agreement.

There came a time some point during the year when she felt that I was ready to fly, and as much as I wanted to see the world from a dragon's point of view again like I had done with Hiccup and Toothless years ago, as much as I wanted to fly away to find them, I didn't feel that I was ready yet, especially since I hadn't found my soul dragon.

"I want to wait until I find my soul dragon," I had declared.

"You can fly a dragon that's not your Soul Bonded, you know," Valka had said.

"I know," I told her, "but it'd be way more special for my first solo flight to be with a dragon whose soul reflects my own." Also, I admit, I was a bit nervous to fly solo.

And yes, I did bond with many dragons, each one in the Sanctuary owns a piece of my heart, but none of them ever connected with my soul. I had once asked Valka how I would know that I connected with my soul dragon, if I had one, and her answer didn't help at all.

"It's an indescribable feeling that you'll feel deep within yourself in your very core." She had answered. "There isn't really much more to say than that. When it happens, you'll know."

And now here I am, a year later, with no soul dragon, but with a ton of dragon information drilled into my brain. I've learned more from Valka in one year than I ever have from Gobber in my three years of dragon training with him.

I miss him though. I miss my sort of friends too, specially Ruffnut, even though she and her brother annoyed me to no end. I miss Gothi and food that isn't fish, and to be honest, despite what he had done, I miss Stoick too. Not as much as the others, but I still do a little bit. How could I not? He was one of my father figures. I looked up to him. I wanted to be him, but when he allowed for me to be taken...that changed. I don't want to be someone who just sacrifices someone else for the sake of saving others. I want to be someone who saves all. Everyone.

Most of all though I miss my mom and Hiccup, and the greatest thing about Valka is that she reminds me of them both.

"Why don't we go on vacation?" I hear her suddenly say, snapping me out of my thoughts as I tended to the fish that I was putting in multiple baskets.

"Vacation?" I repeat, confused as I turn to look at her. "To where? And why?"

She shrugs in response. "It's your one year anniversary with me and I feel we should do something special. I've always wanted a daughter and you're the closest thing I have to one. I have the perfect place too."

That perfect place ended up being a volcanic island not too far beyond the archipelago with no human life at all. That's the part that made it the best.

I quickly jumped off of Cloudjumper when he landed on the beach of the island and marveled at the new sight. "This place is gorgeous!"

I hear Valka laugh from above me, still on her dragon. "You've only been here for not even a minute and haven't ventured inside the jungle. You call this gorgeous?"

"I suppose I should wait until I see the rest, correct?" I question as I start taking our supplies off of Cloudjumper.

"Correct," she says as she gracefully uses her long staff to help her off her dragon. "And don't worry about the supplies. I'll take care of them while you explore the island."

"Are you sure?" I asked, definitely wanting to take her up on her offer, but not wanting to just leave her alone to tend to our belongings.

Hiccup's mother nods and waves me off. "Of course I'm sure. Now go before I change my mind."

I left without a second thought, a smile on my face.

The scenery was just like the one back at the Sanctuary, only there were no dragons, which surprised me. How could there not be any dragons in sight? Unless they're all hiding. Perhaps there's certain spots they go to or perhaps the dragons on this island are nocturnal. Whatever the case, there's got to be some, and I'm stupidly going to find them. You're not a viking if you don't welcome danger.

However, I saw none for hours, and didn't return back to the beach until the sunset had past, waking up the moon and stars. When I returned, Valka and I talked as we ate our dinner, then went straight to sleep. Sleep found me easily, but it was also easily taken from me hours later when I felt warm breath hit my face.

I opened my eyes, expecting to see Cloudjumper up in my face for some reason, but instead I saw a dragon that took my breath away and made my eyes pop out of their sockets. Curious blue eyes stared into shocked blue eyes for what seemed like forever, only a mere inch or two apart, and something inside of me stirred deep within my core when I saw my reflection in her eyes. It was a feeling I've never felt before. It gave me chills and it made my heart race. It's indescribable, just as Valka said it would be.

I, Astrid Hofferson, finally soul bonded with a dragon.

A Light Fury.