Author's Note: Chapter 4 is finally here, as promised! Sorry it took so long, as I've started the new year back at high school (the UK's school system is weird) and I already have a tonne of work to do. Anyway, I whipped up this chapter in the dregs of my free time, so I hope you enjoy (don't forget to fave/follow/review)!

The procession of dragon trainers carefully treaded through the woodlands of Berk, softening the sounds of their footsteps by stepping in patches of moss and grass. The nightmarish form they followed continued to manoeuvre through the dense clusters of trees, its footing as silent as a mouse. As Astrid was about to place her right foot forward, she halted and her pupils dilated as she realised just beneath the sole of her boot was a large twig. A twig that if stood on would make an excessively loud SNAP. Astrid carefully repositioned her right foot away from the twig and planted it on some soft lichen. A bead of sweat ran down the back of her neck.

No one in the group even dared to breathe.

The dragon veered off to the left suddenly and continued its original pattern of movement. The beast was still too far away from the group to be properly observed. Hiccup's thought process was a churning mixture of dire apprehension, crazed excitement and frustration at being tantalisingly close to the dragon, but not quite getting a good look. He also pondered what the dragon's plan of action was. Was it searching for something? Was it looking for prey? More specifically, was it looking for them? The thought of the last question made Hiccup nauseous and his legs trembled slightly.

The group's hearts were collectively beating in rapid palpitations. The sounds of their hearts pounded like a large drum against their ears.

The reptilian form was on course to pass below a rocky ledge that jutted sharply out of the boreal landscape. The area beneath the ledge was a clearing bathed in moonlight; perfect for a brief observation. Hiccup caught the group's attention and pointed to the ledge nearby and then to the dragon that was about to head towards the light illuminating the clearing. The group could afford to increase their previously slow sneak to a moderate tiptoe, since they were further out of earshot of the shadowy beast.

Since the group managed to match the speed of their target, they arrived at the summit of the ledge when the dragon was still about 20 metres away. The ledge was oriented at a 45 degree angle, so walking up it was dangerous. Instead, the group crawled their way up the structure. Once at the peak, Astrid clung tightly to the edge, lying on her stomach, and she carefully peaked her head over the top. The others quickly followed suit.

Everyone peered over the sharp drop, 7 to 8 metres above the grassy forest floor, waiting with bated breath as the fabled Skrekkur Nótt dragon approached in all of its mysterious glory. Fishlegs let out a nearly inaudible gasp as a razor-sharp black talon was exposed to the lunar rays, causing the blade to glisten threateningly. The dragon's appearance was similar to that of Hiccup's artistic depiction; its form was slender and lacked legs, each of its wings was adorned with a long sharp talon. However, its face was more menacing and macabre than could possibly be depicted through Hiccup's art.

The dragon's large grey eyes practically bulged out of its sockets. The eyes had no pupils and an entrancing display of incomplete forms and swirling shadows danced across the ocular surfaces. It was a tapestry of all things enigmatic, only made more eerie by the moonlight that struck the swaying shadows at sharp angles, penetrating the haziness of the creature's vision. The dragon never blinked; its surroundings surrendered to the all-seeing eyes that pierced the night.

Ruffnut and Tuffnut both gazed at each other in awe, their eyes almost as hazy as the beast eyes they were observing. Fishlegs continued to look on in stunned silence. Snotlout's jaw dropped whilst Astrid titled her head slowly to one side in an act of complete fascination. Hiccup carefully removed his quill from his pocket - still precariously hanging onto the edge of the incline - and began scribbling furiously in his notebook, staring at his subject almost as intently as the beast observed the forest.

As Hiccup drew, the others grew tense as the seconds ticked by. They were torn between wanting to hurry Hiccup with his documentation and continuing to be enthralled by the magnificent dragon.

Hiccup flipped his notebook shut and gave a thumbs up gesture to the group indicating that he was finished. The group inwardly gave a sigh of relief as the tension in their bodies diffused from them. Everyone stood up slowly to begin their careful descent down the weathered rock face. Everyone except for Fishlegs.

He stood up too quickly.

He slipped on a rock that crumbled beneath his footing.

He spun around on one foot, desperately trying to regain his balance.

He fell.

Hiccup reached out a futile hand to try and prevent Fishlegs inevitable tumble. Regardless of Hiccup's actions, Fishlegs plummeted towards the unforgiving ground below. Fortunately he found his fall safely cushioned by a patch of shrubs, but he was not at all out of harm's way. He realised this as the dragon whipped its head around and all traces of colour drained from his face.

Fishlegs slowly turned around to directly face the dragon, which was more terrifying at this vantage point than he could ever imagine. He was met with the ocular tapestry that swished wildly back and forth, appearing infinitely more agitated and hostile than before. For a brief moment, human eyes and dragon eyes reflected each other in a mirror image. Fishlegs could feel the dragon exhale sharply through its nostrils against his pasty skin.

Astrid was the first to snap back to her senses, as the group was rendered incredulous by the horrifying scenario before them.

"Fishlegs, run!" Astrid cried out. Her desperate shout was a harsh slap to the face that removed Fishlegs from his twisted reverie. He instinctively raised his large hammer above his head, in a defensive position, whilst attempting to quickly back away. The dragon batted the hammer out of Fishlegs' hands with ease using one of its talons and it cascaded into a thicket. The dragon then laid its sights on the group perched atop the incline, all quaking in their boots.

The demon they faced appeared to grin maliciously before hurtling itself towards the Vikings on the ledge, causing all six dragon-training teenagers to simultaneously let out a blood-curling scream.

Author's Note: I used a cliffhanger again! Oopsie :D If I'd had time in the last two weeks, this chapter would have been longer, but the missing content will be in chapter 5. I'll be very busy in the next few weeks, but I'll try my best to write the next chapter ASAP. Stay tuned for more, fellow HTTYD fans!