Astrid looked back at the red-haired girl as they climbed the hill to Astrid's house. It was obvious the poor thing was terrified.

"Here we are," she said, pushing open the door. "Home sweet home."

The girl looked around hesitantly, her wide blue eyes taking everything at once. She cocked her head and edged her way over to the fireplace mantle, where Nadder carvings stood proudly, along with various other knick-knacks.

"My father made those," said Astrid, watching her. "He says that Nadders are good luck."

The girl frowned slightly and turned to Astrid, studying her. "Luck," she breathed, her voice cracked from disuse.

Astrid smiled encouragingly and nodded. "Luck," she said, handing the girl a glass of water from a nearby table. "That's what my father says, anyway. Personally, I think he's taken a liking to Stormfly but doesn't want to admit it."
The girl didn't reply-she was too busy gulping down the water as though it might at any moment vanish.

Astrid smiled and refilled the cup, then led the girl upstairs to her room.

"This will be your bed," said Astrid, motioning to a cot. "It's not much, but..."
The girl beamed and threw herself down, then curled up on the cot and fell asleep in seconds.

Astrid felt startled. How long had it been since this poor child slept?

She started as a loud crash came from downstairs. Glancing at the girl to make sure she was still sleeping, she hurried down the steps...and came face to face with a Gronkle, a Hideous Zippleback, and a Monsterous Nightmare, along with their riders.

"What are you doing here?" exclaimed Astrid, extremely annoyed.

"This was Snotlout's idea!" stuttered a beefy blonde-haired boy, pointing an accusing finger at a dark haired muscular boy.

"hahah, was not!" said Snotlout nervously before muttering, "shutupFishlegs."

Meanwhile, a twin boy and girl, both with long blonde hair, were both dangling from the ceiling-or rather, the hole now in the ceiling.

"What happened?" exclaimed Astrid angrily.

"We were trying a trick," said the twin boy. "We're thinking of calling it "Rooftop Rampage.""
Astrid growled and turned to Fishlegs. "Explanation, now!"

Fishlegs whimpered. "Snotlout said he saw you headed this way with an unfamiliar girl and he wanted to check it out because according to him she needed rescuing and I thought I'd come by to make sure she's okay and then Ruff and Tuff showed up and please don't kill me..."

Astrid rolled her eyes. "Well, try to be quiet, muttonheads. She's asleep."

"What's her name?" asked the twin girl, landing on the floor with a crash.

Astrid rolled her eyes. "I don't know, Ruff. I've only gotten one word out of her. Trust."

"Hmm," said Fishlegs. "Is she shy, or just scared, or...?"

"I think a combination of the two," replied Astrid wearily. "Come on, we'd better fix this hole or my parents will kill me."

The teens mounted their dragons and set about on their task.

Several hours later, the rooftop was as good as new.

"Astrid surveyed it. "Not bad," she said. "Thanks, guys."
"No problem," said Fishlegs, grinning.

Just then. the girl came stumbling out of the house blearily, stopping dead in her tracks when she caught sight of the teens on dragons.

"It's okay," said Astrid quickly, hoping to assuage the girls fear before it arose. "They're friends."

"Us or the dragons?" muttered Tuffnut.

"Both," said Astrid.

The girl relaxed a bit and surveyed them. "Hi," she whispered.

The twins looked at each other.

"What'd she say," muttered Ruff.

"Pie," replied Tuff.

Ruffnut dismounted and spoke loudly and slowly, making broad guestures with his hands. "WE. DO NOT. HAVE. ANY. PIE."

Astrid facepalmed.

"Ignore them," said Fishlegs, glaring at the twins. He turned to the redheaded girl "My name is Fishlegs, and this cutiepie is Meatlug." He scratched his dragon's head. "What's your name?"

The girl narrowed her eyes and shook her head, avoiding his gaze.

Snotlout frowned. "BLah blah blah, Fishface. She obviously came here to meet ME." He wiggled his eyebrows. "The name's Snotlout, milady."

The girl looked slightly sick.

"Nah, she's obviously a prankster type," interjected Tuffnut. He bowed dramatically. "Welcome to the club!"

The girl shook her head again.

"Or maybe, she just wants some peace," said Astrid, pushing everyone aside.

The girl smiled at Astrid gratefully, then looked up as a whistling pierced the dusk.

Hiccup landed near Astrid's house and approached the group. "Nice to see you're integrating," he said to the girl, smiling.

"Any luck?" asked Astrid, surveying Hiccup.

Hiccup shook his head. "Not yet. I don't understand what's on that island or why Dagur wants it so badly."
The girls eyes lit up and she tugged on Hiccup's sleeve.

"What is it? Do you know?"

The girl nodded, then looked at the group hesitantly.

"You can say in front of them," Hiccup encouraged.

The girl shook her head. "Alone," she whispered.

Hiccup sighed and ushered her inside.
"Alone it is, then."