Hiccup was confused. Dragons killed Nina's family, so why didn't she want to kill them in revenge? He shook his head, pushing the thoughts back as he raced back to the village. He skidded into the blacksmith's forge, shedding his fur vest and throwing on an apron, tying it securely around his waist.

"Sorry I'm late, Gobber. Nina caught my eye at the edge of the forest. She was standing and staring, not moving, so I-" he started to say.

"Ack! Enough of that! Get to sharpening the swords," Gobber scolded, giving him a tired look. It was one he was familiar with, most often receiving it from his father. Hiccup focused on hefting the large blades up to with spinning wheel and getting it going, grinding the blades until they were razor sharp. Then he handed the swords off to Gobber, who threw them up onto the counter where they were quickly scooped up by passing Vikings. Oh how he ached to go out there, swinging a sword and killing dragons left and right. Maybe if he killed a dragon Astrid would like him? He jumped up and grabbed the bellows, pumping them for a bit. He froze mid-pump, ideas instantly swirling in his mind of a machine that would allow him to bring down a dragon so he could slay it. He dropped to the ground and ran over to his work station where he kept a journal. He began sketching out designs for weapons that could be fired. His charcoal slipped as he was dragged back to work.

"Sorry, I just really think-"

"Too much thinking not enough working!" The chaos outside grew to a deafening level. Gobber sighed and swapped his hook out for a battle ax. "They need me out there. Keep an eye on the shop, and stay here!"

Trying not to roll his eyes, Hiccup nodded and mumbled something like an affirmation. Gobber uttered a war cry and ran out, ax raised above his head. When there was a lull, he returned to his journal, finishing the sketch and making notes on what he would need. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end when he heard a shrill whistling.

"Night Fury! Get down!" someone shouted. He glanced outside just as a blast landed right in front of the shop, blinding him temporarily. He dove for cover, shielding his eyes and rubbing them when shapes and bright light flooded his vision. After a while, the chaos died down as the dragons flew off. Gobber came back and looked around. He sighed.

"Hiccup!" he yelled, throwing back his head in exasperation when the boy couldn't be found.

"Right here, Gobber," Hiccup replied, coming out. He still couldn't see worth anything. "I just can't see anything right now." He rubbed his eyes again. "Night Fury shot landed right outside as I was watching."

The blacksmith was silent. Hiccup tried looking around but felt almost dizzy as the shapeless blobs spun around his vision. He grabbed the counter next to him, steadying himself. Then Gobber grabbed him and his vest, heading out and guiding the blinded boy to the chief. "Hiccup was looking outside as the Night Fury's shot landed. He can't see anything," Gobber reported. The Viking preteen was just standing there alternating between rubbing his eyes and looking around, trying to see anything.

"Take him to the house," Stoick said after a while. "I'll be there shortly." Stumbling blindly along, the chief's son somehow made it home and blindly fumbled around until he felt the door handle. He pushed the door to his house open and went inside, sitting down when he bumped into a bench. Gobber handed him his vest and he swapped his apron out again. His vision went black then slowly faded in, though he still couldn't see clearly. It was blurry, like looking around in a thick fog.

"Gobber?"

"Hm?" The blacksmith sat down next to him.

"I can see a little now," he said.

"That's good. Thank Thor for that!" his companion said. The door trembled for a second then swung inwards as Stoick entered.

"How are you feeling, son?" Stoick said.

"Better. I can see a little, at least. Enough to make out the shape and color of stuff, even if I can't see the details," he replied. Stoick sighed, murmuring something under his breath. Hiccup looked at his father. "How bad was the damage to the village this time, Dad?"

"I-" Stoick stopped. "It could have been worse. Thank you, Gobber, for bringing him to me and then to the house."

"No problem. I'll be heading out now," Gobber said rising. "Gotta make sure he didn't get any crazy ideas while I was gone and started working on them. Heh hm..." He trailed off awkwardly then left.

Hiccup sat patiently, if a little anxiously. He wondered if his father was going to keep talking or just ignore him and walk past to sit in the chair he usually slept in. To his surprise, Stoick walked over to the bench where he was seated and sat down next to him.

"Glad you're okay, son," he heard his father say. Then Stoick rose and left. A few minutes passed and Hiccup felt confident enough that he could see to a certain degree. He rubbed his eyes again and they fuzzed in a bit more. He smiled and decided to go check on Nina to see how she fared. He arrived at the clearing and stopped. There was some bleating off to his right. He turned his head to catch it better. He followed the sound and found a small cave. A dark shape darted out of the cave and flew off into the forest to his left. He squinted after it and thought he'd seen the tip of a tail, but shook his head. Nina was seated in a cluster of five sheep. Two of the lambs that were there were laying down and resting their heads on her knees while the third was sleeping peacefully in her lap. The two adult sheep were dozing behind her.