12th November

On the shores of Berk; it had been just mere weeks since Drago Bludvist was defeated. The village mourned its lost chief, Stoick The Vast, and the warmer season replaced itself with the colder winds and morning mist.

Hiccup and Astrid had also broken up; not because they didn't care for one another but because Astrid could no longer take his constant desire to travel and leave behind his responsibility as chief. It was a mutual agreement but painful nonetheless. To be honest, Hiccup didn't blame her... In fact, he had almost completely forgotten why they were together in the first place. It felt more like a familial love than that of a romance but he didn't ever tell her that; he never said so because he only realised that for certain once the relationship had been terminated.

In a partly selfish way, he was also grateful. He didn't want to meet the social pressures of marriage with Astrid; to pop out children just because the chief needed an heir. He wanted to live his twenties freely. Being a chief, though? And knowing his luck? That chance would be scarce.

Today, the last house was finally rebuilt and the Berkians could now ease up their workload like the damage from Drago's Bewilderbeast never happened. However, it was clear that more dragons were settling on the island & fast.

While saddled on Toothless, he watched as everyone carried on with their day, not flinching when Cloudjumper - carrying Valka - had landed behind him.

"Oh, son... Your father would be so proud, just like I am. Berk looks completely brand new."

"Yup... Old village. Lots and lots of new houses." His lips twitched into a weak smile when she laughed. "What are you doing here, mom?"

"I just wanted to make sure that you were alright." He flinched. "I saw Astrid." His shoulders slumped slightly.

"Is... Is she okay?"

"Well, considering your new relationship status I would say she is handling this rather well." He winced. "I take it that isn't a good sign?"

"It normally means someone is gonna be missing an arm or leg soon if they so much as whisper the wrong thing to her." She rolled her eyes. "And what makes you think that I might not be okay? I have the air in my lungs, I have Toothless," said dragon purred when Hiccup scratched his chin, "and I am now the chief of the most stubborn and hardheaded vikings in the world, and Toothless is the king of dragons. I've got this, Mom. We've got this. Really." Valka said nothing and just hugged him. He sighed, "I promise you now, Mom. I'm okay."

"I know, son..." He gave another weak smile. "If you need me, I will be at the workshop with Gobber." When she flew away on her dragon, it was the two kings alone again.

"Hey bud, am I in over my head or something?" Toothless cooed. "I just keep thinking that something should have happened by now. Something new. Something exciting." Toothless bounced slightly, making him sway to try and knock him off; like a charm, Hiccup laughed. "Thanks, bud. You always keep me on my toes and metal leg." To the horizon, he watched the afternoon sun glisten off of the rolling ocean waves. This year seemed to pass almost too quickly.

Then, just before the horizon, he noticed something strange; a piece of wood slowly coming closer to the island shore. "Toothless, were we expecting visitors?" Toothless shook his head. Hiccup squinted his eyes and stood higher to get a better view. It was too small to be a boat. "I think we better see what's down there." Just as Toothless chuffed in agreement, the dock horns blared. "Come on, bud."

As the Berkians gathered on the docks, the wood floated to the nearest beach. From above, Hiccup saw that a person was holding on to it. "Toothless! Grab them!" Toothless swept down gracefully, grabbed the person and laid them on the sand while everyone else ran over to try and help.

Fishlegs sprinted over with Meatlug tailing him, "Hiccup, what's going on? I just heard the horns!"

The person's eyes were closed, and Hiccup quickly leant in to check the airways. It didn't sound good. "Fishlegs, I need you to help. He's not breathing!"

Fishlegs pressed his fingers to the person's neck. "He's still alive. Looks like he needs chest compressions." He set the work right away, pumping his hands firmly with a strong rhythm. The villagers gathered in worry, whispering among themselves. Snotlout & the twins stayed on their dragons, almost panicked. Astrid watched on quietly.

When Fishlegs moved the person's hair from their face, Hiccup took notice of three things; first, the scar across the left eye, second, the scar on the left arm, and third... the person was a girl. Her skin was sickly pale against her darker hair but her eyelids almost bruise-like in comparison. She appeared to be quite short and skinny, however she showed no signs of being starved. Maybe she was shipwrecked on another island?

The girl's eyes shot wide open as she violently coughed up the sea water from her lungs; shaking viciously before catching her breath. Everyone backed up a bit to give her some room. She groaned harshly, holding her head. Several simultaneous gasps were heard as she lifted her arm... showing the full extent of her scar. She tumbled to her feet, regaining her footing fast. "Where am I?"

"The island of Berk." said Valka. "We just found you in the water."

"What? No, no I shouldn't be here. I have to get home-" she swayed before she could say anything else, and Hiccup caught her.

"Woah, easy..."

"No, I have to get home! Let go!" She pushed herself away from him. "I can't be here!"

"Where is home?" Valka asked. "We can take you there-"

"No, no! Stay away from me! Stay away!" And she bolted to the woods; the sudden blast of wind flicking sharply behind her. A blink, and she was gone. Everyone was speechless.

"How did she run so fast?"

"Is she a witch?"

"Did she vanish into thin air?"

Gobber waved his arms to get their attention. "Alright everyone! Back to work! Nothing to see here. Just go on about your days." He looked to Hiccup sharply, "Whatever that was - as the chief - I suggest you get finding her fast. Who knows what kind of danger we would be in."

Hiccup rolled his eyes, "Gobber, she's just a kid. What harm ever came from a kid at her age?" Gobber gave him a look. He winced. "Fair point, but I turned out okay didn't I?"

"Aye, but not everyone is lucky enough to get there. Get her back here, and then get her off the island. Who knows what she could be after. Especially after Drago."

Another adventure on the island of Berk; vikings and dragons alike, our original six teenagers - now in their late teens & early twenties - were patrolling the woods where the girl disappeared into. Astrid covered the beaches all around, the twins stationed in the village, Snotlout & Fishlegs from above and Hiccup with Toothless in the cove where they meet five years before.

The girl seemed frantic and confused, looking for a way home but wouldn't say where home was and screamed not to be touched. It didn't sound like attention seeking, he thought, more frightened but he will just send the girl on her way.

He had waited for hours now since that afternoon for a sign of of her. There were puddles, it rained recently. Behind one of the trees, a strange light caught his eye through the reflection of the puddles and it faded away as quickly as it came. How weird, he thought. There was no way he could have imagined that.

Curiosity peaked, he stood right behind the tree and peeked to see the very girl he was after. She had cleaned up... He gasped when he saw the sapphire necklace around her neck. He had never seen fine jewellery like that before; well, once a very long time ago as a little boy. Except he couldn't figure out where he had seen that necklace before.

He scanned their surroundings to make sure the coast was clear while waiting for her to turn around, and he ignited his sword; the yellow flame burning brightly. His trail of thought fell short from his mind when she looked straight at him. Metallic blue with gold in the outer iris stared into his green eyes.

She backed away slowly, watching his every move. As he revealed himself, for every step he took forward, she took one back until the night air was their only barrier. Ten feet apart and gazing at the other.

"Don't be scared," he muttered softly, "I won't hurt you." He could tell she didn't believe it from the way she stood clear of him. "Who are you?" he asked, looking into her eyes; green into blue & gold. She stuttered, seemingly unable to speak until he asked again. "What's your name?"

"... My name is Skai."

"Skai," he repeated and gave her – what he hoped – was a smile, "a beautiful name." He checked the area again to make sure they were still alone. He didn't want any surprises, either Toothless would have to keep them away. Satisfied, he looked straight back to her. "Are you from an island around here?"

She remained still but shook her head. "No. I'm not."

"Then you must be a tourist. I'm sorry for the lack of decent shipping; not much trade is passing after summer."

"I appreciate the input, but I need you to leave. You shouldn't talk to me." She gulped softly, goosebumps now scattered over her arms.

"But you washed up ashore unconscious! And-"

"-And I'm telling you now, I am fine. I just need to get home."

He shrugged. "Alright, then. Crazy teenager washes ashore, runs away after waking up and refuses help. Perhaps you could help me, instead? And I'll return the favour by helping you home."

Skai was confused yet intrigued. She nodded. "Deal. So, is it something to do with family, or lost property?"

Hiccup slowly nodded, secretly glad that she didn't recognise who he was but didn't want to jinx it. "Something like that, I suppose."

"I see. I kind of need your name, so I know who I am talking to." He closed his lips tightly. "You know mine so it is only fair that I know yours."

He gave a lopsided grin. "Hiccup," and he held out his hand to her, "a pleasure to meet you."

"And you as well."

When their hands clasped onto one another, a surge of warm exploded through Skai's body, up her lightning-scarred arm. Her heart skipped a large beat while her breath halted in her lungs. Hiccup wasn't much different, he felt that warmth too.

Hiccup held his sword to the side, letting the lighting focus on their skin as they stared at each other. Skai's eyes occasionally flickered but remained focused into his own - her gaze burning his core with a heat he never felt before - a fire that made him feel more alive. Hiccup didn't dare talk as he held the flame; in a strange way... he felt like found what he had been looking for, right here in front of him this stranger could have held all the answers he was searching for.

Skai didn't know what she could possibly do, but knew she was afraid yet couldn't get away. That feeling was strange, and at the same time felt so right. Before she knew it, she was very close to him, a breath away from a single touch, and - without thinking - she ran her fingers over his cheek softly; to Hiccup, the feeling was fire in his veins.

He froze in place as he watched her, his entire being was burning yet freezing due to the cold weather, and he didn't care. The way her fingertips grazed his skin felt like it was meant to be. As her fingers ran from his cheek to his neck, almost tickling like a feather but it burned with a fire that couldn't be blown out, it only grew as she touched him more. Feeling brave, her took her hand in his own.

The moment was ruined as Toothless cooed between them. Skai shrieked and jumped away from them both, eyes wide at the sudden appearance of the dragon by them.

Hiccup was quick to react, "Hey hey hey! It's okay! He won't hurt you..."

"What even is that?!"

"He's a Night Fury."

"A what?"

"A Night Fury; a-" Hiccup paused, "Wait... You don't know what a Night Fury is?"

"Should I? Is it some kind of lizard?"

Hiccup's jaw dropped... "A lizard? Try a dragon."

Skai paused, and then bursted into hysterical laughter. "Yeah right, dragons are real and we invent moving paintings in the next millennium!" At Hiccup's blank stare, her laughing ceased. "Wait, you're serious?" She stared at Toothless... Now she could see it. Wow, dragons were real! "By the Gods of Heaven & Seas... You have real dragons here!" She didn't know whether to be frightened or amazed.

"Want to say hello?" Skai gave him a frightened look as he took her hand. "Relax, he won't hurt you." He stood behind her as he guided her hand to the air, holding out her palm, "Just like that," he said, "let him come to you..." And she did. And it felt incredible. The feeling of the purr beneath her fingertips while they rested on his snout, the way his eyes closed, the velvet texture of the scaly skin. "There you go..."

"Wow... incredible." She smiled at Hiccup excitedly. And he found his knees no longer supported him properly; even with his prosthetic leg.

Together – after some convincing – Hiccup and Skai walked back to village with Toothless beside them. It was there that Skai would have to introduce herself in front of every villager, every viking that lived on Berk along with their dragons. She was a little scared, sure, because she had never been so far from home before but she knew first impressions always left a mark. Byril taught her well in that regard.

As for Hiccup, he was just fascinated with every little thing about her. They talked about each other; where they were from, how old they were. It was quite a coincidence she was going to be the chieftess of her own village; Caelin, she called it. "Hey, can I ask you something?" he asked. Skai nodded. "How did you get your armour? I mean, who made it for you?"

"I actually made it myself. I used to work as a blacksmith when I was little… Well, littler. It's not that hard really, but the kids my age used to tell me that girls couldn't do metal work. Obviously, a load of dung so I decided to prove them wrong. And, well, here I am. My armour and my weapons." She pulled out her dagger for him to hold.

The moment he took the dagger in hand, he admired the detail. "Whoa!" It was victorious. The wooden handle was curved, the blade was incredibly sharp and the surface was incredibly smooth, his reflection was in a perfect mirror. The design on the blade was delicate and graceful like a wave in the wind. How Skai could have done something this detailed, he didn't know. "That's amazing." he said. "How long have you been a Blacksmith before… well, before you ended up here?" he gently handed the dagger back to her.

Skai smiled with a shrug, "I guess ever since I could walk. My father, Byril, always wanted me to be able to do everything as the future leader. Farming, blacksmithing, fighting. He always said 'if you don't train yourself for your future then don't be surprised when you're set up to fail'." With every word spoken, he listened eagerly like he was an apprentice with Gobber again. "I know I'm only seventeen, but I know what I have to do. I am the one that will lead my village into my future." He never thought that such deep and powerful advice could be said by someone younger than him.

"Really?" She nodded. "How do you know all of that, and so young? You seem so confident."

She scoffed, "Believe me. I'm not confident."

"I don't believe that." This took her by surprise. "I believe… that you have great things in your future."

A warm flutter wormed its way through Skai's chest, she didn't quite believe how sincere he was but she smiled nonetheless. Before she could give her thanks, Gobber came over.

"There you are! Right, you!" Gobber pointed accusingly at Skai. "If you're staying, you'll be taking a room in my house. No flabbergasting or fussing without it being right under my nose."