Two slow weeks dragged by as I taught Eyarr the sacred wayfinding methods I was taught. He faced more difficulties and took longer to understand everything than expected, but it didn't bother me much. I knew he preferred the sky to the sea, anyway. Either way, I was proud to share my knowledge with him, and it brought me a different, yet excited feeling to see how receptive he was.

Despite the challenges, he understood enough of the basics, so I wasn't the only one guiding the ship. I became very jittery when I finally realized how close we were.

And soon, I heard it before I saw it.

Adrenaline surged through me upon hearing the waterfall's roar and seeing the towering mist rise above the sea. We were here.

But now came the problem of getting close enough without the risk of overturning the ship too soon. I leaned overboard and peered at the water, spying the rocks at the bottom, and I swore for a moment… there were bones down there. Bones of sailors from centuries past were killed the moment they approached the waterfall, unaware of the rocks and abyss that lay before them.

I turned to Eyarr, giving him a nod. He gave one back and dropped the anchor, securing it in place.

Now it was a matter of waiting. Would Cliffire and Riptide know we were here? Surely they would… They were smart, and they knew our scents. I just hoped the mist didn't obscure it too much that they couldn't find us.

While we waited, I leaned on the ship's edge, taking in the salty sea air's smell and the gentle breeze blowing my hair around. The waterfall's roar was almost peaceful, although it was somewhat deafening. I could see the figures of the Sentinels on their respective posts, still as statues. They didn't move upon our arrival, and I took it as them knowing us to a degree.

I watched the water and the rocks for a while, and the sun began setting. I yawned, exhausted from the lack of sleep from navigating us here.

"Babe, come on, get some rest. We have enough supplies to last us while we wait." Eyarr encouraged.

"Are you sure?" He patted the anchor system with a grin.

"This thing isn't going anywhere. Just relax for a bit, okay?" I sighed in mild defeat, following my fiancé as he took a seat and patted a spot between his legs for me to sit. I yawned again and closed my eyes, allowing the boat's gentle rocking to lull me to sleep.

I didn't know how long I was asleep but I woke suddenly with a slight jolt. Eyarr had fallen asleep as well, probably not long after me. I stood and went to look at the waterfall again and then at the sky, which was approaching sunrise. I didn't initially see anything, but when I looked into the water, I nearly jumped out of my skin upon seeing intense yellow eyes.

"Holy shit-!" I shrieked. I stumbled backward onto the deck, startling Eyarr awake, who instinctively grabbed a dagger.

"What the fu-" He sleepily exclaimed. He immediately relaxed, seeing me.

"Thor's hammer, Laeli. You scared me. What happened?" He said, helping me up. I rushed back to the edge of the boat, and I saw the eyes again. And then I spied a very familiar figure rising up.

It couldn't be…

"Riptide!" I exclaimed, holding my hand out to him. His serpent-like head broke the water's surface, leaning forward to greet me and pressing his head against my chest. I could feel the vibrations of a guttural rumble from deep within his chest. I missed him so much and took a deep whiff of his intense salty scent.

Eyarr greeted Riptide with an affectionate scritch under the chin, which Riptide appreciated. And then he turned his head and roared toward the waterfall.

"Huh?" Then we heard a roar back in reply. And Eyarr knew that roar.

"Cliffire!" He called enthusiastically, waving his arm around. I watched as Cliffire's massive figure rose through the mist. Soaring and circling above our ship.

"My boy! Come here!" Eyarr cheered. Cliffire roared and swooped towards us, and I ducked as Cliffire snatched Eyarr clear off the deck.

"Woooooo!" I laughed in delight, the wind of Cliffire picking Eyarr up and blowing my hair around. Riptide nuzzled my face, another soft rumble emitting from his chest.

"Flight?" I said, echoing his thoughts. He didn't let me get another word out as he slid his head through my legs, and I slid down his neck onto where the saddle used to be.

Eyarr had kept the saddles for both our dragons when the time came to get them back. I was eternally grateful for him being considerate of that, having held onto the hope I'd return and we would reunite with our dragons.

My thighs gripping him tightly, Riptide took to the skies, roaring to get Cliffire's attention. The boys turned to us, and there was a massive grin on Eyarr's face. I hadn't seen him this happy since he proposed, and it thrilled me just the same. This was Eyarr's element. Riptide hovered as we watched Cliffire fly around us, Eyarr navigating him effortlessly. They had a bond that couldn't be beaten, only by Hiccup and his Night Fury.

Together, we flew above and around the waterfall, enjoying the thrill and joy of being with our dragons again. Eventually, I circled Riptide back to the ship.

Now was the time.

Cliffire swooped down again, and Eyarr landed on the deck after leaping off Cliffire's back.

"What's up?" He asked.

"Babe, it's time," I told him, shifting my gaze towards the waterfall, the roar of it filling my ears. He touched my shoulder, bringing me close for a hug.

"Let's do it." He whispered in affirmation. With that settled, we called the dragons over to secure their saddles. We then grabbed our bags with all our stuff and placed them on the saddles. Once we were sure we packed everything and everything was in place, I grabbed a heavy rope, Eyarr helping me tie it around the carved head at the front of the ship.

After tying it securely, Eyarr gave the loose end to Cliffire, putting it in his maw. We then mounted our saddles, and the dragons took flight.

"Cliffire, we're gonna bring that right over the waterfall," Eyarr instructed, pointing him in the right direction. Riptide then took the opposite end of the ship in his paws as we flew it over the edge. My ears caught the sound of the Sentinels shifting, knowing they'd be curious yet cautious of what we were doing. Riptide growled at them in what I assume was some form of assurance, and the Sentinels then moved back into their usual positions.

Once we were in the right spot, just as Eyarr was about to tell Cliffire and Riptide to drop the ship, both Riptide and I perked up at the sound of something.

"What's going on?" Eyarr called.

"Don't drop the ship yet!"

"Why?"

"I think I heard Ocean!" Suddenly, the sound of the waterfall cascading down changed, dissipating into the sound of water swirling violently. We both looked down and saw Ocean come alive in a frighteningly massive whirlpool below us, causing the Sentinels to react.

"By Tangaroa…" I gasped out. I had seen Ocean's power before, but never on this scale.

"Laeli? What's happening?" Eyarr cried. I could hear the horror in his voice. And at first, I wasn't sure either. Then I spied Ocean's "head" rise up from the center of the whirlpool, grabbing the ship, and Riptide let the ship free.

"I think… Ocean is going to destroy the ship for us!" I called out.

The ocean protects all its creatures, from the depths to the tide pools, no matter their size.

Ocean was protecting the dragons.

"You know what would make this better?" Eyarr replied, interrupting my epiphany.

"What?"

"Blowing it up!" Before I could get a word out, Cliffire dropped his jaw as a torrent of charged fire exploded from the back of his throat, setting the ship ablaze.

And that's when I realized I'd never seen Riptide use his firepower before. Or… acidpower; as I recalled in the Book of Dragons that Sliquifiers spit acid instead of fire.

"Riptide? Follow his lead!" I instructed. After glancing at me, Riptide also opened his mouth, and I just about fell off his back, seeing the acid explode.

"Shit-!"

"I didn't know Sliquifiers had acid!"

"I did! I've just never seen him fire it!" With Ocean holding the ship in place, the dragons set it alight. And the combination of fire and acid then caused an explosion of epic proportions.

"Watch out!" Eyarr cried as he and Cliffire dodged wood shrapnel and molten metal as it went flying.

"I'm okay!" I assured him.

Ocean gurgled as it sent the wood and other pieces of shrapnel around. Finally, the whirlpool disappeared into the cascades of the waterfall again, the roaring filling my ears again.

I couldn't quite describe the satisfaction of watching Ocean help us prevent more of humanity from finding the Hidden World. Its secrets would be kept with those within the deep caverns and tide pools—those mighty creatures living below. I still couldn't get the image of Toothless out of my head, the very dragon who somehow made it possible for me to ride on Riptide's back.

As Eyarr gestured for us to start flying in the direction of New Berk, the thoughts of seeing the dragons of the original dragon riders swirled in my head.

Toothless… Blueheart, Dusk, Stormfly, Hookfang, Meatlug, Barf n' Belch, and all the others. They were all living down there, awaiting the return of their riders someday.

But now we were on our way. One more week until New Berk's towering silhouette would welcome us back.