The sound of sloshing water followed by a low, ominous hiss caused Toothless to snap his head toward the river. His ears twitched, and his sharp growl slicked through the tense silence. Every muscle in the Night Fury's body was taut, and his eyes locked on the water's surface with an almost predatory focus.
The sound didn't go unnoticed. Hiccup, Elena, and the others froze, gazes darting toward the rushing river. Hiccup squinted, scanning the murky water below. But it was useless—the river was too dark, its depths obscured by swirling silt and shadows.
"What is it?" Elena whispered, her voice uneasy.
"I don't know," Hiccup replied, still peering intently into the water. "The river's too murky. I can't see anything down there..."
They heard a faint splash again, followed by the unmistakable sound of something slithering beneath the surface. The group turned as one but only caught the briefest glimpse of movement—something significant disappearing into the depths.
Skylar ruffled his feathers nervously. "I've got a bad feeling about this," he muttered.
"Yeah," Luna agreed with a shiver. "This place is giving me the creeps."
Migs squinted, his wings twitching as he hovered closer to the group. "Whatever it is, it's keeping itself hidden," he said. "Which means it's probably not friendly."
Elena stared down at the rushing stream, her jaw tight. Her unease was written all over her face, but then a spark of determination lit her eyes. She turned toward Neko as he spoke.
"Hey, sis," Neko said, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. "You think you can use your scepter? You know, to see what's down there?"
Elena's eyes widened in realization. "Good thinking, Neko," she said, quickly pulling her scepter from her side.
Raising the magical relic high, she pointed it down toward the river. "Reveal!" she commanded, her voice ringing with authority.
A beam of golden light shot from the scepter's tip, illuminating the surface of the water. The beam spread downward like a ray of sunlight cutting through the gloom, revealing the shadowy depths of the river.
Hiccup leaned forward in his saddle, watching as the light pierced through the murk. "That's... impressive," he said, casting a quick glance at Elena.
Elena blushed faintly and looked away. "It's nothing," she muttered, though her grip on the scepter tightened.
The light passed over the riverbed—and that's when they saw it. A massive, curved shape slid through the golden beam, its body shimmering with blue-green scales. The creature's head was sleek and reptilian, its yellow eyes glinting as it stared upward briefly before vanishing into the shadows.
Toothless immediately growled, baring his fangs and crouching lower in the air. His entire posture screamed danger.
"What was that?" Elena asked, her voice tinged with dread.
"I don't know," Hiccup said, shaking his head. "But whatever it is, Toothless doesn't like it."
The serpent reappeared for a split second, its massive body slithering beneath the surface before disappearing again.
Migs's ears flicked nervously. "Anybody else thinking we shouldn't be here?"
"You're not wrong," Hiccup said, his unease growing. "We need to—"
A sudden, violent splash cut him off. The water erupted behind them, a terrible, high-pitched shriek ripping through the air.
"Look out!" Hiccup yelled, spinning around in the saddle.
The creature shot upward, launching itself out of the water with terrifying speed. Its scaled body glistened in the light as it coiled mid-air, its long, jagged fins flaring out. The serpent's jaws opened wide, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth, and it lunged straight for them.
Toothless reacted instantly. With a powerful beat of his wings, he banked hard to the side, narrowly avoiding the serpent's snapping jaws. Hiccup gripped the saddle tightly, his heart hammering in his chest.
Elena and Skylar veered sharply in the opposite direction, the princess clutching her brother's mane as he darted away. "What is that thing?!" Elena shouted, her voice full of alarm.
"Something I'd rather not stick around to find out!" Skylar called back.
Migs, Luna, and Neko also scattered, the serpent thrashing wildly in pursuit. Its massive tail slapped the river with a thunderous crack, sending waves crashing against the banks.
"Stay in the air!" Hiccup yelled, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Don't let it drag you down!"
The serpent twisted and turned, its yellow eyes gleaming with predatory focus as it tracked its prey. Its shriek echoed again, shaking the air around them as it surged upward for another strike.
"I knew it! It's a River Serpent!" Migs exclaimed, his wings flaring slightly as he hovered above the scene.
"Care to fill us in?" Hiccup asked, glancing at him while keeping a firm grip on the saddle. His voice was tight, the tension clear as he kept one eye on the thrashing creature below.
"They're sea creatures," Migs explained quickly, his tone edged with urgency. "They wandered into our rivers years ago, wreaking havoc. The Guardians drove them out a long time ago."
Hiccup gave a nervous glance at the serpent below, its massive body undulating in the water as it coiled for another strike. "Well," he muttered, "looks like they missed one."
Toothless let out a low, guttural growl, his lips curling to reveal sharp fangs. His golden eyes locked onto the serpent with unflinching focus, and his body tensed as though daring the beast to come closer.
The River Serpent responded with a high-pitched shriek, rearing its long, scaly neck out of the water. Its sleek, blue-green scales gleamed in the sunlight as it bared its jagged, needle-like teeth at the Night Fury. The sound echoed through the jungle, chilling in its intensity.
The exchange of snarls was unmistakable. This wasn't just a warning—it was a challenge.
"Uh, Toothless?" Hiccup's voice wavered slightly as he glanced nervously down at his dragon. "What are you doing, bud?"
Toothless didn't answer—not that Hiccup expected him to. The Night Fury's growl deepened, his ears flattening against his head as his tail flicked back and forth. His wings twitched, readying for action.
"Hey, hey, hey—don't even think about it," Hiccup said quickly, his grip on the saddle tightening. He leaned forward, trying to calm his dragon. "We do not need to pick a fight right now, okay? Let's just back off—nice and easy."
But Toothless's gaze remained locked on the serpent, the tension radiating off him in waves. The serpent hissed again, thrashing its long tail in the water and sending a spray of droplets into the air. Toothless snapped his jaws in response, his growl now a rumbling threat that sent vibrations through Hiccup's seat.
"Okay, this is bad. This is bad," Hiccup muttered under his breath.
"Guys, we need to move!" Elena called from atop Skylar. She glanced worriedly between Hiccup and the serpent. "If that thing attacks, we'll all be in its strike zone!"
"She's right!" Migs added. "River Serpents aren't just fast in the water—they jump! One hit from that tail, and we're done for!"
Hiccup turned his head slightly toward the group, his voice strained. "Great pep talk, Migs. Calming."
Luna fluttered nervously nearby, her eyes darting between Toothless and the serpent. "Uh, has anyone else noticed they're glaring at each other? Like they're having some silent dragon argument?"
"Not helping!" Hiccup barked, snapping his attention back to Toothless. "Bud, listen to me—don't let it get to you. It looks like it wants a fight, but we don't have to give it one. Right?"
Toothless let out a sharp snort as if disagreeing. His claws flexed slightly against the saddle straps, his tail swaying more aggressively as his growl rose in volume.
The River Serpent rose out of the water, its eyes glinting with malice as it uttered another loud shriek. Its body undulated beneath the surface, sending ripples through the river as it coiled for an attack.
"Oh no," Hiccup muttered, his stomach dropping.
The standoff couldn't hold much longer. Both creatures were seconds away from exploding into action.
Toothless let out a deafening bellow, his roar echoing across the jungle and down to the river. The sound was more than a warning—it was a challenge. His golden-green eyes burned with determination, and his body tensed as he prepared to strike.
"Uh, no, no, no! Toothless—don't you dare!" Hiccup shouted, his voice rising in panic.
But Hiccup's protest was cut short as Toothless suddenly dove headfirst toward the River Serpent.
"Hiccup!" Elena cried out, reaching toward him as if she could somehow pull him back.
The River Serpent didn't hesitate. It lunged upward from the river, its massive jaws splitting wide to reveal rows of razor-sharp fangs, each glinting menacingly in the sunlight. Its shriek pierced the air, sending shivers down the spines of all who heard it.
For most, those fangs would have been the last thing they ever saw—a final moment of terror before the end. But Toothless was no ordinary victim. He wasn't prey, and he wasn't about to fall to the serpent's wrath. The fight had been proclaimed, but it would be the serpent who submitted to him.
"Toothless, look out!" Hiccup yelled, gripping the saddle tightly as the serpent lunged.
Toothless's body twisted in mid-air with astounding agility, rolling to the side just in time to avoid the serpent's snapping jaws. Hiccup clung desperately to Moldoff's saddle, his stomach lurching as Toothless spiraled out of harm's way. The serpent's massive body surged past them, the wind from its strike rippling through the air, before it crashed back into the river with an enormous splash.
The Night Fury hovered for a moment, wings beating steadily as he turned to face the serpent's new position. His pupils were slitted, his tail lashing as he scanned the water below, waiting for his opponent to emerge.
Hiccup exhaled shakily, still gripping the saddle straps like his life depended on it. "Hey, bud, you mind easing up on the barrel rolls?" he muttered, though his voice betrayed his lingering panic.
On the riverbank, Elena was about to spur Skylar into action, but Migs swooped in front of her, blocking her path. "No, Princess! It's too dangerous," he said firmly, his gaze darting to the water.
"But Hiccup—" Elena started to protest.
"Trust Toothless!" Migs insisted, his wings outstretched as if to hold her back.
Before Elena could argue further, the water erupted again. The River Serpent launched itself high into the air, its body twisting as it aimed for Toothless and Hiccup. Its shriek filled the air, vibrating with fury.
"Toothless!" Hiccup yelled, but the Night Fury was already moving.
With a powerful beat of his wings, Toothless shot upward, soaring just out of the serpent's reach. The massive jaws snapped shut with a sickening clack, missing their target by mere inches. The serpent plunged back into the river, sending waves crashing against the banks.
But it wasn't done. Again and again, the serpent lunged at them, each strike more vicious than the last. Yet, for all its aggression, it was no match for Toothless's speed. The Night Fury dodged each attack with precision, twisting and rolling through the air as though he were dancing.
Hiccup, meanwhile, clung on for dear life. "Okay, bud, you've made your point! You're faster than the giant death noodle! Can we maybe not give it more reasons to eat us?"
Toothless glanced back at Hiccup, his expression almost amused, before focusing on the serpent again.
The next strike came fast and ferocious, but Toothless didn't evade this time. Instead, his body coiled as he prepared to counter. His nostrils flared, and his chest began to glow faintly with a purple-blue hue.
"Wait, wait, wait—oh, here we go," Hiccup muttered as he realized what was coming.
Toothless fired. A brilliant, blinding plasma blast erupted from his maw, streaking through the air with a sharp crack. The explosion struck the serpent dead-on, hitting it just beneath its jaw. The force of the impact sent the creature hurtling backward, its body slamming into the water with a thunderous splash.
The serpent let out a guttural screech as it disappeared beneath the surface, ripples spreading violently across the river. Then, silence.
Hovering above the river, Toothless let out a triumphant growl; his wings spread wide as he oversaw the water, ready for any sign of retaliation.
"Nice one, bud," Hiccup said, a shaky grin spreading across his face. He patted Toothless's neck, though his hands were still trembling from the adrenaline.
The others watched from the riverbank, stunned. "Whoa," Skylar muttered. "Remind me never to tick off the Night Fury."
Elena sighed in relief, though her eyes remained locked on Hiccup and Toothless. "Is it over?" she asked quietly.
Suddenly, the water exploded. The serpent lunged from the depths with a piercing, guttural shriek, its massive coils twisting violently. The attack was so sudden that neither Toothless nor Hiccup had time to react. The serpent struck hard, slamming into them and sending both plunging into the river below.
"Hiccup!" Elena cried, her voice breaking with panic.
Hiccup surfaced moments later, gasping for air. He splashed frantically as he looked around, his heart racing. "Toothless?" he called, his voice trembling with fear.
There was no sign of the Night Fury. The river rippled ominously, but the dragon remained out of sight.
A sudden whooshing sound from overhead caught Hiccup's attention. Hope surged within him as he turned, expecting to see Toothless breaking through the water's surface. But instead, his stomach sank. The coils of the River Serpent rose high into the air before crashing back into the water. Beneath the surface, its massive shadow began to move toward him, closing the distance with terrifying speed.
"Oh, Thor," Hiccup breathed, dread tightening his chest.
Elena, still perched on Skylar's back, felt her heart drop as she saw the serpent zeroing in on Hiccup. She shook her head, unable to hold back any longer.
"I can't wait any longer—Skylar, we have to help him!" she shouted.
"Way ahead of you, sis!" Skylar replied, already diving toward the water.
Hiccup barely had time to think as the serpent's massive head broke the surface, looming over him. Water cascaded from its shimmering, scaled body as it rose higher and higher, its predatory yellow eyes locking onto him.
Hiccup froze, staring up in wide-eyed terror. The serpent let out a guttural growl, the sound rumbling deep in its throat, and opened its massive jaws wide to strike.
"ELENA!" Hiccup screamed, his voice cracking.
The serpent hissed, its fangs gleaming in the light as it lunged forward.
"Blaze!"
A brilliant yellow magic beam struck the serpent from behind, stopping it mid-lunge. The beast reared back with a thunderous hiss, twisting in pain as it searched for the source of the attack.
Elena and Skylar swooped in from above, Elena's scepter glowing brightly in her hand. Her face was set with determination as she raised it once more.
"Blaze!" she commanded, her voice ringing out.
A second golden beam erupted from her scepter, streaking through the air and slamming into the serpent's face. The beast roared in fury, its body coiling as it turned its glowing yellow eyes on her.
The serpent reared, preparing to strike at the Jaquin and his rider. But just as it lunged, a familiar black shape burst from the river behind it, water spraying everywhere.
"Toothless!" Hiccup gasped, relief flooding him.
The serpent hesitated, twisting its body to face the new threat. That hesitation proved its undoing. Toothless let out a furious roar before unleashing a barrage of plasma blasts. The fiery blue streaks struck the serpent's scales with devastating force, sending it thrashing violently in the water.
Elena seized the opportunity. Skylar dove toward the river, hovering just above the surface as Elena extended her hand toward Hiccup.
"Grab on!" she shouted.
Hiccup reached up, his wet, trembling hand catching hers. Elena gripped him tightly, pulling him up onto Skylar's back with a grunt of effort. Skylar surged upward when he was secure, flapping hard to gain altitude.
"Thanks," Hiccup sputtered, still catching his breath.
"We've got you," Elena said, giving him a reassuring smile. But her eyes quickly darted back toward the battle.
Toothless continued his relentless assault, dodging the serpent's thrashing tail as he fired plasma blast after plasma blast. Each strike lit up the river like fireworks, the explosive force pushing the serpent closer and closer to submission.
With one final, ear-splitting shriek, the serpent twisted violently before plunging back into the river, disappearing beneath the murky surface. The ripples spread wide, and then all was still.
Hovering above the water, Toothless let out a triumphant roar, his wings spread wide as he glared down at the river. The message was clear: the beast was defeated, and this territory now belonged to him.
Skylar landed along the riverbank nearby, his breathing heavy. "Well," he panted, "I'd say that settles it."
"Let's hope it stays down there this time," Elena said, glancing at the river below.
Hiccup, soaked to the bone and still catching his breath, managed a faint grin as he looked over at Toothless. "Nice one, bud," he said, his voice hoarse and trembling slightly. "You always know how to make an entrance. But seriously... next time you decide to jump into a fight like that, could you maybe give me a heads-up first?"
Toothless turned toward him, his glowing green eyes softening. He released a low, satisfied rumble, his version of a laugh.
"Not funny, bud," Hiccup muttered, shaking his head. He gestured toward the river with a tired wave of his hand. "We could have died back there."
Toothless tilted his head to the side, blinking at Hiccup with a curious, almost innocent expression as though he couldn't quite understand the fuss.
"Hiccup's right," Elena said, her voice firm as she stepped forward. "That was way too dangerous, Toothless."
Toothless narrowed his eyes slightly, lowering his head and letting out a soft huff. He plopped down on the riverbank with a heavy thud, curling his tail around his legs as if to say, Well, I won, didn't I?
Hiccup sighed and ran a hand through his damp hair, walking a short distance away to a nearby rock. He sank onto it heavily, elbows on his knees as he tried to calm his racing heart. His chest rose and fell in deep, uneven breaths as the adrenaline faded, leaving exhaustion behind.
Elena watched him quietly, her expression tightening with guilt. She glanced toward the river, where ripples faded from the serpent's retreat. Her scepter, still in her hand, dimmed until the magical glow faded utterly.
She turned back to Hiccup, hesitating for a moment before speaking. "I... I'm sorry," she said softly, her voice almost hesitant.
Hiccup looked up at her, puzzled. "Sorry? What for?"
Elena shifted uncomfortably, gripping her scepter tightly. "For all of it. I was the one who encouraged you to get on Toothless. If I hadn't, maybe you wouldn't have—" She stopped herself, biting her lip. "I should've done more to protect you."
Hiccup blinked, then shook his head, offering her a small, tired smile. "Elena, this wasn't your fault. If anything, Toothless decided to pick a fight with a sea monster." He glanced over at the Night Fury, who was busy pretending to be indifferent, idly flicking his tail. "Right, bud?"
Toothless turned his head toward Hiccup and released another low rumble, though only he could say whether it was an apology or an argument.
Elena's expression softened slightly, but the guilt didn't entirely leave her eyes. She looked back at Hiccup. "Still, I... I was scared," she admitted quietly. "Seeing you in the water, and that thing coming for you... I didn't know if we'd make it in time."
Hiccup's smile grew a little, though it was still faint. "Well, you did. And you got me out of there. So, thanks for that."
Elena nodded, her lips pressing together as she glanced away. The memory of the serpent's fangs and horrifying size was still fresh in her mind. She couldn't shake the image of Hiccup alone in the water, staring up at the beast.
Skylar stepped forward, shaking droplets from his feathers as he approached. "You both need to lighten up," he said with a grin, though his tone was more teasing than dismissive. "Hiccup's alive. Toothless is fine. And the big bad river snake is back in its hidey-hole. Call it a win, I say."
Migs and Luna hovered nearby, nodding in agreement. "I hate to say it, but I'm with Skylar," Migs said. "That thing's gone. But let's not stick around in case it changes its mind."
"Yeah," Luna added. "I vote we call it a day. Please."
Hiccup let out a chuckle, running a hand over his face. "For once, I think I agree with all of you," he said, pushing himself to his feet.
Toothless raised his head, sensing Hiccup's movement. The dragon also stood, shaking himself off and sending a light water spray. Hiccup grimaced, holding his hands up to shield himself.
"Bud?" Hiccup said, though his tone had no anger—just tired amusement.
Toothless snorted softly; his eyes half-lidded with satisfaction.
Elena stepped closer to Hiccup, her expression softening further. "We should head back," she said gently. "You need to dry off and rest before the Guardians start wondering where we are."
"Agreed," Hiccup said, casting one last wary glance at the river. "And let's, uh... maybe steer clear of any rivers for a while. Or lakes. Or ponds."
Skylar laughed, taking to the air. "That's fine by me." He looked at Elena. "You ready, sis?"
Elena nodded and climbed onto his back, turning to look at Hiccup once more. "You sure you're okay?" she asked.
Hiccup gave her a thumbs-up, though his movements were still sluggish. "Yeah. Just remind me to invest in swimming lessons when we return."
With that, the group took to the sky, Toothless following closely behind, his wings cutting smoothly through the air. Though the river serpent was gone, the encounter left an unshakable feeling that the jungle still held more dangers—and more secrets waiting to be uncovered.