Lost and Found

Chapter 3: Testing the Dragon Rider

With the steady beating of Atlas's wings, the maze of glaciers grows ever closer. Atlas bellows softly as she holds on to the rider. I give her a slight, reassuring tap with my foot.

"HEY!" the rider shouts. "YOU LEFT MY DRAGON BACK THERE! HE CAN'T FLY ON HIS OWN! HE'LL DROWN!"

Yes, we noticed.

Valka doesn't appear to have heard him, that or she's ignored his comment. Neither of us worry about the night fury. He's in good hands with the seashockers. They will bring the fury home, and we'll see what's all going on.

Atlas follows Cloudjumper's lead as we weave through the large chunks of snow and ice. Eventually, we reach the center where our largest nest yet sits. The ice and stone mold together to make what appears to be a crown. No matter how many times I see it, the beauty of the sanctuary takes my breath away. A fortified fortress hidden from view, though it is only a matter of time before Drago finds us once again, and we'll have to move.

Cloudjumper dives down toward a rock entrance to the nest, leading us toward a pocket in the stone where many of the dragons go to sleep. He and Valka disappear over a ledge that Atlas dives under. I hear her drop the rider and jump off, hidden on a shadowy shelf.

Atlas takes off again; she knows to find the night fury and bring him in on my signal. Time to find out who this dragon rider is.

"Hey! Uh..." Noticing the waking dragons, the rider backs up only to realize he's surrounded. "We have to head back for my dragon!" His voice echoes slightly in the cavern. Neither Valka nor I make any move to respond to him.

I notice a shadow shuffling in the dark and see Valka hunched in the shadows too. Both of us sit back and observe. Let's see how well this rider is with wild dragons.

One of the dragons approaches the boy with a snarl. Curious, I watch as the rider takes some sort of hilt from a clip on his leg. Then, with the push of a button, a wired blade extends from the hilt and lights on fire. Monstrous Nightmare saliva: interesting.

The rider waves the flaming sword around, hypnotizing some of the dragons before him. My shadowed ledge is briefly illuminated, but the rider is focused on the dragons.

The shovelhelm, Clawlifter, snarls and approaches the rider, who turns around to face the aggravated dragon. With a flick, the flaming blade snaps back into the hilt. The rider bends down and takes a small vial off his person, loading it into the hilt. A push of a button releases gas as the rider makes a ring around himself. I recognize the smell: Zippleback gas.

A second later, the ring of gas illuminates, causing the dragons to recoil a bit. I've got to admit, I'm kind of impressed with this boy. I shuffle to the edge of my ledge; simultaneously, Valka begins moving from her spot in the shadows.

The rider approaches Clawlifter with an outstretched hand, showing he means no harm. Before he can touch the dragon, however, Valka jumps down from her spot in the shadows, causing the rider to jump and glance in her direction.

Valka circles the boy as he backs up with his hands out. "Who are you?" He asks. As usual, he doesn't get a response. "One of the dragon thieves?" He continues.

Ah, so he's met Ferret, son of Eret, and what's left of his trapping crew.

He's nervous as Valka continues to stay silent. "Uh... Drago Bludvist?" He questions. I want to scoff. We are not murderers. I jump down from my ledge, landing a few feet from Valka. The rider jumps again and looks between the two of us. "Do you even understand what I'm saying?" He asks a little louder, probably uncomfortable with all the silence.

I think it's time to bring in the night fury. Tapping the heel of my boot releases a small dagger at the front; I drag the toe of my boot along the stone, making a scraping noise. Then, with a double tap of my heel against the rock, the blade retracts. Atlas, hearing the noise, roars loudly and flies over, carrying the night fury.

She drops him by the rider before landing on a nearby perch. The fury shakes off the water as the boy runs to his dragon. "Toothless!" He embraces his dragon, petting the fury's head. Valka and I watch the reunion with curiosity. "It's okay. I'm glad to see you, too, bud." The boy mutters. The fury licks his face with a soft grumble. "You really had me worried there."

Valka and I glance at each other before she shakes her staff lightly, causing the beads inside to rattle softly. The thunderclaw between us grumbles before opening its jaws and producing a standing flame in its throat. One by one, the surrounding dragons follow suit, and pretty soon, the cavern is lit up with a warm fiery glow.

Spotting us, the night fury curls around its rider and hisses. Valka straightens up, the fury growling in response. I stay where I am as she drops her staff and shield, approaching the pair curiously. As Valka takes steps closer, the fury and rider take steps back.

With her hand outstretched, Valka waves it in a circular motion in front of the angry night fury. It groans before flopping on its side, kicking its leg lightly in the air in a state of bliss. Valka pets the dragon as she approaches the rider, who looks astounded yet still uncertain and fearful.

I'm not really sure what Valka's looking for, but she continues to reach for the rider as he recoils until he can not back up any farther.

"Uh, uh..." The boy looks around, briefly looking at me before focusing on the woman in front of him.

Noticing something, Valka gasps and backs up slightly. Taking a step forward, I glance at her, silently questioning what is wrong. "Hiccup?" Valka asks softly, almost unsure of herself.

"Uh..." Not knowing what to say, the boy–presumably Hiccup–glances around again.

Valka removes her helmet, setting it aside as she stares at the boy. "C-could it be?" She stands up from her crouching position. "After all these years? How is this possible?" She seems to ask herself the last question.

Still confused, he looks between me and Valka, "Uh, should I... should I know you?" He asks.

Valka's small smile fades, "No." She admits. Valka glances away, "You were only a babe...." Then, with a breath, she looks back at the boy before her, "But a mother never forgets."

Hiccup's eyes widen as he realizes what she's saying. Taking quick breaths, he attempts to say something, but Valka's reveal has left him entirely tongue-tied.

With her hand out, Valka shushes him, "Shh. Shh." She glances back at me. Slowly her face lights up with a smile. Turning back to Hiccup, she waves for him to follow her. "Come." She turns around and dashes toward the tunnel.

I quickly follow Valka into the tunnels, and I can hear Hiccup calling out to us as he gives chase.

This is an interesting development indeed.