Lost and Found

Chapter 5: How We Ended Up Here

"Berk was a land of kill or be killed, but I believed peace was possible." Her eyes have that same far-off look whenever she recalls her past. A frown settles on my face. I wish she could have seen my village. She would have loved it there. "It was a very unpopular opinion," Valka mutters.

Valka glances at Hiccup as she tells her story, "Then one night, a dragon broke into our house, finding you in the cradle. I rushed to protect you, but what I saw... was proof of everything I believed." Valka pauses as she sees Cloudjumper return. She reaches out to stroke the large dragon. "This wasn't a vicious beast, but an intelligent, gentle creature, whose soul reflected my own."

Atlas comes up behind me and nudges my back, asking for scratches. I happily give her some as Valka continues.

She glances away in slight shame, "You and your father nearly died that night, all because I couldn't kill a dragon."

Hiccup nods with a slight shrug of his shoulders, "Yeah, it runs in the family."

Valka gives a soft, guilty smile, "It broke my heart to stay away, but I believed you'd be safer if I did." She explains.

"How did you survive?" Hiccup asks.

Valka chuckles, "Oh, Cloudjumper never meant to harm me. He must've thought I belonged here...In the home of the great Bewilderbeast! And a curious toddler." Valka smirks as she sends a glance my way.

With a fond sigh, I roll my eyes slightly and walk toward the edge. Altas follows close behind me. Valka and Hiccup follow too. "It's not like I asked him to kidnap a random person," I mutter. "I was just as surprised as you." I smile at Valka as we reach the edge. Then, glancing at Hiccup, I gesture to the great dragon resting in the cool water below, "The Alpha species. One of very few that still exist."

Toothless jumps to the edge looking around curiously. Atlas and Cloudjumper watch from behind us. Down below, a few dragons fly down to some dry spots in front of the bewilderbeast and bow. The king of dragons lifts his head, groaning lowly in acknowledgment. Stealing a glance at Hiccup, I notice the bright smile on his face. It brings a smile of my own.

"Every nest has its queen, but this is the king of all dragons." Valka states. She gestures around to the nest, specifically the ice walls that keep us safe and hidden. Hiccup follows where she points with his eyes. "With his icy breath, this graceful giant built our nest. A safe haven for dragons everywhere." Valka explains.

We begin walking down a path closer toward the bewilderbeast. Toothless frolics in the ferns around us, following with giddy jumps. Valka is slightly in the lead as Hiccup, and I walk behind.

Hiccup looks at the ice ceiling and makes some sort of realization, causing him to pause. "Wait, that's the ice-spitter? He's responsible for all that destruction?" He asks.

That's right, he met Ferret and that trapping party. It must have been a pretty wild sight to stumble upon that in the middle of nowhere. "He protects us. We all live under his care. And his command." I explain.

He glances at me as we pass a nest of baby scuttleclaws. I hear the babies coo excitedly as they jump out of their nest. Glancing over my shoulder, I watch them begin pestering Toothless. "All but the babies, of course." Hiccup and Valka glance back with amused smiles as the babies jump and crowd around Toothless, who looks slightly overwhelmed with the attention. The babies are always excitable around new dragons.

Atlas and Cloudjumper approach both sides of the night fury, roaring simultaneously, scaring the babies off. They both glance at the smaller dragon before walking farther down the path with us.