A New Perspective

Viðr-eign (Encounter)

It was already well past sunset as Hiccup and the rest of his group had already combed the entire island trying any more clues on what type of dragon could have done this, feeling the weight of the terrible news they had to deliver. Tension hung heavy in the air as they grappled with the unease of the unexpected situation they found themselves in. The unknown assailant had struck with devastating force, leaving behind a trail of destruction and death that left them all at a loss. They meticulously crossed off various dragon species from their list of possible culprits, knowing that only a select few possessed the power and prowess to wreak such havoc. The thought of a Night Fury, swift and elusive like Toothless, crossed their minds, but they knew that tracking down a Night Fury would be a monumental challenge, considering Toothless was the only one known in the archipelago. With its affinity for lightning storms, the Skrill also came to mind as a potential culprit, but it seemed improbable without recent reports of lightning storms. The meticulous consideration of every possibility only added to the weight of their task, as they sought answers in the wake of such devastation.

"Hiccup, we have already crossed off many dragon species from the list that could have been responsible for this. I still don't believe that a Night Fury could have done this because the corpses looked as though they had been sliced up. It must be something bigger than a Night Fury, maybe even the size of a Monstrous Nightmare at best. I just don't know." Fishlegs, clearly vexed, furrowed his brow as he painstakingly scrutinized the aftermath of the destruction. His frustration was palpable as he struggled to unravel the mystery of which dragon could have unleashed such devastating power. His eyes darted back and forth, scanning the area where the once solid rocks had been reduced to flowing molten rock. Every crease on his forehead bespoke the depth of his concentration as he sought to comprehend the sheer magnitude of the fire blast responsible for this transformation. In his mind, he compared this astounding force to the formidable abilities of the deadly Nadder and the elusive Night Fury, only to realize that it surpassed them both. This puzzled him, as he had never witnessed Stormfly or even Toothless exhibiting such overwhelming power. While the Gronckle could turn rocks into molten magma through direct digestion, Fishlegs instinctively knew that this scenario differed. Fishlegs appeared frustrated as he struggled to identify the type of dragon responsible for the immense destruction. After examining the area where the rocks had turned into molten rock, he concluded that the dragon must possess an exceptionally powerful fire blast. This blast surpassed even that of the deadly Nadder and Night Fury combined, as he had never seen Stormfly and Toothless capable of turning rocks into molten magma. While a Gronckle could achieve this through directly digesting rocks, it did not seem to be the case here.

"I believe we should head back as soon as possible. We need to warn Gobber and Valka about what we found, and we need to build defenses on Berk in case whatever caused this decides to head there as well". A shiver ran down Astrid's spine as an unfamiliar fear took hold. She was adamant about not prolonging their stay for any longer than necessary, fearing the possibility of the source of the disturbance returning.

"Astrid the Fearless is suggesting that we should head back instead of staying to find this dragon. Now, that has me worried.", Snotlout said the words mockingly, attempting to lift everyone's spirits while desperately trying to push aside the growing unease he felt about staying on the island any longer. The fact that Astrid didn't acknowledge his attempt at trying to get a rise out of her indicated just how serious and concerning the situation had become.

"Ok gang, it's clear that we aren't going to find anything more here than we already have seen. Astrid is right we have to head back to Berk and begin to build defenses in case whatever dragon did this decides to head to our island as well. Mount up it's time we return". As the dragon riders mounted their dragons and began their journey back, an air of unease lingered, fueled by the lurking threat they had encountered. Despite the tension, Astrid engaged Fishlegs in a conversation about the potential abilities of the dragon they were tracking. Fishlegs attentively pinpointed the dragon's fire breath as being of significant strength, basing his analysis on the charred remains of various dragon species they had encountered on the island. He vividly described the unfortunate fate of the Gronckles, renowned for their resilience against fire and steel weaponry, now reduced to ash and silhouettes on the rocky beach.