Symphony of Shadows

55. Warmth

A/N: Things will start to pick up in the next few chapters as we near the end:) Enjoy this chapter! The next one will be posted on Sunday at 8pm Eastern European Standard Time. 

When Hiccup should've been occupied with scouting a suitable island, his thoughts were consumed with worrying about Astrid. His usual standards for a safe island were gone—he only wanted somewhere hidden, far from the trade routes. With every beat of wings, they flew farther and farther away from his heart. His chest ached, and he'd practically chewed through his lower lip in his anxious state.

They had traveled for a few days and only stopped for breaks when the dragons seemed to droop in the sky. If it were up to Hiccup, they'd never rest, but the flock couldn't keep up with Toothless's stamina. Today they were up bright and early at the crack of dawn. The temperature grew warmer as they flew further southwest, and Hiccup had to shed his suit in favor of a lighter tunic. His helmet stayed firmly on, as it wasn't too unbearable. Flying all day in the sun was taking its toll on his skin, however. He'd learned that any area left uncovered would sting by the end of the day and turn bright red.

Lucky him.

"Alright, bud. Let's see what our options are for the day."

He pulled out his spyglass and surveyed the surrounding area in search of any landmasses. A few formations caught his eye, but they weren't large enough to host a horde of dragons. He was also looking for something elevated and difficult to reach, which didn't describe any of the calm beaches lining the islands. They needed something impossible to climb and accessible only by dragons. Hiccup scoured the horizon, and his eyes locked on a towering figure overhead. The clouds seemed to cover most of the rock, since he'd almost missed it. The gray basalt blended into the cumulus clouds enveloping it. He couldn't even see the top of the island from where they hovered in place.

It was perfect.

"Let's check it out."

The island was more of a mountain as they climbed higher and higher in the cloud cover. As they neared the peak, he could see that it wasn't just a single island but a connected chain of jagged cliffs. Large caves littered the cliff sides, just the right size for tired dragons. The elevation meant the air was chillier, and they weren't going to melt in the hot sun. Thank Odin. At the lowest peak, he thought he saw a patch of green.

"Down there, Toothless."

They swooped low and landed on the softest grass he'd ever seen. It almost looked fake. The meadow led to a small forest with tall pines, perfect for ax throwing.

Astrid would love it here.

She'd love the way the wind gusts tickled her face. The way the clouds seemed just out of reach. The scenic cliffs that she could use as obstacles when training with Stormfly. A beautiful view of the archipelago at their feet.

He longed for her.

This place would have to do.

The dragons had already followed them and began to sniff out their new home.

"Let them know this is where our new nest is."

Toothless cooed in response and turned his attention to the flock. The Night Fury's roar echoed through the cliff walls, and all heads swiveled at attention. It still shocked Hiccup how much the dragons respected Toothless. He slid back in his saddle and patted his best friend's head.

"Now it's time to go to Berk, bud. She needs us."

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After the first few hours, Astrid had gotten used to the smell. After a day, she couldn't feel the cold anymore. The only thing she hadn't gotten used to was the silence. She could hear every beat of her own heart, every shuffle of her legs on the floor. She tried to keep herself busy doing push-ups or sit-ups, but that only worked for an hour or two. In the end, all she could do was think.