The Shadow's Bane

Jim Report

Hiccup's POV:

It had been a month since I had last seen Jim. And so far, Berk had been at peace. Which would only last so long.

As Toothless and I did our daily flight around Berk that afternoon, I couldn't remember the last time I had felt this happy. Yes, my amulet may have been destroyed back in the battle with Donmar in Arcadia. But that loss didn't bother me anymore.

It had been a struggle, but through everything we had pushed through. Brought down those who stood against us and dragon kind.

Then just as we were about to touch down back at our village, something that scurried down in the forest suddenly caught my eye. "Toothless," I said. "There's something down there, bud." It had been fast. But not fast enough that I hadn't been able to miss it.

From above, we followed the rustling between the trees till it all stopped by the place where I had first tried to ride Toothless: the Cove.

The red figure had shot down through the trees almost as fast as lighting speed. "Okay Toothless. Let's go down slowly. Who knows if whoever is down there can be a friend or foe."

After giving out a friendly growl in agreement, Toothless ducked down into the Cove so that we could have the advantage whoever it was that was running out there.

For all you know, it could be Tuffnut just trying to play another prank on us. "Easy bud," I said when another rustle broke out in the trees above the Cove surrounding us.

It was a defensive reflex to take out Inferno before I could be cut into putty. Now that we stood at the ready, with my flaming sword in my left hand, as if on cue a force suddenly tried to knock me to the ground.

I only managed to keep my balance because of Toothless who didn't hesitate to come out at my defence. Shooting out one of his Plasma Blasts at the unknown presence that was slowly circling us into its trap.

It was its low cackle that made me swing out Inferno to try and fend off whatever was out there. And for a minute, as I thrust Inferno out, it came into contact with another glowing red, metal sword. Making me stumble back in surprise.

Behind me, Toothless acted out in response by flicking his tail at the unknown figure. And because my combat in arms was so fast and nimble in his movements, I missed him miserably only to get kicked down.

I grunted as I landed with my hands spread out in front of me. "I'm okay, bud," I said when Toothless came to help me up.

What stopped me from getting up was what resembled a foot covered in metal almost touching my nose. "What the...?" I asked myself.

After adjusting my own metal foot, I stood up to get a better look at the unconscious figure lying on the ground before me.

With red glowing armour that covered his body from toes to shoulders, shortish black hair, two horns coming out of his head along with incisors that looked deadly sharp to me and that blue familiar stone skin that I would recognise anywhere, I couldn't believe it.

But it was him. As for why he had only come back now? I wasn't sure.
"Jim?" I asked.