(Hiccup's POV)
Astrid was still screaming.
"Put me down! Put me down!"
"I can't!" Hiccup shouted back. "That's kind of the problem right now!"
The Night Fury surged higher into the sky, powerful wings cutting through the air as the forest dropped away beneath them.
Astrid clung tightly to Hiccup's arm.
"This is your idea of a plan?!"
"No! This is damage control!"
Toothless banked sharply.
Hiccup adjusted his foot on the pedal.
The tail fin shifted.
The turn smoothed out.
Astrid noticed.
Her voice dropped slightly.
"…You're controlling it."
Hiccup glanced back at her.
"Yeah."
"Toothless can't fly without me."
Astrid stared at him.
Then at the saddle.
Then at the tail.
Realization hit.
"You did this to him."
Hiccup shook his head quickly.
"No! I mean—yes—but not on purpose!"
Toothless gave an annoyed rumble.
"Long story!" Hiccup added.
They broke through a layer of clouds.
Everything went quiet.
The sky opened around them in soft light and drifting mist.
Astrid's grip loosened slightly.
Her eyes widened.
"…Okay."
Hiccup glanced back.
"Okay?"
"This is… actually amazing."
Hiccup smiled.
"Yeah."
Toothless glided smoothly through the clouds, wings steady now.
For a moment, everything felt calm.
Peaceful.
Astrid slowly released her death grip on Hiccup's arm.
"I can't believe this," she said quietly.
Hiccup laughed softly.
"I know."
Below them, the ocean stretched endlessly toward the horizon.
Astrid looked down.
Then quickly looked back up.
"…Still not okay with the height."
"Fair."
Toothless dove suddenly.
Astrid screamed again.
"NOT OKAY WITH THAT EITHER!"
Hiccup laughed as the wind rushed past them.
"Relax! He's just showing off!"
The dragon leveled out just above the water, skimming the surface before climbing again.
Astrid held on tightly, but this time—
She was laughing.
High above them, a second shadow moved silently through the clouds.
The bat-winged dragon followed at a distance, her massive wings gliding effortlessly through the high air currents.
She stayed out of sight.
Watching.
Below her, the Night Fury and the human rider moved as one.
The female human clung behind them, caught between fear and wonder.
The bat-dragon's ears tilted forward.
The human had seen the sky now.
Truly seen it.
And that changed things.
Below, Toothless climbed again.
Then suddenly—
His body stiffened.
Hiccup felt it immediately.
"What is it?"
Toothless let out a low rumble.
Then turned sharply.
Ahead of them—
Shapes moved through the sky.
Other dragons.
Dozens of them.
Flying in the same direction.
Carrying something.
Fish.
Livestock.
Food.
Astrid leaned forward.
"What are they doing?"
Hiccup frowned.
"I don't know…"
Toothless followed them.
The sky grew darker as they flew farther from Berk.
The ocean below shifted into jagged rock formations rising from the water.
Steam drifted upward from somewhere ahead.
The air changed.
Hot.
Heavy.
Astrid's voice dropped.
"…Hiccup."
"I see it."
A massive volcanic island rose from the sea.
At its center—
A towering column of smoke.
And something moving within it.
Toothless slowed.
The other dragons dove toward the volcano, disappearing into its depths.
Astrid stared.
"…This is where they've been going."
Hiccup nodded slowly.
"Yeah."
Toothless hovered at a distance.
Watching.
Then—
A roar.
Deep.
Massive.
The ground itself seemed to shake.
Something enormous emerged from within the volcano.
Astrid's voice dropped to a whisper.
"What… is that?"
Hiccup stared.
The answer was simple.
And terrifying.
"The reason they steal food."