(Hiccup's POV)
The island fell away behind them.
Hiccup kept his foot steady on the pedal as Toothless carried them back across the open sea. The wind was colder now, the heat of the volcano replaced by clean air and distance.
Astrid hadn't said much.
She sat behind him, quieter than before.
Thinking.
Processing.
"They have to know," she said finally.
Hiccup shook his head.
"They won't listen."
"They will," Astrid snapped. "We just saw it!"
Hiccup looked ahead.
"They'll see dragons. That's it."
Toothless let out a low rumble, steadying into a glide.
For a moment, the only sound was the wind.
Then—
Toothless's head lifted.
His ears angled upward.
Hiccup felt the shift instantly.
"What is it?"
The Night Fury didn't answer.
He slowed slightly.
Looking.
Listening.
Astrid tensed.
"…What?"
Hiccup followed Toothless's gaze.
At first—
Nothing.
Then a shadow passed through the clouds above them.
Large.
Silent.
Astrid's hand moved toward her weapon.
"Hiccup…"
Toothless didn't growl.
Didn't attack.
He just watched.
The shadow circled once.
Then again.
Keeping distance.
Hiccup narrowed his eyes.
"…That's not one of the others."
Astrid's voice dropped.
"There's another dragon."
Above them, gliding through the high currents, the bat-winged dragon watched.
Her massive wings barely moved as she rode the air.
Below her—
The Night Fury.
The human.
And now a second human.
She had followed them to the island.
Watched them discover the truth.
Watched them survive it.
Now—
They had seen her.
No more hiding.
She angled her wings.
And descended.
The air shifted as she dropped from the clouds.
Silent at first.
Then—
A faint rush of wind.
Astrid saw her first.
Her eyes widened.
"Hiccup—!"
The bat-winged dragon emerged from the clouds.
Enormous wings spread wide.
Turquoise membranes glowing faintly in the fading light.
She circled once above them.
Then folded her wings slightly—
And dropped lower.
Toothless let out a soft, recognizing rumble.
Hiccup blinked.
"…You know her?"
The dragon passed in front of them now.
Close enough to see clearly.
Jet-black fur and scale.
A white mane framing her neck.
Massive ears angled forward.
Bright yellow eyes locked onto them.
Astrid tightened her grip.
"That thing is not friendly."
Toothless didn't react.
He simply hovered.
Watching.
Waiting.
The bat-winged dragon slowed her descent.
Then landed on a rocky outcrop rising from the sea below.
Wings folding neatly against her sides.
She didn't charge.
Didn't roar.
She just watched them.
Hiccup stared.
"…She's not attacking."
Astrid didn't relax.
"That doesn't mean anything."
Toothless dipped slightly in the air.
A low, calm rumble left his throat.
The bat-winged dragon answered.
A soft series of clicking pulses rolled through the air.
Astrid froze.
"…What was that?"
Hiccup's eyes widened slightly.
"…They're talking."
The two dragons faced each other across the open space.
No aggression.
No fear.
Just recognition.
Toothless turned slightly, glancing back at Hiccup.
Then back at her.
Hiccup understood.
"…You've seen her before."
The bat-winged dragon tilted her head slightly.
Watching him now.
Studying.
Curious.
Not hostile.
Astrid slowly lowered her weapon—but didn't put it away.
"…You're telling me," she said carefully, "there are two of them?"
Hiccup didn't answer.
He was still watching the dragon on the rock below.
The silent observer.
The one who had been there the whole time.
And now—
She had finally stepped into the story.