Astrid ran.
Her boots slammed against the forest floor, braids flying wildly as she tore through the thick underbrush. Rage and confusion burned in her chest. Nothing made sense anymore.
A sudden rush of wind and powerful talons clamped around her waist.
"AH! Oh, Great Odin's ghost!" she screamed, thrashing violently. "This is it! I'm dead!"
She clawed desperately at the massive black claws holding her. "AAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHH!!!!!!!!!!!"
The ground vanished beneath her as she was lifted high into the air. Trees shrank rapidly. Before she could draw another breath, the dragon deposited her roughly onto the upper branches of a towering pine.
Astrid clung to the trunk, heart pounding, glaring up at the rider hovering beside her on the sleek black dragon.
"Lucian!" she shouted. "Get me down from here! Right now!"
Before Lucian could respond, Toothless glided in beside them, Hiccup looking tense and worried.
"Please, Astrid" Hiccup began.
"You have to give us a chance to explain," Lucian cut in, his voice calm yet commanding.
"I am not listening to ANYTHING you two have to say!" Astrid snapped, eyes blazing between them.
Lucian held her gaze for a moment, then extended his hand, palm open.
"Then we won't speak," he said quietly. "Just let us show you. Please, Astrid."
Pride and curiosity battled across her face.
After a tense pause, she grabbed his forearm. With effortless strength, Lucian pulled her up behind him onto Nyx's back.
"Now get me down," she demanded.
A faint, amused smile touched Lucian's lips. "Let me show you something first."
Nyx suddenly rocketed upward like a bolt of lightning.
Astrid's stomach lurched. She yelped and threw her arms tightly around Lucian's waist, pressing her face against his back. "Ohhh Odin!!! Okay! I'm sorry! You win! Just get me off this thing!"
Higher and higher they climbed, the wind howling past them. Then Nyx leveled out, gliding smoothly above an endless sea of clouds bathed in the golden light of the setting sun.
Lucian glanced back at her. "You don't have to be sorry. It's normal to be shocked… and scared of a dragon."
He nudged her gently. "Open your eyes. Look at what's beyond."
Astrid hesitated, then slowly opened her eyes.
The view took her breath away.
They soared above a vast ocean of soft white clouds, painted rose and gold by the dying sun. She reached out tentatively, her fingers brushing through cool mist. Far below, the island of Berk looked small and strangely peaceful.
"It looks… beautiful up here," she whispered, awe softening her voice.
They flew on, gliding over countless islands and dramatic rock formations. Hiccup trailed behind on Toothless, staying quiet as Astrid's tension gradually eased.
"Alright," she finally admitted, looking down at Nyx's powerful body beneath her, then at Toothless flying nearby. "I admit it. This is pretty cool. It's… amazing. They're amazing."
She turned toward Hiccup. "So what now? Your final exam is tomorrow. You know you're going to have to kill a… a dragon."
"Don't remind me," Hiccup muttered, looking miserable.
Suddenly, Lucian felt it, a deep, instinctive pull in his chest. Nyx's ears flicked up at the same moment Toothless swerved sharply.
Hiccup grabbed the saddle. "Toothless, what's happening?"
"What's going on?" Astrid asked, alarm creeping back into her tone.
Lucian raised a hand. "Shhh," he whispered urgently, signaling for them to duck low.
All three riders pressed themselves against their dragons' necks as they suddenly found themselves flying in the middle of a massive flock. Dozens of dragons streamed around them, carrying sheep, cows, and fish in their talons.
Lucian's eyes narrowed as he watched the behavior. "An Alpha's call…"
"Alpha?" Astrid whispered.
"The leader of all dragons," Lucian answered, his voice low and serious.
The entire flock funneled toward a jagged, volcanic island. Nyx and Toothless followed without hesitation, diving through narrow sea tunnels into the sweltering heart of the volcano. The air grew thick, humid, and unbearably hot. Dragons perched in tunnel-like caves while others dumped their prey into a glowing lake of lava far below.
"It looks like they're hauling in their kill," Astrid muttered.
"Uh… what does that make us?" Hiccup asked uneasily.
"They're not eating any of it," she observed.
Seeing everything unfold, Lucian knew exactly what was coming. He turned to the two others and said, "We need to leave now. Before the Alpha realizes we're here."
Before Hiccup could question him, a lone Gronckle flew forward and dropped a single tiny fish into the lava.
A thunderous roar shook the entire cavern.
The Gronckle squealed in terror and tried to flee, but a colossal head, ancient, monstrous, and covered in jagged spines erupted from the molten lake. Six glowing eyes burned with savage intelligence as the beast snapped the Gronckle out of the air and swallowed it alive.
Every dragon in the nest cowered instantly.
Then the massive Red Death turned its enormous head… and its six eyes locked directly onto Lucian and the others.
"Now!" Lucian barked.
Nyx launched upward like a shadow given wings. Toothless followed instantly. The Alpha lunged, its jaws closing around a fleeing Zippleback instead. Chaos exploded throughout the cavern as dragons scattered in panic.
They burst out of the volcano and raced toward the nearest beach, landing hard on the dark sand.
Astrid slid off Nyx, still catching her breath. "It totally makes sense. It's like a giant beehive. They're the workers, and that's their queen. It controls them all." She looked at Lucian. "Just like you said, an Alpha."
She turned to Hiccup, eyes fierce. "We have to tell your faher. Right now."
Hiccup stepped forward quickly. "No! Not yet. They'll kill Toothless. Astrid, we have to think this through carefully."
"Hiccup," she said incredulously, "we just found the Dragons' Nest, the thing our people have been searching for since the first Vikings sailed these waters and you want to keep it a secret just to protect your pet dragon? Are you serious?!"
"Yes," Hiccup replied, his voice quiet but determined.
Astrid looked to Lucian, clearly expecting him to back her up.
Lucian met her gaze steadily, his expression calm but resolute. "Give him time. He'll figure something out."