"Ok, let's see that map." Hiccup said, reaching for the rolled up paper.

Bluewing poked his head out of the satchel. He chirped, looking around, nostrils flaring. I took him in my arms.

"We're safe now." I told him.

Bjorg took it from Egil and handed it to Hiccup. Hiccup opened it out in front of him. All of us tried to lean over his shoulder.

"This is the whole island?" Hiccup asked Bjorg. I leaned closer to get a better look.

"I' looks like i'." Bjorg nodded.

The map wasn't your kids-play follow the dots to the X treasure map. Beside the drawing of the island were notes--probably clues. But they weren't written in Norse.

"I can't read this." I said.

"None of us can." Hiccup turned to Bjorg.

"I can. 'ere," Bjorg reached for the map. "The first line says 'To ge' to the Dragon's Rock, ye must first find the dragon's claw."

"What's the Dragon's Rock?" Astrid asked.

"It could be a rock shaped like a dragon." Fishlegs suggested.

"Or maybe a dragon's cave." Hiccup said. "I guess we'll find out. But first we need to find the dragon's claw."

"Well, what's the dragon's claw?" Snotlout crossed his arms.

"Does it give anymore clues?" Fishlegs asked.

"No." Hiccup studied the map. "Nothing else is written here."

"Ok, let's think." Astrid said. "Is there anything you can think of that looks like a claw?"

"A claw." Tuff stated.

"Use your brain." Astrid snapped.

"Actually, what if he's right?" I asked.

"I don't think so, but it is something to think about." Hiccup mused. He walked over to Toothless and swung into the saddle. "Mount up guys, let's see if we can solve this from the sky."

I pushed Bluewing onto my shoulders and hurried into the saddle behind Hiccup. Everyone else climbed aboard their own dragons.

"Wait! Wha' abou' us?" Bjorg demanded.

"You're no' gonna l-leave us alone 'ere, are ye?" Egil quivered, fingering the objects on his belt with one hand and his throat with the other.

"Climb up behind Snotlout and Fishlegs." Hiccup told them.

"What?!" Snotlout sputtered.

"Perfect!" Bjorg grinned. He sprinted forward and jumped up behind Snotlout. Hookfang grunted.

Pale as a cloud, Egil shuffled over to Meatlug and pulled himself up behind Fishlegs.

"Alright, let's go." Hiccup nudged Toothless' sides and he took off, the other dragons following.

We leveled off above the trees. The forest was thick, revealing almost none of the ground below. Hiccup scanned what he could.

"Read the clue again, Hiccup." Fishlegs said.

Hiccup quoted it from memory, still searching for something beneath. "To find the Dragon's Rock, you must first find the dragon's claw."

"What if it's a giant Red Death claw sticking out of the ground?" Ruff grinned.

Tuff grinned too. "Yeah. Then when we touch it, the Red Death comes out of the ground and swallows us. Then it flies to the Dragon's Rock and we cut our way out and find the treasure."

Everyone stared at them.

"Uh, Ruff, Tuff, the Red Death is kinda dead." Hiccup informed.

"It's the Red Death's brother, then." Tuff said. "The Green Death."

"You two are idiots." Snotlout rolled his eyes.

"Based on that one crazy idea," Astrid said. "I agree with Snotlout."

"Who are you calling idiots?" Tuff scowled.

"You two idiots!"

"If that's how you want it, feel our dragon's claws!" Ruff shouted.

"Wait!" Hiccup yelled, holding out a hand.

BarfBelch zoomed forward, foreclaws extended. Snotlout screamed as the dragon's claws narrowly missed his head. He wobbled, then he slipped off Hookfang's neck and plunged toward the trees below!

No!

"Guys!" Hiccup roared.

My eyes widened. Hiccup looked furious. With a yelp, I hugged him tight as Toothless shot into the dive. Bluewing was thrown off my shoulders. I could see Hookfang, with a desperate Bjorg clinging to his neck, tearing after his falling master.

"Hang on Snotlout!" Hiccup yelled.

"To what?!" Snotlout screamed back.

"We've almost got you! Hookfang, extend talons!"

The Nightmare thrust his claws forward. Too late, Snotlout plunged into a bramble bush.

"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWW!!!!!!!"

We all landed, Bluewing alighting on my shoulders again.

"Snotlout, are you all right?" Hiccup asked.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!"

"Ruff, Tuff, get him out."

"Why us?" They grumbled.

"Now!" Hiccup barked.

"Ok, ok." The twins walked up to the thorny vines, BarfBelch behind them.

"And be careful." Hiccup added.

I think I heard Tuff mutter a "Awe, man!" but I couldn't be sure.

They told their Zippleback to reach in and retrieve Snotlout. Their long necks easily slipped between the thorns. A moment later, Snotlout was standing on the ground again.

"Look at you!" I grimaced.

Blood oozed from scratches all over his arms, dripping onto his clothes and the ground.

"Come here," Hiccup walked up, first-aid already out. He bandaged Snotlout's cuts, and for once the stronger dragon rider didn't complain.

"You look really clawed up." Astrid said.

"I fell in a thorny dungeon!" Snotlout snapped. "Why do you think I look clawed up?"

"Wait." Hiccup said, looking deep in thought. We all looked at him.

"Fishlegs," he said at last. "Do you know what kind of bush this is?"

"It's dead now, but," Fishlegs stepped closer to examine the thick, thorny vines. "I think I can identify it. It's on the tip of my tongue...." Then his eyes flashed open and he spun to face us. "Hiccup!" He exclaimed. "This is a Dragon Thorn Bush*! Do you think it means anything?"

"It might." Hiccup said. "Astrid," he looked at her. "Can you chop it down?"

"Leave it to me." Astrid nodded. She took her axe from her back and hacked away at the sharp vines. She'd chopped her way to it's center when she stopped.

"I don't see anything of worth. I'm going to burn it."

Hiccup nodded.

"Stormfly, burn!"

White hot flame torched the black branches remaining. In seconds, there was nothing left to burn.

"Hiccup, look!" Fishlegs pointed to the charred earth.

I beamed. Bluewing perched on my arm.

Under ash and burned leaves was a stone with a dragon carved on it.

"I's the Dragon's Rock!" Bjorg squealed.

"It's still too hot to touch." Hiccup said.

"Stormfly, grab."

Stormfly reached down with her beak, but the dragon stone didn't move. Stretching out her big foot, she hooked her long claws around it and scratched. After a few tries, it came loose.

"Yes!" Egil cheered.

Stormfly moved the stone aside to reveal a hole in the ground. After praising her, Astrid and Hiccup bent over the hole.

"What is it?" I asked, feeling excitement prick me like Bluewing's claws on my arm.

"It's a jar." Hiccup replied, lifting out an ivory jar.

My shoulders sagged. Others sighed. Only Hiccup, Astrid, and Fishlegs remained positive.

After a small struggle, Hiccup managed to open the jar. He reached his fingers in and pulled out a tattered yellow paper.

"Is it the next clue?" I asked.

"Bjorg, will you read this?" Hiccup handed him the paper.

Bjorg's eyes roamed over the strange words once before he read it out loud. "To find the Dragon's Rock, you must follow the dragon's tail."