"This is foolish; you won't be participating in the search party. My final answer is no," Stoick says firmly, stalking out of the Mead Hall. However, that doesn't deter Astrid, as both she and Snotlout follow after the chief.

"Stoick wait! This is important to me. I can't just sit around and wait for the assassin to come for us," Astrid pleads, running to catch up to the chief. Astrid can count on one hand the number of times she has ever begged for something. And this would be the first. But this is different. This is really important to her that she helps take down the assassin. Stoick pauses briefly and turns around to face her and his nephew. He has been surprisingly quiet throughout this whole ordeal.

"No Astrid! People are already risking their lives as it is. The people on this mission are well informed of the consequences if this doesn't work out. And I don't mean to undermine your skills, but these are battle trained warriors with years of experience." Stoick takes a deep breath, trying to keep himself in check, "I know that this is really important to you lass, but I can't let either of you come along." And with that, Stoick walks off.

Astrid clenches her fists in frustration. Her reasons for wanting to go may not have been the best, but she was determined. And she can't let something like this stop her.

"No," Astrid shakes her head and turns around to face Snotlout. "I can't just wait here. You know why I have to do this."

"Yeah, I understand. However, you're not going to just be able to climb aboard the ship right before it leaves. You're going to need an actual plan," Snotlout states, a smug look crawling onto his face, knowing that he is right.

"What are we going to do then? Do you actually have a plan?" Astrid asks, crossing her arms. She can already guess what his answer is.

"Nope. Why would I make the plan?" Astrid briefly wonders why she even bothered asking him for an idea. She should've known she would have to make the plan.

Astrid huffs and stalks off into the direction of the forest. She needs to let her frustration out on some trees. However, before she reaches her destination, she hears Fishlegs call out to her.

"Astrid! Astrid! I need to talk to you." She turns around in time to see him run past Snotlout, Meatlug running after him. Astrid waits for Fishlegs to reach her; however, he doesn't talk to her right away as he is bent over, gasping and trying to catch his breath.

Astrid raises an eyebrow as she waits for Fishlegs to compose himself. When he can breathe normally again, he stands up straight and hands her a rolled up piece of parchment.

"This just came and it's really important that you read this." Astrid looks at him curiously, but she takes the parchment nonetheless. Snotlout, curious about what is going on, walks up next to Astrid as she unrolls the parchment.

Dear Astrid, Fishlegs, Snothat, and the other two:

I know that we have had problems with each other in the past. And I know a lot of that is mostly my fault. But I want to tell you again just how much better things have been since our two tribes have formed an alliance.

I want to say again that I am sorry about your dear friend Hiccup. I know that you all weren't very close in the beginning, but I know that you cared about him.

But this isn't all that I have to say.

I know you are aware of what has been happening to the chiefs of the islands in the archipelago. And I know that I was asked to join the chief's meeting this week, but certain events happened that made it so I was unable to go.

The assassin had tried to kill me a few days ago. I was not able to stop him from escaping, although I did learn something quite shocking about him. I am going to assume that none of the other tribes know this. So I will tell you:

Come meet me on my island. What I have learned is probably best not to be told over Terror Mail. I would prefer to tell you this in person.

Therefore, when you learn about what I have to tell you, don't tell your chief. It will only cause chaos in the end.

I will explain everything that happened and why I am being so cryptic when you meet with me.

Please do not wait.