"I can't find anything."

Hiccup had finished his patrol on the right side of the North, and he returned to the middle to wait for Astrid. He sighed and looked at Toothless, who gave a small, unhappy whine. Hiccup gently stroked the magnificent Night Fury's head, and Toothless warbled affectionately.

"It's gonna be alright bud," Hiccup whispered soothingly. Hiccup stood up and scanned the horizon. "Astrid should be back by now," he said.

Indeed, a few seconds later, a silhouette of a Nadder loomed in the distance.

Astrid landed and patted Stormfly's head. "Stormfly did her best in trying to pick up the hatchling's scent, but she couldn't find even a whiff of it. What do we do now?"

Hiccup sighed again. "I don't know Astrid. I--"

"Brother!"

Dagur swooped in and landed next to Hiccup. "Strykey here found one of our dragon-napper's ship!" he said enthusiastically, ruffling the happy Sleuther's head. "Obviously they're Dragon Hunters, and my sister and I really did kick their sorry butts!" He then laughed his maniacal crazy laugh of triumph.

"That's great!" said Hiccup happily. "Did you find the hatchling though?"

"That's just the problem, Hiccup," Dagur's tone turned serious. "These Hunters doesn't seem to have the hatchling. I tried threatening them, but all they said was it was the other Hunters who had it. They won't tell where these "other Hunters" are either." Dagur's shoulders drooped. "Way to go in ruining my triumphant moment, Brother."

Hiccup mounted Toothless. "How's Heather then?" he asked.

"Heather's checking the hull of the Hunters' ship for the hatchling. Oh, and before you ask, we already bound the Hunters in a very tight rope. No worries!" explained Dagur, enthusiastic once more.

"Then let's go there! I'm dying of waiting here." Astrid swiftly vaulted onto Stormfly and Stormfly hovered in the air instantly.

They took off, Dagur leading the way on Sleuther. Soon they saw the ship looming in the distance which is sinking slowly, and sped up. Hiccup could see the dark silhouette of a figure tied on the ship's mast.

"Oh, you tied them on the mast? Good job!" said Astrid. Dagur frowned and screwed up his eyes.

"Hmm," he grunted. "We didn't tie them on the mast. Well," he said, cheering up, "my sister's taken care of them by tying them on the mast! Haha! Well done!"

"Wait a second," said Hiccup. Toothless growled. "What's the matter bud?" Hiccup asked his dragon. Hiccup screwed up his eyes as well, but in the darkness of nighttime, it's hard to make out the dark figure on the mast.

But then Hiccup saw a glint of silver shining off the tied person...

"Heather?" he called out.

The figure looked around, and Hiccup could see the bright green eyes shining at him.

"Hiccup?" asked the person. "Help!"