The early morning light streamed through the hut's small windows, casting long shadows across the floor. I stretched, feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin as it filtered through the cracks in the wood. It felt good to be sleeping somewhere safe, somewhere soft. It had been years since I'd had a bed—not since I'd spent so much time in that cave, alone with my thoughts and my dragons.

I stood, threading my hands above my head, savoring the simple luxury of stretching in the warmth of the morning. It wasn't much, but for now, it was enough.

Then, a knock on the door broke my moment of peace. I turned to see the door creak open, revealing a blonde-haired girl standing in the doorway, a bowl of porridge in her hands.

"I thought you'd be hungry, so Gobber sent me to give you this," she said with a small, almost shy smile, holding the bowl out to me.

I gave her a grateful nod, stepping forward to take the offering. It was a small gesture, but it felt significant. There was something about being cared for here that was different from the cold solitude I'd known. The people of this village, rough as they were, had a way of showing kindness without asking for anything in return.

"Thank you," I said, my voice soft, and as I glanced up, I saw the curiosity in her eyes. She looked at me as if she had questions, but didn't quite know how to ask them.

"I'm Nyx," I added, offering a smile of my own.

"I know," she said, still holding the bowl. "I'm Astrid. Hiccup's... friend." She hesitated for a moment, her gaze flickering between me and the bowl in my hands. "I didn't mean to interrupt. Gobber just thought you might need something to eat. He's... not exactly the best at delivering his own messages."

I chuckled softly, appreciating her attempt at lightening the mood. Gobber's bluntness was something I was getting used to.

"No problem," I said, taking a seat at the small table by the window. "I'm sure he's just busy."

Astrid placed the bowl on the table in front of me. "I hope you like it," she said quietly, standing back as though unsure whether she should stay or go.

I picked up the spoon and tasted the porridge. It was warm, simple, but filling. "It's perfect," I told her, meeting her gaze. There was something about her energy—determined, strong, but still searching for something—that reminded me a little of myself.

Astrid gave me a small smile, still standing by the door. "Well, if you need anything else, I'm usually around. Just... call for me."

I nodded, my mind already thinking of the challenges ahead. But for now, I was content. The village was beginning to feel more like home, even if only in the smallest of ways. Astrid, Gobber, Hiccup... they were starting to open the door for me, bit by bit. I just had to keep proving that dragons weren't the monsters they'd been led to believe.

As she closed the door behind her, I sat back, taking another bite of the porridge. The day ahead was full of unknowns, but for the first time in a long while, I felt like I might just be able to face them.

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I wandered through the dense forest, my feet light against the soft earth. The trees towered above me, their branches swaying gently in the breeze. The air was cool, and the quiet of the woods wrapped around me like a familiar cloak. I had been here before—this was the place where I first met Hiccup and Toothless, where the Night Fury had watched me from the shadows, judging me. I had felt that judgment then, a raw, intense feeling that made my skin prickle, but now... now it felt different. Now, I felt needed.

The Night Fury. That majestic creature had captivated me from the first moment I saw him. There was something in his eyes that called to me, something I couldn't explain. I didn't know the future of this world yet, but I knew, deep in my heart, that my presence here wasn't by accident. I was meant to help bridge the gap between humans and dragons. And the Night Fury was the key to it all.

I continued on, my thoughts turning inward, until I spotted movement in the clearing ahead. My heart raced as I recognized the sleek, black shape of the Night Fury. He was there, watching me with those glowing, amber eyes, his wings twitching as if he knew I was coming. I took a deep breath, steadying myself as I approached.

But as I got closer, a wave of guilt washed over me. I had learned so much from the dragons, and yet, the raids, the destruction—they were real, undeniable. I couldn't ignore that. The lives lost, the families torn apart, the years of fear. I had to do something about it, but what? I couldn't just pretend those things didn't matter.

My hands clenched at my sides, my emotions a storm that was hard to calm. The guilt, the responsibility—it weighed heavily on me, but I didn't have time to let it consume me. The dragons needed me. The village needed me. And the Night Fury... he needed to understand me.

Without thinking, I let out a breath and focused. Let the wings come out, I thought, and in a heartbeat, they were there. Golden, shimmering wings unfurled behind me like a glistening display of strength and grace. I knew what they meant—my connection to the dragons was deeper than I'd ever imagined. These wings were proof of it. I lowered them gently, letting the weight of them settle, and then I made my way to the small pond where the Night Fury rested.

The creature watched me, his eyes still glowing, a low growl vibrating through his chest. As I knelt by the water, his large wings twitched, and he growled louder.

"Hey, hey, easy, big one," I said softly, my voice calm despite the tension in the air. I crouched low, just out of his reach, keeping my body at a level where I wouldn't intimidate him, where I could make myself smaller, less threatening.

Slowly, I extended a hand toward him, keeping my movements fluid and non-threatening. The Night Fury's gaze flickered between me and my outstretched hand, his tail twitching uneasily.

"Easy," I repeated, my voice gentle, coaxing. I crouched lower until I was almost level with the ground, close enough to reach him without towering above him. My wings folded back against my body, disappearing like a whisper in the wind, leaving me as just a woman in a fur coat, no longer an otherworldly figure with wings of gold.

The Night Fury hesitated for a long moment, his amber eyes locked on mine. And then, ever so slowly, he took a tentative step forward, lowering his head to sniff the air around me.

"That's it," I murmured, my heart pounding in my chest as I stretched out a hand toward him. This was the moment. This was where I would either earn his trust... or not. But I was ready.

My fingers brushed against the smooth, sleek scales of his muzzle, and for a moment, time seemed to stretch. The Night Fury froze, the world around us quiet. I held my breath, waiting for the inevitable. Would he recoil? Would he snap at me?

But instead, the dragon lowered his head further, his hot breath warming my skin as he leaned into my touch, just a little. A moment of connection. A quiet understanding.

I smiled softly, the weight of the world on my shoulders for a fleeting moment, but lighter now. Maybe I didn't have all the answers. Maybe I didn't know everything. But here, with this dragon, I knew something had shifted. And that was enough for now.