Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III glanced over to the dragon beside him, sitting near the edge of a sharp cliff. Toothless stretched himself out among the grass, grumbling contentedly as he bathed in the streaming sunlight. Hiccup sat still, propped against the flat of a rock that seemed as tall as the few trees that surrounded the small isle, standing tall out of the ocean and strong against the waves.

They came here often. Found when exploring beyond the island of Berk, it was relatively agreed upon as a favorite place between the two of them. With a few trees for shade and several rocks to lie one's back against, it was a perfect escape from the harsh realities they faced on a daily basis. It was small enough not to draw attention from passersby on sea or in the air, and far enough away from Berk to let the Alpha and the Chief breathe in a few rare moments of peace and quiet.

Hiccup thought back to the hours that led to their departure from Berk. Between stolen livestock, mud flooding, reconstruction from the last fire-breathing incident and gathering enough supplies for the descent into the winter months, Hiccup had been overwhelmed by mid morning.

Toothless had noticed Hiccup's tense mood instantly and stuck close to him throughout the day, until finally - finally, they had a moment and Toothless nudged Hiccup until he was paying attention and pranced around as he always did when it was time to go flying. Hiccup relented, and Toothless seemed to know where he wanted to go. Hiccup hardly noticed, switching Toothless' tail-fin automatically as they soared through the air. Once they landed, Hiccup was a little peeved. It was an extremely busy day, they didn't have time to be hanging out in the middle of nowhere. But Toothless held his ground, quite literally, and Hiccup was forced to sit and wait.

Now, with Toothless asleep and the breeze ruffling his hair, Hiccup let out a sigh of relief. He listened to the waves crashing against the rock formations around him and felt the warmth of the sun on his face. He closed his eyes and felt himself relax.

Yes, they would have to go back soon. But for these few moments, they could be themselves, and be together the way they used to, without worry or responsibility.

A small smile appeared on his face. "Thanks, Bud." He whispered before drifting off.