The roar echoed through the cove – snaring and furious. But it was not produced by a dragon. Toothless lifted his head, green eyes blown and ears standing on end at the disturbing noise. When he saw who it was, he grumbled and rested his chin once more on his front legs. Astrid was just as much a part of his life nowadays as Hiccup. It wasn't uncommon for her to target practice in his peaceful sanctuary, though her practice did seem more heated than usual today.

Anger-fueled adrenaline pumped through Astrid's body. She wasn't sure what she expected when she woke up from the few hours of sleep she managed to snag. She hated being upset with Hiccup, but she hated even more the actions he'd taken in the past two days. He'd disappeared for another entire day after he'd promised to at least tell her if he was leaving Berk. The little twirp was true to his word about one thing. He didn't leave a note this time.

Her axe slammed into the largest tree truck in the vicinity. Astrid needed this - to expel the accumulated frustration that had built up. Her entire body pulsed with it. If she didn't get rid of it soon, every fiber of her would blow at the seams. That's why she left before the sun had awoken. That's why she was far from Hiccup, relieving the pressure so it wouldn't explode in his face.

She flung her axe until her arm ached and chest heaved. Astrid couldn't tell if she felt better because of the workout or because she was too exhausted to care anymore. She made her way over to Toothless and plopped down against his side. Toothless raised his head, watching her curiously. It was odd for her to visit the cove without Hiccup. Toothless was bewildered as to why his best friend hadn't accompanied her.

"I know you're Hiccup's dragon and I probably shouldn't complain about him to you." The dragon warbled, tilting his head at her. Astrid tapped the axe handle on the ground a few times, contemplating. "But, you're my friend too, Toothless. The only friend that I can come to."

Toothless stretched his neck, licking the top of her hand that rested on her knee. Astrid gave Toothless a tight-lipped smile. Maybe she did feel a little better.

"I don't know why Hiccup does what he does," she continued. "I thought he was finally growing up. Becoming responsible. He was showing the makings of…well, of a chief! I was seeing what he could do. What he could become." She released a frustrated growl. "Why is he suddenly going backwards?"

Astrid turned her gaze to meet Toothless' wide green eyes. "I'm sure you know why. Hiccup probably talks to you."

Toothless' nose twitched a few times, his expression one of contemplation. It was funny how such distinct expressions were noticeable on a dragon when you weren't in the heat of battle with one.

Astrid yelped in surprise when Toothless nudged her onto his head and flung her onto his back. She barely kept hold of her axe as she landed onto the stiffness of the saddle.

"Toothless, what in Thor's name?" Astrid exclaimed, righting herself on the saddle.

Toothless warbled excitedly and pointed with his nose toward the foot pedals.

Astrid cocked an eyebrow. "You want to go for a flight. With me?"

Toothless grunted in response.

"Okay." Astrid sighed, slipping her boots into the pedals, and preparing for launch. Maybe a few minutes in the air would clear her head. Toothless probably learned that from Hiccup. Since Astrid couldn't ride Stormfly during the day, Toothless was the only mode of dragon transportation.

Astrid patted him on the side. "Let's go." With a little crouch and wiggle, Toothless shot into the sky.

This was not how Astrid pictured her day going.

"Thanks for nothing, you useless reptile," she grumbled, using Hiccup's exact words for anything Toothless did to annoy him. Astrid was beyond annoyed by the Night Fury as he hopped down the branches when he left her there. Now, she was downright furious.

The tree's branches swayed every time she attempted to move, and the axe strapped to her back made her off balance. She wasn't afraid of heights or climbing trees, but she was in such an awkward location on the tree, if she tried to climb down, she could easily fall to her death.

What was Toothless thinking stranding her in a tree!? How in Thor's name was she getting down? She wasn't sure how long she was stranded when she heard the familiar swoop of wings, and she turned her head to see Toothless approaching, a gangly figure riding in the saddle. Astrid rolled her eyes. This was not her day.

Astrid yelped and clutched the branch she was teetering on with her thighs as the top of the tree bent over swiftly from Toothless' weight.

"Astrid, what's going on?" Hiccup asked from his safe perch atop his mutinous dragon.

"Ask your dragon," she hissed out, glaring daggers at Toothless.

Hiccup leaned over to peer into one of Toothless' large green eyes. "Did you leave Astrid up here?"

Toothless warbled sheepish.

Astrid growled. "Just get me down from here!"

"Grab my hand." Hiccup urged Toothless to inch closer, and he stretched out his hand for her.

Astrid fought the urge to smack it away, but she was too far away to risk shimming across the branch without assistance. Her stomach burned at the thought of needing help with something as simple of getting out of a tree.

Hiccup's hold was firm as he steadied her to stand on the branch and climb on Toothless' back. "You okay?" he asked as she straddled behind him.

"What do you think?" she snapped.

"Hang on," Hiccup reminded her just before Toothless shot into the air.

"Toothless, what were thinking!?" Hiccup scolded, wasting no time when they hit the ground in the Cove. "Stranding Astrid in a tree? She could have fallen and died!"

Astrid paced from a distance, hugging her arms across her stomach, thankful to be on solid ground. Her knees were wobbly, and thighs burned from gripping the tree branch for so long. She didn't notice Hiccup approaching her until he touched her shoulder from behind. She jerked, pivoting sharply to face him. Hiccup hung his head, avoiding her hard gaze.

"Astrid, I'm sorry." Hiccup gulped loudly, fiddling with the back of his neck. "Toothless should have never done that to you. I don't know what's gotten into him."

The dragon in question stalked up to them, perching himself a short distance from them. He grunted, pointing his nose up in the air as if trying to tell them something. Then he turned his large eyes on Astrid as if he were pleading with her. She stared at him as her emotions buzzed through her body. It was then that it struck her.

He didn't want them to fight. In Toothless' own convoluted way, he was trying to get them to talk it through. Why he had to strand her in a tree for a couple hours angered her still, but she now understood his intentions and her fowl mood sobered.

Astrid sighed, heavily. "Why did you runaway again?"

Hiccup froze at her question, his hand midway in front of him. His raised features began to droop as his hand lowered. "My dad," he murmured almost inaudibly.

Astrid shook her head, taking a step forward. "Hiccup," she breathed out slowly, "you should have heard your dad talking about you. All that Gobber had filled him in on. He was so proud of all that you'd accomplished while he was gone."

It was as if a dark shadow had suddenly rose between them. Hiccup's jaw clenched. "Yeah, proud of Hiccup the 'dragon killer'. He thinks I'm going to slay dragons alongside him. He thinks I want to chat casually about slicing off heads and cutting out hearts." His fists clinched at his sides. "I knew nothing good would happen when he returned."

"And you couldn't face it?"

Hiccup nodded without speaking.

Astrid worried her bottom lip. She scrubbed her palms over her face, lost as to where even to start to deal with this situation. She knew some details of Hiccup's strained relationship with his father but being aware of it and knowing how to deal with it were two different heads. There were no words of wisdom, no helpful advice to offer him. There was a life or death secret they were keeping stashed right inside Berk's boundaries. A plan was being worked out to eliminate the most known dangerous threat to the Archipelago.

Hiccup stood there looking even smaller than he already was. He continued to avoid her eyes, chewing on the inside of his cheek. Astrid's heart sank like a stone. How could she be angry with him when the weight of their world was on his shoulders? She felt sorry and regretful for not considering all that they were facing. She'd learned in the past few months that Hiccup was stronger and braver than anyone on Berk knew to give him credit for, but sometimes the strong could be dragged down by the weight they were carrying. It was an Altas-sized burden on his thin shoulders.

Astrid swallowed the lump that had gathered in her throat. "Look, Hiccup. I know there's a lot going on in that head of yours. I sometimes forget you handle situations differently than I would. But, please—" she stepped forward and he finally raised his eyes to cautiously meet hers, "please come to me about it. I don't know what I could do or how I could help, but at least you won't be alone." She grasped his hand. "We may be kids trying to figure out how to navigate life, but we're in this together."

Hiccup shut his eyes tight. Without opening them, he hugged her, burying his face into her neck. Astrid hugged him tight against her, closing her own eyes and releasing a deep breath. They held each other for a long while until a snuffling nose invaded their space.

Astrid pulled away first, eying Toothless as he watched them. "I'm still mad at you," she informed him and Toothless warbled out what sounded like an apology along with a lick to her arm.

She turned back to Hiccup, resting a palm on his chest. His hand slid around her waist as he watched her with his warm, green eyes.

"I promise – really promise - I'll come to you, talk to you about what's going on in my head." Hiccup let out a humorless laugh, shrugging one shoulder. "I guess the last two days have been weird for me."

"No matter how weird, come to me," Astrid urged, sliding her hand to his shoulder.

Hiccup nodded. "I will."

Astrid gave him a little smack on the shoulder, hoping her affirmation would stick in his brain this time. "Good."

"Am I allowed back in the bedroom tonight?"

Astrid grabbed the collar of his tunic, yanking him into a kiss. She broke away with a pop and raised her eyebrows. "What do you think?"