The waves crashed against jagged rocks as wind swept in from the sea, cold and biting. It roared like it wanted to tear secrets from the cliffs.
Phlegma led the way across the slick shoreline, her boots slipping on wet stones while her braid snapped behind her like a banner. Stoick followed without a word, Gobber clomping beside him.
None of them spoke.
Then they saw her.
She sat near a tangle of driftwood, curled beneath a rough fur blanket. Crimson hair clung to her face in wet ringlets, her skin pale and glistening with sea salt. She didn't look injured, just... lost.
Gobber leaned in to Stoick. "That's not just a redhead. That's the redhead."
Stoick's eyes narrowed. The girl stared back at them, wide-eyed and silent.
"Has she said anything?" he asked.
"Not a word," Phlegma replied. "Just showed up like this."
Stoick stepped forward. "Girl, you understand me?"
The girl nodded slowly, clutching the blanket tighter.
"Good. Take her to the healer's hut," he said. "She stays there until we figure out who she is and what she wants."
Gobber raised a brow. "That's awfully soft, for you."
"She's not the threat," Stoick said, eyes scanning the horizon. "But I've got a feeling... someone dangerous might be looking for her."
_____
Meanwhile… Northern Market Woods
Astrid's axe was already in her hand when she stepped into the clearing, eyes narrowing at the scene before her. Lucian standing over a dead body, Hiccup catching his breath nearby, and a man flanked by guards.
"What are you doing here?" she asked bluntly, her voice cutting through the still air.
Lucian didn't even flinch. He raised a brow coolly. "Funny. I was just about to ask you the same thing."
"Right," Fishlegs chimed in, trotting up behind her. "We came out here to find the Night Fury and... well, someone mentioned a treasure."
"A cursed treasure," Tuffnut dramatically said, wiggling his fingers.
"Filled with death, darkness, and possibly snacks." Tuffnut added, grinning as he elbowed his sister.
Ruffnut rolled her eyes. "You just wanna steal something shiny."
Astrid sighed and rubbed her temple. "Ignore him. We're escorting someone who's hunting for something important."
Her gaze flicked back to Lucian. "And you?"
Lucian shrugged. "We came with him." He gestured toward Eric before crouching down beside the assassin's body.
Snotlout squinted at the assassin on the ground. "Okay… is that guy dead?"
"Yes," Lucian said plainly.
"Right. That's not suspicious," Ruffnut muttered.
"Very not suspicious," Tuffnut echoed.
Hiccup raised both hands slightly, trying to ease the sudden tension. "Okay, before anyone jumps to conclusions… it wasn't us. He tried to kill Lucian. I was there."
Astrid's gaze flicked from Hiccup to Lucian, then back to the corpse.
Fishlegs stepped up beside her, squinting at the man's darkened veins and glassy eyes. "What… happened to him?"
Lucian crouched again, silently checking the assassin's clothes. "Poison tooth," he muttered. "Swallowed it before we could get answers."
Snotlout leaned in, squinting. "Wait—what are you doing?"
"Checking if he had anything useful," Lucian muttered without looking up. His hands moved with practiced efficiency, flipping open belts and pouches. "Assassins don't travel light."
But all he found was a smooth, carved rune blackened, almost humming with faint energy. Lucian frowned and slipped it into his coat pocket before standing again.
"Nothing but this," he muttered as he nudged the dead body with his boot.
Fishlegs stepped closer, peering down to the body. His face paled. "W-Wait… That mark. That's from the Solstice Order."
Astrid's brows furrowed. "You know them?"
Fishlegs nodded slowly, adjusting his satchel. "Yeah, I read about them in an old Berkian tome. They're a religious cult. Real extreme and believe magic is a curse. They follow some ancient goddess of chaos and discord named... Eris!"
Lucian's eyes flicked toward him, sharp. "Eris?"
Fishlegs nodded quickly. "Yeah. They think magic corrupted the world, and Eris is supposed to 'cleanse' it. They're... fanatics."
"So you're saying that assassin was one of them?" Astrid asked, voice low.
Lucian stood again. "Seems like it."
The others shifted uneasily.
"Well that's cheery," Ruffnut muttered.
"So why are you guys here, again?" Lucian asked, brushing dirt off his coat as he turned back to Astrid.
"We're guiding someone," Astrid said, gesturing behind her. "Merida?"
From behind the Viking teens, a girl with wild, untamed curls stepped forward, hands on her hips and a grin tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"Well, ye lot've got some strange company," she said, her accent thick and unapologetic. "But I've seen stranger."
Lucian raised a brow at her.
"I'm Merida, of Clan Dunbroch," she added with a nod, eyes flashing with curiosity as she sized him up. "And you're not from around here, are ye?"
[Ding! You have met a Special Character: Merida.]
He gave her a short nod. "Lucian."
Three identical redhead triplets popped up behind her, eyes wide and full of mischief. Lucian stared at them, then quickly looked away.
[Ding! You have met Special Characters: Hamish, Hubert, and Harris.]
"Ignore them," Merida said, waving them off. "They're mostly harmless. Mostly."
She stepped forward and offered a small nod. "So, you with him?" She pointed at Eric.
"Yes" Lucian gave a short nod.
Eric stepped forward as well. "Prince Eric Delmare of Merlune."
"Oh," Snotlout muttered. "Fancy."
The others looked at him now, finally processing the noble cloak, the crest. A few raised eyebrows.
Hiccup raised his hand in a tired wave. "Hiccup Haddock."
Merida's eyes flicked between them. "Looks like fate's brought us all together."
Lucian didn't respond to that, but glance toward Eric and nod.
Eric stepped forward. "Guards," he said sharply, "take the body. We'll burn it later."
The soldiers moved without a word.
"So…" Merida said after a pause. "
"since we're all introducin' ourselves — we're lookin' for treasure. Big, shiny, possibly cursed treasure and I could use more people who know how to swing a blade."
"Figured," Lucian said.
Merida raised an eyebrow. "You three wanna tag along?"
Lucian looked at Hiccup and Eric.
Then shrugged. "Sure."
_____
They followed the trail down the rocky coast. Gulls wheeled overhead as sea mist drifted along the cliffs.
"Oi! Over there!" Snotlout pointed to something in the sand. "Is that a bag?"
Lucian jogged over and dug it free. A satchel, soaked and torn. He opened it carefully. Inside were a few coins, a broken compass, and a folded parchment.
He pulled out the map and unfolded it.
"Anything?" Astrid asked.
"Could be," Lucian replied, studying the faded ink. "Merida, let me see yours."
Merida blinked, then reached into her belt pouch and pulled out her own worn map. "Ye'd better give it back." she teased.
He laid them both out on a flat rock while the others gathered around.
"There," Lucian said. "Same landmarks, same ridges but this one's newer."
Fishlegs suddenly gasped. "Wait—wait, wait! I've seen this trick before... what if"
He took both maps, carefully adjusted the corners and held them up to the sun, tilting one slightly, squinting with one eye closed. After a few seconds, he adjusted the top layer again and then both maps clicked into alignment.
Right at the center was a bold, red X.
The group went quiet.
"Well that's convenient," Snotlout said.
"There!" Fishlegs beamed. "See it? That ridge just north of here! That's our spot."
____
Near the stone ridge
The trail ended at a jagged outcrop of rock. Wind howled through narrow cracks, and gulls screamed overhead.
The cave entrance was small, almost hidden behind moss and roots.
To the side stood a strange formation, arched stone, pocked with deep holes. Each hole was sealed with a glassy, shimmering material.
Fishlegs stepped forward, awe written across his face. "This is amazing!"
Merida walked up beside him, brushing her hair from her face. "Then what are we waitin' for?"
Lucian said nothing. Just narrowed his eyes at the stone.
Then, without a word, they all nodded and stepped inside.