Flames of unity: A dragon riders quest

As dawn painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, Adam stood atop a cliff overlooking Berk. The wind carried the distant sounds of dragons stirring, and he took a deep breath. Today was a day for answers.

After the meeting in the Great Hall, Hiccup had tasked Adam with gathering intelligence on Malakar. With Astrid and Ruffnut at his side, he was preparing to embark on a scouting mission beyond Berk's borders. Toothless and Stormfly were already saddled and eager to take flight.

"I still think we should take a few more riders," Astrid said as she adjusted her saddle. "Malakar isn't some wandering raider. If we run into him unprepared, it won't end well."

Adam smirked. "Trust me, if we run into him, I'll make sure he regrets it."

Ruffnut leaned against Blaze, her new dragon companion, and yawned. "I dunno. He sounds kinda cool. Evil, sure, but in a 'dark and brooding' way."

Astrid rolled her eyes. "We're not here to admire the enemy, Ruff."

Moments later, they took off into the morning sky, soaring past the cliffs of Berk and into the open ocean. The air was crisp, and the sea glistened below as they headed toward a cluster of small islands rumored to be a former dragon nest.

"According to Valka," Adam said, "these islands were abandoned years ago. But lately, ships have spotted movement—dragons flying in formation. That means Malakar might be using it as a staging ground."

As they approached the largest of the islands, the first sign of trouble appeared—plumes of smoke rising from the tree line. They descended carefully, landing in the shadows of the dense jungle. Adam slid off his dragon and signaled for silence.

The group moved cautiously, weaving between trees until they reached a clearing. What they saw sent a chill down Adam's spine.

Dozens of dragons, shackled and muzzled, were being herded by warriors clad in dark armor. At the center of the operation stood a figure draped in crimson robes, a long scar running down his cheek—Malakar.

Astrid clenched her fists. "We have to stop this."

Adam nodded, formulating a plan. "We can't take them all on, but we can gather intel and free some of the dragons. If we're lucky, we'll cause enough chaos to slow Malakar down."

Ruffnut grinned. "Now you're speaking my language."

As they crept closer, the wind shifted, and Malakar suddenly turned, his piercing gaze locking onto Adam's. A smirk formed on the villain's lips.

"So, the warriors of Berk come to me," he said, his voice laced with amusement. "I was wondering when you'd show up."

The time for stealth was over. The battle had begun.