Chapter 25: ...Hide, And Pray That It Does Not Find You

***Night Fury**: Strike-class dragon, Class Exemplar*

***Overview**: Nocturnal-optimized strategic bombing and aerial supremacy dragon, capable of multiple mission profiles, with a focus on strategic and tactical raids. Due to the high speed, agility, intelligence, stealth and firepower capacity of this dragon, nations with confirmed members of the breed (see Night Fury Appendix A for listing) are automatically classified at a higher degree of threat by the Office of Draconic Intelligence, as they offer first-strike capacity, even in the face of aerial countermeasures.*

***Breath Type**: Acetylene and oxygen plasma charge*

***Identification**: Medium-to-large adult size. Black scales, single wing pair, four legs, grasping paws capable of minimal degree of fine manual dexterity; supplemental tail fins at end of long dexterous tail; wide, flat and blunt head with fleshy ear projections, eyes of green, yellow, blue, or orange coloration, with pupil slits of variable width based on lighting conditions and mood. No spikes or talons. Retractable teeth. Distinctive sound produced when dive-bombing (see Night Fury Appendix B for audio recording).*

***Strategic Role**: Front-line combat; materiel and industrial bombing strikes; ground support; aerial supremacy; reconnaissance (HA, BF)*

***Known Weaknesses**: The rear tail-fins are required by the dragon in order to maintain flight trim and aerial stability; injury to or removal of these fins will ground the dragon without prosthetics. Sound produced when dive-bombing also allows alert defenders a window for the deployment of countermeasures.*

***Phenotype Cluster**: BØFØS6+S4!S5\*MØTØT8-*

***Populations**: Minimal; breeding lines of this dragon are limited, and are mostly descended from Dragonlord Haddock's **Toothless** (NF-000001a), although rogue family lines are known, and there have been cases of egg theft and abductions over the centuries that have not been recovered, as well as other family lines that have been lost to the Empire due to state secession.*

*—North Sea Empire, Office of Draconic Intelligence, Dragon Breed Profiles (Declassified), 1822 Edition*

## Major Events

The Hooligans recover from Harthacnut's initial attack, and destroy his fleet with improvised firebombs. Hiccup personally captures Harthacnut, and rescues many soldiers from drowning.

## Characters

### Humans

* Hiccup clan Haddock
* Nanna clan Hofferson
* Astrid Hákonsdoitter clan Haddock
* Snorri clan Hofferson
* Ruffnut Thicknutsdoittor
* Thistlehair clan Thorston (dies)
* Spitelout Clodgallson
* Stoick the Vast
* Magnus the Good
* Tuffnut Thicknutsson
* Wulfhild of Norway
* Markus Ulversson, Danish soldier
* Godwin of Wessex
* Harthacnut
* Yngvarr the Merry
* Suibhne clan Hofferson
* Gobber the Belch

### Dragons

* Toothless
* Stormfly
* Thornado
* Brand

## Analysis

### Epigraph Tie-In

* The epigraph mentions Night Furies are one of the best breeds to use in warfare. The chapter shows Harthacnut's navy falling apart in fear of Toothless.
* The epigraph describes how Night Furies are used in warfare. The chapter shows Toothless being used in that capacity.
* The epigraph mentions the distinctive sound Night Furies produce right before they attack. The chapter shows members of Harthacnut's navy recognising that sound in horror.