FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

For those wondering, these stories are all part of the same universe, but due to the order in which ideas come, they are being completed a bit anachronistically. The full picture will come into its own, don't worry! This was a particularly deep one to write, but I felt it was an important part of the 'expanded' storyline my partner and I have cooked up.

Surprise, surprise! First story that doesn't have any overly explicit content! There is, however, considerable thematic mention of sexual relationships between humans and feral, but intelligent, dragons, both heterosexual and homosexual. If you find such ideas offensive, then this story probably isn't for you. Also, to clear up any confusion, I try to write fanfics to fit into the canon narrative as well as possible; I find them more enjoyable when they enrich a universe rather than rewrite it. This occurs between films 1 and 2, and it is a part of a story arc. There will be a continuation, so don't worry.

I do not own How To Train Your Dragon, either the books or the film franchise. All non-original characters, locations, and events are copyright to DreamWorks Animation Studios and their respective subsidiaries and owners. This is a work of fanfiction, and full credit is given to them for their brilliance and hard work in creating what is, in my opinion, the most fabulous, amazing, heartfelt, spectacular, spellbinding, and wondrous franchise in animation history.

***

Stoick stood in shock in the great hall, his head trying to catch up. "Are you certain..?" he finally managed to force out. His head was reeling, trying to grapple with what he had just been told. It couldn't be true… Surely! His son had gotten up to some crazy things, but this… This was beyond anything he had ever imagined could be possible.

Behind him, Mildew tried to suppress a grin of triumph as he nodded, doing his best to appear as stunned as his leader. "I saw it with my own eyes, Chief... And I wish I could forget such blasphemy..." Even as he spoke, the greasy Viking couldn't keep his hands from shakily wringing themselves with glee.

Across the village, Hiccup stirred as the light of the morning sun streamed in through the roof of their house, making to get up, only to find himself pushed down as Toothless appeared over him, rumbling out happily as he licked at the face of his beloved rider. The young man was unable to keep from laughing as he suddenly leaned up to return the favor, and soon their tongues met, twining about each other. Hiccup was unable to hide a blush as he could still detect hints of Astrid's nectar on the dragon's maw. "Mmm, morning, bud," he murmured happily, unaware that their happy times were about to be shattered…

"I can't believe it... He would really..." Stoick was at a loss for words. "Taming dragons was one thing... but this?! How could... And Astrid too?!" He suddenly turned on the other viking, raising a fist. "I swear on Odin's helm, if I find out you made this up, I'll feed you to the dragons myself, Mildew!"

The oher viking quailed back, his countenance faltering, but he shook his head furiously. "It's the truth, I swear!"

A snarl of rage burst from Stoick's lips as he lunged, catching Mildew by the nape before the cabbage farmer could scramble out of reach! “I'm going to see for myself… And gods help you if you're lying!"

As Hiccup finished pulling on his shirt, he blushed softly as he noticed the faint bruise on his chest from where one of Toothless' love-nips had left a mark. "Mmmm, I guess that's what you'd call a dragon hickey," he quipped.

Toothless shuffled sheepishly on his paws, but he gave an indignant little huff. 'You weren't complaining… You moaned so loud when I did that, I almost forgot who was taking who!'

Before Hiccup could work up a rebuttal, however, the door to the hut suddenly slammed open, and Stoick's footsteps thundered up the stairs. "Hiccup!" he bellowed out, his voice echoing loud enough to shake the walls as he stormed into the boy's room, eyes wide and beard tousled. "Where were you last night?!" he demanded

Instantly, the young man felt his heart sink. "L-Last night? What do you mean? We were right here the whole time?" He looked over to Toothless. "Right bud?" he urged, even as the Night Fury bobbed his head a little too eagerly.

"Don't lie to me!" the chief suddenly bellowed, and before Hiccup could stop him, his father had leapt across the room, seizing him by the shirt. "Dad, what are you-?!" he started to exclaim, only to yell out in shock as the fabric tore. He stumbled back, trying to catch himself as the garment ripped clean from his chest... And Stoick's eyes blazed as he saw the mark.

"Son of a bitch…" he croaked out in horror, before his face flushed crimson with fury, and his voice regained its furious bellow. “Mildew was right!"

Hiccup froze, eyes widening as he heard the name. "Wait, what? What does that old coot have anything to do with this?"

As if on cue, the weasley face of the hermit peeked past the doorframe. "See?! I told you! His dragon put it there last night, when they were humping like animals!" His eyes flashed. "Thought they were being so sneaky, but I saw 'em, I did! Saw 'em clear as-"

"GET OUT!!!" Stoick suddenly roared, turning and hurling one of Hiccup's wooden figures at the other Viking's head, missing him by a hair, sending Mildew backpedalling with a cry of fear. He turned back to his son, and Hiccup felt a chill race down his spine. He had seen that face only once before, and it had nearly destroyed his life...

"How could you do this?!" Stoick's voice reverberated around the walls of the great hall, having dragged his son there in the hopes that the thick stone would keep any prying ears from listening. "You would go so far as to dishonor yourself, and defy the gods with such... such villainy?!"

"How is it villainy?" Hiccup yelled back, his eyes blazing in defiance. Now that his initial horror at being so unexpectedly exposed had faded, he was finding himself more and more angered by the situation with every passing moment. "Who even decides things like that anyway? A year ago, we said all dragons were the enemy, and now they live among us! Our ways were proven wrong once before!"

"This goes WAY beyond that!" the chief bellowed. "You're flying in the face of every pillar our society stands on! You aren't just chasing new ideas; you're defiling your very being, and with that... that CREATURE!"

At that, Hiccup felt a surge of rage, and he suddenly stood taller than Stoick had ever seen, a light blazing in the youth's eyes to match his own. "Creature?!" he echoed. "CREATURE?! He's more human than you can imagine! More than YOU! I didn't have to fight and beg and plead for him to accept me! I didn't have to almost DIE for him to look at me like I was worth something!"

"And Astrid?!" Stoick shot back, his eyes narrowing. “What of her? I thought you were getting ready to finally become a true man! To start thinking about a family!"

The chief refused to back down, but his son was equally defiant. "You're acting like that's going to change! Astrid knows exactly what's going on; in fact, she supports it! This doesn't change a thing between her and I! She is the love of my life. But Toothless is my best friend, and I love him too!"

Hiccup spoke from his heart, but at that moment, he made a horrible error. As the word 'love' hit Stoick's ears, he felt something in him snap... The spastic rage he had displayed suddenly vanished, but it was replaced by something far more terrifying; cold, sharp, keen hatred.

"Love?" he hissed, and Hiccup felt his skin crawl at the tone. "You think that's what this is? That dragon... that DEVIL has woven some dark spell around you. I should have known that taking in that hellspawn would lead do trouble!"

Hiccup felt his blood run cold as he heard the shift in his father's voice, and he found himself more afraid than he had ever been. "Dad?" he pressed, his voice trembling. "W-What are you thinking? Whatever it is, don't! Please, just let me explain! I promise, it's not as bad as you think! If you'd just-!"

A sudden impact sent him flying, Stoick's hand lashing out before his son could react, and Hiccup was sent sprawling into a nearby table. "I've listened to your madness long enough!" the chief roared out. "I should have never allowed you to talk us all into going along with this! Well..." He snarled, storming for the door. "I'll be dead before I see this festering decay spread!"

He barged through the doors, slamming them closed behind him, and as Hiccup fought to stand, he heard the dull thud of the great oak panels being barred. "DAD, NO!!!!"

That evening, Stoick had gathered all of the villagers at the heart of Berk, torches blazing bright. "My people!" he yelled out. "The dragons we welcomed into our village, that we sheltered, fed,and pampered, have proven themselves to be far worse than we ever thought! Before they only ever attacked our food and our homes, but now... Now they seek to undermine us from within, to attack our very way of life, and all that we hold sacred!" His eyes blazed. "They sow corruption and madness, and worse still, they seek to steal the hearts of our young ones!"

A look of pain mixed with revulsion crossed his face. "I have come to learn this... because it has already claimed my son! Hiccup was deceived, poisoned, and led astray, and the dragon he trusted with his life... forced itself upon him! Worse still, it spread this corruption to an innocent girl! Astrid fell prey to its wiles, and it will not stop there! If we are to save our young ones, and our future... The dragons must be GONE! GONE FOREVER!"

The villagers all yelled out in agreement, cries of rage rending the air! But at that moment there was a loud tempest of wings, and the torches were extinguished as the dragons of Berk took flight, and they heard the voice of Astrid rising among it, urging them to fly. "GO! Stormfly, Meatlug, Hookfang, take Toothless! Get him out of here!"

A roar of fury left the villagers as they saw the silhouettes of the dragons! TOothless yelped out desperately, trying to leap up after them, only to falter, unable to fly with his damaged tail. Blessedly, Stormfly and Hookfang swooped down, the Nightmare grasping his front as Stormfly took his tail, heaving the Night Fury aloft!

"DAMN IT!!!" Stoick roared, racing for the outer wall. He found one of the lookouts readying a net gun, one of his son's own designs. But just as he took aim at the two and their passenger, there was a loud snap and rattle, and the contraption suddenly exploded as the gears jammed and burst, the Viking having failed to ready it properly. The weighted net snapped backwards, one of the steel balls catching the unfortunate sod in the side of the head and sending him flying back, with Stoick ducking just in time to miss another.

"Astrid!" he suddenly heard Firtha, the Hofferson Matriarch, bellow at her daughter. "What do you think you're doin!?"

The girl turned in desperation to her mother. "It's not what you think, Mom! None of this is! This is all Mildew's doing! He's trying to turn this around and tear us apart! Toothless would never hurt me; none of them would!"

Mildew suddenly stood up, pointing to Astrid with exaggerated horror. "You see?! See! They've gotten her too! It'll never stop! And now she's let the demons run!"

"ENOUGH!!!!" Stoick suddenly roared out, and instantly the entire village went silent, all eyes turning to their chief. The great Viking's chest was heaving, his mind racing. 'How did that beast get free?' he wondered in his mind. 'I had him in chains, muzzled, and that false fin stripped, ready to kill before the village! How in Hel did Astrid manage to get them off?'

But he shook those thoughts away, looking out over his people. "The dragons are gone, and with them, let us hope the plague!" He turned a dark eye to Astrid. "You may have spared the demons... but you also drove them away. In time, I pray their influence will fade from you. Until then..."

He turned to Firtha. "Keep her home, and do not let her out of your sight! As for my son... He will remain in my home, under my watch, and the watch of our finest! Let us hope that the venom of these beasts disperses!"

Within the hall, HIccup was curled up in a corner, shaking as he sobbed. He had been able to watch the escape from one of the windows, and he had yelled out in relief when Toothless had been borne safely away. But now, the wall of loneliness and heartbreak was rolling in, the vast empty hall seeming darker and colder than the bitterest night of Berk's heartless winter. "Toothless…" he choked out as tears flowed freely down his face. “Oh bud, I'm so sorry... SO so sorry... I couldn't protect you..."

When the doors opened, and Stoick entered with four of his warriors, Hiccup wouldn't even look up. He offered not a word when Stoick demanded him to speak, to try and explain himself. He would not budge when bade to stand. And when they finally hauled him to his feet, he did not fight or protest... Though for one brief moment he lifted his head to stare at his father. As their eyes met, Stoick froze, and he felt a cold chill in his heart as he saw the look from his child... Not rage like he had expected, but betrayal, pain, and accusation.

In that moment, he was struck by the resemblance Hiccup bore to his wife… And the fear of losing him as well came crashing in on him.

The dragons flew all through the night, though as morning dawned, they realized their predicament. Still so far from any land, many were faltering, and worse off were the four at the rear. Stormfly and Hookfang were burdened by their living load, and though Meatlug, Barf and Belch added their strength, it was still taxing to them all. Already the Gronkle's wings were starting to stall, and they began to grow desperate.

Suddenly, a shadow swept over them, and the flock looked up in shock. A cold pit of dread settled over them as they saw massive wings descending from the clouds, the sun blotted out by the vast canopies. A cry like a trumpet blast shook the skies, and more shapes converged from all directions, the frightened bellows of Berk's dragons drowned out in the chaos...

In the village, there was clamor and rage in the air. Mildew had seized on the event to elevate himself in the village, strutting about now with his head held higher than anyone could remember it being.

"I told you!" he kept saying to everyone. "I warned you all! Over and over, I said it! Those beasts are nothing but evil!" People hung on his words, and some even clamored to pursue after the dragons, wanting their hides in vengeance.

But Stoick remained mostly out of sight. All morning he had been in his house, interrogating his son, trying everything he could think of to get him to talk. At first it had been out of anger, a way to vent his rage. But as time passed, his emotions shifted.

He had never seen Hiccup so cold... THe boy refused to eat or drink, and not even the loudest of shouts could get him to so much as flinch. Slowly, anger ebbed to frustration, and then began to shift to worry, and then fear. At last, the chief sighed and seated himself. "What do you want from me?" he demanded.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, Hiccup lifted his head, and he stared at his father with the same heart-withering expression he had given as he was being hauled away before.

"Go away."

Two words, no more. But the utter cold in them, devoid of any emotion, anything save for ice... Stoick found himself unable to find a reply, and only stood wordlessly, turning and heading for the door. Hiccup let his head fall back to stare at the fire, and failed to notice as a single tear beaded in the corner of the chief's eye...

THe day passed on in loneliness for Hiccup. Stoick did not return over lunch, or again for dinner. Night began to creep in over Berk, and the guards on the house were changed, gruff words exchanged as the burly men traded posts. But Hiccup did not move from the fire, staring into the flames as still as stone, watching them burn out one by one and feeling as though each fading ember was another shred of his will to carry on being extinguished by despair.

It was not until the moon was climbing, and the light it cast filtering through the windows, that a sudden voice from beyond the doors caught his attention. "Hey now!" one of the guards barked. "Who goes there?! Ye can't be here, not without the chief's say!"

A bright voice perked up in answer, one that was strikingly familiar. "Oh, good evenin' boys! Actually, I got a message from the chief. It's right.... HERE!" All of a sudden, there was a loud thud, and the other guard gave a yell of surprise only for a sharp metallic knock to sound, followed by the thump of someone hitting the ground.

In a flash, Hiccup was on his feet, the kerfuffle enough to finally rouse him to action. His heart raced, and he ran to grab for an axe, finding his fear giving him the strength to lift it. Not sure who had just attacked the guards, or what they wanted, he quickly hid behind the door, just in time as it began to open. He heard the footsteps as they began to hit the floorboards, one the leather pad of a boot, the other much sharper like wood on wood...

"YAAAAH" he suddenly yelled, bursting out from around the panel, only for his eyes to go wide as he saw the peg leg, hammer-arm, and wild blonde hair that he knew so well!

"WOAH WOAH WOAH!! Thor's beard, what do you think you're doin' with that?!" the other Viking yelled, holding up his arms in shock.

Hiccup was frozen in place, axe up above his head, jaw gaping. "GOBBER?!"

The older Viking reached quickly to grab the axe from Hiccup's hands. Not a moment too soon as its weight rapidly began to be felt again. He tossed it aside, before suddenly breaking into a grin, his stone tooth standing out against the pearly whites. "The one an' only!" he quipped, eyes gleaming mischievously.

Hiccup could only stare in shock, trying to form words. "Wha- Why- How did..." He managed to heave a breath. "What are you doing here?!"

The smith gave him an innocent look. "What do ya mean? I was just out for my nightly stroll, and thought I'd stop in, see how things were farin', have a friendly chat with the lads."

"Really?"

Gobber sighed in exasperation. "No not really, ya bloody fool! Valhalla bless me, boy, don't tell me ya've finally cracked! I'm bustin' ya out!" The smith turned, racing for the kitchen, grabbing a sack and starting to stuff it full of supplies. "Where do ya keep yer wine, and yer jerky?"

Hiccup followed in shock, answering the older man's questions on impulse. "Wine's on the top shelf, jerky in the baskets. Also... WHAT?!"

Gobber turned to him in bewilderment. "Ya deaf now too? I thought I spoke clearly. We're bustin' ya outta here, youngster! Now go up and get packed! We don't have much time."

The teen stayed rooted to the spot, his head reeling. "Gobber, I don't understand. WHy would you be-?"

The older Viking suddenly grabbed his arms, spinning him and pushing him towards the staircase. "Hiccup! Pack now, questions later! Grab what ya need, and no more! If it won't help ya make it outside the village, leave it! Do you understand?!"

The youth managed a nod, before finally making to sprint up the staircase. Grabbing whatever he could think of needing and stuffing it into his pack; his knife, his firestarter kit, his map, charcoal pencil and journal, and a few other necessities. By the time he stumbled back down, Gobber was already waiting, dancing a bit on his feet.

"Took ya long enough!" he hissed. "Now come on!"

"But why are you helping me?!" Hiccup demanded.

He saw Gobber pause for just a moment, heaving a sigh that told of many unspoken thoughts and memories, before turning to him. "Let's just say I have my reasons, and leave it at that."

Gobber turned and started out the door, and Hiccup followed, still confused. "Your own reasons? What is that supposed to mean? Everyone else in the village thinks I'm insane, at best. My own father can barely stand to look at me!"

"Aye, maybe. But that's because one person's unwilling to face the truth, and the others don't know it. But I'm not such a fool. I know that whole yarn about the dragons turnin' on you is just a bunch of sheep's shit."

Hiccup's eyes widened. "What? How could you-?"

Gobber turned to the boy with a smile. "Because I know you, and I know Toothless. I've seen the two of you together, ya know. I know that dragon would sooner chew off his own wings than harm a single hair on your head, much less actually rape you! So I caught your father, and I wrestled the truth outta him, exactly as you told him."

Hiccup swallowed, the two of them ducking behind a house to avoid a patrol. "But..." he whispered. "Then... you know that means what happened between us... was something I did of my own free will."

Gobber nodded, not seeming at all shy about it. "Yes, ya buggered yer dragon, or got buggered by, or both. Made sweet love together under the starlight, snuck away like sweethearts stealing moments from their coddling kin."

Hiccup couldn't keep his face from burning. "If you know all of that, then why in Odin's name would you want to help me?!"

Gobber shook his head, making to lead the young man towards the outskirts. "Now's not the time! Less questions, more escaping!"

But Hiccup suddenly grabbed the older Viking's hand, giving it a sharp tug. "No! I'm not taking another step until you explain! What possible reason could you have for wanting to help after learning just what I've done?!"

Gobber sighed again, but this time he seemed to relent, and he turned to Hiccup with a strange look in his eyes. It seemed one part longing, one part pity, and one part another emotion that the youth could not quite place. "Maybe I have a soft spot for star-crossed young lovers like the two of you," he admitted. He made to walk again, and Hiccup followed in step this time.

"But this isn't just two people from warring houses," the boy pressed. "This is me and... a dragon! It goes against everything that everyone says is right!"

Gobber nodded. "Aye it does. But... then again, so did taming a dragon, riding a dragon, making friends with a dragon." He smiled. "Until you showed up, that is. Is this out there, pushing the limits of everything we've ever known? Absolutely it is. But it's not the first time you've gone off and done something mad. And... it wouldn't be the first time you've been right, and seen things with a truer eye than any of us."

"But a dragon-" Hiccup began.

"Is not so different from you or I, is it?" the smith interjected with a smile. "If I've learned one thing over the past few months, it's that they're far more human than we ever thought... They can think, they can feel... And they can love. The way Toothless looks at you, the way he protects you... You mean the world to him. And I'll not see these narrow-minded fools ruin something like that."

The two had finally reached the rear of the village, facing the cliffs, only a rough wall before them. It was a tough free-climb, but one Hiccup knew well. "Ya can find yer way from here, I take it?" the smith offered, to which Hiccup nodded.

"I can... But what about Astrid?" He turned to his older friend, his eyes pained. "She's involved in this too... I can't leave her behind!"

In answer, he saw Gobber give him a knowing smile. "Don't you worry your head about her, Hiccup. It's all under control. You just get yerself clear of the village, and the island." He suddenly reached into his belt, pulling out a roll of parchment. "Take this. On the far side of the island, there's an old fisherman's shack from when our ancestors first settled here. It's been abandoned for years, but hopefully some of the boats are still sea-worthy if they've been kept in their sheds."

Hiccup's eyes widened. "Wait, you mean... You want me to leave Berk entirely?"

Gobber nodded, his eyes somber. "Aye, lad... Once your father finds you missing, he'll scour every inch of this island for you. You need to disappear. Follow the path that the dragons took, and maybe you can find your friend. But you can't stay here."

Hiccup sighed, before suddenly leaping forward, embracing his friend. "Gobber..." he whispered. "Thank you... For everything."

The old smith was frozen for a moment, but then he smiled and returned the favor, mindful of his club-hand. "Ah, Hiccup... I've watched you your whole life. I've seen you go from a little sprout of a thing, to a rebellious youngster... And now, yer all grown up. I know I'm not yer blood... But ya've been like the son I never had."

Hiccup was about to reply when an angry shout went up from the village, in the direction of the Haddock house. "Dammit... That didn't take 'em long,'' Gobber muttered, breaking off their embrace and pushing Hiccup towards the cliff. "Go. Now! Get yerself out of here! We're out of time to chat. I'll do my best to distract them."

Hiccup nodded, before leaping up, starting to scramble up the rock face. Adjusting his leg, he rotated the mechanism to switch out the usual walking surface to a sharp hooked barb, allowing him better purchase. His fingers latched onto the contours of the cliff as he hauled himself upwards, finding his once-tired limbs surging with new strength, scrambling up the rock wall like a squirrel up a tree.

Gobber, meanwhile, darted back through the village, avoiding the others, before adjusting his hair, messing it a bit, and then moving out from behind one of the houses with a theatrical yawn. "Eh, what's all the hubbub?" he asked, feigning sleepiness as he saw Spitelout racing by.

"It's Hiccup!" the other Viking yelled. "He's gone! Vanished!"

Stoick suddenly lumbered over. "Gobber, with me! Both of the guards were knocked out, and he made off with food and supplies. He must be trying to escape!"

A wail suddenly went up, and Firtha raced over. "Astrid's gone as well!"

Stoick's eyes went wide. "What?!"

"Her window was open, the lock picked! I don't know how she got down, but she's gone! My little girl!"

"Grendel's piss!" Stoick cursed. "Where could they have gone now?"

Gobber suddenly pointed towards the edge of the village... the front edge, not the back. "The docks! They must be goin' for a ship!" A yell went up from the others, and the villagers surged towards the wharfs.

But no-one saw as Gobber turned to the mountains behind. He could see Hiccup, nearing the ledge on one of the faces. The youth paused just shy of the crown, turning to look at him, and their eyes met across the distance. He saw Hiccup give him a thankful nod, and he returned the gesture. Then he turned back, yelling with the rest, racing for the shore, egging the others on.

Hiccup watched him for a moment more, sighing softly. "Gobber..." he murmured. "Be safe... Especially with my dad..." With that, he grunted and hauled himself up the final few feet, clambering up onto the ledge, and racing through the path beyond, vanishing into the woods.

As soon as Hiccup was out of earshot of the village, he took a moment to rest. Spying a fallen tree, he staggered over to the stump, collapsing onto it, panting as he tried to regain himself. An entire day of just sitting and staring into a fire suddenly morphing into a hair-raising race to freedom had been quite a shock, and his body was reeling to catch up. He could faintly see the angry glow of the village lights through the trees, flickering dimly in the night, and he shivered faintly. After a bit, though, he made to open up the scroll Gobber had given him. As soon as he did, he saw a hastily-scribbled note waiting for him.

'Hiccup. There was so much I wanted to tell you when we were running, but I knew we didn't have time. And there's too much to put onto a simple sheet of paper like this. I want you to know that, while it might not always have seemed like it, I have always loved you like a son. The years I spent helping your father raise you were the best years of my life. I know I was hard on you, but it was only because I believed in you. While your father lost hope, I never gave up. I knew that you could become so much more than you seemed, and you have exceeded everything I ever hoped for you. I hope that someday we will see each other again, and I can tell you everything I ever wanted to say. Until then, be safe, and be strong. Use that big brain of yours, and keep forging ahead to better days. P.S. Your father. I know he has done many things wrong by you. But I hope you can find it in your heart not to hate him. He's been through much more than you know. He may seem the perfect specimen of an upstanding, unmovable Viking, but believe me, there is a lot more to him than you see, and he has his own secrets and past.'

As he finished the note, Hiccup slowly lowered the scroll. "His own secrets? Past? What does he mean by that?" For a moment he just sat there, wracking his brain to try and decipher the words. But soon he shook himself off, consulting the actual map. "Jeez, it's a long way. It'll be tomorrow morning by the time I find that hut, at least. I'd better get a move on." He hauled himself up again, taking a swig from his water canteen, before starting off in the direction the map had indicated.

Down in the village, meanwhile, the Berkians had stormed onto the docks. "Search everywhere!" Stoick roared. "Take stock of every ship, every longboat, every barrel!" The villagers all leapt to action, practically dismantling the docks, trying to count everything, ensuring nothing had been taken. Gobber's acting skills continued to shine; he led the effort, bellowing for the fugitives to show themselves, smashing casks and plundering the bilges. Mildew did the same, shrieking like a banshee, demanding they be found! It was all Gobber could do not to punch the other Viking, but he managed it somehow; a few hours of playing nice with the despicable snitch was a small price to pay.

Hiccup trudged for hours, and it was hard going. But the thought of being discovered kept him moving. He paused after a bit to nibble on some of the jerky gobber had packed, though he was mindful to only eat enough to whet his appetite; he had no idea how long he would have to sail! Once again, the thought of just what he was about to undertake sent a tremor of trepidation racing down his spine, but the chance to find Toothless again kept him from faltering in his commitment.

As the sun began to climb, he felt his sense of urgency rise. The longer it took to reach the docks, the greater the chances were that somebody would realize they had been misled and pick up his actual trail. Even with the head start he had gotten, he couldn't outpace the entirety of his village for long, not with his father driving them…

Suddenly, a snapping twig rang out, and his heart leapt into his mouth! He heard a rustling from up ahead, and he ducked behind a tree. "Who's there?!" he called out, trying to sound brave, even as his knees knocked. There was no answer, only more rustling. His heart hammered as he drew his hatchet, swallowing to steel his nerves, straining to try and hear....

"Hiccup!"

"GYAAAH!!"

He spun around, throwing the hatchet on impulse before he dove for cover. He heard the thunk of the axe burying itself in a tree, and a startled yelp. "HEY! Watch what you're doing!" the sharp voice scolded, and his eyes shot open!

"Astrid!" he gasped, leaping to his feet, only to see her glaring at him admonishingly as she tugged the hatchet free. "What are you doing out here?!"

The blonde beauty twirled the hatched in her fingers, smiling smugly. "What do you mean? It's such a nice day. And I thought maybe I'd go poking around the woods, find some nice mushrooms and herbs for dinner tonight..."

Hiccup tilted his head. "Really?"

She sighed, walking up to him, and then catching him off-guard when she bopped him on the forehead with the hatchet handle. "No, you dummy! I'm out here to find you! Seriously, for such a smart guy, you can be a bit slow on the uptake." She gave him a playful smile. "You're heading for the boat shed, right?"

He found himself nodding, though questions swirled in his mind. "Yeah, I am. But how did you know that? And how did you even get out of there?" He suddenly paused, coming up with the answer himself. "Gobber. He helped you too, didn't he?"

Astrid nodded with a smile. "He sure did. He came to me right after this all came out, asked me for my side of the story... When I told him, and he talked to your dad and got yours from him, he came to me and told me he had an idea. He talked me through picking the lock my mom put on my window, caught me when I jumped out, and gave me instructions for what to do next. Your dad had him fit Toothless' chains, but he'd deliberately sabotaged them, and he told me how to take advantage of it. He even sent Toothless' tail fin and your saddle with me, along with all the others. I already found them; he had them in a cart nearby, and we can pull it the rest of the way together."

Hiccup shook his head in bewilderment. "He thought of all of this... He's risking everything for us. Right now, he's doing his best to keep everyone distracted, and on the wrong trail." She nodded, before taking his hand. "Exactly. Which is why we need to get moving, make sure that it's not in vain."

Hiccup nodded, before the two began to race along, soon finding an old brush trail, nearly overgrown. Just as Astrid had said, there was a well-made hand-wagon, large compared to them, but still able to be pushed under their own power. The red leather of Toothless' replacement fin winked out from underneath layers of hide and bags of supplies, and Hiccup realized that what Gobber had packed him had merely been to sustain him until he got to the boathouse.

"Jeez, with this much, we could probably sail for weeks without any worries! There's even fishing tackle!" She nodded, grabbing one of the cart-arms, and he seized the other. "The boathouse is down this path, if the map is right," he told her as they hauled the wagon, together the load seeming much lighter.

In the village, the wharf was in tatters. The ships had been scoured from stem to stern, mast to bilge, and every last tub had been turned out and over. "Where are they?!" Stoick demanded, storming back towards the village! "Search every home! Everything!!"

"Stoick!" Spitelout shouted, racing towards the chief, his eyes wide as he panted. "It's my son! He's not at home!"

The chief whirled to face the other Viking, his own eyes widening. "What do you mean?"

"It's true! He's vanished! Took a satchel and his armor!"

"Tuffnut and Ruffnut too!" the Thorston couple shouted out, racing over.

"And my sweet Fishlegs has disappeared as well!" Mrs. Ingerman wailed, the hefty Viking lady waddling over, tears running down her face. "He left all of his cards and books, too! Oh, my baby, my little Fishy Foo, where has he gone?!"

Stoick was almost beside himself. "What has gotten into all of them?!"

"It's the dragon sickness, I tell you!" MIldew yammered, the weasley viking seeming to have been glued to the Chief for the past few hours, clearly milking his new-found importance, and Gobber once again found himself fighting the urge to bash his face in.

"Whatever it is, we need to find them before we lose them!" Stoick reminded them all. "Fan out! Start combing the woods!" He frowned. "Try the gulch first, where Hiccup hid that demon..."

Gobber felt a swell of relief; the gorge was in the opposite direction! 'The little ones might have a chance yet!' he jubilated within. It gave him the fortitude to ignore MIldew for a while longer…

Hiccup and Astrid soon reached the outcropping overlooking a hidden cove, with a run-down old house hugging the water's edge. It was definitely abandoned, but not yet dilapidated from neglect, and the sturdy construction of the old Berkians showed its mettle. But more important was the sturdy wooden shed that extended out onto the fjord. They could see a few shoddy boats outside, but what was in the shed was hidden from view.

"Well, let's see what Gobber sent us after," Hiccup remarked, before starting down the incline towards their goal with Astrid, the two of them doing their best to control the cart, the wheels bumping over the stones. Eventually reaching the bottom, they could finally see into one of the doors to the shed, and Hiccup felt a broad smile appear on his face. "I can see them!"

Indeed he could! There were at least half a dozen ships in the barn, far larger and more robust than the simple shipping dinghies moored outside. They were clearly seafaring boats, with broad sturdy hulls, reinforced for good measure with shields and plates. And most relieving of all, the shed seemed to have done its work of protecting them! At least a few of them had timbers that looked intact and free of rot, and the canvas of their sails was sturdy and neat.

"Good on you, Gobber," Astrid said with a smile... But suddenly she froze, and Hiccup saw her face grow sharp, her eyes narrowing as she focused. He was about to ask what it was when she grabbed his head, shoving him down! Spinning around with a yell, and the ring of metal sounded as she ripped her axe free of her belt, slinging it up at the face of the cliff! It rammed into the long-dead root ball of a tree, and the knotted, rotting wood crumbled away, causing a part of the wall to collapse! Dirt and rock came raining down as a hedge fell away, and a series of yells sounded out as four familiar figures went tumbling as well, hitting the incline of the path and rolling comically to the base before sprawling out onto the ground. In a cruel twist of irony, the largest of them went last, squashing the other three beneath!

Astrid gave a yell of frustration, stalking over to pick up her fallen axe. "You guys?!" she exclaimed, glaring down at them. "What is wrong with you?! You scared the daylights out of me!"

The four of them grumbled, fighting to get to their feet. "We scared you?!" Ruffnut countered. "You just throw your axe around like a madwoman! You coulda killed one of us!"

Tuffnut rolled his eyes next to her. "Yeah, a shame she missed you-OWWWwwwWWWWW!!" His voice hiked comically as his sister gave him a swift knee to the seeds. As he doubled over, Snotlout took the chance to sidle up to Astrid with what he thought was a charming smile.

"It was an awesome throw, though," he said in what he seemed certain was a smooth voice, though she just rolled her eyes and tried to edge herself away.

Hiccup stepped forward at that point, subtly putting himself between Astrid and the overzealous teen. "Okay, guys. Just bring it down a notch." He turned to the others, his brow furrowing. "But what are you all doing here?" He suddenly felt his stomach knot, glancing up at the rise from where they had fallen. "And who else is with you?"

Astrid's eyes narrowed, and she brandished her axe. But Ruffnut quickly stepped forward, holding her hands up. "No-one else is with us! We promise! It's just the four of us."

Snotlout nodded in agreement. "We snuck away last night while everyone was distracted. Though we did have some help."

"Gobber?" Hiccup guessed, and Astrid visibly began to relax, lowering her weapon. "He helped you guys get away?"

Tuffnut managed to lift himself to his feet, still grimacing somewhat. "In a way, yeah. He was keeping the rest of the village busy, playing things up at the docks. You should have seen it; he had them all in a frenzy, convinced you were hiding somewhere there, or that they'd missed something. But he left us all instructions, and maps to find you two." As one, the four produced rolled parchments just like Hiccup and Astrid both possessed. "He said you two would need help, and that if we were still your friends, we would go with you."

Hiccup swallowed nervously. "And... did he explain anything in those letters? About what happened to us?"

Fishlegs nodded. "Yeah, he did... Honestly, it was pretty shocking to us. We didn't know how to react at first... But then we got to talking, and we thought that... it actually didn't sound so bad. We still have questions," he added, to which the others all nodded. "But we figure we can ask those later, once we're away from here."

Hiccup sighed. "I appreciate that... But do you really understand what you're all risking? Astrid and I... we're fugitives now. We're not just taking a little break, waiting for things to calm down. We're LEAVING. Sailing away, and unless things here change radically, we're never coming back. Our own people, our own families have rejected us, just because of the choices we've made. If you come with us... the same thing will happen to you." He looked at all of them firmly. "Are you REALLY willing to pay that price?"

He saw a flash of uncertainty on their faces, the true weight of what they were proposing sinking in... But suddenly Snotlout took a step closer. "I am," he admitted, and the usual mocking tone had completely drained out of his voice. "I'm willing. Hell, it's not like it'll be that much of a change. My dad's a dick; you've seen it yourself. I'm never good enough for him. But Hookfang..." He sighed. "True, he's a pain in my ass... but I can be a pain in his. And despite all of that, I know that he'd do anything to keep me safe, to protect me. I haven't always been the best of friends to him... And sometimes I wonder why he even sticks around. But it just shows that you're right. Our own people aren't willing to accept us unless we conform to their ideas; the dragons accept us as we are."

He smiled, placing a hand on Hiccup's shoulder. "And I'd rather be with people like that."

The others all nodded their agreements, and Hiccup found himself smiling back. "Well, then... We aren't doing ourselves any favors standing around! Let's get moving!"

They all yelled out in answer, and as one the group surged into the shed, clambering onto the largest and finest of the ships. To their relief, it seemed perfectly sound; none of the boards were rotting, the hold was dry and sealed, and the sails were remarkably intact. Soon, they had managed to work the rollers, and the vessel surged forth, coasting smoothly onto the water.

"The village is clear!" one of the vikings informed Stoick, panting from his sprint over to the chief, face red. "The children are gone! Vanished! All of Hiccup's band have disappeared! The party in the gorge reports the same; there's no sign that anyone has been there recently."

"Then where could they have gotten to?" Gobber wondered aloud.

"Dragon Island, maybe," MIldew offered. "They may have gone off looking for their friends."

"WIthout a ship, they couldn't have left the island," the smith reminded him. "And all of the ships were still in their docks."

Stoick growled. "Widen the search! Take to the mountains, the caves! FInd them!"

In his heart, though, he felt a knot of worry. 'Hiccup... Where are you? Oh, Odin have mercy on my soul... Please, don't let him have done something terrible...'

None of the vikings noticed as a single lone ship crept out from a hidden cove, sails kept low as it made its way through the mist, oars being worked clumsily to move it along. They failed to spy as it passed beyond the sea stacks. And no eye was turned to catch the billowing of canvas as the young, motley crew finally lifted the sails to the morning breeze, passing from the waters of their home. The fugitives vanished into the morning fog like spectres.

Hiccup stood at the helm, though he turned his head back one last time towards the island he had been raised on. He felt a pang of grief as he thought of all that had happened. "Goodbye, Berk," he whispered. "Goodbye... Dad..."

Then the wind gusted, the sails filled, and the ship leapt forward, and he turned his head back ahead. "Now, we follow the dragons! West by Southwest, put the sun behind and to our portside!" Fishlegs nodded, tilting the rudder-oar, and the ship veered away.

The first bit of the voyage was surprisingly pleasant. Although all of the youths felt some sadness at leaving their childhood home, the prospect of striking out on their own was thrilling, and the vastness of the sea seemed to beckon them on to new adventures. Once they were beyond earshot of Berk, songs were roused, jokes were passed, and they all traded their ideas and hopes for their new lives. There was a sense of optimism, all of them certain they would soon find their dragons, and set up a grand new era.

But as time passed, as the sun passed noon and into the evening, they seemed to realize again just what they were undertaking... Night passed in relative silence save for the changing of watch to ensure a fresh set of eyes and hands was on deck to keep their course steady. Morning came without much sound, and noon drew on. Every hour that passed travelling the vastness of the sea drove home a little more just how far they were going.

"Are we sure we're heading the right way?" Tuffnut finally voiced aloud. "Maybe we turned wrong?"

"This is the way the dragons came," Astrid asserted. "I've been watching the stars and the sun. We're following their trail."

"Stars and sun? How does that help us?" Ruffnut snapped. "And what if they turned? What if they veered off?"

"We have to trust in our instincts now," Hiccup told them.

"Guys," Fishlegs suddenly said quietly, but no-one paid him mind.

"Who made you in charge?" Tuffnut snapped, his eyes narrowing beneath his dirty blonde hair as he crossed his arms in defiance.

"Ummm, I think you all did!" Astrid countered. "You came looking for him, remember?"

"Guuuuys?"

"Not now, Fishlegs!" Snotlout barked, sidling a bit closer to Astrid. "And we came for both of you, babe."

Astrid scoffed in disgust, shoving him away. "Save it, Snothead! I don't need you fawning over me on the high seas! How many times do I have to turn you down?"

"What, for Hiccup?! After he sends us all on this wild goose chase?!"

"You wanted to come!" Hiccup objected. "I told you all you could turn around at any time! It's not like I held a sword to your necks!"

"Well, what were we supposed to do? It's not like we had much of a-"

"GUYS!!!!"

"WHAT?!" they all yelled out in exasperation, whirling upon their portly friend... only for their eyes to go wide as they all saw it. Swooping from the clouds, covering the sun, a shadow more vast than they had ever seen was descending towards them at terrible speed. The wings seemed to drown out all light as though their canopies were woven from shadow, and they felt a deathly chill as the ship fell under its shade, a loud booming call filling the air.

"SHIT!!!" Snotlout yelled out, and Hiccup scrambled for one of the net-guns.

"Take cover!" he yelled out, panic filling him. A wild dragon of that size, coming upon them in the open sea... It was like something out of a nightmare! Suddenly, there was a rush of air, and the clouds parted to reveal the largest Timberjack he had ever seen! Beyond the size of any Titan WIng, its span was wider than a dozen viking ships abreast. A sudden snap filled the air as it swooped low over them, and the mast was sheared away by the razor's edge of its wing, cleaner than any sword could manage.

"GET DOWN!" Astrid screamed, but it was too late! Hiccup could only watch in slow-motion as the great tail suddenly snapped towards them, bracing himself for the impact that would surely shatter every bone in his body...

It came, but not in the way he was expecting. When he felt the scales against him, he yelled on impulse, but there was no pain, no crushing oblivion. It curled about him swiftly, yet with surprising delicacy, before lofting him into the air to spin through empty space. He could hear the others yelling out nearby, and below the splintering of wood and shredding of cloth. Then suddenly he came down again, but his fall was gently broken by a leathery plain. His eyes snapped open, and he could see the clouds above him... and the wings of the great beast he was resting upon, the other five similarly laid out, dazed, but unharmed.

"We're... alive?" Fishlegs squeaked out in amazement, hardly daring to believe it.

Hiccup nodded slowly, as bewildered as his friend. "Yeah..."

The great dragon suddenly curled its neck up and around, peering at them with its deep green eyes, deeper than the depths of an ancient forest, and a curious rumbling filled their ears as it regarded them keenly.

"I dont' think it's going to hurt us," Astrid offered, cautiously moving beside Hiccup on all fours. "I think... I think it's taking us somewhere."

The creature suddenly gave a sagely nod, before turning its head. Its wings slowly lifted, causing them all to slide gently to its thin back where they took hold of its spines, before they surged down again and it sped away towards the horizon with a loud cry. Far faster than their ship had ever managed, far faster than its size would have suggested it was possible, it streaked towards the horizon, leaving only splintered planks and shreds of canvas as any evidence their ship had ever been there, flotsam to be lost to the vastness of the sea.

The wind whipped about the six youths as they clung tightly to the spines of their mysterious rescuer. Though they had no idea where the Timberjack was taking them, it certainly seemed to be traveling with purpose, its course never veering as it sliced through the clouds. They had to admit, it was an exhilarating feeling to be riding again, and their spirits were lifting higher with every mighty wingbeat.

Soon, Hiccup could see something rising ahead of them, and he squinted to make it out. "An island!" he yelled out, whipping out his makeshift map. "Not one I've ever seen before, either!"

"DRAGONS!" Astrid yelled suddenly, pointing. And they could all see; masses of dragons,s warming around the peaks like clouds of birds. The great Timberjack gave a loud musical cry, and the dragon swarm surged, many of them breaking off towards the incoming giant. Swirling around her, chattering and clamoring in a chorus so loud as to be almost deafening, it reminded Hiccup of a welcoming celebration for a returning hero, and he realized that this great beast must have been the colony's Queen. She swept through their ranks, mindful of her sharp wings amidst the throng, soaring down over the forests that gilded the peaks. The humans on her back could only stare with wide eyes at the masses of dragons, and soon they began to catch familiar faces amidst the flock! Dragons from Berk!

Suddenly a loud roar sounded out, and Snotlout gasped as he leapt upright, though he almost fell over again from the shaky footing. "Hookfang!" he yelled out, and sure enough the Monstrous Nightmare was indeed on the approach, bellowing out in joy at the sight of his rider! The black-haired Viking gave a yell of happiness, suddenly racing over and throwing himself from the Timberjack, narrowly evading the razor-sharp wings, only for Hookfang to scoop him up!

"Barf!" Ruffnut yelled moments later, at the same time as her brother cried out "Belch!" They were snatched up by their two-headed steed almost immediately, and Fishlegs was pounced and lifted away from behind by Meatlug seconds afterward, laughing as he hugged his portly Gronkle.

A screeching call announcing Stormfly, who swooped low, buzzing Astrid, making her laugh out in happiness as the Timberjack spiralled towards the ground. "They're all here!" she exclaimed out happily, and the Timberjack smiled over its shoulder at them as it settled to the earth, its sinuous body coiling regally.

"You brought them here, didn't you?" Hiccup guessed, to which the great dragon gave a nod, lowering its wings to allow the humans to slide to the ground, the rest of the swarm descending around them. They were all there. The entirety of Berk's dragons were present.

Save for one.

As Hiccup looked around, he saw to his sadness that there was one face missing. "Toothless," he sighed, his face falling, and Astrid laid her hand on her boyfriend's shoulder. But suddenly there was a loud chitter as Stormfly padded over and nosed at his arm firmly, squawking urgently.

"What is it, girl?" Astrid wondered, only for the dragon to gesticulate and squawk again, her eyes wide and worried as she grabbed Hiccup's shirt in her jaw and tugged on it.

"Ummm, I think she wants me to come with her," he guessed, and the Nadder nodded furiously, tugging again until he relented and began to follow.

Stormfly quickly started away from the mass gathering towards a nearby cliff face, and Hiccup noticed a crack in the rock, which he realized was the opening to a cave. Stormfly checked to make sure he was still following her before ducking inside, vanishing into the darkness for a moment before sparking a contained fire between her jaws like a lantern. Taking a deep breath, Hiccup plunged in after her, followed by Astrid. The great Timberjack slithered after them up to the entrance before sliding her head in behind, taking care not to get her horns caught on the walls of the passage as her long neck snaked its way through.

Deep inside, a single lone dragon was curled up in a dark, damp chamber, the only light coming from the dying echoes of a small fire on the floor, now barely more than a few coals, and from a single hole in the ceiling through which faded, filtered evening light dappled down. In the dim light, the black dragon was almost invisible, but the color of his hide was not as vibrant and deep as before. It had faded and lost its luster, turning almost gray...

Stormfly paused at the doorway, using her wing to hold back the humans and motioning them to wait. She slowly stepped into the chamber herself, sending a shower of sparks at the little fire to bring it back to some semblance of life, before stepping over to the still form, nosing the Night Fury softly. 'Toothless? Hey, bud... You have to get up. Someone's here to see you!'

The black dragon just whimpered pitifully, curling himself up more and dragging his wings tighter around his frame. 'Please...' he whispered dismally. 'No more tricks... He's not coming, Storm. He's gone... Forever...' He sniffled, a tear rolling from his eye. 'Just let me stay here... Let me die..'

Stormfly huffed in frustration at his answer, actually biting at him. 'No, you big stupid lizard! I'm not just trying to cheer you up this time!' Toothless didn't reply beyond covering his face with his tail.

The nadder sighed, before stepping back to the cave entrance once again to take Hiccup's arm carefully, finally pulling him into the chamber. It took a moment for the human's eyes to adjust to the dim light, and another few to finally notice the lump in the corner, but when he did his eyes widened. "Toothless...?" he whispered.

As the soft, shaky voice graced his ears, Toothless almost blotted it out, thinking it was just one of the other dragons doing their best to mimic. But when he heard the words, the actual human words fill his head, his eyes suddenly shot open. 'No....' he whispered out, his ears fluttering. 'No, it's... It's not possible...'

"Bud? Toothless, can you hear me?"

Slowly, hardly daring to hope, the Night Fury lifted his head, wings fluttering a bit as he turned it towards the voice. He was half-expecting there to be just an empty cave, his mind playing tricks on him... But instead his face met that of his best friend! Hiccup saw those green eyes go wide, and that maw drop open a bit.

"Hey, bud..." he began gently, his hand out as he stepped closer... Only for a loud cry to suddenly leave the dragon, and in an instant Hiccup had been bowled over, pinned beneath a massive, warm, happy weight, and his face was almost drowning in drool as Toothless licked and kissed at him more furiously than he ever had! The dragon was terrified that his friend would vanish the second he touched him, disappearing like a mirage, and when he felt the arms wrap around him, his tail began to lash, smacking the fire, sending sparks flying!

"Toothless!" Hiccup exclaimed happily, laughing as he felt the wet slobber coat him. "Oh bud, you know that doesn't wash out!" he laughed, without an ounce of scolding to him, for the first time not WANTING to wash it out. He leaned up, and suddenly Toothless froze, cheeks burning as the human pulled him into a kiss, pressing his own tongue out into the dragon's maw.

The two just remained like that for several moments, feeling as their hearts synchronized. Toothless was in shock and disbelief; he had resigned himself to a final few days of loneliness, prepared to waste away in that cave. But now his friend, his brother, his lover was here! He felt his fire returning, felt the warmth in his veins, and as Astrid watched, she could see that the luster and depth of his color was returning, going from shoddy coal to a deep, shimmering obsidian once again, once-faded patterns sharpening and boldening before her eyes.

She smiled, blushing softly as the two kissed, not daring to say a word, not wanting to interrupt them. But then...

"Holy Heimdall..."

She gasped, turning to see Snotlout staring wide-eyed at the two lovers as they shared such an intimate moment. The dark-haired youth looked utterly stunned, his jaw gaping in shock as he took it in. Horrified, Astrid leapt forward and grabbed him by the ear, dragging him back to the tunnel!

"Grendel's armpit!" she hissed. "Don't you have any decency?! Let them have their moment!"

“Hey, you were watching too," he shot back weakly, his voice sounding uncharacteristically meek as he struggled to process what he'd seen.

“Quietly, and respectfully!" she snapped, pushing him again, trying to get the stunned teen further down the passage. “They aren't some spectacle to oggle, you great stupid-"

"It's okay, Astrid," Hiccup's voice interrupted them suddenly, and she turned to see him standing behind them. Toothless was right next to him, firmly pressing against his rider's side, rumbling softly as he nodded his head in agreement. He suddenly noticed that Snotlout had not come down the tunnel alone; Fishlegs and the twins had followed as well, and all of them had the same wide-eyed expression. His cheeks darkened slightly as he realized they all would have seen what just happened, the passionate moment he had shared with Toothless, but any worry was quickly put down as he saw not judgement or disgust, but a mixture of wonder and curiosity reflected in their eyes.

Stepping forward, he put a hand on Astrid's arm, gently tugging it until she released her grip on Snotlout. “They came here for answers, too, remember? Plus, we already told them enough for them to know about our relationship; if they were going to cause trouble, they had better opportunities before. But I'm sure there's still a lot that needs to be explained." Toothless purred happily as he kept in step with Hiccup, so close that his wing was pressed firmly to his side, the Night Fury refusing to let the two break contact, something Hiccup seemed to agree with as he kept his free hand resting on the dragon's back.

Astrid reluctantly let her fingers relax from Snotlout, who was still grimacing at the harsh grip. Once he was free, he winced and rubbed his sore ear tenderly, though his eyes still stared in amazement. "So it's true, then," he whispered. "You two are more than just... friends?" He looked at Astrid. "And you two are still together, as well?"

She nodded, moving to stand opposite of HIccup, letting herself lean against the purring Fury's other side. Toothless' rumbles grew louder as he relished in the contact of another of his favorite humans, while Hiccup smiled. "Yeah... Astrid and I are still together. But Toothless and I... we have a special bond. It's a bit tricky to explain, but I'll do my best..."

For well over an hour, the group stayed huddled together in the cave, with Hiccup and Astrid telling the other four everything that had led up to their current situation. Toothless had lit a proper fire for them to sit around, his flames having resurged quickly from his joy at the reunion, and Stormfly provided food in the form of loads of fish and game. The Nadder was beyond relieved when Toothless fell upon the first pile of cod that she delivered, devouring them ravenously almost as soon as they hit the cave floor. It was the first time he had eaten since the whole affair had begun, and when he tried to apologize afterwards, embarrassed for having left none for the others, they were all quick to reassure him. “We're just glad you're feeling better," Hiccup told the Night Fury, the others all nodding in genuine agreement. “There's always more fish, Toothless. There's only one of you."

Hiccup explained everything to his friends, knowing they would need as complete a picture as he could give to grasp the immense implications. He had been able to take months to come to terms with things, while they had only found out about it a few days ago. He delved deeply into all he had learned; how dragons viewed companionship as compared to proper mateship, how sex to them was a way to connect, their version of a gift or treat from one beloved friend to another. At first there was confusion, but soon understanding began to dawn in the eyes of their friends, and they began asking surprisingly deep and observant questions.

As Hiccup finished his story at last, everyone fell silent for a few moments. Hiccup and Astrid waited patiently for their friends to process, Toothless' head rested contentedly against the boy's leg as his tail curled around the blonde's ankles. At last, Snotlout spoke up, his voice slow and uncharacteristically soft. "Well, this is pretty out there," he admitted. "But... it's also pretty cool, and pretty radical."

He smiled, moving to stand. "You're onto something neat here. A new way to bond with our dragons. And... I gotta admit, now I'm curious to see if Hookfang would want to try things together."

The twins nodded with smiles. "Barf and Belch too." They both grimaced, and Ruffnut looked at her brother leerily. "Though I'd have to see you naked... Gross."

Tuffnut snorted. "Yeah, I'm already getting sick thinking about it."

Astrid chuckled and rolled her eyes, before seeing FIshlegs looking a bit nervous, but also very intrigued. "I wonder how a Gronkle will feel," he murmured softly, only to flush.

She just smiled gently. "Hey, it's okay. If your dragon wants to bond with you like that, I say go for it!"

He smiled back in answer, before scrambling to his feet. “Speaking of, I should go find Meatlug again! If she's missed me half as bad as I have her…" He turned, darting from the chamber with surprising speed for his hefty build.

The other three were not far behind, nodding in gratitude to Hiccup as they passed, heading out seeking their dragons, though they all had to duck around the head of the great Timberjack. Hiccup finally turned to her, having felt her watching the entire discussion keenly, a kind and motherly light in her eyes as a soft smile graced her scaly lips. He smiled gratefully, standing and moving over to her with respect, marveling at her regal yet tender bearing. As he felt her warm breath playing over him, he lifted a hand to gently stroke her snout before resting his forehead against it. "Thank you," he whispered. "For everything... For taking in our friends, for giving them a place..."

He looked into her eyes, meeting their sagely gaze respectfully. "If you'll allow it... we would like to stay here, with our dragons. But only if you say that we can." He dipped his head in respect. “You're this island's Queen, and we wouldn't dare trespass. But we can't go back to where we came from. Our dragons seem happy here, and we would be very grateful to stay with them."

No sooner had he finished speaking than she gently nodded her head, rumbling deep in her chest. From the warm note in her eyes, he gathered that she had already been intending to accept them even before he had asked, and he felt a warmth fill his chest. "Thank you," he smiled, before suddenly kissing her nose gently. He hoped that the abrupt gesture wouldn't offend her, but she merely flushed gently as her purrs hiked a note. Slowly, she let her own warm tongue lap over his face in gratitude, before withdrawing at last from the chamber.

Astrid came to stand next to him, resting her hand and head on his shoulder as Toothless remained glued to his opposite side. "We have a home now," she whispered happily. "A place where we can belong... with our dragons, however we want."

***

To all those who follow me, I want to thank you for your patience. It's been a hectic few months for me and my partner, full of both successes and pain. From losing family members to job issues, writing has sadly had to take a back seat. But I'm still working hard, and still concocting. Furthermore, one of my oldest writing projects has begun to gain headway again: I'm actually a novelist in my spare time, and I'll be releasing my books on a patreon account here soon, separate from my fanfiction account!

For those who like what I do, and want to support it, I do have a patreon! With my life as it is, posts can sometimes be spotty. But as a general rule, my stories will go live there before they do here. Check my profile for the link! And as always, thank you all for the support you already give!