Stoic's Return, Failure At Finding The Dragon's Nest

The congratulations kept on coming, one of his villagers right after another. And so soon upon entering port!

"We're all so relieved Stoic!"

"Out with the old, in with the new!"

"The entire village is throwing a party to celebrate!"

"We surely won't miss the old him!"

Stoic's eyes widened as he took in his villagers happy faces. All four of them were smiling, happily trotting off to complete whatever task they had been set to do at port. In fact, he looked around; all of the villagers were smiling, laughing with one another.

As he and Gobber ascended the plank, more Vikings shouted their greetings down to him, as well as congratulations. He just…didn't understand. What were they so happy about? Was it…oh gods, did it have something to do with Hiccup?

Stoic stopped dead in his tracks, a trembling realization in his voice. His heart clenched painfully as ice ran through his veins. "He's…gone?"

A million thoughts rushed through his head at that exact moment. I was too hard on him after all, he thought guiltily. I pushed him too hard to be the Viking I wanted him to be; I pushed him so hard he's run away from home. And who wouldn't blame him? It isn't like anyone in the village has ever really tried to give him the support, love, and attention he really needed. Oh Thor, strike me down now. I've been such a horrible father to my son…my only son!

Gobber froze next to him, giving him a hard stare. He quickly searched his face and his expression for…something. After a moment of silence, he shook his head. "Yeah…most mornings and afternoons, actually. But who can blame the lad? Being the village celebrity can really take it out of you. He can barely walk anywhere without being swarmed by his new fans."

Stoic gaped at him. "Hiccup?"

"Yeah. Who knew he had it in him? He's got this…way with the beasts," he continued, walking up the plank and into the various boardwalks that ran around the port area.

Stoic stood there, the frozen fear quickly replaced with the warmth of pride and joy in his son. Yet one tiny voice whispered from deep inside of his heart: Why did you assume he had run away? Why didn't you automatically think that he had actually done well in dragon training?

Stoic couldn't lie to himself. But he could certainly try. "My son…a dragon killing genius…"