Thank you for those who read the first long chapter. I will try and make the chapters less than 3k (Including notes) from now on to try and create a better flow. As I reread the first chapter, I also sensed a speed faster than I liked. I will work on making the detail clearer without filling it up with a bunch of words to make the chapters longer. I do not have a plan of how many chapters but am working on that too and once I finish with the future chapter titles, I will post it on my profile page and add chapter titles as I work through the story.

A note to guest reviewers, I do like to interact with my reviewers so if you have an account and want to chat, use your account. I learn as much from my reviewers as they might from my writing. Fellowship is important to me and fellowship does not have to be just church or church group activities

Enough of my rambling and thank you to the ones who reviewed, I love hearing from people even if it is not about the story but also to talk about God and His Son, our wonderful savior Jesus Christ.

Trials of Life

It has been a couple weeks now since the incident on Berk, Astrid was depressed and Hiccup was angry with himself. He hated taking life, but was not the first time but this was his dad. He noticed the look on everyone's face when he killed his dad but none seemed to be angry or happy with him, just shocked.

Astrid was not upset at him at all for everything that happened. Hiccup gave her family a chance to come with as he did his mother and they refused to go, something about dedication to their men is the reason the mom's would not leave. Hiccup and Astrid were both hurt by this because they felt betrayed by the motherly bond they thought was supposed to happen but obviously not.

Astrid was torn some because she loves Hiccup and understands the dedication to the man you are married to, as short as they have been married. She would die for him and she knows he would die for her.

Astrid was learning about this motherly bond because that is what she has become to Hailey. Hailey is not scared of Hiccup and loves to be around him, especially when he is with the dragons, but when Hailey has a need Astrid is the one she needs. Hiccup understood this and loved to watch the tenderness Astrid showed towards Hailey, especially when Hiccup always knew her as a fierce warrior.

One night when Astrid and Hiccup were in bed, after dedicating there love to each other like they did most nights, Astrid asked Hiccup if he wanted children of their own. She knew this had to be asked because since their wedding night three weeks ago, they never took precautions such as morning tea and if she is not pregnant yet and he does not want kids yet, she needs to make some and drink it daily the way things are going. She smiled at these thoughts because she loves being with Hiccup as his wife and she also wants to have their children.

He also wants children and he does not want to wait. The talked about the average life of a Viking is less than fifty years and with both being a couple years from twenty, they wanted to have as many children as Astrid's body can handle. Astrid thought this too for now but she was told by many women that mind set changes after having that first child.

"Astrid, can we try praying to God about our future? I mean we are still trying to learn about Him but he gives us results and we want children and also more knowledge so maybe we need to ask Him for this information." She nodded and then she asked if he would be the one to pray since she is not comfortable yet praying silently even though she has tried.

Dear God, Astrid and I are seeking answers about you or more knowledge and we do not know where to go. Can you guide us in this adventure and also we ask for guidance in being parents to Hailey and to have many children of our own. I pray for pregnancy and also safety for Astrid when she is carrying our children in her. Thank You God

Hiccup was not sure if he was doing it right but then if He is truly God, then he will understand what Hiccup is asking. He is not sure were these thoughts are coming from because with the gods he used to pray to, you have to be specific and that is why he was always told his prayers were not answered. He realized a few times he did the exact same prayer to God as he did the gods and God answered or gave guidance in the venture he was in.

Journey Planning

The next morning Astrid and Hiccup started to plan a journey to see if they could get answers. On this trip they would go from island to island and seek out anything that would help them. Toothless was still the only dragon that could carry anyone but he was strong enough to fly with all three on them.

Hailey was excited for the trip and even though she did not understand her parent's reason for the trip or what they talked about then they talked about God, she trusted them. On Berk kids were not introduced to the gods until around five so the God her parents talk about is the only one she knows of.

Hailey already had a dragon too, a beautiful baby nadder who was a bright blue and she loves her little girl. The nadder is old enough to fly and Hailey is small enough to ride her but Astrid and Hiccup did not let her fly more than a bit around the village. During this trip, they would work more with her and let her fly higher and longer but still only over land since she did not know how to swim.

Snowstorm is growing fast and within a few months she will be able to carry Astrid short distances. She was a big dragon to begin with when hatched and growing fast to catch up to Toothless. Helps that Astrid is much lighter than Hiccup too and Toothless can carry supplies to lighten her load when she does start to carry Astrid.

The first thing they were going to do is make sure the few left on the island are okay. Eret will be in charge but all will have a say. Hiccup encouraged them to continue to seek out people and dragons who needed help and if needed to let people stay in his place. He wanted to make the world safer and if it meant giving up his home while gone, then let it be.

In preparation for receiving others onto the island, the men had a daily chore of cutting trees and making them into half logs for future homes in case they needed them. Hiccup had a plan of building ten more homes and already had the plans. The men were working on the first home now and hoped to have the framing done before Hiccup and his family left.

He had already sent a few letters to Berk inviting them to come to his island, about the same size and a lot less issues than Berk but no one has showed up yet. He was disappointed because he thought his mom and Astrid's parents would realize what they did wrong and change their mind.

The residence on his island now not including him, Astrid and Hailey are Eret, Jerrod, Heather, Cami and Athelias. He knew that Cami and Eret are getting close and also Heather and Jerrod are getting close but not sure how close, he tried to stay out of their personal lives and he asked the same of them. Athelias still hopes someday she can find her best friend from her island but the last time they went to check, not a person was around.

Hiccup liked to dream big and as much as he did not want to be the chief at Berk, he did want to lead the people on this island he now called Eden, or the beginning since this island is the beginning of his new life, a life with Astrid, Hailey and his friends. He figured when they returned probably in a one year time, there might be some changes to the island. Hopefully more people if anyone from Berk decides to show up and also two more married couples.

Over the next week Astrid made sure to pack the things they used and made a list of the daily items they used and would pack the day they left. They planned to leave a little after high sun and make a pass over Berk to see how everything was going on the island they still hope to save. They have not given up hope but also wanted to give Berk the space they needed to mourn the loss of their leader and let Snotlout learn to lead.

A couple days before they left, Astrid rode Snowstorm and though the young dragon could not go very far, it was fun for all, especially Hailey who rode Sky alongside her mother. Hiccup was in the forge he created and heard some laughter and when he looked outside, he saw the two dragons and their riders approach him. He could not help but smile at the scene before them.

"Should we delay the journey a few weeks so you and Snowstorm can learn to fly longer distance?" but he was met with a frown and a shake of the head. Astrid was looking forward to the exploring and was about to tell him with words when the horn of alert was sounded.

Hiccup and Astrid ran to the lookout point near the forge and noticed two small boats approaching with a few people in them. He looked through the looking glass he made and recognized one of the people and he smiled knowing Berk has arrived.

A/N: John 14:21 is the bible verse I received today for my morning devotion. Amazing how the word reminds us so many times the love and grace that God gives us. We are sinners but as pointed out by one of my guest reviewers, once we accept Jesus as our savior and allow him into our hearts, we are pure in the eyes of God as he looks at us through the forgiveness of Jesus. Thank you Lord for this love you have for us.

In this last chapter, I tried to get away from the low parts of life and yet set up for the future chapters. This story will have many highs and lows and teachings of God's word.

I plan to update on Fridays for sure and maybe another day in the week since I am making shorter chapters. Thank you everyone for reading and even if you do not follow or review, your reading my story is about God and not me so I am happy