When Bucket and Hiccup returned, the found the camp still abandoned.

'They'll be back soon,' Bucket said. He sat down and closed his eyes, enjoying the warm breeze that blew across the camp. The birds that were flying around reminded Bucket of the dragons back on Berk. He looked at Hiccup, and saw that said teen was nervously fidgeting with his fingers. He seemed deep in his thought, and didn't care about his surroundings at the moment. All that he could think of was what his mother would think of him. He wanted so badly to believe everything Bucket had said, but he still had some doubts about it. Because deep inside, he knew it was all his fault. If he hadn't gone out that night, if he hadn't tried to kill that stupid Terrible Terror, this never would've happened. She wouldn't have died- well, she actually didn't die at all- and they would have lived happily ever after. The more Hiccup thought about it, the more nervous he became.

He didn't see Valhallarama coming out of the forest, so he was startled when he'd heard his name being yelled. He looked up ans saw his mother running towards him. The knot that had been in his throat became tighter, and he was afraid that when it would be just a little tighter, he might choke.

Hiccup stood up, and as soon as he was fully standing, he was held in a bone-crushing hug.

'Oh Hiccup, I'm so glad you're okay!' Valhallarama said. 'Where have you been? I thought I'd lost you again.'

Hiccup was trying hard to not let the tears escape. He was just so happy and overwhelmed to see his mother- whom he had presumed was dead- again. But the guilt he felt inside wouldn't leave him alone, and he kept thinking of how angry she should be with him. She shouldn't be hugging him. She should yell at him, tell him that is was all his fault, and it really was, if you'd ask him. That she would be better off without him.

But she didn't. And Hiccup couldn't understand why. It frustrated him.

Valhallarama let go of Hiccup, and looked in his eyes. She saw the sadness, and she felt the same, because she had been away from him for so long. He had to grow up without her, thinking she was dead.

'Hiccup...' she said, and she stroked his auburn hair. 'You've grown so much. I'm so proud of you, sweetheart.'

Hiccup suddenly took a step back, and shook his head. 'No! You shouldn't be proud!' he yelled. As on cue, some clouds drifted in front of the sun, taking its light with them.

'But Hiccup, why wouldn't I be proud?' Valhallarama asked, not understanding what he was talking about.

Bucket stood on the sideline, watching. He didn't know how to react, and he couldn't help but feel useless.

'You shouldn't be proud of me, because it's my fault. You know it... Dad knows it... Everyone knows it! It's that obvious! If I just stayed home, instead of chasing a stupid little dragon you wouldn't...' Hiccup took a shaking breath. 'You wouldn't have...' He couldn't say it. First of all because she didn't die at all, but second he was afraid that she would agree with him, and be angry, or even worse: disappointed.

'Honey, it's okay. It's not your fault at all. Odin wanted it to be that way. And besides,' Valhallarama said, while she smiled a little. 'I'm alive, and well, aren't I?' she asked, and she blinked. Hiccup felt a little relieved, but he still had some questions though.

Just when he was about to ask, Mulch returned to the camp as well. 'Hiccup! You're okay. You got us all really worried and-' he started, but then he saw him and his mother standing in front of each other. Their expressions told him enough. He kept his mouth shut and mover over to Bucket.

All the while Hiccup hadn't really paid attention to it, and he kept looking at his mother. One peculiar question was floating in his mind right then, but he wasn't sure if he really wanted to know the answer.

'Then why didn't you come back?' he asked eventually.

Valhallarama tried to ignore the hurt in his eyes, but it was easier said than done. 'Because I couldn't,' she said. 'Don't think I didn't want to, because I did. Really bad.' She saw that Hiccup was confused at that comment, but then again, who wouldn't be? Valhallarama decided that this was the best moment to tell them what had happened to her.

'It's going to be a long story, I think. But it'll make you understand my situation,' she said. And yours now too, she thought after that. Hiccup, Mulch and Bucket nodded, and after they'd sat down, Valhallarama began her story. 'I suppose you remember the dragon raid where I saved you from that Nadder?' She asked first. Hiccup nodded again. Of course he would remember. Why wouldn't he?

'I was fighting a Gronckle when I saw that Nadder flying towards our house. You were still there, and I was afraid the Nadder would set the house on fire, with you still in it! I got rid of the Gronckle quickly, and ran towards our house. I was so afraid to lose you, and when I saw you in front of that Nadder, I didn't know that to do at first. Time stood still for a moment. Well, at least in my opinion it did. But the I realized what the consequences would be if I didn't make sure the Nadder would leave you alone.

I told you to hide, because I didn't want you to see me kill a dragon, or see a dragon kill me. The Nadder was a pretty good fighter, and I had a hard tome to keep up with it. But then I heard something coming from the bushes and I thought it was another dragon. That little moment of distraction was enough for the Nadder to slam me with it's tail, and one spike embedded itself in my left shoulder- later I would find out it was just above my heart- and soon I lost consciousness because of the huge amount of pain and blood loss.

But I remember seeing you you, Hiccup. I was glad you where unharmed, and I hoped it would stay like that.

I knew I was dying, and I knew that you had to fight for yourself. I knew how harsh the others could be to you. But I also knew that you were able to handle it,' Valhallarama said, and she gave a smile to Hiccup, who was currently staring at the ground, trying not to cry because of the terrible memories that were replaying itself in his mind.

He sighed and looked up. 'There was a dragon in the bushes. It was the Terror I wanted to kill. I was trying to prove myself worthy to dad.'


'Okay, that's it,' Stoick said while he looked at his best friend. 'I've listened to you. I've waited for Thor knows how long for Hiccup to return, and now I'm going to find him, and bring him back safely.'

'And no, I won't wait for another hour Gobber! I've waited long enough. I just know something has happened to Hiccup, and I won't rest until I find him!' he interrupted Gobber before he could say anything.

'I wasn't trying to make you wait a little longer. I want to help you Stoick. Ya know how fond I am of him,' he said, while he looked towards the room he'd given the teen when he first came to the forge. It was so he could be alone, to thing, or to invent some stuff. But now when he was gone, it looked so empty, so meaningless. 'And you should ask the others to help you as well,' he suggested. Stoick nodded, and went out of the forge, probably to the academy, where the other teens would be.

'Don't worry Hiccup. I'll come for you,' Stoick said.