Pain. Love it.
The aftermath of any battle is always terrible. Losses on both side, more painful than others. No one would mourn Drago. But as Hiccup watched the Berkians pick themselves up from the horrible loss of their home to move on, it put a bittersweet feeling in his heart. He was sitting with Astrid and Toothless, holding their little boy on the side, while tasks were taken care of. Funerals were being arranged for Dragons and Hooligans alike. 'Fishlegs.'
Hiccup let out a small sob. He hadn't cried much for a long time. He sensed Astrid beside him shift. She wasn't aware of her mother's death yet. He didn't want to burden her. She was weak from giving birth. It had been rough. 'But if anyone could survive that, she can.' He closed his eyes. 'So much loss. So much...'
A week after the battle, things were better. Berk was destroyed beyond repair, if they were to stay here, it would be hard. They'd have to start over from scratch. The funerals were over. All of them had been painful. Hiccup wasn't sure if they would stay. Half of the Hooligan tribe was dead. All the buildings, except the blacksmith shop, were destroyed. Everyone was badly shaken up. The decision to stay or leave was a hard one, and Hiccup couldn't make it alone.
Hiccup was sitting alone. Astrid and their son were sleeping in one of the temporary shelters with Toothless. Gobber was moving from small group to small group, giving condolences, handing water and food out. He saw Hiccup on the edge of the area, completely lost in thought. Valka was approaching him slowly.
"Hiccup?"
He didn't answer.
"Hiccup?"
"Mom." He glanced at her.
"Are you okay?" She walked up and sat next to him.
"No. I'm not. We've lost so much. I wish I could have stopped this. I wish there was something I could have done. Fishlegs is dead. Astrid's mother is dead. Lots of Dragons are dead. Lots of Vikings are dead. Berk is gone." He let out a pained, long sigh.
Valka put a hand on his shoulder. "You did everything you could. I wouldn't have expected any less of you. We're Vikings. We have stubbornness issues. We'll get through this."
Hiccup rolled his eyes and smirked. "Yeah. I guess so." He glanced back at the destruction. "But we can't stay here. Not anymore."
Valka nodded. "We'll find another home. We'll pick up and keep going. We always do."
Hiccup stood up, a fog lifting from his mind, a weight lifted from his shoulders.
"We won't ever give up."
Short chapter, I know.