Hello again! I'm so sorry for not posting sooner, but so far the New Year has been insane. This one is longer, though, and I'll have another chapter posted much sooner. Shout out to Fanreader26 for helping me with my awkwardness, I hope I'm doing okay! Please stay safe from the virus. Enjoy the story and happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Astrid was heartbroken.

She had always been a strong, proud shieldmaiden, but losing her crush to his best friend was too much for her. She and Stoick, the strongest chief Berk had ever seen, broke down together in the woods, determined not to let anyone see their weakness. When people finally started calling for them, the duo decided it was time to take action. Gobber found them teary-eyed and beat up, but with the most determined faces that he had ever seen.

"Gobber!" Stoick barked at his friend. "Has the village made any head-way on getting off the island?"

"Yes Chief, they'll have the boats ready by the morning, but… what about Hiccup?"

Stoick paused. He looked from Gobber's confused face to Astrid's grief-stricken one.

"We owe him an apology."

Three weeks.

The whole tribe of Berkians spent three weeks looking for Hiccup and his crazed dragon. They became one determined mind, longing to help their heir after how poorly they treated him. After Stoick and Astrid came back, bruised and crest-fallen, no one could be stopped from finding him. Every person who had come to the island helped to rebuild the ships and gather food. The teens, or Dragonriders, as they were now called, were put in charge of bringing back supplies from Berk. All of them, especially Astrid, were set on finding Hiccup as soon as possible. They were the ones leading the construction of temporary forts, gathering food, and most importantly, finding Hiccup. Not one had slept for more than a couple hours and would turn down any attempt to comfort them. They would only stop when Hiccup was brought back, but it turned out differently.

Astrid breathed in the cool, salty air of the island. She had been circling too many times to count, and the chilly breeze and soft sunset were telling her to turn in.

"Oh Stormfly," the dragon looked up at her, yellow eyes filled with worry. "Where could Toothless have taken Hiccup?" The dragon squawked as if trying to comfort her rider. Astrid and Stormfly have become a formidable team while flying. They could tell what each other was trying to say and knew how to comfort the other.

Astrid smiled. She knew why Hiccup wanted to protect his dragon so fearlessly now, but why would Toothless hurt him like this? "Let's go close one more time, girl."

Stormfly dived onto the thick underbrush of the forest, staying just high enough not to get caught. The pair glided over the trees, looking for a glint of black wing or one of Hiccup's clever ideas. Astrid leaned closer, squinting into the trees. Maybe if she got a better view…

"Careful!" Astrid would have fallen off if not for a little gronkle, fluttering its wings to stay in the air. There was a boy on her, who held onto Astrid as she struggled to regain her balance. Fishlegs was just as persistent as Astrid in their search. Maybe the most thorough, as well, for he knew everything he could learn about the forest.

"Thanks, Fishlegs." Astrid swung herself back to Stormfly with a smile. He returned it, saying, "Stoick wants us back. You know how dangerous the wood gets at night."

"Okaay, Mom, I'll head back in a minute." Astrid rolled her eyes but kept her smile. The Dragonriders became much closer than before. Now that they were bonded together over something more than competition, they got to know one another as more than just opponents.

Fishlegs and Meatlug, his dragon, flew back to the circle of forts on the edge of the island. He didn't get to search as much as he used to. Now he was training more Berkians to fly dragons. They needed all the help they could get to find Hiccup, after all.

Astrid sighed and scratched Stormfly. "Ready to head in, girl?" Stormfly squawked and circled around, following Meatlug home. They touched down in the center of the circle, next to a roaring bonfire. There were some people already out, talking or planning on big wooden tables. The Berkians gather around the fire every night to report on the search. Sometimes they're in the mood to dance and laugh, but not often. Losing Hiccup took a heavy blow onto everyone. Everyone wants to make it right.

"Astrid! C'mere!" Astrid turned towards one of the biggest tables to find Fishlegs and the other Dragonriders. Snotlout was waving to her, while Ruffnut and Tuffnut were arguing with Fishlegs about something stupid. She grinned in spite of herself. Somethings will never change.

Astrid took Stormfly's harness off and let her dragon play on the beach with the others. She ran over to the other teen's table and sat down. The twin's and Fishlegs argument died down as she did.

"Any news?" Astrid asked. Something was clearly wrong. Snotlout and the twins were exchanging worried glances, while Fishlegs wouldn't meet her eyes. "What is it? You're acting strange."

"Stoick told us…" Snotlout's courage vanished as soon as he spoke up. "Well… we're going to..."

"Everyone! Settle down, now!" Snotlout looked relieved as the chief stepped into the crowd. "Please! I have an announcement!" Astrid opened her mouth. There is no way Snotlout was going to get off that easy.

"Astrid, just listen." The pleading in Snotlout's eyes made Astrid want to run and hide. He looked sad and hopeless, instead of the usual obnoxious and confident. "Please."

Astrid reluctantly turned back toward Stoick, who surveyed the Berkians from a platform near the fire. He surprised Astrid as well, with big, despairing eyes. "We have found something in the forest."

Despite the situation, Astrid's heart rose. How could any progress in the search be bad? A couple of Berkians joined in her happiness, exchanging hopeful looks.

Stoick brought up a hand, silencing the rising whispers. "I know what you're thinking. Hear me out." The chief looked straight to Astrid, and her heart went to her feet. "We found a note."

"The note reads; If you find this, you should go home. Toothless was right in taking me. Berk isn't meant for me. I hope you all do well. And please, stop hurting dragons. They won't hurt us anymore." Stoick's voice trailed away as the people of Berk stared. They were stunned into silence, not moving or speaking. Stoick looked across the sea of faces, finally resting on the Dragonriders. All the teens were saddened, but unsurprised. All of them, except for Astrid.

"No." Astrid stumbled back and fell off the bench. She felt tears rush into her eyes, and angrily brushed them away. "No!"

"Astrid…" Ruffnut stood as Astrid walked backward, and reached out to hug her. Astrid stiffened. Ruff never showed affection, not even to her twin brother. Nevertheless, she turned her friend away from the now-whispering crowd and into her hut.

"We can't go back!" Astrid tried to shove Ruffnut away, but her friend was holding on to her in a tight hug. They sat on Ruffnut's bed in her tent, as they had been for at least a half an hour. "He'll die!"

"We can't know that." Ruffnut gently pulled away, gazing into Astrid's teary eyes. "Hiccup's good at surviving. He survived Berk, didn't he?"

Astrid was too angry to crack a smile. She stood and turned away from Ruffnut, trying in vain to hide the next wave of sobbing. "He could be hurt. We could find him now that we have an idea of where-"

"We've tried everything, Astrid." The two girls turned to see Fishlegs and Ruffnut at the door. Snotlout came behind with Stoick, who looked as depressed as the rest of them. They gathered together in a hug, which was something they almost never did. Nevertheless, Astrid was grateful.

Stoick coughed behind them. "There was another part of the message. Hiccup wrote that only you five should read it." He threw a battered piece of paper onto a table and turned to leave. "We're going to leave tomorrow morning." He looked back at the devastated group. "I know it's hard, but we will."

As soon as the chief left, the Dragonriders all sat in silence near the note. "Should someone read it?" Tuffnut asked, breaking whatever spell had come over them.

Fishlegs reached for the paper hesitantly, as though it would bite him. "He wrote; To the other teens; I'm sorry I have to leave so soon after we became friends. I hope you all stay together after you get back. Keep your dragons and help others find out how great they are. You guys are the best friends I could have known. I never wanted to leave you."

"That proves it!" Astrid jumped up, shocking her friends. "He didn't want to be taken! We need to find him!"

"He didn't want to come back, either." Snotlout snapped back. He stood too. "He isn't going to be found. He doesn't want to be found. We know you… ahh…" Snotlout's anger ebbed at the shieldmaiden's glare. He looked at Ruffnut for help.

"We know you were the first to really see him," Ruffnut rolled her eyes at Snotlout and stood to face Astrid. "But we all know how you feel. We wish we could bring him back, but it won't happen."

Astrid burst into tears and hugged her friends. "I can't let go. I just can't."

"We know." Ruffnut hugged back, the rest following suit. "We know."

And a day later, they sailed back to Berk.

I love tense endings. Well, I hope you liked the story. See you soon!