Before they reached the Great Hall to finish the meeting, Kaja met them in the upper levels of the village. She, despite Hiccup's protest, healed the few major wounds incurred during the battle. Hiccup had been angered about that before. He remembered Gyda's words about his ancestors slowly dying each time they used their magic. He remained annoyed even now after he was allowed to leave. Having no wounds requiring Gothi's attention meant he was no longer needed since the meeting was over.

He had just met these ancestors and greatly wanted to learn from them. He felt a connection with them over and above the connection he felt with his father, Gobber, or any other adult Berkian he grew up knowing. He did not want to lose either of them this soon. Still, he was grateful that he could leave the Hall. He had reached his limit when he learned the Bewilderbeast male had not gotten over Haddock's death.

"Hiccup."

Old Wrinkly's voice pulled Hiccup's gaze down the stairs. The man and his family, with Hiccup's permission, left before the laughter from Sunset's question faded. Now the man stood alongside his family just above the upper-level plaza. The three Stormcutters rested on the grass between them and the chief's hut. To Old Wrinkly's right stood someone that had Hiccup's brows furrowing.

He moved down the stairs, skirting between his friends and their dragons. The man beside Old Wrinkly straighten to his full height as Hiccup neared. The unknown green, two-legged dragon beside the man chittered but offered no issue with Hiccup's approach, though Hiccup suspected the dragon was concerned. Even he could see the nerves the man tried, and failed, to still.

"He bonded with his dragon when we reached the Nightmare queen's nest," Old Wrinkly said as Hiccup stopped in front of the man. "And aided us greatly in rescuing her dragons from the Lava-louts."

Hiccup frowned but not because of the man. Lava-louts had always taunted themselves as slavers, a mission they cried was gods-given to them just like the Bog-Buglar's small thievery at meetings. Hiccup hated both stories, calling them nothing more than using the gods to allow selfish desires and claiming divinity for the actions. Even with his belief, he did not understand why the Lava-louts turned to capturing dragons and wondered if he would ever learn the truth of that matter. He doubted the four Lava-louts who surrendered would know.

He had once asked his father about clan hierarchy, having heard the term when a small farming clan on the island had an issue with another small fishing clan. In a rare moment without the usual disgust his father once showed him, Stoick sat him down and taught him what the term meant. Stoick even went as far as to explain how the other tribes in the Archipelago handled the clans that made up their tribes. Berk held a loose system that still allowed for honor and pride amongst the clans but kept clan blood feuds from erupting every moment of the day, or so Stoick said. Other tribes had differing opinions on the clans in their tribe and the influence and authority they held. The Lava-louts, the Thunderheads, and those from Chilblain held the toughest form according to Stoick and had many incidents where clan blood feuds almost wiped out their tribes completely.

Hiccup suspected the four who surrendered were among the lowest ranked clans given how fast they abandoned their chief. According to that lesson from his father, the Lava-lout chief would have viewed the men as nothing more than freed thralls and the men would neither wield power or influence, nor would they be privileged to know the reasonings behind their chief's orders.

Hiccup's gaze and attention fell upon the green dragon as it shifted and rustled its wings. He did not have to have Link or Nightjaw giving him any hints as the dragon kept glancing between him and its rider. He knew why. The dragon could sense the tension between Hiccup and its rider. Its instincts called for protecting its rider, but Hiccup was an alpha and they stood in Hiccup's nest. The dragon and its rider were the visitors. The dragon could not act unless Hiccup violated Civility Laws. Hiccup had no intention of doing that but giving trust on a whim had never paid off for Hiccup in the past. The dragon's rider had been a Trapper once and had been quick to brandish a sword at the dragons the last time he had been on Berk's soil.

Hiccup turned his gaze back to the man. The man looked down and while Hiccup could see the man's unease, he could also see the man was willing to take whatever Hiccup said. Hiccup smiled, lifting his hand.

"Welcome aboard, Dragon Rider," he said.

Before the man could respond, a slight hissing sound rose until it became a full cackle. Hiccup, hand still lifted, glanced over the shoulder Sharpshot had not claimed when they left the Hall. He found Shadowfire, head curled down between his forelegs with his muzzle pointed towards his tail. The Tall-singer's wings were shaking but Hiccup realized it was not from fear. He had heard the same noise from Toothless after the images in Gyda's cave announced what the Vikings once thought about Night Furies.

Hiccup snorted, realizing the dragon was reacting to something he knew from the future. As soon as the Thing ended and the nest returned to normal, Hiccup vowed to corner Gyda and those from her family who came from the future. It was high time he learned what they knew. He turned back to the man. He still remembered his duties even if his curiosity wore on him.

"Thank you," the man said, lifting his hand and clasping Hiccup's. "I told your father my name, but I was unable to give it to you. I am Eret."

Hiccup tilted his head. "You dropped the 'Son of Eret' part?"

Eret jerked and his dragon trilled something soothing. Eret murmured soft words to the dragon, calming it. Hiccup felt a small smile threaten to ruin the serious image he had been going for when he descended the stairs to greet the ex-Trapper. He was still wary of Eret but seeing the man immediately comfort his dragon went far to ease that worry.

"My father would disown me," Eret said.

"And?"

"I will never forget what my father taught me," Eret said after a moment's hesitation. "Some of it were things I will need and the parts I will not need I will retain so I never forget what I have done to beings who were innocent of the crimes I killed them for." Eret glanced at his dragon. "But I have a sister now," he continued. "And disownment is a small price to pay for having her in my life." He turned back to Hiccup and smiled. "So, no, I am just Eret now."

Hiccup smiled. "And might I know your sister's name?"

"Turfraider."

Hiccup shook Eret's hand once. He then turned to the green dragon who still regarded him with wary eyes. "Welcome to my nest, Turfraider."

Turfraider chirped and dropped her head, though she did not spread her wings. [Thank you, honored alpha,] she said, her tone holding an earthy feel, remining Hiccup of the different farmers who lived on Berk.

Hiccup smiled before turning to Old Wrinkly. There had been another reason Stoick let Hiccup leave right after the meeting ended. Hiccup had some unfinished alpha business resulting from the invasion attempt and even from before the Lava-louts arrived. He wanted that business done before the evening meal because he wanted a calm night.

"Let's go to the guest cave to continue this," he said. His gaze shifted back to Eret and Turfraider. "Join us."