Author's Note: Hey, everyone and welcome back to "Sticks and Stones!" =D I don't really have much to say, so here's part two of "Safe Haven!" I hope you guys enjoy it! =D

Summary: Hiccup, Astrid, Toothless, and Stormfly set out to find a new home for the baby Scuttleclaws. (Post HTTYD 2.)

Safe Haven, Part Two

After finally convincing the baby Scuttleclaws that danger was no longer near, Hiccup, Astrid, and the dragons shot into the sky to try and find the trio of babies a new home. Hiccup didn't think that Scuttleclaws could be so stubborn; it took him and Astrid a while to reassure them to leave their island to try and find another safer place to live.

Hiccup was pretty familiar with the area where he and Astrid were currently flying over and around. Thanks to him and Toothless setting out early in the mornings to test out dragonfly (or evading his father's talks about him becoming chief), Hiccup had traveled a rather far distance from Berk, discovering new sea stacks and new islands that could possibly pose as a new home for the three baby Scuttleclaws that he and Astrid were currently escorting.

"So! Where to first?" asked Astrid.

"I saw a couple of good islands not too far from here," said Hiccup.

Astrid nodded. "Then we should go and check them out."

Hiccup agreed with her. "We'll probably find a new home for these guys sooner than later. Hopefully, somewhere far away from that Titan Wing Monstrous Nightmare."

Hiccup took the lead and led the small group toward an island. All of them followed, but Astrid felt as if something was following them. Something unwanted. She looked around and saw nothing, so she let her guard slip for the time being.

But her feeling was right. For skimming just above them, blending in perfectly with the dark clouds, was the Titan Wing Monstrous Nightmare.

…

Finding baby Scuttleclaws a new home wasn't what Hiccup was planning to do with Astrid, but he didn't mind the sudden, unexpected mission. In fact, he quite liked it. Hiccup couldn't remember the last time he had gone off to help out some dragons, and he remembered the times on Dragon's Edge that he and Astrid would team up for similar events like these. Hiccup's bright green eyes scanned the horizon, and he grinned when he spotted the familiar silhouette of an island just up ahead.

"First island coming up!" he announced with a flourish, and Astrid couldn't help but laugh at Hiccup's behavior. He had to add a dramatic flair to anything and everything. Even to the things that were completely normal.

Upon approaching the island, Hiccup and Astrid noticed that it was considerably large in size. Very large. There was lots of forest, and it seemed to make up almost the entire island. Treetops canopied the ground, making it almost impossible to see the forest floor. There was no clear land. Just trees, trees, and more trees.

Hiccup deemed that the place would make a good spot for the baby Scuttleclaws. There was lots of places to explore, and it seemed unoccupied by other dragons. If the Titan Wing Monstrous Nightmare did find them, it would be difficult to catch the Scuttleclaws since there were so many trees and plants to hide them.

Hiccup and Astrid landed and took a look around. The baby Scuttleclaws immediately ran toward the forest, eager to explore the new terrain that they had just landed on. Toothless and Stormfly followed them, curious to what the island's bearings were like as well. Hiccup placed his hands on his hips and looked around.

"I think this place might be perfect for these guys," he said happily.

Astrid cocked her head. "Eh…it's nice and big. But don't you think the dragons could get lost easily here? I mean, look at this place!" Astrid gestured around the large, thick forest surrounding her and Hiccup. "There's barely enough room to walk around!"

Hiccup looked around and noticed this as well. "Why don't we see what the Scuttleclaws think," he said. He and Astrid turned to the baby dragons, who are currently exploring the area. The trio of Scuttleclaws continuously bumped into tree trunks and bushes, which clearly irritated them. Even Stormfly and Toothless had trouble finding their way around, but a little more than the baby dragons since they were much larger. The forest area was too squashy and thick, so the Scuttleclaws ran back up to Hiccup and Astrid with expressions that told them that they wanted to leave.

The young chief nodded. "Well, I guess you're right. This place isn't for them."

Astrid patted Hiccup's shoulder. "Let's try another island. Maybe we'll have more luck there."

Hiccup, Astrid, their dragons, and the adolescent Scuttleclaws soon departed the large, forestry island and skimmed over the seas, looking for a different island to check out and view. Hiccup and Astrid eventually spotted one, and they landed on it with the baby dragons not to close behind. This island was the exact opposite of the previous one the two had visited. It wasn't very big and had barely any forest. It was mostly rock, and there was a lot of space to run around and play, which seemed to please the baby Scuttleclaws. They tackled and played with each other, eventually starting a game of chase, but they stayed near Hiccup and Astrid.

Astrid looked around, but a slight skeptical expression rested on her face. "This place is sort of nice."

Hiccup nodded in agreement. "It is, but it's too exposed." He examined the rest of the island. "If the baby dragons stayed here, they'd risk getting caught by either that Titan Wing Monstrous Nightmare or other dragons that prey on them. There aren't many places to hide and escape to."

"I guess that crosses this island off of the list," said Astrid.

After drawing the baby Scuttleclaws away from their game of chase, which required the use of Toothless' alpha abilities, the small group set off to look for another island that could possibly be the perfect home for the baby Scuttleclaws. Unfortunately, this proved to be rather difficult. Astrid and Hiccup found many potential islands, but they all had things that either posed a threat to the baby dragons, or its overall structure wasn't suited for them. One island was too small with barely any room to run around and play. Another island was too dry with absolutely no water on it anywhere and it was extremely hot. The next island they visited had too many larger dragons on it, and Hiccup and Astrid had to protect the baby Scuttleclaws after encountering the vast array of wild Monstrous Nightmares, Deadly Nadders, and several other large dragons that saw them as a threat. Finally, the last island that they took a look at had every single type of food except for the ones that Scuttleclaws eat. Hiccup and Astrid left this island, feeling somewhat disappointed that they hadn't found a nice place for the baby dragons to live.

Astrid looked over to Hiccup, who seemed to be deep in thought. She knew how much he wanted to help the three baby Scuttleclaws and that he wasn't going to give up on them so easily. Hiccup looked up at her, and Astrid caught the knowing look of an idea on his face.

"How about we take these guys to Berk with us?" said Hiccup.

As much as Astrid would have loved to bring the three Scuttleclaws with them back to Berk, she knew that the idea wasn't going to work. "Hiccup, we can't bring these guys to Berk with us. Remember what happened with Bing, Bang, and Boom?" The Haddock visibly cringed at the memory of the three destructive dragons that nearly destroyed the village. "These dragons have no parent," Astrid continued. "And they're unlike any other Scuttleclaws that I've ever seen. We might not be able to keep them under control, and they seem to have instincts that suit better for the wild and survival than living amongst us on Berk."

Hiccup sighed. "I know, but it just seems like the better option. We're running out of islands. And that giant, scary Titan Wing Monstrous Nightmare could attack at any moment."

"Yeah," said Astrid. She sighed too. "I wish the Scuttleclaws could just tell us where they want to stay."

Hiccup nodded in agreement. He wasn't going to stop searching for a home for the baby dragons, but if they really could tell him and Astrid where they would like to live, that would've made things a whole lot easier.

Sadly, though, dragons don't possess the ability to talk. So, Hiccup and Astrid were stuck with their original plan of searching for different islands and hoped that they would eventually find a suitable palace for the three baby Scuttleclaws.

Speaking of said Scuttleclaws, Hiccup hadn't heard anything from them the entire flight. Usually, he could hear them growling or squawking at each other, carrying their own little conversation, but Hiccup couldn't hear anything from them. There was no sound from the baby dragons at all. Not even a small chirp.

Hiccup turned around to check on the baby dragons, and his eyes widened in shock when he realized something.

"Uh…Astrid?"

"Yes?" answered the Hofferson, looking over where Hiccup was flying on Toothless. She noticed his worried expression and she asked, "What's wrong, Hiccup?"

Hiccup turned to face her. "The baby dragons are gone."

Author's Note: Uh oh...I wonder where the baby dragons went...

I hope you guys enjoyed "Safe Haven, Part Two," and I'll see you all in the next part! =D

Until the next chapter!

-BeyondTheMoon1203