I AM SORRY ABOUT ALVA!
-HTTYD-
NO!
Valka hadn't waited twenty years to see her son just to lose him now. The gods could surely not be so cruel! Her fists slammed hopelessly against ice she knew she couldn't break, a lump rising in her throat as tears welled in her eyes and her heart ached like it never had before.
"Valka, move!"
"No!"
Even Eret couldn't get through to her. She couldn't leave until she got Hiccup out!
"No, look!"
Opening her eyes just to turn around and yell at him, she caught the light just in time, saw the glow rising through the ice and barely managed to scramble out of the danger zone. She stumbled just as the ice exploded violently into pieces, Eret catching her so she could focus on turning, looking what she'd run away from.
It was Toothless. Valka hadn't seen a Night Fury like it in near fifteen years, and it was a Night Fury nest Queen who had fought to the death to protect her own. And that seemed to be what was happening now.
Relief flooded her, bringing Valka to her feet when Toothless lifted his wing, showing Hiccup. And he was ok! He seemed as surprised as anybody, but Toothless had protected him from the icy blast. As Toothless leapt up, Valka reached her son, helping him to stand. They saw Toothless rearing up, wings spread, the glow along his spines burning even brighter. The Bewilderbeast roared back, but it didn't seem to frighten Toothless away a bit.
"He's challenging the Alpha!"
"To protect you!"
Every bit of Night Fury balance and agility was put to the test as Toothless began to tackle the enormous Alpha dragon, every plasma blast landing somewhere new and the resulting puffs of smoke obscuring the Alpha's vision, which only helped Toothless dodge any return attacks better.
And then something amazing happened.
"Look!"
Valka pointed up, and Hiccup gasped as he followed her eyeline, seeing that hollow, empty 'controlled' look fading from dragons. Toothless leapt back down to Berk and called up to them. The Bewilderbeast looked on in horror as the swarm left his back, migrating to stand behind Toothless this time. When Valka looked back to her son, he'd gone, taking his place back on Toothless' saddle to face down the Bewilderbeast. Her heart almost stopped as the dragon reared up, icy clouds forming in the back of their throat...
But the shift was clear. When Toothless called on the dragons, they answered. Even a dragon as massive as the Bewilderbeast was no match for the firepower of so many dragons, thousands from her nest and even more from Berk. Two very distinctive streams of Stormcutter fire cut through together, Tripfire and Cloudjumper fighting alongside one another again to help drive away the threat.
When the Bewilderbeast cowered before Toothless, it was clear the fight was over, and the battle won.
"The Alpha protects them all."
Her heart swelled with pride as Hiccup stood with his dragon, and Berk rang with cheers when the Bewilderbeast vanished with an audible splash again.
She'd definitely be teasing Cloudjumper a little about how quickly he bowed to Toothless, having been less than enamoured with the energetic, boisterous Night Fury at times before. But she also recognised the respectfulness of it, every other dragon landing on Berk and following Cloudjumper's example. Even Tripfire. Though she turned away faster than the others too, leaping over a chunk of ice to where Valka suspected Alva still was.
Everyone began to reunite with their own dragons, names and joyful roars sounding all around her as Cloudjumper leapt over and nuzzled Valka, cooing a soft apology that she waved away.
"Go check on Alva, I'll be there in a minute."
Fatherly panic overtook him as he immediately scrambled off to check on his daughter, and there was no immediate sound of agonising panic that worried her Alva had detoriated further. Which left Valka to head over to Hiccup, where he was being licked by an exuberant Toothless, the taking over as Alpha clearly not changing him entirely. She helped him to his feet, and he let her keep hold of his hands.
"Oh Hiccup, I'm so proud of you. And I know your father would be too."
Hiccup smiled, cheeks colouring slightly as he ducked his head shyly. Not used to taking compliments, perhaps. Valka suppressed her frown; there was time to get to know each others pasts now.
"Thanks. I... I'm really glad you're here mom."
His calling her mom still struck something inside her, and Valka smiled, daring to reach for his face.
"And here I'll stay, if you want me to?"
He nodded, eyes a little watery but he was smiling.
"I do."
Valka smiled back, but stepped away so Hiccup could speak with his betrothed. She already seemed to bring the best out in Hiccup - he stood a little taller for her, shoulders straightening, smile shifting to something a little more playful when she jokingly sprung the steering fin on his flight suit before they kissed. Giggles from nearby children suggested it was a common occurrence.
"Astrid, c'mere. Mom, this is my betrothed, Astrid Hofferson. Astrid, this is my mother, Valka. Never got to formally introduce you earlier."
Astrid gave Valka a piercing once-over, but kept a smile on her face for Hiccup. She was beautiful, Valka could see. Youthful, with soft round features and a sweet smile, lovely long blonde hair and pale freckles scattered across her face. Valka had also caught sight of her being pretty handy with an axe, and heard some very colourful vocabulary.
"So, how long have you two been betrothed?"
"Four years. Together... five now, right?"
Astrid nodded, gifting Hiccup with another soft smile.
"Yep."
Four years was a long time to be betrothed - the traditional was a year, at most, but Valka didn't really feel she could ask just yet. They were all still coming out of a battle, and Hiccup hadn't yet had time to deal with the loss of his father, or Berk the loss of their chief.
Someone had it on their mind though, the wizened old elder still kicking apparently. Gothi approached and beckoned Hiccup to her silently, marking him with the symbol of new chiefdom from the ashes of a fire when he knelt in deference to her. Even Stoick had to listen to Gothi... or at least, read what she scrawled. The woman had never spoken, to Valka's knowledge.
"The Chief has come home!"
"Long live the Chief! Long live the Chief!"
There was an invisible but tangible weight that laid itself on Hiccup's shoulders the moment he straightened up. He had been willing to run away and save dragons with Valka only two days ago...
She pushed those thoughts aside. They had time now, she reminded herself.
"Is that young Stormcutter ok? Al... Alva?"
"I was just about to go and check on her."
Hiccup nodded, promising everyone he'd be back in a minute but they had to ensure the one who'd led them home was going to be ok first. It left everyone else free to go back to cuddling their dragons, Astrid helping Hiccup over the ice between them and the Stormcutters. Eret was knelt at Alva's side, his cousin stood nearby and anxious dragon parents watching.
"It's not as bad as it looks. She won't be able to fly til she's better cus its too close to her wing, but it's not as deep as I thought. You can relax Tripfire."
Valka felt eyes on her as she went to Eret. He didn't really look at her though.
"How is she?"
"Wounded, but I think shock took her down more than anything. Some rest and staying off her wings, she'll be ok. I better get back."
"Back?"
Eret nodded, still not quite meeting her eye.
"The nest. The babies and the injured are still there. Alva can't make the trip back yet, so I'll have to bring the others here."
"Oh, gods, of course!"
Eret stroked Tripfire, but then he was disappearing... to look for Gustnudger, judging by his calling out for the Windgnasher. Valka tamped down on her hurt; the last thing Eret had seen her do before Drago's invasion was seem to have a happy reunion with her ex husband. She couldn't pretend she'd feel wonderful if the roles were reversed.
"Teeny, you coming?"
"Uh. Yeah, sure."
His cousin took the opportunity to escape the awkward air left behind, which left Valka with three Stormcutters, her son and his future wife. Her future daughter in law.
"So uh... who exactly is this Eret guy to you, mom?"
Valka wasn't sure how to answer him, because at that moment, she wasn't so sure herself anymore.
"Hold still, he's not gonna throw you. You rode a Nadder, for the love of gods. This guy is nowhere near as bumpy a ride."
Teeny huffed, shifting behind Eret again. Thankfully, Gustnudger was patient enough to tolerate it.
"That was different. She'd just saved my life. And I was screaming half the time."
"Yeah, well, you stayed on the Scuttleclaw too."
Teeny grumbled in respone, but at least he stopped squirming so much. It was uncomfortable enough riding a Windgnasher with no saddle without his cousin halfway to falling off the whole time.
"So... what's the deal with you and the vigilante?"
"Her name is Valka, and the deal is..." Eret had no idea anymore, heart still twisting when he remembered what he'd heard "we save dragons together."
A good portion of the mountains residents were flying back with them, keen to get back to their babies themselves. Eret sincerely hoped he'd been wrong in his fear Drago left some men behind, that all the dragons still there were ok.
Vali was on him before he even cleared the door for the nursery, Storm and Junior close behind as they yowled and cried for their parents, obviously distressed and anxious.
"Calm down guys. Hey, hey. Mama and papa are fine, ok? Alva got hurt and they couldn't leave her, but she's gonna be ok too. We're here to take you there. Vali, you'll have to carry your little brothers, it's too far for them. Give me a few minutes, I'm gonna check on the sick bay first and then we're off, alright?"
Grumbling, they nodded and perched, waiting somewhat patiently. Teeny followed Eret, obviously unsure of himself but not acting like an idiot around the dragons. Eret changed bandages and filled bowls, checked stitches and soothed anxieties.
"Huh."
"What?"
Eret asked, and Teeny shrugged.
"Just... never seen this side of you before. Or dragons, I guess."
"Yeah... it's really something. Ok, there you go. I've gotta go again right now, but you guys should be fine til I get back. No fighting. Rest up."
The other dragons knew how to care for their sick and injured when Valka and Eret were gone for a few days, brought them fish and kept them warm. Eret climbed up to what was his and Valka's bedroom. It hadn't been smashed in the fight, but Eret didn't feel quite right in there with Valka and Stoick's song still ringing in his ears.
"What are we doing up here?"
Hopefully Teeny didn't notice how clearly it was both Eret and Valka's space, their combined things just scattered around and two sets of cups and bowls out. He didn't need those questions.
"I need to get something. Stay there a minute."
He knew where she kept them. Had a feeling she'd want them. Tucking the huge wad of parchment in varying stages of age - though the proper storage meant the heavy ink hadn't faded on most of them - in to a bag carefully, Eret fed Gustnudger the smoked salmon he was eyeing up and went to see if his chickens had survived. They had, so he scattered fresh feed down for them, added some fresh water and scooped up the eggs, placing them in their usual basket.
"Ok, now we can go."
Storm and Junior clambered up on Vali's pink, scaled back, chirping at Eret now they knew they were on the way to see their parents again.
"Hey, what're we gonna do about Ug and the others?"
"When I get these guys back to Tripfire and Cloudjumper, we can talk about where you last saw them and how to find them. Assuming they don't shoot us out of the sky or say I've turned you into a traitor too."
With Drago gone, Tripfire's avenging her injured daughter seeing to his complete, fiery obliteration, Eret was actually pretty safe to seek out his Sami kin and try to speak some sense in to them all. His tribe were safe again.
"Honestly, I think most of us will just be happy to go home. Will you come back?"
Eret shook his head.
"No. I mean, I'll visit, but... I can't leave Tripfire, and she won't leave her mate, and he would never leave Valka, who is not about to leave her son. So, no, I can't go back for good. Besides, there's nobody there for me anymore."
Teeny understood that Eret didn't mean he'd forgotten his tribe, but that with his mother gone and the bitter stain of his fathers death there, it wasn't necessarily home like it was before.
"Fair. Are we going back then?"
"Yeah. I don't know what's gonna happen after that, but we're taking these kids back to Tripfire first."
After that, Eret didn't really have a clue.
-HTTYD-
See, Alva's gonna be ok! Put down the pitchforks. Tripfire, please don't eat me...