The Day Hiccup Left
Astrid was throwing her ax into trees when she spotted Hiccup walking in the woods with a sack. The young heir to Berk took her spot for the honor of killing a dragon tomorrow. She has seen Hiccup in the woods many times since Dragon Training began. He was carrying different items, some strange and some were just common baskets. It always made her puzzled, but today she was angry. She always wanted to follow the disastrous Viking, but she never does. She always trained harder, but now she wanted to know what he was doing in the woods the day before he kills a dragon. As she threw the ax into the trees, her gut told her to follow. So she followed, Hiccup's tracks. As she did, she found a shield lodged between two rocks. In her mind, she figured Hiccup would be dumb enough to do that. As she walked over to the shield a black figure brushed past her. She looked at the sky to see a black dragon flying away.
Astrid raced under the shield and into what the tribe calls the Cove to find an empty area. She inspected the area but saw nothing, but some rotting fish and an eel. Realizing Hiccup wasn't here and his trail ends here, she raced to the village. When she arrived at the village, the tribe was in cheers for Hiccup's future glory tomorrow. As Astrid searched the village for Stoick, some of the Berkians told her he was in the Great Hall with Gobber. Astrid raced towards the Hall ignoring everyone. As the Viking entered the hall, she saw Stoick across the room from here. She ran to him in the almost abandoned Hall. He noticed her and stood up. "What is it lass?"
"I was following Hiccup in the woods when I lost him. I saw an unknown dragon." Astrid answered and Stoick's eyes widen.
"Show me." he ordered and she, Stoick, and Gobber raced outside to the woods. Some villagers followed seeing a worried Chief. She passed through the woods pointing out Hiccup's trail until they reached the Cove. Astrid dove under the shield, but Stoick just burst through the shield. The Chief yelled out for Hiccup but no answer. The Stoick jumped into the cove and searched the area. Then he ordered a search of the entire island while he check to see Hiccup was at the house. Astrid just watched as the tribe searched. A thought ran through her mind. If she was a few minutes earlier, Hiccup wouldn't be lost.
Eight Days Later
The search for Hiccup was growing colder by the day. The entire village searched the island in vain and Stoick had sent ships out to see if he was on one of the other islands. The Dragon Raids stopped a few days ago which gave Stoick hope that Hiccup might have a better chance to survive. But most of the village had drawn the conclusion that Hiccup was too weak to survive out in the wilderness. The only ones who haven't are Stoick, Gobber, and Astrid. Astrid couldn't sleep feeling that it was her fault Hiccup was missing. If she had followed him, he might be with them. Tonight she decided to go on a walk. She snuck past her parents and took her walk through Berk. A few guards waved at her and she waved back. As she walked through the village, all she could think of was Hiccup. How he almost burned Berk down when has being chased by a Monstrous Nightmare. She smirked remembering how disaster followed him. But with the peace and quiet, Berk seemed dull. So she went to a cliff overseeing the sea. It was beautiful at dawn break and sunset.
"Hey lass." Stoick said behind her as he walked next to her. "I'm guessing you're here thinking of Hiccup."
"Yeah." Astrid answered softly still thinking she is responsible for what happened to Hiccup.
"It's not your fault." Stoick comforted as if he knew what she was thinking. "Hiccup is a smart boy. He'll make it."
"But if I followed him sooner, I might have helped him." Astrid remarked as the Chief placed his hand on her shoulder.
"And if Hiccup was in trouble with the dragon, you might be with him away from your family." Stoick said avoiding the words death and killed. But even with his words, the Viking girl still felt the same.
One Year Later
"When will Gothi and Stoick announce the new tests?" Snoutlout asked as the kids ate breakfast in the Great Hall. The test was suspended until Hiccup is found. By Stoicks orders. Astrida didn't care about the test. She was worried about Hiccup. IF he was still alive. Today was the one year anniversary of his disappearance. Gobber refused to get another apprentice and because of it, orders for armor and weapons were slowed down. Lucky for the tribe the Dragon Raids were in full effect. Berk had no heir which was leading Stoick to have to face a tough decision. Snoutlout was an obvious choice, but with the Viking''s annoyance has become well known. Fishlegs was too timid. The Twins were far too mischievous and destructive. Leaving Astrid. She was afraid if Stoick does choose her to be the new heir. Because it would mean that Stoic had given up on Hiccup and she will take his place.
"Stoick will only let the test go through when Hiccup is back." Fishlegs replied with optimism and Snoutlout just laughed.
"Hiccup is too weak and scrawny. He can't last a week and guess what it's been a year." Snoutlout remarked and Astrid threw a cup at the Viking's head.
"Hiccup is alive! He bested me in training and even though I don't like it, I'm confident he is alive! Somewhere." Astrid yelled at the arrogant Viking before leaving breakfast in the Great Hall.
Three Years Later
Astrid loaded her belongings onto the ship. It has been three years since Hiccup disappeared and Astrid was joining the search to find him. Most of the tribe gave up on the search, but she still had hope same as well as Stoick and Gobber. Stoick and Gobber were increasing in depression. Gobber was forced to get a new apprentice, which left them with Gustav Larson. An annoying kid who like Snoutlout and tries to show he is useful, ending with the Forge catching on fire. One time Astrid remembered Goobber being furious with Gustav after he almost burned Hiccup's workbench. The workbench, Gobber kept in the Hiccup mess which was left. The old Blacksmith looked at Hiccup's Bolo Launcher and made more for the tribe making fighting dragons easier. Astrid just wished they listened to Hiccup all those years ago. Now she was going to find him so he can see what Berk has become. Her parents tried to talk her out of it, but she isn't going to change her mind. As she finished loading the last of her food supplies, Stoick, Gobber, and her parents were walking down the docks.
"You ready Astrid?" Stoick asked placing his hands on her shoulders.
"Yes sir." she answered as he let go of her shoulders.
"You don't have to do this?" her Mother remarked.
"Yeah, if Hiccup is still out there he can come back on his own." Astrid's Father added.
"I have to. I left Hiccup when he disappeared. I have to find him." Astrid said.
"His disappearance isn't your fault lass." Stoick remarked trying to comfort her once more. For the past three years, it was clear she hasn't forgiven herself for Hiccup's disappearance. The Chief tried to comfort her saying it was not her fault, but it never changed.
"I'm still going to find him." Astrid promised.
"Well if you find Hiccup bring him home." Gobber remarked and she nodded. Astrid hugged her parents before boarding the ship. Stoick untied the boat and the Viking woman was on the seas sailing to the other islands in search of Hiccup.
Stoick watched as Astrid's ship sailed away from Berk. He lost his wife eighteen years ago in a Dragon Raid. A dragon took her and he never saw her again. Now his son was taken by a dragon. While his son was a mess of a disaster, Hiccup was smart and at the top of the Dragon Slaying Class. The Chief made many theories of what Hiccup could have done. He thought Hiccup was smart enough to not kill a dragon midflight or fall to his death, so the boy waited until they landed before killing the dragon. The only reason why Hiccup hasn't come home is that he is trapped on the island trying to build a ship with limited tools and it kept being destroyed by the dragons. Stoick hoped that is what happened to his son. He can't let his son go.
"Don't worry Stoick. If anyone can find Hiccup, Astrid can." Gobber said behind the Chief of Berk.
"I hope so." Stoick replied still holding out hope for Hiccup's safe return.
"Stoick, we're ready to launch another expedition for the Dragon's Nest." Spitelout reported from a cliff below. Stoick sighed knowing that he still haven't found the Nest. The Chief hopes that he can find the Nest so he and Hiccup can kill the Dragon Queen together, as father and son.
"I'll be there in a minute." Stoick replied before turning to Gobber. "Keep an eye out for Hiccup."
"I will Stoick." Gobber promised as Stoick went down to the ships
To my Ukrainian readers, I am sorry for what has happened to your country and your people. I know your defenders are standing strong and outmatch the Russian aggressors in will power. May you live through that hell and when you outlast your enemy, may the rebuilding of your cities be peaceful and make them beautiful once more. And to my Russian readers, rise against Putin. The man is not a democratic leader and is worst than a Communist. He is a fascist, tyrannical, brutal, prideful, murderer. He kills innocent men, women, and children in cold blood. May he die slowly like his victims and rest in hell.
