"Ye be sure? Cause ye be wrong 'n ye'll join yer boy in da afterlife."

Bearspit glared at Alvin, hating him as much as he hated Hiccup but knowing he could do nothing about it. Alvin was a chief and had more men than Bearspit could take to answer his bellow. This did not lessen the want and desire to enclose Alvin neck with bare hands and squeeze. Hiccup had run Dogsbreath off the island with his stupidity and dragon loving ways. Alvin had let the boy die.

"Dem dragon be leavin' 'fore Snoggletogg. Everyone be talkin' 'bout it."

"Ye said even da dragons," Alvin said a chuckle in his voice. "Ye take me fer a fool?"

"Da witch be wot let us 'ear'm. She take us ta 'er home 'fore and make us watch images from da gods."

"Ye 'member any of dem images?"

"Aye. All of dem."

Alvin placed a hand upon Bearspit's shoulder. It took all he could do not to throw the Outcast leader off. He still had need of the man. He knew of Stoick exiling the man and knew the man still harbored hatred because of that. Bearspit planned to use that. Upon his own exile, Bearspit knew the best way to kill Hiccup would be to take him out when all the dragons left the nest as everyone had been talking about for days and weeks as Snoggletogg neared.

"Good," Alvin said joyful. "Ye best git in. It be mighty cold out. Wouldn't want ye ta freeze. Ye can tell me all 'bout dem images while we git da cooks ta git ye food."

Bearspit followed Alvin into the Outcast version of the Great Hall. His eyes narrowed as he spied Mildew near the back of the cave. Another Hiccup had run off but this one also owed a debt to Bearspit. His stupid move with those flowers almost got Bearspit killed by the witch. Bearpsit vowed to drown the old farmer as soon as Alvin and Hiccup killed each other.

"Boys!" Alvin's bellow shook stone. "Odin's done come early fer us. Ready da ships. We strike Berk when dem beasts desert it. Let the Dragon Conquer fight with no dragons."

Fishlegs squeaked as the new dragon and four more like it, though they differed in colors, landed in the crescent shaped clearing outside of the Changewing's sleeping cave.

"Whoa," Gyda exclaimed. "Tide Gliders. Nice."

The new dragons, in the process of bowing to the king and queen of the nest, paused and looked towards Gyda. She grinned.

"Sorry."

[Is Tide Glider the human name for Acid-fantails?] the queen asked, tipping her head so the new dragons could stand.

"Yes," Gyda said.

"Ooh," Fishlegs began, journal and charcoal in hand. "What can you tell me of them?" he asked. "They need a place in the new Book of Dragons. What's their shot limit? I'm guessing since the queen said acid they use similar attacks to the Changewings."

[Breathe, young one,] one of the new dragons, a male by its voice and the color of sea foam, said. [You are too young to be an elder.]

[Hmph!] the head Changewing elder said. [You would do with keeping your tongue still. You aren't so young as to not be an elder as well.]

Hiccup hid his smile as the male Tide Glider grunted. Hiccup attention was diverted as four Changewings came out of the sleeping cave. They carefully carried a flat stone that had several leaves upon it. The four maneuvered around, sitting the stone next to Hiccup's foot. Hiccup's eyes widen as he saw a rather large shark laying upon the leaves.

[Ooh, Friend alpha,] the youngling princess said from her place between Hiccup and Astrid. [Sister and I got this for you. I hold fin. Right there.]

The youngling used her nose to nudge the closest swimming fin. Hiccup smiled at her when she looked back at him.

"Thank you," he said.

The youngling cooed and nuzzled against him. She cooed again.

[You purr.] The youngling shifted. [Friend queen you need hear. It nice. Soft.]

Gyda snickered and Shadowfire, Toothless, and Stormfly snorted. The youngling's muzzle crinkled.

[What funny?]

"Ah, young one, I think Astrid has already heard that," Gyda said with a grin. "When the snow kept us all inside Astrid would lay her head upon Hiccup many times. Right where yours is now, in fact."

The youngling lifted her head and looked to Astrid.

[You hear? You like purr too?]

Hiccup saw the tips of Astrid's ears turn pink. He grinned when she coughed.

"I don't have the hearing you do, young one. Humans' hearing isn't all that good. Not like yours. I just hear his heartbeat and his breathing when I lay my head there."

The youngling tilted her head. [Maybe one day you hear. It nice. Make feel safe. Like yours. Though he's louder.]

"Wait," Fishlegs said, the journal dropping into his lap as he turned to the princess. "You're saying that Astrid has a purr as well?"

[Yes, Friend elder. Friend queen's purr soft. Quiet. Calm. Friend alpha's purr loud. Strong. Both make feel safe. You not hear it?]

"No, little one," Fishlegs said. "Like Astrid said, human hearing isn't as good as dragons."

[Oh,] the youngling said.

Hiccup stared over the young princess, not really paying attention to her words anymore. He saw that Astrid held no surprise over this revelation and in fact looked sad by it. Hiccup frowned. When they left after the meal, Gyda and Fish would just have to fly ahead. Hiccup was going to talk to her. There would be no more letting things sit and fester. Not from her. Not from his friends. Not even from himself. Vikings held private things in and Hiccup saw no evidence that good came of that practice. In fact, from his experiences, the opposite came about due to sealed lips. That ended today for those around him, especially Astrid. He promised to let her in. She said she would do the same. They would talk about this.

[Please,] the queen said, [cook your meal as you deem necessary. Young alpha, your brother and the other dragons are free to partake of the catch beside us.]

Hiccup's gaze flicked to the queen and he tipped his head. "Thank you, queen of the nest." He then looked to Toothless. "You heard her," he said. "Enjoy, guys."

The four dragons cooed something in the Old Tongue before tipping their heads and moving over to the sizable pile of fishes. Hiccup watched them, noting the Changewings around the pile shifting to make room. Hiccup smiled as each of the nest dragons struck up a conversation in the Old Tongue with the Changewings.

[Friend fantail,] the princess began. [You need tell Friend alpha how good you scare me and friend queen out of cave.]

Hiccup's gaze snapped back to the Tide Gliders.

"Excuse me?"

Dark: Hm, well, not in this. Do remember though the next book deals with the other Viking leaders and their families coming to Berk to have the Thing. Those people all have their own ideas about everything and some… well some don't have nice views about Hiccup.

Prince: Don't it though. I always loved that quote.

Kirika: You are right about that quote. Also, hi to your friend. Glad they think the story is interesting too. Dagur comes in the next book with the other leaders for the Thing. Heather was in the last book but will show up later. Eret will also show up later. Though neither in this book. And Viggo is also slated to be in one of the upcoming books.

Literally Nobody: I love that line too and you are right, Hiccstrid forever.