They arrived to a welcome of every dragon left in the nest hovering over the village. The entire tribe, plus the two extras from Shivering Shores, stood around the Snoggletogg tree. Hiccup, atop Toothless, directed the current batch of adults carrying the ropes to sit the ship down in the open area on the left lower tier. Hiccup tipped his head to Gyda, who directed her son to land behind the ship.
Since the ship was technically only half a ship, Gyda's barrier to prevent the hatchlings from leaving hugged the backside. At least there, she could remove it before Baneson could see the magic. Padrig knew of Gyda's abilities, having being told when asked if he wished to be able to understand and speak the Common Tongue. He had warned not letting Baneson know about Gyda just yet. He was still trying to get his nephew to drop his grudge against Hiccup and did not want more complications with Baneson knowing a mage lived in the village.
Hiccup and Toothless landed, with Stormfly and Astrid landing at their right. Toothless' younglings and his sister landed behind them. The adults landed near to the ship. Hiccup dismounted as the tribe moved to stand, as they were able, in and around the houses on this tier. Hiccup held up his hand when his friends went to leave their families and rush to their dragons. He knew why they wanted to and would not deny them their reunions, but he needed a moment before that happened. He had some new members of the nest to introduce.
He glanced skyward, noting the dragons hovering over the plaza shifted to hover over the lower tier. He spied Lorekeeper and the other Elders who remained hovering near each other. Since it was night, Ringfire did not have to worry about the sun and could join her fellow elders. Hiccup smiled.
"Elders," he called. "Please land."
They did so, finding their places as people made room for them. Hiccup then turned to the ship, trusting Gyda to act when he spoke.
"Come," he said, allowing his power to coat his voice.
The hatchlings would not understand the word, but they would get the intent. As they did the second day, the hatchlings rushed from the belly of the ship. They ran through the adults' legs and clustered around Hiccup. All stared up at him, their tails wagging. Stormfly's oldest nuzzled against Hiccup's metal leg while Hookfang's youngest, a daughter, laid against Hiccup's real leg. Hiccup chuckled even as he heard many in the tribe give a human version of a dragon's coo.
"We have some new members," Hiccup said, looking up at the crowd. He turned to the bonded dragons and their mates. "Please, take your hatchlings and introduce them to your riders."
Stormfly snorted. Astrid snickered.
"And their flocks," Hiccup added with a look to both of them.
A look they both winked at. Hiccup rolled his eyes. Windwalker joined Stormfly. He called their hatchlings, and at Hiccup's nod, the three Nadders ran to their parents. All, with Astrid following, found the Hoffersons in the crowd. Windwalker nuzzled against Brynjar's head.
[He is the flock leader, little ones,] Windwalker said.
"And your grandfather," Brynjar added as he, Eydis, Torgeir, and the young boys knelt.
The hatchlings stood back until Brynjar held out his hand. The blue-green one shuffled forward and sniffed the offered hand. He squawked, causing his brother and sister to rush the humans. Hiccup smiled as the Hoffersons received nuzzles and cuddles from the hatchlings. He looked around, finding similar scenes with the other Riders though Old Man Jorgeson scowled and walked away when Hookfang and Wingblaze brought their three over. Hiccup was never more glad that he had Ringfire make that nursery under the Great Hall than right then. He did not want that bitter old many anywhere near any hatchling and judging by the glare Hookfang and Wingblaze sent the man, they were of the same mind.
Stoick moved through the crowd. The hatchlings of the non-bonded dragons stared at him. Each one tried to hide behind Hiccup. Hiccup looked down.
"Easy, little ones," he murmured, pausing to let Toothless translate. "He is my father. He will not hurt you. I promise."
Stoick knelt and held his hand out, palm facing the hatchlings. He did not turn his gaze as Hiccup did, but the hatchlings still recognized the gesture. A Gronckle hatchling, the sole daughter of a mated pair of brown Gronckles that aided Brynjar's woodcutting team, shuffled forward. She sniffed Stoick's hand then squealed. She rushed past his hand and nuzzled against his thigh. That relaxed the other hatchlings and they gather around Stoick. Hiccup saw a shine in his father's eyes when Stoick looked up.
"Well done, son," he said softly. "But we should get them in that nursery ye had Ringfire make. Alvin's ships were seen by Johann near to Freezing to Death two days ago. I had them Elders of yours call all the dragons into the village because we be expectin' them to arrive within a day, at the least."
Hiccup's eyes narrowed. He turned to Toothless. "Tell the dragons, except the Elders to land in the village. I will address them later. Tell the Elder to head to the Great Hall. I will need them in the nursery."
Toothless tipped his head and then lifted it. He roared. The dragons above the village roared back and began landing. Hiccup turned to his father.
"Dad, I don't want all the tribe in the nursery right now. One parent is staying with the hatchlings, but I want both to have a moment to spend with their flocks before we hold whatever meeting you're planning."
Stoick nodded his head, standing. "Gobber!"
"Aye, I 'eard'm."
Hiccup smiled as his uncle shuffled through the crowd, ordering all but the Council members to return to their homes. Hiccup turned to the parents of the hatchlings still at his feet.
"Gather your young," he said. "We'll show you the place we have for them to stay in."
Guest: Hi, welcome and thank you for reading and reviewing. Glad you liked the Hiccstrid moment. I love writing them. And well, the male is in for one rude awaking