The gray and silver Zippleback moved around the male. The gray head lowered, stretched out towards Pepper and Piper. The youngling shifted behind Hiccup, both necks wrapping close around him in a Zippleback version of a human hug. A gesture the nest Zipplebacks learned by watching the humans and began copying. The gray head twitched while the silver head jerked upright.
[Daughter,] the gray head said, proving this one to be female.
[Your alpha-] the silver head began, lowering to join the gray one.
[Is him,] Pepper stated, interrupting her mother.
[He keep us safe,] Piper continued.
[He welcome us.]
[He Alpha.]
[Daughter,] the blue head of her father said.
The Terror interrupted him this time.
[Excuse me, it means little actually. That Tusked-king waited until after you both left to tell your pack where you were going, but he ordered that Four-wing to move the nest the instant we all began our journey here. He did not want anymore dragons or humans from this nest finding them again.]
Hiccup saw both Zipplebacks jerk and four heads lower. He frowned as the blue head began speaking again.
[He warned us.]
[He said if we left-] the gray head added.
[There would be no home-]
[If we returned.]
"All respect to your alpha, but that was cruel," Hiccup said. "Your daughter got separated from you all during a storm. She landed upon my nest, barely able to actually land upon the cliffs and not crash into the sea. He should have known you would want to see her when you learned she was alive and safe."
[He feared-] Gray Head began.
[That you would-] Silver Head added.
[Stop us from leaving-]
[With our daughter.]
Hiccup grunted. "I will not stop any dragon that wishes to leave my nest so long as that dragon is physically able to leave. If they are injured to the point they can't fly or walk, then I'll refuse but that's because I don't want them to die. You can ask any dragon that lives in this nest, ma'am if you don't believe me."
[And yet-] Blue Head began.
[Our daughter-] Green Head added.
[Wishes to stay-]
[With you.]
Hiccup sighed. He reached up and scratched both of the youngling's heads. They cooed and hugged him tighter.
"I would love for all dragons and humans that would not wish to continue the war and the hate and pain it caused both of our peoples to find a home here," Hiccup said softly. "I want my nest to be a place of safety and healing. A place where all can live their lives in peace. But I will not separate families."
Pepper and Piper whined and hugged him tighter.
"Shh, shh," Hiccup soothed. "They are your parents. They have missed you. I can't keep you from them."
[No leave-] Pepper began.
[We stay. Please,] Piper added.
Hiccup's heart broke because he knew he could not grant that. The youngling needed to be with her parents. As much as he wanted her and her parents to stay and would welcome them with opened arms, Hiccup knew what he had to do.
"Young one," he said, letting a slight touch of his alpha magic coat his words. Pepper and Piper jerked and whined again, a pleading note to it. "You have to go with your parents, little one. When you grow up you can come back. I promise you there will be a place for you in this nest at that time and no one can make you leave then. But for now, your place is with your parents."
[Too long-] Pepper whispered.
[Till we-] Piper added, also whispering.
[Get bigger.]
[Want stay now.]
[Want play with friends.]
[Learn Common Tongue.]
[Be here with you-]
[Our alpha.]
[Uncle?]
Hiccup saw Toothless' sons appear at the top of the hill with the other younglings who lived in the village, except Firestorm, who was with Torgeir as the boy was out in the forest with his father starting his learning to be a woodcutter. The Sand Wraith dropped down, moving to stand in front of Hiccup. He sat down, his gaze looking over Pepper and Piper then back to Hiccup.
[Uncle, what's wrong with Pepper and Piper?]
Hiccup gestured to the Zipplebacks behind the youngling. "Her parents are here. They are not from this nest."
[She..she will have to leave?] the Sand Wraith asked in a small voice. [No, Uncle, you can't. You can't let them take her. She can't go. She's our friend. She can't go.]
Hiccup place both hands upon the youngling's jaws. He would place his forehead against the youngling's forehead, but Pepper and Piper had him in a grip that would not let him move much.
"They are parents," Hiccup whispered. "I can't keep her from them."
[But you're alpha! You can make them stay!]
Hiccup's heart broke more. This was decidedly harder than dealing with Icewing's tendency to jump onto his shoulders without permission. This one was his actual nephew as opposed to the grandchild of a friend who, while Hiccup saw as a sister, was not actually a member of the Haddock clan.
"No, little one. I cannot. If I made them stay when they do not want to I would be no better than that fallen queen."
[But…she's our friend, Uncle. She..she reminds me of my sister. Please don't make her go. They can stay in my place, Uncle. They can sleep there. I won't mind. I can sleep somewhere else. They can have my fish. Just don't make them take her.]
Hiccup heard Knowledge and Wisdom chitter something and saw Pepper and Piper's parents jerk. The male stepped forward, both heads lowering. The blue head chirped something that sounding questioning. The Sand Wraith shifted to stare up at the male. He stepped back, pressing against Hiccup's legs, his tail curling around Hiccup's feet. Hiccup placed his hand down on the youngling's back, the other hand lifting to scratch Pepper.
[His sister-] Blue Head began, lifting to stare at Hiccup.
"Their father said the fallen queen that started the war between humans and dragons ate their sister after she declared their father failed at task she gave him."
The female Zippleback squawked something that sounded like a question.
[Yes,] a new voice said.
Hiccup could not move to see but he recognized the voice as Barf's. He also heard the sound of four paws landing somewhere to his left.
[Toothless, their father-] Belch continued.
[Said the monster ate his daughter-]
[In front of him and those younglings.]
[Also, it is good to see-]
[You are well, cousin.]
Kirika: She confessed. Now we just need to see how Toothless reacts… later. Hehe, Stoick knows, but Stoick is a planner. All of his boys will have their intendeds and he can sit back, enjoy the three grandkids he has now and wait. At least that's what he's thinking.
Small AN: The authoress is running away now ;) :p