[He has been gone too long.]
Toothless turned at the sound of Fishlegs' voice. In truth, he had been thinking the same as he gave the account of how his sons became his and how he and Moondust got together. Toothless glanced as Astrid, not surprised to find her staring at the cavern opening.
"I'm sure he is fine," Aunt said. "He is an older youngling after all. How much trouble could he really get into?"
Toothless felt his sensing lobes quiver and threaten to stand straight out from his skull at the dismissive tone in the elder dragoness' voice. His gaze swung back as he prepared to voice his displeasure at that, but Father spoke first.
"You deliberately went behind my tail, didn't you?"
Toothless heard the others shift and knew they were reacting to the growl in his father's voice.
"I told you not to do this and you deliberately disobeyed me."
Aunt shook herself, snorting. "Nephew, it is the way of elders all over. Your father-"
"Is not the alpha. I am and I forbad your game."
[What is going on?] Astrid asked and Toothless' sensing lobes did rise as he heard a slight draconic growl to her voice. [Where is Hiccup?]
"Likely not where I directed him," Mother said.
Toothless saw her glare at Aunt and knew the elder had done what many did not think was possible. Mother was calm and easy going, patient and benevolent to all who came near her. Aunt however just made Mother livid. Toothless shared a glance with Spitefire. She tipped her head at the question he knew was in his eyes. Mother and Father truly wanted Hiccup as their son and not just to placate him.
"You tested my son when my mate said not to and given my son's past, I know he has taken it the wrong way."
[How dare you?!]
Toothless' eyes widen. He expected Astrid or Gyda to lose their temper. He, and apparently everyone else, did not expect Fishlegs to yell.
[I'm guessing this test,] Fishlegs continued, spitting the word 'test' out as if it left a bad taste in his mouth, [has Hiccup thinking you did not want him here. He wouldn't have left otherwise.]
Aunt sighed. "That was not my intent. I was testing the youngling to see if he could handle someone else being in the center of attention and could be patient to wait his turn. I did not expect him to run.]
Toothless had no chance to growl. Fishlegs stomped forward. Toothless and everyone else scrambled out of his way. Fishlegs stopped a scale's width from Aunt's muzzle.
[For fifteen years, Hiccup's only ever been the center of attention when his blood father publicly yelled at him. More than half of those times were for things Hiccup was innocent of. He was just easy and convenient to blame or there were two fools who thought it funny to have the chief yell at his son. For fifteen years, Hiccup had to endure being shoved aside, ignored, abused, and then finally disowned! How dare you add to that?! How dare you undo all that we have fought so hard to heal?! If that is the way of the elders, I renounce my training to become one.]
"Elders teach young one. Sometimes that teaching means testing."
[Yes, but they do not deliberately hurt someone who does not deserve it! And Hiccup does not deserve it! He would gladly step aside for Toothless in a heartbeat because he loves his brother and will do anything for him. Were you even at that the big meeting where Hiccup and Toothless told the entire nest how they became brothers? How Hiccup's nest form? Or did you not listen because you thought you were right in what you were doing? Well, the Lave-dweller Hiccup ordered Toothless to kill thought she was doing right as well. Thought that way for three hundred years and everyone still suffers because of her.]
Fishlegs spun to face Father and tipped his head. [Forgive me for leaving, alpha of the nest, but I must find my alpha.]
Toothless knew from the gleam in Father's eyes that Fishlegs just impressed him greatly. He impressed Toothless as well. Fishlegs was quiet and calm, even a bit timid, until he and Meatlug bonded. Now the youngling stood as any dragon worth their wings and defended a nest-mate.
"We will all find my son," Father said before cutting his glaring gaze at Aunt. "And later I will speak to you again."
They all moved towards the opening though Toothless noticed Sandblast stop and turn back to Aunt.
"Uncle Alpha wanted to make Dad a tailfin that he could operate alone," Sandblast began, "so Dad could come here with just us and Mama and Aunt Spitfire. Dad insisted on Uncle Alpha coming because he wanted Uncle Alpha to meet all of you. Uncle Alpha taught my brothers and myself what it means to think of others before ourselves. You only thought of yourself. Elders shouldn't teach that."
Sandblast turned and bounded to his father's side. He looked up.
"Dad, the Elders back home will not act like her, will they?"
"No, son. I will not allow that. Now, let's find your uncle."
Hiccup stepped out of an opening he found down a corridor. After he left the cavern he wandered through the corridors until he found the hole that led outside. He knew the others probably realized he was not coming back and knew once they found him he was in for it, but he had to step away. He would not stay and annoy Toothless' aunt. Toothless deserved to reconnect with his family without tension present.
[Young one,] a male voice said from above. [May I land beside you?]
Hiccup looked, finding another Night Fury hovering just off and up from the edge of the ledge. Hiccup shifted aside. The Night Fury landed, his wings twitching to curl at his side. Hiccup stared at him, noting the spikes along his back and the top of his head were taller than Toothless' father's, whose spikes stood taller than Shadewing and Toothless. Hiccup guessed that meant this dragon was as old or older than Toohtless' father. Given that they called Toothless' aunt the elder, Hiccup wondered what role this Night Fury held in the nest.
[Oh, my, that feels better. Flying for so long will give you such a crick in the wings.]
Hiccup blinked. "You are not from this nest?"
The Night Fury tilted his head and a curious light shone in his green eyes. [I don't live here, no, but I am known to the alpha of the nest and I am allowed to come and go as I please.]
"Oh," Hiccup said, half tempted to ask the dragon where he came from and where all he had been since it seemed as if the dragon flew around a lot.
The dragon however shook himself, knocking some snow that was falling off his scales, before staring at Hiccup.
[Humans don't do well in such cold weather, especially ones a small as you, young one. Are you okay?]
Hiccup turned away, arms crossing over his chest. He did not really get into it. It was silly and stupid to be upset over Toothless' aunt disliking him and wanting him gone. It was not becoming of a Viking, the son of a chief, or a human that dragons bowed to. A black wing curled around, but did not touch him, warding off the chilly wind.
[Young one, it is never a good idea to seal such hurts within. They do you a great deal of harm that way.]
Hiccup sighed. "Toothless' aunt did not want me," he whispered, not sure why he decided to trust this unknown Night Fury.
His soul seemed at ease and calm about it though and he had started trusting his soul since he finally figured out that powers it seemed to hold were the gut instincts he so long followed growing up. It had been no knee-jerking realization, just a silent twitch of his mind as he was training with Gyda over listening to his core and the warnings it would give as he used his magic. The alpha magic side of him purred and the part that rose when flying Toothless warbled in concert to the core's pulses. Hiccup asked to suspend the training after that as he had to search his memory for all the times his gut warned him about something and he noticed he had heard those same sounds each time.
[I see,] the Night Fury said then sighed. [Do not take to heart what she says or does, young one. She is a product of old thinking that I thought was gone from dragons. She believes in testing those of the nest she serves but forgets that sometimes a test is not needed or that the one she gives the test to has already proven himself.]
Hiccup frowned. "You sound like you know her well."
The Night Fury chortled. [You could say that. Now, I hear some humans and dragons calling for someone named Hiccup. Would that be you?]
Hiccup ducked his head. "Yes," he whispered, suddenly very ashamed of his name.
[You don't like your name?]
Hiccup shrugged. "Sometimes. It does mean runt after all or a mistake."
[You are neither, by the way. Go on back to your flock, young one and thank you for letting me rest my wings beside you. A small bit of advice, do not worry overmuch over what others think of you from now on. Your nest loves you. Your flock loves you. Those not a part of either cannot sway that.]
The black wings lifted and Hiccup shivered when the chilled wind bit at him. He turned and headed towards the opening but paused as he did not hear the dragon follow him. He turned back, finding the dragon spreading his wings and looking skyward.
"Thank you," Hiccup said, realizing the Night Fury was not coming in and was in fact leaving.
The Night Fury looked over his wing and Hiccup blinked as a faint hue of blue ghosted the spikes on the top of the dragon's muzzle.
[No, thank you, young one. For more than you know.]
With that the dragon took to the skies and Hiccup watched him meet up with a burnt amber colored dragon Hiccup had never seen before. Both dragons greeted each other and flew away from the nest. Hiccup shivered again as the wind bit at him once more. He entered the nest wondering if he would meet either of those dragons again.
Kirika: Sadly, old habits die hard, and Hiccup would rather leave than stay and think his presence is harming his brother's time with his family. And you might be surprised who comes to Hiccup's defense this time.
Literally Nobody: Yay! Sleep. Good for you, my friend. Thank you. Hehe, yes, you'll find out soon. And now you're making me blush. Thank you for reading my story and I'm humbled that you say it's one of the best. I, honestly, don't think that given how many great HTTYD fanfics there are, but thank you for saying it. It does make me smile.