Chapter Three

A/N: Sorry there's no Hiccup in this chapter. It's basically just catching you up on what Stoick and the others are doing. But I promise there are important things going on so please, at least skim it.

In response to...

The Wolf Raven: Yeah...I don't know why I always end in such terrible cliffhangers. That's just how my brain works XD Anywho, I wish I could write more sarcasm and stuff for Hiccup but (like you said) the timing wouldn't feel appropriate. There was a bit in the last chapter but not a lot.

As for the requests, (I don't know if you've read some of my older HTTYD fanfics but they have quite a bit of Hiccupiness, Hiccstrid, life on Berk, the works! XD) but I'll try my best to incorporate that in the future.

I don't know if I'll do a 'how I think HTTYD 2 will be' fanfic but you never know, right? Inspiration may strike, I suppose. And the married life thing...ehhhh...I don't usually read them (too cliche, like you said) but if I get half-a-mind to write one, I'll let you know :D

Thanks for being awesome!

Back on Berk, a shadow has just passed over the Great Hall. The thumping of massive wings alerts the Dragon Riders to look up, grimacing when they see their chief landing with his Thunderdrum. There is no one else in the saddle besides Stoick...

Astrid sighs in disappointment, not even feeling comforted when Stormfly nuzzles her shoulder and chirps at her. "Still nothing...?" She asks Stoick once he's on the ground.

Hiccup's father shakes his head, looking drawn and gloomy. "Nothing." He confirms in a voice as dark as his expression. It's been three days... He silently adds. And as much as he doesn't want to admit it in front of his son's friends, he's beginning to get very very concerned for Hiccup's wellbeing.

He'd been so sure when he found that ice cave...so sure that Hiccup was in there somewhere and all he needed to do was find him. But then he'd found that wall of ice and the shattered spring and he thought...he thought Hiccup had gotten out. But it's been three days and Hiccup hasn't come home yet. Neither has Toothless. They couldn't really be... He shoves that thought away before it can truly enter his mind.

No. Hiccup isn't dead. He can't be...

"But we just need to keep looking." He tells them. "They must be out there somewhere."

And the teens nod, obediently. No one wants to admit that their friend may be dead...but as the hours and days stretch on, it's beginning to look more and more likely. Needless to say, it's been rough on them. Even the twins aren't being as loud and annoying as usual! And that's saying something...

"Of course they are." Astrid agrees, turning to the other kids. "They've been through worse, right? No way a stupid storm would..." She trails off, not wanting to say the words. "...would bother them." She amends weakly.

But no one seems particularly hopeful at this point. For some reason, that's incredibly annoying to her. She growls and turns back to Stoick. "Where haven't we checked?"

He hesitates, pulling out the map he'd sketched for each of them. Then, with a small sigh, he tells her, "Almost everywhere...only the northern forest is left..."

"The northern forest?" Fishlegs whispers, his eyes wide.

"What's wrong, Fishlegs?" Astrid asks him.

"Umm...I mean, not to be a downer or anything but...even if Hiccup and Toothless had managed to make it to the northern woods, which would have been hard in a blizzard...the temperatures are always much lower there. It would have made it hard for them to-" But he stops when he notes the horrified and angry looks he's getting from the others.

"Nevermind, Fishlegs." Astrid grumbles, trying to ignore what he'd just said. "Well...if that's the only place we haven't searched, then they must be there!"

"Well, that or they left the island." Tuffnut mutters as he absently chews on his fingernail. "But that wouldn't make much sense."

"Yeah, not a very 'Hiccup-like' thing to do." His sister agrees with a bored yawn.

The others scowl at them, irritated by their lack of interest. And also a bit jealous of how laid back they are about all this. They don't feel even a little of the stress or worry the other Riders are suffering from.

Must be nice to be so oblivious... Astrid remarks acidicly.

"Anyway," Stoick says with a shake of his head. "We can all split up and search the forest. Each of us take a different direction."

"Right." The teens hop onto their dragons, prepared to take off. That is, until a certain blacksmith comes hobbling over the hill, waving his hooked hand through the air.

"STOICK!" Gobber shouts. "HOLD ON A SECOND!"

"Gobber?" Stoick frowns. "What's the matter?"

Stoick's friend is panting heavily, as if he ran the entire way here. He leans his hand on his knee and motions for them to wait while he catches his breath. "There's...something...you need to...see...!" He gasps. "Message...at the docks...!"

The chief pauses, wondering what this could be about. "This had better be important, Gobber!" He growls threateningly. And with that, he yanks the blacksmith into the saddle and they take off toward the docks.

The Riders exchange curious looks before following them.

Berk's port is more bustling than usual. A thick fray of vikings have crowded around one dock in particular, where a single, tiny sailboat has landed. Standing in the midst of the eager faces and suspicious looks, is a ragged-looking man. His skin is grey, as if he hasn't seen daylight in years. There are bruises along his cheeks and massive shadows beneath his eyes.

"Stand aside!" Gobber yells as they step off Thornado. "Chief coming through!"

Stoick eyes the man curiously. Who is he? What in Odin's name happened to him to make him look so terrible? He doesn't waste any of his precious time beating around the bush. The sooner he gets this straightened out, the sooner he can get back to searching for his missing son. "Who are you?" He asks, firmly.

The weathered man stares at Stoick for a moment before saying, "I assume you're 'Stoick the Vast of Berk'."

"That I am." He confirms, folding his arms. "Well, now that you know my name, care to tell me yours?"

And the ragged man nods. "My name isn't important. I won't be staying here any longer than I have to. But...for the last ten years or so, I've been an Outcast prisoner."

The crowd takes a collective gasp. A prisoner from Outcast Island? What is someone like that doing here?

Stoick tenses, not liking the vibe he's getting from this conversation. This guy seems like he's on official business... "Alright, then what are you doing here? And how did you escape?"

The prisoner nods, having expected these questions. "I didn't escape." He tells them. "I was released...on one condition."

"Which was?"

"That I deliver a message to Stoick the Vast of Berk."

"To me?" Stoick mutters, now positive his bad feeling had been correct. Something is going on here. "What is the message?"

Without saying another word, the ex-prisoner turns and takes something from the seat of his tiny boat. He holds it out to the chief, who takes it cautiously. It's a little wooden box, engraved with the Outcast symbol.

"What is that?" Gobber whispers.

Stoick purses his lips nervously as he pops the chest open, already having his suspicions about what it might contain... But, gods, he hopes he's wrong.

Unfortunately, his feeling had been right. As the lid creaks open, Stoick's hands begin to shake. Inside, is a lock of hair that is achingly familiar to him. And beside that, a scrap of red fabric. The same kind used for Toothless's tail fin.

Astrid gapes at the hair and the fabric, a sick feeling twisting her stomach. "Is that...?"

"Hiccup..." Stoick groans, weakly. His son has been kidnapped by the Outcasts!

A/N: Sorry the chapter is so short. I had to end it here before another plot-point comes into play...