Chapter 9:

Before everything else, I'd like to say that I appreciate those who are still reading the series.

Mortem had not noticed what had happened to Toothless Jr. and Hic. He was too focused on finding his father, and probably saving him. He was able to track Hiccup's scent to wherever he had gone. Hopefully he'd get there in time, in case Hiccup was in any trouble. But there was another scent that he had picked up. Three Bewilderbeasts, two of which he identified as Feral and Rex. But the third scent was unfamiliar to him. He hoped that whatever Bewilderbeast it was, it wasn't a hostile one. He suddenly noticed what looked like a giant ice structure. And it was on an island.

As he drew near, Mortem landed near the shore and proceeded to examine the ice. It wasn't cold enough for it to have been made by a storm, but he remembered that Bewilderbeasts had ice breath. He sniffed the ice cautiously, and realized that Hiccup and the others were inside. Sitting down near the entrance to the nest, Mortem warbled loudly.

Valka was showing Hiccup and the twins around the nest when a loud warbling sound filled the entire nest. Hiccup stopped and listened. "I know that sound." There was another warble, and all the dragons went still. "What is that?" Valka asked. Draco hesitated. "Uh,...that's our brother. Our," he snickered, "BIG brother." Camicazi also snickered. Hiccup sighed in frustration. Draco stopped snickering. "Okay, sorry." There was another warble, and Hiccup started running to the entrance to the nest. Concerned, Valka followed him.

Hiccup knew why the dragon was warbling. He was looking for him. And he could tell what dragon it was. There was only one dragon who warbled that loudly.

Mortem.

Hiccup ran faster when he found the entrance to the nest. "Mortem!" The giant dragon responded by lifting his head so that he was looking into the nest. Hiccup stopped, inches away from the entrance. Realizing that Hiccup couldn't get out, Mortem backed away. Hiccup walked out of the nest and hugged Mortem. "I missed you, Big Guy." Mortem warbled once again.

It didn't take long for Valka to catch up to her son. And she was quite surprised to see the giant dragon he was hugging. "What kind of dragon is that?" she asked. Hiccup stopped hugging Mortem and answered his mother's question. "A Red Death," he said, "But he won't hurt you. He's...my son." Valka gave him a look of confusion. "He's adopted," Hiccup explained, "I was the first thing he saw after he hatched, and he imprinted on me." Now it was Mortem's turn to give Hiccup a look of confusion. Why was he telling this strange woman about him? Hiccup noticed his son's confusion and gestured to Valka. "Mortem, this is my mom. Mom, this is Mortem." Now Valka understood. But Mortem was still confused. Hiccup had told him many times about how everyone said that Valka had been taken and eaten by a dragon. And yet, here she was, alive and well, living amongst the dragons that had brought her there.

Hiccup noticed Mortem's expression. "Relax, I'll explain everything later."

It was then that the dragons caught up to their riders. Mortem noticed Cloudjumper and leaned in to sniff him. But the Stormcutter backed away, a serious look on his face. He didn't trust Mortem very much, and he was definitely not as curious or playful as he was. Mortem grunted in disappointment.

It wasn't that Cloudjumper hated him, and he didn't hate Toothless either. He was a bit jealous that the Night Fury had a family, and he didn't. As for Mortem, he was a strange dragon, and Cloudjumper did not get along with strange dragons very well.

Mortem warbled, trying to apologize to the Stormcutter for his behavior.

But Cloudjumper just glared at him.

To say that Hic was scared would be an understatement.

He was absolutely terrified.

Despite the fact that he was wrapped up protectively in Toothless Jr.'s wings, he couldn't let go of the images of the terrifying people that had brought them there. What did they want with them? Did they know that he was there? And where were his parents? He did his best to keep quiet as the scary people brought him and Toothless Jr. on board a ship. He could hear a faint bubbling, which meant that there was something under the water. But what?

As the men dropped the net on the deck of the ship, Hic tightened his grip on Buttons. He held the stuffed dragon tightly in his arms as he heard the men around him speak.

"We found this dragon just outside our fortress, sir." "A Night Fury?" growled a dark voice that made Hic's skin crawl. Something poked in Toothless Jr.'s side, nearly giving away Hic's presence. "He'll make a fine addition to my army," said the voice. Hic had to stop himself from whimpering. "Sir!" A strange voice said suddenly, "We found some dragons!" "Bring them here, then," said the dark voice. "Uh, sir," said the other voice, "We found some people too. I think they might be...dragon riders." "Bring them here as well," said the dark voice, "Soon they'll be cowering before me." Hic stayed as still and silent as he could. His heart was pounding so hard and fast, he was afraid that they would hear it. Toothless Jr. warbled quietly, telling the boy that they would be okay. But Hic was too scared. How he wished that he was safe back home on Berk. He heard voices, one of them the deep, dark voice from earlier. As he listened, he realized that he recognized those voices.

And one of them was his mother's.

Hic gasped, but then covered his mouth.

Too late.

"What was that?" asked one of the men.

Toothless Jr. growled, trying to cover up the sound. The leader was not convinced. "Check its wings," he ordered. The men approached Toothless Jr., who growled louder. But there was nothing he could do to stop them from reaching through the net and opening his wings. Hic couldn't stop himself from whimpering. If only he hadn't gasped. One of the men suddenly grabbed his arm, causing him to scream. "There's a kid in here!" the man exclaimed, pulling Hic into view. "Bring him to me," said the leader. The men pulled Hic out of the net and carried him over to their leader. Hic held on tightly to Buttons as they led him away from Toothless Jr. He noticed his mom and the other riders, minus his father, standing nearby, with their hands tied behind their backs. The next thing he knew, he was face-to-face with the scariest person he had ever seen. He screamed.

"Oh, what's the matter?" the man asked, teasingly, "Are you scared?" Hic whimpered, clutching Buttons even tighter. "Leave him alone!" Astrid shouted. The man turned to look at her. "You dare yell at Drago Bludvist?" he asked. Astrid didn't answer. Drago pointed the staff he was holding at Hic. "Do you know this child?" Astrid gave him a look of indifference. "I have never seen him before in my life," she said. "Uh, yes you have," Tuffnut said, "That's your son, isn't it?" Astrid glared at him. If her hands weren't tied behind her back, she'd definitely punch him in the face.

Drago looked at Hic. "Is that so?" Hic whimpered again. Handing his staff to a man standing nearby, Drago snatched Buttons out of Hic's arms. "No!" Hic screamed, "Give him back! He's mine!" Drago handed Buttons to one of his men. "Dispose of this," he said, and then pointed at Hic, "And lock him up with the dragons." "And the others?" asked one of the men. "Lock them up," Drago replied.

The men began leading Hic away. He panicked when he realized they were leading him away from his mother. "No! No! Help! Lemme go! HELP!" As he was led to the cages, he screamed one last time.

"DADDY!"

You guys probably hate me now, but I had to think of a way for all the Haddocks to end up at the nest. And if you ask me, Tuffnut was definitely being an idiot. If you leave a review that says you don't hate me, that would make me feel better.