AN: To answer an often asked question: What use is it to run away if you never come back? Or: Somehow we always end there were we once started

Chapter Fifty-Seven: Are you in for a surprise?

Hiccup was fastening the last buckles on Toothless' saddle and was checking for any torn straps or weak-spots when next to him someone said: "You're moving into dangerous waters my dear brother."

Hiccup had kinda expected this to happen at some point so he was proud that he didn't flinch.

He didn't feel like flinching.

He felt cold when he heard the voice.

"Oh, am I? So Port East was just a pet-zoo? Since when do you care if I do something dangerous? You're never there to warn me and you're never there to help me when I need you. But…oh, I forgot, you're too busy keeping secrets from me and arguing with your family about trustworthiness!"

There were a few heartbeats of silence in which he moved on to checking his backpacks.

"How do you know?"

"Know what? It's never been a real secret if you consider all the people that know! Hamish, my dear uncle over ten corners and a few generations was so kind to tell me what my so called heroic-ancestor did. Then there was Darkness telling me how pathetic I am and that I will too bow down to me dark side. And then there's you and your father arguing about whether I should remain doing what I am doing or not and that I'm of 'blasted blood'!"

Hiccup didn't know he could sound so cold and harsh.

There was a deep sigh next to him.

"Gods this is all so messed up."

"Yeah, no kidding."

"Hiccup I'm sorry, okay? But I couldn't tell you. I didn't want you to think that we chose you to clean up the mess your uncle left you. I never wanted you to know what he did."

"What, is that suppose to make me feel better?"

"It was in your own interests."

"How would you know, what's good for me? You don't know me!" Hiccup shouted and swirled around, facing Loki for the first time in weeks.

The god looked uncomfortable but not ashamed or regretful.

"I wanted you to be proud of your bloodline after all! You were so down because of your family, I wanted to give you a hero, someone to look up too!"

"And how do you think I feel now?" Hiccup shouted and made an angry step forward.

Loki took a deep breath and just managed to keep his voice even.

"Hurt. That's how you feel. Hurt and betrayed. And you have every right too. But try to see the bigger picture in here!"

"The bigger picture? Loki all I do is trying to see the bigger picture! But it's damn hard if everything is working against you!"

"Never said it would be easy."

"No you didn't but you promised me help. So far, good job, only nearly died a few dozen times."

"Did you ever die?"

"No thanks to you."

"Hiccup I have a job to do too!"

"I know that, you told me often enough. But the last time I heard from you in person was when you spoke to me through the flames on the 'Horrible-Death-Lands'."

"And what do you want me to do?"

"If you decide to pop up at random times, don't waste time with the obvious and tell me whatever it is you want to tell me!"

Their shouting match had been going on for so long; they hadn't realized that the others had come to see what the commotion was about.

They had no clue who the stranger was, where he'd come form and why they were having a shouting match but it ended abruptly when they were spotted.

The man straightened up, his ager vanishing from his face, making room for a sad soft smile.

"I have to go."

He laid one hand on Hiccups shoulder but the boy refused to look at him.

"You have all right to hate me right now. And all I can do is hope that you'll forgive me. Hiccup we can't afford to be at each other's throats in times like this. And you're not alone. I will try to visit and help more often. But I can't promise you it. Things have changed. I've come to tell you two things. One: The desert is a dangerous place. It can play with you mind and make you see things. Be careful. And take as much water with you as you can. The second thing is: The winds turning. It hasn't decided yet where to blow us but everything's getting colder. We're sure it will choose northwards. Its blowing us all home."

Hiccup nodded but still didn't look at him.

Loki sighed, gave him one last squeeze on the shoulder and said before vanishing: "Fare well brother. Please try to forgive me."

Hiccup was in a bad mood the rest of the time till their departure in the afternoon.

They all had tried to get him to tell them who that was and what he'd wanted.

He only told them so much that it was Loki and that they had and argument.

All three, even George, were stunned to have stood in the presence of a god. Hiccup just shrugged it off.

He'd practically lived with Loki for nearly two months during his recovery.

One could easily forget that he was a god. He acted very much human form time to time. And there was nothing godly about acting like a total ass.

He knew Loki was right and he knew he was sorry but Hiccups pride and anger stood stubbornly against the gods' words.

He threw their water skins at George and said moody: "Fill them to the brim and drink as much as you can now and fill every other available container with water. And make your dragons drink just as much. Loki may be an ass from time to time but if he says we need water then we will need water."

They obeyed because they all, even George, knew better then to anger Hiccup in his current mood.

When the sun had reached its highest point and further Hiccup gave the command to mount up.

His mood visibly brightened once he sat on Toothless' back.

"The sea's calm, no cloud in sight, wind's coming from behind us and it's not too far to go. This should go smoothly and fast." he said before giving Toothless the signal to ascend. The others followed, George sharing the space on Nightlights back both Kate, his hands firmly around her waist.

Something he noticed with great interest didn't seem to bother her greatly.

He shook his head and steered Toothless next to Josh and Zhang.

"What do you think will expect us?" he asked. Josh shrugged. "I heard deserts are filled to the brim with sand and gets hot." Hiccup nodded. "I heard the same but can you imagine? Only sand as far as you can see? Seems a bit over exaggerated, don't you think?" Josh shrugged. "The only sand I know is what lies at the beaches." "Yeah me too." "I guess we're in for a surprise then." "Probably. Let's just hope it's, for once, a nice surprise." "Don't jinx it." Josh said jokingly.

"Me? Never. Come one, race you there."

With that he changed Toothless tail and the dragon shot forward.

"Hey not fair!" Josh cried out and leaned forward. "Come on Zhang. We won't be bested by a cheater!"

AN: Hey guys, yes it's been a while; again, but…I have no reasons. Anyway here's the next short chapter. I know, I don't like it either but between the good parts of the story you have to write the connecting parts so it's a good story and that sometimes suck if you know what I mean.

Anyway, to the desert!