You're so gonna hate me or love me for this chappie, but I don't care ;)

Just enjoy it to the fullest!

Disclaimer: see Prologue


Chapter 4

'Hey,' Snotlout tried to break the heavy silence. 'What do you guys think they'll do to Hiccup? Not that I care or anything!' he quickly said afterwards.

The group of dragon riders had left Berk almost immediately after receiving the news, but it would still be a while before they reached Outcast Island and the sun was already too high in the sky for Stoick's liking

Surprisingly, Astrid answered the question.

'I'm sure he's fine Snotlout. He has stubbornness issues remember.' She said with a small smile in her face, but this was quickly replaced by a frown at Snotlout's next statement.

'Yeah but what if Alvin is desperate this time? He already tried to make Hiccup conquer his dragons for like a billion times.'

'Oh relax Snotface, I'm sure he's fine. He probably already escaped and is asking himself what's taking us so long.' Tuffnut replied while rolling his eyes. His twin snorted in agreement.

'Right, you're right! Stupid Hiccup.' Snotlout snorted as he turned his head towards the horizon again. Everyone caught the drift and they too turned their heads in the direction they were flying.

Stoick looked around the group of teens to see the worried expressions adorning each of their faces. They tried to appear relaxed and unbothered, but Snotlout's statement did not do much to untangle the knot of worry that slowly crept into everyone's gut: some attempted in vain to mask their anxiety as the felt Stoick's gaze upon them. Eventually, his gaze fell upon the immortal boy riding Toothless.

Jøkull Frosti - or Jack Frost for the Berkians who are unaware of his identity - was more quiet and concentrated than the Berkian chief had ever seen him.

The viking father was shocked to say the least when his son came home, now 9 years ago, telling him the tale of how he had made a friend and how much fun they had together.

Not at all used to this occurrence, Stoick naturally doubted the intensions of the boy with an un-viking like name who befriended the heir of Berk. This is why, the next day, after Hiccup left the house, his dad quietly followed him into the forest.

There, in a clearing, he finally saw the mysterious boy who Hiccup had taken a liking to. Stoick noticed his unusual hair and eye colour; he had snow-white hair and almost glowing blue eyes the colour of a clear sky.

The two boys were playing by the cliffs the entire afternoon, building snowmen's and having snowball fights. By the time they were spent, the sun was already beginning to set. Stoick had been concealing himself in a nearby shrubbery the entire time and was relieved to know that at least for now, the new 'friend' did not appear to have ulterior motives.

His gaze shifted towards boy laying panting in the snow with reddened cheeks and a happy smile and a pang of guilt traversed the broad viking as he tried to remember when he last say Hiccup smile so broadly and without reservation.

He couldn't really remember.

He watched a second later the unknown teen fall down in the snow next to him. Hiccup's face was moving animatedly, starting a conversation that Stoick could not make out. His son's posture was completely relaxed as he looked towards the sky with excitement. The white-haired boy responded looking lazily at the sky as well and Hiccup suddenly shot up with an amazed expression, talking with even more energy than previously.

Stoick had seen enough. Although the stranger did not earn his trust yet, there appeared to be noting doubtful about his behaviour. He crept out of his hiding spot and turned towards Berk again.

'HICCUP!'

The name was shouted in what Stoick could only presume was the white-haired teen's voice. The only thing he saw when he turned around however, was the same teenager standing like frozen, Hiccup nowhere in sight.

Stoick followed the teen's gaze and found he was looking at the edge of the cliff. His heart skipped a beat when he realised what must have happened, but before Stoick could jump in after his son, the boy named Jack had already crossed the distance and was plummeting down to reach him.

The viking chief finally reached the cliff and looked down at the falling teens. He was taken aback by the unnaturally strong upward draft he suddenly felt and when he looked closer, he saw a lightly glowing Jack rushing towards the edge of the cliffs instead, holding tightly to an unconscious Hiccup.

The moment the teen reached the edge, he did a back flip before landing gracefully on the ground again. He immediately laid Hiccup down on the ground and started tapping him lightly on the cheeks, trying in vain to wake the little Viking up.

'Jøkull Frosti' Stoick couldn't help but breathe out as the scene he just witnessed could only bring him to that conclusion.

The winter sprite shot up from his kneeling position and stood before Hiccup's unconscious form, staff placed before him threateningly and icy blue eyes glaring daggers. 'Take one step closer and you'll regret having figured that out pops.'

Stoick's hands shot up in the air to give a vibe of surrender, which apparently had a slight success as Jøkull Frosti's posture slightly relaxed. A rustle sounded from the nearby trees and Jøkull's eyes became menacing again as he glared in the direction of the sound.

He looked back at Stoick sceptically for a second, then back at Hiccup again who was starting to rouse before flying – FLYING! – off towards the trees.

Stoick did not bother to figure out where the sprite would rush off to with such threat and instead hurried to his son's side, who was trying to prop himself on his elbows. He supported his child while he attempted to sit up and examined the blood flowing out of a small cut on the side of his boy's head; he was relieved to find the wound was not deep.

Hiccup's confused eyes locked with his father's. 'Dad? What? What happened?' He looked towards the cliffs again.

'I was hoping you could tell ME son.' Stoick was baffled as he followed his gaze: one moment his son was animatedly conversing with an odd and suspicious looking lad, the next his unconscious form was saved from certain death by what was apparently the son of the wind god Kari himself.

Suddenly, two children Stoick recognised as children of the village fell out of the sky, Jøkull following suite.

'I think these two can help you with that question.' If Stoick thought the winter sprite looked menacing before, the expression he was showing a few minutes ago was nothing compared to the murderous look he held currently. He held his son instinctively closer to his chest and felt him turn his head at the winter sprite's voice.

The two viking boys did not waste any time pleading their innocence and Stoick had a hard time wrapping his mind around this situation. Where did these two kids come from and why are they the apparent target of the spirit of winter's rage?

His eyes then fell on a seemingly simple device and suddenly it all made sense. At the foot of the bulkier of the two kids lay a seemingly innocent slingshot and spread around it small stones the size of Hiccup's headwound.

Stoick still believed banishment was too light a punishment for them and their families, but Hiccup's soft and good-hearted gaze forced him to compromise.


'LAND! I SEE LAND!'

Stoick was ripped out of his memories by a shout from Fishlegs and saw that he was right: the tip of the highest peak of Outcast Island was visible on the sea's horizon.

Finally, not a moment too soon. Stoick straightened himself, preparing himself for the full on assault they would surely face. He urged Thornado to fly faster towards the Island where they believed Hiccup was being held captive.

Time to get my son back.


Don't worry, next chapter will be Jack in the spotlight again!

See you lovelies later~