000

Hiccup glanced back for a few seconds from atop Toothless, watching the Screaming Death finish up the remaining ships. The fading screams of the Berserkers brought back many, horrible memories from the past year that he never wanted to revisit. Fate on the other hand, had other ideas after sending Ripper to rescue him. The last person on Midgard he'd expected to come after him. He'd have to ask Toothless later on how he convinced him.

After the last Berserker ship and crew was taken care of, the Screaming Death blew past over the only remaining ship, not sparing it a second glance.

He breathed a sigh of relief knowing that Astrid had been spared a gruesome death.

And yet he didn't know why he was glad she was safe. She was the one that captured him and nearly, inadvertently, sentenced him to a life of being a personal slave and village attraction. But did she really want to know him back in the hull of the ship? Was she really willing to listen to his side of an unpopular opinion.

Her eyes were determined. Her voice resolute when she spoke. Maybe she really did-

"You had that same look in your eye." Ripper brought him out of his train of thought.

Hiccup was quite surprised to be honest. He expected his former friend to just leave him once they were out of danger. But the fact that he was still here, and speaking to him, Hiccup almost wished he did just leave. He recognized that tone anywhere. He always heard it before he and Ripper got into heated arguments. The last time he heard it was when they went their separate ways after their home was destroyed. Instead of arguing and raising the situation to a shouting match, Hiccup stayed quiet. Not only would that keep Ripper calm, it would deny him the satisfaction of hearing Hiccup agree with his statement.

"Land on that sea stack." Ripper said, as Bladewing flew straight for it, with Hiccup and Toothless reluctantly following them. They landed at opposite ends, keeping as much distance as possible between them.

Hiccup rubbed the back of his neck, occasionally glancing at Ripper, waiting for him to speak. But then again, what was there to say?

"I guess a 'thank you' is in order." Hiccup said slowly, keeping his eyes low, in case he was intimidated by Ripper's glare. As expected, Ripper shot him a scowl, but Hiccup managed to maintain eye contact.

"You guess?"

"No, sorry. Let me try this again." Hiccup took a deep breath, "Thank you for saving me back there. You had no reason to, but I'm glad you did."

"You're right. I had no reason to. You're lucky I still have some respect for Toothless. But now that I've held up my end of the bargain, you better make sure he stays far away from me." Hiccup glanced at Toothless, who nodded at Ripper's words.

"You were able to convince him to come rescue me?"

Ripper gave out a hollow chuckle. "'Convinced' is a nice way of putting it. He guilt-tripped me with a name that the two of you should never utter from your mouths in my presence." Toothless flattened his ears and averted his gaze. Given the circumstances at the time, he had no choice. His best friend's life was in danger and Ripper was the only solution. He'd do the exact same thing if he was put in that situation again.

Hiccup stared at Toothless, mouth agape. He was even more amazed that Ripper had enough self-control to not attack Toothless on the spot.

"I'm sorry he had to go to such lengths, but he's my best friend, Ripper. You know he'd do anything to protect me."

"All too well." Hiccup watched Ripper adjust his flight gear, when he noticed something.

"You're still wearing the gear I made you."

"I might hate you, Hiccup, but I'm a warrior first. Your gear is the most useful when it comes to flying. Rest assured I'll burn it once I find something else of the same caliber." Ripper latched himself onto Bladewing, holding tight to the handle he fixed. "Now, I'll be making my way west of here. I want you two to head in the opposite direction and keep on going." Bladewing flapped his wings, slowly lifting the two of them into the air as Ripper continued to stare the two down. "You're on your own for good this time." Bladewing was about to take off for the horizon, but delayed the departure when Hiccup spoke up.

"Can we...Will we ever reconcile, Ripper?" He knew he sounded desperate. Pathetic even. But this was most likely the last time he'd see him. "We're the last two Jormung left. I-If we do this," he gestured to the space between them, "then what chance do our people have-"

"Stop. Right. There." Ripper cut him off. Hiccup turned his gaze up, unprepared of Ripper's glare, and concerned that he was visibly shaking. His voice was as cold as the air of Helheim when he spoke, "Clearly you've forgotten that your poor judgement is the reason why we don't have a people anymore!" Despite having a hundred feet between them, Hiccup backed up against Toothless, uncertain of what Ripper might do. "You are the reason we don't have a people anymore. You are the reason we're on the run from the entire Archipelago, constantly looking over our shoulders. You are the reason I lost my chance at-" He stopped himself, closing his eyes and taking in deep, slow breaths. "It doesn't matter. Not anymore." Bladewing turned away from the duo as Ripper spoke his final words.

"You better enjoy your time in the world of the living, Hiccup. It's a only a matter of time before fate catches up with you." Bladewing opened up his wings and shot for the horizon, leaving Hiccup to relive those same feelings from one year ago.

Abandonment.

Helplessness.

Guilt.

Failure.

"Hiccup" Toothless nudged his best friend, trying to get him out of his thoughts. That was the last place he needed to be.

"I'm fine bud." He said as he watched Ripper disappear into the night. Guess he really could call himself the last Jormung in existence. He turned towards Toothless, only to lose his footing. Luckily, Toothless was right there, gladly supporting him, as he let himself collapse to the ground, eyes brimming with tears. Toothless could do nothing really, but curl around Hiccup. He would always be there for him.

"It's going to be okay. We'll make it through this. We always do."

"It's all my fault. Our home. Our tribe. My people. The dragons...They all died because of me."

"No Hiccup. That man killed them. Not you."

"But I'm the one who brought him to the village. I'm the one who taught him our ways, against the better judgment of the elders; even Ripper." Hiccup ran his hands through his hair, throwing his head back and looking up at the cloudless night sky, at the crescent moon. He could remember such calm, peaceful nights back home. When everything was right with the world. When everyone was still alive.

"We can't do anything to change the past, Hiccup. All we can do is to keep them in our memories, live every day to its fullest, and keep moving forward." Hiccup swallowed, biting back the sob that was about to escape his lips. Toothless was right. He was just as much of a survivor than Ripper. And he wouldn't stop now. Not when he could still leave his own footprint on Viking society, and not with the likes of fear and savagery that Ripper was doing.

He pushed off of Toothless, dusting his pants, taking in a deep breath before looking back to his friend. "Thanks bud, I really needed that." He smiled.

"Of course you did." Toothless raised himself, stretching out his wings. "What's the plan? Head back for our stuff? Or find some isolated place and lay low for a while?"

"I'm afraid lying low isn't going to be an option anymore, bud. Not with Dagur the Deranged's new-found goal." Toothless lowered himself as Hiccup swung his right leg over the Toothless' back and pressed himself low as the Night Fury took off. "We head back to Changewing Isle, grab the necessities, and start our new journey."

"With you, I've learned there's an up and downside to these journeys."

Hiccup couldn't help the chuckle that escaped his lips. "You know me too well, Toothless."

"So what is this new journey we're heading on."

"I have a feeling you're going to be strongly against it."

4 Days Later

Berk had never been a more welcome sight. Being a Viking in a world where any day could be your last, one tended to forget the little things that could bring comfort, a sense of safety. A sense of home. Astrid would never understand why their ancestors never bothered to relocate to pack up their belongings and supplies and move on from Berk. Surely there must have been an island that wasn't constantly raided by ten ton fire-breathing lizards. But then again, considering their luck making home on said island, the possibilities of them landing on the shores of a relatively peaceful island were very slim to none.

Besides, Astrid wouldn't be the recognized warrior she is if they were on some passive rock.

"Well, this turned out to be quite the adventure." Eret joined her at the ships bow. "You should really consider about becoming a dragon trapper." Astrid raised an eyebrow, an amused smirk toying at her lips as she glanced at him. "I'm serious! We could use a capable hand such as yourself."

"You mean you could use a capable hand who just so happens to be one of the most beautiful women you've met." Eret's blush confirmed her suspicions. She wasn't oblivious to her appearance. She might be Berk's most capable and accomplished warrior to date, but she wasn't called a Valkyrie for nothing. The constant marriage offers that found their way to her father's front door, as well as her Chief's, was second to none. It didn't help that most of the women, even women younger than her, were being married off; either to Berkian families, or a visiting tribe's.

Most of the offers were too good to pass up on. A visiting Chief and his son even offered land back on their island. And her father refused, and did so with every other offer that would have benefited her family for generations.

"Eh-It's not that it's just-" Her know-it-all glance stopped him in his tracks. "Yes, you're right. But hey, can't blame a guy for trying right?" He shrugged his shoulders, boring a sheepish grin. Astrid merely rolled her eyes and turned her gaze back to the ever growing island of Berk.

"As far as I'm concerned, my heart will always be planted in Berk." Eret knew that was the end of the conversation. During their time together, he began to pick up on her tones; whether she was annoyed, cheerful, or even neutral.

"With this wind, we'll be at Berk's docks within the hour." He said as he turned away, and began barking out orders to the rest of his crew, getting the ship ready for port. She tuned out the hustle and bustle taking place on the main deck, mentally preparing herself for the welcome she'd receive. And the hard fact that they were returning empty-handed.

000

About half of Berk had made its way to the docks once they saw the dragon trapper's ship. Men, women and children lining the pier, waiting in anticipation at the possible sighting of a Jormung. Chief Stoick was one of the last to arrive. Overseeing construction on Berk's storehouses drew precedence over one of their own returning after sometime. Even if it was their fiercest warrior.

The crew carefully guided the vessel the last few yards with oars and Eret's steady hand at the rudder. A few men on deck, mooring lines in hand, tossed them to Berk's waiting pier men, who swiftly tied down the lines to the cleats. Another man put the gangplank in position, and Astrid, her belongings in a bag tossed over her shoulder, was the first to disembark. And she was instantly enveloped by the crowd, bombarding her with questions about her journey.

"Did you catch the Jormung?"

"Is it on the ship?"

"Did it really have wings on its backs like the stories say?"

"Did you get its head?"

She really didn't have time for this. She was tired and hungry. A horrible combination in any Hofferson. Fortunately, her Chief read her like a book.

"Alright everyone, give her some room!" His booming voice quelled the questions, and the crowd parted ways for him to make his way up to her. "Astrid, it's good to see you back in one piece." She always found his smile, under that amazingly well-kept beard, easing.

"It's good to be back, Chief. I'm just ready for a hot meal and some rest."

"As you should be, come." He placed a hand on her back and led her through the crowd, heading up the ramps and pathways and back to the village.

"Sorry about the commotion." He gestured to the villagers who were trailing behind them, keeping a respectable distance between the two.

"I wouldn't have expected less from Berkians. Such a nosy people. Can't wait to get the new gossip and news going around the village."

Stoick chuckled. "Aye, we are a bunch who can't keep our noses out of other people's business. So, if you don't mind me asking, how was the journey?" Astrid raised an eyebrow, an amused smirk at her lips. "Like you said, we're a nosy people." Getting a chuckle out of the both of them.

"It was a success...until Dagur intervened." She saw the Chief's face light up, but she might as well dash his hopes in a quick fashion.

"Did he capture the Jormung from you?"

"Almost...he was about to, but then the other Jormung showed up and all Hel broke loose."

"The other one?" Astrid nodded. "So you came face-to-face with the Jormung that leaves no survivors? By the Gods..." Stoick was coming to the realization that he, Berk, could have lost Astrid and they wouldn't have known it.

"I couldn't believe it myself either. I was sure that was the end but...it only sank Dagur's fleet, but left Eret's ship unharmed."

"Praise Odin and Thor for keeping you safe, Astrid."

"Yeah. I hate to admit it, but I counted myself lucky." They just reached the top of the cliff and entered the village when Astrid noticed it. "Another dragon raid." She sighed.

"Aye lass. We had three while you were gone...but there was nothing you could about it." Stoick quickly continued, seeing that Astrid was ready to disagree with him.

"I should have been here! Then maybe there wouldn't be as much damage, or at least led the fire crew and keeping everything under-"

"Calm down, lass. It's thanks to your new training regiment and students that we didn't suffer more damage. You've done an incredible job training them, and they were more than up for the task."

"But still." She pouted.

"I know, Astrid. People like us, we always feel like it could've been different if we were there. But you have to remember, Berk has capable warriors who can hold their own just as well as you can. And Berk has had the pleasure of your training; despite what the complaints says."

Astrid smiled. She wouldn't be doing her job if she wasn't getting complaints from her students. The lazy ones, anyway.

"Anyway, I've held you up long as it is. Your parents are back home, waiting for you."

"Thank you Chief, and have a good night." She bid him farewell as she jogged the remaining distance to her home, unaware of the black shadow that flew above her, and into the forest bordering the village.

A/N: Love to hear your thoughts on this!