The pair stayed up for a while idly talking about nothing while Hiccup stared up at the stars. But the night eventually took them both and soon the pair were waking up to the sun stinging their eyes. Toothless was the first to move and began to stretch everything he could. From legs to his back and neck. Getting ready to fly them back home. On the other hand Hiccup rolled into his back and put an arm over his eyes.
"Do we really have to go back? Can we just run away?" Hiccup groaned.
"No we can't." Toothless licked Hiccup's belly. "We have responsibilities that we must uphold."
"But that's so much harder than lying around and mating all day."
"While true, you know you'd go insane if we just did that."
"Nuh huh."
"Yuh huh." Toothless mocked. "Come now, you know you love that place and our people. You couldn't convince yourself to stay away from them if it meant your death."
Hiccup took a big sigh. "Yeah I guess."
"There you go. Now come on, we have to stop by the river before heading back. I wouldn't describe us as presentable to the other humans. And I don't think we could convince them we both have a skin condition that makes the skin around our mid sections flakey. Plus I'm not white at all, so there's that."
Hiccup smiled to himself, before sitting up and getting to his feet. He stretched and gave Toothless a scratch under the chin. He grabbed the antler Freya had given them and Toothless dropped his shoulder allowing Hiccup to climb on. Soon after that they were in the air flying towards the river. The pair landed and Hiccup slipped off. Hiccup sighed.
"What?" Toothless asked.
"It's gonna be cold." Hiccup complained.
"Rivers are generally cold. I could always lick you clean if you'd like instead." Toothless offered.
"While tempting I'd just end up smelling worse than I'm sure I do."
Toothless pressed his snout into Hiccup's back and sniffed.
"What do you mean? You smell great."
"Of course you say that. I'm covered in your dry love after all."
"And what a magnificent scent to be covered in."
"Yes well if we didn't have the humans around the story would be different. But since they're here I have to jump into a cold river." Hiccup complained.
"Well the faster you do it the faster it's over."
"If you dunk me under the water one time I'm gonna be so mad at you." Hiccup threatened.
"I won't, you have my word." Toothless bowed.
"You know I can't trust that right?"
"I'm well aware." Toothless smiled. "But it's also all you have so I'd take it."
"Toothless."
"I'm not going to dunk you. Now go. Get your butt in there." Toothless ordered. Hiccup slowly walked into the river, taking deep breaths as he lowered himself into the water. Moments later Toothless slid his way into the water behind his mate. He pressed his snout against Hiccup's back gently. Hiccup braced but when nothing happened he turned around sheepishly. "Really didn't trust me did you?"
"Can you blame me?"
"No." They laughed. Hiccup kissed his dragon gently. The pair danced around each other until Hiccup was pressing his back against the river's bank and Toothless sat next to him, occasionally nudging his human for attention. Which was happily given. But the moment ended and Hiccup sighed.
"Back to it then?" Hiccup asked.
"We knew it was only temporary." Toothless pressed his snout into Hiccup's wet hair.
"More horrible words have never been spoken."
"That may be true." Toothless huffed. "But we have to head back. We can't abandon everyone."
"I know. It's just this Bewilderbeast thing. Is it true, is it not true. Where are our people going? Why aren't they returning? It all smells like war and I don't want to ask people to lay their lives down for us. I know that's just a thing leaders have to do sometimes but it doesn't feel right."
"Good. It shouldn't. But you know that damn near everyone would be willing. Not only willing but volunteering. We've made good as alphas. Treated our people well and now it's time we use its power. We will ask. But if it comes time I'm not going to let everything we've worked for go to waste. If we have to order people then I think we have to be willing to do that. You have to be willing to do that. Cause I'll happily be the one to speak but I don't want us on different pages on it."
"We won't. But please don't hesitate to call it without me. I think we both know that by the time I'd be ready to do that, it would be too late."
"That's probably true. I promise that if it does come down to that I'll do it as late as I'm comfortable with. But again I doubt it'll come to that."
"Yeah." Hiccup got up and stretched. He climbed his way out of the water with Toothless right behind him. "I guess it's time we head back and try to figure all this out." Hiccup turned to Toothless as the dragon dropped his shoulder.
"After you."
Hiccup took his normal spot on the dragon's back and Toothless took off right after. Their flight home was quiet, the pair simply enjoying the sight. As they neared their home dragons began to take flight and meet them. Welcoming them back and joining the pair the rest of the way home. As the pair landed Care met them along with the humans and their dragons.
"Welcome home." The old Nightmare bowed. Hiccup hopped off Toothless and scratched Care under the chin.
"How was everything while we were gone?"
"No additional problems to report."
"Sounds like no good news either then." Toothless commented.
"Unfortunately not." Care sighed. "If anything ever is getting more nervous. If I may, I'd say you two may want to speak with everyone. Reassure them again."
"It's a good thing we return with some good news regarding the humans then."
"You do?" Care as surprised.
"As it stands we've entered a tentative alliance."
"Meaning?"
"The humans who stayed, along with the new addition are here to stay for now. And will be here to help until we know what's going on. And if the worst is to come to pass they'll be here to help in that too." Toothless explained.
"Is that true?" Care asked. Hiccup nodded. "I'm glad to hear it."
"We'll make an announcement about the humans and about what's going on once we've settled back in. And from here on, I relieve you of your duties. Thanks for watching over everyone while we were away. I know it was on short notice but thank you for stepping up."
"Thanks Care, I appreciate it a lot." Hiccup chimed in.
"Oh come now, you two. Had it not been me it would have been someone else."
"Yeah but you're our first choice. You're good with people."
"I'm your first choice?"
"Yes you are." Toothless nodded. "As Hiccup said, you're good with people. I knew that even from before. You've always been someone who's looked out for others. Even after all you've lost. You have a great deal of strength and there are a number of people who could learn from you."
"Well, I." The old Nightmare choked up. "I uhm, thank you. I'll be returning to my normal duties now." He broke away from the group and disappeared into the mountain. Stoick stepped forward and filled the space.
"So what's going to happen now?" He asked.
"We're going to announce the start of our alliance, and let everyone know that we still don't know what's going on considering the Bewilderbeast. And are probably going to have to begin thinking about potential war."