Eret stood on a ledge, looking out towards the horizon. The sun was just rising, slowly warming up the island as it did. As the sun rose higher so did Eret's worry. It's been five days since Toothless came back by himself with only a note from Hiccup telling them he had run into a friend from Berk and will be in touch.

Wasn't he going to meet Cami and Thuggory? How did he meet an old friend from Berk? Why send Toothless back? Wouldn't you need him to teach Berk about Dragons?

The thoughts spiraled in his head. Things didn't really add up, and to make matters worse Hiccup hasn't sent any updates yet. He kept looking out at the horizon hoping to see a small Terror heading their way with a note held in it's claws, but he does.

"I heard Hiccup's gone missing again." A sleek voice called from behind him, making him jump.

"Heather! What are you doing here?" Eret asked as he spun around to the slender, dark haired beauty. He hated when she snuck up on him.

"Dagur wants to talk, but apparently Hiccups not here." She shrugged, moving to stand next to him.

"Yeah, Toothless came back without him."

"The poor thing must be going mad." She chuckled. Toothless and Hiccup hated being separated, even though Toothless can fly on his own. The unholy offspring of lightning and death has been sulking all week.

"So he's back on Berk, yeah?" Heather studied him for a minute. "Valka said you've been worrying about him."

"It just seems like something's going on, we haven't gotten any updates from him. And she's just as worried as me!"

"Well, Berk hasn't seen a lot of dragons lately; maybe he can't find any to send a message?"

"Maybe." Eret's brow furrowed. His gut was telling him something was wrong, and ever since he meet the scrawny dragon rider that gut feeling usually means Hiccup is in some kind of danger.

"Wanna come with me to Berk then?" Heather asked. Eret, surprised, turned to look at her. A Terror had snuggled up around her shoulder, she scratched under it's chin causing it to coo sweetly.

"You're going to Berk?"

"Yeah. Dagur said it's an emergency. I think Hiccup would rather I show up to warn him than have Dagur show up without warning."

"Good point." Eret nodded. "Dagur can be too much at the best of times."

"You're telling me! At least he's not trying to kill us anymore."

Eret chuckled. He hadn't been around for that but having Dagur as an ally was stressful enough, he didn't want to think about what it was like having that psycho as an enemy.

"So how do you plan on getting there?" Eret asked as they made their way into a dark, rocky tunnel. "I don't know if showing up on dragons would be the best plan."

"I was thinking we bring a dinghy, stash our dragons on the other side of Berk and sail around to the docks."

"What if they've thrown Hiccup in a dungeon for siding with dragons?"

"Why are you always so pessimistic when it comes to Hiccup?"

"Because you and Hiccup have a tendency to get in trouble."

"Why are you adding me to the statement?!" Heather jokingly jabbed Eret with her sharp elbow.

As Heather bragged about her stealth skills the two walked out of the dark tunnel into the bright warm mountain side of the Sanctuary. The morning rays bringing a soft light in making the flourishing mountain side look like a dream. Huts sprawled out all over, people had started waking up and getting ready for the day. The tribe has grown so much over the past two years. When he joined there were only a few tribes who aligned with dragons, now they had numerous families living in harmony with dragons.

Heather took a moment to marvel at it all, often away on missions and not used to seeing the view. It didn't bother Eret, as he loved seeing her face light up. He often dreamed of the day she could make a home for herself in the sanctuary, the day they could start a courtship.

Even with his attention on Heather he felt something big move to hover over them.

"I'm assuming you're gonna head off with Heather." Valka carefully slid down Cloudjumper settling on the ground next to them. He had gotten used to her constantly hovering above, always just out of sight.

"Yes Ma'am." Eret nodded. "I'll bring a Terror with me and write you as soon as I know of Hiccup's condition."

"I wouldn't say his name too loud." Valka whispered, looking over her shoulder. "A certain Fury might over hear and try to tag along."

"That's the last thing we need. A dragon going round trying to find his rider." Heather giggled quietly at the image of Toothless running through a town trying to sniff out Hiccup, knocking people over, causing a mess, sending people into a panic as he searches.

Valka looked around, no doubt looking for Toothless. "I would sneak away quickly and quietly, avoiding Toothless. That is, if you happen to know where he's is."

Heather laughed, enjoying the dramatics but it was something that they needed to worry about. Hel, Eret's surprised the dragon hasn't flown off to Berk already! Those two hated being separated and this is the longest they have been apart since he meet them.

"I'm gonna send a message to Dagur, tell him where to meet up. Is there any point to tell him to keep a low profile?" She sighed.

Eret shook his head with a laugh as he watched her walk away. Even though his gut was still twisting in worry, being able to go on a trip with Heather calmed his mind. They hadn't been able to talk with each other much, what with all of Heathers missions and his job of keeping Hiccup from accidentally killing himself. He was actually looking forward to the journey.

"Ahem." Valka coughed, bringing his attention back to her. "We should get you packed then."

Her small, knowing smirk made his face heat up. Despite their complicated meeting Valka had quickly become a mother figure to him, along with every other orphan they happened to recruit. Understanding, patient and a great teacher but at the same time absolute in her decisions and beliefs. Eret felt truly blessed to have been taken in by the two Haddocks and to be apart of the Dragon Riders.

Eret gave an embarrassed cough and followed after her to one of the many caves around the Sanctuary that were chalked full of supplies. The two worked in comfortable silence as they packed three bags; one for himself, one for Heather, and one for Hiccup just in case.

"You must be looking forward to a few day with Heather." Valka started, feigning innocence.

Not this again. Eret rolled his eyes. "I told you, I don't want to start anything till Drago's been defeated."

"We're Viking's! There's always gonna be someone to defeat." She waved off his concerns. "Take some time to be with Heather, relax. Berk has some wonderful sights!"

"Are you really not worried about Hiccup? Like, at all?"

Valka gave a heavy sigh and took a seat on a rock. "I'm his mother, of course I'm worried! But he's on Berk, our home. Even if Stoic gets angry at us, hates us even, I can't image he would every hurt Hiccup. Not physically anyways." She shrugged, bringing one of her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around it. "I'm more worried about what he's gonna be like when he does get back. If Stoic disowns him and banishes him from Berk he'll be so heart broken."

"You really don't think they'll listen?" Eret asked.

"I could never get any of them to listen. The Hooligan tribe has always been so stuck in their ways. And Stoic!" Valka got up to pace the floor. "He's so boar headed and stubborn, and he always has to do things his way! As if he is the only one who could possible know what's going on and what the right thing to do is! But he never looked for Hiccup! Or even sent someone else to look for his son!" Valka roughly threw anything near her into one of the bags. Huffing with anger as she did.

"And yet you still miss him, don't you?"

She deflated a little, hanging her head sadly. "Everyday. I know he's a good man, I know he loves us. But when Hiccup talks about him, about growing up with Stoic as a father, I wonder if the Stoic I knew is…gone."

Eret moved over and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "If anyone's going to make them listen it's Hiccup. You know how stubborn he can be."

Valka gave a small chuckle, patting his hand as she did. "He's more like his father than he realizes. Stubborn, impulsive, easily excitable; but also so brave and caring. A natural born leader! I hope Stoic will be able to see that."

"I'm sure he will. And if he doesn't I'm sure Hiccup will find a way to make him see." It was both a joke and prediction. They both knew very well Hiccup had a bad habit of constantly trying to prove himself.

"Thank you," Valka turned towards him, "for looking after Hiccup. I always feel better knowing you have his back."

Eret has never been one to shy away from a compliment but he should be thanking her, for giving him a home and a family.

Valka buttoned up the last bag and handed it to him. "You're all packed! I'm sure Hiccup is being careful so try to relax a little."

"You and Hiccup, you two never take anything seriously." He shook his head, a slight smile on his lips.

"That's because you worry enough for all of us!" She pushed him out the cave. "Now! Where's that Rumblehorn of yours?"

"Heather probably already has him saddled up and ready to go." A frown formed on his face for a second. "As long as she didn't mistakenly saddle up the other Rumblehorn. That would be bad."

He winced thinking back on the few times he's mistook the untamed/unnamed Rumblehorn for his Ribsmasher. They looked a lot alike and were friendly with each other but the only humans the unnamed Rumblehorn liked were Valka and Hiccup, and even then the dragon preferred they stay away. The crazy dragon almost crushed his skull last time he went up to it thinking it was his dragon.

"Here she comes!" Valka pointed above them. There Heather was on her Razorwhip Windshear, and his Rumblehorn Ribsmasher trailed behind. Like he said his dragon was already saddled up and even carried a dinghy with him.

"Hope you don't mind, Valka." Heather said as they landed, a different Terror sitting on her shoulder. "Figured it would be safer to enter Berk on a boat."

"Smart. Better safe than sorry." Valka surveyed her surroundings again. "Did you see Toothless anywhere?"

"No. No sign of him." Heather shook her head.

"I'm sure he didn't…" Eret hesitated, not believing his own words.

"I better look for him. Don't want him getting in trouble while Hiccup's gone. I'd never hear the end of it!" Valka walked to the edge of the ledge and jumped down. Neither Eret or Heather reacted, and sure enough she rose back up on a dragons back.

"Take care you two." She waved before heading off.

Berk was a about a day away on dragon back, much better than the five days it would have taken for them to sail there. They got to the island two hours before sunrise, the dark a perfect cover for their arrival. Heather split off to circle the village, mapping the layout for later and looking for any signs of Hiccup. Meanwhile Eret went around to the other side of the island and looked for a place to land.

Eret didn't know when or how but Toothless had joined them at some point. He wasn't there when they took off but half way to Berk Heather happened to look back and see him in the distance trailing after them. They knew they wouldn't be able to send him back, plus Toothless gave Heather one of his innocent, big eyed looks and she melted letting him come with them as long as he promised to be good.

Toothless directed Eret to a spot in the center of the island and he followed reluctantly. They wanted to be farther away from the village, more towards the coast, however Toothless knew this island better than him so might as well follow. The Night Fury lead them to a cove with a lake in the middle, not a bad place to lay low. At least till Heather got back.

Stretching as soon as his feet hit the ground, Eret watched as Toothless lead Ribsmasher to the lake for a drink. He remembered Hiccup telling him about a cove where he and Toothless would meet, he didn't say anything about a grave being here though. Off to the side of the lake a grave stone with delicate designs sat surrounded by all kinds of offerings. Eret moved closer, looking for a name, the offerings were plied high so he had to move some out of the way. There, carved into the grave stone read Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III.

Eret's blood ran cold. He fell to his knees, frozen in shock. This was Hiccups grave!

Did I read that right? Maybe it wasn't the third? Eret checked again. It did indeed say the third.

"What is that? What happened?" Heathers voice called. He couldn't speak.

Heather walked up behind him and leaned over. He heard a small gasp escape her before she shook her head.

"No. That can't be right." She took a step back and looked over the site. "These fruits are starting to rot. And the carvings don't look new. There's no way they just made this." She dug a little more. Under the name is a date from five years ago.

"So he's not dead." Eret let out a huge sigh of relief. He berated himself for not looking for a date, but how often do you come across a friends grave while they're still alive.

"That would explain why no one went after him. Why his dad never checked up on him. They thought he was dead." Heather concluded. She sounded so cold and uncaring. Eret knew she was just as shaken up as him, she just preferred to close off her emotions in these kind of situations.

Eret rubbed his face. The last five seconds took more out of him than the day full of flying did. "I need a nap."

"Not a bad plan. We should get some sleep before we make our appearance."

Heaving himself back up the two called their dragons over, everyone readying themselves for some much needed sleep.

"Don't even think about leaving this cove!" Eret warned Toothless. The dark dragon gave him an eye roll before turning around as he shot some flames at the ground and snuggled in on himself. Eret resigned himself to sleep, knowing full well Toothless is gonna do whatever he wants to do.