"Even then, Hiccup." Astrid sighed.
"Look, the more people who accept them now the easier it'll be later."
"And what? You think they're just going to keep showing up by the boatload and those who want to see well come on and the others will just leave?"
"That would make it a lot easier. You think they'll keep coming back with new people?"
"Uh, no." Astrid shook her head. "They're probably going to twist the whole situation into something bad and when the time comes to try to bring dragons to Berk they'll just completely reject them."
"I guess I'll just have to hope that my dad's word is of greater importance than others. If that does happen and he can get a few back to try and trust the dragons then we could slowly convert people back. I know it'll work, I just have to show them."
"I don't know if that'll work, Hiccup. You know how people are. They're not just gonna be okay with it if your dad says so."
"I know that. And I know they're a lot of pain, a lot of hate. But when people meet these guys they change. Just look at everyone here. You have that little bit of confidence to meet them and next thing you know, you're like my dad. He loves these guys now. He's pushing for this more than I am." Hiccup smiled. "I don't think he fully realizes what it'll take for them to actually live on Berk. But he did see what I wanted, and I think most of the others have too. They aren't monsters, Astrid. They just didn't have a way to tell us that. But now we can. At least as long as I'm alive, I can translate, tell people exactly what they're saying."
"And when you're not… around?"
"We'll figure something out. Some way for us to communicate. The dragons can understand us, so that's not going to be an issue. But they have no way to talk back." Hiccup explained.
"They can really understand us? I could just walk up to any of them and just ask questions?"
"Well, no. It depends on how much time they spent listening to us. Toothless can completely understand and hold a conversation. Care and Skullcrusher are getting pretty close to that same point. It goes down and down and down from there but it's just dependent on how much they've been around me or other humans. I'd bet the ones who've been held on Berk could easily understand you. It's just for some reason their brains can just learn our language and eventually it just becomes second nature to them." Hiccup shrugged.
"But they can't talk back? They can learn our language but can't speak it?"
"Eh, maybe some of them could but I don't know. I've tried for years to teach Toothless. I've even tried with a number of others here at Helheim, but something about the way their mouths are shaped or maybe something in their throats just doesn't allow for it. Maybe one day I'll look deeper into it but right now that isn't my concern right now."
"And what is your concern right now?"
"Unfortunately I must set my mind on potential war and the dragons I've lost to some unknown force.
"
"Is that why we're here? To help your war?" Astrid put her hands on her hips. Hiccup shook his head.
"You're here because all I wanted to do was to show people what they truly are. And I've done that. It just so happens that my dad, Gobber, you and the others showed up just as this was all starting. To be completely honest with you, I don't want a war or fighting. But It's going to be an inevitability. I've already lost people to it. People who have mates, and friends, and little ones to come back to. Eventually I won't be able to justify stalling and not going to find them. My people are scared, and cramped. This place normally only houses maybe half my flock and now they're packed in here with no room to breath all because of a potential attack. The worst part of it all is that we don't even know what's going on out there. We know what's taking, or… killing them but we don't know why. What we do know is that it's not normal but we don't know why it's happening. And we can't just go attack because we don't know what we're getting into. Our hands are tied. I can't let people leave and return to their regular lives because I'm going to need them if something comes our way. We're stuck until something happens and the waiting is making everyone crazy and questioning my leadership. Everything is ready to pop and with the freeze starting I'm fearing the worst right now." Hiccup paused and sighed. "I love them all, Astrid. I'm just hoping that they understand that this whole thing isn't some power move. I don't want them relating me and Toothless to the last alpha that was here. We want to protect them, not force them to submit."
Hiccup was gently pushed from behind. He jumped and turned to see Care.
"Quite the speech, my alpha." He bowed.
"You know I hate when you call me that." Hiccup chuckled. He took a moment to look around and spotted many pairs of eyes peering over the ledge of the shelf he and Astrid were on. From Toothless, Skullcrusher, and Dusty to his father, Gobber and nearly every species leader. Care took the moment to sit and get a bit closer to eye level with Hiccup.
"With how loudly you were talking you may as well have been making a speech to us all." Care smiled. Hiccup turned back to Astrid.
"Was I really being that loud?" He asked.
"Uh yeah a bit. But I was just letting you go. You're clearly under a lot of stress so I figured I'd just let you get it out." Astrid shrugged.
"Sorry everyone." Hiccup raised his hand up. "I didn't mean to be yelling and making everyone panic."
"Not often do we hear our alpha yelling." Care commented.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to get you guys in a panic."
"Maybe initially. But as we closed in and could properly hear you, I'd say we became rather hopeful. From me, and the others I assure you that you'll never be compared to that tyrant from before. You've not tried to eat one of us yet." He laughed. Care poked a claw into Hiccup's chest, right over his heart. "Whatever you are little hybrid, we know you care for us. Your compassion shows no bounds, your willingness to sacrifice yourself for those you don't know shows us just how willing you are to save us. Like I've said before, many of us are behind you no matter what. We know you're here to help."
"Thanks, you guys." Hiccup reached up and scratched Care under the chin.
"Before I leave, I know you don't like it when I bow to you. But I want you to know that I don't bow to you because of your position, I bow out of respect. My alpha." Care bowed again and made his exit, just for the spot to be filled by Toothless.