"I can't believe this," Stoick muttered, looking down at the snow around him. "Of all the downright stupid…"

Hiccup found himself in complete agreement.

Valka had led them outside, to a snowy plain beyond the dragons' nest. The sun was getting low by then, and the sky was red in the evening light. Valka had drawn a large map in the snow, and Hiccup had his own map out close by. Stoick and Gobber stared down thoughtfully, as did Hiccup and Toothless. Skullcrusher busily scanned the sky for threats, while Grump had settled down for a nap.

Valka's map showed a wide area around her own island. She'd marked the island that Drago had made into his base, and she'd marked various locations of recent trapper activity. Those marks included the ruined camp where Hiccup had first encountered Eret, in which Valka had seen fit to have the King intervene.

"And you've been fighting trappers for…how long?" Hiccup asked.

Toothless warbled next to him, tilting his head thoughtfully.

"Oh, there've always been trappers in these parts," Valka said. "They come from down south, mostly. To trap species that don't live on the mainland."

Toothless hissed quietly; Hiccup patted his head, resolving to never let Toothless be taken in such a way.

"But around five years ago, it started getting worse," Valka said. "Much worse." She exhaled, and Cloudjumper nuzzled into her hand. "I don't know what changed, but…something did, and something big."

Hiccup stopped to consider. "Well, Toothless and I did beat the Red Death five years back. So maybe that's why…?"

Toothless growled harshly, enough so to make Hiccup flinch. He let out a series of throaty rumbles, his pupils narrowing.

"Oh no, Toothless, he isn't saying she meant to help," Valka said, a placating hand held out. "But…it does make sense. It would have been hard for trappers to reach this place, back when she was around. They'd have had to completely avoid the archipelago, lest they get caught in the fighting."

"And dragons were always attacking ships, back then," Gobber added. "Sailing anywhere near our waters was…eh, risky."

Toothless huffed, hanging his head. Then he gazed up at Hiccup, warbling an apology.

"Nah, you're fine, bud," Hiccup said, touching his palm to Toothless' forehead. "I know she's a touchy subject. Don't worry."

Toothless crooned, his posture quickly easing.

"Okay, so trappers have been here for years," Stoick said. "But what about Drago, Valka? When did he come into this?"

"And why didn't ye come to us when he did?" Gobber added.

Valka sighed, clutching her staff in both of her hands. "It was…it was about a year back," she said.

"One whole year, eh?" Gobber said, staring her down with narrow eyes.

"Go on, Valka," Stoick said evenly. "Tell us what you know."

"Drago and his fleet landed on that island," Valka said, pointing with her staff. "Even back then, he had an entire army with him: ships, dragons, and plenty of men. We tried to drive them off, but Drago and his army were far too strong. Cloudjumper and I…we were lucky to escape."

She patted her dragon's head, and Cloudjumper crooned at the attention.

"His army has only grown since," Valka said distantly. "More and more ships have entered his harbor; more and more dragons have been captured." She looked Stoick directly in the face. "He's preparing something, Stoick. Something big. Something huge."

"He's preparing for war," Stoick said, his voice rising. "And so could we have been, had we known. Why didn't you tell us?"

Toothless snorted, and Hiccup just knew his friend felt exactly the same. Hiccup then began to pace around, focussing on Valka's drawing. Why there, he found himself thinking. Why would Drago set up there? It couldn't be hospitable, this far north, and it would be so hard to keep an army fed and maintained. So there had to be a reason…there had to be a specific reason…

"I…I was worried about Cloudjumper!" Valka blurted out. "I thought that if I went back, and if someone saw him, then he'd be…" She looked away with wide eyes, as though unwilling to even say the thought aloud.

"Yes, of course, your dragon," Gobber said. "Because 'es clearly so safe with that madman there. Of all the…what were ya possibly thinking, lass!?"

Stoick for his part simply stood in place, silently fuming with a face like thunder.

"Wait, wait, Gobber's right," Hiccup said. "Gobber's…oh, Thor," he went, as everything finally clicked in his mind.

Everyone looked at Hiccup dumbly.

"Eh…I am?" Gobber said, rubbing his head with his good hand.

"Yes. Utterly," Hiccup said. Then, in response to everyone's questioning expressions: "Drago wants this nest. Or at least, he wants the dragons who live in it. That's why he set up so close!"

Stoick took a sharp intake of breath. "Oh, gods, you're right," he said, bringing both hands to his head. "And with this many dragons, he'd be unstoppable! Even Berk wouldn't stand a chance!"

Gobber looked equally alarmed — though Valka, oddly, did not.

"No, that couldn't happen," Valka said. "The dragons here listen to the King; they'd never listen to Drago. And Drago could never take this nest; the King wouldn't allow it."

Once again, Hiccup found himself staring at her. And once again, Hiccup found himself gobsmacked by her utter stupidity.

"That was your plan?" Stoick said, his voice becoming hoarse. "Just stay in the nest and…and wait for that madman to come to your shores?"

"Well, yes," Valka said, looking genuinely confused. "What else could we do?"

"What else could you…oh, I don't know, seek help?" Hiccup said, throwing his hands up high. "Move the nest? Do literally anything besides what you've been doing?"

"But there's so many dragons here, son!" Valka said. "Where would we even move them? There's nowhere else they could—"

"They could have come to Berk, you absolute—" Hiccup stopped himself and rubbed at his face, eager to avoid saying something he'd later regret. Then he continued, much more quietly: "They could come to Berk, mother. All of them. You could move them all there, right now."

Stoick jerked at that. "What, all of them? Now hold on…"

Toothless then nudged at Hiccup's arm. Hiccup looked over, only to find the dragon shaking his head and warbling with wide and worried eyes.

"H-hey, Toothless! What's the matter, bud? What's so bad about a few new—"

"The King, son," Valka said. "He doesn't want the King there. That's the matter."

Toothless crooned, his expression pleading.

"Bud, I know you don't like alphas, but this might be the only way to—"

Toothless growled. At Hiccup. Hiccup took a step back, too stunned to respond.

"He…feels strongly about it," Valka said, at the collection of Toothless' sounds that followed. "Besides, the King would never agree to it. This nest is our home, son. We can't just up and leave it."

Stoick nodded, his mouth a hard line. "Aye," he went. "I can at least understand that."

Hiccup found his sight jerking between his father and his best bud. Toothless had looked furious in that moment, and he still looked bothered even now.

"Hiccup, new plan," Stoick said. "You and Toothless are staying here."

Hiccup and Toothless turned to him in unison. Toothless barked in surprise, soundly distinctly alarmed.

"But…" Hiccup went. "But what about Berk?"

"Berk will be patrolled by Gustav's team," Stoick said. "Your riders — who you should be with, by the way — will be sent here to help guard this nest. As soon as they're back from their current mission, that is. A mission that you, Hiccup, should have been leading!"

"Wait, a mission?" Hiccup said. "What mission?"

Stoick rubbed at his head, fixing Hiccup a steady glare. "Getting information on Drago," he said. "What else?"

Hiccup found himself wincing internally. Stoick's head was doubtlessly killing him by that time, and Hiccup knew he was much of the reason why. But even so…what mission? Stoick had clearly wanted Hiccup back to Berk, when he and other riders had interrupted him on Eret's ship. Just what exactly had happened, once Hiccup and Toothless had flown away?

"I'll have them bring some Terrors, as well," Stoick said, jostling Hiccup's thoughts back to the present. "Send a report by Terror mail, every day. You'll receive a report from Berk each day, too. If a Terror fails to arrive one day, return to Berk and investigate. If your Terror fails to reach us, we'll do the same. And for Thor's sake: if you see Drago's fleet, send for help immediately!"

Hiccup nodded with each instruction, committing them all to memory.

"Stoick, I do appreciate it," Valka said. "But…would it not be better if Hiccup and Toothless went home? The dragons and I can look after ourselves."

Stoick swung around to face her. "No, Val, you cannot," he said bluntly. "Me and Gobber got all the way inside before anyone even noticed us. You've left this nest almost completely unguarded."

"Haven't ye ever heard of patrols, lass?" Gobber said, with a sardonic smile. "Or guards?"

Valka blinked repeatedly, as though she'd indeed never heard of those things. Cloudjumper rumbled next to her.

"But…the King…" she went.

"...is not invincible," Hiccup said. "Need I remind you that Toothless and I killed an alpha once before?"

Valka blinked some more, as though she indeed needed to be reminded of exactly that.

"Drago could land his entire army here, Val," Stoick said coldly. "And the way you're running things, you might not even know!"

Valka blinked a few more times. Then she gasped suddenly, a hand covering her mouth.

"Hiccup and his riders are experienced in such matters," Stoick said. "If you have any sense at all, you'll listen, and you'll listen well."

Valka nodded quickly, looking too stunned to do anything more.

Stoick then marched over to Toothless, placing a firm hand on the dragon's back. "Toothless, if you value my son's life, do not under any circumstances allow him to approach Drago! No matter what he says to you! Do I make myself clear?"

Toothless looked to Hiccup for a moment, his expression eerily difficult to read. Then he looked back to Stoick, and he nodded solemnly.

Hiccup groaned, which earned him a fresh glare from his father.

"It's for your own good, Hiccup," Stoick said. "Drago is a man whose mind you'll never change."

Stoick went over to Hiccup next, his body sagging just a little. He clasped Hiccup's shoulders, being careful not to hold him too tightly.

"I'm trusting this task to you, son," Stoick said. "You and your riders are the best we have. You held Dragon's Edge, against the Grimborns and Krogan both. I can think of no-one better to protect this nest."

Hiccup almost argued. But something in Stoick's face stopped him in his tracks. Stoick looked genuinely worried, in a way Hiccup had rarely seen him show openly. And if Drago did take this nest, and if he then moved on to Berk…

"Understood, Dad," Hiccup said. "You can count on us."

Stoick nodded silently, before marching back towards his dragon. As he approached Skullcrusher, he turned and spoke again. "The riders should be here by tomorrow night," he said. "Until then, just…stay safe, and don't do anything rash. Got that?"

"Yeah. Stay safe. Don't go to Drago. Got it," Hiccup said, as Toothless warbled his agreement.

Stoick exhaled. "Good. Well then: Gobber, get Grump up and then we'll…agh!"

He went down suddenly, clutching his head. Skullcrusher stopped his fall, moving faster than Hiccup had ever seen that dragon move; Hiccup, Valka and Gobber scrambled on over.

"Dad! What's wrong? Dad!"

"Stoick!"

"Chief!"

Stoick came to stand slowly, breathing hard. He still held his head in one hand, while holding onto Skullcrusher with the other. Skullcrusher kept still and watched him silently, while Toothless gave a worried croon.

"It's nothing. It's just…oh, to Hel with it," Stoick said, his voice rising once more. "Will someone please get me some Thor-damned ice!"


Firstly, I'd like to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who has read this so far! I've been having a lot of fun writing this story, so I can only hope it has been just as much fun to read. A big thanks also goes out to FuryDrake, for Beta-reading and for numerous helpful discussions and comments.

I expect the next update to be in around two weeks. There, we'll take a look at what the rest of the gang has been up to...