The Frozen Brave

Welcome to the Family?

Hiccup was the first one to wake up. He opened his eyes and smiled when he saw Merida lying next to him, still asleep. He brought his face closer and kissed her cheek.
He got up and walked over to the bags which were settled right beside Toothless who woke from the sound of the bags being opened. He turned curiously at him, ears raised.
“Good morning, Bud. Ya hungry?” Hiccup asked.
The Night Fury gave out a low growl in reply.
“Me too. But let's try not to make noise. I don’t want her to wake up before I finish setting up breakfast.” He whispered to the dragon. Toothless only toothlessly smiled in response.

A moment later, Merida’s eyes fluttered open. She yawned and stretched. A pair of dazzling green eyes looked back into her own. She smiled.
“Good morning.” She greeted Hiccup. He smiled back.
“Good morning... rise and shine, sleepyhead.” He pulled himself back, allowing her to stand up.
“You made breakfast?” she asked, looking at the big flat stone which they used last night for dinner. A plate of some bread and grapes was placed gracefully on it along with two glasses of fresh water.
“I took the liberty of doing it for you.” He said. She blushed and walked over to the table. He sat by her side.
“How sweet of you.” She said.
“No sweat. Now let’s eat. We have a flight to catch.”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Two weeks without Hiccup was not just anything at Berk.
Everything was in disorder!
The attack plan was almost forgotten because they were all crazy looking for him.

Astrid was the first one to notice his absence and they all thought he just went to take Toothless for a spin. But when days passed without his sighting, everyone especially Gobber was out of their minds thinking of what could have happened to their beloved heirless chief.

Astrid went back to retrace his steps in the woods, just in case he was there. Sadly, she didn’t find him. She looked everywhere where he could be but there was not even a clue to lead on.

This particular day, Astrid found herself in the arena with the rest of the gang and Gobber. There was nothing else to do but they tried the best they could.
“Where is he?! Doesn’t he know that everyone is out crazy looking for him?” Gobber exclaimed.
“Relax Gobber. It might not be that bad. I mean, this is Hiccup we’re talking about.” Snoutlout said.
“Yeah, he probably went off to explore or something.” Ruffnut agreed.
“You know him, couldn’t plant his feet on the ground too long. He’s been busy with chief stuff and he rarely gets time on his own.” Tuffnut added to his twin’s statement, leaning his elbow on her comfortably. She stepped to the side and he fell on the floor, his helmet making a clanking sound as it hit the metal ground.
“I sure hope not. It could be difficult to keep journeying with weather like this.” Fishlegs said. “I don’t think we’d like to lose our chief again.”
“Me too.” Ruffnut agreed.
“Me too.” Tuffnut said.
“Me too.” Gobber sniffed.
“Me too guys but let’s have some faith. I’m sure he has some good reason why he’s gone this long.” Astrid said.

“Oh yeah? And how are you so sure he’s not out with some girl?”
A certain redhead flashed on Astrid’s mind when Ruffnut asked the question.
“What does a girl have to do with anything?” Tuffnut knocked Ruffnut down.
“Believe me, guys can easily be tempted. And one day he’ll come back with a girl and you‘ll never get over it.” She continued to say amidst her twin’s yells.
“And you’re saying I have to be jealous? I-I won’t be.” Astrid found herself stuttering.
Ruff grinned evilly as if she caught her red-handed. “Yeah right.” She smirked at Astrid and pushed her brother off her.

“With a girl or not, I’d feel much better if Hiccup’s home.”
They all turned and saw Hiccup’s mother Vodka walking to them from the door as if she just came in.
“We’ve looked everywhere. Now all we can do is trust and wait until he gets home.” She told them.
Astrid shook her head. “I’m sorry Mrs. Haddock but I can’t wait anymore.”
She brushed past the sad-looking mother but stopped just outside the door. Everyone got out curiously and gasped at what they saw.
There, covered in snow, aboard the tired looking Night Fury and wrapped up in thick jackets was Hiccup and indeed, as Astrid feared, he was with a girl.