Life on Berk

We Celebrate Them

Summary: It's the first Snoggletog Hiccup is spending without his father. As expected, it's not easy. But everyone knows the holiday should be spent with people they love. So why should he spend it alone just because one person is missing from his life?

Takes place after HTTYD2.

Hiccup sat on the edge of the cliff, Toothless a short distance away. It was Snoggletog. Normally, he would be celebrating with his dad, Astrid, Toothless and everyone else in the village instead of running off to be alone. There was just one problem. His dad wasn't there with him. Sure, now he had his mother, but it didn't feel the same without the loud joyous laughter blended in with that of everyone else. He had never noticed it before, but he sure did now. Even with all the noise of a typical Snoggletog celebration, it still seemed almost quiet without the sound of his father's voice.

Behind him, Toothless crooned worriedly and came closer. Hiccup patted his head reassuringly.

"I'm okay, Bud," Hiccup answered. "Just thinking."

And thinking he was. Of all the past Snoggletogs he had spent with his dad and his friends. Sure, it had always been freezing cold, but the company of his loved ones always helped him forget about the cold. Now, he had one less person with him. His mother was there, yes, but his father never failed to spend the day with him. He didn't notice when silent tears rolled down his cheek at the thought of his father not being there. He put his arm around his dragon's neck and leaned into him, trying, but failing, to control the flood of tears. Toothless crooned again almost comfortingly, allowing his rider to use him as a support. That was what he was there for anyway.

In the Great Hall, Astrid sat with the other riders as usual. Snotlout and Tuffnut were engaged in a drinking contest, trying to see who could down the most number of mugs before giving up. Every once in a while, Astrid shook her head at the two, completely unamused.

Her mind kept wandering back to Hiccup though. It wasn't uncommon for him to stay out late on Snoggletog with his dragon before joining them. She tried not to think about it too much, but she couldn't help feeling like something was wrong.

Valka walked over to their table, raising an eyebrow at the two riders before silently asking Astrid about what they were doing.

"Don't bother. It happens every year." She shrugged it off. Valka sat down beside her.

"Do you know where Hiccup is?" Valka asked. "I haven't seen him since this morning."

"Same here. He left right after breakfast," Astrid replied.

Valka sighed. "I'm worried about him, Astrid."

"Don't worry too much. It's not the first time he's late for Snoggletog celebrations."

"Maybe, but I feel like something isn't right."

"I've been thinking about that all evening," Astrid muttered.

"Maybe I should go look for him." Valka made a move to stand up but Astrid grabbed her hand.

"I was thinking of searching for him if he's not back within the hour, actually."

"But maybe we should-"

Astrid grabbed her hand and cut her off. "If it'll make you feel better, I'll go look for him now."

"I could go with you," Valka offered.

"I'll bring him back," Astrid insisted. "Just make sure those muttonheads don't get into too much trouble." Astrid stood up and squeezed Valka's shoulder before heading out into the cold.

Stormfly ran up to her rider as soon as she walked down the stairs and squawked questioningly. Astrid rubbed her dry scaly nose and mounted her.

"Let's go find Hiccup, girl." With that, the Nadder was up in the sky. Astrid looked all around the village for Hiccup, but he was nowhere to be seen. Just as Astrid was about to tell Stormfly to try somewhere else, she dove down towards the cliff. Then she noticed Toothless.