Life without Hiccup (Hiccup run away Fanfiction)

Chapter 3- Something is Different

Stoick POV

Astrid is back, alive! He was surprised but also happy, the girl hadn't changed much still the same clothes, same blue eyes, same blonde hair, even the fringe that are always in her eyes, but there was something different, he just didn't know what. He was walking to the Great Hall for dinner, he wanted to know what happened to her, the boat and the dragon.

" 'ey Stoick, how are ya?" Gobber asked, joining him on his walk to the hall.

"Just fine, Gobber, just fine," he answered with a lie. He was just the opposite of fine, but no one could know that.

"Righty'o, so what do ya think Astrid's story is gonna be like,"

"Full of hardships maybe, she might avoid talking about what really happened, I asked Johann where he found her, he said that she waved his ship down from a shore of a small deserted island, an island that is known to home many dragons," Stoick answered Gobber's question, who nodded at the answer.

"Right, well let's see what her story is, maybe she might 'ave found the night fury that took 'iccup,"

"That was her goal," Stoick said, nodding his head in agreement.

The two Viking friends stepped into the Great Hall and all conversations were stopped as the two walked past each table up to the head one. Once they sit conversations went back to normal. That was until the three Hoffersons stepped foot into the Hall. Astrid bit her lip and looked down a bit, she obviously didn't like the attention.

"Ingrid, Axle come sit with us, bring Astrid too, I want to hear her story," Stoick stated, waving the three over. The three complied to the order and went and sat with him and Gobber at the head table. Soon the conversations continued but they were somewhat quieter than before.

"So Astrid, you don't mind telling us what happened, do you? I don't want to rush you, Johann said he found you on an island known for dragons?" Stoick questioned, looking over at the blonde Viking, who nodded her head.

"Before you ask, I didn't find the Night Fury or any clue weather Hiccup could be alive," Astrid stated, looking directly at Stoick. He nodded for her to continue. "Like Johann said the island he found me on was known for dragons, when I heard about it, I went to it to see if the Night Fury was there," she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "As I was heading there, I got caught in a terrible storm, it ripped the boat to shreds," her parents gasped at that. "The next thing I knew, I was lying on a beach, I must've washed up on, I had my axe but nothing else, I had to hunt and fend for myself, I stayed there until Johann's ship pasted by a couple of weeks ago, he was off course, I helped him get back on and now I'm here, I guess I'm lucky that I'm alive,"

"Very lucky, you were there for a whole year?" Gobber asked, looking at her shocked.

"I've been gone for a year?!" The poor girl asked shocked. The adults nodded, she sighed. "Yeah Gobber, I guess if it wasn't for all the dragon hunting and survival skills you taught me, I would have been toast," she smiled a gentle smile. There was something off about this story but Stoick didn't know what. Astrid bit her lip, she was obviously nervous about something but Stoick didn't know what but he wanted to know. That's when Johann came up to them.
"Mind if I join?"

"Not at all, Johann, please take a seat," Stoick stated, pointing to the seat next to Astrid. Johann gratefully took.

"Oh and Miss Astrid your friends asked if you wanted to sit with them," Johann told her. Astrid smiled slightly and looked over to Stoick, seeing if she could go.

"Go, I'm sure you wouldn't mind being around people your own age," he stated. The blonde Viking stood up and left the table heading towards the rest of the teens.

"I'm worried for her Stoick, she's not herself, she's been distant, not talking much, avoiding all questions about what happened to her, her story was very vague and I'm not sure that was the full story," her father expressed his worry.

"I don't think we will ever get the full story but as for her distance, just give her some room, she'll eventually warm up, she has had no human contact in a year, imagine what she is going through," Stoick advised. Her parents nodded and they ate their food in peace.