The band of disheartened vikings dawdled back to the village; No one wanted to be the one to inform Stoick about his son's demise. No one had been particularly fond of the troublesome runt but he wold definitely be missed by most of the village. Hiccup, despite his small build and strange behaviour, had made quite the impact on everyone. Though no one would ever admit it.

Snotlout couldn't help but feel like he had failed Hiccup somehow. He was struggling to understand why. Hiccup was just a runt who got in his way all of the time. Good riddance! He could finally claim the position as heir to the chief. It was all he ever wanted. So why was he feeling guilty?

As the large group stepped out of the forest, eyes were immediately on them. Gobber was the first to notice their downcast expressions. "What? What happened?" He asked as he hobbled forward. "Did you kill the dragons?" His eyes roamed over the group who all remained silent and avoided eye contact. 

Stoick stepped out from a building and clapped his hands together excitedly. "So? How'd it go? Where are the dragons' heads?" 

Silence was the only thing that greeted Stoick and his expression fell as he finally took in their sorrowful appearance. "What? Did you not defeat the beasts?" 

"We are so sorry, Stoick." One of the viking women spoke up, her voice was soft and regretful as she dragged her brown eyes up from the ground to meet the chief's confused green ones. 

"What do you mean, Hilda? What are you sorry for? We will just regroup and take down the beasts tonight."

Hilda sighs sadly and glances at another viking. A viking catches her stare and clears his throat, "Uh, Chief, that isn't-" He stops and looks around desperately. His eyes land on an oblivious Snotlout and he says. "Snotlout will fill you in. I suggest that you both go somewhere more private, Chief." 

Snotlout looks up sharply at the sound of his name and his eyes widen in panic when he realises what he has been volunteered for. "Nonsense!" Stoick exclaims. "Anything the boy as to tell me can be heard by everyone." Snotlout swallowed slowly. "Actually, Chief, I do suggest that we go inside for this," he says carefully. Stoick frowns but agrees. 

The two walk inside the nearest building and immediately everyone begins to ask questions. "What happened?"

"What's going on?" 

"Where are the dragons?"

"Is anyone hurt?" 

Gobber looked at the crestfallen faces and ordered silence from the crowd. "Explain, now." He commanded. 

"It's Hiccup," One of the vikings spoke up. Gobber felt his stomach drop. This was not good. He had known that Hiccup had run off the moment he returned from the back of the armory but he had just figured that the boy had disappeared to his house or somewhere in the village. He should have known better. He looked from face to face waiting for someone to finish explaining. "He- well, he-"

"The dragons - we couldn't-"

"Three of 'em! Three monstrous nightmares. No one stood a chance, but Hiccup..."

"He tried-"

"We didn't know-"

"We're sorry..."

Gobber tried to follow the story as several vikings spoke in stunted sentences and cut each other off. "What happened to Hiccup?" 

Hilda opened her mouth to respond when a shout sounded from the building that Stoick and Snotlout were in. "What do you mean Hiccup was taken by dragons!"