They had been sailing for a few days without finding anything. They hadn't even seen a single dragon. "The damned beasts are hiding!" Stoick yelled furiously after staring out at the sky for several minutes without success. "Stoick," Gobber started worriedly. "Maybe we should just take a break-"

" Take a break!? Every minute we waste is another minute that my boy is out there alone!" Stoick's yelling captured the attention of everyone on the ship. They all paused to stare at their desperate chief. 

"Stoick, I know. I want him back safe and sound just as much as you do, but growing frustrated will help none of us. It certainly won't help Hiccup. We need a clear mind to keep going, take a break-  rest, for Thor's sake - before you start hallucinating things. Besides, the boy is a Viking. And your son! It is in his blood to not be defeated by some mongrel creature." Gobber watched his best friend hopefully. He hated seeing his friend in pain and he hated it even more that this was something he could not fix like e could a sword or axe. He knew that the likelihood of Hiccup still being alive was slim to none. Essentially impossible. But he needed Stoick to sleep and eat and just relax just a little; to breathe. 

"Yes, Gobber," The bulky man whispered hoarsely. "But you have seen Hiccup. You have seen him. He stands no chance against a Terrible Terror, let alone three Monstrous nightmares!" His bright green eyes shone dully in the afternoon light. Yet another day ending without bearing a single clue as to where his son could possibly be. "Odin, why do you turn against me?" He sent his query to the god as he gazed up at the vibrantly coloured sky that viciously contrasted Stoick's emotions.

Gobber looked at his friend despondently and sighed. He rubbed his and across his face tiredly before hobbling away from the pit of despair that was becoming of his chief. As he hobbled towards the hatch that led below deck, he glared at the vikings that were too slow to pretend to be doing something other than eavesdropping and gawking at Stoick.