Hiccup tried to take all this newfound responsibility in a positive light but he’d only just gotten back a little bit ago and if his mother was calling his name it meant one of the Vikings had probably misplaced their stash of dragon nip, or something… (his dad was serious about this whole: no task too ’small’, business). Luckily most of them didn’t bother him with such things but there WAS a select few. He tried not to think about it as he made his way down the stairs, ready to tackle whatever awaited him at the bottom.

Or so he thought. What he found was a hysterical dragon rider (which normally wasn’t too unusual if it was anyone else) and a distraught dragon. As soon as he heard what the nature of this visit was he paled and before his mom even said the man’s name he knew. But he was a chief now and he had to keep calm in turmoil for those that couldn’t. He had to be a leader. 

He took a breath and put his hands on Castiel’s shoulders willing his voice to be clear and strong. “We’ll get her back. We’ll get ALL of them back.” Toothless whined and as he turned the night fury bumped into him, pushing his head into his chest until Hiccup reassured him. “We’ll figure this out. Just… give me a moment.” Finally he reached his mother. “Toothless is the strongest dragon, that bewilder beast should have been nothing to him.”

“Oh… Hiccup… you still know so little.” Valka replied sadly, “an alpha dragon can not control their mate.”

Hiccup couldn't pretend to understand but his mother had been living with dragons for twenty years and was probably what one would consider an expert on them. Far more so than him. "Okay." Not that arguing the facts would accomplish anything so he accepted and began to formulate a plan of action. He started up the stairs stopping only to make a gesture for them to wait before disappearing onto the upper floor. Toothless almost immediately took to pacing while Valka stood quietly for a moment before stating she would go get Cloudjumper. Before she could even leave the room though Hiccup reappeared, tightening the straps on his 'armor' and fastening the hilt of his retractable flame sword to his leg. 

Before he could exit Valka grabbed him by the arm "it's too dangerous. I will not loose you like this... I will go with Cloudjumper and deal with this as I should have many years ago." She said firmly but Hiccup would not hear it.

He looked at her straight on and replied just as firm: "No. This is mine and Toothless' fight. You need to stay here and take care of things while I'm gone." Feeling the tension he offered a small smile. "I'll be alright mom. We'll be back before you know it." He put his hand on Toothless' side and lead him out and around to the small shed which they had added in recent years. It was here he began strapping on his saddle. "Castiel" he continued what he was doing even as he addressed her. "I need to go borrow a dragon... Skullcrusher is part of the tracking class. We'll head back to the cave and have him get a sniff at the babies' egg shells. Then we'll go after that bewilder beast. I'll need your help for this, can I count you in?"