Astrid hadn't stopped checking the sky all day. She went about her duties on the Edge as best she could, but the truth was only half her mind was there. The rest was constantly scanning, looking for two black specks to appear. Finally, as the sun was hovering around the horizon, she spotted them.

She grabbed the repair equipment she had set out around her, and jumped on Stormfly. The dragon could feel her rider's urgency, and they made the trip from the watch tower back to her hut in record time. Astrid dismounted and was inside before Stormfly could even cock her head and puzzle at the young woman's curious behavior. At her hearth, Astrid stoked the flame and began tossing ingredients in the oft-unused pot. In her haste, she neglected the charcoaled notes she had made earlier in the week, and they sat un-acknowledged on the table. Finally, she lay the lid on the pot and allowed herself to peer out the window. Snoutlout and Hiccup were clearly visible, and heading for the stables. Astrid rushed back out of the hut and mounted Stormfly, who obediently followed her directing to where the weary Vikings were aiming to land.

Fishlegs and the twins had also spotted their returning friends, and had made their way to the stables. Astrid found herself uncharacteristically annoyed at Fishlegs' speculations on what the explorers might have discovered, and led out an exasperated sigh when he suggested they may have seen a new species of dragon. Unable to understand her frustration, Fishlegs turned his excitement to Ruffnut instead.

"Maybe a nest…oooh I hope it's a boulder class!"
"I hope they found hunters."
"Thor above! Ruff, why would you say that?"
"I haven't killed anything in weeks. I'm BORED!"

When Snoutlout and Hiccup finally alit, Astrid could contain herself no more. She launched at Hiccup and he caught her in an embrace. "I missed you too" he whispered in her ear, resisting the urge to tell every inch of her just how much with his lips. A week was a long time to be away, and a week with Snotlout was somehow much longer than he'd expected.

"What about me?!" pouted Hiccup's brawny cousin, crossing his arms and looking annoyed at the reuniting couple.

Astrid turned her head towards him, keeping the rest of her body angled at Hiccup. "Huh, I think I remember you. Snot-hat, right?"

"Macey missed you!" offered Tuffnut, lifting the weapon threateningly into the air.

"Everybody missed everybody," Hiccup offered, trying to keep his team from descending into chaos this soon into being reunited. "Snotlout and I will unpack and get some rest. We'll debrief in the morning. No sign of hunters, no new dragons, lots of islands."

Both Fishlegs and Ruffnut looked disappointed, and headed back towards the huts with. Tuffnut muttered something about Chicken not missing anyone at all because he was a REAL Viking, but followed, still brandishing his mace. Snotlout gave Astrid and Hiccup another disgusted look, but the couple took no mind, and soon were finished at the stables.

The recollection of the neglected pot hit Astrid with a jolt. "You hungry? I've got dinner at my place."

Hiccup hid his facial expressions about Astrid's cooking by bending to inspect Toothless's tailpiece. "I'd love to." He laid a finger over his lips in a quick gesture to the dragon, indicating that he expected him to be polite. Toothless rolled his eyes in response, but refrained from groaning. At least Astrid couldn't mess up raw fish.