Homeward bound

                                    

                                          
When Astrid emerged from the waters, several minutes later, Oakley was laying on the deck coughing up half the ocean. She raced to the young girl and turned her onto her side.
                          
"Did you free the Seashocker?" Fishlegs wondered.
                          
"You tell me." Astrid gestured to the dragon hopping in and out of the ocean around the ship.
                          
Oakley shot up gasping for air.
                          
"Woah, it's okay." Hiccup reassured.
                          
"Where's the Seashocker?" She rasped. 
                          
"He's right over there." Heather gestured behind the brunette. "I think he wants to make sure you're okay."
                          
Oakley stood from the floor and made her way to the edge of the ship. She rose her hands out and the Seashocker jumped up and placed their snouts in her palms.
                          
"He says he wants to come back with us," Astrid stated.
                          
"We should take him back to the Edge, just to make sure he's okay. Then he needs to go back to his pod." Oakley explained. The dragon gave a sad whine.
                          
"Umm, Oak... his pod is..." The blonde hesitated.
                          
"One step at a time." Oakley shook off what the blonde was saying. For now.  "Let's get back to the Edge."
                          
"Berk is closer, we should take him there." Hiccup suggested. The dragon gestured to the brunette on the ship who giggled before climbing over the boat's edge.
                          
"Oak, what are you doing?!" 
                          
"I'm going for a ride." She explained as she landed firmly on the dragon's back. "StarGazer, you coming?" Her dragon flew by her side as the Seashocker glided across the ocean's surface. 
                          
The riders all took off towards Berk. Oakley was standing on the Tidal class dragon's back, closing her eyes as she felt the wind blowing in her face, smiling contently. She signaled the Seashocker to turn by tapping her leg with her hand. For the first time in months, she looked happy, really happy. The brunette let out a giggle when a rose petal landed in her hair.
                          
***
                          
"Mom!" Astrid cheered as they landed at the docks of Berk. 
                          
"Hi, Miss Hofferson." Oakley greeted. 
                          
"How are my girls?" Lotus wrapped her arms around the young couple.
                          
"Cold." They both shivered, letting out a chuckle. Oakley hissed as her hand flew to the fresh arrow wound she had received earlier that morning. Astrid gasped, finally noticing the blood seeping through her shirt. 
                          
"We should get you to Gothi." The blonde suggested. Oakley shook her head emphatically.
                          
"No, I'm fine. I just need to grab some clean clothes." She assured. "Is Stoick home?"
                          
"No." The older blonde explained. "He's at the great hall."
                          
"Good."
                          
***
                          
"Oak, I know you're mad at him for not telling you, but he's still your dad," Astrid explained as Oakley sauntered into her bedroom and began changing her bandages.
                          
"Exactly, and as my dad, he shouldn't have lied to me." Oakley scowled as she threw on a clean shirt. "He's just lucky that you have my powers or we'd be having barbequed chief for dinner."
                          
"Don't you think you're overreacting just a little bit?"
                          
"Do you think I'm overreacting?" Oakley glared knowingly. "Sixteen years. Keeping me locked in my room is one thing but lying to me..."