Toothless felt strange, liked he was going to catch a cold. Of cause it couldn't be stranger than usual. Even a Night Fury could catch a cold sometimes.
The mighty Alpha shook his head and headed out of the Meade Hall. He had just finished his meal and was heading home. Hiccup had been made a chief of Berk and he was now an alpha. That meant Hiccup and Toothless had less time to spend together due to their responsibilities. Hiccup had to attend many of his 'human stuff meeting' that could kill Toothless with boredom.
And Toothless, as an alpha, had to take care of his pack. The Night Fury also knew that his 'dragon stuff' could also confuse Hiccup as same as bore him to hell. His rider wouldn't understand why dragons had to be so picky about where they would sunbath their scales. As same as he wouldn't understand why humans had to be so picky about what food should be eaten at what time, liked butter and bread in the morning and fish were for lunch etc.
While Hiccup spent his time checking on the rebuilding of Berk, Toothless spent his time finding places for the new dragons from the Dragon Sanctuary of Valka's former Bewilderbeast's ice cave. Some of them didn't want to bind with human or to have a rider. And some also want to bind with humans. And the huge number of them made the progress went painfully slow.
"Two months, and they still cannot settle down."
It's a very normal morning. The Night Fury got himself out of Hiccup's house. His rider now shared his home with his mom, Valka. And with Cloudjumper too big to fit in the house, the Stormcutter had made himself a wood cave near the house. Normally the Night Fury would be happy to wake up to a beautiful morning. But when he thought of his unfinished business, he started to feel like went back to sleep. Yesterday he had just finished solving a conflict between three Gronckles and a Monstrous Nightmares about their territories that somehow had been overlapped.
After that he had to stop the fight between Thunderdrums. The first Thunderdrum had owned a cave near the beach and wasn't so happy to have a new Thunderdrum from the ice cave wanted him to share his cave. Not even counted dragons they got from Drago Bludvist's former army. They were the worst since Drago's tortures had given some of them mental sickness. And Toothless had to reassure some of them every day that Drago Bludvist wasn't coming back any time soon. But he was still lucky that most of them had chosen to bind with humans. And binding with humans helped they recovered a lot.
"You look tired, Alpha."
A low familiar yet friendly voice greeted him when Toothless made his way out of the house. Hiccup and his mother followed behind him.
"Good morning Cloudjumper." Toothless offered the older dragon a weak smile. "I just…well, some of them still don't settle down yet."
"Change is hard for everyone." Cloudjumper said in a matter of fact tone. "I know you're tired. But it has been 2 months, most of them have already settled down."
"I know." Toothless sighed, watching Hiccup talked with his mother. "I just, sometimes missed the time before all of this."
"Care to clarify?"
Cloudjumper titled his head 90 degree and Toothless grumbled.
"Before I became an Alpha." Toothless said and quickly added. "Didn't mean that I don't want to meet you and Valka. I just missed the time I was just Toothless, a Night Fury, not an alpha."
"You can do it kid." Cloudjumper nuzzled his head and Toothless mentally pouted that the stormcutter still saw him as a kid. "Problem happened lesser and lesser every day. You will get more time with your human soon."
"I hope so."
Toothless yawned and spread his wings. He would fly around the island first to check if there were problems, which always were. Then he would solve them and came back for lunch before another round in the afternoon. And if Valka didn't call for the Stormcutter, Cloudjumper usually helped him with his works. The older dragons knew the dragon from ice cave better than Toothless.
Hiccup had made him a fin that allowed him to fly on his own. It worked the same way as the fin he had destroyed years ago to make a point that he wanted Hiccup to fly with him. This time Toothless knew he had to use it since his responsibility required him to go to some part of the island when Hiccup wasn't free to help him fly.
The Night Fury made his way to the sky and flew around. Valka and Cloudjumper were going to explore some islands nearby to see if some of their dragons wanted to move there in case the island was overpopulated. Toothless sighed for not having Cloudjumper with him today. The Stormcutter was wise even when he sometimes didn't put up well with Toothless childish and mischief playfulness.
His other friends also helped him a lot with his works. Toothless had Meatlug, Hookfang, Stormfly, Barf and Belch in charge for every dragons in the village when he made a check around the island. They did a great job keeping the domestic dragons in line. But sometimes problems still occurred and only the alpha could solve it. Those problems came from challengers. Dragons had their own ranks in the pack. And since his friends weren't an Alpha, some new dragons might want to challenge their ranks.
Toothless knew that his friends were more than willing to show who was in charge. But sometimes problems needed to be solved first.
As same as having his friends in charge when he wasn't at the village, Toothless had Cloudjumper in charge of the dragons outside the village which were mostly from the ice cave. And Cloudjumper was also his second in command. Toothless choose the Stormcutter for his experiences and his intelligence.
The Night Fury also wanted Stormfly as his second in command. But Cloudjumper outrun her in both experiences and skills. So stormfly would be his second in command in case he didn't have Cloudjumper. And now she was his third in command. Her rank also called for challengers but Stormfly had no problem at all. She was like her rider, tough and hard to defeat.
Cloudjumper had less challengers than Stormfly because his years with the dragons from his pack and the former dragons on Berk seemed to be uninterested in power. He still had some challengers but they're less and less every days since the Stormcutter could easily defeat them. He might not be as fast as the Night Fury but he was strong and smart. Toothless had watched Cloudjumper defeated his rivals countless times. Sometimes he just hit them on their weak spot and watched those dragons fell. The Stormcutter had never boasted about his victories though. He would say about them if someone asked.
Alpha was an only rank that wasn't challenged. And Toothless was grateful for that. It's not that he couldn't fight. He just felt tired of fighting for now. Now he wanted a peaceful time not a war. And since the latest war had brought great lost to them, Toothless did not want any wars to occur soon.
After finished his normal routine in the afternoon, Toothless returned to Hiccup's house the same time that the young chief reached his home. They both slumped inside and threw themselves on their beds.
"Hi bud" Hiccup smiled at him. His rider looked very exhausted. "The meeting was well,…..sucking all of my energy. I can't believe I can do this. I mean, how could Dad do this for so long?! Listening to them arguing over something very simple like colour of a winter coat and I felt like arggggggg!"
"I know."
Toothless said, even for human's ears it was just a groan. But he knew that somehow Hiccup understood him.
"Hm" Hiccup sighed and scratched his chin. Toothless purred in delight and let his rider scratched him more. "How is your day bud? Not as tough as mind?"
"You have no idea." Toothless yawned while he flicked his ears as to signal he was happy. "It's as hard as yours. But you're lucky having Astrid helping you all the time while I have to manage nearly everything on my own. Stormfly helped a lot but she is not close enough for those new dragons to trust her."
"At least now we have time." Hiccup said, still scratching his chin and his forehead. "Do you want to fly?"
"Yes!"
Toothless immediately stood up and Hiccup laughed. The Night Fury made his way outside and sat down, waited for Hiccup to get the harness, tailfin and saddle.
They took to the sky and enjoyed some alone time together. Toothless showed the island of Berk to Hiccup while they made their round around the island. He couldn't help but felt quite proud that nearly every dragons had settled down. They flew passed some Deadly Nadders' nests and they greeted them with friendly screeches.
Valka and Cloudjumper joined them when they're nearly at the village. Cloudjumper and she just got back from their routine check on each island nearby. Together the four of them went to the feeding hall for dinner.
"How is your day?"
Toothless asked the larger dragon while he slowly ate his meal. The stormcutter turned his head to Toothless and titled his head for a better look.
"Normal and peaceful" Cloudjumper answered. "Some of them also asked when you will visit them."
"Hmmmm" Toothless sighed and laid his head on the floor. He felt tired. "Not again Cloudjumper. I'm not their Alpha. Why should I visit them? Do my responsibility include them too?"
"You're also their alpha now." Cloudjumper said in his normal matter-of-fact tone, repeating what he had been telling the Night Fury for weeks. "For 20 miles radius from Berk, every dragons in these area are your pack. And they will do everything you command. Every dragons knew that 20 miles radius from the Alpha's nest is his territory."
"Good" Toothless groaned. "How many dragons I have under my care now? No, no, don't answer me. I don't want to know."
"Then you shouldn't ask." Cloudjumper rolled his eyes and Toothless glared at him. The smaller dragon knew that the stormcutter was just teasing him. "Come on Alpha. You can do this."
"Don't call me Alpha."
Toothless groaned again and made his way away from the stormcutter to where Stormfly was enjoying her meal quietly. The Night Fury felt Cloudjumper's eyes on him all the time even when he had his back to the larger dragon.
"Hi"
Toothless said to the Deadly Nadder while settled down beside her. The blue dragon titled her head and greeted him.
"Hi," Stormfly said. "You look tired. Did the dragons outside the village gave you troubles?"
"A bit" Toothless yawned. "But they're all settle down now. Leave only the outside dragons at the islands around."
"Well," The Deadly Nadder shook her head. "You know that he is right. You're their Alpha now. And I won't mind accompany you to check on them next month. Some of them knew us well for our flying routine before we met Drago Bludvist."
"Fine" Toothless sighed. "I will go visit them tomorrow. Are you happy now?"
"A bit" The blue Deadly Nadder giggled. "Ask Cloudjumper to go with you. I've heard that tomorrow his rider will be helping my rider and other women in the village to prepare a wedding. The wedding for a girl living next door to Astrid's house I guessed."
"Why can't you and others go with me tomorrow not next month?"
Toothless asked, and to his surprised, the Deadly Nadder blushed. Well, for human it was just her check scales turned to a bit darker colour than usual.
"Tomorrow is 'mate selecting'." Stormfly said excitedly. "You know, for every four years we will reproduce. The mating season will be in one week. And three months ahead will be egg laying season."
"I…understood." Toothless felt himself blushed. But his scales couldn't get any darker now. "But… doesn't Cloudjumper will be selecting his mate too?"
"You're the only Night Fury here, and he is the only Stormcutter here." Stormfly pointed out. "I think it make sense for you guys to hang out while we do our mating stuff. Not to offend you but… you know. I don't think you two will appreciate the noises tomorrow. It will be all day of selecting and very noisy."
"Oh…" Toothless nodded. "I get it. Will see that tomorrow we will be back after you're done, with your business."
After him and Stormfly exchanging a few more words, Toothless made his way back to where Cloudjumper was. The larger dragon was chilling out near the bonfire. Behind him was a table where Hiccup sat with his mother and Gobber. Astrid and Eret joined them at some point.
"Don't worry." Cloudjumper said as soon as Toothless settled down beside him. "I will go with you tomorrow. And Valka knows about dragons enough to inform them about our mate selecting stuffs."
"You have been listening?"
"No" Cloudjumper rolled his eyes in a teasing manner. "I just happened to hear what you say to Stormfly."
"Very funny"
Toothless grunted and covered his face from the Stormcutter eyes with his tail and his wings. He heard a low chuckle from the older dragon and felt himself heated up with no reason.
After breakfast, Cloudjumper and Toothless took off. The island was already blooming with opportunities. Dragons chasing each other. Deadly Nadders hooked their legs together and dived down in a spinning pattern. If the male can hold the female long enough to her satisfaction, they would mate. This mating ritual also appeared in the Typhoomerangs mating, excepted that the Typhoomerangs would breathed fire during their spinning dive.
Some Gronckles were flying around each other. They're dancing to attract mates. If the male and female could dance together in a perfect cooperation, they would mate. This was also similar to a Snafflefang's mating ritual. Hotburples also danced to select a mate. But their dancing spent shorter times than both Snafflefangs and Gronckles'.
While Gronckles, Hotburples and Snafflefangs preferred a peaceful way of selecting mates, Monstrous Nightmares and Raincutters preferred something more aggressive. The males would fight for females. If they won, they got the females, as easy as that.
The male Rumblehorns also fought for females. But instead of biting or breathed fire at each other, they used their horns like a deer did in their mating season. Their head-butting made a low-quality-drum-liked sounds that annoyed both humans and other dragons.
And while other dragons preferred one mate, Terrible Terrors preferred a harem. The female had her harem of males to mate with, to ensure the pregnancy. And the fact that male Terrible Terrors was 3 times more than female in nature, this method seemed to work well in their society.
And of course, the noises were too much for Toothless to bear. And he felt so relieved to be out of the island in the times of the mating selection.
Cloudjumper flew with him to the nearest island in silence. The older dragon always preferred peaceful flight with a sun and strong wind. Toothless knew this feeling. Of course the Night Fury preferred something more exciting, but he admitted that today's weather was perfect for flying.
"Hey" Toothless said after they left Berk and the wave of Thunderdrums swimming and mating around the beach behind. His voice was a slightly, unsure. "Have you, um… mate before?"
"I have, years ago."
Cloudjumper answered without looking at him. And Toothless was quiet. That made the larger dragon mentally frowned before he asked back.
"Is something wrong Alpha?"
Toothless sensed warmness in his voice with that blunt question. And he felt a bit better.
"No" Toothless sighed and made some spinning before he gathered his courage and continued. "I just haven't mated before and I know no Night Fury since I can remember."
"Why you know no Night Fury?"
Cloudjumper flew closer. Toothless could tell that the Stormcutter was both curious and concerned. Warmness pulled in his stomach and Tootless pushed the feeling away.
"They found me when I was little." Toothless answered, recalled the memories of his childhood. "From the dragons in the Red Death's nest that raised me. They found me floating on a sea near the beach of their nest. They took me in and raised me. No one knew where I came from and I don't know any Night Fury. I know nothing about my own race. I don't know how they mate. I don't even know am I at the mating age yet."
Cloudjumper was quiet after he finished. Toothless didn't know what the Stormcutter was thinking. But he was hoping that the older dragon might be able to help him.
"When I was younger, I lived somewhere further west. Where there are mountains and valleys everywhere. I travelled to the sea when I strong enough, yearning for adventures." Cloudjumper finally said. Toothless knew that his former Alpha meant Valka's former Bewilderbeast. And he listened very carefully. "I have met some Night Furies before I met my former Alpha. And I have seen their mating twice."
Toothless gasped but he said nothing. His excitement showed by the expression of his face. And it encouraged the Stormcutter to continue.
"If I remembered it right, their mate selecting is to dance and fight in the storm." The Stormcutter gestured to the cloud above, as to emphasize his words. "They will spend all night flying in the storm together. Both flying together and fighting each other. If their flying pattern and liking matches, they will mate. And they mate for life."
Cloudjumper didn't say that only Night Fury and Stormcutter that mated for life. However, Toothless seemed to forget his last sentence since he heard that there were still Night Furies around.
"Do you still remember where they are?"
The smaller dragon asked. And Cloudjumper nodded.
"Will you take me there someday?"
Toothless asked again, very excited about what he had just know.
"It's a long journey." Cloudjumper said quietly. His eyes were warm and Toothless felt shiver and warmness ran down his spine just looking into those golden eyes. He knew Cloudjumper wouldn't turn him down. "I had left my homeland for years, journey to the sea for adventures. I can take you back someday, but not now. We still had a lot of works to do. Besides, how will we make our humans understand about our journey to their island?"
"I will figure something out."
Toothless said, overwhelmed with joy that there're still Night Furies left in the world. The Night Fury made a sprint forward for a short dive to the sea before he pushed himself back into the air.
The Stormcutter watched his Alpha dived down and up before he mentally sighed. He didn't know how to tell the younger dragon that actually, Toothless was nearly ready to mate. Cloudjumper smelt it in Toothless scent that had slightly changed.
What worried Cloudjumper was that the Night Furies had reproductive organs of both genders in their body. So the male could temporary change into a female if there was no female around to mate with. And the female could temporary change into a male in case there was no male to mate with too. And female Night Furies would be weaker than Male Night Furies when their mating season arrived. It would make females got tired easier than the males. An old evolution to prevent damages of female reproductive organs from too much flights and fights since Night Furies were known for a habit of pushing themselves beyound their limits.
But what worried the Stormcutter most was that female Night Fury had what they called 'heat cycle'. Female Night Furies would go into heat every four years after mate selecting season. The heat would last around a week or two. In that state they would be defenceless and would do everything to get the male to take them and claim them. The heat cycle would to ensure the pregnancy and the offsprings.
Even that Toothless wasn't a female, but he had a chance to change into one. Cloudjumper wouldn't deny that he wanted the smaller dragon as his since they first met. But he kept his desire at bay. Toothless wouldn't want him. And as same as the Night Fury, Stormcutters mated for life. But still, Stormcutters could mate multiple times before forming a mating bond while Night Furies could not. However, both Night Furies and Stormcutters' mating bound could be create only once in their life time.
And Toothless wouldn't want him. He knew the Night Fury was yearning for his races, other Night Furies.
Cloudjumper mentally sighed while he followed Toothless to islands around Berk. He did not know how he got himself into this. But right now Toothless was his Alpha. Even that it's a torture to him to be around the Night Fury but had no right to touch him, Cloudjumper would still follow Toothless.
He would follow him and protect him from everything.