Chronicles of the Dragoniters
"Normal/ Dragon/ Animal Speech"/ Thinking/ "Telepathic Speech"/ "Both Telepathic and Normal Speech"
Disclaimer: THE HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON FRANCHISE AND BOOKS DO NOT BELONG TO ME! They are the respective property of Dean Deblois and Cressida Cowell.
CotD: Dawn of the Dragoniters
Edited: 16.09.2017
Chapter 1: Here Be Dragons
It had been two months since Aniu, Nava, their parents, siblings and Familiars had arrived at the Village of Berk. Since then, they immersed themselves more into Berkian culture, learning about the village, its customs and traditions and its people. While two houses were being built for them, they stayed in Hiccup or Astrid's houses. Aniu, Nava, Hiccup, Astrid, Caruso, Edme, Zena, Artemis, Sorena, Sprinter, Stryker and Akira grew to each other more during that time and spent whenever they could inside their Soul-Bond Home, taking the opportunities to explore it more thoroughly and get to know Evelyn, Torian, Miniki and Stryka better. Unfortunately, there were people who did not accept them as part of the village. One such person was an elderly, scruffy man named Mildew who looked and smelled as though he rarely ever bathed. He was a cabbage farmer and was always accompanied by an elderly sheep named Fungus, who had quite a lot of similarities to his master. Mildew was very cantankerous, ugly, abrasive, selfish, arrogant, rude, unpleasant, hateful, spiteful, cowardly, superstitious, grouchy, very un-accepting of everything new or different, intolerant and...he HATED dragons, which was understandable considering the war they were in but he also hated magic folk. He even managed to sway other like-wise minded people over to his way of thinking, ideologies and beliefs. Needless to say, the new and first Elf-Fae additions of Berk were not treated as nicely as they usually were by other villagers but Stoick had declared Aniu, Nava, Fengo, Namara, their unborn child, Arin, Theo, Nala and Mira to be members of the Berkian Tribe of Berk then and forever. Mildew had nearly thrown a fit, screaming that true Vikings would never accept outsiders, especially non-human ones, into their villages and tribes, even going as far to call Fengo and Namara's unborn child, Arin and Mira demon spawn and call Aniu and Nava not so very names, accusing them of throwing themselves at Hiccup and Astrid and brainwashing them with magic to make them think they were their Soul-Mates which Mildew spat at. The people who had already accepted the Elf-Faes and liked them already looked like they were about to throw a riot but Stoick quickly put a stop to it. During their first two months on Berk, the Elf-Faes experienced nearly six dragon raids on a nearly weekly basis. Seeing the carnage and destruction only reinforced their desire to Vikings and dragons.
The seventh dragon raid since their arrival began late one night when a dark shape swooped out of the sky and plucked one sheep out of its paddock as it was feeding on a patch of grass. As soon scouts and sentries noticed, horns were blown and alarms raised. Children and those who could not fight locked themselves in their homes, ready to escape if their hiding places were destroyed. Hiccup, Astrid, Aniu and Nava were inside Hiccup's house, playing a game of chess which Aniu and Nava had taught to the two Vikings, telling them Chess was a strategy game and playing it would teach them how to improve their strategy. Stoick had taken quite a shine to the game and wanted to learn how to play it so he could use the strategies learned in the real world. Hiccup told them it reminded him of the game Maces and Talons, which he and Astrid began teaching Aniu and Nava how to play. Caruso, Zena, Sorena and Stryker were inside with them and Edme, Artemis, Sprinter and Akira were sheltered in a makeshift stable outside. As they played, Hiccup was in deep thought which Astrid, Aniu and Nava could see. "What is wrong, Hiccup?" Astrid asked. "I just cannot stop thinking about these dragon dreams we have been having." Hiccup said and Astrid, Aniu and Nava nodded, they had been the same dreams which had been occurring for a month by then.
The only other times they could remember having such dreams was when they dreamed of the other half of their Soul-Mates. The dreams they had been having very recently were much the same...but of dragons and they knew right away they were of their first Soul-Dragons. Evelyn, Torian, Miniki and Stryka had told them a lot about Soul-Dragons and the dreams were growing intense so they knew they were going to meet them in person very soon. "Do you think another raid could be occurring tonight?" Aniu asked. "It has been a week since the last so I think yes." Nava replied. As if on cue, alarms that alerted the village to a dragon raid began blaring. "Guess what? You are right." Hiccup said. "I am needed on Fire Brigade." Astrid said, picking up her signature weapon: a double-headed battle axe with full, curved blades and a long handle. Her daggers, battle sticks and Phoenix Tears were strapped to her belt and back. "I will be in the forge with Gobber." Hiccup said. "We need someone to keep our weapons sharp." Astrid grinned. "I will be with Astrid. My Ice and Water may come in handy." Nava said. "I will be with Hiccup, then. He could use some help." Aniu said.
Adbandoning their game of chess, Aniu, Nava, Hiccup and Astrid walked over to the door and Hiccup pulled it open, only to see a dragon hovering outside. It saw them and blasted fire but Hiccup slammed the door shut in time. "Dragons." He muttered and waited a few seconds before opening the door again, checking the coast was clear and then running outside, followed by his Soul-Mates. Caruso, Zena, Sorena and Stryker flew out after them, hovering above their respective Familiar. Battle was already raging between the raiding dragons and the defending Vikings. They split and Astrid, Nava, Zena and Stryker ran, flew over to their Fire Brigade station while Hiccup, Aniu, Caruso and Sorena ran, flew to the forge, dodging and ducking as they went to avoid getting in the way of the combatants. Along the way, they ran into Stoick who sighed in relief when he saw them as he gave orders. "Hiccup, Aniu, Gobber is waiting for you two!" He yelled. "We know, Dad! We are on our way!" Hiccup replied. "Good luck defending the village, Stoick!" Aniu added. Stoick nodded and threw a spear at a dragon who was trying to steal more sheep. The spear impaled the dragon in one side with a spurt of blood and the dragon roared in pain, falling out of the sky. Stoick nodded in satisfaction and turned to confer with a soldier.
In only a few minutes, Hiccup, Aniu, Caruso and Sorena arrived at the forge where Gobber was hammering away at a sword. "Oh, nice of you two to join the party. I thought you lot had been carried off." He greeted them cheerfully. "Who? Me? Nah, come on. I am way too fast and sneaky for them. They will not know what to do with little old me." Hiccup replied. "And I bet those dragons do not want to eat an Elf-Fae." Aniu added. "Well, they need tooth picks, don't they?' Gobber retorted as Hiccup and Aniu put two of his hand prosthetics on a wall and put on leather aprons. As soon as both teens opened the window to the forge above the bench, Vikings hurried over and deposited broken, bent or blunt weapons on the counter for Gobber, Hiccup and Aniu to forge back into shape. "Easy to see why you have been his apprentice since you were little." Aniu said. "Ah, you know me. I am too lovable and cute." Hiccup replied and Aniu giggled. "Easy now, focus on what you two are supposed to be doing." Caruso scolded, clacking his beak. "Oh, let them have a bit of fun while they work, bossy-beak." Sorena scolded her fellow Barn Owl and crush, swatting him gently with a wing.
Outside, in the battle field, Stoick continued to give his soldiers orders. "Move to the lower defences. We will counter attack with the catapults." He said as another house was set on fire. With the amount of dragon attacks Berk suffered, the size of the village and the number of houses and dragons, it was easy to see why nearly every single building was new or had been rebuilt in the past year or so. Hiccup and Aniu grinned at each other when they sensed the presences of Astrid and Nava as they ran closer to the forge with six other Viking teens following them to set up a water station. "All right, let's go."/ "Move faster, people." They could Astrid and Nava rallying them on. Most people in their right minds would leave but not the Berkian Vikings, they had stubbornness issues. As far as they were concerned, they had lived on this island for around four hundred years, they weren't going to leave anytime soon, not even if dragons had attacking them for over three hundred years.
The Viking teens following them were fifteen year olds Fishlegs Ingerman, Camicazi Odinfrey, Thuggory Kelvard, Snotlout Jorgenson and Ruffnut and Tuffnut Thorston. Fishlegs Ingerman was the big, chubby, nerdy boy who had a tendency to get scared easily and ramble off dragon facts any time. He had short blonde hair hidden under a small helmet and deep green eyes. He wore a brown, fur tunic, green trousers and wraps around his forearms and brown boots. His strength lay in his intelligence and he used it to great effect. His absolute favourite hobbies were learning, particularly about dragons and botany. Fishlegs was not a good fighter but despite that, his knowledge, quick analysis of situations, strategies and opponents, his ability to find weaknesses and his observatory skills very much came in handy, making him a great asset to the team. He was absolutely fascinated by Aniu, Nava, Elf-Faes, magic and other cultures. Aniu and Nava answered his enthusiastic questions and laughed at his excitement. When Fishlegs learned Elf-Faes were a very literate people with great stores of knowledge and science, Fishlegs just about exploded in glee. Aniu and Nava had to use calming spells on him. They let him visit their homes, families and Familiars whenever they and he had the time. All of that made Fishlegs a wonderful, nerdy, geeky friend. Aniu and Nava even lent him some of their books to read.
Camicazi Odinfrey was Gobber's daughter, conceived from a late night tryst with Bertha, Chief of the Bog-Burglar Tribe. She had only recently moved to Berk to be with her father after spending the first fourteen years of her life with her mother. Unfortunately, Gobber was not any good at raising children so Camicazi had to raise herself, that included doing the cooking, cleaning, washing and sewing nut she loved her father nonetheless and she even learned how to be a blacksmith alongside her burglar skills she had learned from her mother with whom she exchanged letters. Bertha had older children and they loved their half-sister. The oldest, Bethany, was learning how to be Chief of the Bog-Burglars from Bertha who was eager to retire as she often said chiefing takes a toll on the mind, body and soul. Camicazi was very sneaky, quick-witted, snarky, loyal and some-what overconfident. She wore a dark red long-sleeved tunic with black leggings, dark red leather boots, a black vest and forearm wrappings and a ruby and onyx necklace. Camicazi had dark skin, mischievous sky blue eyes like her father and red hair that fell in a tangled mess down her back. Her favoured weapon was a thin sword and a set of throwing knives hidden under her vest.
Thuggory Kalvard was the second-born son of Mongadon the Meathead, Chief of the Meathead Tribe. His older brother Rufus was in training to be the next Chief of the Meathead Tribe. When Mongadon and his two sons sailed to Berk for a peace treaty signing, Thuggory quickly became friends with Hiccup, Astrid, Fishlegs, Snotlout, Ruffnut and Tuffnut and when it was time to sail back to Meathead Island, Thuggory had begged his father to let him live on Berk as their ambassador and when Thuggory was fourteen years old, he was sent to live on Berk as a ward. Thuggory was known for his good cheer, charming charisma and his love of the ocean. He had brown skin, messy black hair and sea green eyes. He wore a black shirt, green trousers, black boots, a green vest and black arm wrappings. Ever since Thuggory and Camicazi first met, they had been gaining a growing crush on each other.
Snotlout Jorgenson was very annoying, arrogant, vain with low intelligence, muscular, egomaniacal and ... Hiccup's paternal cousin but he was also insecure and oblivious. Some of his favourite habits were showing off, bragging about himself and flirting with nearly every pretty girl he saw, including Astrid, Aniu, Camicazi and Ruffnut who was the only one to react positively to his flirting. He had spiky black hair, a muscular, bulky build and light blue eyes. He wore a deep gray, sleeveless shirt, a black fur vest, a metal-leather belt with his clan's crest on the buckle, brown trousers, brown, leather wrist guards and black boots. He hero-worshipped his own father Spitelout and that quite often led to him messing everything up and earning him the wrath and anger of others, including his own friends but despite that, he always came to his friend's aid.
Ruffnut and Tuffnut Thorston were twins who shared a love of destruction, chaos, pranks, troubles and explosions. Both of them were skinny, had tan skin and long, blonde hair. One thing people should know about the twins was that they fought and argued with each other constantly. Tuffnut had dark blue eyes while Ruffnut had light blue eyes. Ruffnut wore a light brown, animal-skin vest, a dark blue, sleeveless tunic, a greyish-brown short skirt that ended in tatters, a metal-leather belt with her clan's crest on the buckle, dark brown leggings, dark blue boots, long, dark greyish cloth bracers that started at her elbows and ended at her wrists. Her helmet was studded with four horns: the top two were thinner, bull-like horns while the bottom two were longer and curved. Her hair was divided slightly to the side and she had short bangs across her left temple. Ruffnut had two small, short braids below her helmet, one longer braid on her back and two long braids on her front. The three braids reached her waist. She wore a necklace with a dragon's tooth or claw on it. Tuffnut wore a dark brown animal fur vest, a dark green, sleeveless tunic, a brown, sash-like belt, greyish-blue trousers, dark brown boots, brown, cloth arm-bands that started at his elbows and ended at his wrists. His helmet was studded with four horns like his sister's. He also wore a dragon's tooth or claw necklace around his neck.
The teens rushed over to a nearby fire and threw water from buckets onto it. Zena and Stryker hovered over head. Astrid and Nava noticed Hiccup and Aniu at them and grinned. "Hey, guys. Enjoying the show?" Astrid asked, grinning. "Watching you guys work? Definitely." Hiccup replied. "Tell them they are doing a brilliant job and keep up the effort." Aniu added. "Will do, Milady. These fires will not put themselves out." Nava said before Zena pecked his wing. "Nava, I know you want to talk to Hiccup and Aniu but you must focus on what you are doing here and now." She scolded. "These dragons are being particularly ferocious tonight. I wonder how many there are." Stryker said, gazing up into the night sky illuminated by light from the torches and fires which allowed them to see the multitudes of dragons flying overhead. "There is a lot for sure and they are going to keep burning everything down if we do not put these fires out." Astrid said.
Hiccup, Aniu, Caruso and Sorena gazed up into the sky, making a list of every different breed they saw. Deadly Nadders, Monstrous Nightmares, Gronckles, Hideous Zipplebacks, Terrible Terrors, Scauldrons, Changewings, Night Furies, Skrills, Timberjacks, Grapple Grounders, Whispering Deaths, Snaptrappers and Thunderdrums.
Deadly Nadders were 40 feet long from their nasal horns to the tips of their tails with wingspans of 60 feet. Their bodies were bipedal and bird-like with muscular torsos atop long, powerful legs with four super sharp claws on each of the two feet. Their tails were thick and tapered, covered in spikes along the surface. The tail spikes were razor-sharp, smooth, straight and were fired like by a flick of the tail. A Deadly Nadder's head was long and rounded, the mouth sporting a notable, beak-like overbite and large, curved, sharp teeth. A single, large nasal horn rose up from the snout and behind the eyes a crown of movable, straight horns extended from the skull. A row of spines ran down from the neck and back, joining those at the base of the tail. Their wings were moderately thin but powerful, the support tips extended well past the membrane and a single outward curving claw was positioned at the main joint. Main colours were highly variable but the most common were blue, green, teal or purple and mottled with others along the body, the two main colours of any individual Deadly Nadder most often formed bands on the tail and bordered rings on the upper wing membrane. These dragons breathed super-hot magnesium fire, often said to be hotter than the sun and their high stamina allowed these dragons to fly for very long distances without tiring and they were very strong, agile, light on their feet, dexterous and possessed good reflexes.
Deadly Nadders were of the Sharp Class of dragons, bearing a set of tail spikes laced with venom that often caused damage to the nervous system and could be launched at will simply by a flick of the tail, either individually or in groups, with very impressive accuracy. They very rarely missed their target(s). The tail spines could also be rattled together to create a warning sound to intimidate opponents and potential threats. Deadly Nadders possessed extremely keen vision, hearing and a sense of smell powerful enough to track scents for up to 100 miles or more. Naturally alert, these dragons were often very observant creatures, fast learners and very aware of their appearance, often leading to vanity and easily angered if they were insulted in any way. Deadly Nadders were known for having very, very hot fire, to the point it turned a bright yellow-white. Their fire was so hot it could melt metal and rock in seconds. Due to high amounts of magnesium, Deadly Nadder fire was nearly impossible to put out with water and extremely bright, a single shot able to blind if in dark locations. Deadly Nadders were known for being very picky eaters, preferring fish and chicken, whether it was cooked or raw but chicken feathers were known for often being very irritating, particularly when they get stuck in teeth or tickle the throat. Deadly Nadders were extremely loyal, energetic, intelligent, protective and playful dragons. Kind words and praises always went much further than cruelty and that held true for Deadly Nadders as it did every other dragon.
Monstrous Nightmares were 60 feet long from the tips of their snouts to the tips of their tails with wingspans of 80 feet. Low-slung and elongate, these dragons bore a narrow torso supported only by a pair of lean, powerful legs, each tipped with four sharp talons and a single equally sharp spur on the backs of their heels. Being wyverns, their wings doubled as a pair of forelegs, foldable and when spread the first halves of the wings closest to the bodies were thin but the second halves away from the bodies widened into a paddle shape with somewhat ragged edges and two, sometimes three, large, sharp talons at the main joints of the wings, acting as hands/ paws. A Monstrous Nightmare's tail was long and whip-like, decorated by a single tail fin designed like flames. Their necks were long and thin but powerful, holding up heads nearly five feet long. Similar to crocodiles, a Monstrous Nightmare's head possessed an under-bite sporting large, protruding, curved teeth. A single horn jutted up and back from above the nostrils and two, bulbous, large eyes were set in front of a double pair of long, curved, ridged horns. A series of flame-shaped crests ran down the neck, split into two rows on the back and rejoining at the tail and their backs were covered in plate-like rectangular scales. Their main colours tended to revolve around fire colours, typically shades of red or orange striped with black or shades of green, purple, blue, yellow, white or even multi-colours like rainbows. Eyes were usually amber.
For Breath, Monstrous Nightmares usually sprayed or shot blasts of fluid fire laced with kerosene and other flammable components so their Fire Breath flowed rather than billowed and was extremely hard to extinguish with water. These dragons also produced a flammable 'gel' from pores hidden under their scales, allowing them to set themselves on fire and extinguish it at will without any harm to their skin or scales. Fast, manoeuvrable and sinuous, Monstrous Nightmares were excellent flyers with wings able to flare widely to provide powerful surges of air in an attack. Like many Stoker Class dragons, they were highly tempered, grumpy and somewhat arrogant with a tendency to strike first before analysing situations and thinking about strategies fully. However, they were well equipped to deal with repercussions of these decisions with a highly dangerous firepower and the ability to ignite their scales on fire at will which they could do multiple times in a fight. Monstrous Nightmares were strong dragons, lean muscle allowing them to land powerful blows. They were also accomplished swimmers despite their fiery disposition. While swimming hindered their flammable attributes, Monstrous Nightmares could dive and swim quite readily, the long tail fin and wide wings providing great purchase underwater. Large talons on the wings and hind legs allowed these dragons to be quite adept at climbing as well, scaling rock walls and hanging upside-down with ease. Monstrous Nightmares requires a lot of tact when dealing with them. They were angered easily but were also fiercely protective of their companions and families. Gentleness and respect were the only waysto gain trust and cooperation but firm resolutions were also needed when they acted up.
Gronckles were 20 feet in length from the tip of their snouts to the tips of their tails with wingspans of 24 feet. One of the most heavily built dragons with large, rounded heads harbouring powerful jaws, a similarly designed body and a blunt tail separated into two spherical sections, descending in size. Their bodies were dotted irregularly across the surface with bumps and protrusions, the stumpy legs bearing blunt claws useful for digging. Their heads bore a pronounced snout and two big, bulging eyes in front of a pair of wing-like ears. A Gronckle's teeth were irregularly shaped, the majority similar to canines with a pair approximately halfway towards the back, grossly enlarged and a set of large molars situated in the very back of the jaws. Their wings were very small for what one might expect of a dragon but set with powerful muscles in the shoulder regions and bore a small, thin claw on the main joints. Main colours were highly variable, mostly brown, rusty red-orange, tan, blue, green and sometimes purple and the eyes were usually sulphur yellow.
Gronckles were known for consuming rocks, melting them in their furnace-like stomachs and then spitting them out in the form of lava. Their short wings were not designed for gliding flight but instead the shoulder muscles produced an extremely rapid fluctuation, allowing Gronckles to hover and fly in an insect or hummingbird style fashion. This flight pattern allowed Gronckles to fly slowly, make quick turns, fly backward, straight up or down and even stay in flight while asleep. Gronckles were classic Boulder Class dragons: rough, tough, loyal (if somewhat lazy judging their habits of taking frequent naps) and powerful. Due to their affinity for minerals to produce their lava attacks, Gronckles had powerful jaws and teeth that could pulverise granite, if they could fit it into their mouths, and the process used to produce lava is an extremely affective smelter, able to purify metal ore to an extent that exceeds any industrial means. It was a common misconception that Gronckles actually ate rocks but like other dragons, Gronckles preyed on fish, animals and even plants. They stored ingested minerals in a separate organ. Thanks to their incredibly thick, bouncy skin and scales, Gronckles often used their bodies as living bludgeons, even able to punch through metal-plated ships if they were thrown in the right way. Their sturdy tails and armoured bodies protected them very well from jarring forces and could inflict great damage. Gronckles could also act as living siege weapons, crashing through walls and barriers without any ill effects. Like most dragon eggs, Gronckle eggs exploded upon hatching, which was why Gronckle parents put their eggs into small pools of water where the explosions were usually contained. Gronckles were easily affected by Dragon Nip, a plant very similar to catnip but for dragons and was very powerful. However, Gronckles had a natural immunity to the highly intoxicating Dragon Root. These dragons also had a powerful sense of smell that, while not as strong as dragons in the Tracker Class, allowed them to find objects and other living beings buried underground or hidden at a distance.
Hideous Zipplebacks were nearly 70 feet in length from the tips of their snouts to the tips of their tails with wingspans of 50 feet. They were low-slung, had a long, semi-flattened body supported by four short, stumpy legs, each tipped with long, extremely sharp claws. Their tails were long, whip-like and split in half a third to halfway down its lengths into two tips, each ending in a thin, long spade. A pair of necks arose from the torso, both narrow, long, thin, extremely flexible and each supporting a rounded, bulbous head. A large under bite portrayed large, sharp, needle-like teeth and a large, rear-curved rostral horn rose up from the front of the snout, flanked on both sides by large, narrow nostrils and just behind and to the sides of which were bulbous, forward-facing, rounded eyes. A pair of sharp, straight, thin, sickle horns extended from the back of the skull and a row of almost inverse-teardrop shaped crests ran down the necks from the top of each skull, joining as one row down the back and then splitting again to line each tail to the spade. Their wings were wide and broad, almost triangular in fully spread profile, with long tassels extending from the supports and a single, sharp claw at each main joint. Colours were highly variable, typically shades of green, blue, yellow, red, white, black, brown or purple with differently coloured spot-like markings similar to a Holstein Cow but stretched and elongated. Eyes are typically bright yellow.
Hideous Zipplebacks were quite unique when it came to fire-breathing. One head released noxious, heavier-than-air, deep green clouds of gas composed of ammonium nitrate and hydrazine from its mouth which was then ignited by flint sparks produced in the mouth of the other head from a special tooth in the back of the throat. Depending on how gas was ignited, the resultant explosions could be immense, powerful and cause a lot of damage and fiery destruction. When it came to flying, Hideous Zipplebacks were not the most agile of dragons, preferring to slink along the ground or take short flights between outcrops and islands but they were capable of long-term sustained flight when the situation called for it. Hideous Zipplebacks were truly unique, odd dragons, similar to dragons such as Snaptrappers and Seashockers in having more than one head, each of which was independently capable of thought and individual personality but uniquely linked by telepathy to the other head for coordination and self-awareness. They were not shy creatures but liked watching things from out of sight and were highly impulsive and sometimes mischievous or reckless. However, most have a strong moral compass and despite having prankster tendencies will up to their own mistakes. Hideous Zipplebacks possessed several unique abilities. Among them, their unique gaseous fire attacks allowed them to cloak themselves in fog for increased stealth or when on the move they can light the gas as they expel it and then run or roll with it surrounding them (the latter done by clamping on to their own tails as the gas is released, creating fiery pinwheels that stop for little more than a hard rock wall). Their two heads meant that it was nearly impossible to surprise or sneak up on a Hideous Zippleback unless he or she is focused heavily on one object and if one is blinded or temporarily immobilized both heads are still aware of their surroundings only as long as the other can see, hear, smell, touch and taste. Zipplebacks also possessed mild venom, not terribly dangerous to most animals but can cause allergic reactions in some people and has been shown to be necrotic in large doses. Adept at climbing and manoeuvring in awkward places thanks to their stable, low-slung stature, sharp claws and dexterous necks and tails, they make excellent rescuers and recoverees of items in hard to reach places. Hideous Zipplebacks were fiercely loyal dragons, tied strongly to their companions (sometimes different companions because while both heads were of the same mind and body, they did slightly different personalities and opinions) and with extremely good memory, allowing them to recollect instances of kindness or rescue and they would often go to great lengths to repay those they had deemed a debt to. However, it was not wise to argue or fight with a Hideous Zippleback close by for any extended length of time as they also took it upon themselves to separate those who are hostile to each other and the dragon had deemed of posing a risk of causing harm to themselves or the dragon.
Terrible Terrors were 4 feet long from snout to tail tip and their wingspans were 6 feet long. They had a thin, ovular torso supported by four, stout, strong legs, each ending in a set of four blunt but strong claws. Their tails were long, thin, narrow and tapered, tipped by a classic draconian spade. A Terrible Terror's neck was moderately short but extremely flexible and held up a rounded, if slightly vertical, flattened head. A small rostral horn curved up from above the large nostrils and on top of the head were bulbous, rounded eyes. From the back of the skull protruded a pair of twisted, heavily ridged horns that curved and bent almost haphazardly backward and down the neck to nearly the tip of the tail were tall, flexible, flame shaped crests. The wings were moderately large, batlike and bore a single, sharp claw at each main joint. The main colours of a Terrible Terror were highly variable, coming in nearly every colour with the wings, crests, horns, eyes and undersides coming in different colours from the main.
Terrible Terrors breathed powerful jets of propane fire that could extend up to nearly twice their body length. When flying, they were not a particularly fast breed, mostly because of their tiny sizes but they could for hours on end and were stealthy and manoeuvrable when they wanted to be. Terrible Terrors were simultaneously adorable and annoying dragons. When alone, a single Terrible Terror is not much to worry about but when they form packs, that is when Terrible Terrors are at their most dangerous, they could defeat other dragons in combat if there was enough of them. Terrible Terrors could be quite mischievous, childish and immature but they could get quite temperamental when riled. Their fire was so powerful for such little dragons that one flock could burn an entire house down.
Scauldrons were 100 feet long with wingspans of 110 feet. Large and clumsy on land, these oceanic dragons had odd profiles with a rounded, expandable body from which extend four limbs only long, thick and powerful enough to let them walk around on land. Each paw had webbed claws and bore small flaps of skin along the outer edges. Their tails were long and thick, tapering to a fan-shaped tail fin used for locomotion and decorated with up and down zigzagging stripes in various shades of the dragon's colours. Long and relatively thin, membranous wings also used as fins were similarly patterned and coloured more vividly on the undersides of the wings than the upper-sides. Each wing bore a single claw on the main joints. A Scauldron's neck was similarly long and tubular, bearing a laterally flattened, blunt head. Their snouts supported a large, rearward curving nasal horn, forward-set eyes with slit pupils and the underside of the jaw was covered by a number of strange, beard-like protrusions used for sensing movement. The upper jaws also bore small, conical, sharp teeth that jutted out due to the overbite. A row of small, upright, rectangular protrusions ran down the back of the head all the way down to the tail fin. Main colours were nearly always water and ocean based, allowing for excellent camouflage, lighter on the undersides and varying in shades on the wing and tail fin patterns. Eyes were typically yellow.
Unusual in their defence, Scauldrons could take in huge quantities of water that was heated in a special pouch in their bellies to beyond boiling point and sprayed with extreme accuracy and deadliness. While capable of flying, Scauldrons typically preferred swimming and were usually very mindful of their Riders. Scauldrons were an odd species, defending themselves with water instead of fire due to being water dragons in the Tidal Class and capable of boiling their targets alive with a single shot if direct. Heated water was pumped into a pharyngeal pouch, causing the throat and lower jaw to expand before the Scauldron took aim to fire. Scauldrons also possessed a neuro-toxic venom designed to kill fish and similar prey but it could be dangerous to people, other dragons and animals, taking up to 24 hours to kill a human with a large dose. It was discovered that Scauldron venom also had the unique capacity to neutralize the poison found in Blue Oleander flowers, a species of toxic flowers that make dragons very sick. Despite them being a terrestrial flower, where they were found near the coast Scauldrons found them a non-dangerous delicacy, having developed an immunity. The venom, if diluted, can be used to treat Blue Oleander poisoning in both dragon species and other animals and people, even when poisoning was caused by a species other than Blue Oleanders. The tubercles and feelers that trail from the lower jaw were used as sensory organs, allowing the Scauldron to detect prey underwater even from a distance, by picking up vibrations and electrical fields. Another trait of Scauldrons tying them to aquatic life is their semi-permeable skin, allowing them to take in oxygen underwater for long dives. Fortunately, Scauldrons have evolved to survive out of water on land for long periods, just as long as they keep drinking water. To negate the danger of threats, Scauldrons often band together, usually with their mates, children, siblings and or parents. While initially hostile to other dragons and people, Scauldrons grew more friendly when shown no hostility, even bonding strongly to companions and Riders.
Changewings were 50 feet in length with a wingspan of equal measure. Low and squat with a widened body and short, powerful legs, each bearing long, sharp talons. Their heads were oblong with a pair of thin, curved protrusions to the right and left, resembling a boomerang in shape and supported by a medium-length neck. A small, curved horn rose from the end of the snout. Large, slit-pupil eyes and just behind them extended a pair of long, thin feelers reaching down to the shoulders and lined with appendages matching the leaf-shaped crests that ran down the neck, back and tail which was not as long as most dragon tails and tapered with a leaf-shaped spade on the tip. The wings were relatively small and almost triangular when spread. Main colours were typically brick or rusty red or green, yellow eyes, lighter underbellies and darker on the crests and faint, blurred, stripe-like markings, however Changewings were capable of mimicking almost perfectly the appearance of its surroundings by changing the colour and texture of their scales, blending in and staying still.
Changewings were one of the several species that shot bright-green, hot, corrosive acid instead of fire as its Breath Weapon. Composed of iodic acid and myriad enzymes, a Changewing's acid was strong enough to burn through organic matter within a mere few seconds and could even melt metal and softer rocks. They were typically not powerful fliers, instead choosing to stay close to the ground where they could camouflage. Changewings were unusual dragons, rarely seen alone but instead travelling in close knit packs. Their skin and scales had pigment properties allowing them to change colour and texture from their ground state as smooth, soft, green or red to match almost perfectly any surrounding. Often acting as mimics, Changewings may copy actions or sounds of other species and even humanoids. Their eggs were unusual, greenish in colour but transparent and containing bio phosphorescent chemicals causing them to fluoresce multiple, different colours, leading them to often being mistaken as 'gems of good fortune' by those who have never seen Changewing egges but allowing the parents to easily track them if the eggs are stolen or misplaced.
Timberjacks were 70 feet long with wingspans of 125 feet. Elongate, legless, with an expanded chest region and a whip-like tail. Their heads were large, crocodilian in shape and supported on a long, thin neck and bore a pair of large, curved and ridged horns. A beard-like tassel of scales hung from their lower jaws and the nostril region was raised in a rudimentary horn. A row of small, upright, rectangular crests ran down its neck, back and short, thin tail. The most notable feature was the wings, twice as long as the dragon from nasal horn to tip of tail and supported by numerous wing bones. A single claw sat at the main joint and the leading edge was honed to a super sharp serration. Main colours were typically dusky brown or tan with amber yellow eyes.
Timberjack fire consisted of streams of oil-like fire. Thanks to their massive wings, Timberjacks were graceful gliders, soaring on the lightest of thermals. They could also travel through forested areas by pulling their wings in close to their bodies. Naturally peaceful creatures, Timberjacks were woodland inhabitants, occasionally travelling ins small packs but often on their own save for a select few. Their massive wings double as two pairs of legs and can be used as a tent, surrounding the rest of their bodies. Timberjack fire was an excellent choice for camp fire, helping to keep smaller companions, warm, safe, sheltered and able to cook food. Their wings were regularly preened and sharpened, the leading edges sharp and strong enough to cut through a full grown oak tree without slowing down. That allowed the Timberjacks to clear areas for nesting, hunt in dense undergrowths and or often times to help their companions. Being gentle giants, Timberjacks will befriend those who are willing to rub down and scratch the scales on their backs, one of the few places they cannot reach on their own and often need external sources to remove old, dead skin and scales from.
Whispering Deaths were 100 feet long with wingspans of 30 feet and had a long, serpentine body that tapered from the neck all the way down to the whip-like tail. The scutum-lined belly was flanked on both sides by strong, rear-curved scales that gripped in the place of legs and the length of the body possessed an almost haphazard series of detachable spikes up to 20' in length. Their heads were gripped, roughly spherical with rear-pointed spikes covering the head, the largest and longest of which formed a crown along the back of the skull. The jaws closed in an under-bite, lined with massive, incredibly strong teeth and within the mouth bands of teeth were attached to rotating lines of muscle, spinning around in layers towards the throat. A large rostral horn jutted up at the tip of the snout, directly underneath sat the hooded, rounded eyes. A Whispering Death's wings were relatively small compared to the body, strong enough to carry the dragon and two, three or four Riders in flight and in addition to the trio of large claws at the wing joints the frontal edge was lined with hard, shiny projections. The typical main colours were slate grey, asphalt, to an almost metallic navy blue colour on the dorsum, fading to a greenish-cream colour ventrally. The cranial spikes faded to red at their tips as did the colour leading down to the tail and the eyes were a pale, almost mottled looking milky red colour throughout with no discernible pupil.
A Whispering Death's fire breath consisted of concentric rings of flame around a central stream, producing an expanding, battering fire. While able to fly low to the ground and can stay aloft for fair periods of time using both wings and a unique spiralling motion of the body, Whispering Deaths were naturally burrowers and spent most of their time underground. Whispering Deaths were a powerful, badass species, unmatched in its own turf save for its close cousin the Screaming Death. Their rotating rows of teeth had the capacity to shear through rock and dirt, allowing them to burrow at incredible speeds as their spikes and belly scales gripped the dirt, propelling them forward. Any of the spikes lining the body of this Boulder Class species could be detached and projected with deadly accuracy much like Deadly Nadders and Winter Dragons and the sheer number and rapid regrowth of the Whispering Death's spikes rendered it far more adept in a target contest. Due to their mostly subterranean lifestyle, Whispering Deaths had lost the ability to process strong sunlight optically, their eyes sheathed over with protective layers of pigment, skin and scales to shield from dirt and rock. Instead, they relied on a form of infrared vision, which could be damaged temporarily by exposure to strong light, leading them to avoid it whenever possible. Their decreased visibility was countered by a fairly strong sense of smell and hearing but rendered them naturally defensive and territorial and difficult to calm and or befriend. Whispering Deaths were also known to hold grudges for long periods of time and had excellent memories but similarly would remember acts of kindness for much longer and would treat those they trusted with love, affection and care. In addition to their strength and spike defences, the fire Whispering Deaths possessed was unique, expanding rings of fire projected by the conical structure of the mouth that were extremely difficult to avoid and capable of weakening stone and other structures due to the repeated pounding force the fire was applied with.
Snaptrappers were 70 feet long with wingspans of 60 feet. Heavy-bodies with round torsos, Snaptrappers stood on four, squat, stumpy legs low to the ground and ending in long, sharp talons. Their tails were long, whip-like and much like its relative, the Hideous Zippleback, the tail split into two separate tips in the posterior third of the length. One of only a handful of naturally multiple-headed dragons and quite similar to Hydra, Snaptrappers had four separate, long necks that arose from the body, all thin, long and flexible, narrowing slightly up to the elongate, roughly ovular head. Each mouth bore a slight under-bite and protruding, sharp teeth, the lower jaw split into two halves to provide a massive gape. Each tongue was unique, split into three, thin, bulb-tipped appendages and a pair of large nostrils sat near the top of each snout on both sides of a prominent central ridge. The almond-shaped eyes were large and appeared to extend off the very back of the each head, behind which a pair of flexible, thin feelers replaced the more common horns. Rows of lanceolate crests, like those of a Changewing, ran down each neck, coalescing on the back into a single row that continued down the tail. Main colours were highly variable, overlapped with mottled patchworks of other colours with lightly coloured underbellies and yellow eyes.
Like Hideous Zipplebacks, Snaptrappers produced a fog of flammable, methane-based fuel then ignited it with sparks to make fiery explosions. They could also release sprays or streams of a powerful, bright green, enzymatic acid, capable of corroding most metals. Designed for stealth and ambush hunting, Snaptrappers were not nimble fliers, being somewhat slow and conspicuous in the sky. Snaptrappers were an odd species of dragon. Most likely closely related to Hideous Zipplebacks, they were superb ambush predators, preying on nearly anything that got close enough to trap and swallow whole. With colours resembling the mottled background of forest growth, the Snaptrapper hid itself within foliage and exposed its quartet of mouths which appeared like massive, blooming flowers complete with a trio of tongue tips disguised as anthers. Complexes of glands on the tongues and edges of the mouths secreted volatiles that mimicked the scent of various sweet attractants, from nectar to honey to even chocolate, drawing unsuspecting prey right in their jaws. Despite the Snaptrapper's size, they preferred smaller prey items due to their odd jaw structure and subsequent inability to chew or tear larger prey well. Myths of Snaptrapper being able to swallow human beings whole were an exaggeration as they possess a disagreeable taste to dragons in general as with most other predators. Snaptrappers had a distinct love of damp, rainy places and were far more common in tropical regions than temperate climates, thriving in areas of thick foliage especially with a plethora of flowers present. Mud, unusually as most dragons liked to stay clean, were especially attractive to Snaptrappers and they often took time away from hunting to wallow and play in the substance after heavy rains. This was perhaps an additional method of camouflaging the dragon's presence or a protection against intense sun exposure as with their preference for dense foliage, Snaptrappers may have not been adapted for life out in full sunlight. Snaptrappers were typically a solitary species but could form bonds with other dragons and people, especially if said person or dragon showed a preference for water or mud play, most children fitting this description, or the humanoid associate is good at hunting small animals.
Thunderdrums were 70 feet long with wingspans of 60 feet. With bodies that were roughly ovular in outline and laterally compressed, Thunderdrums resembled living dragon pancakes, supported by four, short, stumpy limbs that ended in sharp, webbed claws. Their tails were very long, nearly twice the length of the body and tapering narrowly to the tip. A Thunderdrum's neck was virtually non-existent, the rounded head merging almost directly to the body. The mouth stretched nearly the width of the head, ringed in long, sharp, needle-like teeth and a prominent narrow rostral horn sat right at the top of the snout above the nostrils, immediately which were the almond-shaped eyes. The rear of the jaw-line was lined by scaly flanges like a thin name and a row of narrow crests ran down from right behind the rostral horn all the way down to the tip of the tail. The main wings were wide and fin-like, the numerous spiny supports radiating out from the connection to the body rather than the wing joints which were adorned by a prominent, narrow, sharp claw. A secondary pair of wings extended just above the hind legs with a similar design. Main colours ranged from blue to green to purple with lighter underbellies and darker and small, white spots all over the body. Eyes were typically yellow.
A Thunderdrum's main defence was the capacity to produce deafening, sonic roars only as long as the dragon does not exhaust itself as was the case with other dragons. Lesser known were the ethanol-charged fireballs that could also be produced but these cost more energy to the dragon so they were rarely used. Thunderdrums were capable of fairly decent flight, being flattened and very aerodynamic but they were typically ocean-dwellers so they were very adept at swimming and manoeuvring underwater. Being a powerful species, at home in the sky, on the land or underwater, Thunderdrums were equipped with several unique abilities. By filling their lungs to almost 100 % capacity with air and then opening both its mouth and throat into a conical amplification chamber, Thunderdrums could produce roars that reached such amplitude as to be able to drop the barometric pressure around the dragon, condensing the water in the air and causing it to visibly vibrate as a result. The more dramatic effect of this was a sound that could shatter glass at over 100 yards, temporarily deafen opponents at a long distance for a few hours and even cause damage to the eardrums of any creature caught directly in the path of the roar within several yards, even stunning or rendering unconscious those who were very close. This concussive sound could also crack and or shatter rocks if hit at the right frequency, allowing Thunderdrums to modulate its attack depending on its surroundings.
The side effect of this power was that Thunderdrums themselves could injure each other with this ability. To compensate, they could modulate their own roars to nearly any frequency needed and can even neutralize the attacks of others by directly disrupting the sound waves produced. Contrary to popular belief, Thunderdrums were not hard of hearing but could close off their hearing apparatuses externally and block it internally in order to avoid damage and so can make themselves, for all intents and purposes, temporarily deaf. Thunderdrums also used their same oral anatomy to produce expanding fireballs charged with natural alcohols, burning bright blue as they engulfed whatever was in the flame's path. This was far more energy-costly than roaring however, so Thunderdrums typically relied on their sonic blasts. They were also extremely agile despite their design, a prehensile tail able to pick up and grasp objects at great distances and with dexterity and strength and because they could flatten themselves so well they could travel extremely quickly underwater, like rays, or through narrow passes with ease. Thunderdrums were weary dragons but friendly to those they trusted and readily associated with people and dragons it recognized as friends. Within their own species, Thunderdrums often travelled in packs. They could be a very hard-headed species however, prone to thinking it knew what was best and not willing to admit they were wrong. Adolescents translated this into being very stubborn, free-willed and hard to handle if not dealt with in a way that includes patience and a firm voice and hand. However, once accustomed to being around others a Thunderdrum was a very loyal companion and they did not easily forget those they had not seen, even for years.
Grapple Grounders were 40 feet long with wingspans of 30 feet, elongate and serpentine in shape with a long, prehensile, whip-like tail and a neck of near-equal length. A Grapple Grounder's head was blunt and rounded, ending in a down-curved snout similar to a beak and bearing a single, sharp and short horn on the snout. Large, upward-curving, sharp horns ringed the back of the skull and a set of large, spinal spikes arose from the neck, shortening to blunt, rectangular, upright protrusions extended down the back and tail. The tail tip was enlarged into a sharp, barbed spade, sometimes used as the bludgeon end of a whip and the wings were stout with a single, sharp claw present on the inner side of the main joints. Their legs were moderately built and short, the dewclaws situated high up on the forearms and the rear legs and enlarged as spikes. Main colours were highly variable, usually rusty red with darker brown saddle markings running down both sides of the back, neck and tail, ringed by white outlines.
Grapple Grounders shot powerful, charged blasts similar to but not as strong as those of a Night Fury, capable of destructive explosions. With short wings and an elongate body, Grapple Grounders were capable of flying moderate distances but were better suited to a forest or underground habitat. Grapple Grounders were considered to be the pythons and kung-fu masters of the dragon world, their elongate bodies, powerful muscles and lightning fast movements, agility and reflexes granting them great power, defence and offence. Inhabiting areas of dense undergrowth or rocky outcrops, a Grapple Grounder's thin form allowed them to weave through tight spaces with ease and burrow with no issue, setting up ambush attacks or hiding in places where threats could not reach. Powerful claws, whip-like tails and strong teeth also meant heavy defences, able to apply great force in attacks.
Skrills were 40 feet long with wingspans of 50 feet. Powerfully built with two, short, stocky hind legs bearing long talons infused with conductive metals and sharp enough to cut with the slightest abrasion with no forelegs, providing a bipedal, wyvern gait. Their powerful, tapering tails were longer than the main body and their necks were short and thickly built. A Skrill's head was elongate, the jaws bearing a row of small but extremely sharp teeth surrounding a bifurcated tongue and the nostrils and eyes were positioned near the tip of the snout, the nostrils to the left and right and the eyes just behind the prominent, curved nasal horn. Their heads were wide at the back and were crowned by a ring of sharp, narrow spikes infused with conductive metals that nearly encircled the back of the skull. A row of sharp, long, erectile, conductive metal-rich spikes ran down the dragon's spinal cord to the tip of the tail which also bore two secondary rows of these spikes on the sides. Their bellies and ventral ridges of their tails were edged in blunt protrusions that were also laced with conductive metals. A Skrill's wings were wide with very long supports and each bearing a massive, super sharp, metallic claw that were also conductive metal laced at the main joints. Main colours were highly variable but typically a dark, metallic grey, black, silver, white or electric shades of colours such as blue, purple/ violet or even green. Markings consisted of tear-drop shaped markings that descended from the main joint on the underside of the wings, double rows of spots on the upper-sides, a pair of stripes extending to the horns from the back of the eyes and irregular highlights along the body and tail.
Skrills were capable of storing and redirecting lightning and other powerful sources of electricity. Very fast, agile and manoeuvrable on their own, capable of reaching speeds of 200 mph. One special ability of Skrills was their ability to ride electric bolts, allowing them to fly at multiples of the speed of sound. Skrills were one of the most formidable dragons to ever exist. With spikes, claws and scales enriched with iron and other conductive metals, Skrills were natural lightning rods, attracting electricity from any source. However, due to their natural affinity for lightning storms, Skrills often garnered energy from lightning bolts. With mild electrokinetic abilities, Skrills could use their spikes to catch, utilise and ride the energy from lightning, meaning over short periods of time they could exceed multiples of the speed of sound and travel very long distances, though without that supercharge Skrills were rather slow when compared to Night Furies. They could also redirect and store electricity, able to take over four billion volts of electricity at a time and fire that same power with incredible accuracy from their mouths. That energy could be stored for extremely long periods of time and could be called up at will. Skrills were very territorial and high-tempered, making them loners by nature and was one of the few dragons that could rival Night Furies. That could drive them into ferocious battles with other dragons but could also blind them to traps despite their extreme intelligence. However, if injured or trapped, Skrills could stay dormant for decades, the electric energy they harboured keeping them alive even when frozen in glaciers of ice until they were awakened. Their electric storage ability produced powerful static fields, one of the few things that could give away these masters of stealth and it allowed Skrills to detect other creatures even in thick, dark clouds or very dark, nearly-impossible to-see conditions. The only serious weaknesses Skrills possessed were their volatile temper and inability to redirect electricity in water, thanks to the conductive interference of the liquid. During the Dragon Raids, Skrills were very elusive and very difficult to catch but there were times when one or two were captured, one of the many reasons not much was known about them. The Berserker Tribe was once known to enslave captive Skrills, chain them up and use them to attack other settlements but ever since peace was made between Berk and the Berserker Tribes, Skrills were no longer enslaved and the Berserker Tribe's symbol was a Skrill.
Night Furies were 40 feet long with wingspans of 60 feet. Streamlined, lean bodies bearing four strong, muscular legs, each tipped in sharp claws, able to flex and grasp. Their heads were large and rounded with two large ears and sensory flaps surrounding the neck. Two major wings of wide proportions with a secondary pair set just behind and above the rear legs. Wide, triangular back ridges were present, able to extend and split into two rows at will for increased manoeuvrability and stabilizing flaps lining the long tail and lower legs. Two tail fins were present close to the tip of the tail, used in balance and directional control. Teeth were sharp, strong and rectractable, disappearing into the gums and popping out again at will. Night Furies were always varying shades of black with lighter or darker markings of various shapes, patterns and locations, usually hard to see unless in strong lighting. Eyes were highly variable, coming in nearly colour except for dark shades and black. The most common eye colours were blue then green.
A Night Fury's Breath Weapon was acetylene-laced plasma charges designed to explode upon impact. They could control their fire to an extreme extent, able to release small, steady streams to produce coal beds or individual charges. Their firepower was extreme with the explosive capacity of a bomb, capable of levelling a large house in one blast. Unless targets were small and or moving very quickly, Night Furies were famous for uncanny accuracy, never missing their target unless distracted. One of the most fastest breeds of dragon, Night Furies were able to exceed the speed of sound in short bursts and could fly long distances without stopping at speeds of 300 mph. Under high speed or diving conditions, the ridges along the spinal cord and the wing alignment created a signature shriek famously noted during night-time attacks.
Due to their great power, Night Furies had been hunted by Hags-Fiends and humans for as long as they can remember. For that reason, the number of Night Furies known to still be living was very low and the remaining Night Furies fled into hiding with very few mingling with other dragons and humans. Other dragons to share that fate were Shadow Raiders and other powerful breeds of dragons that posed a significant threat to Hags-Fiends and or humans. Night Furies were extremely loyal and intelligent, protecting friends, family and innocents with their lives and were one of the only non-traditional Alpha breeds that could take on the role of Alphas. The ridges along their spinal cords and surrounding scales were fluoresce bright sapphire blue or violet at will. Naturally curious and creative, Night Furies were renowned for their intelligence. Excellent nocturnal vision and a unique control of sound were also notable as Night Furies were able to release low-pitched screams that could incapacitate enemies and high frequencies were used to echolocate with their extremely acute hearing able to pick up extreme detail even in tight, dark places or long distances. No one had ever seen or captured a Night Fury during a Dragon Raid but that was going to change very soon.
Each different breed of dragon was feared but Skrills and Night Furies were at the very top of the fear ladder. It seemed Night Furies were responsible for taking out catapults and ballista during Dragon Raids and every breed of dragon seemed to have a job to do. Stoick was standing on a catapult platform battling a Monstrous Nightmare when a loud, ballistic shriek sounded from the night sky, drawing rapidly closer to the giant, stationary, boulder-throwing contraption. The Monstrous Nightmare Stoick was battling smirked and flew away. "Night Fury! Get down!" A Viking shouted as a bright blue fireball struck the catapult and exploded destroying the tower. "Jump!" Stoick yelled as the structure collapsed. Night Furies never stole food, never showed themselves and most importantly...never missed. No known Viking on Berk or anywhere else had ever killed a Night Fury. Hiccup, Astrid, Aniu, Nava and their Familiars were hoping it stayed that way. And speaking of Familiars... Hiccup felt a then mind brush up against his own and he let it in so they could speak. "Hiccup, what is happening?" Sprinter's voice asked and Hiccup could sense the Reindeer's concern and fear seeping across their link. "Oh, the usual. Night Furies blowing stuff up, Terrible Terrors sneaking around. Astrid, Nava, Stryker and Zena are putting out fires. Aniu, Causo, Sorena and I are still in the forge. How are you guys going? Are you four still hidden in your barn?" Hiccup replied. "Yes, we are but we are getting a little antsy. Oh, by the way, Evelyn, Torian, Miniki and Stryka have shown up for a visit. They want to know how strong your Dragon Dreams are getting." Sprinter replied. "All right, we will be there as soon as we can. We are expected to stick around until the raid is over." Hiccup replied. "Stay safe. We will be all right and if the Dreams are strong enough, we will go looking for our Bonded's Soul-Dragons tomorrow." Sorena added. Both she and Hiccup sensed Sprinter nod over their link and then close it. Aniu and Caruso were having a similar mental conversation with Edme over their Bond. Gobber was replacing his prosthetic with a prosthetic axe. "Man the fort. They need me out there. And you four, stay. Put. There." Hiccup, Aniu, Sorena and Caruso gave him innocent looks. "You know what I mean." Gobber said and ran out into the battlefield with a battle cry. "So I guess we just stay put here?" Aniu asked. "Yep, despite how boring it is." Hiccup said. "You two are fixing weapons, they need." Sorena scolded. "That is not boring and stop complaining." Caruso added. Hicucp and Aniu smiled at each other and focused on their work, keeping their mind links open in case any of their Familiars, Astrid or Nava wanted to talk to them.
Author's Note: I am writing these dragon descriptions with what we know instead of what the Vikings know while they are still fighting dragons because we learn new stuff about Toothless, Stormfly, Hookfang, Meatlug and Barf-Belch all the time and writing only what the Vikings know then is quite problematic. I am sure you readers will understand. HawkTooth's Two Worlds Collide: the Book of Dragons is extremely helpful. I do not know what I do without it so big thanks to HawkTooth, you are awesome. Also, I am writing the descriptions in past tense. I do not know why but it is easier and more understandable for me and perhaps for you. If any of you have complaints about this story, this chapter, parts of it or things I have added in such as the dragons, please do not complain and speak politely without insults.
