You wanted another?
You got another.
Just to clarify. Time line is:
Before HTTYD 1
Toothless is fifteen years older
Hiccup is four and a half.
Done
Begin.
Shadow
This was difficult.
We were two hours into our journey to the nest, and the youngling began to grow restless. My jaw was just starting to ache because of his occasional squirming. We had to find the halfway island. His instincts told his body to grow limp, but even then he found a way past it. He was obviously uncomfortable, and I could share that. This is what dragon parents did, but I'm not a father, never have been, never will be. Both me and my mate would not be parents.
But knowing my father did this for me. Wow. I just have to applaud him. If I ever see him again, I'll have to thank him, big time. My wings are starting to ache now. Did I miss the island. I hope not. Maybe I too was restless. It wouldn't surprise me.
Oh thank to dragon gods. The halfway island had appeared on the horizon as a dot on the sea. I picked up speed. Causing pain to spread through my wings. When close enough, I dipped into a dive, fast enough to get there quickly, but slow enough not to cause the youngling, Hiccup any distress. I leveled out about ten meters above the ground and pulled a slow descent. Wishing to land as softly as possible. I still landed with a small thump, having to bounce on my paws along the ground to avoid flipping. I stopped, looked around, deemed it safe and put down the youngling. He relaxed. I licked his neck where I was holding him, to sooth any harm I did. Surprisingly he let me. He start to sniff the ground around him. I just sat and watched him. The shore was close by and the crashing waves sooth both our souls.
The youngling stopped and went into a stalking position, slowly crawling towards its invisible prey. Was I not seeing something. I watched in curiosity. What was the little guy doing. Hiccup stopped moving, and raised his back end slightly to prepare himself for pouncing. He dipped his head lower to the ground and flattened his wings against his body. The position was flawless. Then it struck me, he had taught himself how to hunt using stealth. He was quite intelligent for his age, but then again, he had to be in order to survive.
I watched has he pushed his body off the ground to pounce. I still had yet to discover what he was pouncing. But I found out when he landed, right on a flower. I couldn't help but smile. He felt safe enough around me to play. I watched as he ripped the flower from the earth, rolled on his back and played with it in his paws. To be honest, the whole thing was adorable. It really made me wish I had a hatchling.
That's when an idea popped into my head. With the excitement it brought, it brought energy into my wings. I had to get to Eclipse. She would know what to do.
"Youngling. Hiccup" I called. He stopped rolled over and looked at me, giving his undivided attention. "We must be going. I wish to reach the nest by nightfall at least". Whoops I let some sarcasm out then. I stood and started making my way to him. But he wasn't done playing yet. No of course he wouldn't be. We lowered his head to the ground and wiggled his rear. I stopped, he stopped. He was waiting for me to make a move towards him. Cheeky, great i have to deal with a cheeky youngling. I took one step forward, yet he didn't move. His eyes beating into mine. He was still ready to be cheeky and run away at a moment's notice. I took another and another, but the third time, I guess I pushed my luck. Because he ran, hanging his tongue out. I took me longer than usual to realize this, But I took off after him. I'm going to catch him.
We were running around for about an hour. He was very stealthy, and would hide from me. But now he was exhausted. He had all tuckered himself out. It was cute. What! I am the mighty Nightwalker, I don't think things are cute. But.
I walked over to pick him back up by the scruff, but he backed off and shook his head. Only then did I realize that I haven't heard him speak once. I'll have to look into that. He walked to my side and leaped onto my neck. Of course I didn't expect it and it made me jump. And for the first time he warbled in apology. Yet he still didn't speak. He curled into a ball on my neck just behind the ears, out of the wind. I was worried that he might slip off. But as if reading my mind he wrapped his tail around my neck constricting it, but loosening it when he realized it was to tight. He buried his head into the back of my me and huffed.
That settled it, he was treating me as a father. I was scared. How was I supposed to react. I just decided that it would be best to fly, to get my thoughts off that subject and concentrate on flying, which I did. I have to think this through. I have to talk to Eclipse, she has to decide too.
I took off, flying slowly to not awake the now sleeping youngling on my neck. I sighed. It's just a two hour trip to the nest now.
Shadow
I was deep in my thoughts. The thoughts shrouded my mind so much I nearly flew over the nest. The youngling was still asleep wrapped comfortably around my neck, head in between my ears breathing on the back of my neck. When I felt his belly expand with another breath, another thought filled my mind; when did he last eat? My face flushed. I knew younglings needed to eat, and often too, if they want to keep their strength up. That's why he tired quickly when we were playing. I'll have to get Eclipse to get some fish.
My second in command flew up to my while I was coming in for landing. "Alpha Shadow, you have returned!" He joyfully expressed "Was you mission successful?"
I smiled at his questioned. "Yes. Yes I think it was". I gestured to my neck before he asked what it was. He was looking there, very hard in fact. he squinted his yellow-green eyes. He must have spotted the youngling, because his eyes widened.
"Where did you find it?" He questioned.
"I found it on Berk, living alone, fending himself" I replayed. The Fire-Wing gasped. "I'm glad I got there in time. The Vikings found him when I got there." I winced at the memory, know if i wasn't there he wouldn't be able to defend himself. "Fire-Wing, Go find my mate and get her to return to our home" I commanded
"Yes Alpha"
"Oh and Blazer" I began he gave me his attention. "Don't tell her, and get her to bring some fish"
Blazer smiled, "Yes Sir." At that he flew off, I entered the nest, and climbed higher in altitude to get to the alphas platform. I landed and this time without nearly flipping. I looked around, making sure no one was watching us. I don't want gossip flooding the nest. I moved deeper into the cave.
"Hey Little guy, wake up" I said softly. He flicked open his eyes sleepily, one at a time. He pulled himself to his feet, and leaped of my neck. He stretch his front legs out and yawned, accompanied by a high pitch yawning noise. Dammit, he just has to be cute doesn't he. I lay down on my side and used my wing to drag him closer to me. He was within reach of my front paws and a picked him up and held him. I wrapped my wing around him, and my head hiding the outside world. I smiled at him and he warbled back. Yep, this is going to be something great.
Eclipse
That's I did not expect.
I was talking to the resident magic wielder Gargonbrae about Mine and Shadows...Predicament. She wasn't pleased and sorrowful to hear about it. I was about to burst into tears on the spot when she told me she couldn't help.
"It's just the one thing I've always dreamed of since I met Shadow." I almost whimpered. My head hung low and my eyes started to water.
"Eclipse, please I'm sure it's just a string of bad luck" She comforted "You two just have to keep trying" I nodded, but it didn't make me feel any better.
"My Lady Alpha" A voice called from outside the cave. I could tell by the voice who it was.
"Yes, Blazer come on in." I called back, trying to hide my sorrow. "What is it?" I questioned, upon his entry.
"My Lady Alpha, your mate has returned and wishes to see you." He stated."It is urgent." Why did he have to say it was urgent. Just another thing to put on my pile of things to think about. Blazer must have heard my exasperated sigh. "Oh sorry Lady Alpha, It's nothing bad." That relieved me, but yet he had to continue. "He also wishes you to bring some fish on the way back, I don't worry, it's not for him." Okay that made me confused, Who would the fish be for? Why was he gone for so long? Why does he have to make me worry all the time?
"Okay, Thank you Blazer, and thank you Gargonbrae" I stated while looking at each of them. I took off from the cave, and made my way to the nearest food storage. It must have been filled on the last raid to Berk. Last time I checked, it was empty. I selected three large fish and left, making my way up to the alpha cave.
When I arrived, Shadow was not there. But I was mistaken when I found him at the back of the cave. A wing over his face and front paws, and cooing at something under said wing. I pulled his head out quickly, like it had been nipped at. That's when he spotted me.
"Well, hello there!" He said "Come look at what I found, all alone in the forest fending for his little lonesome." He was somewhat excited, more than I had seen in a few weeks. But I felt the same, Ever since I found out about...I shook my head away from the thoughts.
He lifted his wing.
I gasped. He was holding a youngling, Nightwalker. It was nipping at his paws trying to break free. It stopped when it spotted me. It eyes, round and curious. Shadow released him from the hold he had him in, and the youngling cautiously walked up to me. He sniffed my snout, I did the same. His eyes went from curious to excited. and he rubbed his cheek on mine. He was so...trusting. He walked over to one of the cod I had dropped on the ground from my initial shock.
He picked one up and walked back to me, dropped it at my paws, and sauntered back over to pick up another. It repeated the process with Shadow, dropping it at his paws. before grabbing the last and attempted to eat it. I walked up to him. He turned to me with pleading eyes. It was so cute, I couldn't help but smile. I grabbed and swallowed his fish, before regurgitating it for him. I have no idea why I knew to do that. He seemed thankful and ate the now slimy fish.
Shadow of course took no time in eating his and swallowed it whole. But I ate slowly trying my best to recover from this...event. I continued to watch the youngling eat and saunter back to Shadow, like nothing was going to bother him about the world. He lay back down, leaning against Shadows belly, and promptly fell asleep. Shadow soon joined him, probably from exhaustion of having to carry a youngling around.
Only now did I recover from the shock that gripped my body, and happiness replaced it. Shadow unconsciously wrapped around the youngling who himself was curled tightly in a ball. I crawled up to them and wrapped around the exposed part of the youngling. Shadow placed his wing over me and the young Nightwalker.
I soon joined my mate and his rescued Nightwalker, in a cheerful sleep.
Well there you go, Because of the amount of good feedback I got for the first chapter, I worked hard on writing the next to get it up by tonight.
Hope it wasn't to bad.
And we got to meet Eclipse, Shadows Night Fury mate. Oh and what a happy family so far. Don't worry more to come but not tomorrow or the next day. Maybe Friday...for New Zealand.
Well with that said I shall take my leave. Good day my Friends
Attero.
