Yet another chapter! Now you shall view a dragon's world from Valka's perspective for a while - the other side of the coin. Cloudjumper and Valka's relationship will be explored here, to see how dear they are to each other and what their views of Stoick are.
Cloudjumper was kinda hard to capture, but I think I've got a good idea of his personality, he seems to be - from what I've seen - a regal kind of dragon who is reserved, proud, confident and patient - with slight moments where he runs out of patience for those who don't act regal and proud. Look at his face when Toothless gets the icicle stuck to his tongue = "you serious?" is what that face is.
But underneath it all he is a guardian and is almost like a human knight, and older-distant brother, protecting those in trouble and need, and loyal to a fault - he didn't turn on Valka like the rest of the nest did when the White Alpha was defeated. Only when she was away did he lose his will, because he didn't have her voice to listen to, only the Dark Alpha's. Plus all the other dragons respect him, they bowed only after Cloudjumper bowed to Toothless. So he's a big part of their community.
Now in this one I'm pushing the boundaries of "Dragon Law" but I'll explain why I've done so at the bottom, now enjoy and hopefully you'll leave some lovely comments.
THANK YOU for all your ideas, any more just drop them by.
When night fell, the air was alive with the beating of wings and dragons calling for their hatchlings to come back to the nest for sleep.
Stoick had been exploring the section around his guest house, he was really considering sending a message to his men, he didn't want to have a power struggle upon his return – for he was going to return after Valka proved her point, or when he had had enough. The area around his cave-house was limited, there was the overgrown path that led down to the sea stacks by the white giant and then, past him, to all other corners of the nest accessible by foot. There was a rough ring of flat ground around the cave, and some old rotten fence about child height at the edges of the cliff. There was a 'bath' of sorts at the back of the cave which was constantly being filled with melted ice and constantly draining through several drilled holes. It was a better option of bathing than going down to the sea and have dragons staring at you Stoick acknowledged. Finally there was an entry to a tunnel around the left side of the cave-outside ring, it went in deep and twisted and turned and split in many different directions, including up and down. It was the network of the mountain that was included in the ice fortress.
By the claw marks they were still used, but not by all different species, but by Night Fury's, Terrible Terrors, and Gronkles. Stoick even spotted human footprints, Valka and Hiccup could navigate these caves too. It was more likely to be Hiccup since the four-winged beast couldn't fit in these tunnels, and Valka didn't ever seem far from his massive form.
Stoick had just decided to head out and find Valka in order to write a message, or to ask her to let him appear in person, to his men to explain what had happened when all dragons suddenly took to their air inside and poured in through tunnels from the outside.
The nest had been getting dim for some time now, which was the reason Stoick hadn't explored further since it was obviously getting close to night and he needed to stay near his 'safe-zone'. But suddenly there was a huge increase of dragons pouring into the nest, like rivers of scales.
Stoick stood and moved to grab his non-existent axe, only to remember Hiccup had handed it over to a Terrible Terror this morning and hadn't returned it. But old instincts died hard, and seeing this many dragons flying reminded him of the raids on Berk, and stirred his need to fight. But the dragons didn't seem to be threatening or getting ready to fight, some of them were herding their dragon babies back to their nests, others were reuniting with others of their kind, and all of them were finding places to settle and rest.
Stoick watched a pair of Monstrous Nightmares, both a greenish brown in colour, circle above him together, their heads brushing every now and then in affectionate gestures, and eventually they settled in a wide but low cave.
He couldn't see them from then on.
Several pairs of wings sounded very close to him and he turned to see Valka, Hiccup and their dragons land behind him.
Hiccup looked uneasy, he called to his Mother and hunched his shoulders in a scared gesture. Valka cooed at him gently and chirped and trilled reassurance to her clearly anxious son. Hiccup didn't look convinced by what she was saying.
Stoick looked confused. Hiccup saw his expression and muttered "Curfew." The Night Fury looked annoyed and worried too, it warbled at its rider and Hiccup leaned down to wrap his arms around the dragon's head. They both glanced behind them and saw the King Dragon leaving the nest via it's deep water tunnels, Stoick wondered where it was going, and why it's subjects were being left behind.
Valka looked up at what Stoick had been watching in the sky, she smiled as she slid from the four-winged beast's back. Her eyes were alight with joy as she approached "That was Fireclaw and Spikesnout," she said, pointing. "They've been a mated pair for over five years, they're never apart because Fireclaw is expecting a clutch of eggs soon," she spoke of the dragons like a housewife would a newly married or expecting couple on Berk. Stoick had heard the women gossip and laugh and fawn over bubbling romances or pregnant Mother's, it was surreal to hear Valka direct that talk at a large scally reptile.
Hiccup was smiling too, his attention diverted, he hooted and patted the Night Fury's head, since he hadn't dismounted, and they flew up to the cave where the 'happy couple' were staying the night.
Stoick flinched a little at the speed of the Night Fury's take off, but soon recovered and stepped back to see where the pair had gone. "They have names," he commented, surprised that dragons would have them. That implied language and a knowledge of yourself that a dumb beast did not have. Though it was far more likely Valka's idea to name them to tell them apart.
Valka nodded "Yes," she absently shifted her grip on her staff.
Stoick looked at her "Why'd you call them that?" he asked.
Valka rolled her eyes "I didn't." she corrected "They are given names when they hatch, the Mother will care for them for a week, and when it's clear that they will survive she will give them a name – I think they watch their personalities and distinctive features and incorporate them into their name."
Stoick blinked "They … have language?" he asked, disbelieving.
Valka send him an indignant look. "They aren't stupid, Stoick."
She looked back up at the den they had settled into, the Night Fury's tail was sticking out one end, and twitching animatedly. Valka's eyes and voice were distant "They were refugees from Berk's attacking dragons. Cloudjumper and myself convinced Fireclaw and Spikesnout to come with us as a raid was ending, they were very lucky. It's rare that mated pairs are allowed to leave her nest together, it's a cruel manipulation of their loyal bond, for they can never abandon each other." She sounded angry and sad, but mostly disgusted.
Stoick was about to question that when she cut him off with a question of her own. "Do you want to see them?" she asked, gesturing to her four-winged beast.
Stoick was about to say no, but his wife's hopeful face was too much to let down. He looked reluctant as he nodded "Fine."
Valka's smile was worth it, it lit her up from the inside out and her entire body gained a lighter step as she grabbed his arm, once again in her clay-cloth-shell armour, and took him over to her dragon's side.
It was at that point that Stoick realised he'd have to fly on the dragon who put them all in this mess!
He stopped.
Valka wasn't strong enough to keep him moving, so jerked as he stopped and she tried to keep walking. She was still clutching his hand tightly. Valka looked back at Stoick, and Stoick thought that she looked so far away even though she was touching him, the sadness and distance between them left her out of reach.
Stoick cleared his throat awkwardly and glanced at the curious four-winged beast. Somehow his glance turned into a glare.
The four-winged beast's head crests fluttered slightly, and a low rumbled sounded from its deep fronted chest, it sounded calm, and like it was quietly breaking the news to its rider. It did not sound angry, but it sounded gentle. At Valka's crestfallen face it mirrored her sadness and would have probably moved to comfort her if Stoick hadn't of been glaring so angrily at it.
Valka glanced between them again and let out a quiet "Oh."
She let his hand go and faced him with both hands on her staff, it was almost like she was using it as a crutch in the ground. "It is the only way up into the cave. I could ask another dragon to help you if you would prefer-"
Stoick shook his head "I'll climb," he stubbornly stated, and turned to the cliff face. He would not stoop as low to ride the dragon who had destroyed his world.
Valka sighed in disappointment and moved to her companion, she let out a soft whimper that was nearly a sob, and let her shoulders sag while mumbling soft hoots and whines to her giant friend. I am burdened, my task has brought only sadness and disappointment.
Cloudjumper lowered his head to her eye level and exhaled warm air onto her while humming deeply. I am here sister-mine, be comforted. Your task is dawning, you cannot build a nest in a day. He lifted his wings slightly and purred again. Lighten your wings, Valka.
She met his large golden eyes and placed a hand on his peculiar nose. Brother-mine, thank you. Valka smiled and nuzzled his forehead. I love you, brother-mine.
Cloudjumper nuzzled her forehead back. I love you, sister-mine.
Valka straightened up and scaled his wings to her normal spot on the back of his neck. They knew each other so well that her faithful companion could tell she was braced and ready, and began to ascend to the den of the Monstrous Nightmare pair, Cloudjumper was careful to not beat his wings too hard or too close to his sister's mate. He did not wish for her long lost mate to fall, he harboured no ill will towards the Viking, if the Alpha had accepted him then he had no reason to stir up the water.
Cloudjumper gripped the edges of the den to let his sister climb inside, he was too large to fit inside. Toothless the smaller dragon could not sit upright in this place, he had to remain on all fours. Hiccup could not stand fully upright in this den either, but he was comfortable crouching. It was perfect for sleeping Nightmares, who were flatter creatures.
Valka slid into the den and approached on all fours to her son's side. She cooed slightly and he turned and smiled at her, humming back.
Son.
Mother!
Hiccup was sitting by Fireclaw's head and scooted to one side for Valka to be included in the conversation. He trilled a little and rank his claws across the ground while exhaling slowly. Fireclaw will lay when the Earth is frozen, he told her excitedly. He smiled widely and expressed his joy in several wordless noises.
Valka gasped and moved closer, also chattering in happiness. She placed a hand on her snout, with her permission, and moved her head to look her body up and down while trilling inquisitively. Happy. Fireclaw are you healthy?
Fireclaw breathed out steadily and moved her head to nuzzle her belly, basking in the extra warmth the eggs caused inside her. I am content, my hatchling's fires are strong. She turned back to Valka and Hiccup and hummed at many different notes. Yes, Valka, Hiccup, I am healthy.
Toothless gently butted in and gurgled slightly as he bounced, he glanced at her belly and put his head on his paws with his eyes large and round. Excited. Permission to touch?
Fireclaw's eyes rounded and she nuzzled the younger dragon, gently nudging him towards her belly. Permission, go ahead.
Her mate raised his head to watch the young Night Fury and his brother approach her belly. The human pressed the side of his head to her stomach and at once closed his eyes with a smile lighting up his face. He cooed. Amazement. He pulled away very slightly to look at the mated pair, he rumbled and his smile grew. They are so warm.
Toothless sniffed while his brother felt and he cooed as well, trilling with large eyes and a proud expression. Hot fires for strong hatchlings. Be proud parents.
The pair of Monstrous Nightmares nuzzled each other and hummed, not saying anything but 'happy' and 'love' over and over again to each other, without even realising it. They did not just speak with noises, their bodies made up the majority of their conversations, voices were good for specific words and expressions but mostly emotions were vocal.
Cloudjumper's eyes were warm too. Family. He summed up all their feeling of pride, joy, worry, health, warmth and eggs in one word.
Everyone in the den looked to him and, in their own ways, expressed their happy agreement. Hiccup and Toothelss exchanged glances and nodded enthusiastically, Valka cooed and placed a hand to her heart, the mated pair curled around each other tighter.
Spikesnout extended a winged arm over his mate and settled his head next to her. She was the longer of the two, with a beautiful tail and long neck, with her signature long claws, that were the first things she set on fire, to support her form. But Spikesnout had the larger wings, they made him a formidable hunter and a perfect protector as he could cover his mate easily and comfortably.
Cloudjumper's crests fluttered when he became aware of approaching grunts, he looked down outside the den and saw his sister's mate climbing up. He tilted his head and sighed to himself. Prideful sister's mate, you would rather struggle alone than accept help because I am a dragon. Foolish; He concluded. However Cloudjumper was neither prideful nor foolish, so softly alerted his sister to her mate's slow, struggling approach.
Stoick climbed slowly up the cliff side – he regretted his choice a little since it was harder than Hiccup made it look. The rock had little handholds and often crumbled due to plant growth among the cracks. But he was stubborn and would not give into accepting a dragon's help.
When he was about two meters away from the den, his wife's dragon let out a soft roar into the den; that blasted four-winged beast clinging on to the side of the rocks like a bat with his hooked under-wings and his larger clawed feet.
Moments later Valka appeared over the side of the cliff, on all fours and staff in her hand and resting across her shoulders. The dragon had altered her to his approach. She smiled a little "That was quick," she acknowledged and lowered her staff a little for him to grab hold of "Need a hand?" she asked.
Stoick grunted "I've got it." He hauled himself up the last meter and gripped the cliff edge.
Valka put her hand on his and pulled, helping him over the lip of the cliff.
Stoick sighed, glad that the ordeal was over, but shook his head fondly at his wife "I said I had it," he reminded her.
Valka snorted "Prideful."
Hiccup, the Night Fury, and the four-winged beast all let out chortles. Hiccup even rolled onto his back with his hands on his tummy.
Stoick glanced between them, confused. Obviously one word had held many meanings for this much response. "What?" he asked.
Valka shook her head slightly "It doesn't matter Stoick, I was merely making a remark, they just agree with me," she rested a hand on his arm lightly as she chuckled, and then crawled forwards towards the dozing Nightmares. "Come see, you made it all the way up here after all," she beckoned several times.
Stoick awkwardly shuffled forwards, he didn't have the thin lean and flexible frames of his wife and child, so his bulk and bigness was a handicap at the moment.
Hiccup gave him a highly confused and freaked out look before ducking under the Night Fury's wing and tucking himself into the dragon's side. He kept his head out but stayed close to the flank of his scaly friend. The said scaly monster was watching with silent eyes, though it occasionally looked down at Hiccup, as if it was checking on him.
Stoick forced himself to look past his son and to his wife, who was in deep … communication with the pair of alert and wary Nightmare dragons. Valka was gesturing calmly with her hands, while clicking and humming with her voice.
The larger, the male Stoick thought, growled and covered his nest-partner even more, a trickle of smoke leaking from his mouth.
Hiccup and the Night Fury growled back. The Night Fury raised his head and barked once, trailing into a growl and stretched his wings out briefly before rumbling and nudging Hiccup.
The male shook his head with a snort but rested his head on the ground and grunted just the once. His mate nudged his head gently, her eyes round and calm. She nudged Valka's hand until it was pressed to her snout, then she turned and nuzzled her flank.
Valka smiled and the Night Fury and Hiccup relaxed.
Stoick realised that he may have been in danger, but his wife and the Night Fury had negotiated – again such a human activity amongst beasts, so unholy! – his safety.
The female seemed to trust his wife, it seemed to have been down to her decision. Stoick didn't know why the male was so mistrustful; he was unarmed, and he was outnumbered, what did he have to worry about? However, he grudgingly recalled being overprotective of Valka in her carrying months. They were not that different, he would not let a stranger from another tribe near his pregnant wife without reservations either – Stoick at once hated that he was sympathising with a dragon. He groaned inside his own head.
Valka put down her staff and beckoned Stoick to the side of the Nightmare female "Come," she ordered.
Stoick awkwardly joined her, he heard Hiccup snort a few times and the Night Fury gurgle as if they were laughing, they probably found humour in his lumbering ways. Stoick resisted the urge to turn and glare at them as he would to any of the village children, it would not have helped in any way and would probably have been read as aggressive. But the sniggering was distracting, and wasn't helping Stoick's aim of becoming someone to look up to for Hiccup, since he was clearly seeing something to scorn.
Valka took his hand and hushed the Nightmare gently before putting her hand on her flank "Firewing says she will lay when the ground is frozen, a perfect time for Nightmares, she can keep them warm in the coldest months and when they hatch in the spring they won't be hurried into finding their fire," she absently said, she caught his eyes and nodded insistently at the beast's belly. "Go on, touch her, she has allowed it," Valka ordered.
Stoick glanced at the watching heads and glared when the male hissed at him.
Valka turned and snarled back, surprising Stoick enormously.
She turned back to Stoick and added "Yer not helping!"
Stoick jumped and looked down, sighing deeply. "I'm sorry Valka, but there's a fire breathing monster that looks like it's going to eat me, and-"
Valka cut him off with a sharply raised hand, unwilling to hear out his war us-vs-them rants. "Spikesnout will not harm you if you do not harm his mate. Here," she picked up his hand again and placed it where she had just touched.
Stoick was surprised at how warm the Smoulder Class dragon was. The scales were fine, the size of his thumbnail, and smooth with a slight oily feel to them. He pulled away once Valka let him go, then hesitantly touched the dragon again. He glanced at the female, who was watching with intense eyes but with a relaxed body.
Stoick looked at the flank again and tried to recall if any other Monstrous Nightmares had felt this warm when he had touched them. Granted he had mostly touched their dead bodies after slaying them, but even those fresh dead and freshly on fire had not felt this warm. It wasn't uncomfortably hot, but it definitely felt like a running fever temperature.
He pulled away and rubbed his hand absently on his clothes "Are all dragons that hot?" he asked.
Valka hummed a small laugh and ran a hand down the Nightmare's neck "No. Fireclaw has to maintain a hot temperature for her eggs to form properly and hatch healthy babies." She seemed to launch into 'teacher' mode after that, any questions Stoick asked were answered with much information – to show off what she had learnt or to share it.
She sat comfortably and said "Fireclaw is a smoulder class dragon and as such their inner heat is crucial to their health. The Nightmares carry their eggs for the longest time before laying because they lock heat inside the eggs as they're forming inside them. The babies need heat to survive or they will be stillborn, or coldborn as I like to call it." She drew in the earth in between them. "Once she lays the eggs she will maintain their heat every now and then by setting herself on fire and curling around them, Spikesnout will help in this task too," she glanced behind her and smiled at the dozing pair. They had relaxed around the stranger, as long as Valka was there. "Hotter fires mean stronger babies."
Stoick listened, unwillingly interested. He had never thought about their breeding habits before, or even how they were born, they could have crawled out of a volcano for all he knew or cared, but this made the dragons less mystical and more natural.
Valka resumed her small lesson "Each egg and baby is unique so their personal hatching time is also unique. But when they are ready they will set themselves on fire inside their eggs and burn their ways out, the eggs will smoke and burn away, leaving a baby who had just felt his or her first flame and who is ready to face the world. The hotter the air outside the more chance all will survive, which is why it is dangerous for eggs to be laid in the autumn because that puts hatching time around mid-winter and increases their chances of being coldborn."
Stoick had a hand rubbing his chin as he learned. "How many eggs per Nightmare?" he asked.
Valka shrugged "It ranges from about three to nine, depending on size, internal heat, health and other things." She picked up her staff again and looked outside where a few dragons where still flying around "A first time Mother Dragon should only be expecting about three or four, I believe it is in their biology to have fewer babies first to get enough practice for any bigger clutches later in life."
She turned to Hiccup and clicked her tongue and jerked her head in the direction of the still active dragons.
Hiccup snapped to his Mother's direction of interest and tilted his head, humming in confusion before tapping his dragon's wing and the pair moving to the entrance of the den. Hiccup slid onto his dragon's back and they flew towards the flying dragons.
Stoick looked at Valka "Where's he goin'?"
Valka waved his concern aside "I told him to check on them, it's nothing. You must be tired, it's time to sleep," she informed him with a soft smile. They made their ways to the edge of the den and Valka swung herself onto the back of her four-winged beast, she held out a hand to Stoick "You'll never get down in the dark, Stoick, don't be too proud this time," she warned.
Stoick looked down at the cliff side, he had climbed up with a twilight sort of light, and the den had been lit by the fires of the dragons, but now it was nearly fully dark, he could see nothing of the cliff as it was out of reach of the flames behind him. He sighed, knowing that if he tried he would fall to his death. He held out a hand, but glared heatedly at the dragon he was boarding "Only because my wife insists," he growled at the beast.
To the beast's credit, it did not even roll its eyes in response. It only spread its largest wings and glided down in seconds to the cave home where Stoick would be living for his time here.
Stoick jumped off the moment he could, grunting when he landed on an unseen rock. He hissed as he stepped forwards on his foot.
Valka huffed and slid down the dragon's wing harmlessly "That wouldn't have happened if you had been sensible," she scolded, and moved to the house.
Valka sat down by the fireplace and knocked two rocks together to start a fire. Strange that she would do that with fire breathing dragons all around the place, but Stoick supposed she was trying to make an effort to be approachable.
Stoick moved to the table and sat awkwardly as his wife walked and stumbled around the small house, getting it ready for him to sleep in. She them gathered two cups of water and placed them at the table where he was sitting. She took the opposite seat and looked down silently at the cup in her hands.
Stoick grunted in thanks before taking a long draught of his water, for it was only water, then copied Valka's action of watching the ripples silently.
The silence was only broken by the whispering flickers of flame and the occasional crack of sparks out of the wood. Stoick honestly didn't know what to say, he could barely make eye contact. They were alone for the first time, and when he didn't have a scaly beast around them to focus their attentions on it was obviously clear that they didn't have anything to say to each other.
Valka broke the firelight-silence first "How are the people of Berk?" she asked.
Stoick cleared his throat slightly "Good. We just finished another failed voyage to destroy the dragon's nest, but … well," he trailed off, she knew the story because it was the same every time.
Valka looked disapproving as ever when it came to talk of the war, but sipped her drink and changed the subject "How is Gobber and yer Brother?"
Stoick thought back to the last time she had seen either of them. "Gobber has lost a leg, a dragon bit it clean off," Valka flinched a little and paled slightly, but said nothing and didn't meet his eyes. Probably feeling the shame he felt talking about casualties of war, she supported the dragons so Gobber's hand was on their claws. Stoick continued "He is still the town forger, he's just as capable, I daresay all the heat he works in has gone to his head over the years. He's also in charge of training the new recruits for defending the village."
Valka smiled a little, remembering their old friend. He was the best man at their wedding, her confident and partner in crime when Stoick was busy, he was a loyal friend.
"Spitelout has a son."
That caught her interest "I have a nephew," she marvelled to herself, still nursing her drink and keeping her eyes away from her husband. All her family was dead, her parents only had her, though she did have relatives in the wandering tribes over the islands through her Mother's side. A new family member was probably interesting to her. "What's he like?" she asked softly.
Stoick frowned a little "Er … a Viking," he summed up, making Valka's interest turn into disappointment. "Looks like Spitelout a lot, called him Snotlout, he's Hiccup's age," he rambled a few facts together, but most Vikings on Berk were the same, and it was clear that she had lost interest if her face was anything to judge by.
Valka nodded at each piece of information absently, Stoick wondered if she was really listening. "And dear old Gothi?" she smiled fondly.
Stoick chuckled "She's still there, old girl's too stubborn for Valhalla. She oversaw Gobber's recovery, and has been watching the recruits for promise, so far she has been silent on the issue, in every way," he added, well aware of the pun he was making about their mute Elder.
Valka sighed to herself "Poor things, locked in cages and made to fight for survival only to be slain at the end. There is no alternative allowed."
Stoick shook his head "Not at all, my dear. We've not had a recruit die for years, we take extreme precautions-"
Valka met his eyes and hers were sad. "I wasn't talking about the children, Stoick."
Stoick lost his voice.
Valka searched his eyes deeply, but sagged over her cup when she had concluded. "You don't even see what yer doing …" she whispered. "They have no choice, and when you catch them they have no chance. It's too cruel …" she stood up and wiped at her eyes slightly, she had been moved to tears by the suffering of the training dragons. Stoick was silent as she mourned for the trapped animals, knowing full well that the Viking teens were in little danger in the kill ring.
Valka cleared her throat and poured the rest of the drink into her mouth before standing with ridged limbs. Stoick watched her as she turned to the exit "I should go," she said. "Goodnight."
Stoick leaned down and picked up her staff "Valka I …" when she turned to him all he wanted to say, that it was natural, that he was sorry, that he didn't see them that way, all died in his throat. She glanced over her shoulder at him, waiting for his response. Finally he spotted her staff and knelt to pick it up. He held her staff towards her and she took it silently.
He met her lovely green eyes and leaned in to kiss her cheek "Goodnight."
Valka's lips twitched in a smile as she turned away, her cheekbones a little pink, she nodded and left the cave, stepping back into her element. The tension ran out of her shoulders and her body shifted to stride and stalk confidently across the uneven natural earth.
Stoick watched her from his cave and saw her approach her dragon. She raised a hand to it and it leaned down, its crests fluttering as it rumbled in greeting. She hooted and cooed then stretched leisurely as she looked up in to the near darkness of the nest ceiling. Her dragon looked up and hooted like an oversized, hoarse owl into the quiet.
Seconds later a shadow out of the night landed on the Earth beside the grounded pair. So silent if Stoick hadn't been looking he would have never saw their decent.
Hiccup slid from his Night Fury's back and crouched by its side, chattering to his Mother softly. Valka smiled and crouched too as she approached him, lifting a hand to run through his windblown hair and smooth down one cheek. Hiccup leaned into her touch, trapping her hand between his chin and shoulder and closing his eyes. Valka's eyes glowed like embers, adoring and warm as she hummed and cupped his face in her hands.
Stoick couldn't look away from the pair of them.
Valka smiled at Hiccup, who smiled crookedly back, she placed a kiss on his forehead before the both nuzzled noses then cheeks like cats. Stoick understood what they were saying to each other; 'I love you', expressing their love as Mother and Son.
It was so obvious that even a Viking would have been able to see it, and he could. Their bond was special and it made his heart hurt, but lighten, to see them so close.
The Night Fury gently butted Hiccup's shoulder and looked at Valka with large eyes. Valka smiled and cupped the lizard's jaw before pressing a kiss to its forehead too, and the creature rubbed against her cheek as his rider had done, Valka grinned and pulled the two of them into a hug. Hiccup hugged her back with his arms, the Night Fury tucked its head behind her shoulder to hold her to his chest with his tail wrapping around Hiccup's back, and finally the four-winged creature extended his giant wings around them all.
Stoick was speechless with the beautiful sight.
It was a family, made of friends and a Mother and Son, and they all loved each other.
Once the four-winged beast folded his wings again Hiccup approached him and reached up for the beast's face. The larger dragon lowered his head to Hiccup's level and allowed the smaller being to rest his cheek to his own, Hiccup's arms also stretching fruitlessly to hold the larger dragon in a hug.
The four-winged beast held endless patience with Hiccup as the hug lasted longer than expected, but he eventually breathed down his odd nose, washing warm air over Hiccup. Hiccup leaned back with a disgruntled noise, but mischief grew over his features and he promptly blew a raspberry in the larger dragons' face.
The four-winged beast shook his great head and reared back in alarm while Hiccup laughed, fell backwards, and rolled backwards over his shoulder until he was nearer his Night Fury friend. He hooted mockingly and laughed some more when the larger dragon growled and gave the human an unimpressed look, that somehow never lost its deeply caring-loving undertones.
Valka gasped at her son's cheekiness and reached over with her long fingers to attack his vulnerable, thin ribs.
Hiccup yelped and dissolved into laughter again when Valka kept up her remorseless tickling. He rolled this way and that, but she was just as nimble and kept him under her hands until he was red in the face. The Night Fury watched with a dopy face, head on his paws while the humans played.
Hiccup let out several wails but the Night Fury just looked more amused. Ignoring his cries for help in favour of watching.
Valka eventually laid down beside her panting son, panting herself from laughter and showing all her white teeth as she smiled. Hiccup regained his breath and glared at her, he reached across and slapped her arm lightly in reprimand; he could probably never put any real force behind a hit towards her, and he was still smiling in the aftermath of play too.
Valka ignored his jibe and hummed slightly, pointing at the ceiling.
Hiccup sat up and followed her finger, his attention instantly captivated. He tilted his head and trilled softly, before turning to his dragon and chirping at him.
The Night Fury rose to his feet and looked up also, he sniffed the air slightly and warbled with a nod of his head. His many ears fluttered softly with whatever had grabbed their attention.
Hiccup looked back at the ceiling with excitement in his eyes, but quickly cracked a yawn.
Valka sat up and nudged his shoulder with hers, urging him towards his dragon. She closed her eyes and rolled her shoulders with an accompanying groan. Hiccup sighed and nodded with a hum, he leaned forwards and pecked her cheek, surprising her, before the smaller pair bounded over to the cliff side. Valka was smiling in pleasure and held a hand to her cheek with her dragon looking proudly over them both.
Stoick thought that human gestures of affection were probably rare, but special, in their world. Hiccup had no one to show him all of them, so he only returned what his Mother had shown him whilst growing up.
As Hiccup ran past the cave, on all fours with his Night Fury trotting by his side, he spotted Stoick watching him and tensed, jerking into a low crouch with his feet positioned to run or leap. The Night Fury stopped when he tensed, and quickly stretched a wing over his human friend, pulling him into his side and out of Stoick's sight.
Stoick glared at the dragon, how dare he hide his son from him! But Hiccup poked his head back out again and seemed more confident with the scaly wing shielding him, he was pressing himself into the dragon's flank as they moved towards one of the few growing trees in the sanctuary.
The Night Fury tenderly nudged Hiccup's head before leaping up into the tree's branches with two flaps of his wings. Hiccup, now without his scaly protector, and on the same level as Stoick, kept his eyes on him and his body tensed for fight or flight. He had removed his gloves, they were strapped against his shoes to avoid cutting anyone, so his pale hands showed brightly against his dark clothing and the dimness of the nest.
Stoick cleared his throat awkwardly "Goodnight, son," he said clearly.
Hiccup's face twisted in confusion, and slight distaste over the titled Stoick had called him, he looked up at his dragon friend and hummed something at him.
The Night Fury dropped down, hanging by his tail, his head was about the same height as Stoick's from the ground. He cooed something back at Hiccup and Hiccup shook his head. He looked at Stoick "Night does not know good and evil," he said, misunderstanding the farewell completely.
Stoick chuckled slightly as he sighed, rubbing his forehead "No, it means, sleep well," he corrected.
Hiccup's confusion left and he rolled his shoulders and neck slightly to relieve some tension, he nodded back at Stoick then stood up with an arm above his head towards his dragon. The Night Fury lowered his front paws and gripped Hiccup's arm back and pulled Hiccup up. Hiccup twisted his body in a terrific display of strength so he was also upside down, with the Night Fury's legs holding him in place like a four armed hug. The Night Fury tucked his head down on top of Hiccup's and shifted in their cuddle for a few seconds before drawing his wings around them both and closing his eyes. Hiccup was upside down, probably planning to sleep like that, and concealed entirely within his dragon's embrace.
Stoick was amazed that his son did everything with dragons, he even slept like one. He didn't know of many people who could stand being upside down for long, let alone sleep entire nights that way. It was not human.
He glanced over at Valka and saw her large dragon curled up like a cat or dog before a fire, with his top wings open. Valka was watching Hiccup get into position, her face suspicious as if she expected him to sneak out – Stoick wondered if he did that often – but a soft call from her dragon behind her made her turn her attention away and climb into the comfortable nest he had made out of his limbs and wings.
Once she had lain down and gotten comfortable the four winged beast folded his smaller set of wings around her like a blanket, then the larger ones on top like a tent. He closed his large golden eyes and was still.
Stoick glanced between his family, both sleeping in unique ways with their companions and guardians wrapped around them for safety. It was unnatural for him to see, dragons at home would never act so calm, or be so welcoming. The ones on Berk were terrifying, murderous monsters who attacked on sight and often left with the blood of his people splattered along their wings and dripping from their fangs. To see them be so gentle, nurturing and caring had capsized his world.
He never dreamed they could be so kind. Was it trickery? An act?
No. No creature could fake the feelings in their eyes when those dragons looked at each other, or their riders. The expecting Parents, the loyal friends, the confusing family love, and the bond between a rider and a dragon.
Vikings were wrong.
Stoick rubbed his forehead, feeling weary as his thoughts burst through barriers and barricades of traditions and beliefs that held his world in balance that gave his chiefdom reason. It was all Wrong.
He needed to sleep on what he had discovered today, and definitely message his men, the last thing he wanted was a power struggle or them making a pact with Drago without his authority keeping the mad man in check.
He sighed heavily and moved over to the furs, he only removed some armour before laying down, too tired physically and mentally to attempt his normal nightly routine.
The furs were unfamiliar, and smelled strongly of the sea air, and the lumps of the rocks they were positioned on kept him shifting and scratching for a comfortable spot to sleep. The night was full of late night dragon calls, snores, and soft pattering footsteps and wing beats – all noises that kept him from relaxing. Then there was the unnatural dark and warmth from the Haven. Nothing was familiar to him.
But eventually even he was captured by sleep, to be released back into chaos and new discoveries tomorrow. Maybe Valka would teach him something new, maybe Hiccup would talk to him again, maybe suddenly calling dragons 'hims' and 'hers' wouldn't sound so ridiculous.
Maybe.
Stoick grunted and closed his eyes.
Maybe was so unViking-
Maybe after this he wouldn't be a Viking …
Stoick sighed and prepared to brace for tomorrow.
Just like to defend what I did with the eggs: I know in HTTYD Gift of the Night Fury they say dragon eggs explode, but we only ever seen Gronkle eggs hatching, it's possible that other species of dragons hatch their babies very differently. I also think that the stoker class dragons should have more emphasis on the heat part of their nature - Hookfang got sick because his fire temperature was running low, so clearly heat is an important part of a Stoker class dragon's life. Therefore they burn themselves out of the eggs, and Mother's lay them once they're hot enough embryos ...
Then I think that Stoick and Valka would have so many awkward silences between them, they're on the opposite sides of war and yet they have a history. It's got to be a silence inviter.
Then there's the language, I think that dragons are incredibly intelligent so they have more formal and fancy language and there are more meanings in fewer words, the direction they can go is determined by body language. Their body language I think is most important and their noises show their moods and opinions on what they're showing/talking about. Like Toothless shaking his head while stretching his wings, disagreeing with a larger dragon or higher power, but won't challenge; and cooing while stretching his wings is agreeing with a larger dragon/higher power and acknowledging that their opinion is correct. It's all sublte stuff, for intelligent animals it doesn't' need to be entirely spelled out.
Though I would like to add that there is more verbal communication between riders and dragons since humans don't have the acute dragon senses or all the body parts to speak exactly like a dragon would be able to, so there's a lot more noise from Valka and Hiccup and from their dragons talking to them in order to compensate for the fact that they don't have tails and wings and sharper senses.
Finally Stoick has seen Dragons like people and has stopped calling them 'it' and now 'he' and 'she'. It's a big step towards accepting them, he's accepted that they're more than mindless objects.
Leave comments and I'll have something else up soon!
Amme-chan out!
P.S - I shall explain why Cloudjumper calls Valka 'sister-mine' if I get enough long comments of an intelligent and engaging nature. I hope you enjoyed it!
