Another short chapter. The next one will be longer I hope. Let me know what you think!

Chapter 7 Meeting Snowflake

The scream had come from a Night Fury. The dragon was in the middle of the plaza, wounded. His rider was trying to calm him. When they had arrived, they had been approached by a man who told them that the dragon and his rider had been attacked by Changewings. Wrenlou had taken a look at the dragons injuries, but they had not been too serious. When the rider, a young girl, had tried to explain, Wrenlou had gone mad. He had yelled at her, but the words he shouted had stung Hiccup. He felt like they were also directed towards him. Protect your dragon! Without him, your life is nothing. Without him, you are nothing. You are lucky he's still alive. You could have been killed out there. He hadn't stayed to listen. He had run to Toothless, grabbing a fish along the way. He now sat next to his dragon, stroking the black nose. Toothless was humming softly.

'Hiccup?'

The two looked up. Wrenlou was standing in the doorway. Toothless growled softly. His rider was unsettled, and this man was the cause.

'Can I talk to you?'

Hiccup nodded, but Toothless still had his teeth bared.

'I'm sorry. I know that what I said hurt you. I know you feel responsible for what happened to Toothless. But Hiccup, it's not your fault.'

'I know.' Hiccup said. Toothless relaxed now that he felt his rider relax. 'But I feel like it's my fault. I was irresponsible.'

Wrenlou abandoned his spot at the doorpost and joined Hiccup on the ground. 'Why? What did you do?'

'I went out flying alone. I told no one where I was going. I put myself and Toothless in danger..'

'Let me stop you right there. Going out alone without telling anyone where you're going is not being irresponsible. You're the chief, you can do what you want. And my question is now, did you seek it out?'

'What?' Hiccup looked confused. Toothless mimicked his expression.

'The Red Death. Did you seek it out. Did you go to it's nest knowingly, to hunt it.'

'No. we didn't even know where the nest was.'

'Then it's not your fault. She,' he gestured in the direction of the plaza, 'she went to Changewing island on purpose, putting both herself and the dragon at risk. You must know how protective Changewings are about their eggs. Every rider knows not to go there. That's why I got mad. I'm sorry it made you feel bad.'

Hiccup smiled. 'It's okay. Really. I know it wasn't meant for me.'

They sat quietly for a while, the Wrenlou suddenly got up.

'Where are you going?' Hiccup asked, suddenly worried.

'I'll be right back.'

'That wasn't an answer,' Hiccup mumbled when Wrenlou had left. 'I wonder what he's up to, don't you?'

The dragon laid his head down on Hiccup's lap with a sigh, but looked right up again when Wrenlou appeared in the doorway again.

'Toothless? There is someone I want you to meet.' Toothless tilted his head, expectingly.

'Toothless, Snowflake. Snowflake, Toothless.'

Snowflake's head appeared above Wrenlou's. Toothless looked up at her and froze when he realized what she was. Wrenlou stepped aside, allowing the white Night Fury to come in closer to Toothless. She sniffed him and he sniffed back. Then he turned his head to Hiccup, his eyes big.

'That's right bud. She's a Night Fury too.'

Toothless turned his head back towards the other Night Fury. He seemed too amazed to make a sound. Snowflake decided she could lay down next to him and for a while, Hiccup and Wrenlou didn't exist. Hiccup suddenly realized that he smiling. This was the first time Toothless had been in real contact with any of the Night Fury's on this island. It probably was the first contact with another Night Fury in a long time. After a while both dragons calmed down and Wrenlou settled himself between his dragons front legs. Hiccup did the same. Snowflake had a wing over Toothless, like a mother protecting her young, and Toothless had his tail around Snowflake. Hiccup suddenly noticed something.

'Shouldn't we go?'

'Why?'

'It's getting dark. I thought no one was supposed to be here after dark.'

Wrenlou poked his head out from under Snowflake's chin and looked up at the window.

'Screw that. We're breaking the rules tonight.'

'Can we just do that?'

'No, of course not. But Toothless is calm, Snowflake is here, why shouldn't we stay. It will be fine Hiccup. If we get in trouble for staying, I will take the full responsibility, don't worry.'

Hiccup smiled and curled up. Toothless curled up around him. Snowflake did the same with Wrenlou and it wasn't long before both boys and both dragons were fast asleep.