Toothless wasn't a stranger to cold, he lived in Berk after all, but the weather did manage to irk him at times. Right now, for instance, there were only a few weeks of Fall left but here on the island it might as well always be Winter.

If he lay in the Sun for too long it would make his scales uncomfortably hot, if he lay in the shade too long it would get irkingly cold. Of course, the weather wasn't really the reason he was bothered at the moment.

Toothless watched with growing irritation as the thing sat there, entertaining his friends. With each word Hingejaw seemed more and more… normal. Granted he was a shade more callous and low than the others, but he didn't seem like an overtly bad Dragon. Without Stormfly to be protective of, he was much less hostile. And that just served to feed Toothless' dislike of him.

Barf was instantly smitten, she smiled with uncharacteristic sugar whenever he happened to glance her way, her brother, Belch, not as impressed. Hookfang, Toothless could hardly believe what he saw, seemed to have a real connection with Hingejaw. At the moment they were comparing trophies.

Barf noted coyly, "Don't try to hide those scars down there, you've got a lot of history, don't you?"

Hingejaw cocked an eyebrow, "Not just history, experience."

As if on cue, he rolled over slightly to reveal a belly of scars, so much that there wasn't much whole scales left. He smirked at Barf's face, "I stopped counting at thirty. Uh, here's a Speed Stinger, Nadder, Wraith, this one belonged to a 'Death', but I just can't remember which one."

"Damn, son," Hookfang cocked an eye. "Speed Stinger eh? Impressive."

"A pack of them had me for an easy meal, penned me inside a cave one day. I had some 'negotiations' with one of them that night and she got me a way out."

"Damn, brother, you got game."

Hingejaw smiled slyly and rolled back to rest. "You've got no idea."

He wasn't Stormfly's type at all, what did she even see in this thing? Toothless gave an unamused face as Hookfang mouthed, 'Not bad'. At least Belch seemed to share Toothless' sentiments, to some extent. The Brother of the Pair was always more grounded and sensible, and did not seem at all as approving as he had when he'd first met Hingejaw.

Meatlug shuddered and shook off a layer of accumulated snow on her back. She cleared her throat, "So, Hingejaw, I didn't invite you here so you could share war stories. 'Hun, I asked you here so we could all know…"

"Oh please, I've no stomach for lectures. Spit it out, then."

"Well, as y'know, we care about Stormfly deeply."

Toothless growled softly to emphasise the point. Barf shot him a withering glare, before returning her attention to HIngejaw.

Meatlug continued, "And as we care about her, I think that-"

"Ah, I see where this is going," the imposing Nadder laughed. "This is about me and her, isn't it?"

Silent acknowledgement.

Hingejaw spread his large wings, shaking off the snow upon them, and answered, "Well isn't it obvious? Stormfly loves me, and I love her. She's a sweet girl, I'd never hurt her, so put that face away, Nightfury."

Everyone turned to Toothless and he quickly hid his growing glare, smiling instead. Barf shot him another sneer, which he subtly returned with a narrowing of his eyes.

Ruffnut and Tuffnut found them a while later and coerced their Dragon away. Barf left with much reluctance, as expected, and Meatlug left soon after to find Fishlegs, and Hookfang to go raid the pantry.

Their ring of rooftops seemed quite empty without the others, and as Hingejaw watched Hookfang soar away Toothless went on overdrive, trying to concoct some reason to leave. He began, "Yeah, Hiccup said he needed help with something so I kinda need to uh…"

Hingejaw glanced back. Nadders were naturally beautiful Dragons, and he was far from an exception. He seemed to glow with a morose, deep radiance in the stark Autumn Sun as he shook off some snow on his neck. He smiled without a dose of his usual venom to Toothless. "It's all good."

Toothless turned to leave immediately, breathing a sigh of relief and shaking his tail sail irritably while it refused to open. "Damn metal thing…"

Hingejaw's voice sounded out from behind, plainly saying, "I know we don't like each other, and Meatlug's told me about your history with Stormfly."

He stopped where he was, the forwardness of the Nadder's words caught him off guard. Toothless glanced back.

The larger Dragon said, "I hope you understand why I got up in your face when we met."

No I don't understand, he growled back. But of course he didn't say that out loud. Aloud he sighed, "It's all good."

"Just make sure that you'll- just do what makes her happy."

What makes her happy. Could he do that? Was he willing to do what it took? He grit his teeth softly. Happy. Even if it meant he had to let her go.

Toothless turned around to face Hingejaw, looking up at him. "And if I ever find out that she gets hurt in anyway, I'll find you. Do you understand me? I'll find you, crystal?"

It wasn't an idle threat, and Toothless knew that was clear.

"Crystal," Hingejaw nodded with a smirk. "And you can relax, I'd never hurt her."

PassiveBot- And on that ominous note, chapter 8. So, on to the delays. Of course Bol was concentrating on her exams, and though I did my best to help her that was not the real reason, nor my overseas trips. The truth is that I had spent most of my time trying to help her with he extensive collection of stories. When she'd told me that she had many unfinished projects, I had expected maybe a dozen or two stories, but in reality, she has seventy-six unfinished stories!

Short stories, unfinished novels, fanfictions, and there are even quite a few finished, but unpolished, stories, even a full novel. Bol is a beautiful, prolific writer, but she craves an outlet to post these stories, not just fanfictions, and I want the chance to help her shine and for her talent to be recognised, so I implore you readers to help me.

If any of you know an outlet where we can freely post stories for criticism, I beg you to share them with me so I can help Bol grow past her boundaries.

P.S. I'm hoping she doesn't read this or things might get awkwaaaaard.