The sea waves splashed and misted the trio of night furies. "We should find a spot to rest, we've been flying for several hours straight," the red marked nightfury suggested. Shadow was about to complain, but after he saw Asterisk's weary straight he kept his mouth shut. "There's a small island up ahead. We should be able to rest there."
"Alright fine, but we leave as soon as we get our energy back," Shadow retorted. Nightshade looked down and sighed, shaking his head. Personally he had no strong feelings towards humans, so for the most part this mission meant nothing to him. However, the only thing that really mattered to him was Shadow and Asterisk.
They glided down towards the ground, landing clumsily from exhaustion. Asterisk let out a relieved sigh and stretched out her limbs before going limp on the ground, sleeping in a curled up state. "Shadow, you should rest to. Watch over Asterisk. I am gonna go get some food for us to eat."
Nightshade parted from the group for the time being to get a meal for them to enjoy. Shadow let out a frustrated sigh, a small puff of steam formed from his warm breath entering the cold air. He made his way towards Asterisk and watched her curled up state. He pressed his scaley nose against her cheek. However she didn't wake up. She really was exhausted; he laid next to her and wrapped himself around her as much as he could. Covering her with his large black wings. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I didn't realize the stress I had been putting on you, physically and mentally. I've just been so worried."
There was a long silence before he spoke again. "I've been so worried about my parents that I've almost forgotten this family that I need to care about too," he confessed. "I wish I could promise that after all of this we could finally settle down somewhere, but I don't know how long until we can have that possibility, but… I promise… that we will eventually find a time and a place we can rest, even if it is in the afterlife." He said and nuzzled her cheek.
"I'm back." Nightshade had a mouth full of fish, as well as some on his head and some he was carrying on his wings. He dropped them all in a pile on the ground in front of the pair of night furies "Did she wake up yet?"
"No, she's still sleeping."
"Well, she hasn't gotten a decent rest ever since the attack. She needs this." There was a long silence.
"Hey, sorry about before."
"You don't have to apologize. I would have done the same thing in your position. I think everyone would have." There was a long pause, "Losing someone you love is not easy." Nightshade laid on the ground with his legs beneath him.
"What ever happened to her?" Shadow asked, however he quickly regretted asking when Nightshade's expression turned cold.
"Vikings… isn't that obvious? They killed her without hesitation. They mounted her skull on a stick. I can still see her hollowed out eyes, it was sickening. At the time, I was so angry. Hate consumed me, and before I knew it, that bastard queen took advantage of me and made me her slave." Nightshade spat flames on the grass in front of him. Shadow felt frozen in place, he was unsure of what he should say next… if he should say anything at all. "I know you're not a bad dragon Shadow, even though you were once a viking, but I want you to promise me something. Asterisk is your family now, will you protect her with your life? From viking, dragon, or monster?"
Shadow was hesitant for a brief moment. He looked into the distance. It was without a doubt, he was willing to protect Asterisk from anything, but could he? They nearly died fighting the queen, but now they are after something so much bigger, fiercer, stronger. Could he protect her from such a force?
"It's a lot to ask, I know, and I am sorry for putting all this pressure on you, but your the only one I know can do it. If you can't, no one can. Do you understand that?"
"Yes… I promise to protect her with my life." Shadow spoke. "I won't let her die." He said with determination in his voice. "It's no only her I want to protect. I want to protect all of my family, I've already failed once, I won't fail again."