Chapter 10
After a few minuets Chris turned to his parents. Serenity turned to Tenor, her cheeks were still flushed and pink. Tenor was looking rather pleased as well. He laughed when he saw her face.
"Wow, I don't think I've ever seen you so red," he said. Serenity giggled.
"Yeah, well I've never been kissed before," she said.
"I haven't either," said Tenor. Serenity smiled at him. Then she kissed his muzzle. Tenor pinned his ears back bashfully, and snorted.
"I rest my case," he laughed. Serenity hugged his head.
"How'd it go with you and Windwalker?" she asked. Tenor sighed happily.
"Well, I asked her to be my mate," he said.
"And?" Serenity asked, hoping for the best.
"She said yes," Tenor said, beaming.
"Oh, that's wonderful!" Serenity cried joyfully. She threw her arms around his neck. Tenor hugged her back.
"You won't be alone anymore," she said.
"Nope, and neither will you," Tenor said. "Our days of searching are over." Serenity let go of him. They turned to watch the others. Chris and the others had made amens. Windwalker was laying nearby. Both she and Chris looked happy but sad.
"Though we won this war, it came at price," Chris said. "Half of our squadron is gone, and we're homeless. We have no where to go." Re and Aurora exchanged a glance.
"Well I wouldn't say you have no where to go," Re said. "If you're looking for a new home, we can help." Windwalker got to her feet and limped over to Chris, she looked curious.
"Really?" she said.
"Yeah," said Aurora. "Mt. Vulcan is an uninhabited island off the cost of Draconia. It's plenty big enough for your squadron, and it's safe from humans. If you're interested."
"And if you don't mind living next to a dormant volcano," Re added. Windwalker breathed a sigh of relief. Chris looked relieved as well.
"Thank you," said Windwalker, humbly. "My squadron and I are grateful to you, and we accept your offer." The other dragons murmured in agreement. Then they all bow humbly to their king and queen. Re and Aurora blushed, but held themselves tall. The moment ended. Serenity noticed that Chris didn't look entirely happy. While the others settled down Chris slipped away.
"What's wrong with him?" Tenor asked.
"I'll find out," Serenity said. "You go spend time with your new friend, make sure she doesn't distress herself too much. I don't want any of those stitches coming out." Tenor crooned bashfully. He walked off and joined Windwalker. Serenity went after Chris.
She found him looking back at the destroyed mountain. His face was solum. Serenity stood beside him and put a hand on his shoulder. She could guess what was on his mind.
"I'm so sorry Chris," she said, very softly. He sighed.
"My friends are dead," he said.
"No all of them," Serenity pointed out. "And now you all have a new home."
"True," Chris said.
"Well, they get a new home," Serenity continued. "You get your old one." That made him smile. He turned to face her. She threw her arms around him and he hugged her back.
"You know in my experience," Serenity said. "At the end of even the most violent storm is a rainbow."
"That makes sense," Chris said. "This war was the storm."
"Now you just have to find that rainbow," said Serenity. There was a short pause, Chris let it sink in. After a while he changed the subject.
"So, did you miss me as much as I missed you?" he asked.
"You've no idea," Serenity sighed. Chris reached into his pocket and pulled out Serenity's handkerchief. He carefully put it in her hand and closed her fingers around it.
"Your gesture was greatly appreciated," he said. Serenity smiled. But then she saw tears in his eyes still. She used her handkerchief to wipe them away. He heaved a shaky sigh.
"I was hoping you wouldn't see me cry," he said.
"I've seen you cry before," said Serenity. She hugged him again. He returned the gesture and held on for dear life. Serenity rubbed his back gently. Neither of them spoke for what felt like ages. Chris stood back slightly. His eyes, red and puffy. Serenity wiped away the last of his tears.
"There now, it's okay," she said, her voice was very soft.
"I hope I don't loose you too," Chris said.
"You won't," Serenity said. Then she changed the subject. "And Chris, I'm sorry I got you in all trouble." Chris smiled at her.
"I wouldn't have missed it for the world," he said. He held her hand. "We should get back. You can see how your patients are doing." Serenity nodded.
They turned and headed back towards the campsite. It was now twilight. They were quiet for a while. Her hand was still in his. When they got back they found it silent. Everyone was asleep. A fire pit sat in the middle of the clearing. It was still glowing with blue embers, indicating that Aurora had lit the camp fire. Chris looked over at Windwalker. She was sleeping next to a tall tree.
"How long until she's healed?" he asked.
"A week," said Serenity. "She can fly, but you can't rider for a while. As for the rest of them, they'll be up and about in a week or two as well."
"So, two weeks then?" said Chris.
"Yes," said Serenity. "Then we can all go home." She went over to where her gear was sitting, beside Re and Aurora. She picked up her tent and tarp.
"Is that really necessary?" Chris asked. "It's a clear night, and warm."
"I once camped without a tent on a night like this," said Serenity, as she unrolled the tarp. "I woke up in the middle of the night, and it was raining buckets. So, even on the clearest nights I always set up a tent just to be safe even if I don't end up sleeping in it." She began setting up the tent.
A few minutes later they were laying next to each other, looking up at the starry sky. Serenity had her head resting on her medical bag and Chris had his resting on a log.
"Just so you know, I didn't really want to throw you out," Chris said.
"I've been thrown out over fifty times, I'm used to it," said Serenity. Chris looked at her surprised.
"Fifty times!?" he said.
"It's nothing to feel bad about," said Serenity. "I didn't belong in those places anyway. Berk's the only place, besides Draconia, that has accepted me."
"I see," said Chris. "So, you go back and forth to Berk every year."
"Yeah," said Serenity. "Well, not just Berk but the archipelago that it's apart of. There's a lot of dragons out there. I've been putting my skills to very good use there."
"You must have saved hundreds of lives," Chris said, it wasn't a question.
"And made quite a lot friends in the process," Serenity added.
"So, what else have I missed?" Chris asked.
"We got three new volcanoes back home," said Serenity. "Three mountains blew their tops off, like Vesuvius. Caused a lot of damage."
"Anyone killed?" Chris asked.
"Luckily dragons are not as easily victimized by volcanoes as humans," said Serenity. "Some got seriously injured, but no fatalities."
"Well, that's good," said Chris. Then he yawned. "We should get some sleep. Lots to do tomorrow."
"I'm the only one with work to do," said Serenity.
"Well, we'll need to find somewhere to hide until your patients are cured," Chris said. "You're the only one with a tent, and it only holds to people."
"Fair point," Serenity yawned. She turned to see that he'd fallen asleep. She smiled and kissed his cheek. Then she too fell asleep.
The next few days the entire squadron camped at the base of a smaller mountain with a large cave in the side. The injured, hatchlings, and unhatched eggs took shelter in the cave with their respective caretakers. The rest of the squadron stayed outside. Serenity kept her eye on her patients, including Windwalker. There was a lot of chatter among the squadron about what their new home was going to be like. Re and Aurora had told them that it was very safe and peaceful. They would have the support of the rest of the Draconian squadrons. All the mountain dragons were excited about it.
One by one Serenity's patients were on their feet. She was checking up on Windwalker one afternoon. Tenor refused to leave her side. Serenity allowed him to stay, as long as he helped out. Windwalker watched her squadron outside. She was also looking in the direction of where the mountain should have been.
"You alright?" Serenity asked, as she removed Windwalker's stitches.
"What'd you think?" Windwalker said, sourly. "I just lost my home and many of my friends."
"A lot of the dragons in Draconia have lost their homes and friends to humans," Serenity said. "You guys won't be the first, nor will you be the last."
"Humans want this planet all to themselves," Tenor said. "And anyone who gets in their way gets destroyed."
"Except for these Berkians," said Serenity. "Hiccup is the type to settle on an island occupied by dragons, and let the dragons keep their home."
"Are you looking forward to seeing your new home?" Tenor asked.
"Of course I am," said Windwalker. "There's left for us here now." She looked at the ground sadly. Serenity paused in her work and hugged Windwalker's neck. The Night Fury purred.
"You going to love Draconia," Serenity said softly. "You won't have to relive this nightmare again."
"You're sure?" said Windwalker. Serenity released her and went back to work.
"Positive," she said. "When my original family kicked me out, after five years of abuse, Ruby brought me to Draconia and I was never abused again."
"What sort of abuse?" asked Windwalkers.
"Verbal, physical," said Serenity. "They beat me up, threw me out onto the street, and left me for dead. Ruby came back from a hunting trip. He found me and took me far away from that place."
"You still remember that day?" Windwalker asked.
"All too well," said Serenity.
"How can you remember something like that?" asked Windwalker.
"It's kind of hard to forget when it keeps popping up in your nightmares," Serenity said, as she put away her clippers and tweezers.
"Oh, I see," said Windwalker. "How'd you get over it?" Serenity looked outside towards where Chris was bringing back firewood. Windwalker followed her gaze.
"I finally knew what it was like to have a best friend," Serenity said. "What it was like to be loved."
"You're very softhearted," said Windwalker. Serenity smiled as she closed her bag.
"That's why I'm a healer and not a fighter," she said. She set the bag down and got to her feet.
Soon all the wounded dragons were healed and ready to travel. The squadron made ready to make the long flight. The Berkians were looking forward to heading home. They packed their gear. When everyone was ready, they took off and head homeward. The unhatched eggs and young hatchlings were carried by adult dragons. Serenity rode on Tenor and Chris rode Windwalker. They flew next to each other the whole way.
The squadron headed back west, towards the Archipelago. They planned to stop off on Berk, before the Draconians took their new friends home. It took another week to reach the Archipelago. The Berkians and Draconians hovered over the ocean. The mountain dragons flew nearby. The sun was high in the sky.
"Thanks for coming when we called," said Hiccup.
"Our pleasure," said Re. "And thank you for helping us find our son."
"I hope we see you again," said Hiccup.
"Oh, that is for sure," said Aurora lightly. Serenity saw the Queen glance in her and Chris's direction. "I get the feeling you'll be seeing a whole lot more of us."
"Well, we better be heading off," said Re. "And show these dragons their new home." He gestured towards the mountain dragons.
"Us too," said Hiccup. "I've got a whole lot of chiefing to do." Re looked both understanding and amused.
"I hear you," he said.
"Good luck to you," said Hiccup. Re nodded once. Then he and his dragons turned and headed south, the squadron followed him.
They headed home at long last. The dragons grew more excited with every mile. Serenity noticed that Chris looked nervous. She steered Tenor alongside Windwalker.
"You alright?" she asked.
"I've been dreaming of this for ten long years," Chris said. "Ever since I survived that storm."
"Well, I can assure it's just the way you left it," Serenity said. At that moment they approached the wall that surrounded Draconian waters.
"I don't remember that wall," said Chris.
"We built it several years ago," Re said. "For extra protection."
"No gate?" said Windwalker.
"The gates are way underwater," said Re. "Only the sea dragons can access them. The rest of us, just fly over the wall. Human ships and weapons can't get past it." He led the way over the wall and the Draconian waters. On the other side of the wall the different colored fins of Whale Dragons cut through the water's surface. Every once in a while one of them would come up for air. Among the Whale Dragons were pods and pods of Scauldrons, Sea Shockers, Thunderdrums, and many other sea dragons in every size, shape, and color. They looked up when the new arrivals flew overhead. They flew over the sea dragons and towards the mainland. Eventually the mountains came into view. The squadron cheered. Re turned to his comrades.
"Let's show our new friends their new home," he suggested. "I'm sure they're tired of traveling." Aurora and Tenor nodded in agreement. They turned and headed east. The new arrivals followed them. Soon they spotted a large island below.
It was four thousand square miles. There were several trees and lots of green grass. Wherever there wasn't greenery, there was dried lava. There was a beach on two sides of the island, both of them were made of black sand. There was a tall cliff made of dried lava and had a beautiful waterfall gushing down into the sea. A river fed the waterfall, that flowed from a large lake. Surrounding it were a few bubbling springs. And shadowing the whole thing was a large caldera. In the crater were more springs, and a large geyser right in the middle of the crater. Around the rim was more dried lava.
The mountain dragons admired their new home. Then they headed in for landing. The royal dragons landed on the rim of the caldera. Re turned to Windwalker, who was mesmerized by the place.
"Well, what'd you think?" he asked.
"It's beautiful," said Windwalker. "What do you call it again?"
"Mt. Vulcan," said Aurora. "It's not the tallest volcano, but it has the largest crater."
"Is the water drinkable?" asked Windwalker.
"Oh yeah," said Re. "It's swimmable too. It's pretty warm, but that's the only thing different about it."
"And you it's only dormant," said Windwalker.
"Well, no volcano stays quiet forever," said Tenor.
"When this one blows you should gather your friends and head to the mainland as fast as you can," Re said. "Let the volcano blow off steam before returning."
"Will the eruption damage the island?" asked Windwalker.
"Not to the extent you're thinking of," said Aurora. "The eruption will consist mostly of ash and the occasional lava bomb. And any damage it will cause, I will fix myself." Windwalker turned to the king and queen.
"Thank you, your majesties," she said. "This island is perfect." Serenity turned to Chris, who was also admiring the island.
"You remember this place?" she asked.
"Sure do," Chris said. "I've been here hundreds of times. Especially Whale Spout." He looked in the direction of the geyser.
"We wanted to see if it would shoot us into the sky," Serenity giggled.
"We tried it too," Chris said, just as amused. "I broke my arm and got a concussion."
"That was one of the times I got you in trouble," Serenity said, not so amused now. Chris looked her in the eye.
"I'll forgive you, if you stop feeling guilty about it," he said. Serenity smiled at him.
"Deal," she said. Just then Re, Aurora, and Tenor turned to them.
"We should get back to the mainland," Re said. "I'll be telling the rest of the country about all of this." Chris smiled at the idea of heading to the mainland.
"Good idea," said Serenity. She got on Aurora and Chris got on Re.
"I'll come back later," Chris said to Windwalker. The Night Fury nodded.
"Make yourselves at home," said Aurora. With that the three dragons spread their wings and took off.
They all headed towards the Golden Gates. Behind them, was the Draconian Castle.
"Home," Chris sighed, happily. There were dark clouds overhead, indicating that a thunderstorm had just passed. And arched over the castle was a full rainbow.
"Looks like you found that rainbow," said Serenity. "Storm's over." She clicked the reins and steered Aurora towards the castle. The rest of the family followed.