Chapter Ten
Changes and Reality
This has to be a dream. It can't be real, it just can't be.
I don't understand. My tiny, fierce little hatchling is…dead? I gaze around at the battling dragons. Turning my head up to the sky, I let out a wail of grief that echoes around me. All of the dragons stop fighting and turn to me, but I'm already down the tunnel.
Home. I have to get home. Take my hatchlings…and go home. I can't feel anything as I let the two siblings climb onto my back. No pain from the fight, no hunger…only grief. I can't even speak.
Toothless follows me silently as I take flight. He probably doesn't know who Phoenix is-was…but I can tell he knows something bad has happened. Something horrible…
I barely hear Stoick call the flight home. Nobody speaks during the journey home. Only the Vikings. The other dragons give me wary, pitiful looks as we fly. They know what has happened.
"I think something bad happened to Raven." I hear Hiccup say, "The dragons are acting a bit weird around her."
I squeeze my eyes shut and turn away, not able to bear the pain. After a while, the Island of Berk comes in sight and I am the first to land. Nate and Irria don't make a sound as I solemnly walk towards the house. I lay down on the rock slab, tuck them under my wing, and close my eyes.
A few days later
I'm still grieving over Phoenix's death. Nate and Irria, however, soon get over it and return to their usual, playful selves. I take them to the forest a lot so they can play, but I don't say much.
Also, I haven't really introduced them to their father. They see him from time to time, but nothing more.
Now, I'm on a boulder watching them silently as they play in the cove. Nate splashes Irria with the lake water, who squeals excitedly and chases him around. They soon end up scuffling on the shore. I don't pay attention as Stormfly stealthily lands next to me.
I hear her sigh and turn my head towards her, "What is it?" My best friends looks at me and says, "You."
"Me?"
"Look, I know it's been hard ever since…the battle," she says, "But you have to let go of the past. Nate and Irria need you. You're going to miss their youth if you keep going on like this. A true mother plays with their young, not just let them entertain themselves."
"Are you saying I'm not being a good mother?" I challenge.
"Yes, yes I am. Raven, I know you. When I first met you-you were the most hard-core dragon I'd ever met. Everything that you went through in your past- you let it all go. This shouldn't be so hard."
She flies away, leaving me staring after her.
She's right. As much as I hate to admit it, she is. I am being a terrible mother. It's just…how can I forget that I had three kids instead of only two? I watch as Irria lands a soft blow on Nate's nose.
Smiling, I leap off of my boulder and crouch playfully next to them. They stare at me for a moment before playfully chasing me around. I don't go too fast, only enough to stay just out of reach.
But near the end, I let Nate leap on top of me and pretend to be pinned down. "We got you!" Irria squeals as she tugs on my ear. I laugh, "Yes you did, my little hunters!" Nate scrambles onto my wing but is soon tackled to the ground by his sister.
"Ahh! Irria-Irria stop! It t-tic-tickles!" He laughs as she tickles him with her claws. I stand on my hind legs, "Roar! I'm a hungry bear! I'm going to have Night Furies for dinner!" They squeal excitedly as I chase them.
We play for a few hours until the sun starts to set. Then, I help them up the rock wall and we head home. Before I tuck them into bed, though, I take them to Toothless. "Hi, Toothless!" Nate says cheerfully, "We just had the best day with Mama! We went to the cove and she started playing with us!"
Toothless looks at me and I smile. "Nate, Irria," they look up at me, "There's somebody you need to meet."
My mate sits down and swipes them towards him with his tail. They gaze at him in confusion. He looks at me and I nod. "Nate, Irria," he says, looking down at his children, "I'm your father."
Short chapter but the epilogue will come later in the day