It was dawn by the time the Dragon Riders and the NightWings made it back to Dragon's Edge. The night had been long and everyone was pretty tired. Shadowdrift's neck ached as much as his wings from flying nearly all night. He'd never felt so stiff his entire life. Not even his first flight to arrive here had been this cruel. He supposed Darklight felt the same by watching her fly below his wings, her flight position obvious that she was exhausted just as much.

The group aimed for the soft patch of grass next to the Training Arena and nearly every dragon landed heavily, their legs barely supporting their bodies anymore. Darklight grunted as her paws met the ground, wincing as her aching muscles burned at her mighty neck. Shadowdrift landed beside her, regaining his balance when she folded back his wings.

''You feeling okay?'' he asked, searching her expression that only revealed pain.

''I'll live.'' she replied quickly, shifting her eyes on the Vikings as they dismounted their dragons.

Two very similar little scavengers hopped down a green two-headed beast that had necks of snakes and approached the two NightWings, hand to their chin.

''You know what we forgot to do?'' said Tuffnut, waving his hand at the darkest of the two.

''What's that?'' asked Fishlegs, an edge of annoyance noticeable in his question.

''We never named these funny dragons.'' replied Ruffnut, reaching a hand to her hip. ''Isn't that the first thing we do when we discover new dragons?''

The three Riders turned to Hiccup for ideas, but they were way out of his earshot. Their leader was walking carefully up to the Clubhouse with an arm wrapped around Astrid's shoulders for support. There was no doubt he felt stiff after what happened during the patrol.

''Guess you'll have to wait 'till Hiccup feels better.'' said Fishlegs, shrugging carelessly at the twins. He placed a hand on his Gronckle's cheek and walked off to his hut.

''Well, sister,'' said Tuffnut, watching their only remaining smart-brained friend leave. ''It looks like this one's up to us.''

''What's going on?'' demanded Darklight, folding back her ears with her neck arched backward.

''Alright, let's see…'' started Ruffnut, tapping her lips with a finger as she searched the ground for ideas. ''What about—''

''I know!'' interrupted Tuffnut, throwing his hands to the air. ''What about we call them Night Furies?''

''Bro, that name's already taken!'' said Ruffnut harshly, gesturing to Toothless watching from the Clubhouse above their heads. The dragon growled in boredom, rolling his eyes.

''Right.'' He said, his eyes trailing from the Night Fury to the two NightWings. ''Wait! What do you think of Night Wraths?''

Ruffnut crossed her arms and glared at him. ''Really? I thought better of you.'' she simply said. ''Zero imagination skill. Gosh.''

''Not even Night Rages?''

Ruffnut shook her head.

''Night Angers? Night displeasures?'' he tried, but only received disappointed looks from his sister. ''Oh, common, woman! Not even Night Madness's?''

''I've had enough of this.'' growled Darklight, her patience wearing thin. Her teeth showed as she narrowed her eyes at the two bickering scavengers. What were two annoying scavengers worth anyway? Without even hesitating for what Shadowdrift had to say, she inhaled a mighty breath and was about to blow her hot flames on the scavengers when Shadowdrift slammed into her side, knocking the air she'd gathered from her lungs. Fire blew out of her mouth and nostrils while she met the ground, Shadowdrift's talons pressing down on her ribs heavily.

The female NightWing looked at her friend in shock. ''What are you doing?!'' she demanded, pushing him off with new strength as adrenaline spread through her body. Her eyes wild, she stood breathing hard before Shadowdrift who held her stare challengingly.

''I can't believe you were about to roast them alive!'' accused Shadowdrift, clearly upset she still didn't trust him when he said these humans were his friends.

''What are two annoying scavengers in less to this world anyway, huh?'' she growled loudly, thrusting her muzzle at him. They had never fought like this before, but neither of them took time to think how much their friendship was changing throughout this journey. Darklight wanted to kill these scavengers, but Shadowdrift wouldn't let her. Not on his watch.

''You don't understand!'' roared Shadowdrift as they circled each other. Before he could add more, the female NightWing jumped onto him, pinning him to the ground with a sickening thud. Shadowdrift's horns hit down hard, dazzling him for a brief moment.

''Dragon fight!'' cheered Tuffnut, punching his fists to the air in excitement. ''Finally some action!''

''Cool!'' added Ruffnut, watching the two NightWings roll on top of each other across the patch of grass.

Shadowdrift dug his claws into Darklight's shoulders once on top again, causing her to bellow in agony. ''Will you just listen to me?'' he demanded, but his friend shoved him off with her hind legs to his belly. Shadowdrift beat his wings to climb up above her while she staggered to her feet and looked up at him through narrowed eyes. ''This isn't home, Darklight! We can't do as we please!''

When he saw her soften her glare on him, Shadowdrift slowly lowered himself back down.

''These guys aren't like those in Pyrrhia.'' said Shadowdrift, approaching his friend as she slowly relaxed to the tone he was using. ''You can already tell. They have feelings, just like you and me. They understand and want to help us.''

''How are you so sure?'' asked Darklight, her voice cracking as she dropped her eyes to the wrecked ground from their fight.

Shadowdrift left his dark eyes lying on her dark scales, searching for the right answer. But his mind was blank when he summoned the confirmation that these humans really wanted to help them. He recalled the first time he met Hiccup. He had his tail stuck underneath a pile of boulders back on that desert island. He remembered every detail when he told him he wasn't there to harm him.

''We can help you get out of here if you let us.'' had said Hiccup. The words echoed in Shadowdrift's mind until he spoke again.

''I just know.'' he replied, his eyes focused into empty.

…

Hiccup sat on a crate he'd pulled from the pile in the corner of the Clubhouse while Astrid cleaned his burns on his shoulders from when he passed out on the ship set aflame. His skin was cooked as if someone had peeled the first layer of skin off his back. Every time the young warrior pressed the ice-cold cloth on the wounds, Hiccup would wince loudly; his muscles tensing instantly.

''Hiccup, would you just relax?'' said Astrid, bathing the cloth once again into the bucket.

''Sorry.'' he apologized, leaning his elbows against his knees. His armor and tunic had been taken off to reveal the number of wounds, but the burns only focused on the base of his neck and shoulders. ''It just really hurts. OW! Astrid!''

Astrid slapped the piece of wet cloth onto his back, smiling to herself in satisfaction of his complaint. ''That'll teach you not to go inside blazing ships. What were you thinking? You could've gotten yourself killed.'' she said, obviously upset her leader had taken such measures to save those dragons.

Hiccup sighed, not daring meet her eyes. ''You heard Snotlout.'' he simply replied.

The rest of the Riders walked in the Clubhouse; Snotlout grabbed himself a chair and Fishlegs came to his leader's side. The twins rushed in, excitement coming off them in waves.

''You people missed the most awesome dragon fight in history!'' declared Tuffnut, making the shape of a rainbow with his outstretched arms.

''No one cares, you two!'' snapped Snotlout at them both. The twins looked at Snotlout as if shocked, hurt in their eyes.

''Hey, Hiccup,'' said Fishlegs and Hiccup angled his head to see his friend standing next to him. ''Did you notice anything particular about this Dragon Hunter fleet while you were..?''

''Saving those dragons?'' said Astrid, shifting her eyes on Hiccup who only held her stare in annoyance. ''Yeah, I'm sure he remembers. Especially after passing out while doing so.''

Snotlout, leaning against a chair with his feet against the circle table laughed to himself suddenly. ''Ah, and the Hiccup gets a taste of his own medicine.'' he said to himself, reaching his arms to the back of his head for comfort. It was as if he'd finally gotten what he'd wished for so long and could now finally rest peacefully. But Ruffnut wouldn't allow after he'd snapped at them about the dragon fight and kicked one of the chair's feet, sending the Rider to the ground with a yelp.

Hiccup shook his head in discouragement and returned to Fishlegs. ''To be honest Fishlegs, Ryker's men seem to be holding more dragons every time we intercept them.'' he said while Astrid put away the bucket, indicating she was done treating his wounds. ''I'm starting to worry there's something we're not seeing.''

''You think it might have something to do with the Dragon Eye?'' asked Astrid, leaning against the table's edge.

''How?'' said Hiccup, looking at her intensely. ''Viggo doesn't have the key.''

''One reason or the other, we need to stop Viggo and his psychopaths of Hunters before Hiccup gets killed obsessing over saving every dragon in and outside the Archipelago.'' stated Snotlout, snatching his helmet from the twins who'd been getting back at him.

''Ok, Snotlout,'' said Hiccup flatly, locking his tired eyes with his. ''What do you suggest?''

''Whoa, n-no no.'' stammered Snotlout, placing both hands before him and his leader. ''You're the bright head here, figure that out. I won't be doing all your work, princess.'' Without another word, he walked out of the Clubhouse and shrieked as he came face to face with the two NightWings who'd been peering inside for a while now.

''We also need to figure out where these guys came from.'' added Astrid, gesturing to the two black dragons standing outside. It was obvious now that one was a male and the other a female. The male was much darker; his figures barely distinctive from one another.

''Where did you say you found them, Hiccup?'' asked Fishlegs, studying the new dragons with his eyes as if he hadn't already.

''Astrid and I found this one on the Isle of Night.'' Hiccup gestured at Shadowdrift who lifted his head at his mention. ''And the female appeared setting the whole ship aflame.''

Darklight's ears folded back after a while of listening. Even though she'd been around this world for a while now, she still felt uneasy to be able to understand scavengers. There was something unsettling about it. Not to mention what they were saying - something about hunters capturing dragons.

''What are they talking about?'' asked Darklight, shifting her eyes on her friend. They kept low enough not to draw all the attention on them while the Riders talked.

''It seems like they have enemies.'' replied Shadowdrift, attentive to the humans' conversation.

''Scavengers have enemies?'' said Darklight in astonishment. Back home, they were like little pests who seemed to mind their own most of the time. Unless, of course, they attacked dragons and killed them for their treasures… ''You think they're other dragons?''

''For starters, they're humans.'' stated Shadowdrift, dragging his gaze on her. ''And no, I think they're talking about others like them.''

Darklight recalled the human that seemed to be the leader of the group that had captured her not long after she'd arrived. They seemed really bad, the way they locked her up and treated her. She could see the difference between them and these humans now that she thought about it.

''There was this big ugly one that captured me.'' said Darklight, remembering how he had looked down at her. His dark brown eyes had sent chills down her spine. ''You think he might be it?''

Shadowdrift looked thoughtful for a moment. ''It's not impossible.'' he said simply.

''I hope so.'' said Darklight, and edge of excitement to her voice. ''That way I can get back at it and snatch its head off.''

Shadowdrift looked at her with huge eyes as if she'd grown another head. ''Whoa, Darklight! When did you become so hostile?'' he asked, his tone lowering as he leaned his head closer.

''May I remind you that I was locked up by these disgusting little beasts who treated me like an animal.'' she said, her sentence ending into a low growl with bared teeth. ''Not to mention we're stuck in this unknown land might make me a little weird.''

''Alright, keep your scales on.'' whispered Shadowdrift after she'd almost roared the words out.

Darklight gave her friend a stern look but Shadowdrift never noticed for he returned his attention on the activity inside. Lowering her head, she turned around and walked away, her heart feeling desperately heavy in her chest.

''Darklight?'' called Shadowdrift curiously as he watched her leave slowly, swaying left to right with her wingtips grazing the floorboards. ''Where are you going?'' The male NightWing hopped to her side as she heavily twisted her neck to face him. Shadowdrift wore a mask of concern as he met her watering eyes, confused of her sudden change of mood.

''Everything's changed, Shadow.'' as she spoke, her voice choked from the emotion, sending a knot to Shadowdrift's throat as well. She looked deeply into his eyes, wondering if she should confess how she felt. She swallowed hard and fled from his preoccupied gaze. ''Even you.''

Shadowdrift swallowed hard, finding it hard to breathe suddenly. He felt terrible for Darklight and wondered how he'd managed to make her feel like this. He was hot with embarrassment for hurting her so much. They were supposed to be a team out here, but neither of them understood the other as well as they thought. Inhaling slowly, she continued.

''I miss my family, I miss home. I don't know if I'll ever see them again.'' Unable to say more, Darklight broke into tears, the salty drops streaming against her scales and splashing against the wood at their feet. Shadowdrift extended his star-dotted wing and wrapped it around her for comfort, his chin resting between her horns.

Between sobs, her head against her best friend's chest, Darklight managed to let out a few more words. ''I'm scared.'' she whispered, opening her eyes full of fright to the unknown future that laid out for them.

Shadowdrift sighed and shut his eyes, reopening them to gaze out across the vast land of water that stretched out before him imposingly.

''So am I.'' he replied quietly, unable to figure out to whom he was telling so.

Whoa! This thing is going pretty well if you ask me. Believe it or not, I'm still writing this as I go. I have a couple ideas to make this epic and if you got some suggestions, I'm open.

'Till next time,

Rain