Lorekeeper looked at the other dragons and began a series of hisses, chirps, and chitters. They responded. The female Nightmare from Gyda's house shuffled towards Hiccup and bowed.

[Forgive us, Alpha. We'll help however you need.]

Hiccup frowned, confused.

[I told them what you told me, Alpha,] Lorekeeper said. [The Elder will find other helpers and those who wished to join your lessons will go with you now to help.]

"Oh, okay. Thank you." Hiccup was grateful. He did not want to repeat his father's request. It still made him feel as if he was pushing the dragons back into the treatment they had been subjected to before the Red Death died.

He turned to Ruff and Tuff, needing a distraction. "Guys, I need you to lead some dragons and hunt for some boars. Dad's gonna have some Vikings at the skinning stations. Just bring a boar back one at a time. Stop when they say we have enough." Hiccup stared at them, eyes narrowed. "That food is for all the tribe to have enough to last the winter. Do not mess this up or you two will be the first to lose food privileges."

He did not want to say that, but his father insisted. The twin had to understand the seriousness of what they were doing. His father also said that. The threat seemed to have done what his father said it would do. The twins blinked and straightened.

"We won't mess up," Ruff said.

"Yeah, we like to eat," Tuff added.

[We will be there-] Barf began.

[To ensure it will be-] Belch continued.

[Done as you-]

[Ordered, Alpha.]

"Thank you," Hiccup said.

[Barf, Belch,] Toothless said. [Take the dragons towards the falling trees the humans are cutting. Head north and to the right. A large flock of boars live there.]

[Can I help the hunters?]

Everyone turned, finding the young Nightmare from yesterday standing just in from the treeline. The young dragon shuffled forward.

[I want to help the nest. Please.]

[Alpha?] Lorekeeper asked.

Hiccup walked over and held out his palm. The young Nightmare eagerly pressed his nose into Hiccup's palm.

"Can you carry a boar?" Hiccup asked.

[Not a big male, but a youngling or a female not about to lay eggs I can carry.]

"Okay but listen to the others and all of you be careful. Those boars are tricky and nasty. They can and will hurt and kill you if they take a notion to it."

The young Nightmare bowed. Hiccup saw the three Zipplebacks and the female Nightmare from Gyda's home also bowing before Barf and Belch lead them away. The other Elders bowed and flew off. That left the male Nadder, the Gronkle, and Lorekeeper. The Nadder and the Gronkle moved to stand next to Toothless and Stormfly. Hiccup looked towards Lorekeeper.

"We'll be in that part of the forest I avoid yesterday. That's where the wood cutters are. While those others get the boars, the rest are helping the wood cutters carrying in the trees they cut. If you could have the ones the Elders ask to meet us there, I'd be grateful. Just tell them to look for the falling trees."

[We'll meet you there, Alpha.]

"We?"

Lorekeeper laughed. [We Elders that are capable of the feat are not so old we can't carry a tree or two.]

Hiccup chuckled. "Okay, but if any dragon," he said then looked at Astrid, "or Viking gets tired let someone know. We'll take a break. I don't want anyone hurt."

[The alpha protects them all,] Lorekeeper said softly. [I have heard that much of my life but I never understood it. Not until now. With you.]

"Me?"

[You protect not only us dragons, but also the other humans. I dare say if trolls and gnomes could speak and understand the Common Tongue and asked to join your nest that you would find a way for them to do so and would protect them as well.]

Hiccup coughed, not sure how to respond to that. Thankfully, Astrid saved him.

"Hiccup, we do need to go."

"Right," he said. "Thank you, Lorekeeper. We'll see you over there and when I have a free moment, we'll talk some more."

[Sure, Alpha. I look forward to it.]

Hiccup mounted Toothless. The bounced into the air. Stormfly, Astrid, the two riderless dragons followed. The Terror waited until they leveled out before moving down and curling up behind Hiccup's back.

[I'm sorry I didn't remember you, Brother Alpha.]

"It's okay. I did tell Gyda to block the memories."

[Will I get my memories back?]

"Gyda said it will happen and the other dragons got theirs."

[Okay, Brother Alpha. Hey, Brother Protector, can I help you chaperone Brother Alpha and Lady Alpha? Mom always said there can never be enough chaperones. Eh, well, she said that when my brothers spoke of females they fancied.]

[You said your parents died in that attack,] Toothless said. [Did your brothers?]

[No. They found mates long before that and formed their own flocks. I haven't found them yet.]

"We'll look together," Hiccup said. "When I can. I promise."

[Thank you, Brother Alpha. So, can I help chaperone?]

[The more the merrier,] Stormfly said. [Or so that old saying went.]

Hiccup glanced over and found Astrid smiling at him. She then smirked, leaned forward and whispered something to Stormfly. Stormfly chittered and with a wink to Hiccup and Toothless shot forward.

"Catch us if you can, Hiccup!"

"Astrid!"

The male Nadder laughed.

[Spike-thrower,] Toothless said. [You heard Alpha say where we'll be. Meet us there.]

[Of course. Now, teach them a lesson, Protector.]

[Gladly. Hold on, brothers.]

Toothless coiled then shot forward. Hiccup reached back, securing the Terror. In the blink of an eye they caught up to and then surpassed Stormfly and Astrid. Hiccup heard Astrid yell in frustration and Stormfly laugh. Hiccup chuckled.

"Good job, bud."

Toothless laughed. [Your kind calls my kind a Night Fury and says we are the fastest dragons, right?]

"Yes. What do you call your species by the way?"

[Well, we don't name our own species. Other dragons will, using our collective actions or our shared traits. To name one's own species is to be consider too arrogant to be a dragon.]

"Really?"

[Aye,] the Terror said. [Dragons consider naming one's self to be rude. Why would you think you're so important as to be able to name yourself? That's what the Elder you met always said as I grew up.]

"So, what do other dragons call Night Furies?" Hiccup asked.

[Wind-shriekers,] the Terror said.

"Hm, makes sense. And the Tiny-fang came from a collective trait amongst Terrors?" Hiccup asked.

[Yes,] Toothless said. [The story I heard was it was meant to be an insult but the Tiny-fangs took pride in it.]

The Terror giggled. [According to ancestor tales, a Flame-skin first commented about our size compared to his, calling my kind a Tiny-fang. The ancestor he spoke to actually thanked him and flew away, proud, which took the wind out of the Flame-skins wings. He did not know how to respond to my kind not taking offense.]

Hiccup laughed. "Good on your ancestor," he said.

[We are here,] Toothless said.