Fishlegs deliberately avoided the cove as he showed the eight around Berk. He was thankful Snotlout seemed to understand and did not try to take over and lead them there. That was Hiccup and Toothless' spot. Old Wrinkly may have started the whole dragon riding thing and been the catalyst for the rider's bond, but that cove witnessed brothers shattering the line that divided them. Fishlegs would let Hiccup and Toothless be the ones to decide if Old Wrinkly could see it. It was neither his, nor Snotlout, decision. Besides Hiccup, the closest anyone in Berk could come to making that choice was Astrid even though Stoick still lived.
Fishlegs did take them to the old arena. The chain roof mostly stayed up now after Gobber and Hiccup fixed the wench system that had frozen one day during the rest of winter. This allowed dragons to come and go without having to use the entrance all the time. Something Shadowfire cooed and purred about for many heartbeats. Fishlegs believed the bigger dragon would have broken out into song if a sudden snowstorm had not drove them all into a tunnel Ringfire and her fledglings created near the arena.
Dragons had been apprehensive about the stone ring the first few months into Hiccup's lessons for Vikings and dragons. After the Speedstinger attack, when Hiccup learned from Shadewing about the smell that lingered in the arena Hiccup had every Rider scrub it clean. Now dragons from all over the nest visited even when there were no lessons planned for the day. Fishlegs even knew, thanks to his counting ever dragon on the island and learning the locations of their dens, that a few Gronckles chose to live in caves below the arena, which prompted Ringfire to create the tunnels in the cliff the arena set on. The Gronckles took it upon themselves to watch over the arena since it meant so much to their alpha.
Those same Gronckles now rose as one to hover over the waters as Fishlegs and the other neared. The one in the middle, one of the Gronckles that went to the Hatchery, flew closer.
[Ah, Elder-in-training Fishlegs, Meatlug, Nest Guardian Snotlout, and Hookfang, greetings.]
"Hey, Greyscale," Fishlegs said, smiling. "How are things?"
[They are well, young elder,] the father of two adorable cream-colored fledglings answered.
Fishlegs did not think it based of him that he found Meatlug and Boulder's fledglings to be far more adorable than Greyscale's. Not that Fish would tell Greyscale that.
[Visitors to the nest, I presume?] Greyscale asked, his gaze shifting towards the new dragon riders for a heartbeat before settling back upon Fishlegs.
Fishlegs smiled. "Yes. This is Old Wrinkly and his brother Onyxwing. With him are Kaja, Old Wrinkly's mate, her sister Sunburn, and two of their nest's guardians, Yngvar with his brother Heatwave and Brynja, Yngvar's mate, and her sister Lightbeetle."
[I heard from Elder Amethyst that the Human With Fire In His Hands was here. I did not expect to meet him or his brother. It is an honor.]
"The honor is mine," Old Wrinkly said. "This nest is amazing and you all have done wonderful work."
Greyscale grunted. [Our alpha has done great work. We are just blessed that he allows us to live here.]
Old Wrinkly tipped his head before Fishlegs could correct Greyscale. The dragons had done as much work as the humans in making this nest a home for both species. Hiccup would not like that the dragons were still discounting their efforts over the fact that Hiccup forgave their breach of Civility Laws.
Fishlegs stared at Greyscale. The dragons had not only continued to shy away from praise for their contributions to the nest, they had also responded to comments made about Hiccup with either awe in their tone or a harsh, grumble depending on if the comment praised or insulted Hiccup. Fishlegs also noticed a greater number of dragons purposively placed themselves along Hiccup's path while he walked around in the village. They never impeded his walk. Fishlegs honestly got the impression that they just wanted glimpses of Hiccup. Hiccup, though, made it a point to offer his hand to any who had not received such a choice or scratch the chins of those who had. Both actions resulting in dragons not moving for several heartbeats, even after Hiccup moved on to another dragon.
Many of these dragons were also ones that did not, and had not, joined in the lessons or venture off the main part of the island, except for special reasons, such as the Speedstinger attack and Alvin's attempt at invading. These dragons were not hostile to humans. They bowed to Hiccup just the same as the other dragons. They just wished not to be confined in the narrow paths between the huts. Lorekeeper had been the one to explain, as the dragons in questions were a mix species so Fishlegs could not assume it was a species only thing.
Fishlegs felt anger, even to this day, at learning those dragons had been forced to sleep in dens far smaller than their sizes could take. Here, in this nest, they had the space and the freedom to spread their wings. Thus it confused Fishlegs that those same dragons would now willingly stand in a narrowed alley just to see Hiccup as he moved from one part of the village to another. Lorekeeper and the other Elders had yet to explain though Fishlegs got the impression they knew and understood what was going on.
"I meant no ill will by my statement," Old Wrinkly said in a soothing tone and pulling Fishlegs from his thoughts. "I did not lie. I am honored to even be allowed to visit this nest, much less land and learn how it formed."
Greyscale tipped his head then chuckled. [Ah, elder mage, it formed the way all nests should form. With an alpha who is worthy of his title and holding more love for his nest than I ever thought possible.]
Stoick and Gobber made their way down to the docks after leaving the Great Hall. Their pace was not hurried. Quickcut had explained before they walked away that the ships were just beyond the Harbor Guardians. The nest dragons who stayed around the harbor and the docks would often provide returning ships with a burst of speed with flaps of their wings when they reached those stone statues. Both men knew that the dragons only did that for ships manned by nest members. Visitors, like merchants, were just watched but allowed to row themselves into shore. Both men also knew that with the mate-hood ceremonies happening that morning the only ship from the island that was out had Padrig and those he took with him in it.
While Baneson was technically a member of the nest, the dragons refused to give him the aid of a wing boost. The nest dragons as a whole learned that it was Baneson who had Hiccup staying away from meals before the war ended. That Baneson continued being rude to Hiccup confused many of the dragons until Hiccup and his friends used one of their lessons in the arena to explain how the humans viewed the nest and Hiccup's role in it. Now the dragons just made sure to avoid Baneson, though they kept their eyes upon him and the others who had not warmed up to life with dragons.
[Greetings, father of the alpha and shiny claw maker,] a reddish, yellow colored, female Nightmare said as Stoick and Gobber reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Greetings," Stoick paused, tilting his head.
He was doing his best to remember all the dragons. The tribe members who had embraced the dragons were offering Hiccup names for the new tribe members daily. That prompted Fishlegs and Hiccup to start record scrolls for each dragon and their flocks, much like the record scrolls for the humans and their families. At last count the named dragons were still less than the actual number of dragons living on Berk and its surrounding sea stacks. Still, Stoick took it as point of pride to learn all the named dragons and greet them just he did the humans. It was not easy though.
The Nightmare chuckled. [I am Dawnfire,] she said. [Alpha said my name was suggested by the one who makes your coverings.]
Stoick smiled and nodded his head. "Ah, yes, Dervla. Greetings, Dawnfire. Do we know who be comin'?"
The Nightmare's head lifted and her neck curled towards the harbor. She sent out a trilling call. Stoick saw a sliver scaled Gronckle slip off the sea stack and hover over the waters in view of the ships mast Stoick could see rounding the Guardians. The Gronckle spun and sent a call back. The Nightmare grunted and lowered her head so she could look Stoick in the eyes.
[One is the water den that left this morning before the mate-hood ceremonies and the other is the human who visited the nests often before the chilled winds kept him away. The one who had things in his water den that the humans seemed happy to see and take with them.]
Stoick blinked, glancing at Gobber. "Johann be early this year."
[Father of the alpha,] the Nightmare said. [The human is not alone.]
Kirika: I think that's the theme for most of my readers right now. And aww. Does he have everyone wrapped around his finger?
NightshotShadowFury: Hehe, yep. Old Man Jorgenson will get his due, don't worry. Thank you.
Literally Nobody: Hehe, glad you like her. Oh, that will continue to happen. It's too perfect a moment for comedy. I know it won't be easy. That may happen. Have a good day/night as well.