Well as promised he is Chapter 36. Now I just want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who has waited patiently for me to sort things out with my life I really can't say how much I appreciate it. Anyway with my new job working 11hrs mon-fri I'm not sure how much I will be writing but I'm hoping for at least a Chapter a week even if it's just written over the weekend.

Well that's enough rambling. Here you go. Enjoy!

Chapter 36

The Sun was setting over The Nest when Corvus returned, though given how winter was beginning it's bite the Tribe was still up and about when he came in to land. Corvus had enlisted the help of a pair of Nightmares to carry the Haunter back and it was still sedated when it was transferred to a holding area inside the mountain.

Valka met them on the lower landing platform a young Jù Lóng wound around her left arm to rest its head on her shoulder. Hurricane sat in 'conversation' with Cloudjumper behind her.

"Corvus," she lifted her arm and the dragon almost seemed to tighten it's grip causing Valka to chuckle. "These dragons are amazing. I. I have never seen some of these species before, where did you find them?"

Corvus stepped forward and tickled the chin of the Jù Lóng. " Honestly can't say for all of them though the Council spreads eggs around the world in an attempt to prevent extinction due to over population or natural disaster. This little guy is from China. Xun passed on a few eggs but they only hatch in sulphur gas so its not easy to find them."

"Fascinating. How do they fly?"

"With grace and beauty." Sigrid snorted and butted Corvus' back in annoyance. "I never said you don't, just they are different, like the Spin Wings."

"The what?" Corvus would have answered but the young dragon had grown tired of it's perch and the attention and decided it would find a new play mate. It attempted to fly but being young it hadn't quite got the hang of it yet and only managed a few feet before dropping to the floor with a little shriek.

"I meant when they are older." Corvus covered his hand to hide his laugh. "They fly or float by using gas bladders inside them, completely offsetting their own weight and using scales and small releases of gas to move in any direction. If you ever go to the Council again remind me to introduce you to Xun and Fan. The things he'd have to tell you." Valka gave he a questioning look so he explain that Xun by trade was a 'Draco-ologist ' and dedicated his life to writing the most complete 'Encyclopaedia Draconis' as he called it or Book of Dragons.

Valka watched as a small number of adolescent Dragons came over to either Corvus or Sigrid. Clearly they like seeing familiar friendly faces. Suddenly there was a loud roar of sorts an orange and black blur sped past Valka's face and latched onto Corvus' chest, barrelling him over as it did so. Sigrid rolled her eyes and laughed to herself coming over to sit next to Valka and watch her rider be brutally attacked by Fireball. Finally Corvus prized the Nightmare from him and was able to stand. Two of the Scaleback Guard had come forward with Farrin and Captain Tiberius with them.

"Farrin, we need this one secured our best cell down below. Keep it sedated." Farrin waved the two men with him forward and they began to push the cart the Night Haunter had been placed on.

"Is that a. Is that a Night Haunter?" Corvus nodded and Farrin followed the cart.

Tiberius stepped up next and saluted his face was covered in dirt and it was clear he had been working on 'The Leviathan' before coming over.

"Captain, no need for you this second carry on and I'll find you in an hour or so." Tiberius nodded and turned from them collecting a crate of ropes for his ship. "Now Valka if you will acompany me to the Hall I would like to hear what the Council had to say."

As they set off Corvus noticed a large storm cloud out of the Cove entrance, he paid it no mind, probably just a Skrill or something.

Valka sat opposite Corvus who was listening to what the council had decided. In the end they had decided to sanction a hunt for the Night Haunter however they were given specific instructions to capture one alive and bring it to them for questioning. At this point Corvus had sighed deeply.

"Well that's just perfect." He said, sarcasm in every word. "I was going to have Elder connect with it's mind and find out what I need to know.

Valka's eyebrows made a valiant effort of joining her hair line when she realised what he was planning. "That's barbaric!"

"Says the woman who's people put their own children up against a live angry dragon at the meagre age of fifteen."

"That wasn't me and nor do I agree with it." Her jaw set. Had he been anyone else she would have slapped him. "I will not allow an act akin to torture go ahead unanswered."

"This is war. That Dragon is the same one who killed Gull and Overwatch. Had I not warned him it would have killed your son." Corvus' voice and risen and Valka was aware she was on thin ice. However she was as stubborn as her son and late husband. She could not allow such a breach of her moral code.

"It is a living breathing creature .."

"And Gull and Overwatch are not anymore!" Corvus slammed his fist down on the table causing all of the people and dragons in the Great Hall to jump and look their way. Cloudjumper growled low in warning, Chief or not he would defend Valka. Sigrid snorted and shuck her head clearly stating that is he did she would step in.

Valka looked straight into Corvus' rage filled eyes and said as she had to Stoick when he had had a temper problem after a bad day. "Corvus, while you are the chief of this tribe and a friend to my son if you attempt to go through with this I will be for intervene."

Corvus paused he fist still clenched white knuckled on the table before sighing. As if the breath was all of his last energy he slumped down to the bench. He said nothing as he swung his legs over and stood. "Nothing will be done till tomorrow. Now if you'll excuse me I need to retire for the night." he took a step and then said without turning. "Forgive my anger, and know that I do not take pleasure in this. Nor is it my first choice." Sigrid gave an apologetic look at Valka before following her rider.

It wasn't until they had left that Valka let out a shuddering breath. She knew she had overstepped her boundaries. This was his tribe. His life. His prisoner. Still she felt better for speaking out. She looked in to the big worried eyes of her beloved dragon and smiled. "Thank you Cloudjumper."

Night had fallen and though the thunder storm had passed them mostly by the expanse of Ocean was periodically lit by the flash of lightning. Hundurr, one of The Nest's look outs squinted in the dark. It was pitch black out but he could have sworn he'd seen something on it's way in from the west.

Suddenly the sky was lit with another flash of lit and his blood froze in his veins. Something was coming or more accurately somethings. Three shapes, large shapes were heading their way he quickly checked his notes hopping that he had missed something from that night's planned flight but there was nothing. Just normal nocturnal patrol patter. He finally manage to will his feet to more and made his way over to the alarm horn. He never made it. A piece of the night's black sky came diving down on top of him. He never saw his killer nor did he even cry out.

As the Night Haunter looked out another flash of light showed the three Red Death class Dragons on their way to burn this ant hill and either save it's kin or ensure he could not give the humans anything. By morning the little ands and their sympathisers would be ash and then they would move on to Berk.

The Haunter smile. This was going to be bloody, and fun.

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