Friends! I'm terribly sorry for the delay. I was out of town all week and only now am getting the chance to update. Thank you for your patience.

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MoonbornWalker (Aeri is 20, and Shade is almost 21.)

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and Anonymous Guest!

And now... Drama and adventure! I've warned you, and some of you might have figured it out, but stuff happens in this chapter! (Shocking, I know.) Hopefully you enjoy...


Aeri meandered through the forest, her footsteps crunching through the thick snow. Her face was almost numb from the cold, but her furs kept out much of the chill. Her gloves were thick enough to keep her fingers warm but not so thick that she couldn't manipulate her weapons. She had an axe strapped to her back, over her hooded cloak, and carried her spear in her left hand.

It had been a while since she had last hunted, and she appreciated the time away from the village. She had felt restless since Haku had left, unable to focus. For a few days she just went through the motions, until she forced herself to reflect on what was wrong.

Her heart hurt, for multiple reasons. It wasn't broken, because she hadn't loved Haku the same way he supposedly loved her. But she had cared for him, tremendously. It had been hard for her to come to terms with the fact that they would never be able to be together because of their respective duties, even if it might not seem like it from the outside. She'd suspected that he might have a more difficult time with it, but not that he would become aggressive. That he would say such hurtful things to her. It was even more frustrating because he had dragged Winter into it. And that's a completely different problem.

The other reason for her pain. Winter hadn't been seen in the village for almost a week. No one seemed to know where he was, but the general consensus was that he was still on the island. The last time they'd spoken, she'd basically insinuated that she didn't trust him. Which wasn't true. She just didn't understand parts of his story, the things he hadn't told her. She wondered why he didn't trust her. Damn it all. Haku's words had really messed with her head.

The week since he'd left had been rough. She hadn't attended the first council meeting about the pirates, as that had been the day of her confrontations with both Haku and Winter, and she simply didn't have the strength to deal with anything else.

Her father had been completely understanding of her distress. He hadn't pressed her for information, probably because the whole village knew what had happened with Haku. Instead, he showed up in the cove after the meeting was over, even though it was dark and freezing cold. He convinced Shade to release her, as he had wrapped her up in his wings for warmth and comfort, then half carried her to Toothless, where he set her in the saddle and held her in place as they flew back to the village. After he got her inside her grandmother's house, he sat next to her by the fire, making her drink a cup of tea.

That's when she realized that he wasn't there. Where the bed of furs and pile of supplies usually rested, there was only empty floor. There was no indication that he and Sahko had ever been there at all. When she looked at her grandmother in question, Valka had nodded solemnly, telling her that he had been at the council meeting, but disappeared soon after.

A painful wave of conflicting feelings swelled up in her. Gratitude that he had covered for her in the meeting. Relief that she didn't have to face him. But mostly, a deep sorrow that she didn't fully understand.

The house seemed so much different without him and Sahko. Not as cozy. She still had her family, but there was a vacancy that none of them could properly fill. His words haunted her. I'm not leaving, not yet, but I'm not going to force you to be around me, either.

She tried to behave normally, she really did. But it was increasingly apparent to her and everyone around her that something just wasn't right.

It was her father's idea for her to get out of the village for a few days and clear her mind. There was another meeting, which she had gone to, just to establish a few measures that could be put in place without the Chief present. He had to prepare for Dragon Island, after all, and would be gone for at least four days. After that, though, she was free to go off on her own for a little while. The same day her brother, Maara, and the other students departed, she dressed in her warmest furs, sharpened her axe, strapped what necessities she might need to Shade's saddle, and took off.

So far, Shade had been her only real solace. She tried to remind herself that if she had him, she didn't need anyone else. That they had managed on their own just fine before, and there was no reason for that to be any different. But if she was being honest with herself, she missed Winter. A lot. She missed his humor and his thoughtfulness and his comforting kindness. Despite of the trust issue, he really was the best human friend she'd ever had, and life just wasn't the same without him.

She'd been debating this in her mind for the last couple of days, but now she felt sure. As soon as she and Shade returned from this trip, she'd go find Winter and ask him to come back to the village. Of course, this was mainly because she missed him, but she was also worried about his safety. It had been snowing nonstop for days, and it was only going to get colder.

That's what I'll do. Even if it takes a whole herd of Rumblehorns, I'm going to find him, apologize, and make him come home.

Immediately, the little voice in the back of her mind pounced. Home? Make him come home? She frowned. Was home the right word?

Yes. He and Sahko belonged in the village. It had become a home for them, hadn't it? It was stupid that it had taken this long for her to figure that out.

With a loud sigh, Aeri stopped and looked around. She was in a small clearing. Delicate white flakes were dancing from the overcast sky, melding with the piles of powdery snow on the ground and clumping in trees. She hadn't been paying attention, but she figured it was probably late afternoon. It would probably be wisest to return to their camp before the snow covered up her tracks.

She had left Shade napping by the fire, next to the enormous boar she had taken down the night before. They were on the far side of the island, about as far from the business of the village as they could get. The mountain loomed overhead, its peak lost in the thick clouds that stretched to the horizon. They had been out here for two days, and were planning on staying for another two.

Deciding that she probably wasn't going to run into any game anytime soon, she turned and began to trudge back the way she had come. The snowfall was thicker now, reducing visibility to about five feet in any given direction. A howling wind had picked up, driving the icy specks against her face. This was promising to become a nasty storm, so she tugged her hood as far over her face as she could, doing her best to walk faster.

All she could hear were her own labored breaths, the wind, and the crunching sounds of her boots sinking into the snow. What she didn't hear was the sound of a dragon in flight. A large dragon. Heading in her direction.

Until it was too late.


Shade yawned, wrinkling his nose as the flurry of soft flakes tickled his scales. Looking around, he noticed that Aeri was nowhere in sight. Her axe and spear weren't laying in her tent, so he figured she was probably just out hunting. He didn't know how long he had been asleep, but the sky was growing darker, so she would likely be back soon.

Getting to his feet, he stretched out his back, hearing the satisfying pops of his stiff spine, and shook off the dusting of powder that had accumulated on him as he slept. Two enormous carcasses lay at the edge of their camp, specimens of the vicious wild boars that inhabited the forests of Berk. He had caught one, and, impressively enough, Aeri had tracked, fought, and killed the larger of the two beasts. Of course, he'd dragged it back for her, but still. She was a warrior.

With his tail he swept the pile of snow off of his kill. Boars weren't his favorite source of sustenance, he much preferred fish, but he wasn't going to complain. He and Aeri had eaten much worse during their travels. Poking it with a claw, he realized grumpily that the creature was almost frozen solid. He would have to wait for it to thaw by the fire.

Grabbing one of its hind legs in his powerful jaws, Shade dragged the boar over to where he wanted it. He'd need wood. So he tore a branch off a tree, snapping it into smaller pieces, and dumped them unceremoniously onto the charred remains of their earlier fire. The bark was damp from the snow but not saturated. He was about to release a weak plasma blast at it when a strange sound echoed through the forest. Frowning, he listened carefully, ears upright. It was hard to hear anything over the howling of the wind, and he'd almost given up on it, when it sounded again.

His heart stopped. The sound was unmistakable. Immediately he leapt over the boar and tore off into the forest, not even noticing the faint outlines of boot prints in the snow that marked Aeri's trail. Crashing through the undergrowth, being whipped by branches, he desperately sprinted in the blizzard, barely able to see anything.

"Aeri!" he cried out. "AERI!"

There was no answer. He stumbled into a clearing, sniffing the ground. He was no tracking dragon, but he could pick up his rider's faint scent, mingling with the much more distressing aromas of another dragon.

There! He saw fresh footprints leading back towards him, but was filled with dread when he realized that they stopped halfway through the clearing. She was nowhere in sight. A dark line rested alongside the last of the prints. Her spear. Horrified, Shade's mind raced at what might have happened. Clearly, she had been taken. But where? Despair threatened to overwhelm him. There was no way he would be able to track a dragon in flight by scent alone, not in this storm. Did he have time to go back to the village and organize search parties? By then, it would be nightfall, and the dragon would be long gone, Aeri with it.

Please, let her be alright. Please, let me find her before it's too late. Shade was almost hyperventilating as he fervently prayed to his human's gods.

"AERI!" he roared helplessly, not knowing which direction to turn.

"Shade!"

Her voice echoed faintly through the trees, and, his hope renewed, Shade barreled after her. I'm coming, Aeri.

He cursed the setting sun, somewhere buried in the clouds above. Another scream echoed, closer, and his blood ran cold. What was it doing to her? The snowfall was thick, he couldn't see anything, until…

The storm suddenly abated, and he found himself at the edge of the forest. In the distance he could hear the crashing of waves, and realized that he was near the ocean. Where was she? He slowed, suddenly wary. Something wasn't right. But then, a strangled cry reached him, and his caution vanished. Roaring angrily, he burst through the underbrush, finding himself on a treeless stretch of snow leading to a cliff. He wasn't alone, though.

A massive dragon sat on its haunches, as though waiting for him. Its bone white face was barely visible, but its vibrant turquoise body stood in stark contrast with the snow. A gods-damned Typhoomerang. Shade had hoped to never see another one, after the incident with Ash. High off the ground, he saw that it carried something in its mouth.

Oh, no. No, no, no…

Even from here, he could see her struggling to free herself. Her head and left shoulder were free, and she desperately used that arm to push at the Typhoomerang's jaws. Her legs emerged from the other side of its mouth, kicking uselessly. She had to be caught on the damn thing's teeth, her furs would only protect her so much.

The Typhoomerang noticed him, and an expression he could only describe as sinister crossed its features. It tightened its jaws imperceptibly, and Aeri screamed, making Shade's stomach churn.

"Let her go!" he roared, and she turned her head. Tears were streaming down her face. He surged forward, intent on getting to her.

"Shade! Look out!" she cried weakly, before something crashed into him, sending him flying.

What? He snarled, rolling to his feet, to see another, smaller Typhoomerang chasing after him. But not just any Typhoomerang. This was the same dragon that had attacked Soren and Ash. A murderous rage descended over him, and he roared furiously at it.

"What do you want?"

"Your head!" it spat viciously.

A hundred thoughts raced through his head. How had it known she was my human? How had it found them? Shade forced himself to focus. "Your quarrel is with me. Let the human go!"

It smirked, looking at the larger Typhoomerang. "You heard him. Let it go."

Without hesitating, it whipped its head to the side, opening its jaws and flinging Aeri over the cliff.

"NO!" Shade screamed, spreading his wings to fly after her, but he didn't even make it halfway to the edge before he was tackled from the air by the smaller Typhoomerang. It pinned him with its weight, cackling evilly.

"Aeri! AERI!" he frantically tried to free himself, to no avail. The large Typhoomerang was approaching, a nasty grin on its face. Shade had never felt so weak, so utterly helpless. "I'm going to kill you!" he roared, struggling in vain.

"Time to teach you a lesson," the one on him was hissing, when it was cut off by a terrifying screech. "What the—"


James clung to Sahko's spines as they sped down towards the massive turquoise dragon. He watched with horror as Aeri was thrown from the thing's mouth, over the edge of the cliff. They didn't have much time.

"Take me to the water!" he called out against the howling wind. Sahko released a loud screech, swooping low and successfully kicking the turquoise dragon in the face before heading for the cliff. James had only a second to glimpse Shade trapped by the other dragon, then they were diving over the edge. "There!" he pointed at a shape bobbing on the surface of the dark sea. "I'll get her, you help Shade, come back for me as soon as you can!" With that, he jumped from his dragon's neck, his stomach dropping as he plummeted towards the ocean. One moment he was falling, the next he was submerged in the dark, freezing water.

This is so much colder than it looks. His body automatically began to protest the icy temperatures, and he knew he didn't have much time. Opening his eyes, he swam upwards, unable to see far in the murky depths. Bursting from the surface, he took a deep breath, his teeth already chattering. Frantically, he looked around, and was overwhelmed with relief when he saw a pale face facing skyward about fifteen feet away. He kicked powerfully, propelled by desperation, thanking the gods that under normal circumstances he was a strong swimmer. But these were not normal circumstances. His skin was going numb from the cold, and the current was pulling him in the opposite direction. He refused to give up, though, gaze locked on her expressionless face. An enormous swell rolled towards them, and he fought to reach her. Ten feet away, five feet away… she sank beneath the oncoming swell and without hesitation he dove after her, reaching in the darkness, groping blindly for something… his fingers made contact with something firm and he latched onto it, pulling her into his arms. She was heavy, too heavy, and he struggled for a moment before he realized she had an axe strapped to her back. He yanked it off of her and let it go, watching it sink for a moment before kicking back up to the surface.

Gasping for breath, he clung to her motionless form, quickly growing weary from treading water. "Aeri! Aeri, answer me!" But her eyes were closed, lips blue, and his heart sank. "SAHKO!" he bellowed. "SAHKO!"

A few moments passed and nothing happened. He felt them being pulled by the current, and nervously looked to where the sea crashed violently against the cliff. There wasn't much he could do, but if they didn't get rescued soon, they'd both likely be dead before they even reached the rocks.

"SAHKO!" he tried again, hating how frail his voice sounded. "Aeri, please hold on. Please, we'll get out of here soon…" A black blur hurtled over the edge of the cliff, diving with incredible speed towards them. It wasn't Sahko. He gripped her as tightly as he could, wrapping his left arm around her waist. He raised the other out of the water, trembling from the cold. Shade stretched out a paw and at the last second James ducked his head as the Night Fury grabbed hold of his arm, effortlessly hauling them out of the water.

James held on to Aeri, breathing hard from exhaustion. In a matter of seconds, they cleared the cliff, and Shade set them down in the snow before leaping back into the fray. James's legs gave out and he sank to his knees, resting her on her back. She wasn't breathing, so despite his trembling and the overwhelming cold he placed his hands on the center of her chest and began to pump, summoning his last reserves of strength. "C-come on, come on, you c-can do it," he murmured to himself and to her, willing her to breathe. Something cracked in her torso and he winced, while knowing that a broken rib was a small price to pay for her life.

He was right. A moment later, her body convulsed, and seawater spilled from her mouth with a series of wracking coughs. She took a shuddering breath, then another, and her eyes fluttered open. They didn't seem to focus on anything, just staring at the sky, then closed. But she was breathing, at least. Now he just needed to get her out of her wet clothes and in front of a fire before she lost any of her extremities.

James collapsed, wrapping both arms around her in a fruitless effort to warm her. He was so cold he couldn't even feel the snow around him. Letting his head fall back, he took in the scene upside down. Nearby, the carcass of the smaller enemy dragon was bleeding out into the snow, its throat having been savagely torn out. Its wings and feet were twitching, but it wasn't making any other movements or sounds. Farther away, the turquoise one was also wounded, breathing weak streams of fire at the smaller dragons circling it in the air. One of its wings was completely shredded. Sahko shrieked angrily, and for a moment his purple and black body glowed white, before firing a blinding bolt of lightning at the much larger creature. The turquoise dragon screamed in agony as the electricity coursed through its body, then crumpled to the ground, breathing heavily. Shade landed near its face, stalking forward. The Night Fury roared his wrath, then raised a paw and slashed through the other dragon's throat, creating a wound identical to the one on the dead dragon behind him. Immediately blood spurted and poured from the gashes, staining the snow. Shade didn't wait for it to die, instead, he turned and sprinted over to where James and Aeri lay.

He rumbled nervously, sniffing his rider's hair. All traces of his aggression were gone.

"O-okay," James said, dragging his arms away from Aeri. "You g-gotta g-get us back t-to the c-cave," he told the Night Fury weakly. The snow was falling again, even thicker than before, and the sky was rapidly darkening. "S-Sahko will sh-show you the w-way. Hurry." Shade seemed to understand perfectly, nodding and moving to grip Aeri's furs. Sahko approached, wrapping his long claws around James's waist. In a moment they were airborne, flying towards the base of the mountain.

His mind was beginning to drift, hearing seductive whispers to close his eyes and sleep. But he knew that if he did, he might never wake up. Not only that, but Aeri needed his help if she was going to survive. So he steeled himself, searching deep within himself for the drive to continue. When Sahko set him down on the cave floor, he blinked, not having noticed the lack of wind and ice. They were around a corner, out of sight of the entrance. It was dark, but James had a fairly good idea of where everything was. Groaning, he pulled his numb arms beneath him and pushed against the ground, his body protesting as he lifted himself to his knees.

He heard wingbeats as Shade came in after them. "Sh-shade. C-can you l-light the f-fire?" A moment later, a tiny ball of light flashed across the room, catching on the large pile of logs he had left earlier. In no time, the space was lit by bright, and more importantly, warm flames.

Stumbling to his feet, he made his way to where Aeri lay on the floor, her dragon standing protectively over her. "You g-gotta let me s-see her." Reluctantly Shade stepped away, and James dropped to his knees at her side. She was still breathing, but they were small, shallow breaths. Her face was starting to turn blue.

"I n-need your help to c-carry her to those f-furs over there," he pointed a trembling finger to the pile of pelts on the other side of the fire. Scooting back, he watched Shade ever-so-gently take her cloak in his mouth and lift her up before taking her to the furs and setting her down.

As he did this, James quickly yanked his saturated tunic over his head and dropped it on the ground, before pulling off his soaked boots. His pants soon followed, leaving him in only his underclothes, a small pair of white shorts. Rubbing a hand on his chest, he noticed that his skin was wet, but he hoped it would dry as he took care of Aeri.

Okay. Time to get to work. Crouching next to her, James bit back a string of curses as his trembling fingers worked at the clasp of her cloak. Finally it came undone, and he pulled the garment out from under her and threw it to the side. He pulled off her boots and socks, worrying over the fact that her toes were blue. Her gloves were next, then he worked on the layers of drenched fur and leather plastered to her body. There were punctures outlining where the dragon's teeth had poked through her clothes, and he swallowed his unease when he noticed the fresh blood seeping through the holes. It wasn't a lot, but she was definitely hurt.

Finally, she lay before him in nothing but her breast bands and underwear. Despite his overwhelming concern and discomfort, he couldn't help but take a moment to stare in awe.

She was perfect. Slender and lithe, all soft, creamy skin and gentle curves. Her muscles were toned, but not bulky. He imagined that when her hair was dry, it would cascade over her shoulders in beautiful auburn waves. A thin golden chain circled her neck and disappeared into the top of her breast bands. Unable to resist, he tugged at it, and a green pendant appeared. He knew it was the exact same color as her eyes.

Who was it from? A past lover, perhaps? The thought made him frown for some reason. He didn't like the idea of her with anyone.

Possessive, much? The voice in his head said snarkily.

No. She's not mine. She can do whatever she pleases.

And you're completely fine with that? Please. Don't act like you don't want her.

James scowled. This was not the time to be having these thoughts. He tucked her necklace back into her breast bands, then got to work again. Her chest was bruising where his hands had been pressing, and he ran his fingers over her sides to located her broken rib. He found two, but he knew one must have been from the dragon. Puncture wounds oozing blood led around her chest, right arm, and upper back. They also appeared across her upper thighs. Digging through his satchels, he found the last of his ingredients for a paste that would ward off infection and hopefully help prevent scarring. He didn't have many bandages, so he took an old tunic and cut it up with one of his knives.

As he worked, he did his best to avoid thinking about her. A near impossible task. How had she ended up nearly getting eaten by a dragon? He couldn't fathom what had happened. He and Sahko had just finished gathering wood when the Skrill had stiffened, looking back outside. Suddenly, he growled, turning to James and moving his wings agitatedly.

"You want to go back out?" he'd asked, not used to seeing the dragon so frantic.

Sahko nodded, so he quickly mounted up, unsure of where they were going. The Skrill had never flown faster than he did then, and James was glad of it. They had almost been too late.

But what had she and Shade been doing on this side of the island, in this weather, in the first place? He supposed he'd have to ask her.

He paused, resting his hands on her skin. She was still cold, but warming up. Her toes were no longer blue. He'd rolled her onto her stomach so he could work on the wounds on her back and the backs of her legs. Frowning, his fingers traced the smooth column of her spine. About midway up her back, there was a scar from something that looked like a stab wound. What could that be from? Another question she'd have to answer. Stifling a yawn, he finished quickly, thankful that his hands were no longer shaking. He turned her onto her side, facing the fire.

"Shade?" he asked, and the dragon perked his ears up and looked at him, blue eyes inquisitive. "After I lay out all the clothes to dry out, do you mind coming over here? We're still much too cold. I'm going to lay close to her tonight, to try and share warmth, but we could use your large, warm presence as well."

The Night Fury raised a brow, but nodded, getting to his feet and padding over to the furs. James quickly spread out all of the wet clothes he had tossed aside, hoping they'd be dry by tomorrow but not expecting them to be. Placing the boots as close to the flames as he dared, he yawned again, realizing that he was deeply exhausted. Not to mention cold.

Satisfied that he had done everything he could, he made his way back to Aeri. He folded up one of the furs, gently lifting her head and sliding it underneath, making sure there was enough room for his head as well. Pulling a large bear pelt free, he pulled it over them as he laid down next to her. He scooted up until her back pressed against his front, smiling slightly when Shade followed suit. The dragon's warm chest was against his back, and immediately he felt secure and drowsy. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, enveloped in the sweet scent of her hair. He offered a silent prayer of thanks to the gods for sparing her life, and drifted off into a peaceful and dreamless sleep.


Shadows and light flickered across his lids. Blearily, he opened his eyes, taking in a familiar room. My room. There were a few lit candles perched on various surfaces, casting a cozy glow around the space. He couldn't remember falling asleep. Am I sick? There was a warm pressure on his hand, so he turned his head a bit, seeing his bare arm resting on top of his blankets. His wrist was hidden beneath a mane of dark brown hair, attached to a person, who was sitting in a chair pulled right up next to his bed with her head resting on top of her hands, which were wrapped around his. It took him a few moments, then he placed the blue-grey shirt and the fur draped over the back of the chair. Maara? Why is Maara in my room? Did something happen?

He tried to sit up, then gasped as a sharp pain flashed across his chest, falling back to his pillows. Blinking in confusion, he used his other hand to slightly raise the blankets, and peered down to see that the upper half of his torso was completely bandaged. Something definitely happened. Knitting his brows, he tried and failed to remember how he got there. Where was I last?

Maara stirred, then, murmuring something incoherently. A rush of fondness overcame his utter confusion for a moment, and he lightly squeezed her hand. Immediately her head snapped up, and she stared at him with wide eyes.

"Hi," he said, smiling slightly.

Her mouth opened, then shut, as she apparently didn't know what to say. She was still gripping his hand.

"You're cute when you're at a loss for words," he teased, and her eyes narrowed.

"You don't get to tease me," she said, her voice sounding rough. Erik couldn't tell if she was angry, so he spoke cautiously.

"Is everything alright?"

She looked mildly confused. "Why are you asking me?"

Looking down at his bandaged chest and back up at her, he replied, "Because I have no idea what's going on?"

"Well, you've been out for two days, so that's hardly surprising."

Two days? "What happened two days ago?"

"Uh, Dragon Island? Whispering Deaths?" she prompted, and suddenly it all came flooding back.

Oh, gods. He could remember everything, now. Going down into those creepy tunnels, trapping the Whispering Death, then getting attacked by the second one—

"What happened to the twins? Are they alright?"

She sighed. "Baldor has a bad concussion, the wound in his chest from the spine, and a broken leg. Carsten has two broken legs, though one is a lot worse than the other, and he got cut up pretty badly. The healers say they'll be alright, but right now they're still so traumatized that they won't speak to anyone, and they freak out if they can't see each other at all times."

"Well, I can't say I'm glad to hear about all that, but at least they made it."

"Thanks to you," she said softly.

"What happened after I got knocked out? What happened to the Whispering Deaths, and the eggs?" He remembered his dad saying that they had to get rid of them, but he didn't actually know what that meant.

"Well, we showed up right when the second Whispering Death came out. Snotlout tried to stop us from leaving, but Kyla, Torkild and I couldn't wait any longer, and it was a good thing, too. Mika caught you before you hit the ground, and the others attacked the Whispering Death until it was too wounded to fight any more. That was when your dad gave Carsten to Torkild, and told all of us to take the two of you back to Snotlout. He wouldn't tell us what he and Toothless were going to do with the Whispering Deaths, but he didn't look happy. He didn't say anything when they got back a couple of hours later, either. We had to leave right away, anyways, because you were bleeding pretty badly, and the twins were in rough shape. I haven't seen him since after we got back and he made sure that you and the twins were going to make it."

Erik frowned. Had his father… killed all the Whispering Deaths? That didn't sound like something he would do, but what else could have happened?

"I don't know where he is, otherwise I'd go get him for you," Maara said, seemingly reading his mind.

There was a soft knock at the door.

"He's awake," Maara called out, and his mother peeked her head in.

"Welcome home," she smiled. Maara let go of his hand and moved out of the way so Astrid could come closer. Smoothing back his hair, she leaned over to kiss his forehead. "You had me worried for a while there, kiddo."

He grinned at her. "Who, me? Please, I could take on a hundred Whispering Deaths with my bare hands."

Rolling her eyes, she tugged his blankets down to examine his bandages. "Let's not test that theory. The healer will be coming by later to change these, just so you know. Think you could handle some food and company? Your sisters are worried sick about you."

"I could eat." She nodded and started to leave, but he had a question for her. "Mom, where's Dad?"

Pausing in the doorway, she turned around and said, "He said he was going back to Dragon Island. Before you ask, no, I don't know why. All I know is that he didn't go alone. As soon as he gets back, I'll send him to you, okay? Be back in a few minutes." She closed the door behind her.

He looked over at Maara, who was over by his bookshelves, peering at the titles.

"See anything interesting?" he asked.

"They all look pretty interesting," she replied, moving to the next shelf.

They heard the footsteps right before the door was flung open, and Alyka and Wren burst in.

"Erik!" they cried, running over to his side.

"Are you okay?" Alyka asked, looking at his bandages.

"He's fine, see?" Wren said, hopping up to sit on the edge of his mattress. "Tell us about the Whispering Deaths!"

Erik couldn't help but laugh, even though it made his chest twinge painfully. "What would you like to know?"

"Were they big?"

"Are they scary?"

"What kinds of noises do they make?"

"What happened?"

"Whoa, slow down!" he chuckled. "They're pretty big. You know what they look like, so, yes, rather frightening. They make a bunch of different noises. The whispering, of course, when they're traveling through the ground, but they also hiss a lot and make shrieking noises when they're aggravated. As for what happened, I'm sure Maara would love to tell you."

She stuck out her tongue at him, but smiled obligingly when his sisters rounded on her. "Where should I start?"

"The beginning!" they crowed. Alyka sat next to Wren, and Maara came to sit in the chair by the bed.

"Okay. After we landed on the island…"

As she spoke, his mother came back in with a bowl of soup and some bread. Erik hadn't realized how hungry he was, and gratefully devoured all of it. She didn't leave, though, taking a seat at the end of the bed next to his sisters to listen to Maara talk.

"… and then we came back to Berk."

Immediately Wren turned on Erik with narrowed eyes. She had clearly been waiting for the story to end. "You muttonhead! What were you thinking, going down there by yourself! You're lucky you're hurt, because I'd really like to make Alyka beat you up right now."

"You'll have to wait until he's better," Maara told her. "But I think you'll have to get in line behind me, your parents, and our classmates."

His mother laughed. "Couldn't have said it better myself. Be right back, I think the healer is here." She disappeared for a minute, then returned, followed by a middle-aged woman holding a large bag. "Okay, girls, you can bug your brother later. Go on, this shouldn't take long."

Once they were gone, Maara offered to leave, but he told her to stay. Nodding hesitantly, she backed up against the wall, and watched quietly as his mother helped him sit up and the healer removed his bandages. When they were off, he looked down and couldn't help but wince.

There were three long slashes traveling diagonally across his chest. They were hardly scrapes, but they weren't life-threateningly deep, either. Those are definitely going to leave scars.

"Yer lucky ye were out the first time I disinfected them," the healer informed him, shuffling through her bag and pulling out a glass bottle. "But I need to do it once more, to ensure that there won't be any infection." She poured a generous amount of clear liquid onto a clean white cloth, and came towards him. A sharp smell made his nose burn, and he resisted the urge to hide under his blankets.

His mother took his hand. "Squeeze as hard as you like. Swearing loudly and colorfully also seems to help."

Swallowing nervously, he took a deep breath, not wanting to look at Maara. Giving the healer a short nod, he tried to relax on his pillows, but the second she pressed the cloth against his chest his body arched off the mattress. It was like fire. Agonizing, searing fire. Gritting his teeth, he squeezed his eyes shut and took short, gasping breaths, unable to help the low groans that escaped him as she worked. He knew he was probably crushing his mother's hand, but she didn't make a sound in protest.

It took only a minute, then she began spreading a cool salve over the wounds that made him want to sob with relief. He just stared straight ahead, inhaling the soothing aroma of the herbs as his mother gently pulled her hand free so she could prop him up while the healer wrapped fresh bandages around his torso.

"I'm impressed," he heard the healer say through the haze that had descended over him. "My predecessor loved to tell me about the time she had to use this stuff on this one's grandfather. Apparently she couldn't hear anything for a week."

His mother chuckled. "Stoick was louder than the Thunderdrum he rode before Skullcrusher. I remember all his blustering and bellowing fondly."

"Aye. He was a great man. Though it took us all long enough to see it, his blood runs true in all his descendants. Now, Erik's probably going to need some rest, but check on him periodically. Make sure he eats and drinks plenty of fluids, and he'll be right as rain in no time."

His eyelids drifted shut as his mother thanked the healer, vaguely trying to imagine his father's father based on the few likenesses he had seen of the man and the stories he'd heard about him. He wished he could have known his grandfather. A fuzzy idea struck him as he faded from consciousness, making him hold on a little longer.

Grandpa, if you can hear me, I wanted to say thank you. For my dad. I know he made you proud, and I hope I make you proud, too.


She was warm. Almost hot, but not uncomfortably so. Her eyes drifted open, and she found herself in darkness. Where am I? Taking a breath, she noticed an unfamiliar combination of scents. Smoky, musty, and… clean? Where is that coming from?

Several things occurred to her at once.

Her last memories came rushing back, and she remembered the Typhoomerangs, and falling… but she didn't think she was dead. She could hear something else breathing. Not dragon breathing, which she could also hear, but human breathing. Next to her. She shifted slightly, then froze. Firstly, she was in pain. Not excruciating, but notable. If she breathed too deeply, her ribs would twinge painfully. Definitely not dead.

Secondly, she was being held in place. Her eyes widened with panic. One arm was pinned beneath her, and the other was sort of trapped underneath something, but she did her best to move her hand.

Suddenly, the darkness lifted, sliding away, and she squinted as a bright fire was revealed. So that's the smoky smell. After a moment, she was able to look around. She was in some kind of stone room. Around the edge of the flames she could make out the shapes of boots, and piles of clothes on the floor. Glancing down, she realized she was underneath a fur. Musty smell… Hesitantly, she used her free hand to lift the edge and look at herself.

She was practically naked, only in her underwear. There were bandages scattered over her skin. But much more alarming was the muscular forearm wrapped around her waist.

Her panic returned. She was practically naked with another human being. Gently she rocked back, and discovered that the other person was pressed completely against her. Her shoulders were against something firm, so it ruled out her hope that it might be a friendly female person. Who was it? What happened?

Slowly she turned her head, trying not to disturb him. She caught a glimpse of messy dark hair before a deep groan resonated from what she assumed was his chest. Immediately his arm tightened, pulling her even closer against him. He buried his face in her hair, pressing his nose against her neck. His knee came up between her thighs, sending a tiny shiver of awareness down her spine, and his warm hand rested low on her belly.

"Um," she said quietly, unsure of what to do.

He murmured something unintelligible against her skin, and her eyes widened at the sensation of lips on the base of her neck. She was starting to freak out a little. Had she… had relations with this person? If so, why couldn't she remember anything after falling?

A quiet rumble interrupted her thoughts, and she nearly sighed with relief. She'd know the sound of her dragon anywhere. But who was behind her?! Steeling her resolve, she twisted in his arms, determined to come face to face with him.

But when she finally turned around, her panic only increased. Because the man she was arched against, the source of the clean smell, with his arm around her waist, completely asleep, was Winter.

What?! Her brain screamed. His dark hair was sticking up all over the place, and his dark lashes formed gentle crescents above his cheeks. Behind him, Shade was watching her curiously. He seemed to be picking up on her distress, but he was perfectly calm.

Her breath was coming in short gasps. She needed to get out of here. Laying her hand on his bare shoulder, she pushed him gently, but his features scrunched up and before she knew it, his face was pressed against her neck, and he was mumbling something else. His mouth on her collarbone sent another jolt of awareness to her core. His hand was on her lower back, holding her firmly against him. So much awareness. Every breath she took, her chest pressed against his.

At a loss, she rested her hand on his shoulder. His warm breath tickled her skin, his messy hair brushing against her face. She had never been so confused in her entire life. This was just too much. She wanted to say that she felt absolutely no connection to the man holding her, that she was bored and uncomfortable. But she couldn't. Because if she said that her body wasn't responding to his proximity, if she said she didn't like it… she'd be lying.

Sighing, she met Shade's gaze again. "What do I do?" she asked softly.

Her dragon just smirked and got to his feet, stretching. "Wait!" she hissed. "You better not… don't you dare leave me here like this!" He ignored her, making his way around the fire. Aeri twisted her neck to follow his progress. Just before he disappeared around the corner, he glanced back at her, raised his brows and grinned suggestively.

"I hate you," she muttered with a scowl. He just quietly rumbled a laugh, then vanished. Feeling her neck pinch, she turned her head to face forward. Winter was still fast asleep, but for some reason she didn't want to wake him. For a moment she lay still, then her damnable curiosity got the better of her.

She'd never been this close to a man without clothes on before. Wait… is he… naked? The thought made her eyes widen and her face heat. She was in her underwear, but what about him? She debated with herself, then figured, why not, he's asleep. Slowly, she slid her hand off his shoulder and down his side, feeling the firm ridges of muscle beneath his skin. Her heart was beating fast, and her breathing quickened. She felt the hard bone of his hip, and hesitantly, she continued, reaching along his side until…

With a silent sigh of relief, she felt fabric beneath her fingertips. Not thinking, she dragged her hand back up, not so lightly. His breathing hitched, and suddenly, his hand moved from her lower back, sliding over her hip and down her thigh. Without warning his fingers slid behind her knee and pulled her leg over his. At the same time, he rolled her onto her back, beneath him, and his other hand traveled up her side. Aeri only had a moment to register the delightful friction of his calloused hands on her sensitive skin before he groaned something incoherently, then his mouth settled over the pulse point above her collarbone. She gasped, arching her back, and whimpered as he began to suck on her neck. His hands were roving over her skin, the right still holding her leg over his hip, and the left sliding up and down her side, coming dangerously close to her breast bands but never quite reaching them.

His touch left trails of fire on her skin, and something hot was building in her core. His lips pressed burning, wet kisses up her neck.

What's happening to me? Is he even awake? Aeri knew she should stop him, but it just felt so good. Until he shifted his weight, and a searing pain shot through her side.

"Agh!" she cried out, immediately shoving him off her.

"Wha— What's going on?" he shot upright, blinking. He froze when he saw her, and his face shifted from surprised, to confused, to concerned as he took in her pained expression. She clutched at the fur, trying to preserve her modesty, as her body throbbed in a confusing mixture of pain and pleasure.

"Are you alright?" he asked, leaning in. Her hand shot out and stopped him, and he looked bewildered as he saw her scowl.

The ache in her side was subsiding. "Can't keep your hands to yourself?" she raised a brow.

His eyes widened, and his face turned red. "Oh gods. Did that really— I thought that was a dream. I am so, so, sorry…" she cut off his stammering with a look.

"Where are we? What am I doing here? Why are we in our underwear? Why were we—" she couldn't bring herself to say cuddling.

"You don't remember?" he asked, tilting his head. Something funny flipped in her stomach at the sight of his earnest expression, combined with his ridiculous bed head. Not to mention his muscular chest and shoulders, bare above the fur they were both underneath.

"I remember falling, and that's it."

"Not surprising, I suppose. Well, you got tossed in the ocean, Sahko and I showed up just in time to perform a rescue. Of course, me jumping in after you probably wasn't the smartest idea, but hey, we're alive and we have all of our fingers and toes."

"Why were you there?"

"Well, this cave isn't too far from where you were, and I guess Sahko heard something, because he started getting really worked up. So I got in the saddle and we took off through the snowstorm, and we got there just as you got tossed over the cliff. What were you doing on this side of the island, in this weather?"

"Hunting. Wanted to get away from the village."

"I see." He looked at her, and she got the feeling that he really could see into her mind. His dark eyes were serious, his gaze mesmerizing. "I was pretty scared you weren't going to make it, Aeri. You should be more careful, at least so I don't have to age ten years every time you put yourself in harm's way."

She stared at him incredulously. "You think I did that on purpose?"

The corner of his mouth twitched. "It wouldn't surprise me."

Scowling, she reached out and punched his arm, the weak blow bouncing harmlessly off his bicep.

"Ouch," he said, playing along, not bothering to conceal his crooked smile. Aeri felt her lips begin to curve, so she growled at him before turning over to face the fire. She wanted to be mad at him, but her common sense told her it was a foolish endeavor.

She felt the fur move as he settled back underneath it. "Where did Shade go?" he asked.

"He got up and left not too long ago. I don't know where he went. Maybe he was hungry."

"Ah."

Neither of them spoke for a few minutes. She really wanted to roll back over so she could look at him. She'd been missing him so keenly that she had a hunger to see his face. But she had no good reason to offer for that, so she forced herself to stay where she was.

"How are you feeling?"

The question made her ponder for a moment. "Well, my ribs only hurt sometimes, and whatever's under the bandages isn't bothering me at all. I'm kind of tired, though."

"Mm. For the most part, all that is better than expected."

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm properly exhausted, kind of hungry, but very much relieved that we're both still alive."

Smiling slightly, she replied, "I very much agree with that last one."

"As you should. Ugh, I should probably get up and do responsible things." The fur shifted again, and she heard a few of his joints pop as he stood up. "It is not warm in here," he grumbled.

She was about to respond when he appeared in her periphery, and she promptly forgot what she was going to say.

There was very little left to the imagination. All he had on was a small pair of white undershorts, leaving the rest of his body on display. She couldn't take her eyes off of him. He's very… fit. Which was an understatement. With clothes on, he appeared on the lean side, but without them… Every inch of his body was defined, the firelight casting shadows along the ridges of his torso. His arms flexed as he lifted a few logs from a stack along the wall and gingerly placed them in the fire. She could see a few faint scars on his skin, which was taut over all of the rippling muscles that had so captivated her attention.

Now he was crouching by the clothes, his back to her. His shoulders were relatively broad in comparison to his narrow hips, but it all seemed quite proportionate to her. A strange but very powerful urge was rising in her to touch him. She wanted to run her hands all over his body, rather like he had done to her earlier before she'd woken him up.

Whoa. Slow down, girl, she internally berated herself. It's just Winter. Right?

"Aeri?"

His voice snapped her from her bizarre train of thought. "What?"

"I said, the clothes are still wet. Too wet to wear, in this cold."

"Oh. Okay."

He stood up and padded away, peeking around the corner. "Hey, Sahko," she heard him say. "You good?" There was a grumble. "Glad to hear it."

Turning around, he went over to a pile of bags and began rummaging through them, then with a triumphant "A-ha!" pulled out a loaf of bread.

"I'll save you for later," he said, apparently talking to the bread, then tucked it back into the bag.

Straightening, he finally came back to the furs, disappearing behind her, much to her disappointment. Stop that, the voice in her head growled.

"Brr," he said as he got back under the furs. "It's still snowing like crazy out there. Personally, I'm pretty glad to be by this fire, though a pair of socks would be nice."

"A pair of socks?" she couldn't help but repeat.

"Yeah. My toes are freezing." A second later, something icy touched her leg and she jumped with a squeak. She rolled over to see him shaking with laughter, and narrowed her eyes.

"You think you're so funny."

"Extremely," he grinned.

Jabbing his chest with a finger, she told him, "Just you wait. When you're nice and cozy and least expecting it, there will be retaliation."

He laughed, grabbing her hand when she went to poke him again. "I look forward to it."

Her scowl faded and she found herself smiling back at him. "I honestly can't stay mad at you."

"Can't you?" His voice was no longer teasing, eyes questioning. He still held onto her hand, clasping it to his chest.

"I really can't," she said softly. "Winter… I'm sorry. I—"

"No, Aeri. I'm the one who should be sorry—"

"Would you let me finish?" she said exasperatedly, and his lips twitched, though he wisely kept his mouth shut. "Let me say I'm sorry. I let Haku's hateful words get to me. You're the best friend— human friend— I've ever had, and I realize now that I shouldn't let the things you've decided to keep to yourself get in the way of the happiness I get out of being around you."

He gave her a crooked smile, reaching up with his other hand to tuck a stray piece of hair behind her ear, then gently caressing her face with the backs of his fingers. "I just want you to be happy, Aeri. Whatever I can do to make you happy, tell me. I'll give it my all."

Her heart swelled with warmth. "Well, for starters, it would really make me happy if you'd come back to the village."

His smile widened. "Your wish is my command. Though, I must say, it's not really a hardship for me to give up living in a drafty cave with no one to keep me company except for a grumpy dragon who can't even light a proper fire."

A loud grumble sounded from around the corner, very clearly saying, I heard that.

Laughter bubbled up in her throat, and Winter grinned. "You know it's true!" he called out, eliciting another grumble.

Aeri felt truly happy for the first time in a while. Acting on impulse, she scooted closer to him and wrapped her arms around him, resting her face against his shoulder. After a moment, his arms came around her, gently pulling her flush against him. She felt him press his lips against her hair, and a smile curved on her face.

"I missed you," she mumbled.

"I missed you, too," he replied softly. Tilting her head back, she met his eyes, which shone with genuine emotion. He was looking at her sort of like how Haku used to look at her, but Winter's gaze had more to it, something she couldn't quite identify.

"What are you thinking?" she asked quietly.

"A lot of things."

"What's the biggest thing?"

"You."

She blinked. "Me? What about me?"

A soft huff of amusement escaped him. "Just how very, very lucky I am to know you."

The warmth in her chest intensified. "I could say the same about you, you know."

"But it wouldn't be as true." She was about to protest when he silenced her with a look. "I am in awe of you, Aeri. Everything about you. Your strength, your beauty, your kindness, your humor… just being in your presence is enough to humble me, for words to fail me. But you actually talk to me, so I can't be properly speechless. When you say you miss me, when you tease me, when you share your thoughts and feelings and memories with me… it all only serves to magnify the already overwhelming sense of awe I feel by simply looking in your direction."

Her heart was pounding. Drawing her hands up, she rested one on his chest and with the other cupped his cheek. He turned his face slightly into her palm, gaze still fixed on her.

"Winter…"

"James."

"What?"

He took a breath. "Winter is my last name. My first is James."

Her eyes widened, but she nodded. "James."

They were so close. But he wasn't coming any closer, and in her mind she fought waves of confusion and longing. "James…"

"Aeri?"

"Why won't you kiss me, James?" she whispered.

"Because I don't want you to ever look back and wish I hadn't." His words were achingly sad, and she felt her throat tighten.

"I would never, ever wish that."

"Aeri, you don't—"

She pressed her finger to his lips, determination rising. "It would make me happy."

"Are you going to make me regret saying that?"

"Did you not mean it?"

"Gods, no. Of course I meant it. I want you to be happy, more than anything else. But—"

"Shh. James, there is nothing that would make me happier right now than that."

He closed his eyes, and for a moment, she wondered if he was going to refuse her again. When they opened, though, they were filled with that amazing, special emotion again. He brought one hand up to her face, his other arm still circling her waist.

"Very well."

Her heart skipped a beat as he drew closer, and her eyelids flickered shut an instant before his lips were on hers, a soft pressure that had her heart hammering in her chest.

For a moment, time stopped. But then it was over, he was pulling away, and her eyes opened to stare at him, almost incredulously.

A single thought appeared in her mind.

More. I want more.

She slid her hand around the back of his neck and dragged him down until their lips crashed together once more. This time, though, was different. He didn't stop. Instead, he gently rolled her onto her back, careful of her injuries. His forearm was under her neck, and his other hand slid into her hair. She ran her fingers over the taut muscles of his back, delighting in his proximity. He shifted over her, and then he was kissing across her jaw, down her neck, to her collarbone. Her lips parted in a gasp, then he returned to capture her mouth. His tongue ran along her lower lip, and a blinding awareness shot to her core. Hesitantly, she imitated him, and was immediately gratified by the low groan that resonated in his chest. Their kisses became more passionate, more insistent, until her entire body was burning with desire. His hand skimmed over her, leaving a trail of fire in its wake, slowly driving her crazy.

Finally he paused, his forehead against hers, as they gasped for breath. Aeri felt lightheaded, gazing up into his eyes. There was no way for her to describe the feelings coursing through her body and mind, so intense and deep that they threatened to consume her.

Pressing his lips to hers in one last, lingering kiss, he rolled onto his back, finding her hand and twining their fingers together.

"Happy?" he asked, sounding out of breath.

A dazed smile crept onto her face. "Never been happier."


I feel like Aeri has earned a little happiness. Whether or not the happiness will continue remains to be seen.

Next chapter! We find out what has become of the Whispering Deaths, there's some cave time, some dragon time... I haven't even written half of the chapter yet, so who knows what's going to happen. Let your imagination run wild!

Share your thoughts! I'll see you next week... :)