They exited the fog bank, pulling free of the sea stacks within. Hiccup heard many curses and gasps as Toothless and the other dragons shifted to a hover above and a few Nadder-lengths in front of the ships. He knew he might have done one or the other if his mouth remembered to work. Raised only enough of the water so its tusks grazed the tops of the small waves, the massive Bewilderbeast blocked the path back towards Berk.
Hiccup quickly realized this was not the male he met at the Hatchery. The one he met had been a brilliant white. This one reminded Hiccup of the yak cream in the cream and berries Eydis made for him and his father when his future mother-in-law often surprised Hiccup and his father with evening meal. The one he had met had been alone until he reunited with those from his nest who traveled to the Hatchery. This one had two dragons hovering over the longest horns upon its head. The first was a Nightmare similar in color to Hookfang though with a deeper red to its scales. The other dragon, Hiccup did not know and had never seen it at all.
[My alpha says the small one who rides the closest Wind-shrieker is the one we seek,] the Nightmare said, earning a sharp trill from Hookfang.
[Please express my greetings and ask my question, Head Guard,] the Bewilderbeast said, proving it to be a female.
The unknown dragon flew closer. Hiccup frowned. It was as long as Stormfly but had a tail similar to a Gronckle, though bigger and spiker than a Gronckle's. It had two horns stretching back from its head that forked at their tips. Its nasal horn curved back into a sharp point. Its scale pattern seemed to be in patches of solid color and held a mix of dark purple, light purple and a barely-there tan. It hovered in front of Toothless. Its gaze rested upon Hiccup and it tipped its hefty-looking head.
[Honored alpha,] it said, proving it was also a female, [I bid greetings to you and yours on behalf of my queen. We are blessed to be within your presence. Your roar is flying the winds and your actions have brought hope once more to all of dragonkind.]
[A respectful Tusked-king,] Hiccup heard Stormfly muttered. [I knew another besides Link had to exist.]
The dragon and the Bewilderbeast cooed. Both seemed sorrowful and Hiccup did not need Link or Nightjaw to tell him that. He heard the same tone between his own dragons at different points as the nest settled and everyone began living together. The Nightmare did not seem to understand, though his gaze kept slipping towards Snotlout and Hookfang so Hiccup was not sure if he even acknowledge what Stormfly said.
[My queen has heard of the one who showed you dishonor. She wishes to apologize for her mate's behavior and promise to reprimand him when she next sees him.]
[Remind him of Civility Laws, Tail-basher,] the Bewilderbeast grumbled. [Not reprimand.]
[Remind,] the Tail-basher said, tilting her head. [Reprimand. Same thing, my queen.]
The Bewilderbeast huffed and the water around her rippled. A swell headed towards the ships only to stop and expand along a straight line. Hiccup felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise and knew someone had used magic to cast an unseen barrier. He would find out which one when they returned to Berk. The ships could have handed such a small wave without any capsizing. Gothi and Gyda were both winded from their part in his plan. He did not want either exhausting themselves. His queen did not need to exhaust herself at all.
[My apologies,] the Bewilderbeast said. [Head Guard, please ask my question. I sense the young alpha and his nest-mates wish to return home.]
[Honored queen,] the Nightmare said, [may I ask him my question before your nest warrior does?]
[You have my leave,] the Bewilderbeast said.
The Nightmare flew closer, coming to hover next to the Tail-basher. Hiccup saw the dragon glance towards Hookfang and Snotlout again before facing Hiccup once again. The dragon tipped his head.
[I am Hookfang's father,] the Nightmare said, stumbling slightly over Hookfang's name. [My alpha and brother told me where my son was and gave me leave to seek him out. I hold no belief I will convince my son to leave your nest and I assure you that is not my intentions. I,] the male paused taking a deep breath. [I lost both he and his brother. I.. May I visit your nest, honored alpha? May I speak with my son? I want to ask his forgiveness for suggesting the arranged mate-hood.]
"You are always welcomed to visit," Hiccup said. "Hookfang can decided if he wishes to speak to you though. I will not force him."
The Nightmare tipped his head. [Thank you, honored alpha.]
[That is similar to the question my queen asks,] the Tail-basher said in the silence that fell. [Though, she wishes to know if she and her honor guard might find rest within the waters around your nest. She travels to visit her mate and the journey is long.]
Hiccup blinked. "I have no issues with her or her honor guard staying, but, uh, my understanding is an honor guard is more than just one dragon. Where…where is the rest of hers?"
In answer fifteen other dragons lifted their heads out of the water around the Bewilderbeast. Hiccup heard Fishleg's choked off squeal a heartbeat before the teen spoke.
"Thunderdrums, dragons I don't know, more Sand Wraiths and… those are Seashockers… Please Hiccup, let them stay. I need to learn what those unknown dragons are and record the others into the Book of Dragons. I didn't even know Bewilderbeast live apart from their mates." Fishlegs paused. "I wonder if that's like Deepminer and the other Submarripers. Two Bewilderbeasts living in one spot would deplete the food around them."
Hiccup grinned as both the Tail-basher and the Nightmare blinked and stared towards Fishlegs with looks of concern.
"He's an elder-in-training."
[That….explains a lot,] the Tail-basher said.
Everyone else in the air, even Fishlegs, laughed at the dragon's deadpanned tone.
"Your queen and everyone with her are welcomed to come to my nest and find rest," Hiccup said. "I regret to inform you that her mate has moved his."
[I..see. Do you know why?]
Hiccup sighed. "That tale is long and many of the humans behind me do not understand the Common Tongue. We were trying to show them the truth of the war that happened in this area. I would wish to get them back to my nest and let them know the full truth of dragons so that they return to their own nests and mine can return to normal. I will tell your queen the story of her mate moving his before she moves on."
[I understand, honored alpha,] the Tail-basher said. [My queen stated that she would follow your water dens should you agree. She would not want the waves of her passing to disturb them. Her honor guard will surround all of us. I hold the title of Head Guard if you wish to call me something besides my species name. Might I join your flight, honored alpha, as we travel?"
Hiccup chuckled. "Pick a spot," he said then glanced at the Nightmare still hovering silently besides the Tail-basher and still staring at his son, "both of you."