The problem with stories is you want the really GOOD BITS to be now, but you have to do the bits before to get to the GOOD BITS. Damn linear progression.

-HTTYD-

"We better finish what we started here, but Cloudjumper couldn't help coming to the ladies rescue."

"How'd you know she's a lady?"

"See here" Valka ran her fingers over Cloudjumper's jaw "male Stormcutters have these protrusions, like a cats whiskers. Most female Stormcutters don't."

Eret glanced up, seeing that she was right.

"Oh. Ok then. Should we..."

He gestured toward where Valka had been before they came to save Eret's ass. She glanced back, nodding.

"Yes. You're not ready to fly a Stormcutter alone though, so... can I trust you Eret?"

Eret nodded.

"Yeah."

Valka considered him, then shoved her helmet on and sprang back up onto Cloudjumpers back. For a second, he thought she was going to just bail on him, but then she was kneeling down and reaching out her hand.

"Well don't just stand there."

Quite certain that Valka was quite mad, Eret reached up, wholly expecting her to tip forward with his weight but instead she hiked him up, and then Cloudjumper took off with a very wary Eret realising that unless he hugged Valka, there was nothing to hang on to. Valka didn't care, standing and crouching ready to spring into action. The female Stormcutter was hot on their heels, and Eret winced as he saw the ragged marks from her brush with razor netting. She really shouldn't even be flying, but something told him he'd be roasted alive for pointing that out to her.

He had no armour, nothing hiding his face from those who could recognise him but Eret went in head first as always, swords ready as Valka leapt from cage to cage, she and Cloudjumper freeing several more dragons while the others above them spat flames and fireballs and ice to keep the enemies at bay. The female Stormcutter was taking no prisoners, somehow attacking with fire, her wings and her tail all at once.

"We're clear. Gustnudger!"

The Windgnasher Eret had flown in on appeared, distinctive largely because of the rope still hung around his neck. Valka hopped down from her dragons back, beckoning Eret over.

"What?"

"I'm going to show you something. I hope never to learn you have used it wrongly."

Her fingers curled around his wrist, pushing his hand into a position where his fingers were flat, his palm facing outward.

"Now, close your eyes."

"Excuse me?"

"Just... close them."

Feeling like he might die any second, Eret very very reluctantly did as she said. After a few seconds, he was about to open them again when he felt warm air and snuffling against his palm, followed by warm scales against his hand.

"There we go."

He opened his eyes, saw Gustnudger pressing to his hand and, well, Eret couldn't think of a word other than smiling.

"Ok. Now what?"

"Now you can get on him."

"No blindfold?"

"Do you need one?"

Eret shook his head. Gods, was he really making this choice?

Yes.

He climbed on Gustnudger's back, somewhat less terrified than earlier now he at least knew the dragon really was a steady flyer. Eret found himself turning, looking for the Stormcutter he helped free. She was still looking for a fight, ruffling her wings and making rumbling noises until Cloudjumper warbled at her, gesturing with his enormous spined crown to the dragons waiting overhead.

She rolled her eyes, but spread her wings.

"Are you gonna make it back alright like that?"

Lick. Lick. Eret wiped the dragon spit off his face, got a glare for doing so.

"Isn't your saliva flammable?"

Another eyeroll. Valka cocked her head, a strange motion in that bloody helmet of hers.

"How did you know that?"

"We've seen Cloudjumper lick stuff then set it on fire. Are we leaving?"

"Oh. Yes!"

She swung her staff, the resulting noise sending those from the nest upward and the rescues followed. Eret held on as the dragon beneath him surged up. Better prepared and fully sighted this time, Eret felt his stomach twist as they gained height still but once they evened out, he felt the earlier rush come back, gazing at the starry sky, the up-close moon, the new dragons they'd picked up.

He was almost disappointed when Valka said they were back, though he was also momentarily stunned by the huge, spiky structure it turned out he'd been in all along. The ice he'd seen through gaps in the rock was everywhere, in great fierce points all sort of pointing in one direction, like the ice had been blown by wind as it formed. They landed in, a stream of new arrivals pouring through the hidden spot above and following Cloudjumper down to where he'd landed. Eret got off of Gustnudger on slightly shaky legs, almost buckling under the weight of what had happened.

His chest hurt too, like he'd been aggravating it the whole while and only just noticed.

Valka removed her helmet, placing it to one side and lowering her staff. Eret watched the way she moved, scanning the rescues for injury or illness, actively greeting each one and Cloudjumper watched, making what Eret could only assume were reassuring noises to let the new ones know Valka was safe.

"Ok, I'm starting to get the feeling there's more than just a couple dozen dragons here."

He caught her smile, though she'd turned away to greet a wary Gronckle before Eret could be certain it was a knowing, playful smile or just a 'I freaking LOVE dragons' smile.

"A little shaken, but looks like most of you are otherwise healthy. Gustnudger, go take them to get something to eat?"

Gesturing with his head to "follow me!", the Windgnasher ambled off with several dragons in tow. Eret noticed the new Stormcutter didn't go, still focusing on Eret in a way that would have really unnerved him yesterday. Cloudjumper seemed equally taken with her, and Eret wondered just how long it had been since he actually saw another of his own. But if he got too close, she whipped around, growling.

"Well, this should be fun."

"What's wrong?"

"She's spooked, but I need to treat her cuts or she might tear more membrane and struggle to fly. They're already aggravated from flying over here."

Now completely certain he had gone completely mad, Eret undid his sword belt, then approached the female Stormcutter. She seemed to calm down looking at him, head tilting and eyes softening. He held out his hand the way Valka had shown him, well aware she was watching and hoping he didn't screw it up.

"Hey. Thank you for fighting alongside me earlier."

She shuffled, head tilting the other way with a little warbling noise. Eret closed his eyes and hoped he wasn't set on fire for his troubles. He felt the spines on her nose, so close she came to scent him. Then she pressed to his hand, cooed. Eret opened his eyes, a laugh bubbling up from his chest in relief he wasn't dead.

"Hi there."

Valka was beaming, an expression dangerously close to proud on her face and Eret wondered why that suddenly meant so much to him. Then the Stormcutter licked him again, quite clearly laughing as he grimaced with a wet face.

"Thanks for that."

When Valka tried to approach though, the Stormcutter twisted around, flaring up in a clear sign of "do not touch me". Eret stroked an un-injured part of her side, drawing her attention back to him.

"I know you don't want them getting close, but can you let her patch you up? She's better at it than me, and you got hurt earlier."

With a great, heaving sigh of reluctance, the Stormcutter flopped down and rolled her eyes, spreading her wings out either side of her. If Eret so much as moved one step from right next to her head, she growled.

"I think she likes you."

"Really? I couldn't te- ah!" she licked him again, smug as could be "I did bathe recently, you know!"

Well, he supposed being licked was better than being eaten. Eret ran gentle fingers over the crown of two heavy spines on her head, saw her fins flare up a little before settling, more curious than angry or excited it seemed. Valka moved efficiently, patching the cuts in her wings and he saw the hurt in the human womans face for it, how much she cared that the dragon was injured.

"I hope this works my dear."

Eret looked over, seeing fabric stuck to the bigger tears, holding them together to help stop her pulling at them further. Dragon wings were surprisingly tough, he'd seen, but it was like ripping fabric - it was easier once you cut into it, exposing where blood and thin tissue was not so well protected.

"See, not so bad right?"

She rolled her eyes, licked him again and got up very gingerly, all on edge watching her fold her wings back in to see if it dislodged any of her bandages. Thankfully, it didn't. Her head bumped against his chest, sniffing and tugging at his fur and tunic.

"Is your chest hurting?"

Valka obviously noticed the dragons aim, appearing concerned.

"A little, but it's not bleeding or anything."

She still made him show her, his new dragon friend leaning in suspiciously, as though checking Valka wasn't going to hurt Eret.

"Alright. Be careful."

"Aww. I didn't know you cared."

Valka rolled her eyes.

"Don't make me take you back there. I have a feeling she'd follow you."

Eret glanced up at the Stormcutter, who bobbed her head in agreement.

"Yeah, probably."

Valka began unbuckling her armour, and Eret realised there was more to the future than just him deciding he probably couldn't bring himself to go back to dragon trapping.

"So, uh... not to impose or anything. But does that mean I can stay here?"

She looked up, humming.

"That's not up to me."

"Oh?"

There was a heavy silence, thoughts passing her face as she looked between Eret and the dragon next to him.

"Can I trust you?"

"Didn't you ask me that already?"

"That was in a fight. This is... more than that."

Epically curious and somewhat confused, Eret nodded.

"You can trust me."

"Then come with me."

Eret followed, sleeping dragons almost everywhere they went. Valka was leading him deeper in - he'd not tried going that way, unsure what he'd find and certain he'd get lost. They climbed up a few rocky spots, and then it began to open up, brightly lit and densely green, smelling like sunshine and fresh grass and dawn after rain. And it was warm, none of the chill in the other spots he'd seen touching them here.

He looked up, seeing a huge ceiling made of thick ice that still allowed the sunshine in. There were thick, rocky pillars, many of the rocks perfectly six-sided shapes and covered in mossy green that hung down in great curtains. Little pockets of ice and running water were dotted around.

And the dragons...

Dozens had never been close to covering it. Eret could see hundreds, maybe even thousands, sleeping in piles and packs, rolling around with their young, swooping in great spirals around the pillars. He'd expected it to be noisier with so many, but while he could certainly hear dragon sounds, they were largely quiet, peaceful.

"Wow."

He turned to look at Valka, completely astounded.

"Well?"

"This is... unbelievable."

"There's more."

"M-more? More dragons?"

Valka nodded, but she was leading him up a slope, thick green ferns sprouting to seek the humid air and glittering sun. The whole place was just so full of life.

"If you want to stay, it's up to him."

"Him? Him wh- great Atja!"

So much time spent around the Norse for the last eight years had filtered into language, but Eret found himself falling back on the old Sami tongue in shock when he saw the enormous beast below. He sat in a pool of water, and looked for all the world to be sleeping, countless spiny protrusions on his head flaring up and down with his large, steady breaths.

"W-what is that?"

"He is the Great Bewilderbeast, the Alpha species. Every nest has a queen, but this? This is the king of all dragons. This graceful giant helped build our nest, creating a safe haven for dragons everywhere. We live under his care. And his command. The dragons are calmer, happier with their Alpha."

This dragon was going to sense Eret was a trapper and turn him into a frozen treat for himself with that ice breath, Eret was certain. He'd noticed them. shaking off a few dragons that were literally sitting on his enormous tusks before rising on legs the size of sea stacks. He rose, dragons all around them bowing, lowering their heads - including both Stormcutters next to the humans. Valka dropped to her knee, head bowed, clearly venerating this great creature. Eret made to copy, but Valka shook her head.

"Face him. Let him see you."

Well, that was easier said than done. Eret was barely the size of one of his eyes. How could anything be so massive? It beggared belief.

The Alpha stared him down, but Eret did his best to stand his ground. He'd made his choice. He just had to hope this dragon could see that. The huge, sharp-toothed mouth opened and Eret braced himself for a very cold death.

Instead, a chill brushed over only his face, leaving sparkles of ice frozen to his hair and eyebrows.

"Ah. He likes ya."

Eret laughed, relief and still some faint terror rolling through him as he brushed the fragments of ice from his hair, wiped his face before the ones on his brow melted.

"Soooooo?"

"You may stay. Although I suspect he" there was a pointed grumble "and Cloudjumper will be keeping an eye on you."

Nodding, Eret glanced over the shape of the Bewilderbeast, something in his brain faintly niggling.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know. This seems... familiar, somehow."

Valka raised an eyebrow.

"I did model my helmet on his features, to carry his protection with us."

He shrugged, thought gone as fast as it had come.

"Must be that."

Valka rose from her bed, finding Eret had already disappeared from his fur pile on the floor. She'd finally brought him to the heart of the mountain, and so she no longer had to use her old bedroom to sleep in and keep an eye on him.

"You have two bedrooms?"

Eret had teased her somewhat, though he seemed happier for the warmer air at night now.

"We didn't have so many rock-eating dragons, so making places more habitable for me was difficult. So I chose a spot I could live in, and over time I moved closer."

It had been something of a snug fit with three dragons in there too, but Eret's Stormcutter would not leave him any more than Cloudjumper would have left Valka alone with Eret all night. He still didn't trust Eret. And of course, Valka had the sickest dragon in there with them. He was looking much better than before, eating by himself and even walking. With any luck, she'd be able to move him the next night to recover with his own.

She certainly felt better for a night in her more familiar bed, though she also missed sleeping wrapped in Cloudjumpers wings as he hung. Still, that might frighten Eret, and he was very much a tentative new recruit in the fight to save dragons. Best not to frighten him too much. Valka hadn't missed that he slept on the side that let him glance out to the sanctuary of dragons, watching them as he fell asleep.

"Easy girl. That's it!"

Intrigued, Valka detoured only to relieve herself before she ventured out to see what Eret was doing. She found him with a net on the floor, his dragon at his side looking quite pleased with herself.

"What are you doing?"

"I am teaching her how to trip trapper traps. Figure I might as well make some use of what I know, and I know them all."

It had never even occurred to Valka to ask him that. Granted, he'd only been on her side for less than twelve hours, but still. There were patches of shiny dragon spit on his tunic, his fur wrap back in Valka's bedroom. Clearly, his dragon was still quite fond of giving him dragon kisses.

"Have you named her?"

"Yeah. We had a couple of disagreements at first, but I can now introduce Tripfire."

"Tripfire?"

"Yeah. She breaks traps and sets stuff on fire."

The Stormcutter looked happier about the name than Eret. Valka smiled, happy if the dragon was.

"Very well. It's nice to meet you Tripfire."

She held her hand out, Tripfire initially backing away; Valka didn't take it personally, she'd met many a skittish dragon before.

"It's ok Tripfire. Valka's cool. She helped us escape, remember?"

Eret was already referring to himself and Tripfire as 'we'. Valka could scarcely believe the transformation in him. Tripfire wrinkled her nose for a minute, then relaxed and pressed her face into Valka's hand. Stroking her gently, Valka cooed.

"Oh you are lovely. May I check your injuries?"

Tripfire still had to be soothed by Eret to agree, but she let her and Valka was pleased to see there were encouraging signs of healing.

"You should heal up very well. Might be a few battle scars."

"Ah, we've all got a war wound or two. Will she be able to fly alright?"

"Oh, I should think so! Provided she stays off her wings as much as possible while she heals."

"You heard the boss Tripfire. Besides which, I don't think I could fly anyway. My legs are killing me."

Valka giggled, remembering what felt like a lifetime ago when she had her first riding injuries, and how his thighs and back would have gone through quite the workout on that first ride, especially if he was holding on for dear life to begin with.

"You'll get used to it. Besides which, I can't really take you on rescues anyway."

Eret frowned.

"How come?"

"Aside from the fact you're an unskilled flyer, which I can fix when Tripfire is healed, assuming she's alright with being flown to begin with, you are far too recognisable. My armour isn't just for protection in a fight, it's so I can go into the world of humans sometimes. How long before another trapper recognised you? I'm already wary of the idea of taking you to any trading island as it is, without letting you be a clear sign of who I am too."

"So you're saying I'm gonna have to make a suit?"

"That would be helpful. But as I said, you're not ready to fly yet, and you'll need to be used to flying before you make a flying suit."

"Cus movement and stuff, I get it. Since we're talking about long term here, do you really only live on fish and what you steal off ships?"

Valka crossed her arms.

"I'm not your wife."

"And I am very glad of that, you're a terrible cook and I wholly intend on taking over mealtimes before you kill me" was it too late to throw him into the ocean? "but if I'm gonna be here long term, I wouldn't mind being able to, I don't know, keep chickens for eggs or grow vegetables somewhere."

She'd considered that herself, but just never quite gotten around to it. Valka lived well enough off what she could catch or steal, or occasionally trade for.

"There are some soil patches you could cultivate, but that would be your work. Chickens... might be tricky, some dragons might eat them but if you built a sturdy enough stone coop, then it's possible."

Chickens were always the last things taken on Berk, anyway. Sheep and yaks and barrels of fish were far more popular.

"Cool. I don't mind doing the work, just don't want you to feel like I'm gonna trash the place. This is your home, and I respect that."

Valka had no real cause to doubt him on that - even when he'd been kept against his will, Eret hadn't gone out of his way to do more than annoy her with requests to leave.

"So, would you rather start with a tour of the mountain, or help with the wounded and sick?"

"Uh, wounded. I don't think my legs are up for the kind of climbing a tour needs just yet."

She had worried he would be a little heavy-handed for the dragon-care, but despite large, rope-roughened hands, Eret had a gentle touch that seemed agreeable to the dragons. When he saw Valka watching, he smiled.

"Have you ever seen Sami scrimshaw?" Valka shook her head "well, it's... tiny. Miniscule details. Bone, blade and your steady hand. Plus I've been braiding rope by hand since I was a little kid. Also means I tie the best knots ever. Am I doing this right?"

Valka checked his splint for the recovering Zippleback with a broken left wing, nodding as she stroked the bumpy back.

"It's good."

"I've splinted a couple of broken arms and legs in my day. Never a wing."

"As straight as you can, since they don't bend the actual bones themselves. And try not to put too much weight on the break itself, it makes the splint uncomfortable."

Half of her brain - and Cloudjumper - were still very aware that Eret had been a perfectly happy dragon trapper a day ago. And that she was teaching him far more than any trapper should know already. But, as she watched his slightly shaky hand feeding a weakened Gronckle, saw him smile up at Tripfire when she grumbled for his attention, heard him apologise for knocking a healing wound when he was tending to that Nadder...

Valka remembered seeing him stand between Tripfire and the trappers, and she knew she was going to give him the chance to prove he was genuine.

She just hoped she wasn't making a huge mistake.

-HTTYD-

If you miss Cloudjumper in this chapter, it helps if you picture him as I do - always in the background, looking hopefully in Tripfire's direction.