"WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP-"
I snapped my eyes open. Pointing my head backwards and looking at my back, Pouncer was bouncing around in between my triangle scales with leaping strides, tongue hanging out with the happiest face ever.
"Forest, Daddy! Forest Daddyyyyy!" He screamed as his body shook from delight.
I internally groaned. Rolling over on my side and planting my head down, Pouncer fell off my back. He shook his head vigorously and got back up on his feet.
"The sun isn't even up yet… go back to sleep…" I grumbled as I wriggled myself and adjusted my position on the grass blanket. We slept on the grass blanket instead of under it now since the weather is not as cold anymore.
"FORESTTTT! TODAY'S THE DAY!" Pouncer shouted in my face.
I externally groaned this time. I pulled Pouncer under my wing and shielded him from the outside completely in an attempt to keep him quiet so I could sleep some more.
"mhmm!... mgm!... mmmmm!..." was all I heard from underneath my wing.
Luna woke up.
Luna blinked her eyes. "What's all the noise…" She murmured.
"mhmmm!... mmmhmhmhmhm!... mmmmm!"
"Toothless…What is happening…" Luna mumbled as she stood up.
"Just trying to get some sleep…" I sleepily replied.
Luna walked around me. She noticed my wing was bulged up, as if I was hugging air. Luna lifted up my wing with her paw.
Pouncer burst out from under my wing and landed on Luna's face, scrambling all over.
"AHHHH!" Luna screamed as she desperately clawed at Pouncer on her face. Pouncer's legs thrashed around as he tried to grab onto Luna's face.
Luna eventually found her way to Pouncer's scruff. She picked him up and held him in front of her face. Pouncer was panting like he just ran around the lake 10 times and his tongue was hanging out with saliva dripping onto the floor below.
Luna glared at Pouncer.
Pouncer stayed silent for a while, but quickly retracted his tongue and let out a soft whimper. Reluctantly, he got back into his usual sleeping spot next to me, curled his tail around himself and laid down with sad eyes.
Part of me was sympathetic, seeing Pouncer so sad. But I was amused at the small performance.
"How did you manage that?" I whispered at Luna.
Luna was already in her usual sleeping spot next to Dart and Ruffrunner. "Never underestimate the power of eye contact," she replied absentmindedly. She spun around her sleeping spot, tapped her legs and then finally laid down with her paws in front of her.
What if I tried that too…?
I stared at Luna, trying to see if my "eye contact" had any power.
She was about to close her eyes when she abruptly opened them again. She stared at me, confused for a moment and her gaze hardened, giving me the same glare she gave to Pouncer earlier.
I almost whimpered under the unforgiving glare. That moment, I wish I could delete myself from existence. I couldn't help but shrink myself as her eyes delivered a clear and concise message: "Go to sleep."
Not wasting a second, I walked to my sleeping spot in between Luna and Ruffrunner and laid down.
She smirked.
"Toothless… what did you do…" Luna asked me, very amused. We were on a tiny sandy beach surrounded by boulders, next to a towering cliff that led up to the island we live on. Moss and vines grew on the cliff face.
It's going to be hard explaining this one… I said to myself as I looked at my fish-blood covered torso. It was completely drenched in fish blood, not a single spot of black was visible on my chest. A few drops of blood dripped onto the sand below.
"Well Luna, you see I uh, remembered how Pouncer would pounce into the pile of fish when he went to eat it, so I thought it would be fun if I tried it too, and… kind of… maybe… perhaps… somehow… forgot about my… weight…" I said as I looked at my blood-stained torso again. I could smell all kinds of fish blood in there, Cod, Trout…
Luna shook her head in disappointment. "Didn't I ever tell you to not play with your food?"
"No?"
"I'll tell you now then, don't play with your food."
"Okay…" I murmured.
"You should also wash off the blood before you can't."
Realizing I should have done that a while ago when I was at Hiccup's house next to the lake, I dove face first into the sea next to me, eager to get rid of the blood.
I vigorously wiggled my tail and swam around in the frigid sea to the best of my ability. The water around me stained slightly red from my bath.
I flapped my wings and thrust myself out of the water. I walked onto the beach, where Luna is patiently waiting for me, and shook the water off of myself, spraying water everywhere.
"Done cleaning up your own mess now?" Luna asked.
"Yeah…." I replied with my head lowered, still slightly embarrassed.
Luna chuckled. She took off and started flying vertically up the cliff and back to Hiccup's nest. I followed her.
Luna landed softly. I landed beside her a bit louder. Pouncer ran towards us.
"Breakfast is finished! Now go forest? pleaseeee?" Pouncer whined as he scurried around in front of us.
I glanced at Luna. She nodded slightly.
"But first, tell me, who's the best dad in the world?" I asked him as I smiled.
"Mommy is!" Pouncer innocently replied.
My smile sunk faster than gold in water and Luna burst out laughing.
"Listen here you little-"
"Go forest? Pleasee?"
In response, I said the word Pouncer had been waiting for his entire life, as Luna tried her best to calm down.
"Yes."
Pouncer's eyes lit up. "YEAAAAHHHHH!" Pouncer screamed in excitement. He couldn't help but swiftly take off and do multiple somersaults in the air as his body exploded in pure joy.
Dart and Ruffrunner, who have been racing above us, flew over. Both of them landed softly on the gravel in front of me. Dart cocked her head.
"You want to go into the forest, Dart?"
Dart and Ruffrunner's eyes lit up the same way Pouncer's did and huge smiles formed on their faces. They soon joined Pouncer's somersault circus and continued to twirl around above us.
"Well what are we waiting for?" Luna declared while still trying to hold in her laugh, tears in her eyes.
"The- ahaha- Look on your f- hahaha- face-" Luna garbled out.
"Don't even talk about it." I bluntly said.
I didn't waste another second and took off into the sky. I called for the hatchlings to follow through a high-pitched shrill, and proceeded to fly across the lake, into the forest on the other side.
I landed on the grass on the other side of the lake, and waited for the hatchlings- oh they're already here, waiting for me. All three of them were practically shaking from energy.
Luna fluttered onto the grass. The instant she landed, the hatchlings bounced around with their tongues hanging out, fully ready for a day of adventure ahead. They dove into a bush, and it rattled in response.
I and Luna chuckled at their enthusiasm. We pushed aside the bushes, and revealed ourselves to the deep insides of the forest.
Rays of sunlight cut through the thick forest canopy and onto the thick, lush grass floor. Specks of dust floated around, glimmering beautifully under the rays of sun. Rocks, moss and trees littered the area, and fresh morning dew made its presence known via its scent. A pair of birds flew across the scene.
Luna sighed and took a deep breath. "We need to come here someday. This is a nice, secretive spot," Luna said.
"Why? What for?" I asked.
"Just to lay down and relax, enjoy the fresh air, have a little private time between you and me, and perhaps to just get away from… this." Luna gestured to the hatchlings in front of us.
Ruffrunner and Pouncer flew up into the trees and jumped from branch to branch. Dart stared at a snail and sniffed at its slimy path. She quickly retracted her head in disgust, making a mental note to never do that again.
"Is this bad though? Look at how much they're enjoying this!" I exclaimed. The forest must be so magical to them, all these new things, new scents, new feelings. Like how I was when I was younger.
Luna sighed. "It's just that I sometimes look back to the time when we didn't have hatchlings yet. Chasing down butterflies, tagging each other… Those were the days." Luna said with a nostalgic smile.
"Which dragon said that we can't have the same fun now?" I asked. A mischievous smile stretched across my face. I tapped Luna's forehead with my paw.
"because you're it!"
I immediately took off in the opposite direction. Luna stood still as she tried to process what happened, but that soon turned into a smile as she chased after me. I took a sharp left and ducked behind a bunch of bushes. I carefully listened to Luna's steps and waited until they were right around the corner. I walked around the bushes, such that Luna was on the other side of me. I kept my focus behind me, ready to start running once Luna rounded the corner-
Luna's paw tapped on my forehead.
I immediately swung my head around to meet Luna's eyes. "How did you…"
"You can't outsmart me." She said while smirking. "You're it."
Luna was about to turn around, but her eyes darted somewhere else.
"Hey Dart!" She exclaimed.
Dart walked up to me cautiously. She cocked her head in confusion. "What are you doing?" She asked.
Pouncer and Ruffrunner are on a branch above us. They watched with curious eyes too.
"I'm playing tag with dad!" Luna happily replied.
I was tempted to tag Luna right now while she is distracted. But I pushed that urge down.
"Ooo, What's that?" Dart asked.
Luna thought for a moment as to how she would explain. "You chase each other until you touch them with your paw, and then they chase you back!"
"Why are you chasing Dad? Are you angry at him? Did Dad do something wrong?" Dart innocently asked.
"No, no, I'm not angry at your Dad. yet." Luna shot me an amused look. I returned a glare. "It's just for fun!"
Pouncer and Ruffrunner fluttered down from the branch above us.
Dart stared at Luna in confusion, which prompted Luna to explain further. "If you're "it", then that means you need to touch somebody. Here, touch me." Luna spread her front legs and gave Dart a view of her chest.
Dart raised her paw uncertainly and poked Luna's chest.
"Yep," Luna reassured. "And then I'm going to come and chase you! You need to run away!"
Dart turned around and started walking away, but her eyes were still locked on Luna, looking for approval.
Luna nodded, and Dart walked away faster in response.
Luna started chasing Dart slowly, and picked up speed as Dart did.
Dart finally made the connection and squealed in excitement. She darted away at breakneck speed.
Luna chuckled. She turned her head towards Pouncer and Ruffrunner, and the two squeaked, before running away.
Luna turned her head towards me.
"Oh no you don't!" I shouted, before quickly running away from Luna.
"I'm gonna get you!" Luna shouted.
"Mommy's it! Mommy's it!" I heard Pouncer scream in the distance.
The forest made a perfect place for an intense game of hide and seek. There is no shortage of cover whatsoever. I ducked around trees and dove under branches, thrilled to be in a game with the entire family. the fear when I saw Pouncer and had mistaken him for Luna, the relief when I'm sure there's nobody around.
I carefully made my way around a large boulder as I listened closely for footsteps. Hearing none, I rounded the corner and-
"AHHH!" Ruffrunner screamed as I bumped into him.
"Shshshsh!" I shushed him as I frantically placed my paws on his mouth. "We are both hiding, stay quiet or Mom is going to find us!"
Ruffrunner brushed my paws away from his mouth. "Mother isn't chasing anymore! I saw her poke someone else!" Ruffrunner whispered.
"Oh, who did she tag?"
"She poked…" Ruffrunner murmured but stopped himself. His eyes widened as he took off and sprinted away from me.
"Wha…" I murmured. I heard footsteps behind me.
I turned around, and saw Pouncer, sprinting towards me with all his might, Eyes narrowed and pupils thin as silts.
"Oh great Dragonesses!" I shouted, before quickly turning around in the opposite direction and thrust myself forwards with my wings, entering the sprint of my life.
I was running as quickly as I could, but Pouncer pounced onto my tail and grabbed onto it tight. He poked my tail. "Got you!" he announced.
"Oh no!" I replied in a childish voice. "I need to chase you now!"
Pouncer quickly detached from my tail and ran in the direction he came from with his tongue hanging out.
I decided that Pouncer needed a little break from being "it", so I ran in the direction I was running.
"Where are you little dragons…" I murmured as I carefully scanned my surroundings while maintaining a steady walk.
A dark shadow under a bush caught my eye. But upon closer inspection, It wasn't a shadow.
It's Dart tail. She just buried her face into the bush and assumed nobody could see her.
I chuckled at her immaturity. "I wonder where every-dragon is…" I murmured as I walked around the bush to the front, where presumably Dart's head would be.
Dart tail wiggled in excitement at my voice.
"Is a certain dragon named Dart around here?"
Dart's tail wiggled around even more.
"Are you here? Because I will…"
I placed my paw on the bush in front of me.
"...Get you!" I shouted as I pulled the bush back with my paw, revealing Dart's face, buried into the ground.
She immediately took notice of me and screamed in delight, before gathering herself and sprinted out of her hiding place.
I only just noticed the absolutely massive smile that had formed on my face.
Being able to play with such exhilaration after such a long time of not doing so is so much more refreshing, as if I've returned to the past, to my innocent hatchling self. And to be playing with Luna and our hatchlings of all dragons? That just makes it ever so more exciting!
I started running in the direction Dart ran. I was about to jump over a bush and got ready to tag Dart, when I heard something bump into something, someone wheeze, and someone fall to the ground.
I spread my wings and flew over a fallen tree, to see Hiccup staring in shock at Astrid laying on the floor, who had Dart laid on top of her.
Dart shook herself and got back up on her feet. She looked at Astrid's face, who was still in complete shock.
She whipped her head around and stared at Astrid's face.
Astrid's mouth drooped. "Oh no not this again," She complained as she stared back at Dart. "Hiccup? A il' help here?"
"Dart just came out of nowhere," Hiccup murmured as he looked around him. "Oh hey Toothless! What are you doing here?"
I grumbled at him. Pouncer and Ruffrunner popped out from behind a bush, and cocked their heads in curiosity.
"Hiccup… help…?" Aatrid asked again.
Hiccup was about to grab Dart by the scruff, but Pouncer and Ruffrunner took notice of Hiccup, and their eyes immediately locked onto him.
Hiccup eyes flickered towards Pouncer and Ruffrunner.
"Oh n-"
Hiccup was furiously pounced on by Pouncer and Ruffrunner, knocking him over. They bombarded his face with licks as Hiccup could only roll around on the floor.
"Ahahahaha- No no I don't have any garlic, I didn't expect to see you here so I didn't bring any- ahahaha get off of me please-"
Now with the knowledge that Hiccup didn't have any garlic, Pouncer and Ruffrunner quickly hopped off of Hiccup chest, deserting him quicker than an eel. I would be lying if I said I'm not disappointed too.
Luna popped out from behind a bush and looked at Hiccup as he picked himself up and dusted himself off.
"What are Hiccup and Astrid doing here? and why are they on the ground?" She asked.
"I think Dart is having another staring contest with Astrid, Pouncer and Ruffrunner thought Hiccup had garlic…"
Luna's eyes lit up expectantly.
"...but he didn't have any."
Luna's eyes drooped back down.
Dart got distracted by a falling leaf and abruptly stopped staring at Astrid, much to her relief.
"I never expected you guys to show up here in the woods with us," He said as he put his hand in front of Astrid. Astrid accepted the hand with a smile and with one strong tug, picked Astrid off the ground.
"I was hoping we would get a little us time, but I don't mind having some company. Astrid?" Hiccup turned his head towards Astrid.
"Yeah, I think I'm fine with that too," Astrid replied as she couldn't help but stare at Dart.
"Great! So uh, shall we keep moving?" Hiccup exclaimed.
Receiving nothing but stares, Hiccup quickly withdrew all eye contact and continued walking down the dirt trail.
The entire group is now walking down the dirt trail now. I followed behind Hiccup, since I had no idea why we were walking down this dirt path for seemingly no reason. The hatchlings and Luna followed me too, confused as to why we were walking but didn't question it. Our footsteps bombarded the air with shuffling noises.
"Y'know, this is pretty peaceful, how deep are we in the woods?" Astrid asked Hiccup as the group continued walking.
"I'm guessing a few miles in, you would probably see a lot of wild creatures." Hiccup answered.
"So a dragon or something could come out of nowhere and kill us?"
"I mean, if you don't count Dart," Hiccup glanced at her. "then probably yes."
"What a great place to bring me for a date."
Hiccup brushed the back of his neck. "Well, I noticed you were uh, getting, uh, really tense lately, so I uh, thought to bring you into, uh, nature to relax a bit…"
"Wow. I'm impressed you noticed."
Hiccup sheepishly smiled.
The hatchlings eyes all wandered off elsewhere, be it a squirrel or a bird.
I swung my head towards the sound of footsteps that were out of place. I narrowed my eyes.
"Toothless? Something's wrong?" Luna asked me.
I scanned the area where I heard the noise. There's nothing except thick forest.
"I guess I heard that wrong. Nothing's wrong." I replied.
Pouncer sniffed at the air. He turned his head around curiously, and then locked his eyes on the bush I had heard the noise from earlier.
He pounced into the bush.
"AHHHHH!" The bush screamed in a human male voice. "GET IT OFF ME GET IT OFF ME!"
Everyone turned their head to the bush.
"OH FOR THOR'S SAKE WHAT IS THIS AHHHHH!" The bush continued screaming.
We all walked around the bush as it continued to scream. It revealed Pouncer, frantically scurrying on top of a skinny tall male human with long blonde hair and a Viking helmet with a horn pointing up and a horn pointing down.
I let out a high pitched grumble with a tone of annoyance towards Pouncer. He whined, but walked towards me reluctantly.
"Oh I am hurt! I am very much hurt!" The blonde male showed as he squirmed around on the ground, covering his face.
"You're fine, just man up!" Snotlout replied as he crossed his arms arrogantly.
The guy that bullied Hiccup.
I instinctively jumped in between Snotlout and Hiccup and snarled at him. finally realizing that I was here, Snotlout took a step back in shock, and I have never seen the color drain from a human's face that quickly. He reached for the sword on his back. I lowered my back.
"Nononono!" Hiccup shouted as he ran around me and widened his arms while facing me, blocking my view of Snotlout. "Everyone calm down, calm dooooown. There's no need to start a fight, I know we have had our… differences, but let's shrug it off and be friends, alright? a fresh start?"
I considered Hiccup's words for a second, and then nodded.
"Good," Hiccup said as he slowly walked to the side and gave me a full view of Snotlout again.
I loudly chuffed at him, making sure that a little smoke came out of my nostrils. I walked backwards, back next to Luna, who watched the whole commotion with a little unease.
Snotlout was conflicted, but he seemed to make a decision as he took a closer look at me.
"I would fight you, dragon-"
"Toothless." Hiccup interrupted.
Snotlout cleared his throat in annoyance. "As I was saying, I would fight you, Toothless, but since it would be unfair and you would lose, and me being the greater guy here, I have decided to let you live for another day." Snotlout announced in a very cocky tone.
I rolled my eyes as Luna glared at me. "You have a lot of explaining to do," She grumbled as she poked my side.
"Awww, but we were hoping to see a fight!" The tall blonde girl, Ruffnut whined as she threw away a handful of peanuts.
"Yeah, that would have been so totally cool!" the tall blonde boy, Tuffnut replied. "Imagine, the first human versus dragon fight in the archipelago! We should sell tickets!" He stretched his arm out and brushed it across the air.
"Yeah, and then call it something like 'Snotless fight'-"
"Okay okay Twins, just stop, please." Astrid interrupted. "I have a bigger question. Why were you following us?"
The Twins immediately straightened up. Snotlout scoffed.
"Itit waswas herhis ideaidea!" Ruffnut and Tuffnut pointed at each other.
"Fishlegs…" Hiccup mumbled as he turned his head towards a chubby human with a non existent neck.
"Ah! I- I was dragged along!" Fishlegs screeched as he shrunk himself. "I- I came here for another reason!"
Tuffnut dipped his head. "But why are we here," He whispered with his hand held up to his chin. "Like seriously, I forgot why we are here in the first place."
"To help Snotlout with his "investigation", idiot!" Ruffnut replied as she waved her own head around. She then moved next to Tuffnut and whispered into his ear, "For the thing as a reward, remember?"
"Oh, oh yes I totally remember now! The Nut detectives are on the case!" Tuffnut said with an overdramatic tone.
I and Hiccup raised our eyebrows. Astrid pinched the bridge of her nose and whispered, "Oh boy here we go."
Hiccup looked at Snotlout with his "What did you do" face, which Snotlout took no notice of.
Tuffnut walked up to Hiccup and walked around him, eyeing his slim body suspiciously. Hiccup kept his own eyes on Tuffnut as he walked around Hiccup and took in his every detail.
Tuffnut took out a finger and rubbed it in Hiccup's thick brown hair. Hiccup tried to shrink his head away, but failed.
"Tuffnut…" Hiccup murmured.
Tuffnut took no notice of Hiccup. We also didn't take notice of the Humming-dragon that had landed on a tree a bit too close to us.
Tuffnut eyed his own finger warily. He brought his finger to his face and sniffed it. And then licked it.
Everyone wrenched their head away in disgust, except for Ruffnut who has apparently found her own fingernails fascinating.
"Mmm, yes." Tuffnut said as he stared at his own finger. He walked over to Snotlout. "With my expertise investigation skills, I have concluded that Hiccup," He proudly announced as he pointed at Hiccup. "Is walking in the woods with Astrid."
Crickets chirping
"Why did I ever expect anything from you…" Snotlout murmured.
"Okay! Thank you Tuffnut for the excellent analysis, although I still have questions, I will not push for answers because for one, I respect your privacy and if you didn't tell you from the get go you probably won't want to tell me ever, and for two, even if I pushed for an answer I won't get one anyway. Now, all I'm asking from you four is to politely leave and leave us alone."
"Can I say no." Snotlout stated.
"Well, yes, but-"
"Okay, NO."
"Hiccup's right, Snotlout," Astrid interjected. "Just leave us alone and we can pretend we never saw each other, I really could use some us time right now."
The hatchlings eagerly surrounded Snotlout and walked in a circle around him. They sniffed at his shoes, seemingly drawn in by his scent.
"Wha-what are these things," Snotlout asked as he looked at own feet. "Wha- what are they doing, uh…"
Dart nuzzled his foot. Snotlout didn't dare move his foot.
"You're special… You smell nice." Dart told Snotlout, which the latter didn't understand.
"Uh, guys?" Fishlegs whispered as he held a finger up.
"Tuffnut, I think we should leave them alone." Ruffnut told her brother.
"Huh?" Tuffnut replied as he lifted his eyes from his feet, confused.
"But… for a price…"
"Guys…" Fishlegs said again.
"Oh, oh yeah, totally, I'm thinking…" Tuffnut answered. He gestured for his sister to get closer to him, and both of them turned their backs towards us and started discussing.
"GUYS!" Fishlegs shouted. He pointed at a random tree.
Everyone turned their heads towards him. "Fishlegs? is something wr…"
Hiccup cut himself off as he followed Fishlegs's hand to the forest canopy around us.
Dragons. Dragons perched on every branch in sight, in a circle around us. Humming-dragons, Spikedart-Throwers, Skin-Firers, you name it.
I immediately tensed up and lowered myself to the ground, suppressing a growl.
"Alright Fishface, explain what in Thor's name is happening," Snotlout angrily asked Fishlegs.
Fishlegs didn't reply.
Hiccup and Astrid eyed the dragons suspiciously as they slowly revolved around. The twins looked at their surroundings in excitement as Ruffnut summoned a handful of peanuts in her hand seemingly out of nowhere again and began eating them. Snotlout slightly shrunk himself with a face of unease.
"Get back, under us!" I whisper-shouted at the hatchlings.
They picked up on my unease, and obeyed silently. I shuffled them under Luna and shielded them, with Dart and Ruffrunner on Luna's left, and Pouncer on her right.
The entire group entered a standoff with the dragons around us. Neither side did anything as we just eyed each other suspiciously.
Faint gasps and shuffling of feet was heard to the left of us. We watched the many Spikedart-Throwers and Humming-dragons nod their heads in respect.
"Stay back and stand low." I whispered at Luna. she nodded in acknowledgement and took the three hatchlings to the back of the group, out of sight of whatever was approaching.
Two Skin-Firers eventually parted way, and nodded respectfully at a Horn-rammer (Rumblehorn, Stoick/Eret's dragon in the movies).
He was rather small for his kind, only a bit taller than me. However, that didn't stop his heavy scales from shining, and his eyes tinting grey from age and knowledge. An authoritative aurora came off of him.
Hiccup placed his hand on my side as Astrid took a position besides him. She placed her hand on the handle of the axe on her back.
He approached our group of humans and dragons. He eyed me suspiciously.
I suppressed a whine. What did I do this time?
"You look familiar." His deep, dark voice stated. "Do I know you from somewhere?"
I was about to answer no, when a thought occurred to me. Isn't today the time of the year where my former flock would travel to that island?
"Are you… going to an island called "The Crescent" by any chance?" I answered.
His eyes slightly widened at my response, a bit startled, but a bit relieved as well.
"May I know how you acquired such knowledge?"
"I was once part of your flock, but got detached due to… unforeseen circumstances." I answered.
"I see. We do have a few of us separate every season in looks of another flock or a solitude life. That is understandable. I suppose your circumstances have something to do with these humans?" He glanced at the 6 humans next to me.
"...Yes. Yes you could say so."
He seemed to be satisfied with my response, which I breathed a mental sigh of relief at.
Fishlegs stared at our exchange curiously. He took out a notebook and started writing on it. "Interesting… Do you know what they're doing, Hiccup?"
"I honestly would love to," Hiccup replied.
"Fascinating behavior… This is what I've come to study, the annual dragon breeding migration, and it's already fruitful!"
The Horn-rammer glared at the Humans. "Are they studying us? like test subjects?"
"Humans like to study everything." I replied. "They just seem to want to know about everything. We won't understand."
The Horn-rammer nodded, which I breathed another mental sigh of relief at. However, more shuffling of wings behind him cut that thought short.
A giant, purple Skin-Firer flapped his massive wings and blew branches off the ground. He landed next to the Horn-rammer, eyeing me suspiciously.
"I have been urgently called to this spot. I assume it has something to do with these… Humans?" The purple Skin-Firer asked.
"Yes sir." The Horn-rammer replied. He began repeating a simple version of what I have said earlier, as the purple Skin-Firer glanced at me suspiciously every now and then.
This Skin-Firer seems so… familiar… to me…
Fanghorn. (See beginning of Chapter 1)
Realization dawned on me. I'm surprised I even remember his name.
"Toothless, what is happening?" Hiccup whispered at me.
I shook my head. Hiccup looked at the dragons around us. "I think we should leave. Like right now."
I shook my head again. It would be disrespectful to leave right now, I can tell they have more to say.
"If you say so." Hiccup patted my neck. "But I have a bad feeling about this."
Fanghorn and the Horn-rammer continued their discussion. However, a Tiny-Trebbler (Terrible Terror) interrupted their exchange, much to Fanghorn's dismay.
The Tiny-Trebbler leaned into Fanghorn's ear and spoke in a way such that I couldn't listen in despite my sensitive hearing.
Fanghorn's eyes widened. He glared at me with a mix of disgust and astonishment.
The Tiny-Trebbler leaned into the Horn-rammer's ears and supposedly delivered the same message. His reaction mirrored Fanghorn's.
Astrid gulped.
"Wait, did Fishlegs say breeding migration just now?" Tuffnut asked.
"Yes…?"
"Oh, oh man this reminds me of a story my mom told me, this one time, our uncle got stuck in a cave with a Gronkle because of a storm outside, and it was mating season so the Gronkle was in heat, and since my uncle was the only living thing around and it needed relief, the Gronkle-"
"OH-KAY that is enough!" Hiccup shouted as every Humming-dragon around us that knew what a "Gronkle" was wrenched their bodies in disgust. "Thank you, for the totally necessary mental image! Now please-"
The Horn-rammer growled, which instantly shut everyone up.
He glared at the humans and then stepped forward. "Is there something you are meaning to tell us, Coal Smotherer? Perhaps… something behind your back?" The Horn-rammer questioned in a very hostile tone.
"Uhm, no?" I uneasily answered, although I fully knew he was referring to Luna and the hatchlings.
"We know there's a Phosphorus Smelter. Make this easy for the both of us."
I sighed, realizing that there is no reason to hide anymore. Reluctantly, I stepped aside and let Luna into view. She precariously looked around and slowly stepped forward.
I stared at her and gave her my best confused gaze, hoping she would get what I mean.
She instantly got it. She shuffled her wings ever so slightly.
So the hatchlings are hidden in her wings…
"So, all questions answered? Can we go now?" I asked.
Receiving no reply, I turned around and speed-walked towards a break in the crowd of dragons. The gap instantly closed up as it was swarmed by dragons. We were trapped here now. More and more dragons perched on the trees around us.
The Horn-rammer seemed amused at my attempt to leave. But his attention shifted to Luna.
"So tell me, Phosphorus Smelter, what business do you have here in the south, when you belong in the north?"
Luna was slightly taken aback. Her eyes flashed around as she thought of a reply, and her eyes stayed still when she made a decision.
"I was forced here." She replied.
"How so?" The Horn-rammer raised an eyebrow.
"The war with the Humans, as well as The Queen. As far as I remember, I was too injured and floated with the air currents, and ended up here."
The Horn-rammer did not seem satisfied with the answer. "The Queen, you say?"
"Yes. She controlled dragons through fear and forced us to work as slaves."
The Horn-rammer nodded a few times. "I have heard rumors of The Queen. You just confirmed those rumors. But, did you do anything else while you were here? Perhaps… something to do with this Coal Smotherer here?" He gestured to me.
I and Luna froze in place.
The Horn-rammer inched closer, and brought his snout to my forehead. "Did you… perhaps… have offspring with the Phosphorus Smelter?" He whispered with extreme hostility.
My mind was in a complete mess. I barely pieced together a reply as I dug out vague memories.
"N-no, no not at all! Of course not! She…. I found her in the woods and helped her treat her wounds, She… is planning to leave tomorrow! Right, Lu- Phosphorus Smelter?" I turned my head to Luna and gave her my best please help face.
"Y-yes. Yes." Luna uneasily answered.
The Horn-rammer narrowed his eyes. He was waiting for more answers from me.
"Of course I remember how it is forbidden to mate with a Light F- I mean, Phosphorus Smelter! Look, I even remember the verse! Oh mighty lord of Okran, be my guiding light, shall you.. uhm…"
Crap. I forgot.
Luckily, that seemed to be a sufficient answer to the Horn-rammer. He considered his words, which gave me time to think.
I suddenly understood everything now. This Horn-rammer is the flock's fortune teller, and is responsible for all the superstitious affairs. I remember the lessons from another fortune teller, saying that it was forbidden for a Night Fury and a Light Fury to mate… I never understood why, but that explains his hostility.
The Horn-rammer stepped back. "My apologies for my unkindness, Coal Smotherer. It is a great crime to have offspring with a Phosphorus Smelter, and we may have suspected a little too much. Again, my most humble apologies." He respectfully bowed.
I returned the bow. "So, are we free to leave now?"
The Horn-rammer nodded.
"Alright, let's go back and look at the cut on your leg." I turned around as I ushered Luna to follow.
"Aw, come on, no exchange of fireballs?!" Ruffnut exclaimed. "Bor-ring!" She flung her arms in the air.
When she brought her arms back down, they hit Luna's wing which took her by complete surprise. Luna retracted her wings in shock and two balls of scales tumbled out. Dart and Ruffrunner moaned from the impact.
SHIT.
Every dragon around us loudly gasped. Fanghorn and the Horn-rammer glared at me with a mix of pure shock and utter disappointment.
"THE DEVIL'S CHILDREN THEMSELVES! YOU LIED TO US!" The Horn-rammer roared. "YOU SHOULD FEEL UTMOST SHAME FOR DISRESPECTING YOURSELF AND DRAGONKIND! TO THINK YOU WERE ONCE PART OF OUR FLOCK?! DISGUSTING! SEIZE THEM!"
"RUNNN!" I screamed. Luna dropped Pouncer in her other wing and shouted for them to run.
"What in helheim's sake just happened!?" Astrid shouted as she pulled out the battle axe on her back.
"I don't know but we better runnn!" Hiccup replied as he dodged a fireball.
"STOPPP!"
The entire forest came to a standstill upon the unforgiving roar of a Skin-Firer.
A Skin-Firer, as well as a Spikedart-Thrower, Humming-dragon and a Duo-head (Zippleback) quickly darted down in between us and the Horn-rammer. The four dragons formed a defensive circle around us.
"You again." The Horn-rammer growled.
Holy moly, 6300 word chapter. I did not realize I wrote this much.
"Who's the best dad in the world?"
"Mommy is!"
-Toothless and Pouncer
Next chapter in 28 days.