So, I still loathe mornings. Nightwings were originally nocturnal, but that volcano completely screwed up our inner clocks.

Astrid and the not-dragon are warm beneath my wings. Good. Obviously, it would be careless of me to let my guides and lesser companions freeze to death.

Thankfully Cripple and Delicious have stayed away from my new territory. Perhaps I was a bit hasty in trying to smash the eggs, but it was a reasonable reaction to being attacked!

I wish very much that there was another Pyhrrian to speak with, the current amount of scavenger language I know is just enough to communicate but makes me sound ridiculous.

I am...conflicted. This island is much too small to be my territory, it cannot support a dragon of my size or appetite for long, but it might be too long before I find another island. I would even take a lazy Rainwing to be a conversation partner! At least they know how to support themselves with the environment around them. Plants; disgusting but I suppose useful in a pinch.

Astrid and the not-dragon are stirring. I lift my wing and tuck it back to my side. I have a fair grasp in their vocabulary, thanks to Delicious and Astrid taking the time to help teach me their pitiful language in the few days I stayed with them.

Astrid yawns and slowly gets up before rubbing the not-dragon on the head in front of its frill. I sort out the words carefully before saying "Here Island. Too small for me. Where go? Scavenger needs scavenger. Dragon needs dragon" ugh, I hate speaking that language, it nearly makes me gag with the high syllables and mixture of rough and smooth words. It's so simple that I bet a talented Pyhrrian could become fluent in a matter of weeks with minimal effort.

Astrid seems to consider my words before speaking a string of words that I can just manage to make out "I know of an Island. Has many Scavengers, but are good. Respect dragons. Hiccup and others know of it, but will not think to see there"

She is obviously dumbing down her words so I can understand, not sure whether to be offended or not. She winced at the word 'Scavengers' as if she is above such a title. I do not see the problem, it is her species, not her personality. I disregard the fact that she calls herself a 'Viking'.

A large island that must be big enough to support a dragon of my size, but it has scavenger who do respect dragons. Not a bad deal, but… I really want another Pyhrrian. I know my chances of that are next to zero, especially in this world of water. With my luck a Seawing would be here but at the bottom of the ocean. But it's worth a shot traveling somewhere new.

I nod my head before standing. I'll hunt before we set off. If a puny not-dragon can make the flight then I know I certainly can.

After a couple of hours flying I can see the island.

It is at least as large as where Astrid used to live. And it has plenty of forests as well.

Astrid and her not-dragon lead me down to the center of the scavenger town, where they have a fairly large statue of a fat not-dragon? Scavengers will forever perplex me.

Scavengers run around like their heads have been bitten off while pointing pointy sticks at me, insignificant little weapons BUT HOW DARE THEY!?

I growl threateningly but before I can swipe my tail around to smash them all to goo, Astrid slides off of me and raises her hands to call them off.

A blonde-haired female and a slightly larger male step forward warily. The ask Astrid questions rapidly and she answers just as quickly. They are talking too fast in their annoying high pitched language for me to understand. But after several minutes they seem to calm down somewhat. I wonder if their minuscule hearts would give out if I snapped my teeth right in front of the lead female?

Astrid turns to me "Shadowtalon. This is Queen Mala. Do not eat her"

My eyes widen slightly, she is a Queen? Hmmm. Well, Scavenger Queen or not, one must pay respects, because if I dared to show disrespect to a Pyhrrian Queen, I would absolutely be killed if the Queen was moody. I lower my head and spread my wings horizontally. I do not bow however, that is reserved only for Pyhrrian Queens.

Astrid looks surprised. Queen Mala also looks surprised. I raise my head and tuck my wings back in before saying "Throne is respected. Scavenger Queen respected less then Pyhrrian Queen. But still respected"

Queen Mala and her subjects gasp. Astrid just looks like she is considering my words. I let the conversation drift around me as I look around at the fascin- I mean, ugly village.

"Did that dragon just… talk?"

" Yes, she did. We have discovered a brand new type of dragon, although, to be honest, we have no idea where she comes from or even what she is"

"Explain"

" Her kind has intelligence equal to or even greater then we do. But from what we have gathered, she may be from a different world. Before you dismiss me just let me explain further. When she first saw the moon on the first night with us, she looked startled as if she had never seen it before. Later on, she drew three moons! She calls her species a Nightwing and she has drawn other species like her that we have never seen!"

" You realized that these claims are impossible? And I would have to take you for a liar if it were not for the fact that I myself have heard this...ShadowTalon… speak. Very well, the Defenders of the Wing shall harbor ShadowTalon. I do however have a request since you seem most compatible with ShadowTalon"

" Of course! What is it you need?"

" In our forest to the east, there is a strange dragon wandering. It had the same general build ShadowTalon but not the same size nor coloring. If it is a new species, we may need ShadowTalon to interfere since it seems too dangerous for the Defenders of the Wing to deal with as we are"

" We will do our best"

I wonder if the Scavengers know that I can somewhat hear their conversation? Rather presumptuous to volunteer me, but if it is a Pyhrrian, then I have to go. I just hope that it isn't a Skywing.

Queen Mala, from what I could pick up, seems like a decent Queen. I speak up once more "My loyalty to Rainwing Queen, Queen Glory. But will help Queen Mala while I stay"

Astrid and Mala both look surprised. Astrid is probably surprised because I have never once mentioned Queen Glory and Mala is surprised for obvious reasons.

Astrid asks me " Who is Queen Glory? And why not a Nightwing Queen?"

I narrow my eyes a bit in remembrance "Queen Battlewinner dying. Nightwings were dying. Queen Glory saved us. Queen Battlewinner dead. Queen Glory took our tribe as hers as well as Rainwing tribe. Queen Glory is less age than me"

Astrid and Mala both look contemplative. Or constipated. Their tiny little faces are hard to read. Mala speaks up, and obviously makes her words very simple "How did Queen Battlewinner die?"

I growled softly "Battlewinner fought a Icewing. Icewing fired down her throat. Froze her from inside out unless Queen Battlewinner was in Lava, had Princess lead. Queen Battlewinner drowned in Lava when hot mountain overflow"

Queen Mala's people start chattering excitedly. They began this when I told then Battlewinner submerged herself in Lava, do they have some sort of fetish or something?

The Island is a fair size, enough to host me if I am careful with my hunts. Plenty of forests, the volcano brings back bad memories but apparently, they have a dragon that eats Lava… Where was this dragon when our volcano erupted?!

I allow Astrid to ride on my back to be my guide, but Queen or not, Mala shall not ride on me. I am no beast of burden! Queen Mala rides on the not-dragon Stormfly.

As they lead me across the island, the roars of the dragon become clearer and louder. It sounds familiar, not as if I know the dragon, but more the species. It is too loud and guttural to be a not-dragon for sure. I really hope that it is a Pyhrrian! If it isn't though I may or may not flip a house. No promises on how destructive I will be.

As we approach, I can spot a deep gully where the roars seem to be coming from.

I land as quietly as possible, I may be the strongest dragon here, but caution won't come back to bite me.

Astrid slides off of me and creeps over to the ledge, taking questions from my silent approach. After a couple of seconds of looking over the edge, she returns and sneaks over to me and Mala, who has also dismounted and crept over to me.

Astrid quietly explains the situation "The dragon way smaller than Shadowtalon, but it's like nothing I have ever seen. It is a pale yellow, with a sail on its back, it also has a weird tail with a barb on the end. It is completely trapped underneath some boulders"

Astrid, use understandable language, please. But I think I have the gist, so I say "Sandwing"

I ignore whatever Mala and Astrid are asking me and walked over to the ledge, it is a Sandwing Dragonet alright, can't be more than four years old. Its wings are pinned.

I spread my wings just enough to glide down into the canyon. Astrid and Mala are telling at me, the audacity of them, as if they could do anything to stop me.

As I land on the damp gully bottom, the Dragonet looks up to me and cries out "H-hey! Please! I'm stuck!" Astrid and Mala make their descent behind me.

I nod and warn the Dragonet in my own language "I am going to move the boulders, but depending on how heavy they are, it could tear at your membrane."

The Dragonet's pitch-black eyes widen a bit, but she nods shakily. Mala is getting rather close to the Sandwing.

I walk forward and wrap my front talons around the biggest Boulder, I quickly lift it off, but the bottom of it scrapes her membrane and causes a rip. She yelps loudly but doesn't move, tough little girl.

I manage to pick up the rest of the boulders, letting her up. At full height, she is just a couple feet taller than Mala. She immediately runs over to me, causing Mala and Astrid to back up VERY quickly. But the Dragonet just attacks me with a hug, so no harm is done.

"Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! I had been stuck there for days! I was just flying over the ocean when I saw this island, then I saw this board, and I was really hungry so I dove into the gully then BAM! Some boulders fell on top me, and then you came along and you helped me! By the way, I totally forgive you for ripping my wing. My name is Cascabel, what is your name? I am REALLY hungry, can we go get something to eat? Who are those? Are those your Scavengers? WHAT IS THAT?! That looks really weird! It has wings like we do, but where are it's front legs? Did it lose them in an awful battle? Hey, you're a Nightwing, right? Can you read minds? My momma said Nightwings can't anymore, but I think you totally can! Can yo-"

I clamp my talons around her snout "If you would stop chattering I would answer your questions. Yes, I will get something for you to eat."

Astrid and Queen Mala both look a little dumbstruck at the Chatterball. Mala because she has never heard our language, and Astrid be sure frankly she hasn't heard my speak that much.

Now normally, I would avoid a chatterbox like this with a vengeance. But Cascabel is far too young to be on her own, and like hell am I giving up any Pyhrrian to this awful world.

Astrid Pat's my side and asks "Who is it? How did she get stuck?"

Cascabel looks very confused at the Scavenger language, but with my Talon still firmly clamped around her snout, she isn't saying anything.

" She is Cascabel. Was hunt when rocks fell on her. She is a Dragonet, young Pyhrrian."

I unwrap my talons and ask " How old are you? My name is Shadowtalon"

She beams at me and said proudly, "I am four and a half!"

I then say casually to Astrid "She is four"

Both female Scavengers are stunned. Is this their default emotion or are they really just that dumb?