"Astrid!"

"Hey Iris!"

Once the girl dismounted from Stormfly Iris wrapped her in a tight hug. Astrid laughed in surprise but returned them hug. It was broken up when Stormfly shoved her nose in to get attention as well.

"Come inside," Iris urged. "I have something to tell you."

"If it's the Night Terror eggs," Astrid began but Iris shook her head.

"Inside," she said.

Enigma perked up at the sight of Stormfly when they entered the house. The Deadly Nadder hurried over and bumped noses with the Fury Howler. Already both dragons were purring eagerly but Iris ignored them. Instead she picked up her knitting from the other night that she had finished.

"Look," she said eagerly as she showed Astrid what she had knitted.

"What?" Astrid asked. "Its just a tiny tunic." Iris nodded. "Tiny OH MY THOR! Iris!"

"I haven't told Dagur," she said quickly. "Or anyone else."

"HOW DID HE NOT KNOW?" Astrid shouted as she shook the baby tunic. "ITS RIGHT HERE!"

"He's been under stress," Iris explained. "And I plan on telling him when he gets back from this adventure. That's why I told him to finally ask Hiccup for help."

"I want to be here when you do tell him," Astrid said with an evil grin. "I want to see the utter shock in his face."

"You are evil," Iris laughed.

"How far along are you?"

"Two months. I think. I found out after we got back from the Edge. I had my suspicions before but didn't want to jinx it. Things have been hectic."

"How long have they been gone?"

"They left yesterday afternoon and had plans to stop for the night."

"So about five days before they are back. The wait is going to kill me!"

Iris just laughed. She was about to show Astrid her room when Enigma and Stormfly started to attempt playing inside. They knocked over one of the chairs and caused one of the shields to fall off the wall. Iris groaned as Shadow screeched in rage from upstairs which caused both dragons to freeze.

"Out," she ordered.

Sheepishly Enigma and Stormfly went outside and just in time. An angry Shadow came flying down from the upper level ready to fight. Iris grabbed her in mid air and pulled the growling dragon close. She stroked her back, humming wordlessly until the dragon calmed down.

"Looks like you are ready," Astrid chuckled. "Already settling spats and calming angry little things down. You'll be a perfect mom." The blonde set the chair back on its legs and set the shield by the wall.

"As long as as they aren't as wild as Dagur was I'll survive," she laughed. "Otherwise he gets to deal with them!"

"Greetings Chieftess, Astrid," Ellie greeted as they walked towards the gathered dragons and their Riders at the docks.

"How is everything going Ellie?" Iris asked.

"Everyone is ready for training," the widow said. "Most are eager to learn from lady Astrid again. Her previous lessons proved fruitful."

"I'm glad," Astrid laughed. "I usually just get complaining from the other Riders about how strict my training is. It's nice to hear that someone appreciates it."

Iris laughed. Astrid was harsh with her training but it was something the Berserkers loved. The more difficult the better. The past four days had been heaven for the Riders, Ellie included with her Leafcutter.

While the Riders were disappointed Astrid would be leaving soon, Iris was anxious for Dagur's return. With any luck he'd be home tomorrow and she could tell him the news she had been keeping a secret from everyone. Astrid was just as excited as she wanted to see Dagur's face when he learned he was going to be a father.

"Ships approaching," someone shouted.

"Which tribe?" Iris asked. The dock worker shook his head. "What?"

"There's no tribal flags," he said nervously.

"Battle stations," Iris shouted. "We have potential hostiles in our waters!"

"Chieftess! They have dragons!"

"Dragon Hunters," Astrid shouted. "They brought their Dragon Flyers!"

"Everyone mount up," Ellie ordered. "Prepare for battle."

"You," Iris said as she grabbed a young girl. "Go find Elder Rohan. Tell him to evacuate everyone who isn't fighting to the Great Hall." The girl nodded and darted off. "Enigma! Call our people to arms!"

Enigma rose up on her haunches and gave a blood curdling shriek. Across the village Berserkers stopped their tasks at the sound and grabbed their armor and weapons. Children ran to the Great Hall as two Gronkles and their Riders landed by the large doors. The Windstrikers and Deadly Nadders screamed, tossing their heads as their Riders quickly mounted. The solo Riderless Windstriker screamed in rage as she took to the sky before anyone else.

Sails were quickly tore down and taken to shore. Shell helped move ships closer to their shores and out of enemy hands. She growled, spewing boiling hot water into the air as a threat to the approaching ships and dragons.

Three small ships however left the docks. They moved quickly to opposite ends of the bay to a large sea stack that was on either side as a Gronkle pulled each ship. Men grabbed thick ropes that were hanging off the stacks, tossing them to the Gronkle Riders who had the dragons bite the ropes and pulled with all their might. A groan shook the air as a massive rope and metal net rose out of the water. It spanned across the bay between the two stacks. It was only thanks to Shell and the Gronkles Iris had been able to implement this defense tactic she read about. Once secure the Gronkles hurriedly pulled the small ships back to the docks.

"By Odin," Astrid gasped. "What is that?"

"A sea defense," Iris said firmly. "It was thanks to Shell and the Gronkles that we were able to get it up. She drug it out there and helped spread it while they helped life and secure the pulleys. We just haven't had to use it till now. Ope. Look! They're gonna try it!"

One Dragon Hunter ship sailed into the sea net. However whatever they had hoped would happen didn't. The net stopped the ship dead in its tracks. It even pushed the ship back some as it adjusted to the tension caused by the ship hitting it. That caused the ship to hit the one behind it that got too close.

"Didn't work," Iris laughed. "Take that!"

"You are going to have to tell me about that thing," Astrid said as another ship ran into it unable to stop and crashed into the first one. "That is brilliant."

"Thank you. Uh. Do you think their ballistas can reach this far?"

As if on cue three massive arrows shot from the ships and hurdled towards the shore. Thankfully all three fell short and landed in the water but not before showing they could hit the ships. Iris cursed.

"Of course I had to ask!"

"Let's go," Astrid said. "Er."

"I'm going," Iris said firmly. "This is as much my fight as it is my peoples! Let's go!"

Hopping onto Enigma, Iris whooped as her dragon leaped into the air. Already the Windstrikers, Deadly Nadders, and Ellie were engaging the Dragon Flyers while Shell spewed hot water at the ships stuck by the net. One Dragon Flyer flew directly at her only for Enigma body slam right into his dragon. It screamed as she dug her claws and teeth into its wing to render it useless causing it plummet towards the sea.

"Good girl," Iris said. "Don't maim them too bad though. They are fighting against their will. Just aim for the humans on them." Enigma growled.

The Dragon Flyers proved to be vicious foes. They were tough, well armed, and well armored. Oddly enough as well, they kept pulling away from the island. If they thought they could win by knocking their dragons or Riders into the water they were sorely mistaken. Shell was below and ready for any water rescue needed.

"Iris look out," Astrid shouted.

Enigma jerked back and upwards as an arrow shot towards Iris. The dragon took the arrow instead with a heavy grunt. However her movements became sluggish and she groaned in pain.

"Enigma!"

"Iris fly back to Berserk! Enigma's been hit with Dragon Root!"

Before she could respond to Astrid a Dragon Flyer crashed into Enigma. Iris swung her sword at him with a shout but he parried with his own. Cackling he kicked Enigma's wing joint which caused her to falter. Iris dropped her sword as she clung to Enigma's saddle.

"Wrong move girlie," the Flyer mocked.

Before Iris and Enigma could react he grabbed her and drug her off Enigma's back. Iris swore, trying to jerk away, but couldn't avoid the armored fist that connected with the side of her head. She stopped moving, dazed and shocked. Another arrow hit Enigma, right next to the first, and the Fury Howler groaned. Suddenly she stopped flapping her wings and plummeted towards the ocean.

"Enigma! Iris!"

She tried to answer Astrid's shouts but her tongue wouldn't move. The Flyer laughed and that was the last sound she heard before his fist connected with her head again. Everything went black.

DDDDRRRRRAAAAAAAMMMMMMMAAAAAAA