"Riders from the west," a guard shouted.
The island was empty. Iris stood in the middle of the village, giving orders to the Berserk Riders that remained. Only three Windstrikers stayed back while all the Deadly Nadder Riders stayed as well. The other Windstrikers and all the Gronkle Riders went with the ships that were headed for Mystery Island. She glanced up as Enigma roared a greeting to the dragons flying overhead. It was the Dragon Riders.
Just yesterday the fleet left Berserk and headed to Mystery Island. Over the past few days they had been sending ships with supplies to the island after the Berserker Riders scouted it out. The land was incredibly rocky, more so than Berserk, and had a narrow stripe of forest along the center of the island. Cliffs surrounded the island edge with only a small beach tucked on the south side that ships could dock at.
Fiske had gotten their message about evacuating and sent his people to the island as well. He promised assistance to make it safe enough that the villagers could have someplace to stay. With the help of their Scauldrons and Tide Rippers they could make it there faster than the ships even if they had to go around thanks to the cliffs on their northside.
Tears had been shed among all the Berserkers as the evacuees told the warriors staying behind goodbye. Iris and Dagur had both held onto Yarrow until the very last second. Neither wanted to let her go but knew it was safest for her to leave. Vivian and Silvia would keep Yarrow and Enigma and Jager's egg safe until they could get to them.
Enigma hadn't wanted to let her egg go. It was understandable since it was also her first child as Yarrow was theirs. Somehow she managed to let Vivian take the egg without changing her mind and taking it back. The Fury Howler watched mournfully from the shore as the ship pulled away from the dock. As it got further out to sea other ships moved to flank it.
"We're doing the right thing," Iris said thickly as she fought to keep her tears back.
"Yes," Dagur said quietly. A low growl escaped him. "And we will make those Dragon Hunter bastards pay for it."
"Berserkers," he shouted, turning to face the people gathered behind them. "We have time to prepare so let's make the most of it! Let's teach these bastards what it means to piss off the Berserker tribe!"
A roar of agreement came from the people gathered as well as the dragons. Iris turned to face them as well. Everyone looked determined, fully covered in their armor and armed to the teeth. The dragons wore armor as well, making them look more vicious than they already were. Everyone was ready to make this enemy pay.
"Iris," Heather shouted. "What happened? Where is everyone?"
"The tribe has been evacuated," she explained as the young woman leaped off Windshear. "We learned about the Bewilderbeast and the Dragon Hunters coming."
"How?" she asked. "Wait, where's Yarrow? Why is Enigma out-wait. Iris!"
"Both are safe," Iris said firmly as the other Riders landed along with some women Iris recognized as Wing Maidens. "Yarrow and the egg are with my mother who is on a ship heading to Mystery Island."
"Why aren't you with her?!"
"Because I'm needed here. Both of us are." Iris laid a hand on Enigma's shoulder. "We didn't want to but we know we had to. Hiccup, Dagur is having a meeting in the Great Hall with our squadron leaders. He'll want to see you."
"How," Hiccup began to ask. Iris shook her head. "I'll talk to Dagur. Everyone, take this chance to catch your breath. Atali, come with me."
"The egg hasn't hatched yet?" Fishlegs asked anxiously. Iris shook her head. "What if it hatches while Enigma is here?"
"Silvia is guarding the egg," she explained. "So no matter what it'll be safe. That's all that matters.""
"But the chance," Fishlegs tried to argue.
"I'm not in the mood Fishlegs," Iris snapped. "Right now there are more dire concerns. Like the fact there is a giant dragon living under this island!"
"We didn't know," Astrid said quickly.
"I know. You guys didn't learn about it until recently. It would have been nice if some ancestors had left something about it behind."
"Wait a second," Snotlout said slowly. "If you guys knew the Dragon Hunters were coming why didn't you go after them first?"
"Because we can't find them." Iris said. "Its like they just, vanished."
~Break~
"The only place the ships will be able to dock is the southeastern port and our main docks," Dagur said. "The Riders already destroyed the southeastern port but they could land their ships on the beach."
"Then let's make the beach unsafe," Hiccup said. Dagur brightened at the sound of his voice.
"Brother," he exclaimed. "You're finally here!"
"I won't lie I'm surprised to see how prepared you are," Hiccup admitted as he walked up to the large table that Dagur had placed a map of Berserk on. "I was expecting Dragon Hunters swarming this place."
"I wish they would," he grumbled. "Then I'd have something to vent my anger on."
"You need something for sure," Jon grumbled. Dagur just grinned at his father in law's comment.
"Have you seen any Dragon Hunters?" Hiccup asked.
"No," Dagur grumbled. "None of the scouts have seen them either. Not even a sign. Its like they vanished in thin air."
"They're up to something," Atali mumbled. "I know it."
"What ever they are up to we will be the ones to stop them," Hiccup said firmly. "All of us. Right now let's use this time to find a way to the Bewilderbeast and figure out a way to defend it."
"You all heard him," Dagur said. "Let's get our people out there. I want one of the squadrons searching while the other two prepare for combat." He looked at everyone gathered around. "Dismissed."
"I'll send the Riders to the southeastern port," Hiccup said. "They can made it unsafe to dock at if the Dragon Hunters try."
"Good," Dagur said. "The sooner we beat these Dragon Hunters the sooner things can go back to normal."
"How did you know?" Hiccup asked.
Dagur sighed, rubbing his face. He still couldn't believe it and he'd watched it. There was no way Hiccup would believe him. It was unreal.
"Iris' mom has a book," he began.
"The one that turns on its own and makes pictures appear?" Hiccup asked eagerly. Dagur stared at him in shock. "Er, I saw her use it. When you had me go get her. That's how she was able to figure out how to save Iris."
"Why didn't you tell me?!"
"I thought you knew! She's the mother of your wife after all, you lived there for a year."
"I never saw it," he groaned. "Apparently Vivian's mother showed up after we left and gave it to her. So we never had a chance to learn about it."
"Its pretty strange, isn't it?"
"That's putting it lightly. Still. Stranger things have happened." He smiled softly. "And those strange things gave me a wife and a daughter. I can't say its all bad."
Hiccup nodded at his words. Dagur couldn't hold it against Iris or Vivian either. Neither knew about it before hand from what he'd been told. Plus it gave them an edge. Now they knew what would happen, prepared for it, and would survive. It was an advantage he could get behind.
