Rescue Riders

The Night Fury King

Big News

Huttsgalore woke up to a rare hot day. The sun shone down without a single cloud in in the sky. The Rescue Riders woke up in their stuffy Roost. All the windows and doors were open to let in the sea breeze. It helped keep all the dragons and the two humans cooled off. The dragons woke up an heard a commotion outside. They got up and left their sleep cave, as Dak and Layla came down from their sleeping quarters. They found Edelweiss already up and practicing her fancy fighting moves with her six foot retractable staff. She didn't notice that she now had an audience. She did quick flips and kicks, twirling the staff. Suddenly she tossed two targets high into the sky, parallel to each other. On their way down, Edelweiss jumped smoothly up to meet them. She snapped her legs open in a full split, making both targets crack in half. She landed back on her feet, the pieces of the targets landed near her. She then noticed the Rescue Riders.

"Good morning guys," she said.

"Morning Edel," said Dak. "That was such a cool move. Where did you learn that?"

"My dad taught me," Edelweiss said. "He knows a lot of fighting moves like that." She looked down at the staff she'd dropped at her feet. She stomped on one end causing to flip up into her hand. She retracted it into its smallest form and put it in her pocket.

"How can you train in this heat?" Cutter asked, panting slightly.

"What heat?" Edelweiss asked casually. "I've trained in weather that was much hotter than this." At that moment Eclipse landed in the yard, carrying a net full of fish.

"Morning," she said. "I brought breakfast for you all."

"Thanks Eclipse," said Winger, smiling at her. She returned the smile. The dragons and riders tucked into the fish. Aggro lit a fire in the fire pit, so Dak and Layla could cook up their fish.

"When do you think Avalon and her friends will come back?" Layla asked.

"When they can," said Eclipse. "They have a big job to do taking care of all those dragons."

"Right," said Winger. "We sure miss them though." He swallowed the last of his fish. "So what do we have planned for today?"

"I don't know," said Cutter, rolling onto his back. "It's too hot to do anything." Edelweiss and Eclipse exchanged a glance.

"I haven't felt so hot since I got stuck in the crater of a volcano," said Aggro. She laid down on the grass.

"Well, we plan to go to the Vollyrock field and go swimming," said Edelweiss. "It's a great way to cool off."

"Yeah, too much heat's not good for a girl with black scales," said Eclipse. She fanned herself with her tail fins.

"Hey that's a great idea," said Dak. "Lets all go." Everyone got to their feet. Dak, Layla, and Edelweiss mounted their respective dragons.

They headed to the Vollyrock field. When they landed and the three riders dismounted. They removed the dragons' saddles, then removed their gloves, boots, and Layla removed her green scarf. Then they all dove into the water. It cooled them right down. Summer did fancy flips and jumps. Edelweiss watched her.

"Hey Summer," she said. "I've always wondered, what's it like in the ocean? It must be far more interesting then up on land." Summer thought a moment.

"It's pretty special," she said. "It's a completely different world then up here. But it's not that different. There's mountains, and canyons, there's forest of seaweed, fish live in their own villages, there's even volcanos."

"Volcanos? Underwater?" Aggro asked, amazed.

"Yeah, I've seen some," said Summer. "The water's always so warm near them."

"Wow, that's amazing," said Layla. "But I think it's too hot for volcanos." They all agreed.

They splashed around in the shallow water for a whole two hours. Then they laid on the grass to rest and restore their energy. Layla doodled in her Dragon Diary, leaning on Summer's shoulder. Edelweiss laid on her back with her head resting on Eclipse's side. She suddenly felt something thump on her stomach. She opened one eye to see Aggro had laid beside her, and her head was resting on Edelweiss's middle.

"So you got stuck in a volcano?" She asked.

"Yeah, it was pretty scary actually," said Aggro. "I got so hot my wings stopped working."

"Why were you in a volcano in the first place?" Edelweiss asked. "If you knew it was dangerous."

"I was molting," Aggro explained. "And I was really embarrassed about it. So I snuck of to hotter places so I'd molt faster."

"You're shy about molting?" Edelweiss asked.

"Yeah I am," Aggro said. "I thought it was only Fire Furies molted, but Layla said all dragons molt."

"All lot of animals molt, not just dragons," Edelweiss said. "Birds, fish." She patted Aggro's neck.

"Have you been in a volcano?" Aggro asked.

"No I haven't," said Edelwess. "But I have experienced a few eruptions. My grandpa studies volcanos and goes into them all the time. He really likes them."

"Why?" Aggro asked.

"They're mountains that breathe fire," Edelweiss explained. "They're basically non living dragons."

"Huh, I never thought of them that way," said Aggro. "But it does make sense." She yawned. She rolled onto her back and stretched. Edelweiss scratched the red dragon under her chin. Just then two dragons came speeding towards them, which turned out to be the two adult Fire Furies LaBurn and Cinda.

"Hey Rescue Riders," LaBurn said excitedly.

"LaBurn, Cinda, long time no see," said Aggro.

"Have you heard the news?" Cinda asked, just as excited.

"What?" Winger asked.

"The Night Fury King is coming to this area," said LaBurn. "He's going to spend a few days here." Everyone sat up.

"He's coming here?" Summer asked. "When?"

"In five days," said Cinda. "All the dragons around here are going to meet up to greet him."

"Wow, we're actually going to meet the legendary Night Fury King," said Cutter. "I bet he's as awesome as I am."

"I can't wait," said Winger. "You've met him before right Edel?"

"Yes, I have," Edelweiss said. "He's our ally. You guys will love him."

"Do you know his real name?" Layla asked.

"His name is Toothless," said Eclipse. "He gets his name from his ability to retract his teeth."

"Cool," said Dak. "Do you think he'll come to the Roost?"

"He might," said Edelweiss. "He'd be very interested to meet more humans who can talk to dragons."

"Wow," said Winger.

"Well, we need to get going and keep spreading the news," LaBurn said. "See you guys later." The two Fire Furies turned around and took off, soon out of sight. The Rescue Riders all looked at each other.

"Five days, he's coming in five days," said Winger. "Maybe he can stay at our Roost."

"You can make him the offer," Eclipse said. "But we might want to tidy it up a bit, so it's more appealing to him."

"Lets get back and get started," said Layla. "We only have five days." Everyone got to their feet. The three riders mounted their dragons, and they headed back towards the Roost.

Hiding invisible in the trees, the three Slinkwings watched the Rescue Riders fly away. When the coast was clear, they uncloaked themselves.

"Did you hear that?" Lurke chuckled. "The Night Fury King is heading this way. This will be the perfect opportunity to set a trap for him, and take over his kingdom. Then I will be the new King of Dragons."

"But I heard the Night Fury King can cloak himself like we can," Vizza pointed out. "He could attack us and we wouldn't even know he was there."

"Yes, I'm aware," Lurke said. "That's why we have to observe him, find out what his weakness is, then use it against him. Come lets prepare." The three Slinkwings took off and headed back to their cave.