CHAPTER 14
It's rather amazing how quickly time flies when you're not constantly warding off attacks from enemy villages. In fact, life on Berk was more peaceful than anyone could remember. Alvin and Mildew, after signing a new peace treaty, had taken over rebuilding Outcast Island. Stoick had agreed to the formal truce and increased trade between the groups in exchange for the Outcasts keeping Dagur locked up and out of sight.
The following months, although calmer, could hardly be considered boring by any means. Tengan was delighted to learn about and participate in the town's harvest; a process made much simpler by the dragons. Little to no crops were lost or wasted, leaving the viking's pantries and larders full to bursting for the upcoming winter. Although mostly acclimated, she still found her teeth chattering on the colder evenings and had been discovered, on multiple occasions, curled up for the night in front of the large fireplace of the Great Hall, snuggled happily against Rumble's side while clutching the only semi-reluctant Kelp to her chest.
Snoggletog was, without a doubt, Tengan's favorite Berkian custom. Everything from the food, to the ceremonial log delighted her. She even braved a mug of what Astrid had lovingly called "Yak-nog", although she "forgot" to include it's recipe in her report on the holiday. The only thing marring the occasion was the annual absence of the dragons. Apparently, Tengan would come to learn from a morose Fishlegs, that time of year was their breeding season. The dragons would fly off to an island mottled with pools of warm water where their exploding eggs would hatch with minimal damage to the surrounding area. Astrid had wasted no time in inviting Tengan to stay with her family once more over the holiday season, something Tengan had appreciated immensely.
As the dragons returned with their litters in tow, winter slowly melted into spring. That year, Tengan had been invited to participate in the Thawfest games under her own "honorary house". She had done well enough for a first timer, landing an overall fourth place position after Snotlout, Hiccup, and Astrid respectively. As the games concluded, planting season came and went quickly, thanks again to the ever helpfulness of the dragons.
Summer and fall slipped with surprising speed, and soon Tengan found herself once again at the Hofferson table for her second Snoggletog. The absence of her dragons this time around was less jarring, but she still felt immense relief when both of her boys returned unharmed.
The beginning of the snowmelt had marked the end of her second year of studies on Berk. The first relatively warm day of the year found her quietly sorting through all of her notes, journals and supplies while Rumble quietly watched from his stall. Kelp snored lightly in his hammock, as anytime before noon was too early to be working as far as the Terror was concerned.
"Hmm…" Tengan mused to herself, holding up a large, worn piece of parchment. "This is the first crude map I made of Berk. I don't really need it, I already have my finalized one packed. It's just….."
"Hard to let some things go." Stoick completed as he walked into the small home. Reaching out to pat Rumble's snout, he smiled. "Has it been two years already? It feels like only yesterday you were posing Thornado for some sketches."
Tengan smiled softly before standing. Stretching her sore arms over her shoulders she cast a wary look at all the items she hadn't sorted through yet. Returning her gaze to Stoick she murmured. "Do you still miss him?"
"Every day, lass." Stoick nodded slowly. "But I know he's off taking care of those younglings. It hurts not being able to see him regularly. Who knows, one day he might come back. Those we miss have a way of finding their way back to us. One way or another..." Crouching, he picked a dusty old journal full of haphazard notes and placed it on a low shelf. "You know, you don't have to clear everything out of here. Take back what you think you'll need and we'll watch over the rest. This house is yours whether or not you rest your head here every night."
Tengan swallowed, throat suddenly tight. She opened her mouth to speak several times before giving up and simply hugging the chief. In the time she'd spent here her arms were now long enough to almost wrap around the broad viking. Almost.
"You're welcome, lass." Stoick patted her back gently. "Better wrap things up, you're wanted in the Great Hall. I wouldn't say no to a lift back into town either. That walk was longer than I remembered."
It took only a few minutes to wake Kelp up and head back into town. Alighting on the steps of the Great Hall, Tengan cocked her head to the side questioningly. "What was I needed for again?"
Stoick, in keeping to his namesake, simply pushed the door open before standing aside.
Tengan, brow furrowed, cautiously stepped into the dim hall, both dragons crawling close behind her. Squinting in the low light, her eyes flicked from one corner of the room to the other, barely managing to catch the moving shadows in the semi-darkness.
"Now!" A low voice sounded from deep within the room. In unison, five small puffs of fire escaped the maws of dragons to light the fires along the hall. In the flash of light, the forms of dozens of villagers came into view. "SURPRISE!" They all shouted in a clashing chorus of booming voices, their cries punctuated by roars and growls of the Academy's dragons.
"Just a few people who wanted to give you a proper sendoff." Stoick said lightly as he joined the room. Smiling down at the stunned girl, he nudged her forward. "Go enjoy your party."
Tengan, never one to disobey the chief (without good reason, that is) did just that. It seemed every villager had turned out to enjoy the evening. On one of the usually empty walls, a large sheepskin banner bearing the logo of the Academy had been stretched across the stone. The long stone table at the back of the hall was piled so high with food it was impossible to see anyone standing behind it. Several of the smaller tables and benches had been moved from the center of the hall, clearing a space for people to dance as the few musically inclined vikings played on in one of the corners.
Tengan quickly lost herself to the celebration. She laughed as Hookfang, apparently too impatient to wait for Snotlout to feed him, dove into the feast and had to be wrestled to the ground before he would release a whole roasted boar. She found herself pulled into several bone-crushing, one armed hugs as villagers pressed everything from cookie recipes to small hand carved trinkets in her hands. She had hardly found time to stow the gifts before Gustav, face red from a swiped mug of mead, clumsily dragged her onto the dance floor. He wasn't too bad of a dancer either, until he overestimated his strength and dropped her to the floor while attempting to dip the larger teen. Before she could make her escape, Tengan found herself being swung in circles on the floor once more, this time by Snotlout who stamped on her toes several times in rapid succession. Thankfully, Astrid, spotting the catastrophe, had pulled her away before she lost all feeling in her left pinky toe.
Sadly, the party could not last forever. Many villagers stumbled, either from too much mead or food, back to their homes as the sun started to rise. Everyone had taken an unofficial day off from their duties to dunk their heads into the ever cold river and sleep off their night of revelry. That evening found Tengan, still slightly sore and sluggish, readjusting her saddle bags for the last time. Taking a break to straighten her sore back, she glanced around at the mostly empty home. Kelp's hammock, several older journals, piles of unused paper, a couple pieces of her warmest clothing, and a few other things would be staying behind. The rest of her research, a few small trinkets, and supplies for the return trip were just barely contained in Rumble's saddlebags. As it was she'd have to have her sword belted to her hip the entire journey. Stretching her neck, she gazed out the window in the general direction where the aforementioned dragons were resting in the waning sunlight. A happy warbling coo caught the teen's attention as she stiffly walked towards the door.
"What's going on out there boys?" She asked lightly as she swung the door open, revealing a semi circle of familiar faces, both human and reptilian. "Hey guys." She greeted the rest of the Rider's softly, fighting to ignore the heavy feeling in her chest. "What are you all doing here? I'm not leaving until tomorrow morning."
"We figured-" Hiccup began, reaching behind him to Toothless' saddle.
"That you could use some help." Astrid finished with a devious smile, arms crossed as if defying her friend to argue.
"Help? With what? I'm all packed." Tengan cocked her head to the side questioningly as she gestured to the mostly empty house behind her. "Everything that's left inside is what's going to stay here.
"Not with that!" Tuffnut waved her comment aside, elbowing his sister until she surrendered a bit of space.
"We figured that, since you've been helping us so much the past couple years we could return the favor." Fishlegs added quickly as he sidestepped the now wrestling twins.
"I'm afraid I don't catch your meaning." Tengan replied with a sad smile as she watched the twins roll in the dirt at the dragon's feet.
"We're coming with you." Snotlout stated matter of factly. "I mean you can't accurately report on how awesome the Monstrous Nightmare is without a demonstration." With a flourish, he snapped his fingers, smirking as Hookfang actually fired up on command for once.
"What?" Tengan blinked, her sleepy brain struggling to catch up. "Wait, you all want to come with me? What about the Academy? Berk?"
"The Academy will be…. fine." Astrid admitted reluctantly. "Gustav agreed to give it a deep cleaning while we're gone. There's not much in there he can break."
"And since Dagur is locked up and the Outcasts our allies now," Hiccup added, standing aside to reveal bulging saddlebags on Toothless. "there's really no threat looming. It's the perfect time to go."
"Besides" Ruffnut piped up as she planted her boot squarely on her brother's back. "When else are we going to have an opportunity like this? I've wanted to see Barf and Belch blow up something new for months now."
"Ditto." came Tuffnut's muffled reply from the dirt.
Tengan's face split into a grin as the knot in her chest loosened. A few more days with her friends were the best going away gift they could have given her. "My people would be honored to have you all for my presentation." She paused, hand coming to her mouth in thought for a moment. "Although, the twins gave me a good idea just now. If you're all up for it, would you guys mind helping me with a few demonstrations during my presentation? We'll have tonight and the next couple days of flying to practice and perfect it, if you're willing." She only had to glance up at her friend's faces to know the answer.
That evening and the following two saw the teens practicing flying in formation, trick shots, and perfecting small speeches prepared by Tengan with Fishlegs' assistance. After the first evening of travel, after watching Ruffnutt nearly throw her twin into the ocean below while rehearsing their lines, she was seriously debating scrapping the twins' speaking bit in favor of a larger demonstration section. The final night before the Shimmering Shores would come into view, Tengan found herself struggling to sleep, overcome with nervous anticipation. Finally, the sound of wind rushing from Rumble's lungs and the heavy warmth of Kelp's body as he lay curled on her chest let her slip into a deep, dreamless slumber.
The following dawned on the group, most stripped down to the bare minimum of clothing in the warmer climate, circling high above a sparkling shoreline. In the distance, structures of wood and animal hides lay dotted in a loose pattern as the people kof the Shores, tiny specks at this altitude, meandered about the village.
Tengan's heart swelled as she laid eyes on her home. It looked frozen in time; exactly the same as the day she left on Toothless' back. "I'll see you all in a bit!" Tengan grinned at her friends, raising her voice to be heard. "I have to scout ahead and announce you all. I'll come back as soon as I can. I highly recommend staying far from the village until I come for you. Hiccup can explain why!" Without waiting for a response, she tucked Kelp tight to her chest and urged Rumble into a steep dive, laughing as he corkscrewed towards the earth.
Pulling out of the maneuver several dozen feet above the ground she found herself waving enthusiastically at the upturned faces, calling out greetings to those who hailed her. The moment Rumble's toes touched the sand and his wings folded, Tengan slid out of the saddle, beaming at the villagers closest to her. She greeted them all, making a point to answer all questions about the dragons with her with "all will be made known soon."
Moments later the crowd parted as a joyous cry rang out from the direction of the village. "That cannot be my Little Scribe!" Makara's beaming face appeared in the throng of people as she approached. "Certainly not! You are much too big."
Tengan shifted Kelp to her shoulders before flinging herself into her mother's arms, sudden tears leaking from her eyes to stain her face. She felt as if she had been away from home for an eternity and yet, no time at all. If it hadn't been for Kelp butting his head in between the two, Tengan could have sworn she had dreamt the last two years. "I've missed you."
"And I you." Was the chieftess' soft reply. "Welcome home." Raising a hand, she stroked under Kelp's chin with one finger while glancing behind at Rumble, whose head was bent to sniff at the smaller children who had been brave enough to approach. "It seems you have much to tell of."
Tengan, following her mother's gaze, smiled and nodded. "Yes, I do. I'd like to present as soon as I can. Tonight and tomorrow, if possible." Glancing up at the unbroken blue of the mid-morning sky she could just make out the five splotches of the others as their dragons circled overhead. "Hiccup and a few others followed me back to help with the presentation. They're above us now. Would it be alright if I took them to the eastern field by the river? They've come a long way and I thought it would be nice if they could relax before-"
Makara cut her daughter off with a smile and a raised hand. "Of course. I will make sure they are undisturbed until after you've presented your findings. After that-" She chuckled and shrugged, motioning towards Rumble who looked positively pleased with the hoard of people clustered about him singing his praises. "Go now, bring them to the field. I will make sure food is brought over. Be mindful, we expanded the berry plot last year and the sprouts are still young." She pulled her daughter into one final tight embrace before nudging her towards the large dragon.
As Tengan climbed back into the saddle she spent a couple moments ticking Kelp as the crowd reluctantly backed away. "I'll see you all this evening!" Taking off, they quickly climbed to meet the other riders, who paused in their lazy circles as she approached. "Everything is all set! Follow me down towards the river. Mother will send some food over and we can relax until this evening." Angling slightly downward, she led the group in a slow descent "Tonight will be the recounting of the stories we discussed and tomorrow morning will be the flight demonstrations. Thank you all so much for helping me with this." She grinned at her friends.
"Of course!" Fishlegs called back, his eyes glued to the steadily growing village. "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity!"
"Why don't we give them a taste?" Snotlout added as he caught glimpses of people staring and pointed up at the group in apparent awe.
"What do you say, Tengan? A flyover in diamond formation?" Hiccup added, smiling at the unrestrained joy on her face.
Tengan, somehow managing a larger grin, shifted Kelp to Rumble's head as she nodded. "Sounds good to me! Ready everyone?" She nudged Rumble to the head of the formation before urging him into a slightly steeper dive. She glanced behind her only once to ensure she hadn't lost the group before pulling Rumble into a glide as they neared the ground, angling him towards the river she spent many summers swimming in as a small child. Forcing herself to look straight ahead, she took the cries of wonder and amusement below to mean the formation had been a resounding success. Reaching the soft grassy field just outside the last few tents, she guided Rumble to land near the river bank.
Over the next half hour the teens relieved their dragons of the heavy saddlebags, took turns refreshing their faces in the cool stream, and arranged their camping supplies around a patch of earth cleared of sticks and sharp stones.
Tengan spent only a moment staring off in the direction she knew her mother's tent lay before laying out her bedroll with the others. 'They'll be gone in a couple of days. Who knows when I'll get to see them again.' She shook her head rapidly at the thought, trying to dispel the sudden tightness in her chest.
"You all must be hungry." A warm, deep voice rumbled towards the group. "I've brought some baked rolls. Please, feel free to let your dragons feed from our fish traps."
Tengan's head whipped up at the voice, her mind going momentarily blank. Slowly, not warning to allow her hopes to rise too high, she focused on the source. She barely had time to register the large man standing before her before her brain kicked into overdrive. Screeching, she launched herself forward. "FATHER!" She slammed into his chest, barely missing the large basket of baked treats he had tucked under one arm.
Chuckling, Frewin awkwardly set the basket down before, with some difficulty, lifting his daughter into the air and swinging her in a tight circle. "It's good to see you too, Little Scribe! Although," he added as he set her back down. "You are not as little as I remember."
Tengan, laughing, wiped the tears from her eyes and gave her father another squeeze before taking a step back. "How are you here? Mother-"
"Sent me a letter a few months ago. I came back and have been waiting since." He gently cupped his daughter's cheek. "I would never miss your presentation ceremony."
Tengan smiled up at her father, drinking in all the tiny details that had slipped from her mind over time. His short cropped, densely curled hair had more gray flecks in it than she remembered, and his deep ebony skin had new wrinkles around his eyes. A small scar starting at his right temple traced down to the start of his collarbone. "That one is new." She commented quietly.
"As is yours." He mumbled back, lightly tapping the point on her scalp where her scar disappeared into her hairline. "I can't wait to hear the story of how you earned it." He burst into a low chuckle as Rumble nosed his way in between the pair, huffing indignantly. "And who is this?"
Tengan laughed, bringing her hands up to stroke her Skrill's neck. "This is Rumble, my partner. The one perched on his head is Kelp." Taking a step back she gestured broadly at the group of teens and dragons, who had all paused in their unpacking to watch the reunion. "And these are the Dragon Riders of Berk. My friends. Would you care to join us for a while?"
Frewin nodded at the group, eyes twinkling with boyish wonder at the sight of the dragons. "I would love too, Little Scribe." Hoisting the basket again, he led his daughter and her dragon back to the group, offering the baked goods to their guests.
The day slipped by leisurely as they sat and ate. Tengan alternated between answering a few of her father's questions and sitting quietly, content with watching and listening as her friends and father swapped tales of adventure. She was hardly surprised when Fishlegs, attached to Frewin's hip, nearly fainted with joy when he offered to send the young viking home with a copy of the knowledge he collected on a voyage he had taken to the Southern Jungles many years ago.
Makara joined the group as the sun began to slip closer to the horizon. Laying a gentle hand on Tengan's shoulder, she leaned in and spoke quietly, respectful of the conversation unfolding between Hiccup, Snotlout, and Frewin on the best combat technique for facing multiple enemies. "I do not see Stoick among your numbers. Has Hiccup taken over for his father?"
Tengan, placing her hand on top of her mother's, shook her head slightly. "No, not yet. The dragon who carried Stoick two years ago, Thornado, had to leave Berk to protect a trio of young wild dragons. Stoick has been reluctant to find another partner. He sends his regrets and greetings."
Makara nodded. "I can understand. It seems you all have formed loving bonds with your dragons."
Tengan nodded, scratching under Rumble's chin. "We have." She reached out to give Kelp the same affection and was mildly surprised when the Terror, eyes locked on Makara's broader shoulders, clambered up Tengan's back to settle himself on the chieftess, a happy hum vibrating his chest. "They have a way of finding the people they are meant to be with." Tengan added, shaking her head in mild disbelief.
Makara laughed and scratched behind Kelp's horns. "Such amazing creatures... Everyone is excited to hear and see what you've learned. Are you ready now? All are gathered at the center stage."
Tengan cast a glance at her friends and father, well aware of the rising rate of her heartbeat. "I'm ready." She answered steadily after a moment, her serious expression breaking into a smile as Rumble nudged her side.
It took only a moment to coordinate the Riders. Taking to the skies, they flew in tight formation back over the village. The usually empty section in the center of the village was absolutely packed with what seemed like every tribe member currently not out on collecting missions. All were seated comfortably on logs, worn stumps, or woven blankets placed around a raised, stone slab platform situated in the exact center of the village. Thankfully, the eastern side of the central platform was left empty. As large as the stage was, it would never hold the teens and their six, fully grown dragons comfortably. A small child looked up and gurgled happily, drawing the attention of the rest crowd skyward. Several people gasped, clapped, or cheered as the Riders touched down on the grassy patch left open for them.
Tengan, eyes focused on the large crowd of people before her, slid from the saddle and ascended onto the stage, Rumble close behind her. She took a deep, steadying breath and smiled as she caught sight of her parents, Kelp still proudly perched on Makara's shoulders, joining the crowd at the very back. Mind eerily calm and clear, she began to speak. Starting with the history of Berk and their war with the dragons, she worked her way through the tribe's history, harkening back to the tale Hiccup had regaled them with only two years ago. Her tone rose and fell as she went on to speak of the creation of the Berk Dragon Training Academy. Here she paused in her recollection to introduce her friends and their dragons, pausing to allow each a moment to explain their family's house and purpose.
Several times throughout her speech, Tengan extracted a journal or hand drawn map from Rumble's pack. Each time she would present the material to the group at large, holding the items above her head for all to see. Once receiving her people's cheers of approval, she would go into further detail of each piece. Several times she passed the items to the crowd, pausing to let several older members inspect her attention to detail. In those moment's her heart would start to race once more as she worried whether they would find her notes lacking. In each instance, Rumble would hum deeply in his chest or nudge her elbow slightly, coaxing her to relax. In between the presentation of her written works, she would incorporate stories of a few of the adventures she had with her friends over the past couple years.
Finally, as the sun set and the stars glittered above the gathering, the last of the journals and maps were returned to the stage. Clasping her hands together in appreciation, Tengan bowed low to the crowd. "My people, you honor me with your attention this evening. However, the stories of the Riders and their dragons does not end here. If you will permit me more of your time, tomorrow, I have arranged, with the help of my friends, a series of personal tales and demonstrations of the capabilities of the warriors you see before you. Do you find this acceptable?"
A resounding roar, punctuated by the cries of the enthusiastic dragons drowned out all else for several moments. Bowing deeply, Tengan gazed across the crowd at her parents, whose smiles rivaled her own. "I hear and appreciate your support! We will return tomorrow morning!" bowing deeply once more, she climbed into Rumble's saddle and took off, followed closely by the other riders. They flew in a low circle around the cheering crowd three times before angling back towards their camp.
The group gasped in wonder as they landed. Apparently, Makrara had taken it upon herself to have several gifts sent over while they were presenting. A large wooden table was laden with dishes upon dishes of cooked meats, steamed veggies, and a plethora of sweets. A considerable sized fire pit had been dug and had a large pile of crackling logs burning in the center. All of the tents had extra gifts lying in front of them. Everything from copies of popular works in front for Fishlegs to a decorative axe for Snotlout had been carefully placed.
"Wow!" Tuffnut yawned, lifting a sword belt decorated with emerald embroidery. He turned the belt to examine it further in the firelight, noticing the accented colors matched perfectly with his dragon's hide.
Tengan felt a wave of appreciation for her mother crash over her as the group sidled up to the table to eat. "I'm sure she wanted to thank you all for agreeing to help me with my presentation. I've told you all how much I appreciate your help, right?"
"Only about a hundred times." Astrid slapped her friend's shoulder as she walked past, pausing to toss a chicken leg over to Stormfly.
"You've done more than enough for us." Hiccup smiled gently as he unsaddled Toothless for the night. "We really don't mind."
"Especially if it comes with all these perks." Snoutlout added unabashedly, swinging the axe over his head. The pommel held a small ruby that matched the deep red scales on the back of Hookfang's neck.
Rolling her eyes good naturedly, Tengan joined the others at the table. Although exhausted, the group stayed up a good bit longer, laughing and joking until one by one, they collapsed into their tents. Finally, Tengan was the last one awake, her heavy eyes threatening to droop with each passing second as she stared into the dying embers of the fire. Sitting against Rumble's warm side, she slowly let her eyes close and simply enjoyed the feeling of peace that surrounded her. She was home. Her friends and dragons were here. Both her parents a stone's throw away. She sighed in content and slept under the stars, smiling as Rumble draped a protective wing over her.
The group awoke early the next morning to sunlight streaming through their camp. Well aware an audience was most likely already waiting, they ate a few cold leftovers before quickly saddling and taking off towards the center of the village once more.
Landing in the same grassy area as before, Tengan exhaled in relief. While many of her people had already gathered, most with quills and parchment in hand for taking notes, many others were still meandering towards the stage. Although, upon seeing the presence of the Riders, those lagging behind quickened their pace.
"There you all are." Makara greeted warmly, her arms holding a fat and happy looking Kelp. "I hope you all enjoyed yourselves yesterday." She smiled at the Riders' enthusiastic thanks and appreciation. "Of course. We want you all to feel welcome here."
Tengan sighed at the Terror lounging in her mother's arms. "I hope that one didn't give you too much trouble last night. He's been growing lazier by the day lately."
"He is getting a bit older for a Terror." Fishlegs added with good humor. "They're known to become more docile and, well, lazy as they age."
Makara laughed, shifting Kelp's weight in her arms. "That would explain a lot. He's such a sweetheart. Reminds me of an old, toothless, Savannah Cat I took in from some, less than reputable, traders back in my day. She was happiest lounging in front of my tent all afternoon."
"This one prefers a hammock to a patch of grass, but a nap is a nap all the same." Tengan commented with a small smile. "Where's father?"
Makara gestured over her shoulder with her free hand. "He's making sure the combat field is cleared for you all. Mentioned something about a weapon's demonstration with Astrid this afternoon?"
"Ah." Tengan smiled and nodded. "Of course." Bidding her mother farewell for the moment, she spread her friends out an equal distance from one another around the stage. By the time they were all in position, the last few stragglers, Frewin included, joined the throng.
Thanking her people once more for giving her their time, Tengan launched into an explanation of the bond between dragons and their riders. Climbing into Rumble's saddle, she explained the unorthodox method by which they found each other, elaborating on their capture and escape with no embellishment or shame for her triumphs and failures. She followed up with a quick explanation of the Skrill's abilities before having Rumble demonstrate a few of his basic flight and defense maneuvers. Satisfied, she landed and invited Hiccup onto the stage next, who told a quick retelling of his journey with Toothless before performing a few maneuvers as well.
Down the line they went, with each teen discussing the finer points of their bond before demonstrating a few of their dragon's most prominent features. Besides having to cut Snotlout off after several minutes of unrestrained bragging and preventing the twins from setting a nearby barrel alight, the morning went off without a hitch. They broke for lunch with the rest of the village and Tengan spent much of the time shooting her friends apologetic looks as they were hounded with questions between each bite of food.
The afternoon saw the crowd shift from the stage to the combat field, where the vikings, narrated by Tengan, spent a bit of time demonstrating a few combat techniques they often used when fighting on foot. Tengan, noticing her friends tiring rapidly under the harsh sun, quickly ended the session in favor of dragon back sparring. The teen paired off as rehearsed with Toothless and Stormfly going first, demonstrating their impressive speed as the dragons dove and twisted around one another. Meatlug and Barf and Belch went second, each dragon highlighting their unique abilities for both offensive and defensive flying abilities when it came to protecting their riders. Finally, Rumble and Hookfang squared off in an immense display of sheer power. Their bout concluded when a bolt of lightning from Rumble met one of Hookfang's fire blasts in midair, raining down dancing, sparkling embers above the crowd.
Her presentation and demonstrations finally at an end, Tengan landed next to her mother, well aware of the other riders staring in anticipation from the edge of the field. Sliding from the saddle, she sank to her knees, placed a closed fist over her heart, and bowed her head. "Chieftess Makara, I have lived with the Berkians and their dragons for two years. Last night and today I have shared all I have learned with our people in the hope's of broadening our understanding of the world around us. I hope you have found my knowledge worthy of adding to the Library." She spoke loudly and clearly, her voice carrying through the unnaturally quiet crowd.
Makara, still wearing the lazy Kelp as a sort of living scarf, smiled warmly down at her daughter before opening her arms wide and addressing the crowd. "My people! Do you find her knowledge worthy?"
The roars and screams of the crowd blotted out all other noise for what felt like an eternity. Every time the cries would begin to quiet, a dragon would roar or loose a blast into the air, igniting the crowd's frenzy once more. Through it all, Tengan remained frozen on the ground, her head downcast and face stern.
As the cries finally faded into silence, Makara placed her hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Your efforts have been found worthy. Rise, Tengan, as a fully blooded member of the Shimmering Shores. Your efforts will be added to the Great Library for all to read and learn from. May the blessing of your people guide you in your future search for enlightenment, no matter where it may take you."
As Tengan shakily rose to her feet, the crowd erupted once more. She could just make out the cheers of her friends off to the side. Smiling up at her mother, she felt her heart soar. Suddenly, she felt herself and her mother pulled into a tight hug as Frewin broke away from the others to embrace his family. The entire world tuned a deep purplish blue as Rumble enclosed the others with his wings, humming in excitement.
"Well done." The deep rumbling voice of her father reached Tengan's ears.
"We're so proud of you." Makrara added, her voice shaking slightly with emotion.
The rest of the day passed with a flurry of feasts, questions, laughter, and, above all, dragons. The ceremony officially complete, there seemed to be a never ending stream of people wanting to ask about every minute detail they could think of. At one point, Tengan overheard someone asking Fishlegs if he had ever counted the number of scales on the bottom of Meatlug's feet. With all the celebration, the Riders had found it difficult to find any time to spend together, not that they minded all that much.
Hiccup had reconnected with a few villagers who had asked about his prosthetic leg on his last visit and had apparently spent the last couple years designing prototypes of other limbs in their spare time. Astrid had made fasts friends with a blacksmith who specialized in crafting armor from animal sources. The two had already convinced Stormfly to part with a few barbs and had crafted a small shield from the shed scales. The twins had found their calling on the combat field. They had spent the rest of the day creating small explosions for an excited crowd of onlookers. Fishlegs had, predictably, disappeared into a large tent with a few of the older scholars while Meatlug laid basking in the sun, a small army of children alternating between climbing over her back or patting her snout. Snotlout, with Hookfang in tow, had set up shop with a group of warriors and was trading tales of battles Tengan could have sworn hadn't happened the way he seemed to remember them. Tengan spent the day more leisurely than her friends, choosing to stick close to her parents. The trio traded a few stories here and there about how they had spent their time apart, but, for the most part they simply enjoyed an all too rare day of being a complete family once again.
As day faded into night once more, the Riders retired to their campsite for the final time, the Berkians weighed down with gifts of small trinkets and food. Once again they indulged the habit of staying up much too late as they joked around the fire. Eventually they all succumbed to sleep right in the center of their small camp, much too full and comfortable to bother with climbing into the tents. Tengan, once more, was the last to fall asleep as a feeling of mild anxiousness began to claw into her chest. Tomorrow her friends would be heading back to Berk. This would be the last night they spent together for who knows how long. Eventually, a troubled sleep overtook her, plunging the teen into dreams of running between two homes, with her goals growing further apart with every step.
The following morning was subdued as the group spent much of it packing in silence. If anyone had asked, they would have claimed it was due to the several days of hard flying followed by several nights of little sleep. No one smiled as they rolled the remaining sleeping mats up, packed away the last of the tent poles, and buried the now cold fire pit.
"I'm glad I caught you all before you departed." Makara spoke gently as she entered the camp. Kelp chirped a greeting at the other dragons but did not leave his newly found favorite perch atop the chieftess.
"Indeed." Frewin added. "We wanted to see you off properly before the others convinced you to stay another day, or three." He chuckled at his own joke as he stooped to help Snotlout hoist a heavy pack onto Hookfang's back.
"Thank you for hosting us." Hiccup said sincerely, bowing his head in respect. "It has been a pleasure to be a part of so many of your customs."
"The pleasure is all ours." Makara responded with a small bow of her own. "The sharing of knowledge binds us in ways stronger than most realize. You will be a wise chief one day, young Hiccup. Please, would you mind bringing this scroll back to your father? It has some information he had asked about on his last visit." She passed a leather tube to the young teen before turning to the rest of the group. "All of you have brought much joy and inspiration to my people. For that, I sincerely thank you." She paused to bow her head slightly at each teen in turn. "If you are ever in need of assistance, or would simply like to visit, you will always have a place here."
"Provided you don't mind answering several hundred questions a day." Frewin added, drawing a chuckle at the group.
Makara cast her husband a gentle, warning glance before cocking an eyebrow at Rumble's naked back. "Tengan, you should hurry and pack. Your friends will be ready to leave soon."
Tengan's head cocked in confusion as her brow furrowed. "Mother, I've completed my two years. Don't you need me here?"
"We will always want you with us." Frewin answered for the pair. "But, you are my daughter. If I know you half as well as I should, I know you feel like there's still more for you to learn on Berk."
Tengan bit the bottom of her lip as she gazed up at her parents. "There's always more for me to learn…. " She fidgeted with the fabric of her shirt. "But this is the first time we've all been home at the same time in years…" she whispered more to herself than anything.
"Yes." Makara nodded, an understanding smile on her face. "And it may be many more years until we are all home together once more. You will enjoy those years more if you are out there collecting stories instead of guarding our home with me. I will always be here for you to return to, Little Scribe."
"If it helps," Frewin added, lifting his daughter's chin. "I am planning on leaving in a few days time myself on the ships headed back into the deep south. There are rumors of dragons down there and I would like to try my hand at training one. A few teenagers I know have inspired this old man to adventure once more."
Tengan, breaking into a shaky laugh, hugged both of her parents tightly. "You're not that old Father." She laughed into the embrace before pulling back, drying the wet corners of her eyes. Glancing at Kelp, she held her arms out questioningly to her first dragon. "Are you coming?"
Kelp sniffed at Tengans fingers before chirping in a sad sort of way and nuzzling his head against Makara's cheek.
"I suppose I will have to look after him." Makara said softly as she stroked the dragon's back. "It seems he's found his place, even though it means not always seeing those he has grown close to along the way."
Tengan rolled her eyes playfully. "I understand, Mother….. I will miss you though. Both of you."
"And we will miss you." Frewins deep voice carried a melancholic edge. "But think of all the stories we will have to share the next time we all meet."
Tengan nodded before turning to look at her friends. The rest of the Rider's, apparently having been unabashedly eavesdropping, all stared back at her with tense expressions. She grinned broadly at the teens before her as she bent low to lift Rumble's saddle from the ground. "Would you guys mind giving me a hand?" She asked in a light voice. "It seems I have a bit of packing to do myself."
A/N: And we've finally arrived at the end of the Riders/Defenders of Berk series! Woohoo! This has been a fun adventure for me so far. Thank you to everyone who has been along for the ride. As we go into Race to the Edge, I'll have to modify my upload schedule a bit. I'm starting a new job on July 20th and will do my best to try to upload regularly on Saturdays instead of my unofficial Wed/Thurs upload I've managed the past few weeks. And I promise this will be a Dagur/Tengan romance story at its core. Just wanted to wait until they were a bit older to mature the relationship.