How to Document Your Dragon

by Saria Creed

The people of the Shimmering Shores prize collecting knowledge above all else. Young Tengan, daughter of chieftess Makara, is about to embark on a journey to document the evolution of the newly formed relationship between Vikings and Dragons. Will she want to return home after her two years of study? Or can a certain Berserker convince her to stick around, if only to thwart him?

21. An Island at War

A/N: So this chapter is the longest I've done so far. On the word processor I use to write out the initial drafts it's roughly twenty four pages. And that's before the extra spaces I put between paragraphs to help break them up a bit. I considered breaking it up into two but couldn't find a good place to split it. Struggled a bit with writer's block here too. Please forgive me if the wording seems a little off. Once again thank you for taking the time to read Tengan's journey. She's a character I've kept in my head for years and it's lovely knowing other people enjoy learning more about her.

CHAPTER 21

"Ruffnut! Tuffnut! Eyes up. Barf and Belch are starting to drift!" Hiccup called out sternly. With a gentle nudge, he encouraged Toothless to loop around to hover above and behind the offending Zippleback.

"It's not our fault!" Ruffnut called back as she gave a stern tug on her dragon's horns. "They're tired!"

"Gee, I wonder why." Tuffnut added as he lightly tapped his dragon's cheeks. "Couldn't be all those extra training drills, could it?"

Tengan smiled sleepily at her flustered friends as she stifled a yawn. The last few weeks had seemed longer than usual. Between the hatching of a new Eruptodon on Caldera Cay and the twins unintentionally uncovering "Project Shell Shocker", a new plan of the Dragon Hunters, the Riders had been on high alert. Shifting in the saddle, she reached down to give Rumble a pat as he nearly vibrated with excitable energy. To top off all the chaos, freak lightning storms had been touching down on the Edge every few days. Rumble had been absorbing and deflecting more blasts than he knew what to do with. The excess of stored power seemed to be resolving itself into manic energy. At least one of them would be able to stay awake on the long flight to Berk.

Leaning forward in the saddle, Tengan let her eyes droop as she flexed the muscle cramps out of her hands. Every spare minute she hadn't been eating or sleeping had been dedicated to catching up on her records and narrations of the group's recent events. Dagur's thoughtful and generous return of her work had lit a new fire within her. She had spent the first couple days after their return rereading all the passages she thought lost and berating herself for falling out of practice. Every day after saw her hunched at her desk, a quill or charcoal pencil in hand and eyes glued to seemingly endless rolls of parchment.

Only a couple things seemed to be able to pull her away from her work in those moments. The more common of the two occurred nearly every other day, when Rumble had decided his Rider had not been paying him enough attention and all but dragged her outside so they could fly or hunt together. The other, less common but certainly no less welcome distraction would be when a Terrible Terror landed at the base with a scroll tied to its leg, heralding a letter from Dagur.

She had learned to be quick about recovering the notes. The first one had been halfway unrolled by Snotlout and the twins before Astrid had intercepted them. From the bumps the three displayed in the following days, she had not been too gentle with her reprimand.

Each new note brought heat rushing to Tengan's face and sent the eels in her stomach jumping and twisting. Through their correspondence, she learned the siblings had been able to, with astonishing speed, track down and coax back over seventy percent of the lost Berserkers. Apparently, Dagur had not been the only one to share the sentiment that they were strongest and happiest when working as a tribe. His letters were always warm and excited as he detailed the newest building they had constructed or how he had been utilizing his reformed mindset to lead them more effectively. He always closed them with a combination of the same few sentences: I can't wait for you to see it. You're going to love it here. I'll have you by my side soon, baby. Just a little longer, I promise.

Tengan's replies were always the same. She'd express joy that he and Heather were coming along so well. She'd ask about their dragons and pass on any new or interesting pieces of knowledge she had picked up since their last correspondence. Her closing would always be a variation of the same: I still don't have an answer, but I have been thinking about it. I miss you. Can't wait to see what you've built.

Each of his notes were stacked in order of arrival, bundled with the short goodbye note he had left behind months ago, and were safely stored in a boar leather satchel under her bed. Each time they would write back and forth, the teasing would ramp up again for a few hours before Astrid or Hiccup shut it down. Fishlegs, who had also been in constant contact with Heather, was the only one who refrained from asking her about the letters as they came in. They both respected the private nature of their correspondences and had an unspoken pact to warn the other when it looked like the resident pranksters seemed especially shifty.

"It'll be nice to be back on Berk!" Tengan called out to Astrid as she mentally dragged herself to the present. "It's been a while since we flew any missions with the A team. Although, from what I hear they're holding down the fort pretty well!"

Astrid smiled as she coaxed Stormfly to close a bit of the gap between her and Rumble. "Yeah, they've been adequate so far." She winked as her grin widened. "I hope they've been practicing! I am not going to go easy on them during the practice run."

"I'm sure they've all kept up with their drills. Gustav wouldn't miss this opportunity to show off his leadership skills." Tengan yawned, stretching her arms above her head. "It'll be nice to see your parents again, too. We haven't had a chance to catch up in ages."

"PUH-LEASE" Snotlout hollered as Hookfang barreled in-between the two young women. "We all know the real reason you're soooo eager to get to Berk, Tengan." He smirked and brought his hands up to clasp over his heart. "You just can't wait to get your arms around your precious little boy-toy again!" He blew several loud kisses into the air.

Tengan blushed and glared at Snotlout, her eyes dark. "Will you give it a rest already! It was funny a month ago but now it's just annoying!"

"Oh, it will always be funny as long as you keep making that face!" Snotlout pointed towards the dark skinned rider and laughed, is chest heaving with the effort. His laughter morphed into a panicked yell as Hookfang promptly flipped upside down for several wingbeats, causing the teen to scramble to find any handholds he could reach on the dragon's neck. "HOOKFANG!"

Tengan found herself roaring with laughter as she clutched her sides. "See! Even Hookfang finds it tiresome now!" She grinned across at Astrid, who was also incapacitated with her own giggle-fit.

"Will you all knock it off!" Hiccup called out as Toothless rose up from behind the trio. "We're almost there and we need to keep an eye out. Viggo could have men stationed anywhere along our usual routes to Berk. I need you all to stay sharp." His exhausted glare softened a bit. "Astrid? Would you mind joining me up front? Tengan, you and Rumble can stay where you are. And, Snotlout?" He sighed as the Monstrous Nightmare finally righted itself. "Just, cover the rear, ok?"

Tengan had the decency to bow her head in mock shame as the Riders rearranged their formation for the final stretch of the journey. She quickly found her energy rising with each of Rumble's wingbeats and was soon eagerly craning her neck to catch a glimpse of the island. If she was being honest with herself, Snotlout hadn't been entirely wrong. The moment the Riders had decided to invite Heather and Dagur along for the mission, she had sent a hastily written note to Berserker Isle asking if the pair would be willing to meet on Berk to discuss a new mission. His reply had come the very next day and seemed to be written just as hastily: We'll be there.

Ever since then she had been emotionally flip flopping between wanting to see him and feeling utterly terrified at the thought. What if he expected her answer already? She had said she would give him one once the tribe had been rebuilt. What if they were done now? How could she possibly tell him her decision when she got dizzy every time she thought about it for more than a few moments?

Realistically, she mused, accepting the proposal made the most sense. He was a passionate, considerate, and determined suitor who made a point to understand her culture and would gladly accompany her on adventures for the rest of their days. But, what if, once they spent any significant amount of domestic time together, they simply weren't compatible? She could always mimic her parents' choices. It would be simple enough to keep traveling and only see Dagur every few months if they grew tired of one another. Clutching the saddle tightly, she shook her head quickly, as if the action could physically dislodge the troublesome idea. "No." She mumbled to the loose stitch on the front of Rumble's saddle. While she would always be a daughter of the Shimmering Shores, she knew she wanted a life closer to what she had seen during her time on Berk. Partners waking up next to each other every morning and present in all the early moments of their children's lives. "I don't even know if he wants children." She gasped softly to herself as she began picking at the loose stitch, well aware she'd only be making it worse in the long run.

"Finally!" Snotlout's relieved cry carried over the group. "I've been nursing a saddle sore back here!" Breaking formation, he urged Hookfang forward in a steep dive towards the island.

"Snotlout!" Hiccup roared. "Would it have killed you to wait five more minutes?"

"YES!" The Jorgenson's indignant shout barely reached the others as he quickly made his way out of earshot.

Hiccup groaned before twisting in the saddle to face the others. "Might as well break off here. Take an hour to land and take care of your dragons before we meet at the Great Hall. I'm going to get with the A team and-"

The rest of his sentence was lost as the team, minus Astrid, whooped and scattered to the four winds. Tengan, gripping tightly to one of Rumble's neck spines, grinned as he corkscrewed through the air as they made their way over the docks. "Why don't we head to the stables? I'm sure we can get you a bucket of fish before the meeting." Angling slightly away from the center of town, she scanned the ground below for one particular Gronckle. Her heart sinking slightly at his absence, she resolved herself to being the first of their pair to make it and decided to dedicate the hour to feeding and grooming her Skrill. As they swooped in the open gate for a landing, she barely had time to slide out of the saddle before a booming voice reached her ears.

"There she is!" Dagur all bur roared as he quickly strode across the arena. With one deft movement swept her into his arms and lifted her off the ground, his laugh bouncing off the stone walls.

Tengan's excitement bubbled over as she felt her feet leave the ground. All doubts and concerns momentarily evaporated as she giggled into the embrace. "Are you going to pick me up every time I see you?" She teased lightly.

"I can't help it!" Dagur grinned down at her. "I'm just so happy to see you. In fact…." His voice dropped into a low, almost husky tone as he trailed off. Shifting her in his arms so her feet could touch solid ground once more, he crashed his lips into hers as one of his hands slid up to cup her cheek.

Tengan's eyes fluttered closed as she leaned into the kiss, her own hands coming up to drape over his shoulders. She panted lightly as they broke away. "I've missed you." She smiled warmly, her voice soft. She tried to ask when he landed but found herself being tugged out of his arms by the back of her shirt. Twisting around to face the culprit, she laughed as Shattermaster continued to pull her away from his rider. "It's good to see you too!" She beamed as she gently freed her tunic from the Gronckle's jaws. A quick glance over her shoulder revealed Rumble was busy greeting Dagur in a similar fashion.

"Maybe they're just tired of seeing their riders act like love sick lambs." Heather's teasing tone floated over as she approached the pair, Windshear in tow. "Good to see you, Tengan. Maybe now my brother will finally shut up about you for fifteen minutes."

Tengan felt the heat rise to her face as she glanced over to the Berserker chief currently playfully wrestling with her Skrill. Shrugging her shoulders mildly she let her fingers tickle behind Shattermaster's ears. "I'm not so sure about that. I haven't had a conversation with Fishlegs that hasn't turned into him gushing about you in weeks. Maybe it's a guy thing?" She winked.

Heather blinked in surprise, a blush creeping up her neck. With a light giggle she shook her head. "Boys." She sighed.

"Boys." Tengan agreed with a chuckle of her own. "When did you guys get here? I could have sworn we were going to beat you." She adjusted her fingers so she could scratch along Shattermaster's spine, smiling as the dragon arched into the contact.

Heather gestured behind her to Windshear's saddle. "We needed to make sure our gear was in top condition for this mission. Gobber offered to update my saddle and craft one for my brother. He's the only one on the archipelago we trust to make them."

Tengan nodded. "He does have a knack for it. I was thinking of asking him to look at mine when we got back. Some of the stitching has come- ahh!" she squealed and jumped forward as two hands lightly caressed her sides.

"Oops!" Dagur chuckled as he stepped towards her again, this time taking care to place his hands on her hips. "Didn't realize you were so ticklish." His voice dropped as his hands began to trail upwards again.

"Oh no you two don't!" Heather teased. "Not while I'm here!" With a shake of her head she slipped back into Windshear's saddle. "I'll meet you guys at the Great Hall!"

"Fishlegs will probably be there now too!" Tengan called back cheerfully as the Razorwhip charged out of the gate before taking off. Glancing around at the Academy, she made sure they were alone, save the half dozen or so dragons snoozing in their stalls, before turning her attention to the man standing beside her. "We have an hour until anyone expects us at the Hall. Why don't you tell me how things are going back home while we walk back into town? I need to stretch my legs after flying for so long."

The pair settled their dragons in the last free stall, making sure to stock the feeding troughs with a surplus of fish for Rumble and assorted stones for Shattermaster. Tengan slung an overstuffed bag full of maps and detailed plans for the meeting over her shoulder, and the pair made their way out of the arena, back towards the center of Berk.

Dagur, after failing twice to relieve her of her bag, settled on alternating between holding onto her free hand and gesturing broadly as he proudly recounted the rebuilding of Berserker Isle. "I can't wait to show you. The Great Hall is almost done, and Heather and I have finally figured out the layout for our houses. It took a while since, originally the stables were going to be a lot closer to the village center, but it's all coming together!" He grinned down at the curly haired young woman beside him. "We should be ready in a couple weeks." He stopped and turned to give her his full attention. "I'm having a small library added to my hut." He spoke slowly and softly, his tone serious. "Nothing as grand as what you've told me you have back on the Shimmering Shores but… Have you thought about it? At all?"

Tengan stopped as well, her brow furrowing as her previous doubts resurfaced. She chewed on her bottom lip and stared at the dirt between the stones on the path. "I have been thinking it over. Nonstop on some days. There were actually a couple of questions I wanted to ask you." She glanced around nervously as she double and triple checked they were alone.

Dagur gently cupped her cheek, tilting her face upwards to catch her eye. "Anything."

Tengan sighed, momentarily distracted by the cold grip of anxiety seeping into her chest. "Well, I guess they're more concerns than questions." She swallowed, determined to spit out her thoughts before she could think better of it. "What if we become bored of each other after a while? I mean this is all well and good while we see each other every few weeks but what if you get tired of me?" Her cheeks flushed as the fear sounded more childish than it had in her mind.

An amused chuckle ran though Dagur as his face split into a wider grin. "Is that all? Tengan, that's impossible. As if I could ever find myself bored when with the most intense Viking I've ever met…. Well second most, after me and Heather I suppose."

Tengan felt her body relax slightly as she rolled her eyes. "You know I'm technically not a Viking, right? But, seriously, what if we run out of things to talk about? Or things to do?"

Dagur gripped her shoulders, still grinning. "Then we'll take our dragons and fly off to find a new adventure. Do you honestly believe you'll ever have a boring day with the chief of the Berserkers by your side?" He gasped in mock offense.

"You do have a point there. It's never a dull day when I'm with you." She reluctantly smiled.

"Anything else, baby?" He tousled the crazy mop of curls atop her head, snickering when several sections fell to curtain her face.

Tengan shook her head to toss the curls back in place, a playful glare on her face. "Yes, actually." She let her bag sink to the ground before taking his hands into hers, discouraging a repeat offense. "Well…" she started, suddenly nervous again. "I've always wanted to be a mother. Children are a gift and our chance to make sure all we've learned doesn't die with us. I don't think I could be with someone who doesn't see them as a part of their future. Is that something you want?" She swallowed thickly, her eyes desperately searching his for any hint of a reaction.

Dagur blinked, eyes widening in surprise. "Of course! I've always wanted my own personal army of tiny Berserkers running around." He grinned as he leaned forward, his expression twisting into something downright predatory. "We could even get started on that tonight, since it's so important to you." He growled in her ear before dipping his head to nip lightly at the hollow of her neck.

Tengan gasped, the sound morphing into a strangled moan as she involuntarily leaned into the contact. Her stomach twisted and burned as her eyes fluttered shut. "Oh, Dagur…" She purred lightly as his teeth grazed against her skin for a second time.

Dagur chuckled darkly as she wriggled in his embrace. He allowed his hands to roam her sides and back freely for several moments as his teeth laid claim to her neck. With a final nip and squeeze he pulled away, smirking down at her disheveled appearance. "I told you, Berserkers go all out." He kissed the tip of her nose, still smirking as he shouldered her bag. "We should get going. Don't want to be late for the meeting." He glanced at her neck, his smirk widening at the sight of the deep red and slightly purple mark blossoming where his teeth had been moments before.

Tengan swayed on her feet for a moment, slightly dazed. As his statement registered, her playful glare returned. "You are a terrible tease, you know that?" Giving up on recovering her satchel, she let her arm slip under his as they resumed their walk. "And this doesn't mean I'm accepting your proposal just yet." She added hastily after a moment. "…Although I won't lie. Every time I see you I have less of a reason to refuse."

Dagur grinned down at her, his eyes flicking briefly to the prominent bruise. "Like I said before. Let Daddy Dagur be sure enough for the both of us."

Tengan rolled her eyes, well aware of the burning heat coursing through her. As they approached the center of town, she withdrew her arm to wave a greeting at several familiar faces. Oddly, several villagers stared openly at her after a quick glance between the pair. A couple of the men even gave Dagur a wink when they thought she wasn't looking. "What was all that about?" She mused as they climbed the steps to the hall. "It was almost like they knew about us….. have you been telling people I accepted?" She rounded on Dagur, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Dagur grinned back sheepishly, fighting the urge to glance at his mark again. "Of course not!" He bit back a bark of laughter as he opened the door for her. "We better head in." He deflected quickly. "Like you said, don't want to be the last ones to the table, right?"

Tengan huffed and nodded as she slipped through the door. "If you're lying, I'm going to have Rumble feed you to the Screaming Eels." She threatened with no real malice in her voice. The idea of everyone on Berk knowing of her potential betrothal sparked equal waves of embarrassment and excitement. Spotting Heather and Astrid seated down at the far end of one of the long tables, she waved enthusiastically.

The pair of girls started to wave back in return, freezing when Tengan strode past a torch bracketed against a stone pillar, the light illuminating the obvious mark on her neck. With quick whispers to one another they stood and split up, Astrid making a beeline for her fellow Rider while Heather stormed over to her brother.

"I'll kill him." Astrid whispered in Tengan's ear as she hurriedly adjusted the collar of her shirt. "He had to pick the most obvious spot to leave that mark." She huffed, surveying her work. "There. It should stay hidden now. I don't think any of the boys noticed."

Tengan's eyes widened as her heart skipped several beats. She glanced briefly down at her adjusted collar before turning to glare at the Berserker chief. Her scolding words died in her throat as she witnessed Heather soundly thumping the back of her brother's skull with the handle of her axe.

"Serves you right!" The dark-haired Viking hissed as Dagur rubbed the back of his head with a pained wince. Turning on her heel, she slipped an arm under Astrid and Tengan's elbows before leading them to the far side of the table, well away from where the majority of the Riders and A-Team had taken a seat. "Sorry about that. My brother can be such an ass at times."

Tengan sighed as she settled between her two friends, her frustrated glare still trained on a now deflated Dagur. "That would explain all the odd looks we were getting on our way over." She whispered before biting the corner of her lip to hide her smile. As embarrassing as it would be to face the villagers after the meeting, there was an undeniable thrill that came from wearing a physical mark of his desire. A claim to her skin that shouted out a declaration of ownership and a not so subtle threat to any that would challenge it.

"If we're all done messing around then?" Hiccup asked the hall impatiently as he watched Dagur place Tengan's bag on the table before slinking into an empty seat next to Fishlegs. "Good. Now, everyone is going to need to be on the top of their game if we're going to get the Dragon Eye back from Viggo. Even with all of us and our dragons, we're only going to have one shot at this."

The meeting ran on for several hours. Hiccup thoroughly explained each minute detail of the plan of attack. He utilized nearly every map and scroll in Tengan's bag to illustrate his point and had every Rider explain their role in the ambush back to him until he was satisfied it had been ingrained on the inside of their skulls. Their talks dragged through lunch, thanks to Ruff and Tuff's determination to give each participant a snappy catchphrase to use as they disposed of a Hunter. Tengan had to admit they had a real gift for it when they assigned her "You know, the smell of a Viking burned by a Skrill's lightning is identical to roasted boar. Don't believe me? Watch and learn."

Despite the groaning of the group's stomachs, they refused to take a proper break and instead opted to eat cold mutton and bread as they continued to run through Hiccup's strategy. Finally, around mid-afternoon, everyone seemed well acquainted and even excited with their assigned roles. Even Hiccup smiled as he released the group with a "Everyone get some rest. We leave at sunset."

Tengan stood and stretched, yawning as widely as a lazy Savannah Cat. "I don't know about you two, but I'm going to head over to my old hut to get some shut eye." She smiled and waved farewell to Heather, who returned the gesture before heading over to the beckoning Fishlegs.

Astrid's brow furrowed slightly as she watched Hiccup gather the now scattered scrolls and plans. "I'm going to check on him. This is a big deal. The first time Stoick hasn't tried to talk over him or completely ignore his plans."

Tengan nodded and gave her friend a gentle nudge. "Go talk to him. I'll finish cleaning up." She waited for the pair to depart before stepping up to the now mostly deserted table and began tightly rolling scrolls to tuck back in her satchel. She continued to keep her eyes on her work as a familiar shadow fell across her. "You're lucky Heather let you off with just a small bump. Astrid wanted to kill you."

Dagur chuckled as he passed her a few stacks of paper. "Wouldn't be the first time." He tugged the full bag out of her arms and swung it over his shoulder. "So, where are we headed now?" He grinned innocently.

Tengan scoffed, rolling her eyes. "I am heading back to my hut. I have no clue where you plan to rest until tonight." She swept past him wearing a devious smirk, her gaze trained on the open doors of the hall.

"Tengan? Oh, come on!" He jogged after her, hoisting the pack higher. "You're not mad too, are you?" He hovered close to her right side as they made their way down the stone steps.

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye as the smirk shifted into a gentle smile. "No. I should be, but no." She slipped her hand into his, their fingers intertwining. Her other hand readjusted her shirt to keep the mark hidden. They walked in a comfortable silence for most of the journey, although Tengan would occasionally return sly greetings or playful jeers towards any villagers they passed.

Finally, the pair crested the grassy hilltop where her old hut rested. Smiling, Tengan took a moment to silently thank Stoick for maintaining the small pile of firewood nestled up against one side of the hut and for the clearly new thatching in between the wooden logs of the roof before she shoved the door open. "Well, here we are." She gestured for him to set the bag down on the dusty wooden desk as she gently caressed Kelp's old hammock.

Dagur gently placed her overstuffed bag on the table, curiously looking around the small space. "Your bed is a little small." He purred into her ears as he slid his arms around her waist. "Looks like we'll have to squeeze together just to fit."

Tengan smirked back at the Berserker chief. "Oh, the size won't be a problem." She whispered back as she stood on her tiptoes to close the gap.

"And why is that?" he growled, tugging her in closer.

Tengan's smirk widened as she roughly shoved Dagur outside of the cabin, slamming the door behind him as he stumbled into the dirt. "Because, like I said, I'll be sleeping here. Can't risk you leaving any other marks before tonight." She shouted through the locked door.

"You said you weren't mad!" Dagur's whine carried through the wooden walls of her hut as he pounded on the door. Each collision with his fist left the frame shaking slightly. "Let me in!" He pleaded, redoubling his efforts to reach her.

"Dagur, if you break my door, I WILL be angry!" She called back, mildly shocked at the raw power he seemed to keep under control most of the time. "I'll see you tonight. Why don't you head back to the Academy and sleep in Shattermaster's stall?"

The pounding eased off as his weight dully thudded against the ground. "As amazing as my dragon is, I'd much rather sleep next to a beautiful woman." He grumbled.

Tengan felt the heat flush back into her face. Cursing herself for giving into the simplest form of flattery, she unbolted the door and pulled it open. She jumped backward as Dagur, who had apparently been leaning against it, tumbled into the hut. Laughing, she closed the door behind him once more. "Alright, you sweet talker, I think we're even now."

Dagur bounced back up, a playful glare on his face. "Oh no, I'm not done with you yet." With a roar, he scooped her up in his arms, his lips finding her neck once more. In one fluid motion, he deposited her onto the bed and scrambled on top, caging her smaller form in between the bed frame and his body. "Now let's see exactly where you're ticklish…"

Tengan could only gasp out a "Don't you dare!" before his wiggling fingers found the curves of her sides. Laughter tore from her body as she thrashed beneath him, desperate to find a way out. As his hands slipped up to her neck she screeched, her back arching. With one final thrash her head whipped forward, smashing her attacker square in the nose. "Ow!" She groaned, rubbing her forehead. Glancing at Dagur, she noticed a small dribble of blood leaking out of one nostril. "Oh gods! Are you alright?! I'm so sorry!"

Dagur grinned widely as he wiped the blood off away with the back of his hand. "There's that fighting spirit!" He dipped his head down and caught her lips in his for several quick kisses before breaking away. Letting his weight crash down on his side, he tugged her flush against his body. "And you thought I'd get bored of you." He huffed.

Tengan wriggled in his grip, slipping one of her legs in between his and bringing her hands up to rest on his chest. Her eyes nervously flicked to his nose. "Are you sure you're alright? That was a pretty nasty headbutt. Although, it serves you right for tickling me."

Dagur chuckled, the sound morphing into an exaggerated yawn. "Fair enough, baby." His eyes drifted shut. "Get some sleep. We've got Hunter's to exterminate tonight."

Tengan sighed in mock exasperation before letting her eyes close as well. The slow, steady flow of his breathing and the comforting rhythm of his heartbeat under her fingers quickly pulled her into a deep, dreamless sleep. It felt like only seconds had passed when she felt herself being gently shaken. "Wha-?" She asked sleepily, her eyes cracking open.

Dagur, already fully awake and standing, smiled down at her. "Time to go." He placed an arm under her shoulders and coaxed her to her feet with relative ease.

Tengan groaned as she rubbed her eyes. "Why is it, whenever I see you, my sleep schedule goes right out the window?" A yawn tore at the back of her throat as she leaned heavily on her companion. Their walk to the Academy was quick and peaceful; their path illuminated by the deep gold of the setting Sun. Passing under the gates, she gave Dagur's hand a grateful squeeze before departing to saddle Rumble, pausing only long enough to chuck an empty bucket at Snotlout's head when he asked why she had a bruise on her neck.

"Everyone ready?" Hiccup called out from his perch atop Toothless, his eyes raking over the dozen or so dragons standing in formation before him. "Remember, stay silent on the flight over. We can't risk Viggo-"

"Ughh we KNOW Hiccup!" Snotlout called out as he nursed the lump on his head where the bucket struck. "Let's get going so we can kick some Dragon Hunter tail!" He smirked as his comment drew a resounding roar of approval from several Vikings and dragons.

Hiccup glared back, his chest swelling in frustration as Astrid approached on Stormfly. The pair shared a quick, hushed conversation that seemed to ease the one-legged Viking. "Alright. You all know your assignments. Let's go."

A couple hours later, Tengan found herself gliding silently along in between Snotlout and Spitelout. She resolved to ask Hiccup afterward if her placement had been intentional; several times she had to discourage Snotlout from calling out to his father to show off some new maneuver or whatever was on his mind. Her saving grace came from the Berserker siblings stationed directly in front of her. Every time Rumble buffeted Hookfang with a small gust of air to remind his Rider of their current mission, one of the pair would twist in the saddle to give her a sympathetic smile.

The tension in the air thickened as the Riders approached the small island they had learned Viggo was stationed on. Tengan gave her companions one last somber nod before she and Rumble broke apart from the group to circle around the Eastern side of the island. "Alright boy, just like we practiced. There should be three guards stationed on that cliff up ahead." She whispered as she crouched low in the saddle. "Ready? Now!" With a light tap of her heels, she sent Rumble diving rapidly towards their target. She drew her sword as he slammed onto the cliff, wings raised to strike…. Nothing?

"Where are all the guards?" Gustav called a bit too loudly as Fanghook landed next to her. "We didn't get to drag anyone into the harbor! Someone already sank the ships!"

Tengan glanced around quickly, the hairs on her neck standing at attention. "This doesn't feel right to me either. Stay close and we'll make our way towards the center of the island. Maybe Viggo was tipped off." She flinched as the younger Rider called a command to his Monstrous Nightmare. "And stay quiet!" She whispered harshly. "We're not out of the woods yet."

The pair silently circled back around to where the group had originally split up, their eyes peeled for any small movement or suspicious items. As they made their way inland several of the other riders rejoined; each confirming that their ambush point was deserted and destroyed.

"It looks like someone already beat us to it." FIshlegs observed glumly as Meatlug landed among the others.

"Yes, but the question is; who?" Stoick added as he slid out of Skullcrusher's saddle to closely inspect a smashed crate.

"I don't like this." Tengan murmured as she tightened her grip on Rumble's neck spine. "Who else could have attacked Viggo? It doesn't make any sense."

Hiccup landed nearby, a furious glare marring his usually warm features. Without a glance at any of the others, he stormed into the lone remaining tent; the structure that would have been Viggo's hideout if everything had gone smoothly. A roar of frustration brought Astrid and Stoick jogging in after him, followed by a series of loud crashes.

Moment's later, Astrid poked her head back out. "Guys. You're going to want to see this." Her voice was tight, her eyes wide with concern.

Tengan allowed most of the others to crowd in before her. Taking one last sweeping look around the area to ensure no foul play was at hand, she slipped into the tent, opting to stand in between Dagur and Gustav. Letting her gaze sweep across the room, her eyes widened in shock as she beheld a bruised and bloody Viggo propping his weak form up against an overturned barrel.

Hiccup paced restlessly before the beaten down hunter, a feral snarl parting his lips. "What happened here? Viggo, where is the Dragon Eye?" He stopped pacing to glare down at their adversary, his hands resting on his hips.

Viggo looked up from the floor of his tent, displaying a single swollen black eye to the group. "Ryker has lost all sense of reason." His voice maintained it's calm, level, almost taunting tone despite his clear injuries. "He's on his own and, unfortunately, has managed to sway the soft minds of the Dragon Hunters." He shifted his weight so he was sitting up properly, one arm coming up to cradle his ribcage. "My brother has turned them on their leader. Ryker's plan, as simple minded as it is, is to wipe out the Dragon Riders and all of your allies!"

Hiccup scoffed. "And how is that different from every other threat we've ever dealt with?" He smirked slightly to himself as several soft chuckles permeated the tense atmosphere in the tent.

Viggo's good eye narrowed. "The difference, my dear Hiccup, is Project Shellfire. I believe your Zipplebcak riders stumbled upon that name not too long ago."

Hiccup stepped closer. "Tell me what Project Shellfire is. We know it's some sort of weapon. Is it a boat? A dragon?"

Viggo struggled to his feet. "In due time I will divulge all. Project Shellfire, the location of the Dragon Eye…" He examined his bloodied fingernails with an air of disinterest. "But, only if you help me stop my brother and send me on my way."

Tengan clenched her fists, knowing that if she had hackles, they'd be standing on end. "He's lying." She snarled, taking a step forward. "He's still working with his brother. The second we get to wherever he tells us his men will spring another trap!"

Fishlegs stepped forward as well. "She's right, Hiccup. We shouldn't trust Viggo as far as we can throw him!"

Viggo sneered at the pair of Riders as he forced himself to stand perfectly straight. "Oh, I agree. Trusting me is, shall we say, a stretch?" He chuckled lightly. "Therefore, as a show of good faith, I will tell you where and when my brother will strike next. Give you time to save some of your allies. The ones he intends to systematically destroy. Listen up: The next attack will be on the Defenders of the Wing. Followed by the Outcasts, Berserkers, and Berk itself. The Shimmering Shores should be safe." He added with a nod towards Tengan. "My brother never held your people's knowledge storehouse as highly regarded as I do. Although, given the headaches you've given him, I wouldn't put it past him to add your precious library back home as a stop on his tour. As for the set order, I'm unsure. Ryker may not be a tactical genius but he does still hold some things close to the vest."

Hiccup abruptly gestured for the group to leave, his eyes still trained on Viggo. Once every other Rider had left the tent he followed at a brisk pace, his shoulders sagging as the cool night air reached him.

"There is no way we are believing one word this guy says." Astrid spat as she glared towards the closed flap of the tent.

Hiccup sighed, his face grave. "We can't just ignore it, Astrid. There are too many lives at stake."

Stoick nodded. "Agreed. Gobber and I will take the auxiliary Riders back to Berk, just in case."

Hiccup nodded before rounding on the others. "Heather, Dagur, go make sure Berserker Island is ready. The rest of us will head to Caldera Cay to warn Queen Mala."

Tengan glanced quickly between Hiccup and the siblings. "I should go with Heather and Dagur!" She spoke up suddenly. "Berk has the A-Team, Caldera Cay has the Defenders and the Eruptodon, and The Edge has the Riders. Berserker Isle, while home to gifted warriors, is still being rebuilt. Two dragons may not be enough to hold off Project Shellfire if they are attacked." She stepped forward, her face set.

Hiccup briefly looked as if he were going to argue before nodding once. "Alright, you make a fair point. Just be careful."

Tengan smiled, well aware that this may be the last time they all stood together. "Always am." She shifted her gaze to Stoick. "Will you please send a Terror Message to my mother? Warn her of what might be coming. I know there's only a slim chance but-"

"It will be done, lass." Stoick nodded as he swung back into the saddle. "The Shimmering Shores will be warned, I promise."

"Thank you." Tengan sighed. With one final weathered smile towards her friends, she turned to follow the siblings back towards their dragons. Slipping past Dagur, she gave his hand a quick squeeze before mourning up. "Well, it's a little earlier than intended, but Dagur? Heather? Lead the way!"

Dagur grinned as he urged Shattermaster into the air. "You heard the lady, sister! Back to Berserker Isle. We'll be ready to show those Hunters the REAL meaning of the word berserk!"

Tengan swallowed the knot of anxiety in her throat as Rumble climbed to follow Winshear and Shattermaster. Several times she spun in the saddle to catch fleeting glimpses of the other Riders before the inky dark sky swallowed the island. Images of her friends and allies flashed through her mind in a continuous stream. How many would fall if they failed? How many would fall to ensure they could succeed? The trio spent their time in the air discussing possible defensive measures they would be able to establish in short order or speculating on the nature of this new weapon, the simple act of planning cut her anxious thoughts short before they could spiral too far.

"Here we are!" Dagur called out as they swept over several houses in various states of completion. "The stables are a bit away from the center of town. The dragon's don't like the valley for some reason."

Tengan reached down to soothingly stroke Rumble's neck as the Skrill bucked and growled. "You're not joking!" She hollered back as they approached a grassy hill with a large metal and wood stable perched atop it like an absurdly shiny hat. She dismounted with a dull thud, letting her knees bend a bit more than strictly necessary to absorb the blow. Hiding a yawn behind her hand she led Rumble into the impressive structure. "Where would you like me to put him?"

Dagur grinned as he settled Shattermaster into his stall. The generously sized space was complete with a stone-slab bed and a large trough filled with varying rocks. "His stall is right across from Shattermaster's! Take a look."

Heather chuckled as she unsaddled Windshear. "Oh, did he forget to mention Rumble already has a personalized stall here?" She teased lightly as she secured the Razorwhip's door.

Tengan sighed deeply. "I really shouldn't be surprised." Turning around, she guided Rumble into the assigned stall. On the back wall, the Berserker crest was carved into the metal with "RUMBLE" prominently displayed directly beneath it. Along one wall sat a stone slab cut from the same block as Shattermaster's. Tengan smiled as Rumble quickly shuffled over to the bed and flopped down, rustling his wings as he settled. She quietly backed out and shut the door securely behind her, acutely aware Dagur was hovering close by over her shoulder.

"He seems to like it." The Berserker chief smiled as he placed a hand on Tengan's shoulder.

"Apparently" she agreed with a minute nod of her head. "Thank you." She turned to face the pair, her eyes glittering with determination. "Now, about those ambush preparations….."

The rest of the night and following morning were spent in frenzied activity. As they made their way back into town, Dagur had roared out commands for every able bodied Berserker to come forth and prepare their home for invasion. All those unfit to fight were to load excess food and supplies on the ships stationed in the harbor for safe keeping. Tengan helped where she could, often pairing up with Heather as she assisted the elderly and very young hump supplies down to the docks. Several times she glanced at a building in fascination, itching to explore and record her findings. Each time the memory of Viggo's warning came flooding back and she redoubled her efforts. If they weren't ready, there wouldn't be a Berserker Isle to study. She prayed that her mother and her people would receive Stoick's warning and be prepared themselves if the time came.

A few hours before sunset, Tengan found herself panting in the shade of a nearby tree after what felt like her thousandth trip to the docks loaded with grain and blankets. On that particular trek down, a mother had been struggling to contain all three of her children, so she offered to ferry the oldest toddler along with her load of grain bags. The young girl was quite happy to sit atop her shoulders and play with her bouncing curls, innocently oblivious to how much her weight slowed their progress. "You doing ok, Heather?" She wheezed to her friend, who had also hefted a boy not much younger than Tengan's charge down the hillside.

"Yep." Heather groaned as she stretched her back. "Actually, no, not really." She laughed breathlessly. "As much as I love children, I think I'll hold off on having a few of my own for a little while."

"Yeah?" Tengan panted. "Probably a good idea. I doubt Fishlegs is willing to trade his dragon eggs for swaddling cloths just yet." She wheezed out a weak laugh, barely dodging Heather's lazy swipe at her shoulder.

"Drink." Dagur commanded sternly as he approached the pair, a water skin in each hand. He eyed the women sternly until each had taken several long drafts before speaking. "It looks like everyone who needs to be gone is waiting by the ships." He smiled and nodded, sweat dripping off his brow. "All of the buildings are fortified the best we can manage and the warriors are stationed along the cliff side. Nothing will be able to sneak up on us."

Tengan handed the half-empty water skin back with a grateful smile. "What's next?" She forced herself to straighten up, her eyes half lidded with exhaustion.

Dagur coaxed Tengan to lean back against the tree. "Now we rest. It's been a long night and longer morning. An exhausted warrior is no use to anyone." He gently forced her into a seated position at the base of the tree before turning to Heather. "You too, sister."

Heather wasted no time arguing and let her body sink into a prone position next to the base of the tree. "Don't have to tell me twice." She flung the crook of one arm over her face to shield her eyes from the thin sunlight streaming through the canopy. Within moments, her breathing had eased and slowed.

Tengan waited for Dagur to sink onto the ground next to her before shifting so her head settled in his lap. "What about you? What if something ha-ha-happens?" She yawned.

Dagur smiled gently down at the Rider as he leaned against the tree. He gently caressed her mop of curls, mindful not to let his fingers snag in their wild tangle. "I'll be able to hear if anything happens." He breathed deeply for a moment, content in knowing the two women he cared for most laid peacefully beside him. "When this is all over I'll give you a proper tour." He promised the already snoozing Tengan before he let his head lean back against the harsh bark of the tree and closed his eyes.

An earth shattering explosion rocked the island as a shell exploded overhead, it's glittering shrapnel dancing in the light of the setting sun. Tengan rocketed to her feet, eyes wide in pure panic. A second explosion immediately followed, sending the poor girl stumbling into the trunk of the tree she had been resting under. "Dagur! Heather!" She yelled out as several Berserkers thundered past them.

Heather, already on her feet, was also gripping the tree to stay upright. "Where is it coming from?!" She called out, her head whipping in all directions.

Dagur, crouched low to maintain his balance, glared towards the southern coast. "There!" he pointed as a third shell arched overhead. "We need to get to our dragons!" He spun to face several men running towards him. "Gather all warriors and head to the docks! Make sure everyone is on those ships! This is a battle for dragons and Riders!" He boomed the order, leaving no room for argument.

Tengan scrambled up the hillside with Heather and Dagur in tow. Several times they had to drop to all fours as a shell crashed and exploded somewhere in the small settlement behind them. By the time they crested the hill and approached the stable, the sun had already dipped beneath the horizon. Each shell that exploded overhead creating a tauntingly beautiful display as sparks rained down over the island. Struggling for breath, she swung Rumble's stall door open and quickly saddled the Skrill. Several more explosions sent her crashing into her dragon's side. Each time she simultaneously cursed herself for bothering to untack him in the first place and praised the Skrill for being exceptionally calm given the earth-shattering explosions occurring several times a minute. Finally, she managed to secure the last strap and swung herself into the saddle. "Go, Rumble go!" She cried, ducking low as he bolted out of the open stall down the main aisle of the stable. Once out in the open air, she directed him to climb rapidly to join Shattermaster and Windshear circling overhead.

"Oh thank Thor you're alright!" Heather nearly screamed to be heard over the explosions. "Let's get going! We have to stop whatever that thing is!"

"No!" Dagur holled as Shattermaster rose to hover between the two larger dragons. "It looks like some of our boats still haven't left the harbor. Tengan, I need you to cover them while they escape."

"But what about our home?" Heather cried out desperately. "Everything we've built. We need all three of us to take on whatever is causing all this destruction!"

Dagur shook his head firmly, his expression grave. "Sister, you and I both know this is not a battle we're going to win today. Our home IS our people. We're going to draw the fire of whatever that thing is until Tengan can get the others to safety!"

Tengan rapidly looked between the siblings, the general direction from where the shells were coming from, and the last few groups of people hustling along the docks. As she stared, one of the shells rained down molten shrapnel over the group. A mall chorus of agonized screams carried up to the Riders. With one final look back at the siblings, she nodded. "I will protect them!" Her eyes flicked to Dagur's. "Be safe!"

With a heavy heart, she urged Rumble to leave the group and dive towards the docks. Several times they had to roll or abruptly climb to avoid another shell as it exploded nearby. As they approached the fleeing group furthest from the docks, the explosions shifted further away, granting them a bit more time. "I don't know how long Dagur and heather can keep their attention!" She hollered down to the hustling mass. "Drop anything that isn't necessary and run to the boats! We will cover you from above!"

They flew in tight circles over the panicked Vikings, eyes continuously flicking towards the distant explosions. Several times Rumble had to swoop low and carry a critically injured Berserker in his talons to the deck of the nearest ship. Many more times they approached a downed Viking to offer assistance, only to find they had already succumbed to their horrible injuries. Chunks of metal melted into large patches of skin, limbs and heads crushed under larger pieces of debris. Twice it looked as if they had simply been trampled to death by their fleeing companions. Each death twisted Tengan's heart as she felt time stretch on. "Comeon, comeon." She whispered urgently as the final few warriors scrambled onto the last boat.

As they guarded the fleeing ships, she spent several moments staring off in the distance where the Berserker siblings were still dutifully drawing fire. As the boats cleared the harbor she guided Rumble down to hover next to the lead ship. "Keep heading south! I'm going back to help Dagur and Heather!" She raised her sword above her head in emphasis, nodding grimly as several of the warriors responded with a chorus of Berserker war cries. Tapping her heels against Rumble's sides, she urged the Skrill to climb towards the explosions at a break-neck pace. Bent low over the saddle, she closed her eyes to all but the thinnest slits as the air rushed past her.

"Woah, Tengan!" Heather's voice barely reached the pair as they shot past.

Tengan tugged firmly on Rumble's saddle, sending the Skrill in a tight, looping about-face maneuver. Mindful of the blasts still flying in their general direction, she approached the retreating pair of dragons. "Thank the stars you're both alright!" She cried, her eyes raking over the pair and their dragons, hastily searching for any hint of an injury.

"Of course we're fine!" Dagur attempted to grin, his face tense. "Were you able to get everyone to the ships?" He and Shattermaster dropped suddenly as a shell soared overhead.

Tengan's heart dropped as she remembered the lifeless bodies so close to the shore. "Almost everyone. We counted at least seven dead. Several more injured. The fleet is heading south now to take them out of range."

"You did everything you could." Heather shouted over the nearby explosions."Many more would have died if not for you and Rumble. You have our thanks!"

Dagur clenched his fists and glared darkly in the direction the projectiles were still raining from. "I'll destroy the Hunters for this!" He roared, dodging yet another projectile. He turned back to the two women and began to bark an order, only to be distracted by a familiar black shape soaring through the clouds towards them. "Brother!" He hailed as Hiccup approached, flanked by the other Riders.

Hiccup and Toothless rolled out of the way of an incoming projectie. "You lot, protect the ships! Save everyone you can. When done, meet us back at the Edge! Astrid and I are going to try to get in closer and stop this Shellfire once and for all!"

"Hiccup, no! Wait!" Tengan called out on deaf ears as Toothless and Stormfly whipped past them, diving to fly close to the water's edge. Turning back to the others, her face fell. "They'll never be able to take that thing on with just the two of them!"

"Maybe not." Fishlegs agreed, his arms clasped around a tiny, wriggling, Eruptodon hatchling. "But they're smart. They won't be taken down that easily. It's up to us to use this time to get the other Berserkers to safety."

"He's right." Dagur nodded. "Riders and Berserkers with me!" He hollered, raising his axe into the air. "There's a small island not too far away with defensible cliffs. We'll lead them there! Tengan! Heather! You two are with me. Riders, I need you to cover our flanks and the rear!"

"You got it boss Berserker sir!" Tuffnut grinned and he and his twin peeled off from the small formation to circle at the rear of the ships.

Tengan nodded a thanks at Fishlegs and Snotlout as they took up sentry on either side of the small fleet. "Dagur," She called, her voice delicate. "Where would you like me?"

The chief smiled back at her, his eyes hollow. "Shattermaster and Windshear need to rest. It wasn't easy keeping their attention on us. The island is a couple hours due south. You'll be leading the fleet. It will do my people good to see our symbol flying among the ranks."

Tengan blinked in surprise, here eyes darting between the two siblings. Even with the dim starlight she could make out the sagging posture of both dragons. Poor Windshear's head hung lower than Tengan had ever remembered seeing it; her tongue lolling limply from her jaws. "Alright." She nodded. "You can leave it to us."

"Thank you, friend." Heather replied wearily as she guided her Razorwhip to glide gently down to one of the foremost ships, Dagur and Shattermaster not far behind.

Tengan straightened in the saddle, forcing all her aches and fatigue far from her mind. "Alright boy. Let's keep everyone going strong!" Swooping low over the ships, she brought forth a deep, guttural cry, letting it rise and fall as she had remembered Dagur's did the day they hunted for Viggo's gold. A thin, dark smile touched her lips as a chorus of cries responded, momentarially drowning out the dull explosions of the battle still raging on behind them.

Rumble, feeding off the chaotic energy, let loose an ear splitting roar of his own, his scales momentarily crackling with stored energy. Despite his heavy breathing, he flew in a large, swooping loop over the lead ship, the small bolts of energy trailing off of his body in a cascade of sparks. A second, louder cheer rang from the deck of every ship as the Berserkers witnessed the Skrill's display.

The island, while easy to find, offered considerable protection. It had a large central beach and grassland. High cliffs, dotted with clusters of tall trees, surrounding the protected area. There was only place for the ships to pass through to the bay, and it was only large enough for two to enter abreast at a time. As the last few sailed into their temporary port, Dagur and Heather rejoined the group as they hurriedly winged back to the Edge.

Thankfully, Hiccup and Astrid were already there, waving up from the balcony connected to the main hall as they flew in. Silently, the returning riders settled their dragons in the stable for the night, excluding poor Meatlug who had to stay awake to produce lava for the hatchling, before exhaustingly plodding across the bridge to join the pair around the large fireplace. Thankfully, Astrid and Hiccup had used their head start to prepare a substantial pot of stew and pile of bread for the others; who ate slowly and without much vigor.

Hiccup paced while they grabbed bowls and settled in, his hands clasped tightly behind his back. "You're all not going to believe this, but Project Shellfire is a weaponized, titan-wing dragon. Tidal class. Bigger than a Submaripper, long-range firing capabilities."

"Tidal class dragons don't attack humans, Hiccup." Fishlegs interjected with a weak voice as he picked at his stew. "They just don't. It's not in their nature. They're forcing it to do that!"

"I know they are." Hiccup agreed, his hand coming up to briefly pinch the bridge of his nose.

Tengan sat slumped over one end of the long table, her eyes glassy. She glanced discreetly over at Heather and Dagur, her frown deeping at the sight. Heather had let her head collapse into her folded arms while Dagur gently patted her shaking shoulders. "I'm sorry." She murmured gently as she lifted her heavy head from the scrubbed wooden table. "I wish we could have done more to save the island."

"We all do." Astrid agreed softly, her eyes drawn towards the flames licking the bottom of the stew pot.

Heather slowly raised her head to address her friends, a small upturn of the corners of her lips appearing as she met Fishlegs' concerned gaze. "At least we were able to save most of our people. But to rebuild…." She trailed off, letting her head thud dully on the table once more.

Dagur frowned as he rubbed small, soothing circles on his sister's back. "I've been trying really hard to manage my anger, Hiccup." He snarled, his free can curling into a tight fist. "But, Viggo? He gots to go!"

Tengan gently laid her hand on Dagur's shoulder, giving the weathered warrior what she hoped was a comforting gaze. "He won't get away with this." She promised, her voice heavy.

Astrid sighed heavily as she propped her sore and battered body up off the table. "What's our next move?" She gently questioned.

Hiccup shook his head as he continued to pace. "I don't know. Rest, for now. But we still need to find Viggo, and fast." His shoulders slumped, he staggered out of the hall towards the stables. After a pregnant pause, Astrid trudged out after him.

Tengan looked up from the grieving siblings to assess the rest of their group. While none of the Riders had sustained any serious injuries, they all sported large, purple bruises or were favoring an arm or leg over the other. A warm bowl of stew , while appreciated, could only do so much. With a short huff, she dragged herself to her feet and stomped decidedly out of the hall and towards her hut, ignoring the questioning glances of her friends. She returned a few minutes later, arms laden with as many furs as she could find and carry back. With a heaving sigh she let them tumble onto the floor in front of the fireplace. "We've all had a long day and need some rest. Snotlout? Would you mind going to the stables and letting the dragons out? Ruff and Tuff? I need your help moving all the tables and benches into the corner. Fishlegs? Do you think you and Meatlug could take the hatchling and bring back some firewood from storage? Heather, Dagur? I could really use your help arranging these furs if you're feeling up to it."

To her relief, the others seemed to catch on immediately. They all rose to help without complaint and soon the group was resting comfortably on the floor in the center of the hall, their dragons splayed out in a large, protective semi-circle around them. Tengan smiled wearily as she eyed her friends. They still moved with deliberate slowness to avoid aggravating their injuries, but now they smiled, chatted, and even joked with one another. Her smile deepened as she spotted Heather gently rocking the sleeping Eruptodon as she leaned against Fishlegs' side.

"Come here." Dagur spoke softly as he sank into a seated position next to Tengan, his back propped up on Shattermaster's flank. With gentle movements, he gently coaxed her to lean back against his chest before snaking his arms around her waist. With a heavy sigh, he let his chin rest on the top of her head.

Tengan hummed in content as she glanced over at Rumble, who was snoring while snuggled up against Windshear. "Are you alright?" She asked quietly after a moment, her hands coming up to rest atop his.

Dagur stiffened, his breathing becoming more ragged. "No. We spent months rebuilding our home, finding our people. Viggo and Ryker made a mistake attacking the Berserkers. One they won't live long enough to regret."

Tengan gave his hands a gentle squeeze, at a loss in finding any words of comfort. Her own mind cartwheeled between fear for her homeland and for those she cared for in the archipelago. "We'll stop them." She finally said as the exhaustion of the past couple days began to overtake her.

Dagur waited until he felt her breathing ease and her muscles slacken to speak again. "We will. Then I will rebuild and bring you home." He promised the sleeping young woman encased in his protective embrace.

Dawn broke sooner than any of the Riders felt was reasonable or fair. Groaning obscenities at the first rays of light, they staggered to their feet, pausing to stretch or massage out any muscles that had stiffened while they rested.

"Are Hiccup and Astrid back yet?" Heather sleepy asked the others as she tickled the back feet of the Eruptodon hatchling.

Tuffnut yawned loudly, stretching his arms over his head until several audible pops rang out from his shoulders. "No, but it looks like they're on their way back with Viggo now."

"WHAT?!" The others roared in unison, sending several of the dragons scrambling to their feet in alarm. Thundering out of the hall and onto the balcony, the group scrambled to catch a glimpse as Toothless and Stormly approached ferrying Astrid, Hiccup, and, regrettably, Viggo.

"Brother?!" Dagur snarled as Toothless touched down. "How could you bring him" he spat the word "back here?"

"I'm with Dagur." Fishlegs asserted as he stepped in front of Heather, intentionally blocking Viggo's view of the vulnerable hatchling nestled in her arms. "This entire war has always been just one big game to him, Hiccup!"

"Ryker is coming with the intention of wiping us all out along with his brother." Astrid spoke up as she dismounted. "Viggo has returned the Dragon Eye but we aren't taking any chances."

"I'm sorry, I must have misheard you." Viggo interjected as he slid out of Toothless' saddle, clasping his arms behind his back. "I am a man of my word. I came to offer you help in defeating my brother and even brought a peace offering. Does this mean nothing to the Riders?"

"Not nearly enough." Dagur snarled, reaching for his axe, only pausing when he felt Tengan hastily lace her small fingers in between his.

Hiccup held a hand up to stay the furious pack of Dragon Riders from advancing. "You guys are right." He assured them. "I got this." With deft movements, he unsheathed his sword, pressing it to Viggo's back. "You may claim to be on our side, Viggo, but there's too much bad blood for us to trust that you'll do anything besides trying to kill us. You'll be remanded to the stables for now."

Viggo's smug expression turned slightly desperate. "Hiccup, you must reconsider!" He pleaded, fighting to keep his voice even. "I could be of considerable assistance in helping you defend your home if you would allow me!"

Astrid gestured towards the stabled. "We'll take that into consideration." She spat, sarcasm dripping from every word.

Hiccup gently prodded Viggo forward once more before glancing over his shoulder at the group. "Everyone meet me down at the arena. Ryker is on his way with several Hunter's ships. We need to be ready."

Within fifteen minutes the Riders were standing shoulder to shoulder in the arena, their dragons lined up behind them. Hiccup paced before the group, his hands clasped behind his back as he strode before the assembled team. "We don't have long before Ryker and his crew are in range."

"I have an idea." Snotlout piped up as he stepped out of line. "Now, just follow me on this. I don't know about you guys but I'm not completely attached to this place. I say we let it burn to the ground." Catching the looks of utter disbelief on his friends faces, he shrugged before plowing on. "I mean it's been fun, but is this place worth DYING over?"

"Snotlout, if we don't stop them here, where do you think they're going to go?" Hiccup asked, struggling to keep the exasperation from seeping into his tone.

Tengan stepped out of line, her brow furrowed. "They'll destroy your home and mine." She spoke up. "You weren't on Berserker Isle when they first attacked. I will not let Ryker force that tragedy on anyone else!"

Hiccup nodded. "Exactly, Tengan." He gestured briefly to her and Dagur. "I need you two to cover the back half of the Edge. Dagur, you've spent enough time sneaking around to have the advantage. Tengan, I want you and Rumble to find somewhere to stay hidden nearer to base. If any get through him, you'll have the element of surprise.

Dagur stepped up and placed a heavy hand on Tengan's shoulder. "We've got it covered! And I take that as a compliment, by the way. You know, the sneaking around part."

Hiccup had a hard time resisting the small smile that tugged at his lips. "Of course you do. Just get going you two. And be careful."

Tengan smiled back and gave Dagur's hand a small squeeze before climbing into Rumble's saddle. She took off and followed Shattermaster closely, keeping as close to the canopy as possible. The sun had started to rise in earnest now, the light creeping across the entire island. "Where are you planning on going first?"

Dagur smirked back at her. "The south beach. It's directly under one of the cliff faces. You guys never put a watch tower out there so it was always the easiest place to sneak in."

Tengan groaned as she recalled the location. "We actually did. The twins kept setting it on fire while doing target practice with the Night Terrors so we gave up replacing it after the fourth or fifth time." As they circled above the beach, she glanced out towards the northern horizon where several small smudges could be seen in the distance. "Looks like they'll be here soon. Better get under cover before they spot us." She glanced down as the Gronckle and his rider hovering below them. "Be safe, will you? You still owe me a tour of Berserker Isle after it's rebuilt."

Dagur grinned up at her, marveling how the rays of the rising sun streamed through her un-tameable curls. "Not to worry! Your beloved Berserker doesn't go down easily." With a wink and a wave, he directed Shattermaster towards the treeline framing the beach.

With a shake of her head, Tengan watched them descend for several seconds before directing Rumble to land on a nearby cliff face. "You stay here, Rumble." She urged as she rubbed small circles under the Skrill's chin. "I'm going to crawl up to the edge to keep an eye on the boys." She gave her dragon a small kiss on the tip of his snout before laying flat on her belly and shimmying up to the edge of the cliff. Peering over, she settled in to wait as the sun continued to climb.

Within a couple hours, the first few shells crashed into the island, sending shockwaves through the ground. Tengan cried out at the cliffedge she had been clinging to began to crumble and fall away. Before she could do more than gasp, she felt teeth clamp down gently on her leg as Rumble dragged her backwards. Sitting up, she threw her arms around her dragon's neck, her breathing ragged. "Thanks, boy." She hugged him tighter. "Dagur and Shattermaster are going to have to be on their own for a little bit. It's too dangerous to be in the open." Hustling back under the tree cover, she smiled as Rumble draped a protective wing over her head, deflecting several leaves and small branches that rained down with each blast. "I hope the others are alright."

The explosions seemed to come in waves. Eight, nine, ten shells would crash into the island before everything would quiet for a minute. Each time the shots would abade, Tengan would scramble to the quickly receding cliff edge and glance around for Dagur or Shattermaster before rushing back to cover as the next wave would begin. On her fourth or fifth check, she barely glimpsed the pair rushing to the aid of the island's resident Triple Stryke who had been backed into a corner by a small group of Hunters. "How did they come ashore without us seeing them!?" She gasped as she swung into the saddle.

"Woah boy, steady. We can't blow our cover just yet." She soothed as Rumble spread his wings in preparation to take off. "They've got this." She assured her dragon, not totally convinced herself. No less than a dozen Hunters stalked towards their prey, bows drawn. A shaky sigh of relief left her as she watched the Gronckle tail bludgeon three into submission, allowing the Triple Stryke to slip away in the dense web of trees. She had to bite her lip to keep from cheering as Dagur and Shattermaster made quick work of several more Hunters, the dull thud of their bodies hitting the sand carrying up to her hiding place.

It seemed the pair were going to make quick work of the invaders, until one of the Hunters still stationed on the ship loosed a bolder from one of their catapults. With a sickening crack and a horrible, pained, bone-chilling shriek, Shattermaster crashed into the shore, spilling Dagur on the sand next to him.

"No!" Tengan cried out, her vision tunneling. "Rumble! Let's go! They need us!" Nudging her Skrill off the cliff face, she kept her eyes glued to the downed pair as Rumble dove, his wings nearly flat against his body. As they closed the gap, she drew her sword, a furious cry ripping through her throat. "DON'T TOUCH THEM!" She roared as Rumble furled his unfurled his wings at the last possible second.

The Skrill thundered onto the soft sand, the force of his landing sending a wall of sand flying into the air. Feeding off his Rider's fury, he roared defiantly at the Hunters as he loosed a surge of stored lightning.

Tengan bared her teeth in a feral snarl, her sword tip pointing at the lead Hunter. "Step forward only if you wish to die!" She snapped, her eyes burning with an intensity matching her dragon's blast.

Dagur coughed several times as he struggled to his feet and towards his dragon. Coaxing the Gronckle to stand, he gently herded the injured dragon behind a large rock jutting up from the sandy shore. "It's ok boy." He soothed as he struggled to support his partner's bulk. "Our girl's really something, huh?" He smiled as he helped Shattermaster into a comfortable position. "Stay here, boy. I'll be right back." With a roar, he charged back into the battle, momentarily distracted as he laid eyes on Tengan.

She had dismounted and was standing next to Rumble as they fought off a wave of Hunters. A small cut on her cheek dripped blood freely over her mouth, painting her vicious snarl a brilliant red. Each time she lunged forward, her sword bit through the leather armor of a Hunter or clashed angrily against the steel of their weapons. She seemed to move in time with her dragon as if the two were of one mind. Every time the Skrill struck out with wings or tail she fluidly ducked or sidestepped the attack before following up with one of her own.

Dagur's grin widened as he took his place on Tengan's free side. "You'll make an excellent Berserker!" He cheered as he turned his attention to the battle at hand. Spotting the Hunter who launched the catapult at SHattermaster, his grin morphed into an angry snarl fit to match the frenzied woman beside him. "This is for Shattermaster!" He roared, charging forward with his axe raised.

Wave after wave of the Hunters approached the pair and the dragon. As one found himself too injured to face them, another took his place. Dagur and Tengan fought on, desperately ignoring the cold heaviness creeping into their limbs. After a time, Rumble's stockpiled lightning ran dry and he too began collecting shallow cuts where the Hunter's spears had broken through. Thankfully, he had avoided any dragon root tipped weapons so far.

Tengan's chest heaved as she struggled for breath. "There's no end to them! How many men can you cram on one ship!" She struggled to keep her sword at chest level. "Is Shattermaster alright?" She called over to Dagur as she kept her eyes locked on the approaching Hunters.

"He took a pretty hard hit!" Dagur responded as his axe handle slammed into a Hunter's helmet. "I think one of his wings is broken. Duck!" He cried out before swinging his weapon where Tengan's head had been moments before, the blade sinking into the bare arm of her attacker.

"Thanks!" Tengan gasped as she shoved the screaming man away from her. Her body trembling slightly from exhaustion, she glanced around as several more Hunters closed in. "I'm not sure how much longer we can hold them off." She admitted darkly, her eyes drawn to the bloody foam dripping from her dragon's jaws.

"Then you and Rumble need to get out of here!" Dagur shouted to her, nudging her towards the Skrill's saddle.

She shook her head, dizzy with the effort. "No way!" She shoved him back just in time to dodge a jabbing spear. "We do this together! Berserker style!" She grinned at him, her eyes carrying a horrible finality. "Pity I never got to see your island rebuilt." She added softly.

Dagur stared at her for several seconds, his expression a tormented mixture of gratitude and sorrow. He started to speak, but was stopped as a yellow and black blur whizzed overhead.

The Triple Stryke roared furiously as it soared over the Hunters and landed behind them, it's three tails clicking ominously as he raised them for battle. With several frenzied movements, he dispatched the advancing Hunters, alternating his attacks between crushing claws and sharp stingers. As the final man fell he roared again, aiming his challenge to the men still clambering off the beached ship.

"It looks like you'll still have that chance!" Dagur cheered as he approached their savior. "Well hello there Mister Triple Stryke! You certainly are full of surprises aren't you?" He nodded appreciatively towards the dragon. "Dagur likes surprises!"

Tengan collapsed in an exhausted heap against Rumble's side, a grateful smile on her face. "We owe you one!" She called out breathlessly to the dragon as she fumbled her way into Rumble's saddle.

The Triple Stryke nodded it's enormous head at the trio before extending it's intertwined tails towards Dagur, it's aber eyes alight with determination. When the Berserker hesitated he let out an encouraging coo while gesturing towards the final wave of Hunters.

Catching on, Dagur laughed as he grabbed on to the offered appendage and was lifted onto the dragon's back. "Woohoohoo! We got this, bud!" He coaxed the Triple Stryke to stand guard in front of Tengan and Rumble. "Let us handle this, baby!" He called over his shoulder as the Hunters broke into a charge.

"Yeah… no problem…." Tengan panted from the saddle as she stroked Rumble's trembling sides. The pair watched, impressed, as Dagur and the Triple Stryke mowed down the remaining attackers with surprising ease.

"Have I mentioned I love the tail?" Dagur complimented as three more Hunters fell to the stingers. "So sharp! So, destructive!" He laughed tauntingly as the Hunters who were still in fit condition to stand began to flee towards their ship as it hastily began to shove off.

"Hiccup!" Tengan cried out in relief as Toothless swooped overhead to join them, pausing long enough to aim a well deserved plasma blast at the retreating vessel.

"Brother!" Dagur hailed as the Night Fury and his rider landed among them.

"Thank Thor you two are alright." Hiccup smiled in relief. "Everyone is safe. Viggo helped us get a Submaripper to attack the Shellfire. It's driving it off as we speak." He gestured towards Dagur, comfortably perched on the Triple Stryke's back. "And it seems like you made a new friend."

"Seems so!" Dagur agreed. "Don't you just love the tails? And that snapping sound?" He shuddered in delight. "Gives me goosebumps!"

"Where's Shattermaster?" Hiccup questioned as he glanced over the pair again, his eyes drawn to the numerous cuts dotting them and Rumble.

"He was hit by a catapult." Tengan spoke up. "I haven't been able to look him over but Dagur thinks his wing might be broken." She glanced over her shoulder at the boulder concealing the wounded Gronckle.

Hiccup started to respond when a deep rumbling shook the entire island. His head whipped up in the direction of their usually dormant volcano where he could make out a large, black plume of smoke rising from the peak. "Get Shattermaster back the Edge! Tengan, send for Gobber. He'll be able to help."

"Where are you going?" Dagur asked, his eyes glued to the smoldering peak.

"I have a feeling Fishlegs is in trouble." Hiccup sighed before gesturing towards base. "Go brother, your dragon needs you."

"Brother?!" Dagur grinned as he watched Hiccup and Toothless climb towards the volcano. "Did you hear that? He actually called me brother?" He slid from the Triple Stryke's back and gave the dragon a firm, appreciative pat.

"Sure did." Tengan smiled back as she joined him on the ground, slowly limping her way around the boulder to where Shattermaster was resting. She frowned as she caught sight of the crumpled wing and dark bruise along the ribs on his left side. She reached out to gently examine the injuries, flinching her hand back as the Gronkle whimpered in pain. "There's no way he can fly back. How are we going to get him across the island?"

The Triple Stryke let out a long, warbling coo as he nudged his head against Dagur's elbow. The Berserker chief stroked the large dragon's head as he glanced around at the remnants of the battle on the beach. "It looks like the Hunters abandoned a net while they pathetically ran away." He hoisted the net over one shoulder, easily dragging it over. "If we can get him on this, Rumble and Sleuther should be able to carry him back."

"Sleuther?" Tengan asked with her head cocked as she helped Dagur arrange the net on the soft sand.

"Yeah, well, he needs a name right?" Dagur countered as he gave the Triple Stryke a scratch under his chin. "I'd say he's more than earned a strong one. Like Sleuther."

Tengan smiled and nodded as she watched her suitor gently coax his wounded Gronckle onto the net. "Sleuther it is." Climbing back into the saddle, she had Rumble gently gather the loose sections of one side of the net in his claws as Dagur and Sleuther managed the other. Taking off towards the base, she winced every time poor Shattermaster cried out as the net jostled his broken wing.

In short order, the pair landed near Tengan's hut, as, sadly, the stable seemed to have been burned down from the Shellfire's attacks. As Dagur gently led Shattermaster into her thankfully still intact hut, Tengan tracked down the nearest Terrible Terror and scrawled a quick message to Gobber explaining Ryker had been defeated but his help was sorely needed to help treat a critically injured dragon.

As the small dragon desperately fluttered off in the general direction of Berk, Tengan glanced up as the other Riders, led by Heather, circled overhead and landed nearby. She waved up at them, grinning as relief surged through her. "Dagur!" She called into her hut, past the bulk of the two dragons blocking her way. "The others are back!"

"Be right there! Just making sure Shattermaster is settled!" He called back before emerging, his brow furrowed. "He's doing alright for now but won't be flying anytime soon." He squeezed between Sleuther and Rumble, who seemed content to watch the Viking struggle over granting him passage.

Tenagn smiled reassuringly as she took his hand. "I've already sent word for Gobber. He should be here in a couple days. I'll keep watch over him until then." She promised as she led him back towards the main hall.

Dagur's shoulders eased as he squeezed her hand, mindful not to crush it. "Thank you. He's the best dragon a Berserker could ask for." He flinched as Sleuther's tail thudded into the back of his skull. "Ow! Ok ok, he is ONE of the best, happy?!" He rubbed the back of his head with his free hand.

Tengan bit back a giggle. "It seems Sleuther's willing to fill in for him for the time being. You and Heather will be able to get back to rebuilding your island soon enough with his help. Although…" she cleared her throat before stopping, her eyes drifting up to meet his. "I know you two need to get back to your people, but do you think you could stay one more night? I mean, you could both use more rest, not to mention poor Windshear, and well… I don't want you to leave yet either." She finally admitted. "Who knows how long it will be until we can see each other again?"

Dagur smiled down at her before bringing his free hand over to caress her cheek, mindful of the now scabbing cut. "I don't want to leave you either. We'll stay tonight, but tomorrow Heather and I have to get back. There's a lot of work to be done." He leaned in, planting a soft kiss on her battered lips. Pulling away, he grinned at the faint taste of her blood on his tongue. "Knew I made the right choice." He asserted. "Seeing you fight like that earlier made my blood race!" His gaze hardened the longer he stared at her. "The way you take care of your friends and dragons when they need you, not to mention how you already gave the Berserkers hope when you and Rumble led the way off Berserker Isle. There's no one else I would trust to watch over Shattermaster."

Tengan smiled back, ignoring the complaints of her cut cheek and split lip. "He's the dragon of someone very special to me. I'd never let any ill befall him." She stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against his for a brief moment before tugging him along once more. "Let's go check in with the others. I can't wait to hear all about the battle between the Submaripper and the Shellfire."

Dagur chuckled, allowing her to drag him along the pathway. "And write about it." He added teasingly as he produced a small scroll and charcoal pen he had grabbed from her hut.

Tengan giggled, her smile growing wider. "And write about it." She agreed as they joined their battered, exhausted, but still standing friends waiting to celebrate their victory over the Hunters.