With a snarl, the General-dragon took off into the air, swinging his tail around and dislodging Starflinger's firm hold on it. She spun a little, then caught herself, and hovered for a few seconds too long. He brought his tail back around in a furious backslash, smacking her right in her chest and face. The momentum brought on by the stronger dragon's blow sent the Night Fury flying, and she crashed into the sea, letting out a shriek of agony, well away from the fleet. She didn't surface.

Honest launched herself at the Lycanwing, catching him on his blind side, and sank her teeth into his soft underbelly. He roared with pain, and threw the Night Light off with a forceful swipe of his talons. She crashed to the deck, on her back, but righted herself at once, and looked up at him, snarling.

Pheda darted out of the cabin, and was beside her in a moment. You okay?

'Okay enough,' was the reply. 'We lost Starflinger. You saw that right?'

No. Honest, the General's-

'Too much for us? I know. We just need to get him in a position so that we'll be able to escape without him following us back to New Berk. The last thing we need is that. . . thing rampaging all over the island. He's dangerous enough in human form.'

Agreed, but how do you plan to do that?

'I don't know, but I'm working on it, okay?'

Honest gathered herself, and launched, throwing herself at the mad dragon. She dug her talons into his shoulder, ripping deep. He crashed to the deck, snarling, and she jumped off. The two circled, each watching the other for a point of weakness. The General-dragon cracked his tail as though it were a whip.

Then Honest's ears shot up, standing on end, and her eyes widened at the sound of a door being thrown open forcefully. 'What the. . . oh no! Pheda, get Everlynh!'

Pheda whipped around, having heard the sound too, just in time to see Everlynh dash out, dodging straight into the path of the General's swinging tail. It caught her squarely in the middle, and sent her flying, up and away, then she crashed into the ocean's frigid waters, even further away from the fleet than Starflinger had been.

For a moment Pheda stared, shocked. Then, with a war cry, she ran at the General, but Honest jumped into her path, blocking her.

'No, Pheda,' the Night Light said. 'We can't. We need to fall back. The only thing that will happen if we stay is our end.'

As much as she hated to think it, Pheda knew Honest was right. Fine. But I'm coming back later with a Changewing to search. Just you see if I don't.

She climbed onto Honest's back, and the Night Light took off speedily, and was high in the sky in minutes. The General did not follow, perhaps because he'd already received all the wounds he cared to, or perhaps because he had a different plan in mind. Whatever the reason, he shifted where he stood, watching the dragon and rider as they fled.