"It's been four years to the day since Weathertop Sam; it has never really healed." - Frodo - Return of the King (film)
Sympathy
Two sets of sails were visible on the horizon. One of them was familiar.
Odd, I thought they left with only one ship.
He angled his flight and flew out over the approaching vessels. Sure enough, one of them was the same former trapper vessel commandeered nearly a year ago. The other one though was completely foreign despite being crewed by several from Haven.
Many voices were joyfully raised at his approach, and he greeted them with a roar of his own as he hovered nearby, inspected the ships, and followed them back to shore.
Well, there are Skald and company. And they have a filled hold with lots of barrels. I really wonder what those could be...
And those are our people on the other ship as well. They certainly seem like they will have a story to tell.
"What in Thor's name is going on here? Well, you look like you have a story to tell," Thorvald laughed at the sight of two ships in the harbor and the disembarking crews.
Shadowwing laughed as well as Skald approached.
Please do tell
Skald chuckled, briefly embraced Vistra and little Faen, and turned back to his Chief.
"Well, Shadowwing, Chief, the trading went just fine. We've got thirty barrels of the finest southern ale and even something else they called wine. That's all in the hold of our ship."
"What about the other one. I may not be very clever, Legs, but I did not send you all on your way with two ships."
Skald laughed out loud at that.
"Well, you see Lout, we were on our way back when another ship comes up next to us and flies a peace flag. We thought we might trade with them for news or see what they have."
"Seems reasonable," Thorvald granted.
"They were dragon hunters and proud of it."
Thorvald groaned and put a hand on his hip while Shadowwing softly growled.
"Even so, you took the ship? That is risky."
Skald grinned.
"They said business was bad, something about no dragons to hunt anymore, so they were going into the transportation business instead. They had a hold filled with barrels of ale."
Thorvald's eyes went wide.
"Wait, so the other ship is-"
"Yup. The entire hold is filled."
A moment of amazed silence followed.
"It's a sign from the gods! Odin, it was rough! May He be praised!" Thorvald roared.
Skald slapped his shoulder.
"That is what we said. So we took the ship and put the hunters on a small raft in the middle of..." Skald stroked his mustache, "actually, I am not sure where. Somewhere between the Desolate Isles, Freezing To Death, and Shipwreck Rock I think. And no one even got a scratch, at least not on our side! The promise of more ale gave us all plus ten to stamina and combat!"
"Wonderful! Wonderful job! I knew that I could rely on you! Everyone!"
All shiphands and gathered villagers turned to face him.
"Did you hear the good news? The ale is back!"
The resulting roar had to be louder than most that the dragons could summon.
"And we just completed the Great Hall also! I call for a feast to celebrate that we brought the ale back! Oh, and that everyone got back safely!"
Shadowwing rolled his eyes and laughed along with everyone else.
Typical Nords with their priorities. At least they know what matters...
It was not a very big feast as measured by food consumed. By ale imbibed though was a different story. They drank as if there was no tomorrow, which many of them might wish tomorrow.
And two Night Furies watched the comings and goings from the completed Great Hall.
"What is wrong with them? Why are they forgetting how to walk?" Dawn-Singer hummed in wonder.
"They are having a ceremony," Shadowwing answered.
"A falling down ceremony?"
"No, a drink-as-much-happy-water-as-they-can ceremony. And some falling down after that."
Dawn-Singer hummed at that.
"Why are they all walking out behind the bushes?"
"To... drop their waste-water. They are drinking much."
"Does the happy-water make them happy?" Dawn-Singer's ears lifted.
"Yes, and very silly and thought-twisted. And spinning in the head."
"I want to see this twistedness!"
Dawn-Singer got to his feet and trotted toward the Great Hall with Shadowwing following closely behind. They nosed open the front doors and beheld the revelry within.
People were dancing, singing, laughing, and fighting, all with mugs in their hands. Couples were spinning each other around while children punched each other and wrestled on the ground. Some of the ladies were fending off the advances of the clueless young men. A roaring fire in the center of the Hall warmed everyone on this early autumn evening.
"Look!" "It's Dawn-Singer and Shadowwing!" "Ale!" "The Night Furies!" "Get down!"
"You two! Get up here!" Thorvald yelled over the din.
They both walked over to him where he stood next to a large table that had a lot of paper and a dirt box nearby on the ground.
"What do you think, Shadowwing? Will this do for you all? Dragonheart helped us make it herself so that you Furies could join us."
He briefly inspected the table and writing box, much to his satisfaction.
Yes, it is good
"Excellent, you are all welcome in here at any time of course. Do tell the other Furies that, will you?"
Yes, he nodded and hummed.
Well, this is a pleasant surprise. I did not know that they were making a custom table for us, complete with a writing box too. Almost reminds me of... Berk.
And his ears slightly fell as he looked around at all the singing and dancing. They were all so happy.
"Shadowwing?" Dawn-Singer sadly hummed.
"Yes, Dawn-Singer?"
"You feel sad now."
Very perceptive kiddo...
"I remember another island, the good place where I hatched and lived as a hatchling and fledgling. There was another great-cave-den like this one that had many ceremonies done in it. Many warming memories."
"What happened?"
"It burned into dirt."
Gobber approached their special table. Approached might be a generous description for whatever the action was. But he managed to stay on his feet and not spill his mug. He got to the table and flipped the mug upside down as he slammed it on the table. The mug was already empty, explaining why it had not spilled anything.
Dawn-Singer's ears went up in amusement.
"Ach, you two! Perrfect! You can drrink with ush!"
"What is his name?" Dawn-Singer purred as a hand stroked his neck.
Hmm, time to make a name that means nothing to him...
"He is... Gobber. He works in the fire-cave where two-legs make things."
"What happened to his other arm and leg?" Dawn-Singer glanced at the missing limbs.
"Bad kin bit them off."
Dawn-Singer blinked and recoiled with a wary grunt.
"Bad kin? What!"
He gently nudged his nephew's shoulder while putting a wing over his back.
"Be warmed that you live in a good range and nest with peace and together-living between kin and two-legs. Life was not always this warm."
Dawn-Singer looked down at his claws and solemnly crooned, clearly deep in thought.
Thank you Gobber, but we will pass
Need to be able to fly him home safely
"Meh, yer losh thenn aaand my gaaiin. More fer me ta duhrrink," Gobber stepped back from them both.
You do that, Gobber. You certainly need a bit more. Actually...
How many have you had?
"Eh, who'sh countin?" he wandered away to refill his mug.
They watched the celebration in amusement for a while during which they were brought several cooked fish. Valka eventually came over and stood between them with a hand on both their necks. She seemed oddly solemn for some reason after conferring with Chief Thorvald.
What is the matter?
She only shook her head and whispered.
"Wait..."
Thorvald rang a great gong to get everyone's attention.
"Everyone! Gather around. It is time for something special!"
They all did, though some of them had to sit down on the floor. By necessity.
"About a year now we have been here. A year to the day since the great battle and since we lost both of our beloved Chiefs that were before."
Shadowwing froze and closed his eyes, trying to not think about everything in that sudden moment.
"They both fell in battle against many foes and against the great foe himself. They both feast in and battle in Valhalla now!"
The cry was echoed throughout the Hall.
"We will remember them both always. They had their faults and made mistakes, but they both died with honor while fighting for their tribe. Gobber..."
Gobber tugged on a rope and pulled away a pair of coverings that hid two tapestries on the wall. Massive Stoick the Vast with his full red beard held a large axe in one hand and a Night Fury hatchling in the other. Astrid the Dragon Whisperer, clad in her blue Nadder-scale cloak, held out her sword against a massive, menacing shadow-man.
Shadowwing stared at both tapestries as all air seemed to depart from the Hall and something sharp and cold plunged into his chest.
I was too proud, too arrogant, useless as a father...
Beast! You will not take my son from me...
I'm not sure that Toothless is dead...
He gasped for air.
And thanks for... this, whatever this is...
I wanted us... to be a family again...
May the Valkyries welcome you...
Shadowwing slowly, as calmly as possible, turned away from the dual reminders of his own stupidity and arrogance.
"Come... Dawn-Singer..."
He almost ran out the Hall, ignoring all the cries of those around him to stay and join in the party. He dashed out the main doors and ran away from all the light, only slowing down once he was in the shadows near the edge of town. Only there did he catch his breath.
"Shadowwing!"
He stopped and waited for Dawn-Singer to catch up with him.
"You feel very chilled now," the young Fury moaned.
"Those words are true. I am."
Dawn-Singer walked around in front of him and looked up at him.
"Do not be. It does not help you fly the winds of life."
If only it was that easy, little one.
Dawn-Singer looked up at the clouds.
"I think it will rain soon."
Shadowwing sighed as he looked up at the impending rainfall.
"Yes, I will fly you home now," he sighed.
They both flew back through the night toward the mountains. All the while, he tried to lose himself in the repetition of flight and the occasional sightings of dragons down below.
A soft and relieved roar went up from the cave as Green-Wings noticed Dawn-Singer winging in to land.
Shadowwing was left alone in the sky with his thoughts. Something felt wrong about being back in his cave right now. He wanted to be completely alone now and would not risk anyone finding him on a random visit or by-the-wing lesson, unlikely though it would be now at night. Instead, he turned for the mountains and ascended toward the peaks. He landed on an isolated, rocky slope and partly vanished under his wings, such that he could see out over Haven and all the surrounding lands but would also be sheltered somewhat from the incoming rain.
The chain of thought that he tried to avoid was all too evident to him in that moment.
If I had been there, I could have helped... fight off the other Bewilderbeast and helped the King win his duel. The ships would not have landed. The beach would not have been fallen. None of the dragons would have turned. None of this would have happened. Being willing to fight would have brought the peace that I wanted. So many would still be alive. And we would still have found Luna on that island and rescued all those trapped there.
Haven, and especially the Great Hall, burned bright in the darkness far away. It was civilization. It was warmth and family. It was his old tribe and what was left of the world he wanted to see grow strong.
It hurts to remember all that. I don't know if that Great Hall will ever be a warm place to me now. They mean well and those are good tapestries, but still...
Another glance followed at the approaching clouds. He curled his head inside under his wings and completely sheltered himself from the outside world.
He was flying around the beautiful and stunning island with its glorious white spires. Dragons spun on the wind all around while giving their joyful cries. Fledglings followed their parents through the skies in search of the updrafts.
It was life in all its colors.
He turned and dove inside the great nest. It was oddly silent and empty, save for one great figure within. The white, majestic King inside turned to him and spoke to his soul.
Dark wing, you will change the world. That is who you are.
The King blinked.
Will it be change for the better?
He pondered these words, turned aside, and flew out the nest through the familiar passageway. And he immediately pulled up in shock and horror.
Hundreds of human bodies lay on the beach. Dozens of dragons with ripped open bellies and torn wings lay motionless on the rocks.
And a single dark shape stood on a large ledge in the middle of the beach.
He dove and landed next to the great and terrible man, ready to claw him to death. But Drago already had a massive dagger in his neck.
"Fool! Why do you think I hate dragons? Your kind does not belong in our world!"
Drago cackled madly.
"There will never be peace now! Control was the only way! I was your last chance!"
Drago leaned back and fell from the ledge.
Shadowwing looked away, not wanting to see what he knew was at the bottom of that fall. He flew down to the shore, landed there, stepped into the cool water, and sighed weakly as he stared out toward the peaceful ocean. A glance back toward the fallen nest followed.
But it was all gone.
The water lapped at his feet as he stood on the shore of a green country under a swift sunrise. Golden fields of grass lay before him and swayed in a warm and comforting wind. Countless birds flew high with the clouds above the distant fields. The fields were ringed by a white rock wall that had one massive entrance. The central mountain far off in the distance seemed to grow higher into the sky without end beyond the clouds.
And in the entrance to that meadow filled country stood three beckoning figures. Slowly and warily he walked forth to them in a mix of confusion and fear.
His own father looked very different from how he remembered him. His beard was shorter and neater than he recalled it. The carelines on his brow were gone, and he looked very young, maybe thirty years old.
Astrid was glorious in her blue cape. All the carelines she had acquired in her time as Chief were gone as well. She also looked older than he remembered.
But the third figure, and the one who was holding Astrid's hand, was... himself.
Hiccup stared back at him with the same vivid green eyes that he remembered having. He had the same wiry build but was also taller with somewhat broader shoulders, had a dark beard, and also looked roughly the same age as the other two. He was also wearing a massive cape that would be fitting for a Chief.
"Shadowwing," Hiccup chuckled.
"Hiccup?" Shadowwing gasped.
"Learn to fly the winds of life without me. Do not forget us, but do not try to be me," Hiccup answered.
"But I am you."
"No, you have done things I never did or could do. You are different," Hiccup whispered.
Shadowwing could not answer himself.
"Son?" Stoick groaned.
"I am... sorry, dad..." Shadowwing eventually mumbled.
"I am too... my son. You need to forgive yourself."
"How do I do that?
"You can only try and keep going every day."
"I am sorry that you died, dad."
"I died fighting for a friend, for family. You know that. There is no better death if one is not to die of old age."
Shadowwing slowly nodded and warily looked up at Astrid. She warmly smiled at him and spoke only one word. One word that seemed to carry much bittersweet meaning behind it for her.
"Go."
He turned aside and retreated several steps. He paused and looked back at them and at the distant, radiant country behind them. In that moment, he realized that the countless birds in the distance over the fields were not birds.
He glanced up at the bright sun and closed his eyes. It was all gone when he opened his eyes again.
The rain fell steadily outside his living shelter, though his tail, rear, legs, arms, and belly were quite soaked already. So, basically everything.
Gods, this was a bad idea. Must have fallen asleep. What was I thinking?
A glance down toward Haven showed that all the lights were out and everyone had to have gone to bed. His memory of the dream returned.
Yep, definitely fell asleep. And that dream... seeing them both makes sense I guess, but myself? That was strange.
He moaned.
I am not the same person I was. Almost like Hiccup is fading now. That's definitely true.
He groaned as he got to his feet. Everything hurt a bit but especially so his belly.
It is rather cold up here, and I was probably out in the rain for a few hours. That shouldn't matter to me though.
He spread his stiff wings, stretched them, and glided down toward his cave. The flight home was rather uncomfortable through the cold rain with his belly aching the whole way.
Ugh, this could be a bad night. Strange, I definitely did not eat any eel.
The landing was rough, and he trembled where he stood. Every joint felt stiff as he dragged himself inside the shelter. He had only just settled down on his bed when he felt the terrible tingling deep in his throat.
Great, just what I needed.
She hauled herself out of the warm-bubbling water and shook herself dry. That place always filled the body with warmth and sleep-wanting while also helping to keep clean. She took to the sky to delight in another sun of doing-
Whatever she wanted to do. Go hunt four-legs up the range, dive deep underwater to hunt fish, fly up to the peaks and roll in the packed-fluffy-water, search for more groves of long-tooth-grass, or play with Dawn-Singer and Aurora. All were good flights to fly.
I wonder what Shadowwing is doing. I have not seen him in a couple suns now. Off to his den.
The flight was as peaceful and relaxing as most were early on a sun-cycle. Down outside his cave she flew and landed.
"Shadowwing!" she called.
There was no answering call from within. On a tail-pricking feeling, she crept closer to the cave's mouth and peered inside.
"Shadowwing?"
She spied the dark mass in a rear corner of the cave. It was definitely him, but something felt twisting about this. He would normally answer her even if he was awoken by the greeting.
Closer she crept until she saw that he was not moving.
He had not drawn a breath.
He was silent and still.
His back slightly rose as he inhaled and slowly fell as he exhaled.
And warmth returned to her liver and to the world as she bounded toward him.
But she smelled it all and stepped back in alarm. Belly-water and partly-gone fish from his belly was spilled around him.
What happened to you?
She carefully approached, stepped around all the badness and lost-food, and nudged him awake. He groaned very heavily and blinked rapidly as he tried to recover his awareness.
"What happened?" she softly hummed.
His eyes were very tired, weak, and struggled to focus on her. Some comprehension of the situation seemed to spark to him because he lifted his weary head and glanced around himself at the visible mess.
"Ughrh, Llunna, yyou sshouldd nnott be herre."
"Did you eat something bad?" she hummed in worry.
"Nho, nnot ssure. Plleassse go."
"Why? You are weak. You had a belly-badness."
"You sshould nnot have to ssmell thiss."
She backed away from him, appreciating how liver chilling it must be for him, for an Alpha, to be seen by another in such a weak condition. A glance toward the den's mouth followed.
And she remembered how he brought her fish and fire in the cold-season even when she told him that she did not want any help.
"No, you need help, and I will give you help. What do you need?"
He weakly grumbled for several wingbeats.
"Llunna, go..."
She hissed softly.
"Bite me. What do you need?"
He softly moaned for several more moments.
"Kin-liverrr, waaterr..."
She turned and flew from the cave without a moment of delay.
I need to carry water to him. Kin-liver will have something I can use to hold water for him.
A wary growl followed. She knew where Kin-liver roosted in the mixed-nest. Getting Kin-liver meant going down into the mixed-nest alone.
She flew there without stopping or turning aside. Over the twisting-nest she soared while looking for the split-wing named jumps-through-clouds and thinking about the necessary picture-word shapes.
Where are you?
She arrived over the small tree-den that she knew was Kin-liver's. The jumps-through-clouds split-wing was napping at the tree-den's side. She dove down onto the ground where she settled down. Kin all around peered down at her. Two-legs pointed their paws at her. She ignored them all as she bounded up to the closed mouth of the den.
"Kin-liver!" she shouted while pounding on the den's mouth.
It opened, and she saw the liver-warming two-leg within.
"Luna?" Kin-liver asked in clear surprise.
Shadowwing help
Kin-liver stared down at the picture-words without seeming to understand.
"What he help?"
No...
She pointed at her own belly, made fish-bringing-up noises, and collapsed to the ground where she moaned weakly. She got up and stared plaintively with wide eyes at Kin-liver.
Kin-liver pointed a paw at the Shadowwing picture-word, at her own belly, and the mimicked the belly-badness sounds. She clearly understood.
Yes! Good thinking, Kin-liver! Now he needs water.
Water
Kin-liver stared down at the new picture-word and seemed to understand. She vanished back into the den and emerged with a very big... what was it called? A big thing that could hold water in its belly.
Where did she get this? It will work.
She grabbed the large holding thing in her paws and took to the sky with her flight toward the stream. She filled the holding thing with water and carefully flew up to his cave-den while holding the thing to not spill the important water. Jumps-through-clouds was already there when she got there, which meant that Kin-liver was there.
Her landing was as smooth as possible while holding the thing and not spilling the water. Kin-liver had been helping to clean up the worst of the mess, thus explaining the foul smells on the air. And he was vanished under a wing and clearly trying to sink into the rock wall, if such a thing were possible.
"Shadowwing?"
He visibly stiffened even while partly hidden from her. Reluctantly, he emerged from hiding and weakly looked up at her.
"Luna? Why're you herre?"
"I have water for you."
She stepped closer to him and set the water holding thing down before him. He blinked rapidly at it for several moments and grabbed it in his paws to start drinking from it. The water was all gone in moments after Kin-liver helped to pour the water out of the holding thing and into his mouth.
"Do you want more water?"
"I'mm well nnow."
She huffed in his direction and glared at him. He withered under her stare.
"Sstill have thirsst," he groaned.
"You have rock-head problems. I will get you more water."
She grabbed the water holding thing and flew again from the cave.
He blinked and looked down at the fish. They did look quite appetizing, two large cod and one salmon. Well, appetizing except for one slimy detail considering that they had been in her belly moments before.
She looked down at the fish and nudged them toward him again.
"You should eat."
"I do not know if the fish will stay in my belly," he grumbled.
"Have one fish only. Put something that is not water in your belly."
He decided that a little slobber did not truly matter as he selected one of the fish.
Why do I always get fish from another dragon's belly? Not that I do not like fish, but... could have used a bag or something else... What am I thinking, I really shouldn't care by now.
His selected fish was quickly disposed of, and he settled down near the fireplace. Valka had left after a long, messy, and thoroughly embarrassing day for him. But they had gotten the worst of the disaster taken care of.
Luna came over and lay down next to him.
"How are you now?" she asked.
"I feel like a pawful of rock-bellies sat on me. My belly hurts, my tail hurts, everything hurts."
"Do you think you got all the belly-badness out?"
"I hope so," he groaned.
He hung his head and continued.
"But I do not think it is only a bad food I ate. I think some of the badness is from my liver."
"What?" she gasped in confusion.
"Yes, it is one season-cycle since the big and bad fight on the ice nest island. Remembering all the bad death there gave me a bad feeling in my liver. And maybe in my belly."
He took a moment to weakly nudge another log into the fire.
"Your life-fire will burn hot again, Shadowwing."
"How do you know that?" he whispered.
"I know it. You knew that I would fly again."
She softly crooned.
"You have never told me where your hurt-marks came from. On your front and on your knee. They must have been fights you won. Talk to me."
He groaned.
"The chest was a long-tooth-stick that a bad two-leg shot me with. I dug the biting end of the thing out with a claw. The knee was... worse."
"It looks like a kin-bite," she remarked after glancing at it again.
"Yes, it was. Was-Grounded bit me."
She blinked and gave a confused grunt.
"What?"
"It was in the fight when I was a thought-thrall. He had to bite my leg to stop me from flying away, I think. He did not want to ground me."
"Does it ever hurt?"
"Not now. My walking was bad when it was a new hurt."
She softly chuckled.
"I remember that you looked like you were leaning much to one side."
"Yes, I have one more hurt-mark."
"What? Where?"
He tipped back his head to show her the tiny scar on his throat.
"What did that?" she wondered.
"A prey-horn."
She blinked and gave him a very amused croon.
"A prey-horn gave you, a great Alpha and grounder of a great-tusk-Monster, a hurt mark?"
They stared at each other until he gave her a half-grin.
"When you say it that way, it does sound twisted. That was many season-cycles ago when I was not a good hunter. What about you, Luna? Do you have... good hurt marks?"
She looked down at her claws without answering for a while.
"There are some small scratches on my side... from claws... but no good hurt marks from a won fight."
He yawned widely and lay his head on the ground after staring into her eyes.
"Yes, you do, Luna."
She blinked and slightly recoiled with a very confused grunt.
"Where? I do not see any."
He weakly shook his head.
"No, not on your body."
"What?"
"The Monster two-legs tried to break your life-fire... you did not break. You won that fight," he sighed.
"It does not feel like I won a great fight..." she grumbled.
His weary eyes struggled to focus on anything.
"You did... I see it..."
And he was deeply asleep with his head on his paws moments later, clearly very exhausted after all that had happened to him. She stepped back and looked around the cave-den. Something felt not good about leaving him in this weakness.
He was there for me many suns when I was life-grounded.
She settled down on the ground across the fire from him and watched him as he slept. There was still a smell of badness on the air and would probably be so for many suns. Even with that though this cave-den had many good memories of him and young Dawn-Singer teaching her.
I should do the same for him.
Valka and Was-Grounded arrived at dawn this time. They both paused at the cave's entrance when they glanced inside and saw them both asleep. He took a moment to hum softly to himself at the sight.
Luna lifted her head at their approach.
"Luna, how is he?" he asked.
"He sleeps still. Do you have fish for him?"
"Yes, we brought fish. Kin-liver has them. Is his belly-badness all out?"
"I think so. He did not bring up any more from his belly," she hummed.
She stepped over to the sleeper and nudged his shoulder.
"Hrmnh, whrut?"
"Wake, Shadowwing," she commanded.
His weak eyes went wide in surprise.
"Luna, why are you... brother..."
"We wanted to see that you are well," Valka explained herself after he settled back down.
He got up and slowly hauled himself over to the writing box.
Getting there
Still weak
"Shadowwing, do you need more water?" Luna asked.
"Yes..." he weakly hummed.
She grabbed the bucket and disappeared from the cave.
"It seems you are in good hands... paws... here," Valka chuckled.
He was thankful that he could not blush.
Thanks for yesterday
The cleaning up
"Don't mention it. I have had to do some things and clean up messes at the ice nest that I would rather forget ever happened. And I did have a baby once... Are you sure that you don't know what it was?"
No, he shook his head.
"Well, I hope it is over. These things are normally quick, maybe a day or two at the most and you will feel better."
She departed with Cloudjumper a moment later.
"Are you sure you did not eat anything bad?" Was-Grounded asked again.
"No bad-wrong-snake-fish or anything else that is bad for our bellies. I think there was a badness from remembering."
"From remembering?" he grunted in confusion.
"All the death at the ice nest. It is one full season-cycle after all that now, and the two-legs made... pictures to remember both dead Alphas from our old nest."
There was nothing but a soft and comforting crooning in the cave.
"Brother, you lost much. You still have us and always will. Why do you let the past bite you deep?"
Shadowwing hung his head and sighed.
"I do not know. I cannot stop thinking about all the dying. All of it to change the world and make something new and good be."
He absentmindedly glanced out the cave.
"I fear what else I might lose. I hope this peace lives long."
She waited for him to get back from relieving himself properly in the trees. With good winds blowing on him, he would likely be strong again in a couple suns only at most. But he was still weak now, and that was clear from how slowly he walked back.
"I brought you a fish."
He hummed his thanks to her and almost inhaled the large fish she brought up from her belly for him. He followed her back inside the den and lay back down by the fire.
"Shadowwing? May I ask you a question?"
"You did. You may ask another."
She rolled her eyes and huffed at him.
"It is about two-legs. Many of the kin down in the nest want bond-two-legs. You hold two-legs close to your liver, but you do not have a bond-two-leg. None of the Night Furies do. Why not? You never said before."
He took a moment to compose his thoughts.
"We are not like the other kin. For most of them it is enough that a two-leg feed them, stroke them, warm them, and clean them. Those are good, but those are not enough for good, filled life for us. And two-legs do have problems seeing other life as the same as them in thinking, in life-fire," he added with a groan.
"What are you saying?" she asked in confusion.
"As I told Dawn-Singer, a two-leg could only have a life-bond with one of us if they could look into our eyes and see themselves. See the same life. That is not a flight many two-legs can fly because it means throwing out of their head and liver much of their own thinking of themselves as more than all other life."
"Why do you not go and... get one? You are warmly thought of down in that nest."
"I will not take a life-bond two-leg, Luna. My life-bond is to my brother Was-Grounded. That is liver-truth."
She hummed to herself for several moments in thought.
"That is good thinking of you. You are both very warm and strange nest-mates, different from other nest-mates that I had and from how other kin think."
"Maybe we are, but our life-story is also far more than most kin have."
"What is much more about it?"
"We were... very different once. And we saw how we were very like the other. I saved his life, and he saved my life several times."
He stared off at the cave wall in silence and lay his head down with a weary moan.
"You should sleep. You will be stronger with the new-sun," she commanded.
He curled his tailfins up and covered his head before closing his eyes. He was quickly fast asleep in the fire's warmth.
She remained sitting on her haunches while looking down at him. That moment a pair of sun-cycles ago when she had walked into the den and seen him lying motionless was more chilling than anything she could remember.
The song came forth from a deep water of memory, and she filled the den with its calming warmth. A song that her own sire had hummed to her long ago and put deeply in her life.
"Rest now little one... make not a sound... you will fly above the ground. Small you are now... you will grow and see... how great you will be. Moon of mine... dance and play... all your chills away. Rise and hunt... laugh and sing... then sleep under my wing. Strong and free... you will fly high... with the clouds in the sky."
He did not move from his peaceful sleep undisturbed by any sleep-visions. But he was now humming softly when before he had not.
And she remained staring at him.
Something about him, about the lift that he had for two-legs and the liver-warmth that he had for all his fellow Night Fury kin, was alternatively twisting and warming. He held Dawn-Singer and Aurora as though they were his own young, and that was very good.
But for all that warmth, he had not committed his life to one set of winds. He was trying to fly in in the worlds of kin and two-legs at the same time as much as he could.
Her confused croon filled the den as she lay down next to him and vanished under her wings.
Shadowwing, what will you be? What is most important to you?
Sigh.
Maybe I am wrong and both winds can fly together. He has seen the good they can be and I have seen the bad.
"All right, show me what you got..." Valka chuckled.
Aurora bent down and put a single claw to the sand. Furious scribbling ensued.
Dragonheart
Ahe looked up with her eyes wide and ears up.
"Aurora, give me a hug!"
Valka threw her arms out wide and was not disappointed when the yearling leapt at her with a happy growl. She held Aurora fondly in a hug.
"You are so smart. Smarter than your brother I would say," she added with a whisper.
They both laughed, Aurora because she understood the tease and Valka mostly at the licking attack and swaying tail that followed.
Was-Grounded also trotted over to the sand.
"Why are you laughing?"
"We are talking about my good thinking," Aurora happily hummed back.
Was-Grounded chuckled as well.
"That comes from me," he slyly remarked.
"What?" Green-Wings asked from far back in the den.
"Nothing!"
"Sire, where is Shadowwing? Is he better now?" Dawn-Singer asked as he came up as well.
"Ask Kin-liver if she knows," he replied.
Is Shadowwing better?
"Yes, he is. He is better and should be flying soon," Valka answered.
Valka glanced again toward where Green-Wings lay and walked straight over to her. This was the real reason why she had come here this morning. Green-Wings extended her neck and nuzzled her as Valka patiently stood nearby. Green-Wings removed her tailfins to show Valka what she wanted to see.
Valka sat down on the ground and slowly reached out to touch the black sphere partly buried in the warm sand, all while Green-Wings watched. The egg had no streaks of color in its shell but did have that faintly blue, misty coloring.
"The egg is perfect," Valka said.
The Fury gave a questioning hum and looked over at Was-Grounded and Dawn-Singer.
"She says the egg is very much good," Dawn-Singer explained.
Green-Wings bent down again and softly nuzzled Valka's cheek while giving her a warm croon.
They all remained together until a beat of wings was heard outside the den. Luna walked inside and saw them all standing mostly together.
"Luna, have you seen the egg?" Dawn-Singer eagerly asked.
"Yes, little one. Green-Wings showed me several suns ago. I wanted to come here to see if any little ones want to play in the sky with me."
"Me! Me! I will play!" Aurora shouted.
The two females bounded outside and took to the air while Was-Grounded trotted outside to watch the play.
Shadowwing woke up, yawned, and stretched everything. There was only a little soreness still bothering him.
Alright! Everything feels good! Time to get up and have a new, glorious day of not being sick!
"Luna?"
There was no answer.
He opened his eyes and glanced around the cave with a sad hum. No one else was there.
She must have left.
He remembered why she had been there in the first place, and he felt quite mortified by it.
Oh well, she thought nothing of it. And I remember how she felt quite helpless before when I had to bring her food and fire.
His tail twitched with a faint concern that to his knowledge had not yet been resolved.
She will still need fire for warmth this winter though unless she has her fire again. Actually, I should probably talk to her about that and see what she wants to do about the winter this time.
He got to his feet and flew forth from the cave. He saw a spinning white shape being chased by an eager yearling up in the sky. He laughed when he saw Aurora tag Luna's tail and give a happy cry.
You definitely let her win that one.
Both of them apparently saw him because they turned and flew toward him.
Ok, you want to play? Let's play!
He beat his flight toward little Aurora.
"I am Monster!" he roared.
She immediately darted with a squeal and flew wildly as he chased her with his toothless maw wide open and tongue hanging out. She flew as fast as she could, and he slowed his own flight to let her keep some distance.
She did something that surprised him. She quickly spun up in a tight loop. He initially flew after her but could not spin in such a tight loop. She landed on his back and closed her jaws around his largest backfin. Her bite pinched a little.
Wow, you are quick for a yearling and a bit of a fighter too.
"You win! You grounded the Monster!"
He let himself go limp and fall from the sky only to recover himself moments later. Down onto the flat plain he flew and landed. Aurora landed and perched on his back again.
"Got you!" she hummed.
"You did, Aurora. Very fast flying."
"Sire has been teaching me!" she bobbed her head.
Luna landed nearby and bounded over to them.
"And was Luna showing you the winds also?"
"No, playing only!" Aurora yawned and pawed at his back.
"Are you sleepy after all the play, little one?" Luna asked.
Aurora closed her eyes and lay down on his back without bothering to tuck in her wings. She was asleep in moments, splayed out quite absurdly.
He slowly turned around toward Luna to avoid jostling Aurora. Luna was laying down a short distance away and humming softly as she watched.
"You are very warm to them," she whispered.
"They are kin to me. They all have a place in my liver."
Luna softly crooned at his words.
"That is good and warm of you. I do not understand why you hold all two-legs close to your liver, but I do understand this here," she nodded toward his back.
He glanced up at the northern sky as the autumn clouds rolled overhead.
"Luna, have you gotten your fire again?" he gently asked.
Her hum vanished and ears fell at that question.
"No, I do not know why not. It feels like there is a nothing inside, an always-chill around my liver. Maybe that makes my fire-air too cold."
She growled and closed her eyes.
"Or maybe there is a shadow-thought-hunter in me that stops my fire. Something that I still need to hunt and kill in my own thinking."
He let a quiet moment pass before he spoke.
"The cold-season is coming soon. Do you want a tree-den in the mixed-nest to help you stay warm? Only if you want it with liver-truth."
She opened her eyes and glanced at him.
"No, there is no reason why I would want to nest with them."
He slowly bowed his head.
"I understand. I will bring fire to you again this cold-season, if you want it."
She got to her feet, almost said something, and hummed.
"I would like that."
She whipped around, jumped, and vanished over the treetops. He turned for the mountains once she was gone and set out on foot, walking slowly to not disturb his passenger and simply to enjoy more time with his little niece.
He again spared another glance up at the clouds.
We are further north now than Berk or the ice nest were. Winter is again going to be coming a bit sooner now than it did before on Berk. But whatever, we have stubbornness issues. We all do.
Was-Grounded looked up at the liver-warming sight of Shadowwing, Luna, and little Aurora playing together in the sky.
"Green-Wings! Come here fast and look!"
She bounded over to him and looked up into the sky.
"Look at them, my life-mate," she gave a very warm croon.
He nuzzled her neck as they both watched the playful dance up above. They saw the spin-strike that Aurora used to get herself on his back and they saw Shadowwing pretend-fall from the sky only to recover himself moments later.
He spoke what they were both thinking as they watched Luna follow him to the ground.
"They are both much warmer now than they were. I think we are seeing now what will be."
She waited only a moment longer before she turned back and bounded over to sit their new egg.
He closed his eyes and thought about everything that had happened over the last full season-cycle. How the new mixed-nest had grown up from nothing, how there was essentially peace, well-thinking, and trusting between the kin and two-legs of this range, how his two young ones were growing fast and big, how they were both learning the two-leg picture-talking and spoken words that he found so difficult to remember, and everything that was different about Shadowwing and Luna.
Their life-winds are flying closer together, and the ice around their livers is melting. Even if they do not know it on their own.
And he threw a glance over his shoulder to where Dawn-Singer was sleeping off his own day of play and to where Green-Wings was humming to the new egg. The new egg that would be hatching well within a moon-cycle.
The winds of life were very warm now.