"Many of the phenomena of Winter are suggestive of an inexpressible tenderness and fragile delicacy." - Henry David Thoreau - Walden
Winter Is here
Shadowwing stood up to his knees in the snow and stared with narrowed eyes into the biting wind.
White was all he could see in this driving wind blowing from the west off the ocean.
The ships down in the harbor pitched and swayed in the wind and surf. Large drifts of snow built up even to some of the houses' or stables' roofs.
There was some ambiance, some feeling of peaceful desolation and thoughtfulness from being out in the middle of a winter blizzard. He could endure it for a few minutes more before the chill would become a bit much for him. Perhaps it was being reminded of the cold that made one appreciate warmth all the more.
His thoughts inevitably turned to what Valka was doing, watching over hordes of dragons and their hatchlings until the little ones gain their flight.
What is happening out there?
The wind gusted even stronger and tugged at his folded wings. His business having been attended to and his moment of revery over, he turned back for home and ran as fast as he could through the snowbanks, only stopping off at the storehouse to bring back some fish and dried meat.
He bounded back inside his house to escape the frigid, howling winter winds and pulled the door closed with his tail. He grabbed a log in his mouth and put the wood on the fire to keep it fed. He hopped up onto their warmed rock-bed, put a wing over Luna's back, snuggled up against her, and closed his eyes as the fire crackled nearby. She hummed tenderly and wrapped her tail around his again. Moon-Dancer snuggled himself under her neck, yawned widely, and lay securely against her chest.
Great skies, I will not be going back out there for a while. This is a rough one. Probably the worst of the three winters that we have been here now. At least there will be no food problems this time because half the dragons are gone for now.
He sighed.
I really hope mom is doing alright out there. But it is much warmer on that island at least. And she did say that she has done this before.
"How is it out there?" she whispered.
"Cold."
She squeezed his tail.
"Are you cold now?"
"No," he purred.
They all fell asleep, wrapped up in each other's wings and shared warmth.
His great father held him in his massive arms as they stood together at sunset on a bluff overlooking the island. The warm evening breeze rustled his mop of hair and his great father's massive red beard.
"This is Berk, son. It is the home of my grandparents, and their grandparents before them. Now it is my job as Chief to protect us, and one day when you are all grown up..." his father gently bounced him in his arms, "that job will be passed down to you," his great father whispered.
He gasped in amazement and followed his great father's gaze out toward the sunset.
"Out there," his father pointed, "beyond the edge of the world, lies the hidden home of the dragons. I believe it is your destiny to find this... hidden world... so that people and dragons... will fight no more."
"Find the nest and take it?" he innocently asked.
"Yes, my son. You will find it, and you will lead our people to it. And," his great father warmly chuckled, "we will finally have peace. There will be no more need for all this."
He looked out over the sea and beheld the massive fleet filled with ships and eager fighters. All of them were prepared for the great battle, their shields and spears readied and bows strung. Ready to sail to destiny.
"And now, it is bedtime for you, my son."
His great father carried him back inside, gently lay him down on his bed, and pulled the covers over him.
"Goodnight, son... I know that you will be the strongest of us all one day."
He closed his eyes and awoke in his own house.
The wind whistled outside while the fire burned hot in the fireplace. Something snuggled against his chest with a soft whine.
And he opened his eyes to see a tiny pair of bright green eyes looking up at him and furiously blinking.
"Son," he softly nosed Moon-Dancer's forehead.
His reward was a soft croon from his tiny son and from his attentively watching Luna. She hummed softly as he curled his tail around and sheltered Moon-Dancer under his fins. It was still possible for now when Moon-Dancer curled up, despite how much he had grown in the last couple months.
Luna dashed outside, leaving him with another precious moment completely alone with his son.
"My son, first of my liver, I... hmm... do not know what I am doing in this flight with you, but I will try. I will be warm and lift your wings in life. Outside this den is the home of two-legs and kin. You will always be part of it," he whispered.
Moon-Dancer purred softly.
"Two-legs, I know them well. They can twist your liver and hit their own heads into rock for no reason but to show how strong they are. But they are also brave, strong in their heads and thinking sometimes, and they want life to be more than only living from one sun to the next. They do things that no kin can do because they must."
"Hmm... They do not have fire in their bellies, and that means that they must learn to make fire in other ways. That keeps the claws of their thinking very sharp. And there are things they cannot do alone, but we can do for them. They cannot touch the clouds because they have no wings. We can give them wonder and a simpler life that can stop them from wanting other bad things like fighting other nests. But you will learn all that with time, my little one, my son."
There was silence, and his tailfins were slowly rising and falling. He flicked his tailfins up after a moment and saw that Moon-Dancer was sound asleep again.
Perfect. I remember how much I used to sleep back then. Nothing but eating, sleeping, and learning from Toothless.
A contented sigh followed.
And that dream, dad had no idea how right he was. We do have that peace now. But I wonder if he meant Dragon Island or the hidden world.
Had to be Dragon Island or maybe the Bewilderbeast's island because the hidden world is... hidden. Almost no one knows about it. Actually, now that I think about it, the ice nest was built a bit like the hidden world. Enclosed, almost feeling like it is underground, massive spires, and growing things inside. I wonder if that is coincidence or if the King knew about the hidden world and tried to recreate it up above. A safe...
He blinked when he realized where his thoughts were leading toward, especially after all the trapper activity over the previous year and what had happened to his own family.
A safe haven for dragons.
Silence followed save for the crackle of the fire. He stared at the flowing flames while his thoughts wandered on the distant winds.
Luna returned before too long, shut the door behind her, and retook her place at his side. She was soon fast asleep under his wing, her constant purring far more warming than the fire in some ways.
But he remained awake a while longer, his thoughts turning again and again to what felt like a beckoning call. It had not been there before, but now he imagined it whenever he saw his dear, precious Moon-Dancer. He knew how close he had come to having his son kidnapped or harmed, all because of his own mistake.
"Sire-father? Can I talk to you about something?" Rain-Eater asked.
"Yes, my little one," Was-Grounded answered, stepping over to the fire as he did so.
He lay down before his little one who was sitting patiently on his haunches with a stilled tail. Unlike Dawn-Singer, who was very warm-livered, eager, and playful, and Aurora, who was quite confident, assertive, and hot-livered, Rain-Eater was more like a steady flame, always burning slowly. Rain-Eater was also very strong with his flying, words, and thinking, at least far beyond what he should be with only one full turn of the seasons behind him. This led to him being a quieter and more inside-thinking fledgling than his older nestmates.
"Dawn-Singer and Aurora have two-legs that they hold to their livers. Do I need one also?" Rain-Eater asked.
"No, my little one. It is not a life-rule that you get a liver-bond two-leg. Do you want one?"
"I do not know. Both my brother and sister say that I should get one to warm my liver much, but what does it mean?"
"To have a liver-bond two-leg?" he warbled.
"Yes," Rain-Eater answered.
Was-Grounded shuffled slightly and put his paws on each side of Rain-Eater while clutching his thoughts in his head.
"It is different for other kin. They want a two-leg to bring them food sometimes, to play with them, to clean their scales, and to fly with them. Those are good. But you," he deliberately nudged his little ones nose, "you are not a mount or a thing for two-legs to use. What do you think makes another a nestmate to you?"
"A nestmate? They come from the same sire-father and dam-mother?"
"True, but there is more. You give them part of your life-flight and they give you some of theirs. You play together, fight with each other, and learn together. You are more flying the winds of life together than you are apart, however that flight is flown for you and them. You can fly that flight most easily with your kin, with other Night Furies, but you can also get a two-leg to be as a nestmate brother or sister to you if the two-leg is most special and warm."
"How do I know that about the two-leg?"
Was-Grounded bent down and again nuzzled Rain-Eater's nose. Leave it to his youngest one with words to ask such questions now. Aurora had learned by Dawn-Singer's example and had needed no encouragement.
"It is not an easy flight. Two-legs can be very twisted in their thinking. You can only learn by doing. Learn their words and picture-talking. Hear how they talk to you. Do they look at you and see themselves, or do they tell you what to do?"
Rain-Eater hummed questioningly.
"That feels like flying into a cloud where you cannot see."
Was-Grounded purred softly at the apt comparison.
"Yes, those words have lift. Some clouds have fouling winds and heavy rain in them. Other clouds have warm skies and bright light once you fly through them into the new skies."
"Did you have a liver-bond two-leg, sire-father?"
Sigh. This was one part of the talk that he had given two times now which he did not particularly feel warmed by. Telling his own little ones a small lie was liver-twisting, even though Shadowwing's secret was going to stay hidden always.
"I did. He died many season-cycles ago, but he is the reason why I lived. He saved my life and helped to put life-fire in my liver again. I could not share words with him as we can now, but I think that I learned what was in his head and liver."
"How did he die?"
Was-Grounded looked away toward the fire and stared at the gentle flames.
"He fell to help me ground a Monster. But I am warmed that I know... knew him."
Rain-Eater softly grumbled while laying his head on Was-Grounded's arms to join him in staring at the fire.
"There is liver-danger in knowing two-legs? I might get hurt?" Rain-Eater wondered.
Was-Grounded took a moment to consider his response.
"Yes, there is danger in that life-flight. But danger is part of being a kin, I think. The... winds of life are not only warm, but that does not mean you should not fly them. They might blow you apart from those you hold to your liver, but the flights return to be one, I have found."
Rain-Eater purred at the warming words.
"I will think about liver-bond two-legs. I am warm with my nest-kin for now," Rain-Eater eventually answered.
"That is good, my little one. Now, it is time for us to join the sleeping pile."
They both got to their feet and bounded over to the warm rock. Was-Grounded hopped up and snuggled in next to Green-Wings and started to lose himself in her soft, constant purring. He blinked in surprise when Rain-Eater snuggled up against his chest where he pulled a wing over himself.
My Rain-Eater, you have always slept under your dam-mother's wing before, but I could get used to this.
Something shuffled next to him, and he spotted Green-Wings peeking at him with a single opened eye. She said nothing, closed her eye, and purred slightly deeper to him.
"Yes, we should! It would be good for our little ones!" Shadowwing enthusiastically agreed.
Both his and Was-Grounded's tails eagerly swayed behind them at the idea.
"And for us! I will get all of my nest!" Was-Grounded shouted as he bounded outside.
Shadowwing turned back and ran up to Luna.
"We will all play now! A game in the snow!"
Her ears lifted at his eagerness.
"Let me see this game," she hummed.
"Come Moon-Dancer!" Shadowwing happily barked.
All three of them got up and went outside after a minute of convincing Moon-Dancer to wake up. Everything was covered in snow, but it was a clear and sunny day despite being quite cold. The lack of wind helped remove the worst of the biting chill though. And all was quiet.
Too quiet.
Something struck him in the face and disintegrated into a cloud of snow.
He blinked and saw his brother standing a short pounce away and looking very smug.
"How did you..."
Dawn-Singer popped up as well from behind a snowdrift and hurled a snowball clutched in his mouth. The snowball flew true directly at him. Shadowwing ducked just in time, and the snowball hurled over his head.
"Ha, you missed! Useless Night Fury!" Shadowwing teased.
Dawn-Singer chuckled and froze only to stare wide-eyed, his grin instantly vanishing. On a hunch, Shadowwing turned in place.
Luna was staring ahead past him, a massive clump of snow plastered on her face. She wildly shook her head of the snow and sneezed.
Aurora and Rain-Eater carefully stepped away from Dawn-Singer.
"Warm life-winds brother!" "Run fast!"
Luna roared and bounded forward, dashing toward the fleeing Night Fury.
"You dare attack the great Light Fury!" she shouted.
They both vanished around the nearest row of houses.
Dawn-Singer, you are doomed.
"Come Moon-Dancer."
His son hopped up on his back and settled down there. He strolled over to where his brother and Green-Wings were laying down.
On their backs with their tails thrashing.
And rolling wildly in the snow.
With their tongues lolling out.
Shadowwing stared at them.
Humph, snow dragons.
Even little Mist-Wings was eagerly rolling over in the snow for sheer pleasure. Moon-Dancer saw her and trilled with joy before he hopped down and dashed for her. She jumped to her feet and turned for Moon-Dancer. Their growling play began as they leapt at each other and became a tangled mass of limbs and tails, all while Shadowwing oversaw the play. Both of the hatchlings broke apart and dove into a small snowbank which they burrowed into.
I remember playing in the snow like that all those years ago. Just me and Toothless. Humph, still don't know how he saw me in the snow.
"Shadowwing! Help!" Dawn-Singer cried as he appeared from behind a house.
Luna was close behind his tail as they bounded through the snow with massive leaps.
Hmm, should I come to my nephew's rescue? Yeah, why not? It is my fault in a way for ducking.
He leapt between Dawn-Singer and Luna, spinning to face her as he did so. She tried to scramble to a stop but lost her footing on the ice underfoot in the path between the houses.
They collided with a grunt and toppled over each other, eventually settling down with her pinning him on his back. They stared into each other's eyes.
"Yes?" she hissed.
"I, uh..." he fumbled for a moment, "wanted to feel your warmth!"
She lowered her nose to his.
"And am I warm?" she grinned as she nuzzled his cheek.
He purred and licked her cheek.
"Always..."
"Brother, this is not the season for that!" Was-Grounded shouted.
"WHAT!"
Shadowwing quickly rolled onto his feet, feeling slightly wistful that Luna was no longer warmly pinning him, and stood up to face his brother.
"I was not... doing that!"
"If you say. It looked to me like you wanted to join with her," Was-Grounded teased.
Shadowwing flung out his wings and darted forward through the air with a burst of speed. They collided and tumbled heads over tails into a large mound of snow at the side of the main road. Part of the massive pile was dislodged at the impact and slid down the slope, crashing over the two Furies' heads and completely covering them in the snowbank.
Both Luna and Green-Wings huffed as one.
"Males..." "Males..."
"No Moon-Dancer, not here," he groaned.
It tried his patience how his baby son still struggled to control basic things like where not to relieve himself. Though it was not so surprising for a baby. He had known this would be an issue from being in his brother's cave when Dawn-Singer and Aurora were themselves hatchlings. It was a normal part of life.
"Over there in the waste-sand place for waste, not here where we sleep..."
"Did he make a mess again?" Luna sighed.
"Yes, I will clean it."
He hopped to his feet, trotted over to the supplies, grabbed a rag, and did what was necessary.
"Having a little one is not all happy-hums and warm-nuzzling, is it?" she teased.
"No, it is not..." he groaned.
"They all learn to keep themselves clean even before they learn their words. Green-Wings told me much about having hatchlings. He might learn faster if you would show him what you want him to do... show him where to drop his waste," she offered.
He only groaned heavily.
"Sky-breath take me... showing him this by doing... is very twisting to me."
Luna laughed softly at his discomfort.
"Is it so twisting that you will not want to fly with me again in the new-life-season?"
He blinked and took only an instant to consider all of it; the being awoken in the middle of the night by a gnawing, hungry hatchling, the frustration of having to clean up after his messes, and the constant need to talk to him. The warmth that always filled him as he talked to his son, cradled him, or gently played with him, and the pleasure of such special flights with Luna.
"I will never stop flying those flights or this shared life-flight with you. My brother and Green-Wings are not stopping, so why should we?" he chuckled.
She hummed softly and bounded down to chase after Moon-Dancer, sending the hatchling running around the house with happy cries.
Shadowwing closed his eyes with his thoughts turned to the far south where all the other dragons were going through their own welcoming of another generation. All while Valka watched over them, ready to rally them in their defense if anything were to happen.
So we should be expecting them back here around late spring, I guess. They are in good hands with her watching over them.
Luna bounded back to their rock-bed with a squirming hatchling thrashing in her toothless maw. It would not be possible for either of them to do so before too long.
"Son," Shadowwing got up to greet him.
Moon-Dancer huffed in his face with frustration at being put back to bed. A brief chin scratching was all that was needed and he was sound asleep moments later between her forearms.
A question that he had puzzled over for a while as the worst of the winter began to pass bothered him again. There was a terrible possibility that threatened all he was trying to build. Something that was trying to pull him away from part of what he loved.
We cannot remain hidden here forever. That is obvious. Why can't we all vanish together?
There was no one better to ask than Luna. She knew the most about that world.
"Luna, can I ask you a question?"
"You did," she grinned.
He rolled his eyes as he hopped up next to her and put a wing over her.
"You may ask another," she added.
"What are the kin in the hidden world like?"
She seemed to grumble at the question.
"My hatching-range was far from most other kin. Being away from most others is what my sire and dam wanted."
"Did they say why?"
"Other kin were dangerous to anything that was different from them."
"What about to our two-legs?"
She froze and turned to look at him.
"What?"
"I was thinking... could a two-leg like Kin-liver live in the hidden world? What if they needed to fly there to be safe?"
She grumbled, shifted her head, and looked away toward a wall.
"I do not think that the kin would want two-legs in the hidden world if the kin flew in the above. They would remember the bad that two-legs can be. I do not think the hidden world is a good place for two-legs."
"And what would you say about them?" he warily asked.
"Do you truly want me to answer that question?" she sighed softly.
"Yes, speak with truth. You will always have my liver."
She was silent for a long time before she answered him.
"I do not know what two-legs could do to prove that they have no rot in their livers or any wanting to make us life-thralls. After all the times they have hurt me and after all the trust that I tried to give, I do not know now."
He whimpered softly at her words.
"Would you say that the kin that hurt you were bad kin?" he asked.
"If they hurt me and knew what they were doing, yes."
"Does what they did make all kin bad? Or is the badness only in each kin who does the bad thing?" he asked.
"In the ones that did the bad."
"Yes, not in all."
She sighed.
"I know that I should think as you say, but it is hard to after... everything."
He lay his chin on her neck and softly purred.
"I understand that."
He remained there with her until her breaths slowed enough that he was sure that she was asleep. He rearranged himself so that he could see Moon-Dancer as he slept.
It was amazing how much Moon-Dancer, and any Fury hatchling, grew in the first months. He had tripled in length from nose to tailtip. A steady supply of fish and other dried meats combined with sleeping and listening to his parents' voices was all he truly needed.
If there was anything at all about Moon-Dancer's upbringing so far that he was not entirely happy about, it was that it was harder for his son to be exposed to humans with Valka gone. Luna did not truly trust any other humans. It was far too soon for his son to begin speaking in dragon, but he suspected that earlier exposure to Norse could only help his son to understand humans better and faster, as it clearly had for Dawn-Singer, Aurora, and Rain-Eater. Staying long in the Great Hall so that Moon-Dancer could overhear conversations was probably not enough for him to fully understand.
We really need to make plans for this in the future. Maybe we can train someone else to take her place on these missions.
He closed his eyes after staring long at his son's mottled hide and very smooth scales, so like Luna's in feel and appearance other than color. His thoughts gradually settled on Luna's reasonable musings on what to expect from the hidden world.
I guess it makes sense that dragons might not trust humans in their hidden home. Mimir did say that the ones that always lived in the hidden world would not know to fear humans. Any others from the above probably would be more wary. Hmm, that sounds like Nords actually. Even back on Berk they did not truly accept dragons at first, even after everything that happened on Dragon Island.
He grumbled to himself as he remembered Eret's warning.
But it doesn't matter if we cannot take everyone here into the hidden world. We can defend ourselves from almost anything. And even if we had to leave here, we could always go somewhere else together.