Disclaimer: I don't own HTTYD

Chapter Four – Lessons in Loss

Berk had four seasons; a brief spring, an even briefer summer, winter, and devastating winter. The first winter was really autumn, but they were such bad autumns; such cold, wet, gloomy autumns; that the Hooligan tribe had long since been calling them 'winters'. It was the middle of October; the harvest was well underway and almost complete, fish gathered, dwellings wind-proofed.

Adulfr sat at the small table in his cell, seeing by the light of the candle upon it. The makeshift, barred window that had been cut out of the back wall was boarded up now against the coming cold. He had spent a winter here on Berk already and was more convinced than ever that the tribe had lost their minds. Why anyone would want to live on a freezing cold miserable rock, he'd no idea.

For now, he was writing idly on some scrap pieces of parchment. The chief had 'generously' allowed him to have access to it, on the condition that everything he wrote would be checked. The indignity crossed him; it was none of their business what he wrote! Could he not even have privacy from them anymore?

As soon as the thought came, Adulfr stamped on it ruthlessly. Can't blame them. They don't trust me. He was trying, damnit; he really was. Adulfr had a lot of time on his hands to just think. He regretted what he'd done, now; knowing it was all for naught. People worthier than him had been killed to sate his ego, and nothing had come of it anyway. He just didn't know how to prove he was sorry.

The jailhouse door opened. The candle flame guttered briefly against the draft, and he dropped the pencil, cupping a hand around to shelter it and feel its warmth. Heavy footsteps approached. Adulfr glanced up at…at…he had to stop himself from gulping. Beyond the bars stood a giant of a man, reddish grey beard spilling over a chest wider than two of him stood shoulder to shoulder.

Stoick the Vast looked down at him like a statue made flesh. What does he want? Adulfr wondered, unable to guess why the father of his former enemy would come here, to his cell. Before he could say anything, Stoick inquired, "Am I interrupting something?" His craggy eyes fell on the parchment; Adulfr covered it with his arm defensively. "I weren't spying. 'Sides, it's upside down."

I knew that…"No…what do you want?" Adulfr questioned guardedly. It suddenly occurred to him – "If Hiccup or Fishlegs told you to do this, you can tell them to stick" –

"They didn't. I came of my own accord. To talk" Stoick replied, putting down a wooden stool and carefully sitting on it. The man winced as his joints creaked. "Ach, I'm getting too old" he muttered under his breath. "I have questions."

Adulfr thought he knew what the man really wanted. "I'm sorry" he said, tense.

"For what?"

"For…" He stared at Stoick disbelievingly. "I tried to kill you!"

Stoick chuckled. "I'm a Viking warrior. It's an occupational hazard. Besides, you didn't try very hard" he remarked, raising an eyebrow. He looked amused. Adulfr frowned, but he didn't bother to refute that. He'd had ample opportunity to kill Stoick and get a scrap of revenge against Hiccup Haddock, but he'd failed.

"What, so…so you forgive me?" he questioned, suspicious. It wasn't that easy…

"For trying to kill me? Sure. I'm used to it. For planning to kill my son, getting my best friend killed with your war…not so much" Stoick rumbled, gaze darkening.

"I'm sorry for that, too" Adulfr insisted. "It was a waste. I know that now."

"So you only regret the harm you caused because your plans fell through" Stoick noted. "I take that to mean, if you had succeeded – Thor forbid – that you wouldn't care a whit. Which means you don't understand why it was wrong."

Adulfr bristled at that. "I do!" he snapped. "It's wrong because" – he cut himself off as a thought occurred to him. "Why is it wrong for me, but not for him?"

"Who said it wasn't?" Stoick retorted, not bothering to ask who he meant. "There's a world of difference between striking down one who's dishonoured you, or harmed you or yours, or an enemy in battle; and a coward who kills in cold blood or threatens innocent women and children just to prove a point."

Stern disapproval leaked from every pore. A hundred protests leapt to Adulfr's throat – "I" – am not a coward, I was dishonoured – and died on his tongue. He tried to meet the old man's eyes, but finally his gaze slid away, humiliated. The feeling was familiar and he despised it still. "I wouldn't have hurt the children" he said finally. Even then he'd known that to do so would be to go much too far.

The silence that followed seemed to stretch on forever. "Well. Perhaps there's hope for you after all" Stoick remarked finally. "You're not the first whose mind Hiccup has changed" he added, no small note of pride in his voice. "And you won't be the last. So, tell me. What are you going to do when you're free?"

It was a strange question, and for a moment Adulfr didn't know how to answer. He was sure it was a trick. "Free?" he repeated, suspicious. "What do you" –

"That's why you're trying to do the right thing, isn't it?" Stoick raised an eyebrow. "To earn your freedom, or so I've heard. What are you going to do when you have earned it?" he questioned. Adulfr opened his mouth, then closed it again. Truth be told, he…he hadn't really thought about that yet.

Of course he'd rather stab himself in the leg than admit this. So he looked Stoick in the eye and declared, "I'm going to sail as far away from here as possible and try to conquer the world somewhere hotter." It was the first thing that came into his head. He was being sarcastic….mostly. Hot weather seemed appealing.

Stoick's expression didn't change. He was well named, it seemed…but no, there was just the slightest upward twitch at the corners of his mouth. He was amused. The nerve. "What about your tribe?" the former chieftain asked next.

Adulfr bristled. "What about it?" he snapped. "Fishlegs told me what you've done. Raudabein is under your – or at least your newest ally's – control. I'm not so foolish as to try and take it back…alone." Then Adulfr glared at Stoick and firmly insisted, "And I don't see how this is any of your business, old man!"

This was met with a raised eyebrow, and nothing else. "That's the first sensible idea you've had in a while" Stoick remarked bluntly. Adulfr was indignant. The man continued before he could protest, "Your village is under Norwegian occupation for now. We don't expect them to stay there forever. You could go back, be reinstated as chief. You could be a better Chief than Hauke ever was."

Normally, mentions of his father would make Adulfr defensive…but after the painful realisation that Hauke had indeed not cared, he'd stopped caring as well. He twisted his lip in thought. "I don't think I would go back. Assuming they'd even want me back. After leading armies, one village seems…too small" he said.

Stoick nodded slowly. "That wolf of yours is still there, isn't she?" he inquired.

Skadi. That sent a pang through Adulfr's heart; he hoped she was alright. He'd had nightmares about her being rejected by her old pack after so long, getting caught in an old dragon trap, dying hungry and alone - he suppressed a shudder. "I suppose…I might go back to see her…but she belongs in the wild. It's better this way" Adulfr insisted. He didn't think dragons belonged near humans either.

"Fair enough. Well then, I'll let you get back to…whatever it is you were doing" Stoick remarked, an awkward crack in his veneer of detachment. He stood up slowly, wincing. Adulfr stared at him in baffled frustration – was that it? "I wanted to see if you really are trying to change" he replied in answer to the unspoken question. "And you know? I think you are. Goodnight, Adulfr."

With that, the older man picked up his wooden stool in one hand and ambled away. Adulfr sat there, frowning, puzzled. He'd never understand these people.

He'd had enough of regrets lately, had Hiccup. He regretted not visiting Myrkr more, and not encouraging Toothless to do the same. He regretted faking his death and staying away from other allies. It wasn't that he blamed himself; he just wished he'd done things differently. So when Toothless and Selena both said that Ekeren might not have long left, Hiccup resolved to go and visit him.

The five of them – Toothless-Hiccup, Selena, Shadow and Asha – were all going to Myrkr together. They wouldn't go to the nest itself; only as far as the nearest rest stop, and their friends would meet them there. It was safer this way. Hiccup wished that they could have had a proper family reunion, humans and dragons alike, but it just wasn't practical for all of them to be away from Berk right now.

He'd brought along a notebook full of sketches of Astrid, Helena and Finn to make up for it. Black Fire and Silver were coming too; they wanted Raven-Shade to meet their son Mercury. Silver's parents had died when she was younger.

*So how are things over in Norway?* Hiccup asked Black Fire. He and Astrid got regular reports from the diplomats, and it all seemed to be going well for now. They still got dirty looks and told they were going to Hell, which didn't have much effect, but for the most part the people of Nidaros were just getting on with life, dragons or no dragons. *You're still getting on with King Magnus?*

Black Fire swept a little closer and replied, *Yes, I am. He treats us well; and he likes flying with me. He says it helps him destress after talking to his advisors.*

*What's an advisor?* Selena chirped inquisitively.

*Someone who gives advice* Hiccup explained. *They're supposed to help him run the kingdom. It's hard to do something like that all by yourself, after all.*

*Well, they can't be giving him very good advice, if he's getting stressed.*

Black Fire explained, *He says they don't want more dragons, and they don't want him to tell his subjects to free the humans they're keeping. Something about tradition and his vassals – high ranking subjects – getting angry.*

*I don't get it* said Silver. *Hiccup, why do humans keep…what did he call them…thralls?* she wondered. All eyes turned to him, and Hiccup sighed.

*It's complicated. Some people think they're better than others; that the 'natural order' is that the rich and powerful be in charge of the poor and powerless. Or they're prisoners of war…whatever the reason, it's wrong. We don't keep thralls on Berk because of the raids – everyone had to help defend the village, and it blurred the lines until we did away with thraldom entirely.*

Selena flicked her ear-flaps irritably. *It is wrong. Making someone do things for you just because you're stronger or have more stuff than them…that's what a bully does. It's bad enough some humans want to do that to dragons, never mind to each other! Don't they care that they're hurting their own kind?*

Hiccup shook his head. *No more than a Changewing cares about attacking Night Terrors, or – well, the Red Death was the biggest bully around for centuries. It's like how dragons care more about their flock-mates than dragons in other packs. People who keep thralls don't see them as being people* he explained, adding *Which is one of the many reasons I prefer you guys.*

That led to an entertaining discussion about the benefit of dragons versus humans, which filled up most of the rest of the flight time. Hiccup spent the last few leagues sprawled comfortably on Toothless' back, dozing and at ease.

At last, as darkness was falling, the dragons reached the mesa that their friends would meet them behind. In the lee of the cliff they were sheltered from the wind and from view of any ships sailing past. Hiccup helped get Mercury out of his carry-harness so Silver could groom him. A gnarled tree was soon pushed over, its branches enthusiastically snapped off to build a fire and to play with.

Whilst they waited for the others to arrive, Shadow, Asha and Black Fire went to catch fish and catch up. Hiccup sat on the trunk of the wrecked tree, drawing pictures in the dirt for little Mercury to puzzle over. Selena perched on top of some boulders as lookout, as Toothless prowled around scenting for danger. Finding none, he returned to Hiccup's side and leaned over his rider's shoulder.

The moon made its way into the clouded sky. *Look!* Selena barked excitedly, rearing on her hind legs. *There they are!* She pointed with her snout towards the north, which was filled with numerous black specks. Those specks quickly resolved themselves into a group of Swift-Wings, who flew in formation towards the mesa. Queen Phoebe was the wing-leader, with Luna close beside her.

The others were escorting Ekeren; Misty and Onyx were all but carrying him, whilst Raven and Shade flew close besides. The dragons landed with great care. *I'm grateful for the help, but you really didn't have to do that* Ekeren insisted, managing to stand on his own four paws. If they trembled, he didn't mention it.

*Yes, but we wanted to, Elder* replied Misty. She kept her wing tucked under his, to support him, even as Selena and Luna bounded towards each other. Shadow and Toothless padded over and nuzzled him in greeting. They helped him walk over to the fire and lay down besides it, even as he chided them gently for fussing. *We just want to make sure you're alright* Toothless fretted.

*I'm quite alright* Ekeren purred. *I haven't felt better in years. Out in the fresh air, by a nice warm fire…if only someone could scratch these dry scales that I can't quite reach…* Ekeren turned a mock-pleading gaze upon Hiccup, who chuckled softly. "Happy to help" he smiled, kneeling besides the old dragon scratching where he knew Furies liked best. Or at least where Toothless did.

It was not so much one big reunion, as three smaller ones close together. Yet all of them ended up talking of the same thing – their children. Selena happily told her mother and sister about how Ebony had caught a fish all by herself, and trotted so proudly through the nest with her head held high. Asha and Misty-Onyx talked about how fast their little ones were growing up, how eager to fly.

Silver and Black Fire reassured his parents that they were being treated well by the humans they lived amongst now, and introduced Raven-Shade to their son Mercury. The normally stern pair cooed and purred over the little kit, who pawed at their noses curiously. Hiccup showed Ekeren pictures of his wife and children, wished they could've met him. Shadow and Toothless groomed him.

It was pleasant, really; just to sit and talk. Ekeren spoke, slowly and fondly, of their mother. He told them of misadventures she'd had, and warned Toothless with good humour that his own daughter might take after her namesake. At their urging, he recalled what he could of his own youth. Toothless listened raptly, committing the stories to memory. These ones wouldn't be suppressed.

Hiccup scribbled in his notebook whilst Ekeren was talking. Toothless peered over his shoulder, and recognised enough of the words to realise he was writing down the story. The dragon relaxed; Hiccup could preserve his grandfather's words better than his memory ever could. When asked, Hiccup explained what he was doing and that he wanted more of the dragons stories to be written.

"Just because dragons can't write doesn't mean your stories don't deserve to be told" he declared. Fishlegs had already filled books with dragon recited legends.

The dragons were weary after the long flight; none more so than Ekeren, who fell into a light drowse. Presently he blinked and tried to raise his head, only for it to fall back to the soil with a groan. Shadow and Toothless startled and whined uncertainly. *Grandfather? What's wrong?* asked Shadow. He and his brother nudged their heads under Ekeren's, supporting him between them.

Breathing heavily, eyes half closed, the Elder's eyes fell on Selena, who had crept closer. Her ear-flaps went down in concern and worry. *Your mother…I need to tell her…* he struggled to say. Selena drew away and hurried to get her dam. The other dragons gathered around, all of them but the youngest feeling dread creeping down their spines, like the claws of a predator, as did Hiccup.

Phoebe stepped forwards, solemn. Her golden eyes were filled with knowing sorrow. *There is something you wished to tell me?* she asked quietly.

*My Queen…* he greeted, respectful to the end. *Forgive me. I fear…I won't be coming back to the nest* he told her. All around were whimpers of dismay.

Toothless moaned, *Don't say that. We can carry you back; we'll get you a cure…* He caught Shadow's eye and his brother looked as stricken as he felt.

*You can't cure old age* Ekeren replied calmly. *Death catches everyone, in the end. I'm just glad…I'm out here, under the sky. With both of you…all of you.*

Misty whimpered, *But we need you…* Onyx wrapped his wing around her as she leaned into his side seeking comfort. Hiccup reached out and laid a hand on Toothless' shoulder, silently letting his other half know he was there. Selena and Luna stood close together; Black Fire, Silver and Raven-Shade waited nearby, respectfully silent, Mercury asleep on his mother's back. Asha nuzzled Shadow.

Phoebe closed her eyes and bowed her head, touching her snout to Ekeren's with the utmost gentleness. *Ekeren, Elder of Healing. You have served your pack well* she declared. Every line of her body, from the drooping edges of her wings to her lowered ear-flaps, murmured sorrow. *You will be missed dearly.*

*As I will miss you. Toothless-Hiccup, Shadow…know that I am proud. Take care of each other…and your families. Misty, you will be – you are - a great Healer.*

Toothless whined, heart broken. Such a small sound; yet his chest felt tight and painful, like there were jaws in it. It made him want to roar. If he could just roar loud enough, maybe he'd scare the death away….It was no use. At least this time, he had the chance to say… *Goodbye, grandfather. We…we love you.*

*And we'll take care of each other* Hiccup agreed quietly, *We promise.*

They all bid him goodbye, even if they didn't know him well. Ekeren tried to purr. It stuttered and faded, so his grandsons purred for him. *Goodbye* he replied, chest heaving in a great sigh…and then falling still. Tentatively, Hiccup reached out and pressed a hand to the old dragon's heart. There was no beat.

Toothless and Shadow slowly lowered his body to the ground. His eyes were closed; he looked peaceful, like he was merely sleeping. His grandsons stayed beside him with their loved ones, as their friends gathered more wood for a pyre. The clouds parted, showering them in moonlight and revealing the stars that Ekeren would join. Perhaps he would find their parents again, up there.

Hiccup's throat was filled with tears, that crept up to squeeze out of the corners of his eyes. It wasn't only his other half's grief that he felt; it was his own. He stroked Toothless rhythmically, trying to offer what little comfort he could.

They laid the broken branches over Ekeren's body. Hiccup arranged them carefully so they covered all of him, his tail tucked in close. All of them stepped back and gathered in a circle around the pyre, heads bowed in respect. Toothless took strength from Hiccup's and Selena's presence beside him. As Ekeren's closest living relatives, he and Shadow would light the pyre.

The wood caught quickly. As the flames licked across it, Phoebe raised her head and recited the draconic funeral rites. *May Ekeren live on, in the memories of all who knew him. May the sparks of the fire in which we lay him to rest, lift his soul up beyond the sky and to the stars, where he will fly and flame forever.*

When she finished, for a few moments there was no sound but for the hiss and crackle of fire. The wind rushed through the canyon, howling like a mournful dragon. Perhaps it was grieving as well. Toothless raised his head and let out a low wail, a sound of loss and mourning, calling for one who would never reply.

They huddled together against the cliffs, clustered in pairs or threes. Hiccup sat with his back against the stone, Toothless' head in his lap. He stroked those smooth black scales over and over, gazing straight ahead. Hiccup brushed away tears and tried to see the stars, but the clouds had covered them like a shroud.

*Oh, Toothless. I'm so sorry* he sighed, looking down at the bereft, miserable dragon. *I'm here. Always. It…it's gonna be okay.* Empty words, it felt like, but this was all he could do. Be there for his other half, reassure him best he could.

Toothless whimpered, peeked up at him and then nestled closer into his stomach. *I thought it would hurt less…if I got to say goodbye* he explained, filling his nose with Hiccup's scent. *Stupid word. What's good about this?*

Hiccup's heart constricted, for he had no answer. He could sense all of his other half's emotions; heavy sadness, bitter regret, deep longing. *I know it hurts. It won't hurt forever, I promise. Ekeren…he wouldn't…* Hiccup swallowed down a sob and gasped for breath. *He'd want you to remember him living and not…*

No longer able to hold back, Hiccup broke down and wept. He cried for Ekeren's loss, and for ones he had not yet endured. Hiccup was all too aware that his father was old, and one day – he prayed it would not be soon – Stoick would join his best friend in Valhalla. Toothless raised his head to press against Hiccup's heart, and they clung to each other, grieving for everyone they'd lost.

As the pyre burned on, the Swift-Wings kept watch for scavengers and groomed each other in comfort. Phoebe held her daughters close under a wing each, thinking of their sire and licking their foreheads as if they were hatchlings again. Misty-Onyx and Raven-Shade lay curled up close together, talking quietly. Black Fire guarded his mate and son, as Silver nuzzled Mercury close against her side.

When only embers were left, Phoebe rose to her paws and stretched out her wings. All eyes turned to her. *We should be getting back to the nest before sunrise* she announced, before looking at Shadow and Toothless. *I truly am deeply sorry for your loss* she whined sympathy. *Ekeren was beloved by our flock. You're all welcome to come back with us and stay the rest of the night.*

It was a generous offer, and one they would be remiss to turn down. Guarding the pyre was one thing, but nobody wanted to sleep there. "Thank you, your majesty" Hiccup acknowledged gratefully. He hesitated. "Before we go…in my culture, if someone dies away from home, we carve a runestone in memory of them. I…I'd like to do the same for Ekeren, if that's okay?" he asked quietly.

*I think he would have liked that idea. You have my permission* Phoebe agreed. They found a nice, flat rock for Hiccup to carve the memorial onto.

*How are you going to carve it, though?* Toothless wondered. *I thought you needed tools for that.* The other dragons gathered around them, curious.

"It would be better with a chisel" Hiccup admitted, "but I don't have one, and there isn't time. I'm just gonna have to improvise." He took out his dagger and laid it on the ground. "Toothless, I need you to heat this blade up, as hot as you can." He was wearing dragon-scale gloves; it wouldn't burn him. Toothless was still reluctant, but Hiccup looked at him so earnestly that he relented and did so.

With the white hot dagger in hand, heat searing even through his gloves, Hiccup started carving (1). It was awkward to hold, but he persevered until the stylised image of a Night Fury was scorched into the stone. Beneath it he etched out a leaf, to show that Ekeren had been a healer. Runes would have been easier, but dragons couldn't read, and now they'd know that one of their own died here.

If any humans found the stone, they'd probably just think it was for someone killed by a Night Fury, not a Fury themselves. And that their name was Leif, or something. The dragons pushed the rock to stand upright at the head of the much diminished pyre, which none of them looked at too closely. *It looks good* Toothless assured him, purring in approval. *Thank you, Hiccup.*

They made sure there was no other trace that they'd been there, and then Hiccup got in the saddle and they flew away. He only looked back once.

Iceheart dreamed of home. They had taken shelter for the day amongst mountains covered with snow, which was familiar and welcome. Snow was what she'd grown up with. She blended into it like nothing else, hooding her eyes to hide the clear blue of them like icebergs in sun. Iceheart had missed snow, during those terrible, terrifying months she spent captured and all alone.

Her old home, in winter, was all snow and ice as far as the eye could see. She remembered mountains just like these, that when she was a fledgling seemed to hold up the sky. Many moon-turns without the sun, when all the pack could do was hide beneath the icy rock and wait out the hunger. The bravest of them went out to hunt when the storms ceased and the sky fires danced overhead.

She remembered the summers when fish and birds and seals – delicious seals – would be there to feast upon. There was still plenty of ice to camouflage on and lurk in wait besides holes in the ice, ready to lunge and seize their flailing prey by the throat. So much food in summer, that even Iceheart had enough to eat.

Iceheart had not been very high in the hierarchy, at home. Life there was tough. There was not always enough food to go around, and the prey she buried in ice was so often dug up and eaten. She'd gotten into so many scraps over scraps. That had helped, in a strange way, when Iceheart had been trapped in a pit with strange dragons that she had to fight. Just like back home, it was fight or die.

Die…Iceheart whimpered and squirmed in her sleep, the dream turning into a nightmare. The day everything changed. Glacier – her main bully – had been pestering her, demanding that she show where she'd hidden her fish. Iceheart refused to budge. They were her fish! Glacier snarled and swatted at her with claws turned inwards, but she leapt back before they tore her white scales.

The stronger, meaner drakaina chased her all the way out to the sea ice. They fought out there, grappling with each other viciously. Until finally, she'd pushed Glacier under the ice into the freezing water…and held her there. Held her down until her wings stopped waving and her tail stopped lashing, and she fell still.

When she realised the enormity of what she'd done, Iceheart panicked. Getting a flock mate killed was unforgivable, especially when they did not have many in their flock. She was low ranking, and Glacier high…if any of her fellow White-Wings found out, they would drive her away from her nest and her home.

Knowing this, she wondered, why not just leave? Her dam might miss her, but Frostfall was better off without her as a burden. Iceheart turned her tail to home and flew away without looking back. No more fighting, no more having to hoard food – it was wrong, her pack claimed, but then they should give her more! Now she only had to look out for herself, with all the world to discover!

Iceheart flew a long way, over what seemed like nothing but ocean. White-Wings were good swimmers, but getting out of the water was hard when there was nothing to climb out onto. She followed the icebergs, perching on the bigger ones to rest. Eventually she'd heard the calling of dragons in the distance, and flown a bit further to find a mountain covered in peculiarly jutting icicles.

It was a nest, with dragons fluttering about. Such strange dragons, too! All her life, Iceheart had only seen smooth white dragons like her. Here were long horned ones, and spiky ones, and lumpy ones. She snuck as close as she dared and watched them curiously. A pang of homesickness came over her just then.

Iceheart knew she couldn't go back, but perhaps she could stay here. They didn't have to know what she'd done…but what if they found out? Or what if she did it again? This was a big nest, she could tell. Even if she joined, she'd still be at the bottom of the hierarchy, still wouldn't get enough food, probably.

I don't need anyone else she told herself firmly. I can do this all on my own.

She flew away before they saw her and found an island to hide on to sleep. Then she set out again. At last, Iceheart came upon more mountains, that reminded her of home. There was snow! She rolled in it just for the joy. Below the mountains were tall green and brown plants, the tallest she'd ever seen.

Iceheart learned that they were called 'trees'. There were so many new things to see. Lots of animals, some tasty, some not. Lots of dragons, some friendly, some not. Strangest of all were those unnatural clusters, with the weird loud two legged creatures tottering around. How did they even balance like that?

A pack of Fur-Scales – they looked like her a bit, only brown – warned her that the two-legs were called humans and they were dangerous. Some of them hunted dragons, and the ones that didn't would go to the ones that did if they spotted her. Iceheart learned it was safer to fly at night. When the sun wasn't overhead, her scales did not shine as brightly, and she was harder to spot. (2)

Life had been good, for a while. Sure, perhaps Iceheart was a little lonely…but she'd rather spend the rest of her life hunting for herself than have to beg or fight for the leftovers. She stayed near the coast because it was familiar, and one day she came across seals! Lots of them too, out on the beach with their pups. Best of all, there were no other dragons around to hunt them instead.

She'd not blended in amongst the sand and rocks, but Iceheart didn't think she needed to. Seals in the water were fast and slippery, but on land they were ungainly and slow. Such a cacophony of hoots and bellows went up as she bounded towards them, fangs flashing, paws spraying sand in all directions.

Iceheart didn't expect the beach to vanish beneath her; to find herself plunging like a stone flicked over a ledge into some deep crevasse. She didn't think the hole above her would be closed by silvery stone she couldn't burn. A trap, it was a trap. Just like she'd been warned about, and she'd foolishly run straight into it.

Iceheart roared in anger first and for help second. She tried to dig her way out, but the sand was packed tight and barely crumbled. If she wasn't careful, she might bury herself. No dragons came to find her. Slowly but surely, Iceheart became afraid. Sooner or later, humans would come. What would they do?

She spent the night down there, hungry and scared. For the first time – or maybe not – she wished she had never left her nest. When she heard noises above her, Iceheart looked up, her heart leaping in hope…only to crash back down. She bared her fangs in a snarl at the humans staring down at her. If they let her out now, she might show them mercy and not rip them both to shreds.

"Whoa! Would you look at that!" she heard the brown furred one saying. Humans couldn't think-speak, but their babbles were close enough to understand. "Is that a Night Fury down there?" it asked the red furred one.

"Don't be so stupid" the red one said, hitting him. "Night Furies are black."

"Yeah, but it looks like one of 'em. So what is it, anyhow? A…Light Fury?"

She was light coloured and she was furious, so it was not such a wrong name.

"Who cares what to call it? Point is, we've bagged ourselves a dragon."

"Ugh, whatever. So what're we gonna do with it? Those scales look mighty smooth, betcha they'd make a lovely winter cloak" the brown one said thoughtfully. Iceheart flinched. They were going to kill her and skin her!

The red one hit the other one again. "Don't you dare! I didn't go to all the trouble of digging a pit trap to catch a dragon alive just to slit its throat afterwards. Besides, this one's rare. We'd get more silver pieces just showing it off than we would selling its hide. Come on, let's just knock it out already."

That human moved out of sight, and the brown furred one stuck a wooden hollow stick through the holes above her. Iceheart growled at it. She would set it on fire. Something pricked the back of her neck. Suddenly Iceheart felt dizzy; she swayed on her paws. A few moments later she was very tired. No, she had…she had to stay awake…but she couldn't, and collapsed to the sand.

Iceheart woke up in a cage. She was in there for what seemed like ages. Humans came to stare at her, and she snarled at them. When they pushed fish through the bars to her, she snapped at their fleshy claws. Then they wrapped tough old prey skin around her mouth to stop her from opening it properly, so she had to slurp up the fish like a hatchling. It was humiliating. Iceheart hated all of them.

Eventually they took her out of the cage and put her in a bigger one. It was like a cave, but a horrid one, because it was a lie. Iceheart paced and fumed and imagined how she'd tear open the throats of these humans like seals. There were other dragons in there. When fish was thrown in, she snatched up mouthfuls and clawed at the snouts of anyone who tried to take them off her.

One day they knocked her and all the dragons out again – this time with a purple smoke. When Iceheart woke up, she was back in the cage - she would stamp on their carcasses – and it was covered. She heard a human shouting loudly. "And now! From the furthest reaches of the north, the mysterious and magnificent…Light Fury!" The covering was pulled away. She was in the sun.

It was a big round pit, with even more humans around the edge. They were so noisy. Iceheart roared at them to shut up already, and they just yelled back louder. "Fight! Fight! Fight!" What? Fight who? That was when she saw him. A Spike-Tail drake in the cage opposite her. Iceheart had no idea what they were fighting over, but if they wanted her to fight, then she'd show them a fight.

Maybe her sheer ferocity would scare them into finally letting her go free.

The bars in front of her parted, as did those of the Spike-Tail's cage. She leapt out and hackled. The drake was bigger than her, with longer sharper fangs. *We just have to pretend* he told her, but Iceheart wasn't listening. She circled him, slinking low to the ground. He rattled his tail-spikes menacingly. Iceheart lunged; quick as ice cracking he flicked his tail and sent a spike right at her…

Iceheart jerked awake with a snarl, on her feet before opening her eyes. *No threat* warbled Artemis, cringing warily. Her tense posture relaxed at once.

Embarrassed, she ducked her head to lick at the scar where the spike had struck her shoulder. *I'm alright* she insisted, when her mate crooned concern. *It was just a dream.* Never again would she have to fight as the plaything of humans. Iceheart purred reassuringly at him, and glanced over to where Snowdrop was sleeping for more reassurance…but no white dragon was there.

They rushed out, afraid for her, and found their daughter digging up the burrows of hares. *Snowdrop!* called Iceheart. She flinched, ear-flaps pinned down as she crept over to them contritely. *You don't wander off!* her mother snarled a rebuke. *You know it's not safe! What if something happened?*

The young drakaina flattened herself to the ground, all but vanishing into the snow. *Sorry, mama* she apologised. *I was hungry, and no one was there…*

*You don't know that* Iceheart scolded. *You can never be too careful! Have you forgotten what happened to me? Or to your fathers friends?* she asked.

Snowdrop flinched. *No, mama. Never.* Her parents had told her enough stories of the cruelty of humans to make Snowdrop afraid of them, even though she had never seen one up close. If Artemis and Iceheart had their way, she never would. *I won't wander off again. I promise* she crooned beseechingly.

Artemis, who had been keeping a lookout for danger, said *Lets go back to the cave and rest. We still have a long way to go.* They brushed out their tracks with sweeps of their tails, and returned to the welcome darkness of their den.

(1) Tbh I don't know if he could carve solid rock with a hot knife, but let's just say he can for convenience sake.

(2) White-Wings are the polar bears of this world, essentially; their scales contain leucophores, cells that reflect the sunlight to appear white.