When they reached the swamps every dragon shifted to hovering. No one dragon hovered in front of the other and each had a clear line of fire should the need call for it. They waited in the chilled air with only the sounds of the swamp surrounding them. A cloud shifted, allowing the Fire in the sky to reach the ground. Hiccup blinked as the water in the swamp began to glow blue.
He felt Toothless tense as something, also glowing blue, rose from behind a ridge to the far north side of the swamp. The glow brightened to what would have been a blinding point if not for a darkened barrier flashing into existence between the group and the ridge. The glow faded and a blue-hued Flightmare screeched as it hovered over the top of the ridge. Toothless answered the dragon with a series of bays and warbles. The Flightmare tilted its head then screeched again.
It flew forward, mouth opening. The darken barrier turned iridescent. Mist spit from the Flightmare's mouth. The barrier pulsed but held. The Flightmare squawked and quickly shifted to hovering before it smashed into the barrier. All the dragons growled. Toothless rumbled something that sounded angry. The Flightmare tossed its head, chittering. Toothless barked. The Flightmare looked to Hiccup.
[This is my river,] it said, its voice feminine and high pitched.
"This is my nest," Hiccup returned.
He hated to say that but Toothless and all the Elders had been adamant that he declare his ownership of the island in that manner.
The Flightmare snorted. [A human that plays at being an alpha. Pathetic.]
That earned snarls from every dragon present. It earned snarls from the humans behind Hiccup as well.
[A human who earned the title of alpha,] Toothless stated. [You fly too close, Glow-eater. Watch your tone and your words. My brother has but to whisper and I will gladly remove you.]
The Flightmare screeched. [Coward, who hides behind solid air? You will take me out?]
"Enough," Hiccup barked, that thing within him rising in response to the Flightmare's comment. "This island is now a nest," he continued when the Flightmare looked at him. "I am its alpha. Respect that or leave. Either way, never insult my brother."
The Flightmare jerked. She stared at Hiccup. He stared right back, eyes narrowed. A blue glow flashed. The barrier dimmed, negating the brightness. The Flightmare screeched again. The dragons snarled.
"Last chance," Hiccup said.
The dragons behind him began to build the gasses in their throats. Hiccup placed his hand upon Toothless' neck. His brother opened his mouth. The Flightmare squawked.
[Mercy!] a new voice cried. [Alpha of the nest, I beg for mercy!]
A second Flightmare rose over the ridge. Even at the distance between them, Hiccup could tell flying was difficult for the second Flightmare. Whereas the first had a bright blue glow, the second sported a dim, almost, non-existent glow. The new Flightmare landed in an odd three-legged fashion upon a flat rock at the top of the ridge. The first Flightmare screeched. The second chittered back firmly.
[Stand down, daughter,] the second called, its voice also feminine but not high pitched like the first. [He is the alpha of the nest. You risk exile.]
[He is human. He holds no honor.]
The second Flightmare's wings flared and she rose to come even with the first Flightmare. She began hovering just like the others, but Hiccup noted the left wing did not rise as high as the right. He also saw multiple scars crisscrossing the dragon's body. The second Flightmare's left front leg also seemed twisted upon itself and Hiccup suspected it caused the dragon a great deal of pain.
[Humans can hold honor,] the second said. [The last time I was here a lone human faced me. I dove at him and he never wavered. He had honor, daughter.] The second sighed. [I regret that one of the human's dens collapsed on him after I misted him. It was not his fault that the river ran into the human's territory, or that I needed to feed upon the glowing algae.]
The first Flightmare snorted. [This human hides behind solid air and has to have a dragon keep him in the air.]
[He is alpha,] Toothless growled. [And my brother. I will always provide him wings. And he will not face you without protection since you seem bent on attacking instead of asking permission to be here.]
The second Flightmare turned to Toothless. [A Wind-shrieker,] she said, blinking. [One of your kind saved my life. He intervened in the attack that injured me ten seasons ago.]
"Who attacked you?" Hiccup asked.
[Another Glow-eater. He wished I be his mate, but I refused. My mate had just passed and I was carrying my daughter's egg. The male was less than pleased at my rejecting him.]
Hiccup frowned. "You seem in pain," he said. "Let's land so you can rest your wings."
[Thank you, alpha of the nest. And upon my honor and life, neither of us will attack you and your nest-mates.]
The last bit of that comment was said with the second Flightmare staring at her daughter. The first Flightmare sighed.
[Yes, mother,] she said sounding resigned.
Hiccup slid his hand down the side of Toothless' neck then lifted his hand and pointed down. Everyone landed. Astrid and Stormfly moved to stand beside Hiccup and Toothless. The Flightmares looked at her, blinking, then looked to Hiccup. Hiccup just stared at them but offered no explanation.
"What happened to your attacker?" he asked instead.
[The Wind-shrieker killed him,] the second Flightmare said, tilting her head.
Hiccup nodded his head. "Are the problems with your wing and your leg the results of the attack?"
The second Flightmare sighed. [I was unable to rest as I should. The attack happened right before the Ancestor's Skyfire and I had to feed before the glow faded then travel to lay my daughter's egg. Without my mate, I had to care for the nest and then feed my daughter alone.]
"I see." Hiccup tilted his head. "Why is the glowing algae so important?"
[It keeps alive,] the first Flightmare said as if the answer was so obvious Hiccup had to be stupid not to know.
Hiccup's eyes narrowed. "While I understand that," he began, the thing within him rising again, "I do not appreciate the tone. This is still my nest and I will decide who stays and who hunts within its limits. I will not allow those who are rude or attacking my nest-mates to do either."
[As is your right,] the second said with a pointed look at her daughter. She then looked to Hiccup. [My daughter forgets herself. I apologize for her attitude and actions. She has been my caretaker since she was a youngling and my injuries made getting food harder for me.]
Hiccup hummed. He stared at both Flightmares in silence for several heartbeats.
"You both are permitted to feed," he began. "I will not deny you the food you need to survive. You will not attack or insult any member of my nest. You both will come to the village after you eat. I will need you to explain what happened ten years ago. You both will permitted to rest within the village until the morning. I will ask our Elder to look over your injuries and see if she can ease your pain."
His eyes narrowed as he looked at both dragons. "However, attack or insult anyone in my nest and you will find a new place to feed."
The Flightmares looked at each other. The mother turned to Hiccup and lowered her head.
[We accept your terms and I place my life as payment should any harm or insults come to your nest.]
"Deal," Hiccup said. "We will move aside so that you both can feed but we will accompany you as you follow the river." He looked over his shoulder. "They are permitted but if either breaks the terms you are free to drive them out of the nest."
[Aye, alpha,] all the dragons chorused.
His humans friend merely nodded their heads. Snotlout stared at Hiccup as if seeing him for the first time. Fishlegs looked partially concerned and partially awed. The twins were grinning. Torgeir, having come along as this was supposed to be just a simple meet and greet, stared with his jaw dropped. Astrid and Gyda's faces were neutral. Hiccup was unsure what either was thinking. He shoved aside his worry over their, especially Astrid's, opinion of his actions thus far. This needed to be finished so that the Flightmares could feed and the village could learn the truth of Finn Hofferson.
Hiccup gestured and all the nest dragons rose and flew away far enough to not crowd the Flightmares but still be within attacking distance should either breach the agreed upon terms. The Flightmares moved to the river but before they could begin to eat another Flightmare rose over the ridgeline. It roared and dived at the pair. The daughter jumped in front of her mother as the new Flightmare sprayed the blue mist. The daughter took the brunt of the attack.
"Fire!"
Multiple shots slammed the attacking Flightmare. It rose with a screech to face Hiccup and those with him. Its wings beat. It rose. It dove at Hiccup. Hiccup gestured. Lighting cracked the Flightmare's skull. It jerked to a hovering stop. Hiccup gestured again. Lighting and dragon fire from all the dragons slammed into the Flightmare. It screeched before turning tail and leaving. Hiccup looked down at the mother and daughter to find the mother looking up at him but the daughter seemingly frozen mid jump.
"Is she okay?" he asked.
[The mist's effects are temporary,] the mother said. [She will be fine. Thank you for your aid, but I am confused. Why did you order an attack? You granted mercy enough to talk to us.]
"You two are permitted to feed," Hiccup stated. "I will not have a fight over food harm my nest."
The mother nodded. She waited until her daughter could move again before lowering her head into the glowing water and beginning to feed. Hiccup saw the daughter stare up at him for several heartbeats before she also lowered her head and started eating. Toothless grunted and curled his neck. Hiccup looked down. Toothless winked at him. Hiccup smiled. He glanced over, catching Astrid's eye. She tipped her head and smiled at him. Hiccup took a deep breath. At least his brother and his promised appeared to agree with his decisions. He just hoped his father, and future father-in-law, would be okay with the Flightmares coming to the village.
Anonymous Person: Small question: Are you the same person who read through the first two books and left reviews? Also, with regards to Bewilderbeast, Hiccup has been told he holds the same compassion and honor that one of those is supposed to holds. There will be other instances where the comparsion will be made again. ;) And if you are the same person who asked about Blue and Star, um, no. I've never actually read or really dealt with any of the Warriors things. Bluestar was a name I found via a dragon name generator and since the Zippleback in question is blue.. I picked that name.
Kirika: Hehe, I hope this start of it has not disappointed. And yes, Icewing is fangirling hard, poor baby.
SnowBriar: Yep, he's just Hiccup. Though his being just Hiccup has many dragons going "Huh?" Hehe, give Icewing time. I think she'll grow on ya. I'm glad you are enjoying the story. I got the title from the "We Know The Way" song from Moana. There's a line in it about telling the stories of their elders in a neverending chain and since this will deal with the past a bit more, I felt it fit. Hehe, thanks. I love panthers. Probably why I love Toothless so much since they based him off of panthers. Now, now, don't say that. Your names were good and I have the list with me in my little notebook so I can pick dragons names from it. Awesome. When you get it published you'll have to let me know. I'll got get it. Hehe, HTTYD 2 will come…not saying when though. And oh, yeah, lots of changes in the future. Uhm, well, the third Flightmare may or may not have some small wounds. You're welcome.