Please check the dramatis personae as a new dragon name for a different species has been added.
The unknown dragons shifted to a hover just at the outer edge of the farthest sea stack. A light green and white Nadder stood at the edge, wings outstretched and screeched at them. Hiccup frowned as he realized the unknown dragons were Changewings. He looked to the pod leader and his mate.
"Excuse me," he said, "I think I should see what that's about."
[Of course, land alpha,] the pod leader said. [We shall take our leave. If our son returns we'll let you know.]
"Sure thing."
Before either Scauldron could slipped back into the water a blue Terror that had been with the Nadder on the sea stack came at them, flying at a fast clip. The Terror shifted to a hover in front of Toothless.
[Alpha,] the Terror said, slightly out of breath. [Forgive me, the Illusion-scales are asking to speak with you. They say a Scaulding-spitter is in their nest and is injured. They were hoping you could help him.]
"Thank you," Hiccup said, then looked to the two Scauldrons as they lifted their heads again. "Join me?" he asked.
[Thank you, land alpha.]
As they reached the group, the Scauldrons rose completely out of the water, hovering near to Hiccup and Toothless. Hiccup tilted his head.
"Everyone," he said, "go ahead and land on the sea stack. It'll fit us all."
The Nadder moved to the right and back as Toothless landed. The two Scauldrons landed to Toothless' left. The Terror that brought the message landed in front of the Nadder. The six Changewings landed with four in a half moon around the two in the middle.
[Hello again, alpha of this nest,] one of the two in the middle said.
Hiccup smiled as he recognized the voice. "Hey," he said. "You made it home, I see. Good." Hiccup then tilted his head. "The Terror said you have an injured Scauldron in your nest."
Hiccup noted the one of the left blinked while the male tilted his head.
[Is Scauldron the human name for Scaulding-spitters?] he asked.
Hiccup chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yes, sorry. I'm still getting used to being able to talk with dragons. I keep forgetting we both have different names that we use."
The Changewing on the left tilted its head, gaze flicking between the male and Hiccup. The male chortled.
[I see,] he said. [Yes, a Scaulding-spitter saved a youngling of the nest when a land shake had some rocks falling off a cliff. Unfortunately, the rocks fell upon the Scaulding-spitter's wing. I spoke to my queen mother of your actions and she wished to know if you could aid our guest.]
"Sure," Hiccup said before gesturing to the two Scauldrons. "Their son is missing. Do you know if the one at your nest is male?"
[I believe so. They can accompany you to see if the injured one is their son.]
[Thank you,] the pod leader said.
"Sharpshot," Hiccup said, curling his neck. "Please go round up the available Riders."
[Sure thing, Brother Alpha.]
Sharpshot climbed onto Hiccup's shoulder, rising to a hover above both of his brothers. He chirped to the blue Terror. The Terror chittered, rising and following Sharpshot back to the village.
[The Tiny-fang called you brother,] the Changewing to the left of the male said, its voice feminine and also sounding musical.
Hiccup smiled. "He is my brother. As is Toothless here," he added, patting the top of Toothless' head.
Toothless lifted his head, cooing. The male Changewing turned to the female.
[I told you he was different than any human we have ever known,] the male said, sounding smug.
[You've given too many flights of fancy as we grew, brother,] the female said. [This tale of your rescue seemed like just another one.] She looked around. [But I see all the dragons around us and all are watching us like warrior guards. I see two Scaulding-spitters who I know are the leaders of their pod and yet react with respect to this human. I see a Spike-thrower act as if he is standing next to a king instead of a monster.]
[Watch your tongue,] the Nadder said before anyone could speak. [He is Alpha.]
The female Changewing stared at the Nadder. [You say that with such conviction in your voice.]
[Alpha saved us all,] the Nadder declared. [He freed us from a monster. He could have driven us away after we disgraced his nest. He didn't. He forgave us and welcomed us. My little sister can fly and play in the wind without worry she'll annoy anyone. My little brother doesn't have to live in fear that he'll be eaten due to a leg injury that occurred when he was a fledgling.]
Hiccup blinked, turning to the Nadder. "Is your sister the young gold colored Nadder that likes to spin and flip in the air over the north bay?" he asked.
The Nadder looked at him. [Yes, my alpha,] he said lowering his head and spreading his wings. [She and my brother were some of last eggs laid before you freed us.]
"I remember her," Hiccup said. "Toothless, Sharpshot, and I were flying over the north bay and saw her. When she saw us she landed upon a nearby sea stack and just laid down. It took a long time before she explained she was terrified that she was to be punished."
[The monster you freed us from demanded silence in the nest and that no dragon fly unless we were bringing her food. Fledglings had to be taken away to teach flight.]
Hiccup blinked. "And you said your brother's leg is injured?"
[He tumbled off an edge before his wings were strong enough to hold his weight. We could never rested fully because I had to keep that monster from noticing him and thus always moved from one den to another.]
Hiccup frowned. "Noticing him?" he asked though he had a gut-feeling he knew what the Nadder meant and knew he would not like the answer.
[The queen demanded perfection and weakness was eaten to keep the nest strong.]
Hiccup's eyes narrowed. His gut was right. He hated that answer. He had once regretted they had been unable to speak to the queen dragon, now that they knew dragons could speak. Not anymore. That monster did not deserve to explain why she thought her nest should be ruled like that.
Sharpshot landed upon Hiccup's shoulder before he could respond. Out the corner of his eye, Hiccup saw his brother looked between the Nadder and the Changewings before curling his neck so he could stare at Hiccup in the eyes.
[Which one was rude to you, Brother Alpha?] he asked.
Hiccup blinked. "None," he said. "I don't think the female meant an insult by her comment."
[I did not,] the female said. [And I apologize if that was how it sounded.] She looked to the Nadder. [You seem young but you only speak of your siblings. Forgive me if the question is intrusive but where are your parents?]
[My father was eaten just after my mother laid the clutch that contained my little sister and brother. Father did not want to leave his mate but the queen demanded food. Father was unable to return with anything and that monster called Mother out and made her watch as Father was eaten. Four days before the eggs were to hatch, Mother refused to go get that monster food. Mother and three eggs were eaten. A Rock-biter who I had befriend and I held my brother and sister's eggs in our mouths to hide them.]
Hiccup's hands tightened around the handles upon Toothless' saddle. He felt his brother's muscles tense. He heard Sharpshot hiss. The female Changewing stared at the Nadder with wide eyes. The male Changewing looked as if he would kill the monster himself. The other Changewings looked at each other and then stared at the Nadder.
Hiccup heard several gasps and looked over his shoulder to find all the Riders except Torgeir hovering on the their dragons just over the water behind everyone. Each human had varying looks of disgust and angry covering their faces. Hiccup guessed they had heard at least part of the Nadder's story.
[You did this world a great service by killing that fallen queen,] the female Changewing said, pulling Hiccup's attention back to the front. The female sighed, shaking her head. [Had I known the conditions I would have pushed for all dragons not in her nest to kill her.] The female then looked back to the Nadder. [Will you accompany us? My mother is the queen of our nest. She and several warrior guards are with the Scaulding-spitter. Once he is well and able to return to the sea, my mother wished to speak with the alpha who freed my brother here. I think she would be well advised to hear your tale, young one.]
In answer the Nadder looked to Hiccup. Sharpshot shifted so that he was holding onto the clawholds and not in Hiccup's line of sight. Hiccup turned to the Nadder.
"You're welcome to come along," he said. "And when we get back, will you please bring your brother, sister, and the Gronckle that aided you to the village? I think the tribe needs to hear your tale as well."
[As you wish, my alpha.]
"While you are telling us, I'll see if Gothi can help your brother."
[Thank you, my alpha,] the Nadder said and bowed again.
[Is this all who are to accompany you, alpha of this nest?] the male Changewing asked.
"Yes," Hiccup answered.
[Then allow us to be your honor guard. Our nest is soon to have hatchlings and the parents are less than pleased about all the commotion.]
Hiccup gestured and the Nadder and the Scauldrons rose off the sea stack. Hiccup was not surprised that Astrid and Stormfly came to hover at his left. It did surprise him that the Scauldrons moved to allow that. Neither had been around when the betrothal had been struck and had only met Astrid once. He then remembered Astrid stood at his side and held his hand and Stormfly had chirpped at the pod leader. He wondered if Stormfly had explained Hiccup and Astrid's relationship then. That would explain the Scauldrons' actions.
The male Changewing chittered and pulled Hiccup's attention from his throughts. The four others moved away, coming to hover at different points around the entire group. The male looked to Hiccup and lowered his head.
[Follow us, please.]
Kirika: Hehe, well, we shall see. Hn, I can say this: Dagur will not appear until the next book. This deals with events that happen over the winter. The next is gonna deal with that meeting Stoick spoke of. Dagur and several others will appear then.