Toothless gave a low growl, looking to his right. Hiccup turned and gasped as two Night Furies came level with them. The one in the middle warbled something that sounded like a question. Toothless responded. Hiccup felt Johann's grip on his shoulders tighten.
"They are not acting aggressive," Hiccup said softly. "Just don't make any sudden moves and we'll be fine."
Johann froze. As an added bonus, he also did not speak. Since he was set to tell Hiccup another tale about a place Hiccup was certain did not exist, the silence was a blessing.
The Night Fury continued to converse with Toothless. It and its companion looked up at Hiccup just after Toothless finished whatever he had been saying. The one who had been speaking grunted and chittered. Toothless hissed then barked once. The Night Furies blinked, flying in silence for several heartbeats. Hiccup got the impression the Night Fury had doubted whatever Toothless told it and Toothless told it off. Given the dragon had looked at him before speaking, Hiccup knew its comment had been about him. Just when he thought the dragons would continue flying without ever speaking again, the middle Night Fury warbled something. Toothless gave a sharp chirp, tossing his head up. The Night Fury glanced to Hiccup.
[He says you can understand me but the human who rides with you cannot,] it said, its voice female. [I do not believe him. He said you would scratch his head if I tell you to.]
Hiccup released the handle, reached up and scratched Toothless right behind one the spikes upon his head. He saw the Night Furies blink again.
[The elders said this once happened between humans and dragons, but their tales were old, ancient long before the elders' elders were laid and hatched.]
"Master Hiccup," Johann began softly. "Are we safe?"
"If they wanted to harm us they would have already," Hiccup said. "I think they are just surprised to see another Night Fury. We should let them converse."
"Oh, right. A wise merchant does not upset their transport."
[Slick, brother,] Toothless said as Johann went silent again.
[You call the human brother?] the far Night Fury asked, its voice also female. [Why?]
[He is my brother,] Toothless said.
[How did that happen?] the first Night Fury asked.
[It's a long story. Too long for the flight we're on. Our nest is not far.]
[You live in a nest with humans?] the second Night Fury asked, sounding surprised.
[And dragons. All part of that long story.]
They flew in silence for several wing beats. Hiccup could see the start of the farthest sea stacks. Berk would come into view soon.
[Is your nest the island ahead?] the first Night Fury asked.
[Yes.]
[My mate was told by a Glow-eater he saved that we would find rest on that island. He went ahead to verify her tale.]
[The Glow-eater was correct and comes to the nest frequently with her daughter. My alpha allows all who hold no ill intentions to his nest to rest within its boundaries.]
[Your alpha sounds honorable and kind,] the second Night Fury said softly. [Would we be allowed to meet him while we rest?]
Toothless chortled. Hiccup found the leather of the saddle below him interesting. He knew what was coming and knew it would be just as awkward as every other time it happened.
[My rider is the alpha of the nest.]
Before the Night Furies could react, Fishlegs, Meatlug, and Boulder flew out from one of the sea stacks closer to the docks. Toothless shifted to a hover, prompting the two Night Furies to do so as well.
"More Night Furies?" Fishlegs said. "I thought that one from last night stayed at the cove."
"What?" Hiccup asked.
Fishlegs jerked. "Oh, right, Hiccup, we were attacked!"
"What?" Hiccup demanded, feeling the thing within him rising with a deep, dangerous sounding growl.
Out the corner of his eye, Hiccup saw the Night Furies blinked and stare at him. Hiccup ignored them. He felt Johann jerk, his grip tightening more. Hiccup ignored him as well. Fishlegs blinked but the three Berkian dragons gave no indication they were surprised or unnerved. Hiccup just stared at Fishlegs, a silent demand to explain.
"Speedstingers," Fishlegs said. "Hundreds of them. We were at the arena. Gyda and Astrid found a Night Fury on the west beach. We heard the screams. Everyone was frozen, Hiccup! Astrid ordered us to take Baneson and his mother to the cove. The dragons from the nest, Iggy and Buttercup went after them. They.. Astrid ordered everyone to the cove. She's there now. She told me and Meatlug, and Boulder came too, to see if everyone was out of the village. Boulder saw you. Such a smart dragon he is. Hiccup…what are we going to do? Those Speedstingers are fast and hid in the shadows. They can paralyze dragons, Hiccup!"
[He speaks in one breathe like an elder,] the first Night Fury said.
"Oh, my," Johann said. "How did he not pass out?"
"Fish," Hiccup began, ignoring both. "Everyone is in the cove?"
"Yes. Astrid told us to go there."
"Why didn't my dad give the order?"
Fishlegs paled. "He's paralyzed, Hiccup."
Hiccup snarled and heard the thing within him echo his anger. He looked to the new Night Furies.
"Follow if you wish," he said. "Go, bud."
Toothless dove under the Gronckles. He leveled and sped towards the cove. Hiccup heard all the dragons following.
They landed. Hiccup dismounted. He made it a step before Astrid almost tackled him. Hiccup gripped her, holding her close. The thing within him purred but it was distracted, as distracted as he was. He was happy and ecstatic Astrid was unharmed. He was angry his father was paralyzed. He was furious his nest was attacked when he was not there to defend it.
"Oy, Johann," he heard Gobber say from behind him. "Git yerself over here. We 'ave some food fer ye. Me thinks 'fter yer night, ye be hungry."
"Thank you, Master Gobber. You are correct. I wished to thank Master Hiccup for getting me here, but I see he is preoccupied. I shall thank him later. Is that dragon keeping everything so warm?"
"Aye, they be like small, portable fires. Dunna touch'm though. Burn ye."
"Is that two other Night Furies?" Mrs. Larson exclaimed.
"Best we let Astrid tell Hiccup all that has happen," Gobber began, "'fore we ask'm 'bout his companions."
Hiccup found himself grateful for his mentor. Over Astrid's shoulder, he could see his father and the others who had been paralyzed by the Speedstingers equal distance from the Fireworms' cave and the rock where Hiccup told Astrid he loved her. Many of the Elders and other dragons from the nest kept them under guard, while watching out for everyone else in the cove. They all gave him small bows but continued to watch over everything. Hiccup spied many dragons ringing the rim of the cove, looking out over the woods. There were too many things going on for Hiccup to deal with Johann or inquiries about the Night Furies and Gobber had picked up on that. Hiccup made a mental note to thank his mentor later.
Astrid stepped back. "Follow me," she whispered. "Snowfire and Icewing need to see you and I'll tell you everything."
Prince: The helmsman is the chief of the Shivering Shores' heir. He's there to give a non-Berkian voice in the Thing about the dragons. And to see if his father's belief Stoick is not amassing an army of dragons is correct. He's just not someone Hiccup has decided can know the truth of about the dragons yet. Hence why Astrid did not give him any answers.
Kirika: Oh, I'm glad you got the internet back though and was able to read the chapter. Yeah, Snowfire got spooked and hid in his grandmother's robe, but like they said in Two Worlds: One Family, young dragons find safety in those with authority over them and Snowfire knows Hiccup is the highest authority. He knows Hiccup will make things right. Hn, Patan did not translate with Google. Is that the male Night Fury Tuff thought was a girl?
SnowBriar: Well, I was originally gonna write about a person from our time falling into the School of Dragons game and her name was to be Gyda, like my character. Then I got to thinking about what Astrid would do if she heard Stoick tell Gobber that Hiccup would die in dragon training before Gobber let the first dragon out. As it was just Gobber and the other teens, I figured Astrid would take it as affront to her honor. That Stoick would imply she or the others would kill Hiccup or allow Hiccup to die in anyway. I don't think Astrid ever tormented Hiccup. I do think she just did not pay any attention to him, but she knew he was her chief's son and would not let him die if she could stop it, even if she did not think highly of him at the time. Thus that question prompted all of this. Ah, interesting game. Oh, ouch. I hate when things break and you're not sure if or when you can fix them. Take your time. There is no rush. The story will be there.