The Night Fury's tone woke the young surrounding Hiccup and caused Wildfire and the two Fireworms to scurry and hide against the leg extended behind Astrid. Hiccup stared at the Night Fury, eyes narrowed. To his credit, the Night Fury chuffed and lowered his chin.
[My apologies,] he said, his tone quieter and softer. [Mother always said I let my tongue flap whenever I am surprised by something and always said it would come back to bite me one day.]
Wildfire edged around Astrid's right side. He looked up at the Night Fury and then to Hiccup. Hiccup did not move, partially because he was curious what the hatchling would do and partially because Snowfire and Icewing were actively trying to bury into his fur vest. Wildfire huffed, sauntering close to the male Night Fury. Everyone watched him, but none moved to stop him. Wildfire spun, smacking his tail against the Night Fury's foreleg. He then stood, wing nubs spread, looking up at the Night Fury and chittered angrily.
Gyda reached over, picking the hatchling up and placing him into her lap. He chittered the entire way. The male Night Fury watched.
[I am sorry, little one,] the male said, holding his head lower. [It was never my intention to spook your brother or sister or the other two younglings. Nor was it my intention to disrespect this nest. You see, the Wind-shrieker there is my little brother. I have not seen him in a long time.]
Wildfire tilted his head, looking between the Night Fury and Toothless. He then looked back to the Night Fury and chirped something that sounding questioning.
[Yes,] the male Night Fury said. [I do love my little brother. That's why I was wondering what happened and why he's here and not home.]
Wildfire snorted and chirped again.
[Aye, this is your home, but he did not hatch here like you did. He hatched back where I come from. That is my home. I thought that was his as well. I did not know he had changed nests.]
Wildfire's nose scrunched up and he turned to Gyda, chittering softly at her. She glanced up to Wildfire's parents.
[He thought this was the only nest to ever exist,] Palewing explained. [We had not yet taught them there were more than just here.]
She fluttered over to Gyda's knee and raised up so she was eye level with her son. She then began to speak to him in the Old Tongue in low tones. Gyda smiled when Wildfire relaxed and sat down. The two Fireworm hatchlings moved out from behind Hiccup's leg and walked over to join their friend, clambering into Gyda's lap as well. Thankfully Fireworm hatchlings did not have the fire glow the youngling and adults had. This prevented the grass, and Gyda's robe, from catching fire.
Hiccup looked down, finding Snowfire and Icewing staring at their brother then looking up at him. He smiled and nodded his head. Snowfire hopped out of his arms and joined the other hatchlings in Gyda's lap before hopping up to rest on his grandmother's shoulder. Icewing stretched into the space he left but listened to whatever her mother was saying. The Nadder siblings did not move from beside Hiccup but listened to Palewing as well. Hiccup watched the new Night Furies also listening. All three looked to Hiccup when Palewing finished.
[This place was not always a nest of dragons and humans?] the second female asked, head tilted.
[Not until our alpha made it so,] Toothless said. [Now, it is home.]
[Brother,] the male began, his tone much softer and more respectful. [Why? You never seemed unhappy when you used to join us all at each turn of the seasons. What caused you to choose here over where you were hatched?]
Toothless sighed. [It wasn't a choice between there or here. It was a choice between there or letting a monster eat younglings I had come to protect.]
Hiccup jerked, causing Icewing to look up at him and chitter questioningly. Hiccup pulled her closer, murmuring softly. She settled. He then looked to the Nadder siblings and murmured to them as well, since both trembled when he moved. They relaxed against him once more.
Hiccup sighed, grateful his surprise did not upset them more. Toothless never spoke of how he came to in the Red Death's nest and Hiccup never asked him. They were brothers. They trusted each other implicitly but Hiccup would never pry. There were still things in Hiccup's own past he had never told anyone, much less Toothless.
Hiccup had made a vow upon waking and finding his brother by his side. Hiccup would let Toothless tell him whatever he wanted whenever the dragon was ready. Hiccup would also never force his brother to speak before he was ready. When Sharpshot returned, Hiccup had extended that vow to include the Terror. Astrid, Stormfly, Windwalker, and ever human and dragon, and mate of those dragons, that made up the Riders were given that same vow over time.
[I don't understand,] the male Night Fury said, pulling Hiccup from his thoughts.
[On one of my travels I found a small flock of youngling dragons of various species,] Toothless began softly. [Their parents had all been killed by humans who, thankfully did not find where the parents put their young. I searched for a place that would take all of them. They had been together so long that separating them would have caused them harm.] Toothless paused, taking a deep breath. [I found one nest whose queen said she would accept all of them but I had to stay and teach them the rules of her nest. I did. I had come to care for them as well as we all traveled to look for a home. Things were fine. This queen doted upon those four younglings. Then one day she called me aside and said I had to guard a flock leaving her nest on a scared duty she had tasked them. I did not mind. She took in those younglings. I wished to repay her.] Toothless' eyes narrowed. [It was a raiding flock. We were sent against humans that lived next to a volcano. It did not go well. Upon our return, and to punish me for failing her, she ate one of those younglings. She said she would eat the rest if I did not guard her tribute flocks and make sure all brought back enough food for her. I believed her.]
Hiccup laid his head back against Toothless' side, rubbing against his brother. He murmured with non-verbal noises as words failed him in light of that story. Toothless curled his head and nuzzled his nose into Hiccup's hair, crooning softly. Icewing shifted in Hiccup's arms and crawled up to his shoulder. She gave a soft chirp that sounded like a question. Toothless responded with a warble. Icewing nuzzled Hiccup's ear then hopped onto Toothless' back. She skittered to Toothless head and rubbed her cheek against his ear flaps. Snowfire, Wildfire, and the two Fireworms moved away from Gyda and crawled over to Toothless' forelegs. They each gave various chirps, getting warbles in response. All four then crawled onto Toothless' back and rubbed against him. All five hatchlings then settled, curled up and began purring. The Nadder siblings shifted around so they could rub against Toothless and then also began purring.
[They don't understand,] the second female Night Fury whispered, her voice holding a great deal of awe. [They don't know what his story means. They just know he is sad and want to comfort him because their alpha always comforts those who are sad and they want to be like him.] She turned to Hiccup, tilting her head. [Alpha of this nest,] she began, [the elders of my nest would always warn us that humans were evil and would cause harm before giving help. Why are you different than the what I was taught?]
Kirika: Hehe, a trip north was always intended for this story, but not for the reasons you think.