[A most unusual form of training,] the queen said as she and those with her shifted to a hover.
Hiccup smiled and gestured towards Torgeir and Firestorm.
"They are relatively new to all of this and this is their first flight off the island. I wished to see if they hesitated due to the other dragons' wings."
The queen tipped her head. [Again you show wisdom not associated with humans, young alpha. By the scents the young human is kin to you, young queen-to-be.]
"He's my younger brother," Astrid replied.
[May I ask how is that he came to ride a Flame-skin where as you ride the Spike-thrower your alpha believed would be the perfect partner for you?]
"Firestorm was injured while defending a nest-member's den from a charging animal," Astrid answered. "His leg was broken. Our human elder ordered he stay grounded until it healed. My parents let Firestorm live with us and my brother and he became friends."
The queen smiled. [Your nest never ceases to amaze me, young alpha,] she said, looking back towards Hiccup. [You have taught them well, if they open their den to injured dragons.]
Hiccup coughed and rubbed the back of his neck, making sure not to hit Sharpshot. "I didn't actually teach them. They just… They did that on their own."
[Your humility does you credit, young one, but I know your nest would not be what it is now if it were not for you. There is no dishonor in acknowledging what you have done, young alpha.]
Hiccup lowered his hand and his gaze. "Astrid is always telling me that."
[Your future queen is smart. You should listen to her.]
Hiccup refused to glance at Astrid, knowing he would find her smirking. The queen chuckled.
[Young alpha, would you happen to know where my mate, son, and several of my warrior guards are? My mate sent a guard to let us know the outcome of the battle, but they have not returned and our nests are not that far apart.]
Hiccup blinked. "Oh, sorry," he said, lifting his gaze to face the queen. "When those who went after the Speedstingers and melted the ice bridge behind them returned, my father decided to hold a celebration in honor of our victory. I invited your mate, son, and warrior guards to attend since they aided us in that victory. It shall happen after mid-day so food can be prepared. You all are welcomed to come as are any in your nest who would like to join as well."
The queen smiled. [You are gracious, young alpha. Alas, I am needed at the nest and unable to attend.] She looked to her right. [Daughter, if you want, you are free to.]
[Thank you, Mother.] The princess looked to Hiccup. [I would be honored to attend.]
[Young alpha,] the queen said, [if you and those with you would follow us back to our nest, I know of another who would like to attend as well.]
"Sure," Hiccup said, smiling.
It did not take long to reach the nest. Hiccup snorted as he realized his training exercise had taken place just past the breaking waves near to the beach they helped the Scauldron. No wonder the queen and her group had found them.
They landed in a crescent shaped clearing in a forest growing along the bottom of a rocky cliff. The clearing sat in front of a cave opening in the cliff face. Hiccup blinked. Several multi-colored stones set nestled in the tree branches ringing the clearing. He saw many Changewings of various sizes and colors tending to not only the stones but the trees the stones rested in as well.
[Welcome to the heart of our nest,] the queen said.
Hiccup bowed his head. "Thank you, queen of the nest," he said. "Myself, and my friends are honored to be welcomed here."
A dull orange and yellow colored Changewing shuffled out of the cave opening. Its gait was slow and seemed to have a slight limp, but that did not impede its movement any. It nimbly dodged several Changewings that stopped what they were doing to stare at the newcomers. Hiccup watched as it closed in on him, Toothless, and Sharpshot. Neither of his brothers seemed worried so he did not tense.
The Changewing sniffed him, Toothless, and Sharpshot before moving on to sniff Astrid, Stormfly, and Sneaky, as the female Terror now rode upon Astrid's back when in flight with her and Stormfly. The Changewing moved on, sniffing Windwalker, Torgier, and Firestorm. It them sniffed all the rest of the Riders, their dragons, and the mates of those dragons before returning to stand next to Toothless. It looked up at Hiccup.
[You'll do,] it said, it's voice feminine and sounding as if the weight of years rested upon it.
Hiccup blinked, glancing at the queen as she chuckled.
[Young alpha, meet the oldest of the nest. Our Head Elder.]
Hiccup turned back to the elder and bowed his head. "Greetings, honored elder," he said, giving the Viking greeting as he only knew how to address the leaders of a nest in the dragon way.
The elder smiled and tilted her scarred head. [Manners,] she said. [Young of the day could do with showing more of them.]
[Elder,] the princess began, [why did you look at me when you said that?]
[I teach you and your siblings,] the elder responded. [And I raised your father.]
Hiccup bit the inside of his cheek to keep from snickering. The king had told Hiccup about his past before everyone in the chief's house had went to sleep last night so Hiccup recognized the elder as the one the king had been fearful of hearing him the day they aided the Scauldron.
[The young alpha has extended an invitation to all in our nest who wish to attend a celebration they are holding for the victory over the Tail-stingers,] the queen said. [I heard you mentioning you wished to travel to the young alpha's nest and meet his nest elders. Would you like to accompany the princess to the celebration?]
The elder looked over Toothless' head at the queen and snickered. [Smart,] she said. [You show why your family has held this nest for as long as it has.] The elder then turned back to Hiccup. [I understand your nest's elders became such under trying circumstances. May I meet them at this celebrations? I wish to offer any council and support. Us elders need to fly together as we deal with the stress of teaching and giving wisdom and guidance to not only nest leaders but to all in the nest.]
Hiccup resisted the urge blink, knowing it could be seen as rude, but his mind had to race to slow down and separate the elder's words. Now he realized why the visiting dragons found the nest elders amazing. They spoke calmly and slowly with many pauses for breath.
"Sure," Hiccup replied, knowing he had to answer the elder.
One did not leave an elder's question unanswered. Hiccup, though, silently prayed to every god he had ever known that none of the nest elders picked up this Changewing elder's habit of fast talking. He enjoyed not having to go through a mental exercise just to speak with them.
A noise from the cave opening had Hiccup looking towards it. A small Changewing the size of Skysinger and Willowsing's siblings stood there. It saw Hiccup and his friends and ran behind several Changewings to hide behind the queen. It looked up at her and trilled something that sounded like a question.
[He is the young alpha who helped your rescuer, daughter,] the queen said. [He let your rescuer rest near to his nest and recover from a broken wing.]
The young Changewing eased out from behind her mother, staring at Hiccup.
[Come, young one,] the elder said. [How is that we greet honored guests here?]
The youngling blinked but eased closer to Hiccup. She glanced between him, Toothless, and Sharpshot and Hiccup saw her muzzle crinkle. The youngling looked to the elder.
[Which one I greet? There three.]
Kirika: Hehe, yep, but as you can see, it's good news.