A loud hiss. An irritated screech. A hate filled snarl. A purple blur, racing from tree leaves. Green and red streaking, following. Hiccup surged to his feet. Toothless shifted his head under Hiccup's left arm as he wobbled a bit. Hiccup spared a moment to smile before rushing to the tree. Gyda, Shadowfire, and Moondust were standing, staring up. All five hatchlings huddled under Shadowfire. Frostfire and Palewing bracketed them. The Riders and all the other dragons ran over, encircling the hatchlings.
Hiccup looked up. The purple blur, the Terror that bit Bearspit banked around. Sharpshot and Sneaky raced after him. The Terror flipped. Dove. Snarls and the sound of a weapon being drawn echoed in the cove. The Terror landed at Hiccup's feet. Flopped onto his back. His wings fell upon dirt. He froze. Began crooning. Sharpshot and Sneaky landed beside Hiccup, fangs bare, wings spread and rattling.
"Calm," Hiccup said.
Sharpshot and Sneaky immediately stopped snarling. The other dragons stopped growling. Hiccup did not have to look at his intended to know she still held her axe at the ready.
"Please stand," Hiccup told the Terror.
The small dragon flipped to his paws. His wings remained outstretched. He bowed.
"You shot at my brother when the duel between you both was paused," Hiccup began.
The Terror did not react.
"You insulted myself and my brother," Hiccup continued.
The Terror flinched slightly.
"You tried to flame me," Hiccup said.
The Terror jerked. His head lowered. His muzzle touched dirt. Pebbles and dust flew each time he took a breath.
"Yet you bit Bearspit's hand and saved Icewing's life. Why did you violate Civility Laws before and obey them later?"
The Terror took a deep breath. He sneezed. Hiccup frowned.
"Please sit up."
The Terror did but kept his gaze upon the ground.
"Now, please, explain."
[I saw the female I challenged your brother over when she saved the two fledglings with her flock. I admired her. I wished to court her. Myself and my flock followed her. We lost her flock. When one of my flock spotted her here, I was excited. Your brother spoke to the elder before I could. He and the elder were about to speak to her. I wanted to prove I was the better male so I challenged him.]
The Terror paused and his wings hunched inwards as his head lowered again.
[It was not your brother I aimed for when I fired that first shot. You came. The duel paused because you came. The elder bowed to you. She bowed to you.]
The Terror's eyes closed and his wings dropped. [I saw my sister split in two by the two-claw the female at your back holds. I saw it all again, heard her screams again, when everyone but my flock reacted as if you were an alpha. The Wind-shrieker and the Spike-thrower surprised me. Their insistence that you were the alpha of the nest infuriated me. Humans were not alphas. They were monsters… murderers. When the elder voided the duel I saw red.]
"How old was your sister?" Hiccup asked, softly.
[Fledgling. Barely. She and her creche hatched four months prior. A storm knocked her out of the tree. Too close to humans.] The Terror paused and his front paws griped and released the dirt below them. [She.. we didn't reach her before a human did.]
"How old were you?"
[Still.. still a youngling.]
"Look at me."
The Terror lifted his head. Hiccup saw a sheen in the dragon's eyes. He saw darkened scales under those eyes.
"Why did you save Icewing?"
[I couldn't save my sister. I wasn't fast enough. I wasn't strong enough. I was weak! I vowed upon her death I would never be weak again.]
The Terror paused. Hiccup saw the dragon's neck spasm. Saw his eyes jerk, blink, but keep their focused upon Hiccup.
[I was leaving. That human you had guarding me wasn't there to stop me. I would not let her make me sleep again. Humans would never kill me. I would not let them. I heard the noise. I saw the male holding the hatchling. I heard you tell the human to put her down. I saw all the dragons and the humans snarling at the male. Dragons stood beside humans. Humans did not turn their shiny claws upon the dragons. I saw the tiny claw. I heard my sister again. I.. I didn't think. I just snapped.]
"You didn't fly off afterwards," Hiccup said.
[You.. your voice.. I heard its power. I saw the dragons and humans respond to it. You.. you didn't get mad that I was there. The big dragon stomped the male. You did not get mad at him. You had humans drag the male away and they used a long claw to make him move. They turned their shiny claws upon a human that tried to hurt the hatchling. I.. I didn't.. still don't understand.]
Hiccup sat down. He knew the angle the Terror had to look up hurt. He remembered that pain when he had to stare up at anyone in the tribe taller than him for long periods of time. The Terror did not move. Hiccup tilted his head.
"Gothi wasn't there to guard you," he said.
The Terror blinked and tilted his head.
"She is our tribe's version of a dragon elder. She was there to ensure you survived after Pinpoint stomped you into the dirt."
[You.. She.. You directed your human elder to..to heal me?]
Hiccup smiled. "Yes. She feared a bone broke within your body and damaged your insides. The sleeps she put you in were so your body could heal. Sage, the Tiny-fang elder would sit with you when you were placed in these sleeps. She helped Gothi know if they were working and if you were healing."
The Terror shook himself. [I.. I don't understand. Why? I.. I violated Civility Laws. You.. Why would you have your elder heal me?]
"Not all humans are murderers," Hiccup said, smiling. "Just like not all dragons are vicious beasts. We all lost sight of these things during the war. I, and my nest, are trying to change that." Hiccup paused. "You still have to answer for what happened. Your actions were wrong even in Viking society."
The Terror sat up straighter. Hiccup tilted his head again.
"I grant you mercy."
The Terror's eyes widen.
Hiccup smiled. "I know as the alpha I have the right to exile you. I'm not going to. I know what it's like to feel weak. I know what it's like to admire someone to the point I have to prove myself in their eyes." Hiccup sighed. "I know what's it's like to not be able to help my family due to not being fast enough or strong enough. And I know what the pain of losing a loved one can do. I've seen it. I was not old enough to remember her but my dad has never forgotten my mother being taken by a dragon during a raid. So, instead of exile, I am granting you mercy."
The Terror bowed again. [Thank you, alpha of the nest. You humble me. By your leave I shall go and I will trouble your nest no more.]
"Not so fast," Hiccup said.
[Alpha of the nest?]
"You are going back to Gothi. She and Sage are going to make sure you are fully healed. I am sorry, all but one of your flock left before some in the nest had their mate-hood ceremonies. The one that remained is currently staying with Buttercup's flock in their tree close to the village. She always believed you would survive. You will spend some time with her. Reassure her that you are well." Hiccup paused. "I am curious. Where were you going to go last night?"
The Terror blinked. [I.. I don't know. I have no home. The humans near my flock's tree cut it down. We.. Most got away.]
Hiccup tilted his head again. "Hmm, let Gothi check you over. When she deems you are fully healed, you will prove that you will never violate Civility Laws like that again. If you do," Hiccup paused and smiled. "You and that female may remain here if you both wish."
[You.. you would let me stay?]
"Only if you prove you will never attack another in the nest again."
The Terror blinked again. [You're serious?]
[He is serious, Tiny-fang,] Toothless said. [My brother and alpha grants mercy and forgiveness when they merit. Your story.. your past merits mercy. You have one chance. Know that I as Nest Protector will keep a close eye upon you.]
The Terror tipped his head to Toothless. [I understand. May I ask what I must do to prove myself?]
"Alpha," Gyda began, "if I may, I think I know of a task he can preform if Gothi deems him healthy enough."
Hiccup looked over his shoulder. "What's that?"
"Pepper and Piper could tell him the general area her nest lies in. He can find her parents. Let them know she is safe and where she is at."
Hiccup blinked, tilting his head. He looked back to the Terror. "That would work. Pepper and Piper found our nest after a storm separated her from her flock. I know her parents are probably worried sick. If you could find her parents and tell them where she's at.. bring them back here if they wish to come.. it would take a weight off my shoulders."
The Terror bowed. [I shall do as you command, honorable alpha of the nest.]
Kirika: Heh, enemies of this nest will not last long. Hiccstrid will happen soon, I promise. Also Google Translate translated the word you, I guessed, used for Toothless as chimp. And yes, Toothless should be nervous. Hiccup and Sharpshot did say they would pay him back for all the teasing.