And we offically have more chapters than Two Worlds: One Family and we haven't even got to the good part yet. Anyone ready for a long ride? It's looking it it will be.
"Shadowfire, fly low over Toothless," Hiccup said.
Shadowfire curled his neck so he could look back at Hiccup. To Hiccup's surprise the dragon cackled. Shadowfire closed his wings. They dropped. Hiccup's belly raced to his mouth. Shadowfire flared his wings. Flapped them hard. Fought to stay level. He flew forward. They were within jumping distance above Toothless. Hiccup grunted but jumped off. He felt the wind as Shadowfire switched to a hover and repeatedly beat his wings. Toothless, also caught, tucked his head down. Hiccup mounted his dragon, locking his leg into the petal. Shadowfire's wings flapped but the big dragon rose. The wind eased. Toothless jerked. Shot skyward. Hiccup fought to clip the tether lines. They clicked just as Toothless began to barrel roll.
"I'm not going anywhere, Toothless," Hiccup stated, and he felt the thing within his soul rise to coat his words.
He frowned. This thing seemed to have twin minds about what it wanted to do and when it wanted to do it. Toothless whined. A blood red fireball shot from his mouth. Shadowfire, flying beside them, deflected it with a wing. The bigger dragon then rose above them.
[Lay against his back, Alpha!]
Hiccup did not hesitate. He hugged Toothless' neck. Shadowfire dropped. Toothless, no match for Shadowfire's weight dropped too. Hiccup saw Shadowfire's claws grip Toothless. Toothless thrashed but Shadowfire held on. Toothless' wings beat against Shadowfire. Shadowfire held on. More blood red fireballs erupted from Toothless' mouth. Shadowfire held on.
"Take him to the beach!" Hiccup yelled up.
Shadowfire banked. Toothless fought but in his weaken state could not break free. Hiccup kept the tailfin shifting as needed, not even thinking of its movements. Shadowfire dove. Toothless, still held in the dragons's grip could not go anywhere.
[Alpha, I will drop him, Dismount once he's down, please.]
Hiccup grunted. Shadowfire dropped Toothless. Hiccup dismounted. Toothless tried to run. Shadowfire landed over him, paws to either side of Toothless' head and tail. Toothless whipped his tail. Shadowfire grunted but did not move. Toothless beat his wings. Shadowfire waited until Toothless' head lifted. He shifted his front paws under Toothless' chin. Hiccup saw the dragon shift his weight to his back legs. His forelegs forced Toothless' head higher. Shadowfire's shifted to stretch out behind him. Toothless' mouth opened. Gyda, out of the saddle and hanging onto the side, held a cloth in front of Toothless' nose. Hiccup blinked as Toothless slump, his eyes closed. Shadowfire kept one paw under Toothless' chin. He straightened the other. Lowered his front half to the ground and placed a snoring Toothless upon the sand. Hiccup looked up at Gyda, eyebrow lifted.
"Something Nana taught me," she said, holding up the cloth. "It's a scent that knocks out dragons."
"And what Shadowfire did?"
[Something Uncle Ombra taught me,] Shadowfire said. [He said I would need to know it one day.]
"Hiccup," Gyda began, "that won't keep him asleep long."
Hiccup jerked. "Right."
He hurried to brew the tea, using heat from a fire courtesy of Shadowfire. Just as the tea was done, Fishlegs, Meatlug, Boulder, Moondust, and a red colored Fire-spiraler landed. Hiccup blinked when three dragons that looked like miniature, if different colored, versions of the big one hopped off the Fire-spiraler's wing. The bigger one lowered its head, staring at Hiccup, Toothless, Shadowfire, and Gyda. It curled its neck to face Fishlegs.
[He is your alpha?] the dragon asked, its voice female.
"Yes," Fishlegs answered.
[You said the Wind-shrieker was sick. It looks like it's sleeping.]
[Toothless ate half of a red eel in order to save his brother's life,] Moondust stated, staring at the dragon.
[You said that,] the Fire-spiraler said. [But I see no evidence that the Wind-shrieker is sick and I fail to see why he would save the dragon whose species' name I do not know. Or why humans would bow to a dragon and call them alpha. I stopped my brother from hurting you based on your tales. Give me straight and honest answers or I will let him run you all off.]
Hiccup's eyes narrowed. He stood, feeling the thing within him rise as well. "Toothless is sick. He did eat a bloodbane eel to keep it from killing me. They are telling you the truth."
The Fire-spiraler's head jerked and zeroed upon Hiccup. The smaller versions chirped and stood still, staring at Hiccup as well. The bigger one's eyes narrowed.
[Your voice holds a power I have not heard of being used in a long time.]
Hiccup blinked but heard Toothless hiss. He jerked. Spun. Toothless stared at him, teeth bared. Shadowfire lowered his belly. Toothless, still trapped under the dragon, only screeched. Hiccup grabbed his water jar, dumped it, and scooped up some of the tea. He hissed as heat licked the fingers of his right hand. He ignored it. Toothless' mouth opened. Blood red flames built in his throat. Hiccup upended the jar. Toothless moaned, hissed. His head lifted, trying to get away from the jar. Shadowfire' forelegs gripped Toothless' head again. He shifted back, holding Toothless in the same position as earlier.
"Rub his throat, Alpha," Gyda called. "Make him swallow it."
Hiccup ran his hand in soothing but downward manner along Toothless' throat. He felt the twinges as Toothless swallowed the tea. Toothless whined. Hissed. Growled. His tail thrashed against Shadowfire's back legs. Hiccup's heart twisted upon itself. Shadowfire still kept Toothless' head back. Long moments later, Toothless jerked. He pawed the sand. His throat and belly began spasming. Shadowfire released him. Grabbed the back of Hiccup's tunic with his teeth, reminding Hiccup of the Fireworm's cave. Hiccup jerked when Shadowfire lifted him off the ground just as Toothless threw up. Hiccup grimaced then he tapped Shadowfire's jaw. He had to be beside his brother. He had to comfort his brother. Shadowfire lowered him to Toothless' right side. The dragon shifted back to give Hiccup the room. Hiccup fell upon the back of his brother's neck.
"It's okay, Toothless," Hiccup said, rubbing his brother's neck and the top of Toothless' head. "It's okay. Just get it all out. You'll feel better afterwards."
The last thing Toothless threw up was the eel. Hiccup heard the Fire-spiraler hum. Heard the smaller Fire-spiralers chitter and chirp. He ignored them. He could feel his brother's tense muscles loosen. He hugged his brother's neck. Toothless whined and tried to pull away. Hiccup tightened his hold.
[It smells,]
Hiccup heard the whisper and he wept at the roughness of Toothless' voice.
[Alpha, please release him,] Shadowfire said. [I will carry him to the grass behind you so he can rest.]
Hiccup, reluctant, stepped back.
[Alpha,] Moondust began, [Shadowfire can't rise with you standing right there.]
Hiccup did not want to leave his brother's side, but he knew he had to. He turned and slowly crossed the sand. Moondust stepped forward, offering her back, just like Toothless, when he stumbled. Hiccup smiled at her. She walked beside him and though he stared ahead, his focus remained behind. He felt wind and heard wings flapping.
True to his words, Shadowfire gently placed Toothless on the grass before rising into the air and gliding away far enough that his wings did not buffer anyone as Hiccup and the others rushed to Toothless' side.
Hiccup fell beside his brother's left side as Toothless flopped onto his belly. He frowned when Toothless flinched. Hiccup shifted closer, laying against the side of his brother's neck. His frown grew when Toothless allowed the action but shifted to look away.
"Toothless?"
[I almost killed you, my alpha,] Toothless whispered.
"It wasn't your fault, bud. You would never hurt me. I know that. You were sick. You actually saved my life by eating that eel."
Hiccup laid his left cheek against Toothless.
"You always keep me safe, brother."
Kirika: Hehe, Fishlegs is braver than he looks, but one has to coax it out of him at times. Hiccup's confidence in him worked this time.