They all arrived to find another, bigger flock of dragons hovering above the village. The flock also consisted of a mix of Nadders, Nightmares, Zipplebacks, and Gronckles. It had more Nadders than any of the others though.
A lone silver and red Nadder hovered in front of Stormfly. Astrid sat upon Stormfly's back and Windwalker and Winddancer bracketed Stormfly. Hovering in line behind them was the rest of the Riders, the mates of their dragons, the Elders, and Torgier and Firestorm. Hiccup was grateful to see that Torgier and Firestorm stayed near to Fishlegs, Meatlug, and Boulder.
Hiccup saw Astrid glance his way before pointing at him. The lone Nadder shifted so its left eye could see him. Hiccup looked over his shoulder at the flock behind him. He knew they were tired but he needed to see to this before getting them settled. He pointed down. So long as they were not trying to lay down to sleep, the cliff below them would let them at least rest their wings.
"As soon as I see about this," he said, "I'll help you all find a place to rest until tomorrow."
[Thank you, alpha of the nest,] the Gronckle said as he and the others dove to land on the cliff.
Toothless waited until all the dragons touched down before flying over to join the others.
[The human says you are the alpha of this nest,] the Nadder said, its voice female and its left eye upon Hiccup as Toothless shifted into a hover near Winddancer.
Hiccup's eyes narrowed. "She is my future queen," he said, allowing his power to coat his words.
The Nadder twitched. The nest dragons chortled. The Riders, except for Astrid, snickered smugly. Astrid, Hiccup noted, stared at him with a brilliant smile and tip of her head. Hiccup would have returned the smile had he still not been glaring at the Nadder. No one insulted or slighted Astrid in Hiccup's presence.
[I apologize,] the Nadder said. [Myself and those above us are from the northeast and our interactions with humans do not end well for us.]
Hiccup hummed. "Noted," he said, his power still coating his words though with less strength.
He was still not pleased the Nadder first considered Astrid a mere human and not the gods-sent woman to stand at his side and to inspire him to do better, be better. The woman he could have done none of this without.
"It has been a long war with enough bitterness and distrust on both sides," he continued. "Now it is a time to heal as we can in the places we can."
[You speak wisdom,] the Nadder said. She looked to Astrid and tipped her head. [I apologize, future queen of the nest.]
Astrid stared at the Nadder in silence then tipped her head. "Forgiven," she said.
[I am curious though,] the Nadder said, [how a human became the alpha of a nest of humans and dragons. We were under the impression that a Lava-dweller ruled this territory.]
"The dragons declared me the alpha," Hiccup said. "You would have to ask them why. I'm still not sure."
[Because you defeated that fallen queen,] Winddancer said. [Because you forgave our breach of Civility Laws while under the orders of that monster and forgave our continued breach after the war ended. Because you allowed us a place in your nest and did not exile us as was your right. Because you allowed us to live again, teach again, be dragons again.]
Hiccup stared at the elder Nadder and smiled. "You didn't deserve exile and it wasn't your fault that monster made you raid us or be eaten by her. And you deserve to live and be who you are just as much as everyone else."
[The Lava-dweller ate her own nest members?] the silver and red Nadder asked, shocked.
[Yes,] Toothless stated. [For not bringing her back tribute, for disobeying her, for moments when she was just in foul mood.]
[We had heard rumors but we did not think an alpha dragon would revert back to those beliefs and actions. We thought the few that survived those wars would see the devastations such things wrought.]
[We do not know what brought her to that point,] Winddancer said. [Besides myself, Lorekeeper is the oldest living dragon from that nest who now follow our Alpha and even he does not know. We were all hatched and raised in that nest and she was queen of it for all our lives.]
This caused the Nadder to squawk and shake herself. Hiccup frowned.
"What is wrong?" he asked.
[She is surprised and dismayed, Alpha,] Winddancer said. [While we are the oldest of our kinds living in this nest and thus elders, we are still considered too young to be such. The Illusion-scales elder was equally surprised and dismayed when she visited us and found out how old we truly are.]
Hiccup blinked and stare at Winddancer. She chortled.
[That you do not ask even though you are curious,] she said, [shows how much of a true Alpha you are. Lorekeeper hatched one hundred of your years after that fallen queen began forcing raiding flocks to attack humans. I hatched one of your years after he did.]
Hiccup's jaw dropped. He saw Astrid's eyes widen. The Nadder chittered.
[So young,] she whispered. [Yet with so much wisdom gained through pain and suffering.] The Nadder looked to Hiccup. [You did more than just free all of us to return to the hatching nest and properly rear our young. You have given me, and them, hope for a brighter future. Thank you.]
Hiccup tipped his head. "I had help even though all my help says they acted upon my orders."
The Nadder chuckled. [And you show humility. I am honored to have met you, young alpha.]
Hiccup coughed but then frowned and looked up at the flock of dragons still hovering near to the clouds. He looked back down at the Nadder.
"How long have you all been flying?" he asked.
[For several rises and settings of the sun and moon,] the Nadder replied.
Hiccup shifted to look over his shoulder at the other dragons still waiting at the cliff like he told them to. He turned back to the Riders behind Astrid and Stormfly.
"Snotlout, you, Hookfang, and Wingblaze, go gather those dragons on the cliff and bring them here."
Hiccup looked to the silver and red Nadder as the three tasked moved to affect their orders.
"They have flown from the north and have asked for permission to rest within the boundaries of the nest," he said. "I offer this same rest to you and those with you so long as you and they do not insult or harm any in my nest."
[I agree to your terms, young alpha and I thank you.]
"Now," Hiccup said as Snotlout, the Nightmares, and the other flock joined them. "We need to find a place for all of you to rest."
[Alpha?]
Hiccup looked beyond the Nadder as Ringfire lifted over Gyda's house and came to hover near to Windwalker.
[I know of a cavern just under Elder Gyda's den that would give sufficient room for all of them to sleep.]
"Is it easy to get to?"
[Unfortunately, without an opening on the side of the cliff right under Elder Gyda's den, no.]
Hiccup heard Shadowfire snort seconds before he heard Gyda snicker. He glanced over finding both mother and son shaking their heads. Gyda noticed his regard and grinned.
"I don't mind if a hole is made," she said. "I trust Ringfire to not crash my home into the cavern or the sea."
Ringfire snorted. Hiccup chuckled, though he got the feeling the mage and her son was reacting to something they knew from their time and not the prospect of Ringfire burrowing under their home. Hiccup glanced down at his father, standing beside Brynjar, Gobber, and Spitelout next to the feeding basin's pole. Stoick nodded his head. Hiccup looked back to Ringfire.
"Make the opening so we can get them settled."
Kirika: Hehe, it shall be interesting even though none of the new dragons are actually staying long. This is kinda a stop over for them.