They left with no fanfare, as Shadowfire called it. Hiccup did not want the other Riders to feel bad that they could not come and see their dragons as well, so as soon as Hiccup told the ones he had to and gathered their things, they slipped away. Stoick knew. Gobber knew. Astrid's parents knew. Frost and Pale knew. They would let the tribe know when the group was far enough away.

The Head Guard, whose orders included keeping Hiccup and Astrid safe at all costs, had to be persuaded to remain. She did send a Terror with a request for extra volunteers to compensate for those leaving. The six new Changewings would be allowed to sleep in Gyda's house. Eydis gave her word that she would check up on all of them during the day and Moondust swore to not let the new dragons wreck the place. A vow that had the Head Guard snorting but not refuting.

According to Stormfly the flight would take two days and they would have to stay overnight on an island halfway there. The island proved barren and rocky which explained why Vikings did not settle upon it when they first reached the Archipelago. Even Outcast Island had some form of greenery upon it.

It took a good bit of time to find a suitable place to set up camp but as soon as everyone was fed, Shadowfire laid down and curled around everyone, forming a wall of scales. He insisted that Hiccup, Astrid, and his mother use him as a backrest. They did so, finding places under his wing. Toothless laid in a half circle around Gyda and Hiccup, as both the mage and the shieldmaiden placed the alpha in between them. Much to Hiccup's amusement. Stormfly curled around Astrid and Hiccup, her head in Astrid's lap while her tail laid against Toothless' wing. Toothless laid his head in Hiccup's lap. Hiccup was not sure how Astrid managed it, but she had her head upon his shoulder and still kept a hold of Stormfly's head. She also had an arm wrapped behind him, her hand laying by his hip.

[Brother?]

Hiccup blinked, not all that surprised that Toothless knew he was still awake even as Astrid and Gyda slept.

"Shh," Hiccup whispered. "Get some sleep."

One green eye half closed and Hiccup knew his brother was giving him his version of a raised eyebrow. He smiled and wondered if Toothless could see that even with Shadowfire's wing covering them.

[Why are you awake?]

"Excited and worried," Hiccup whispered.

[Over?]

"I can't wait to see the new hatchlings, but I worry what the other dragons will do with humans on the island. Stormfly did say they were unsure about us. I feel like we are invading into something they consider sacred."

Toothless snorted softly. [You are Alpha. It is your right to be there. It is your duty to let those hatchlings know who you are without the distractions the nest will give them.]

Hiccup ran his hand over the top of Toothless' head, guided by the green eyes that pierced the darkness.

[Sleep, my alpha,] Stormfly said. [Tomorrow when the sun sets, we will reach the hatching nest. The hatchlings are all eager to meet you. Worry not over the other dragons. They will get used to you.]

Hiccup went to question that but heard a purr with an odd pitch. He fought the sudden drowsiness he began to feel as he was still concerned, but his eyelids closed.

"You did that back in the cave during the snowstorm," Toothless said, remembering to keep his voice to a soft rumble.

He did not want to undo what Shadowfire had just done. Hiccup needed to sleep. Worrying could be done at a more sensible time, like when the sun was up and Toothless could take his brother flying in order to clear cluttered minds.

"When Nana died, Mom stayed up far too long and far too often. She above most needs sleep due to her magic. It is deadly to her if she does not keep it balanced. Uncle Ombra used to purr like that when I would be scared by a storm and mother would be gone for formal training with her teachers. He promised to teach me but died before he could. I learned it on my own to make Mama sleep."

"That uncle of yours seemed to know many things my hatch nest also knows."

"I don't know what to tell you. Uncle Ombra did not speak of his past."

Toothless was silent for a bit then he voiced something that had bothered him since he met the bigger dragon.

"You called Hiccup Alpha from the start, but you all say that his tale was something you did not believe was true."

Shadowfire hesitated and Toothless realized the dragon knew more than he was letting on. Shadowfire finally sighed.

"I am bound by an oath. So are Frost and Pale. The ones who sent Mother to be their messenger made us vow to not speak of certain things until a point in the future. Mother does not know of this vow. She was not in the room when we were asked. The mate of the one Alpha calls Loki took her out to discuss how she would keep the humans from attacking the dragons being brought. Loki was the one to asks us to vow."

"Will it endanger my brother or the nest?"

"I don't believe so, but we are allowed to break the vow if that were to ever happen."

"And if Hiccup orders you to speak?"

"He is Alpha. I obey him in all things."

Toothless took a deep breath. "I will accept that and speak no more of this. You have proven your honor many times. Get some sleep. I suspect we will all need our strength when we meet those hatchlings."

Green eyes stared down from a high roost at the big black dragon curled around and protecting the humans and other dragons. Black nostrils flared catching the sent of one who ran away. The eyes became slits. A cruel grin spilt a black muzzle.

Prince: What do you mean?

Dark: A chief of another tribe almost put Hiccup into slavery.

Kirika: I take it we are a bit excited? Let's just say, expect the unexpected.