In celebration of a 100 chapters, I give you alot of baby dragons. Enjoy. :)
As Stormfly promised, they arrived at the hatching nest just as the sun began to sink beyond what Gyda called the horizon though everyone else said it was the edge of the world. Hiccup turned his gaze down to the island instead of the horizon. He trusted Gyda's term for it and her knowledge that the world was round over the others. The others also swore dragons were monsters and would always go for the kill after all.
They flew over an extension that had a small pond of water in the center. None of the dragons upon the nest got near that pond and any hatchling they could see that stepped a claw that way was promptly shuffled back. Hiccup's nose crinkled from the smell rising from the water, even this far up.
"Sulphur," Gyda said.
At that word, Shadowfire immediately rose higher with powerful flaps of his wings. Startled, Toothless and Stormfly followed. They reached the clouds and the smell was not as noticeable.
"What is sulphur?" Hiccup asked, slowly pronouncing the new word.
"A deadly gas that comes from under the ground," Gyda responded. "A tiny amount breathed in and you'll get knocked out. Problem is while you are sleeping you'll still breathing it in. Too much kills you."
"Why would the dragons choose this place to hatch their babies?" Astrid asked as Shadowfire dove when they far beyond the small pond.
"That little bit of water only had the sulphur and its got land surrounding it. It's likely a vent in the world's..eh, crust is allowing the gas to escape right there but no where else on the island. As for why this place was chosen, I suspect the waters around the island is very warm. Warmer waters means more food for fish with means more food for dragons who eat fish."
[The waters are warm and full of fish,] Stormfly said. [We did know of that water and all the dragons realize its smell is a bad thing. We did not know exactly what it was or what would happen if any ventured there, which why it's a forbidden part of the land. Thank you, Elder Gyda. I can inform the other dragons now.]
"You're welcome."
[Come,] Stormfly said. [We are settled near a cave on the other side of the island. Far from that smelly water.]
She banked left over the island. Toothless and Shadowfire followed her. Hiccup could see the mix of Nadders, Gronckles, Zipplebacks, and Nightmares stop what they were doing to watch the three dragons fly overhead. Some stared in confusion. Some glared. Many looked on with curiosity. A few stared with open hostility. Thankfully, Stormfly flew away from them as well.
They landed upon a rocky area. The land was large enough that the adult dragons could lay down in the sun if they wished but it did end abruptly in a steep cliff on its south side. Hiccup could not help but grin. Berk held many such cliffs. It seemed the nest dragons felt at ease here because it reminded them of home. At least, Hiccup hoped so.
[Welcome.]
[Our alpha.]
Hiccup turned from looking out over the waters beyond the cliff and smiled as Knowledge and Wisdom, befitting their places as an Elder, approached him before even the other bonded dragons. Both heads bowed. The other adults out of the cave behind them all also bowed to Hiccup. To his surprise, the dragons around his did not blink at an eye at their actions. He looked closer and his smile grew. The dragons that nested near his were the three flocks that rested in Berk and left with the nest dragons. Hiccup was happy his dragons were amongst friends.
[Come, Alpha,] Knowledge said.
[Lady Alpha,] Wisdom added.
[The hatchlings,] Knowledge continued.
[Are in the cave.] Wisdom finished.
The Zippleback moved to the cave opening but stopped beside it and gestured for Hiccup and Astrid to proceed him. Hiccup took Astrid's hand and with one smiling glance at Toothless, Gyda, and Shadowfire who waited where they had landed, both entered the cave. Stormfly followed them. She chittered. Hiccup gasped softly as many fires resting in opened throats illuminated the center of the cave.
Sixty pairs had left the nest and given the number of little dragons rushing across the floor it seemed that each pair had at least two, if not three, hatchlings. As soon as their parents lit up the cave, the hatchlings stopped and turned. Stormfly moved to stand beside Hiccup and chirped. She then bowed, wings spread. The mix of hatchlings chittered and squeaked. It sounded questioning and Stormfly responded.
[Go on, Alpha,] she said standing and turning her head so she could stare at him. [Meet them.]
Hiccup and Astrid stepped closer to the hatchlings. They all watched with dilated eyes. When they got with in arm's distance of the hatchlings, Hiccup and Astrid sat down. Three Nadder hatchlings, no bigger than Ringfire's smallest hatchling when Hiccup and Astrid first met them, shuffled closer. A blue-green one spread its wings and hissed. Stormfly gave a sharp chirp. The hatchling instantly crooned. Stormfly chittered.
The purple one beside the blue-green one looked at its friend, snorted, and walked right up to Hiccup. Hiccup held up his hand, palm out, and turned his gaze. He heard a series of chitters then felt a small beak press into his hand. He turned back. The purple Nadder cooed and began nuzzling. Hiccup smiled. He gently scratched a head no bigger than his own hand and that held only nubs where a crown of horns would show later.
The Nadder squawked, ducked under Hiccup's arm, and jumped into his lap. He winced as claws hit a place he was not ready for. He glanced up at an abbreviated snort. Astrid, who had the red-orange Nadder in her lap and was running her hand down a tail devoid of spikes, looked as if she was biting back laughter. Hiccup frowned then smirked. He leaned over, his lips finding her ear.
"Would have thought you wouldn't want any of me hurt, my love, especially there."
Astrid snorted. "You'll heal."
Hiccup set back and stared at her. She grinned, leaned over, and kissed him. That caused the Nadders and the other hatchlings to chitter. Hiccup turned just as the rest of the hatchlings, deciding the humans in the midst were not dangerous, rushed forward. Hiccup forgot the tease between him and Astrid as he had to contend with Nightmares the length of his arm trying to push the purple Nadder out of his lap, Zipplebacks the same size at the Nightmares all nuzzling against his hair and back, the blue-green Nadder now wanting attention, and Gronckles, half the size as the others, crawling all over his legs.
Even as the parents tried to wrangle their young into some semblance of an order, Hiccup knew he would not have wanted this to have gone any different. This was what made being alpha and dealing with the uncertainty of it all worth it. These young would not even be here had he not befriend what had been a demon in his people's eyes and had he not killed a true demon in everyone's eyes. This, seeing these young being free and happy, made him feel as if he truly was an alpha. Truly was their alpha. That he really did deserve that title and all the came with it.
Kirika: Thank you. I honestly did not expect this book to be this long but I have had a blast writing it. Ah, yes, the mysterious watcher.. more about that one in a bit. We need babies and smiles right now.
Dark: Hehe, told if Hiccup orders it, not just asked. Or if keeping it places Hiccup or the nest in danger.
Prince: Thank you.