Morning brought a bit of a problem. In order to save space within the cavern, the adults had built one nest for all the hatchlings to sleep in. The adults also insisted that Hiccup, Astrid, and Gyda sleep in that nest as well since it would be softer than the stone floor. A good idea until one realized they really needed to get up but had two Nadders, two Nightmares, three Gronckles, and one Zippleback hatchling laying upon them. Not to mention their intended was curled into their side with her head upon their shoulder. It also did not help that it had been late when everyone finally got to sleep due to over excited hatchlings meeting people they had been told about since they hatched which caused everyone to sleep in it seemed.
[Bit of a predicament there, brother?] Toothless asked from the edge of the nest though he kept his voice soft.
Hiccup glared at his dragon brother over Astrid's braid and tried to remove escaped strands of hair that found their way into his mouth. All without waking Astrid or the hatchlings up. Toothless chortled softly then turned away and disappeared from view. Hiccup laid there, staring up at the cavern roof and tried not to think about how much he really needed to move right then.
Toothless returned with Hookfang. Hiccup could see the amusement in the Nightmare's eyes and wondered just what Toothless had told him. Hookfang gave a soft chuff. The two Nightmare hatchlings, curled up in a ball upon Hiccup's belly and making the problem Hiccup faced that much worse, stirred. Hiccup gritted his teeth as the hatchlings lifted their heads and chirped up at their father. Hookfang chuffed again. This got the other hatchlings stirring as well. Hiccup closed his eyes, praying it would soon be over.
The hatchlings thankfully shuffled off of Hiccup. Hookfang and Toothless aided the hatchlings over the side of the nest even as the other hatchlings all around woke and chittered before following suite. Astrid still did not stir. Toothless and Hookfang, amusement still shining in their eyes, chortled.
[We'll leave her to you, Alpha,] Hookfang said.
Hiccup glared at them again just for the principle of it. The two dragons disappeared from view again. Hiccup then set about gently removing his arm from under Astrid, trying extremely hard to not wake her. He had found in the Great Hall during that snowstorm that unless the matter was dire or involved new people doing stupid things, Astrid did not like to be awaken suddenly. She still got grouchy even if the matter was urgent but would always calm as soon as she knew the situation. The matter seemed highly urgent to Hiccup, but she might not think so. At least not enough to forgive him for rudely waking her, especially after so little sleep the night before.
"I'm awake," a sleepy voice muttered. "The hatchlings walking over me woke me."
"Sorry," Hiccup whispered.
"It's okay, Hiccup. Go. If we are not really needed when you get return, I want my pillow back."
Hiccup smiled as he eased over the edge of the nest. "As Milady requests," he said before rushing out the cave and finding some rock outcropping as far away from prying eyes as possible.
He reached ice but knew the one he had come for was not there. Not yet. His wings tucked against white scales. He dove. He heard the alerts. The alarms. He landed. Snow-eaters stared at him. Tiny-icespitters regarded him from perches higher up the rock. Ice-shooters stared from the sides of the mountain. He did not move. Presently one of the Tiny-icespitters scurried into an opening behind it. He waited. The alpha of the nest would come. He knew. He would be patient. He would always be patient.
He flew over the island, noting the number of dragons and seeing the hatchlings rushing around the paws of their parents. He saw his target. He frowned. Another Wind-shrieker stood next to his target. Male from the scent and not from any nest he knew. No matter. Not his target. The bigger dragon. He held the information. He would reveal her location. She ran but he would find her. She was his and his alone. He flew on. He would watch. He would wait.
He was not foolish enough to demand his answers and teach his target the lesson about hiding his mate right then. Not while parents were guarding their hatchlings. He was not foolish enough to endanger the young of so many nests. He might be the son of a high ranked hunter back home, but the elder would take a pound of his scales if she knew he harmed any hatchlings. The alpha would be cross that he enraged other nests. Nest that would demand retribution over his actions. Even she was not worth that hassle.
Her head lifted. Her nostrils flared. A scent that rested in the back of her mind played in the wind. She glanced at the others with her. All three had their heads lifted as well. It seemed they smelled something they remembered too. Three heads turned to the cliff far above and to the south of the island. She frowned. The scent from her memory flew from that direction. She blinked. They had said a Wind-shrieker had raised them. Could it be he? Could they be the reason for his absence? She frowned. That made no sense. He was not with them when she found them watching over two Spike-throwers and two Rock-biter that let the three stay with them in their den.
The Sand-spitter stood.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"I know that scent, but she said he was dead. She swore he would never return. I know she lied. She always lied. I must go. I must know. I lost him once. I will not lose him again."
"I will come with you," she said, standing. She had to know as well. "You others stay here."
"No," the Flame-skin said, also standing.
"We must know too," the Spike-thrower added, standing as well.
She sighed but turned to the Rock-biters, who were watching over their hatchlings as well as the Spike-throwers' hatchlings as the Spike-throwers were hunting fish for all of them.
"We'll be back."
"I understand," the male said.
Four wings flared. Four dragons rose. They flew along the side of the island until they reached a sheer cliff. Above. The scent was stronger from above. They rose, cleared the edge of the cliff, and shifted to a hover. She stared down, eyes wide. It was him. She had found him. The three with her cried in joy and landed. They were met with curious stares from all the dragons. The Sand-spitter, though, paid them no mind. He rushed at her brother, her long lost brother, and nuzzled against him.
"I knew she lied," the Sand-spitter said, "I knew you wouldn't have been killed by those humans. Nothing can take out my dad."
Kirika: I think the new chapter answers that, my friend.
Dark: Hehe, I'm glad. Them teasing each other now is a great thing. They have really come a long way, haven't they?
Prince: Always. And yep. It certainly took him long enough, don't you think?