[Alpha,] Meatlug said, [since the younglings' companions are Rock-biters and Spike-throwers, those of us who are the same species can go aid in bringing all of them up here.]

Hiccup turned to her and smiled. "Go," he said. "Get them here before the waves threaten those hatchlings again."

[Son,] Toothless said, looking at the dragon Hiccup still did not recognize, [you and your siblings go with Meatlug.]

[Yes, Dad,] the three younglings chorused.

They rose into the air along with Meatlug, Windwalker, Pinpoint, two other Gronckles and one other Nadder.

[Please,] Meatlug said, [lead the way.]

The group dove over the side of the cliff. Hiccup heard various footsteps and turned, finding the Gronckle, Nadder, and Nightmare elders from each of the three flocks that he let stay in Berk standing behind Toothless.

[Is everything well, honored alpha?] the Gronckle asked. [We heard the roars even while out getting food for our flocks. The other told us of an issue when we returned.]

"Everything is well, thank you," Hiccup said. "We found a member of Toothless' flock and she was surprised by me."

The Nightmare tilted his head. [Understandable that she would be, but I get the feeling there is more to all of this. We shall return to our flocks, honored alpha, but if you need aid do not hesitate to call.]

Hiccup tipped his head. "Thank you."

[Our respective alphas will soon be here,] the Nadder said, her gaze shifted to Toothless' sister and back again. [I am sure they will all wish to meet you, honored alpha, to thank you for allowing us to find rest in your territory.]

"I would be honored to meet them as well," Hiccup said.

The three elders moved back to their flocks. Hiccup saw and heard them speak to the other dragons in the Old Tongue. Given all looked his way and then looked at Toothless' sister, he suspected they were explaining what was going on.

Hiccup turned back, catching sight of Astrid and Gyda guarding the cave's entrance. He tipped his head. Astrid holstered her axe and moved through the remaining nest dragons. That they made room for her did not go unnoticed by Toothless' sister either. She still hissed and growled.

[More humans. You breed like vermin.]

Hiccup saw Astrid's eyes narrow. He did not even attempt to stop what he knew was coming. Sister to Toothless the female Night Fury might be, she had brought this upon herself.

"You speak of humans killing dragons," Astrid said, her voice ice. "Yet you forget that dragons have killed humans as well."

[Why should I care? Less humans in the world then.]

"Oh, get over yourself," Astrid said. "We all faced tragedies in that war. I watched my uncle die because of a dragon and I was what a dragon would consider a fledgling at the time. Hiccup was a hatchling when a dragon took his mother. Thing is, Hiccup ended that war because he chose to see beyond what was always thought as right, to look beyond all that death and destruction, and find the truth of the matter."

[And what truth is that?]

"That a dragon ordered her nest to raid humans, to steal from humans, to kill and take humans from their homes."

[You lie!]

[No,] Stormfly said, stepping forward to stand next to her rider. [She does not. A female Lava-dweller did order her nest to raid humans, to steal food from the humans, and to take humans from their nests. To kill them if they interfered. And, not unlike a dragon whose nest is violated, the humans retaliated. The humans, though, did not know dragons were being ordered to act in such manners and began to see all dragons as the enemy the same way you see all humans as the enemy even though there are three here who have offered you no harm despite repeated insults flung their way.]

[And why should I believe the words of a dragon that bows to humans?]

[Because most of here were once a part of that Lava-dweller's nest,] Hookfang said, moving so that he was behind Hiccup and Astrid and his head and neck extended over them. [Including the brother you searched for. We were all ordered to raid humans and bring food back to that Lava-dweller or else she ate us as punishment.]

The female Night Fury looked to her brother.

[Hookfang is right,] Toothless said. [I was her Nest Protector. I guarded the raiding flocks. The first one I ever when out on, she deemed they did not bring back enough food. She ate one of the four younglings who called me Father. She ate him right in front of me and said that fate would befall the other three if I did not do as I was ordered and do it correctly.]

The sister looked back at Hookfang. [You said most,] she said.

Shadowfire moved from his place next to the cave. The nest dragons moved to let him through. Hiccup saw the female Night Fury's eyes widen.

[He means myself,] Shadowfire said. [At least out of the group that you see here. Myself, my brother, and his mate are not from here. Our previous nest is far from here actually. Myself and my brother were also raised by a human. A human who saved us from other humans who had killed our blood parents and took our eggs. Our mother killed those other humans in order to save us.]

[How did humans kill your blood parents, Tall-singer?] the sister asked. [My ancestors swore to protect your kind.]

Shadowfire blinked. [Your ancestors did what now?]

Toothless sighed. [Our ancestors befriend some of your kind, Shadowfire. We never sure how they ended up at the nest, but they were taken in and promised shelter. There still many in my previous nest now.]

[I see,] Shadowfire said. He shook himself. [But as I said, I am not from here. Nor is my mother or my brother or his mate.]

Before Toothless' sister could say anything more, the others returned. Meatlug and the other two Gronckles each carried one Gronckle hatchling. They hovered just barely over the stone and gently set the hatchlings down. Next came Windwalker, Pinpoint, and the other Nadder. They also placed the single hatchling each carried down next to the Gronckle hatchlings. All six then moved away, rejoining their mates. Toothless' younglings hovered just off the edge and let the two adult Gronckles and two adult Nadders land. The hatchlings scurried to their parents, staring around at everyone with curious and slightly fearful eyes. The parents also stared but without curiosity in their eyes. They were wary.

[We were told the alpha of the dragons that carried our hatchlings up here wished us to come,] one of the Gronckles, the brown one, said, its voice male.

Hiccup stepped away from Astrid but looked at Toothless' younglings first.

"Please land," he said. "There is no need to hover."

The younglings did so, moving immediately to Toothless' side. Hiccup smiled at them then turned back to the Gronckles and the Nadders.

"I am the alpha that wished you all come here. These younglings said they keep the waves from drowning your hatchlings. Here the waves can't reach them at all. You all are welcomed to roost here amongst my nest."

Before the adults could respond an entirely new and rather big dragon rose out of the water. It growled something the Old Tongue that sounded questioning and then it noticed Hiccup and snarled.

Prince: Is that a want for Sand Wraiths or a comment about not wanting them? Cause the Sand-spitter is a Sand Wraith. Hiccup not knowing what it is will explained in the next chapter.

Dark: Hehe, never be surprised that Hiccup observes things. Or that he remembers his brother's story about why he was in the Red Death's lair.