"Old friend," the Wind-shrieker alpha said days after that first meeting. "A human has happened upon our nest. You said the one you wait for is human as well. Would you like to see if this human is the one?"
The Way-guard stood, shaking off the leaves provided for a place to sleep. Due to his limited eyesight he did not see the smile his old friend gave, but he heard the smile in the Wind-shrieker's voice.
"I see you rested well. Come, the human has created a den near the south portion of the nest. Several Tiny-icespitters are watching over him and three Ice-shooters are backing the Tiny-icespitters."
/Sensible as always./
The Wind-shrieker laughed and led the Way-guard through the corridors until they entered the main chamber of the nest. The Wind-shrieker's wings flared and he lifted off the lower ledge, rising to a ledge midway up the cavern wall and to the right of the first ledge. The Way-guard followed.
The Wind-shrieker walked down a curling corridor to an opening that let icy wind rush into the nest. The Way-guard did not mind the ice. He stood for seasons upon the highest point of his nest until told to leave his post after all. Ice, snow, cold of any kind held no power to harm him.
They stepped out onto a ledge where four Ting-icespitters overlooked a human made outside den hidden in the protected side of a rock spike. Funny enough the rock spike the ledge held, allowing anyone upon the ledge to stared right down at the human as he moved around his little den area. The Way-guard lowered to his belly, allowing his powerful nose to read the scents in the up wind. He trusted his old friend and his old friend's nest to keep watch and ensure the human did not attack.
The Way-guard stood and shook his head.
/He would have the smell of dragons upon him. This human does not./
"As the Way-guard shook his head, shall we run the human off then, my alpha?" a male Ice-shooter asked, his voice low to avoid the human hearing them and attacking.
"Did the human offer any harm to the Tiny-icespitter who rested upon the rock below and first saw the human?"
"No, my alpha. The human did shout but produced no shiny claws and waited until the Tiny-icespitter left before setting up his odd den."
"Then no. Watch the human but do not harm him. My eldest tells me that my second hatched has befriended a human and that the fighting between humans and dragons has been reduced and completely stopped within the nest my second hatched has chosen to live in. We will honor my son's decision by not attacking unless we have to."
"Yes, my alpha," the Ice-shooter said bowing his head and spreading his wings.
The Wind-shrieker tipped his head and then turned to the Way-guard. "Come, old friend. We shall find my eldest. His story is something I suspect you would like to hear."
Hiccup saw the big Nightmare jerk and stare at Hookfang.
[Nephew? You left the nest many seasons ago. Your father claims it was his fault.]
Hiccup heard Hookfang sigh and shuffle closer. Hiccup turned and moved to stand next Hookfang. Hookfang lightly brushed his head against Hiccup's frame before focusing upon the big Nightmare.
[It was not Father's fault. It was mine. I was angry over something he had decided that I did not want to do, so I left.]
The big Nightmare's eyes narrowed. [What did he decide that you chose no nest over doing this thing?]
Hookfang sighed. [He wished I enter a mate-hood with that female Flame-skin who visited the nest.]
Hiccup saw the big Nightmare's eyes widen then blink. [You chose a life without a nest and without a flock over an arranged mate-hood?]
[Yes. That female was vain and spoiled. I did not want my life tied to hers.]
[She was the daughter of an allied nest's alpha.]
[I do not care. She snapped at Rock-biters and Spike-thrower younglings if they did not move out of her way fast enough whenever you or anyone else of rank was not around. When I called her upon that behavior, she said that she was an alpha's daughter and the lower ones should always scurry out of her sight. Father's proposal that I should become her mate enraged me because he did believe my word on how she acted.]
Hiccup watched out of the corner of his eye as Hookfang straighten.
[I regret that I left in anger. I regret that my brother followed me. I regret that our leaving cause grief. I do not regret choosing to live my life. And I have a nest now, Uncle. I have a flock.] Hookfang chittered and Wingblaze moved to stand at his right. [This is my mate, Uncle. Her name is Wingblaze and I am now called Hookfang. My alpha is the human, his name is Hiccup. I am the bonded dragon to his cousin, Snotlout. I stand as part of my alpha's inner circle because of this bond.]
[And your brother?]
Hiccup placed his hand upon Hookfang's leg as the dragon flinched. "I can take it from here, Hookfang," he whispered. "You can go nuzzle your hatchlings and tell them I will be there to talk and play with all of them after I speak to these three."
[I led him there, my alpha. That is my burden to bear.]
"But you do not bear it alone, not anymore. You are of my nest, Hookfang. A part of the flock we all created by being bonded dragons and humans. We all bear each other's pain and regrets and we all share each other's joys and triumphs."
[Thank you, my alpha, but I should be the one to tell my uncle what happened.]
"Then I shall stand here with you through it."
[I take it your brother is dead,] the big Nightmare said before Hookfang could speak again.
Hookfang sighed and lowered his head. [We flew into the nest of a Lava-dweller. The same Lava-dweller that blocked the wind currents to this hatching nest. She…she forgot what it meant to be a dragon. She ordered the nest to raid humans nearby. We were to steal food for her. If we did not bring enough back..she ate us as punishment. The..the first raid my brother went on, he protected another Flame-skin and a human killed him.]
[Humans killed your brother and yet you call one alpha?]
Hookfang's muzzle lifted. [The Lava-dweller ordered him out there uncaring that the humans would fight back to keep their food, as would any dragon whose nest is attacked. I may have led my brother to that nest, but she sent him to his death. I bowed to and obey the human who killed that Lava-dweller and avenged my brother. I call the human who gave me my life back alpha. I was set to die at the hands of the humans in his flock. He was set to be the one to kill me. He chose mercy and was disowned by his father for giving that mercy.]
[Come again?]
Kirika: Amazed to see his uncle…yeah, we'll go with that.