The Dramatis Personae will be updated as there are some new named dragons.
Ringfire and the other Elders, at Hiccup's request, entered the nursery first. The parent from each mated pair that would remain followed the Elders. Hiccup, Astrid, and Toothless then led the hatchlings and Toothless' younglings in. The other parent, and the Riders for the bonded ones, followed. Gyda and Shadowfire, along with Stoick and the rest of the Council, came in last. Hiccup made no acknowledgement that Torgier and Firestorm snuck in behind Shadowfire. He actually needed them here and would address them later. Right now, he faced the far end of the cavern and smiled.
Several hatchlings and younglings of the nest were already in the cavern. All played and rushed about under the watchful gazes of several adults that had not been outside when Hiccup and the others returned. Out of the adults, Moondust noticed everyone first, followed by Quickcut, the Nadder who accompanied Hiccup to the Changewing nest the first time.
Stonefire, Quickcut's Gronckle friend was currently being pounced upon by Wildfire with Frostfire giving his son pointers. Palewing was allowing the Terror twins and Skysinger and Quickcut's siblings to jump over her, though she kept an eye upon Icewing and Snowfire who appeared to be trying to fly but only fluttering up and right back down. The smaller of Ringfire's hatchlings were weaving through Quickcut and Skysinger's parents' legs. The larger hatchling, that Gyda had said humans named a Screaming Death, was singing to Moondust, Pepper and Piper, and Rockmoss. At least Ringfire had said that crooning noise he made was a song. The hatchling seemed to think he should sing for everyone anytime he saw them now. Hiccup blamed Shadowfire for that.
The adults did nothing more than tipped their heads upon seeing Hiccup and the others. Hiccup grinned, knowing why. It had become something of a game, and a great training tool for the hatchlings, to see how long it took for them to see a difference in their surroundings. Each one that reacted first was giving a treat, enforcing the lesson. The dragons had told all the humans that games were the best way to teach hatchlings the lessons they would need, while stories from the Elders and others of high rank rounded out those lessons with practical applications and experiences of those who had gone before. Every human, that accepted the dragons in the nest, now aided them in these games.
Sunchaser, Quickcut's sister, spotted them first. She had been waiting her turn to leap over Palewing when she looked right and squealed a happy and questioning sound. Hiccup smiled as all play stopped. All the hatchlings and the younglings shifted to stare at him and the others. He stepped forward, Toothless at his side.
"Hi," he said, "I bring some new nest-mates."
Toothless translated his words for those who still did not understand the Common Tongue. The young already in the cavern stared at the new hatchlings but none moved forward. Hiccup glanced back, seeing that the hatchlings clustered around their parents' legs and huddled close together with their siblings. Hiccup sighed, wondering just how the would get all them to interact. At the hatching nest they had accepted the six new ones, but it seemed the mix of hatchlings, younglings, and strange adults caused the new hatchlings to become a bit fearful.
The Screaming Death that Hiccup took to calling Bard because of his tendency to sing, slithered away from his audience. He paused and rose onto his tail beside Hiccup. He chittered. Hiccup did not need Toothless to translate that sound. He had heard it enough from Icewing to know Bard wanted to nuzzle him. Hiccup smiled and nodded his head. Bard rubbed his cheek against Hiccup's shoulder and then looked at Toothless. Toothless warbled and Bard shifted to nuzzle against the Night Fury's head. Bard then slithered away from them and stopped beside Astrid, who stood just a bit away from Stormfly and Windwalker as she had come in with Hiccup. He chittered again, the same sound as before. Astrid smiled and nodded. Bard nuzzled her shoulder as well. He then lowered to the stone and slither over to the hatchlings. Stormfly's oldest and Hookfang's youngest, the apparent self-appointed protectors of the hatchlings, barred his way, hissing and extending their small wings. Bard rolled to his back, crooning his song. The two hatchlings jerked before shuffling closer.
Hiccup smiled as the hatchlings sniffed Bard and he kept crooning his song. The hatchlings must have deemed he was not a threat because they gave two chirps that brought the other hatchlings away from their parents. He felt someone take his hand and glanced right not at all surprised to find Astrid there. The soft smile upon her face begged him to kiss her but he refrained. They had to get this introduce over with and the young all settled so the adults could discuss plans and strategies for dealing with Alvin.
He heard shuffling behind him and turned in time to see all the other young start heading his way. He watched them as they all paused upon coming even with him. Each one stared at him and bowed before they then rushed towards Bard and the hatchlings. He laughed as all the young of the nest, excluding Toothless' younglings, greeted each other and soon all were running and playing as if they had always known each other instead of just meeting each other.
He caught his father's nod towards the tunnel leading to the Great Hall and tipped his head.
"Everyone," he said, causing all the adults to look at him.
The young still played though Icewing did glance his way only to be distracted when Sunchaser's brother, Endure tripped in front of her. Hiccup noted that Icewing immediately dropped her head to check upon the youngling and chitter at him encouragingly until Sunchaser and Toothless' Sand Wraith youngling came over. Hiccup smiled as the Sand Wraith dropped his head and let Endure use the top of it to lean against as he stood and got his bad paw back under him.
Hiccup turned back to the adults. They had to get to that meeting his father wanted. They had to be ready for Alvin. Watching the young of the nest play and get to know one another would come after they ran the Outcast back to their island with their tails between their legs.
"First off," Hiccup continued, looking at Ringfire. "Excellent job on this. Thank you for getting it ready."
[I had help, my alpha. Those of your kind that can cut stone aided me.]
"I know, but still, thank you."
Ringfire dipped her head.
"New parents, I know you have already decided who is staying and who is going. Those who are going, please head to the Great Hall. Elders, we'll have the hatchlings learn who you all are after everything is calm. Please follow those leaving now. Riders, join your dragons in the Hall. Torgier, you and Firestorm come here."
Hiccup saw Torgier jump and Firestorm jerk but walked around and through the adults to stand before him.
"Don't look like you're going to get in trouble," Hiccup said. "You're not. I need you two to do an important task. I need you to stay here and guard these young ones. They, and you, are the future of this nest and you and the others who will remain will be their last line of defense. Can you do that?"
Torgeir stood straighter and Firestorm miniced him.
"We won't let you down, Hiccup."
[We will keep them safe, Alpha.]
Hiccup placed a hand upon Torgeir's shoulder and another upon Firestorm's nose. "I know. Go on and join Rockmoss and Pepper and Piper. They will be helping you."
Torgeir and Firestorm moved to join the other older younglings. Hiccup looked down as Toothless' younglings stopped playing with the others and moved to stand in front of him.
"I know what you want, but I need you three to help them keep guard here."
The three looked a bit put out by that but all three nodded their heads and moved to join the other younglings.
"To those who stay, thank you," Hiccup continued. "We will all deal with this easier knowing the place is well defended. Moondust, do you wish to stay or come?"
[I will come, my alpha.]
"Then all but those who are supposed to be here, let's go. We have a meeting to attend and some uninvited guests to kick out."