Dramatis Personae will be updated with a new adult dragon that lives in the nest.

It took a week and a half for the tear in Toothless' wing to fully heal. The younglings still did not quite understand why Toothless fighting that male had not been because he was keeping his mate safe, even after Gyda and Gothi, through Astrid, explained. They understood the concept of Toothless being a Nest Protector. He had been that while they were in the Red Death's nest after all. They just did not see why Toothless did not seek to court Moondust.

All three had taken to watching their father whenever he interacted with the female Night Fury and seemed to report their findings to Stoick. Hiccup knew what his father was doing and knew he really should stop it, but even he could see Toothless surreptitiously watching Moondust as she moved through the village with Gyda and her family or when she joined in on some patrols. Hiccup knew his brother's intrigue with Moondust had grown over time and he also knew his brother would not make any move due to a fear of reminding Moondust of what she had gone through. This knowledge caused Hiccup to turn a blind eye to his father's matchmaking schemes and allowed Stoick and the younglings their fun.

Sharpshot, to his credit, knew what was going on as well. He not only turned a blind eye, he played dumb whenever Toothless groused about his boys dropping little hints about Moondust playing with them and telling them stories and how they would love for her to do that all the time. Hints, Hiccup and Sharpshot both knew Stoick had the boys rehearsing whenever Hiccup and Sharpshot took Toothless out on a walking patrol during his recovery.

Hiccup was also happy that Firestorm, Sunchaser, and Endure made it a point to include Toothless' younglings in games they played in the grassy area behind the chief's house. Pepper and Piper, now back living with the Zippleback Elder and his mate, joined them, as did Rockmoss. It also made Hiccup proud that the younglings included all the young of the nest whenever all were in the village. An occurrence that seemed to happen more often than not. Not that the village seemed to mind. Hiccup caught sight of many of the tribe playing with all the young whenever they were around, and it did not matter if the young actually lived in the village or not. Some human mothers even gathered several of the young together. Each human then ran the parents off with promises of keeping an eye on the young so the parents could get some rest.

Not all seemed pleased by the new young in the nest or the fact that there was a relative moment of peace after all the celebrations, both for Snoggletogg and for the victory over the Outcasts and the feast for Toothless over killing Moondust's attacker.

"Boy."

Hiccup looked from the Gronckle iron one-handed hammer he was forging. He frowned.

"I have name, sir."

Old Man Jorgenson sneered. Hiccup's eyes narrowed. The old man scoffed but he turned his gaze aside. Hiccup counted that as a win.

"I demand satisfaction."

Hiccup blinked. "For what?"

"Yer foul dragons broke me cart."

"What cart?"

"That one that blasted lizard wot slung the odder inta."

"Oh. I see. Well, we'll get you a new cart, sir. Now is there anything else you need? I must get back to work."

"That lizard needs ta be punished, boy. I be warnin' ye they ain't fit ta live 'ere."

"Shadowfire will face no punishment over this," Hiccup said. "Your cart broke during a battle to defend the island and the tribe. It will be replaced and that's all that will happen."

"Weak-"

"I be advisn' ye ta nare finish that," Gobber said moving into the blacksmith stall and glaring at Old Man Jorgenson. "Hiccup be Heir 'n a right proper hero. Yer days of belittle'm be over. Least ye wish ta explain ta the Council why ye see fit ta insult the honor and courage of the one wot saved the entire tribe and ended the war."

"Bah, me grandson-"

"Don't," Gobber stated moving to stand right in front of the old man. "Don't ye be sayin' Snotlout be the one ta end da war. I be there. Every warrior in da tribe be there. We be knowin' exactly who killed that beast. Ye best git on 'fore yer words run ye inta a situation ye canna git out of. Da tribe still be going ta some of yer builders, but they be no likin' it iffen they knew ye insulted their hero's honor."

"Ye wouldn't? Ye couldn't?"

Gobber just stared at the man. Hiccup saw his blood grandfather glare at the blacksmith before turning and walking away. Gobber turned. Hiccup rubbed the back of his neck.

"Thanks," he said.

"Fool be more delusional then that Night Fury wot tried ta claim Toothless' mate. Wait, where be that silly partner of ye's? He usually be grumblin' at me fer that comment and I half expected'm ta leap out and send that old fool runnin'."

Hiccup started laughing. "I think he decided to run through the forest to the cove cause Dad was just here."

Gobber cackled. "Yer father be gettin' in his head ta convince Toothless ta court Moondust?"

"Yes," Hiccup said. "He's even recruited Toothless' boys into help him."

"Oh, this be too good. Ye and I should jest sit back 'n be watchin' the show, eh, lad?"

Hiccup grinned. Before either could make another comment or return to their workload a calling chitter had them looking out into the plaza. Hiccup tilted his head. The Terror he had tasked with finding Pepper and Piper's flock hovered above the stone. He was accompanied by a pair of Zipplebacks who seemed to regard everything around them with a mix of fear and awe.

"Best ye see about that, lad," Gobber said. "Work be 'ere when ye be gittin' back."

Hiccup smiled at his mentor and uncle and scooted out into the plaza. The Terror spied him and squawked. The small dragon landed and bowed. Hiccup noted the Zipplebacks jerked and chittered in what sound like amazement and worry.

[Alpha of the nest, I have found young Pepper and Pipers' parents,] the Terror said.

"Thank you," Hiccup said. "You have done your task as asked and exceeded my expectations. Welcome home."

The Terror rose into a seated position. He looked up at Hiccup, head titled.

[I can stay?]

"If you wish."

The Terror gave a full body jerk. He fell to his belly, wings outstretched. [Thank you, alpha of the nest… I feared.. I thought..…]

Hiccup knelt. "Please stand."

The Terror jumped to his paws. Hiccup held out his hand and turned his gaze. He heard chitters, from the Terror and from the Zipplebacks. Then heard the shuffling of paws.

[He is giving you a choice,] Hiccup heard Meatlug say, [to touch him or not. Place your muzzle into his palm if you choose to let him. Our alpha will never force his touch upon us. He respects us to make that decision on our own.]

Hiccup smiled when he felt warm scales press into his palm. He turned back, finding the Terror staring at him with half closed eyes, a common occurrence with this gesture. Given that Toothless and every dragon who had done this said they heard his alpha magic purring, Hiccup knew why. It still caught him off guard each time. Hiccup gently scratched the Terror's head. The Zipplebacks chittered again. It sounded questioningly.

[Yes,] Meatlug said. [He will not mind you landing. He gives rest to all who cause no harm or insult to the nest.]

Hiccup looked up, though he did not stop scratching the Terror's muzzle, as the Zipplebacks landed. Four heads regarded him in silence then the one on the right, a blue-green one that seemed to have one blue head and one green head turned both heads to Meatlug and chirped. Meatlug shifted around to look at Hiccup.

[He wishes to know where his daughter is as the Tiny-fang assured him she was here.]

"It's Pepper and Piper," Hiccup said. "Can you tell him and then go get her and her guardians?"

[Aye, my alpha,] Meatlug said before turning to the Zipplebacks and began speaking in the Old Tongue.

Hiccup looked down at the Terror. "You earned a rest. Shortfuse has been awaiting your return."

[Shortfuse?]

"The female Terror from your flock that stayed. Phelgma, one of the tribe's farmers, suggested the name and she liked it. If you want, we'll find a name for you as well. You don't have to, if you don't want to. It just keeps us silly humans straight one who is who. We were not blessed with noses that can tell individual scents after all."

[You would let me choose?]

"Of course," Hiccup said. "All dragons of the nest have the choice to be named or not. I will never enslave any dragon or human."

[We don't,] a male voice began.

Hiccup looked up. The two Zipplebacks stared down at him. All four heads regarded him with confusion.

[Understand,] the green head of the one Zippleback said.

[Our alpha,] the blue head added.

[Said we were fools,] the green head continued.

[To come here.]

[That the human-]

[The Tiny-fang spoke of-]

[Could not be trusted,]

Hiccup stood. The Terror shifted to sit at his feet.

"I don't know what I've done to cause your alpha to think so poorly of me personally," Hiccup said. "But I do understand why he believes humans cannot be trusted. The war caused so much damage. That is why my nest is trying to correct that."

A loud, squealing squawk caused everyone to look up. Pepper and Piper, accompanied by Knowledge and Wisdom and Meatlug, landed. The Zippleback youngling rushed her parents, earning coos and nuzzles from both. Pepper and Piper then rushed over and nuzzled Hiccup.

[You found,] Pepper began.

[Them,] Piper added.

[You promised.]

[And you found-]

[Them.]

[Thank you-]

[Our alpha.]

Hiccup blinked at Piper's last comment but saw the moment it registered with her parents and swallowed hard. They did not appear happy.

Kirika: Hehe, it was a lovely scene and I loved writing it.