"Please stand," Hiccup said.
The Fireworm stood. Hiccup lifted his hand, palm out towards the dragon. He heard Toothless warble and knew his brother was explaining. Soon he felt dry scales press into his hand. They were warmer than any other dragon that did this and Hiccup smiled. Fishlegs would love to know that. Hiccup also could not wait until his friend left the nursery and noticed the new Fireworm.
Hiccup turned back. He smiled. The dragon, like every dragon that did this, stared at him with half-lidded eyes and purred. Hiccup lifted his other hand and scratched the Fireworm's chin. The purring grew louder and the dragon pressed closer to him. Toothless gave a pointed warble. The Fireworm stepped back, her muzzle leaving Hiccup's hand. She chittered. Toothless grunted. Moondust trilled something and Hiccup bit back a snort as Toothless' sensing lobes twitched and he crooned something that sounded apologetic. Hiccup moved to his brother's side and leaned close enough he could whisper.
"Whipped."
Toothless cut his eyes at Hiccup. Hiccup, straightening, snickered before stepping to Moondust's side and scratching her cheek. She cooed, nuzzling into his hand. The Fireworm chittered.
[She says thank you Alpha for allowing her to remain and that she will return to her siblings,] Moondust translated.
Hiccup titled his head. "Wait," he began, "would you like to learn the Common Tongue so that you can speak to any human without needing a translator?"
The Fireworm tilted her head then smiled and chittered.
[Yes,] Moondust translated. [Alpha, my flock leader has aided several of the nest dragons to learn or better their use of the Common Tongue. She could help her.]
Hiccup smiled. "I'll ask her when she arrives." He lifted an eyebrow. "Though do I ask her before or after Toothless tries to not shake in his scales as he sputters out his question?"
[Brother! An alpha acts with decorum. Not this..]
"Oh ho, no, dear brother," Hiccup said. "You brought this on yourself. I'm only sad Sharpshot's out with Sneaky right now and can't join me in paying you back."
Toothless turned to Moondust, a pleading look upon his face. Moondust just chortled. Hiccup cackled. The Fireworm chittered something that sounding questioning. Knowledge and Wisdom answered her in the Old Tongue. The Fireworm trilled a laugh. Toothless huffed and shifted to stare down the path to the wooden walkways.
Wings flapping had everyone looking up. Shadowfire and Stormfly hovered over the plaza. Shadowfire glided to land upon the hill and lowered to his belly so his mother could get down. The Terror remained upon Shadowfire's back. Hiccup saw Gyda murmur something to the small dragon and frowned when the Terror nodded his head and stayed on Shadowfire's back.
Stormfly, who along with Astrid, Snotlout, Hookfang, Quickcut, and a few other nest dragons, had been out on a patrol, landed. Astrid dismounted. She glanced at the Fireworm. Hiccup caught her raised eyebrow and he held up his hand, palm facing Astrid, and made as if he pushed something a short distance in front of his body. Astrid nodded, catching the message. Hiccup grinned.
As Toothless recovered and they had been forced to do walking patrols, Hiccup and Astrid had come up with some hand signals to use as communication between the Riders, human and dragons alike. This one asked her to wait. Hiccup's grin grew as he also realized Astrid had understood that he meant he would tell later if she waited right now.
She traversed across the plaza to stand beside him and Hiccup saw her smirk. She leaned down and whispered something to Moondust that had the female Night Fury giggling. She straightened just as Gyda reached them.
"Gyda," Hiccup said. "Sorry to disturb your mediations but I needed you here. The oldest Fireworm youngling has grown up." He smirked when Gyda snorted. "She wants to learn the Common Tongue."
"Sure," Gyda answered. "It'll be fun to teach a royal."
"Huh?" Hiccup asked, head titled.
Gyda gestured to the Fireworm. "She's smaller than a Fireworm Queen right now. This earned ones such as her the name Fireworm Princess. However, a variant of that was called Royal Fireworm because they were green and yellow. No one really knew why."
The Fireworm trilled. Moondust responded. The Fireworm chittered.
[She says her ancestors said a Tiny-fireglow that bowed to a non-Tiny-fireglow alpha or queen turned this color so others could tell the difference in a queen that ruled her hive alone or one who's hive also had the protection of an alpha or queen's nest,] Moondust translated.
The Fireworm trilled again, bowing to Hiccup.
[She apologizes but she must get back to her siblings,] Moondust said.
"Shadowfire and I can come by the cave later to help her learn the Common Tongue."
Hiccup nodded his acceptance, already knowing Gyda would seek it. All of his friends made it a point now to seek his approval on many things when he was surrounded by others, human and dragon alike, but it had been Astrid and Gyda who started that. Moondust chittered to the Fireworm, who stood, tipped her head to Gyda, and then rose into air. She banked around, heading for Raven Point.
"So, brother," Hiccup said, lowering his gaze back down to Toothless. "Do you have need of me and Gyda?"
Toothless grunted, padded over, and bowed, but did not spread his wings, to Gyda.
[Flock Leader, I request permission to court one of your flock.]
Gyda titled her head. "Have you spoken to my daughter?"
[Aye, Flock Leader.]
Gyda turned to stare at Moondust. "Daughter, do you accept this one who comes before me? Do you wish for him to court you or do you wish that I run him off?"
[I wish for him to court me, Elder Gyda.]
Gyda snorted. "Gyda, Moondust. You are flock now. You are my daughter now. Call me Gyda." She turned back to Toothless. "Rise, young male," Gyda said. "My daughter has accepted your advance. I grant my permission."
Toothless cooed and nuzzled against Gyda's arm. Gyda giggled.
"Silly," she muttered. "You're breaking the seriousness of this."
Toothless shrugged before turning to Hiccup. He bowed, but this time he spread his wings.
[Alpha, I have spoken to one of the nest and received her permission and the permission of her flock leader to begin courting her. Do I have your permission and blessing?]
"Sure, Toothless," Hiccup said, smiling.
Toothless stood, lifted his head, and roared. The dragons still in the plaza and many in the village all roared as well. Toothless then moved to Moondust's side and, with a smile, placed his wing over her. Moondust cooed and rubbed her cheek against the side of his neck. Hiccup smiled.
"Well, this calls for a celebration," Stoick's voice bellowed over the village. "Me son's finally seen sense and decided ta give me grandsons a worthy and beautiful mother."
Hiccup chuckled as his father moved into the plaza from the walkways that lead down to the docks. Toothless grunted and Hiccup's chuckles turned into a full belly laugh as Stoick walked closer and stared down at Toothless.
"I told ye so, son." Stoick said solemnly but Hiccup saw the twinkle in his eyes. Stoick then placed his hand upon Moondust's head. "Ye sweet lass, welcome ta the family. I be knowin', jest like Astrid and Sneaky, that ye'll be keepin' me son in line." Stoick stepped back and clap his hands together. "We shall hold a feast!"
"Before you do that," Gyda began and Hiccup instantly knew something was wrong. "I need to speak to you and your family, sir. Away from listening ears, sir."
Stoick stopped and stared at her. "Ye sound as if stones be cascadin' onta yer shoulders."
Gyda took a deep breath. "It's about the human in Pepper and Piper's old nest, sir. I know who she is."
Alpha Mayhem: Hi, welcome and thank you for reading and reviewing my story. Eruptodons are called Lave-eaters. Dragons are not fancy with names. They are usually just practical.
Kirika: I am forever honored and humbled that people not only read my stories but like them and I love getting to know them through their reviews.