[Dear, you are scaring your son.]
At his mate's words, Toothless' father shook himself. He immediately relaxed. His eyes soften and he padded closer, rubbing his chin into Hiccup's hair.
[I am not mad at you, son. Your nest warriors did as they were asked.]
Hiccup blinked. He had been sure Toothless' father was furious over his use of the alpha magic. The Changewing king had explained the alpha bond during a combined lesson he and his mate gave Hiccup and Astrid before they went to the Hatchery. Toothless' mother's words had not really helped calm Hiccup's worry. He knew that to try to take another alpha's nest was one of the worst violations of Civility Laws. Astrid had said it right. He worried the fact Toothless' mother pointed out the power of his voice meant it affected her. Toothless' father would have a right to be angry.
[Did you hear his voice?] Toothless' mother asked and Hiccup wanted to muzzle her.
Since Toothless' father had not brought it up, Hiccup hoped he had not heard it. There was no need to bring it to his attention. Hiccup's jaw dropped when Toothless' father chuckled.
[Yes. His roar is coming along nicely.]
"You're not mad?"
[Mad? Why would I be mad?]
"This is your nest, sir. She.. she said she did not expect it to be so powerful."
Toothless' father smiled and all of his sensing lobes stood on end. [So? Young Hiccup, they are already sworn to me. Your voice cannot override that. Not unless I bow to you. Plus, you are my son and it's normal for the young of an alpha to practice their roar on the nest their parents lead. All of your siblings have tested theirs, and two still do. Why should you be excluded?]
Hiccup felt something within shift. Toothless' father, his adopted father, was not excluding him. Did not expect to exclude him. Hiccup stared at the alpha of the nest, not sure how he could begin to express how that made him feel. He did catch the look upon Astrid's face and knew she understood.
[Come along,] Toothless' father continued. [It is mid-day. Let's collect your other warriors and go check on Shadewing, Haizea, and the little one.]
A buzzing trill echoed up and down the corridor as the dragons of the nest reacted to their alpha's words.
[The egg has hatched?] the Light Fury in charge of the training cavern asked.
[Yes,] Toothless' father said, shifting so he could see her over his wing. [I will announce him just before the singing competition tonight.]
"No, son," Gyda said, suddenly. "You cannot sing the Circle of Life."
[Awww, Mom! It would fit so perfectly. You could even shine light down upon him and everything.]
Gyda snorted. "Maybe for Hiccup and Astrid's kid."
[Oooo] Shadowfire cooed facing Hiccup and Astrid with a look of hope upon his face.
Toothless' father turned back to Hiccup and tilted his head. [Is there knowledge you haven't shared, son?]
Toothless, Sneaky, Sharpshot, Stormfly, and Moondust began to cackle. Shadowfire chortled. Meatlug grinned and Barf and Belch gave dual snorts. The boys looked between Hiccup and Astrid and the other Berkian dragons, tails wagging slightly. Hiccup saw Toothless shake his head and then saw all three younglings droop and their tails still.
"We're not married yet!"
[Their parents have placed many dragons and humans as their chaperones,] Stormfly said. [We keep them honest.]
[Not sure I want either to kiss my wing again, though,] Sharpshot said, chin resting upon Hiccup's right shoulder.
"Shouldn't stick your wing between he and I," Astrid pointed out.
[Should listen to your chaperones, sister,] Sneaky said, laying her chin upon Astrid's left shoulder.
[That sounds like an interesting story,] Toothless' mother said.
[We'll have to hear it after mid-day meal,] Toothless' father added. [And after I speak to you all in the chambers about something that affects you, son] he continued, gazing at Hiccup. [Follow me. The rest of you, thank you for your efforts. You all are dismissed to get some food.]
The other dragons of the nest bowed as they were able and left. Toothless' father turned and began walking. Hiccup and the others followed him. They collected Snotlout and Hookfang from another cavern the same size as the first, but one with far less explosions. They entered the royal chambers soon after, finding Shadewing laying on the stone in front of his sleeping den.
[She kick you out?] Toothless asked
Shadewing snorted as he stood. [I stepped out to stretch my wings. She loves me too much to fully kick me out.]
[That's debatable at times, dear,] Haizea called from the den.
Toothless and Spitfire cackled. Shadewing favored both with a half-heated glare. Their father snickered.
[Haizea, come. Everyone gather in the common room. I have something to discus before the food gets here.]
Haizea slipped out of the den and soon everyone was seated in a circle, the humans leaning against their bonded dragons. Toothless' father took a deep breath and stared at Hiccup.
[We have a guest. An old friend who came seeking you.]
"The Night Fury who set with me on the ledge?" Hiccup asked.
[No. I didn't know he was visiting, or even planning to visit. He was not lying when he said he comes and goes as he pleases. This guest you haven't seen yet.] The male took another deep breath. [We were given two days to spend with you all before our quest discharged the duty that brought him. However, after that explosion, I think you need to speak to him in the morning, son.]
[What was that explosion about anyways?] Shadewing asked. [It spooked my son.] Before anyone could answer him, Shadewing cooed and shook himself. [That is still weird to say.]
Toothless' father laughed. [Will be for a while, son. The explosion was a mutual exchange of nest abilities, but that's not why I think Hiccup should speak to the Way-guard. The explosion opened tunnels I did not know existed. From what I saw they were sealed deliberately. Myself and one of the training guides found evidence of dragonfire upon the walls.]
[How long?] Shadewing asked, his sensing lobes flickering from standing to laying flat against his skull.
[Probably before Grandfather was named alpha. I'm hoping the Way-guard knows why since he has been a friend of the nest since it was first made.]
"Um," Hiccup began, holding up a finger. "What kind of dragon is a Way-guard?"
Surprisingly Shadowfire answered and the tone of the Western Dragon's voice told Hiccup how awed the dragon felt.
[Their human name is Sentinels and they guard the way to the ancestors. For one to leave… His duty must be vital.]
Hiccup frowned. "Why would that kind of a dragon want me?"
[He said he must show you the way,] Toothless' father said.
Hiccup paled.
Literally Nobody: Hehe, nope. Both will, but how and why are things I won't say.