"How old are you?!"
Hiccup immediately pulled the hatchling closer as Snotlout's yell caused the little one to whimper and squirm. The hatchling calmed, burying deeper into Hiccup's fur vest. Snotlout had the decency hold up both hands when everyone, even Toothless' boys, stared at him as if he had lost his mind.
"Sorry, just, seriously, how are you still alive?"
The Night Fury's back spikes lost their blue hue and closed. He then sat back down but he did not speak. Hiccup saw every adult Fury's sensing lobe lift. He looked over, finding the Way-guard staring at the visiting Night Fury. Sunburn snorted.
[While he speaks to them,] she began, [I'll explain some things.]
"He's speaking to the Night Furies?" Fishlegs asked.
Sunburn titled her head. [You don't know that?] she asked.
Fishlegs shook his head. "We didn't even know who he was or that such a dragon existed until Toothless' father spoke of him and Shadowfire explained the human name for his species."
[Ah, yes, Sentinels,] Sunburn said. [To many dragons Way-guards are thought to be unable to speak. They can. Their rumblings in the Old Tongue are just too low for most dragons to hear. Night Furies, which I've always liked that name better then Wind-shrieker, can hear them though.]
"Do you know what he is saying to them?" Hiccup asked.
Sunburn shook her head, much like a human answering in the negative. [I don't have the hearing they do. I can tell you what I believe he's saying given that I know him and have known him for a long time. He's telling them to fly carefully because the winds will get treacherous now.]
Hiccup's eyes narrowed. "Treacherous how?" he asked, worried that his friends and family was now in danger.
Sunburn laughed. [So like an alpha,] she said softly.
[Well, if someone would choose their words better,] her friend said, looking away from the Way-guard and staring at her, [then he would not worry so.]
Sunburn snorted. [I would smack you, but I promised your mate that I'd leave the smacking to her.]
The Fury grunted then faced Hiccup. [Word of warning, young Hiccup, fly with caution when you enter into a mate-hood with your intended. Her bonded dragon is likely to always take her side in everything.]
[Already do that,] Stormfly said. [Sorry, Alpha.]
[Well, there's that. You're doomed, Hiccup. Ow! Thought you were going to leave the smacking to Luna.]
[She'd say you deserve it and then smack you again.]
"Your mate's name is Luna?" Hiccup asked.
[Lunasong, actually,] The Fury's eyes widen. [Oh, sorry, my rider taught me better manners than that. I am Onyxwing.]
[Now who's slipping in their old age?] Sunburn asked.
[Funny,] Onyxwing stated. He shook himself and with one last side glare to Sunburn, faced the humans once more. [I am older than I can count,] he said, his gaze whipping to Sunburn. [No comment from the back of the flock.]
[I didn't say anything!]
[You were thinking it. I can hear your mind buzzing.]
Hiccup shared a glance with Astrid, finding her watching the two dragons with a smile tugging at her lips. He grinned as well. Sunburn and Onyxwing acted like siblings instead of friends.
[And I am alive because my rider is not dead.]
Hiccup's gaze snapped back to Onyxwing. "What?" he asked, confused. "But, if you're Toothless' great grand aunt's father, how, how is you rider still alive?"
[That is the side effect of a full bond between a human and a dragon,] Onyxwing said softy. [Dragons are a long-lived beings. Some of those alphas that wreaked havoc in the Days of Chaos were among the first dragons ever placed into this world and that was in such a dim distance past that even those I called elders did not know the full tale of it.]
"But humans aren't," Fishlegs stated.
The Furies' sensing lobes lifted again and their gazes shifted to the Way-guard. Onyxwing nodded his head.
[Silent Knight is right,] he said. [That part of this tale is something best told after he shows Hiccup the way.]
The Way-guard's tail popped up with the same snapping and clicking motion the rest of his body had, before it smacked the stone floor. Onyxwing chortled.
[That's his version of a grunt mind you. He doesn't really like his name all that much.]
[He doesn't like that you constantly tease him over it,] Sunburn stated.
[I can't help it,] Onyxwing said, Toothless' gummy smile splitting his muzzle. [It calls me.]
[His name calls you?] Sunburn questioned with a deadpan tone. She shook her head again. [You take after your rider too much.]
Onyxwing snorted. [And you don't?]
[If the Way-guard wishes to wait until after he shows Hiccup the way then perhaps one, or all, of you will tell me why part of my nest was sealed with dragonfire?] Toothless' father asked, his tone mildly sharp.
Onyxwing sighed. [The answer to that lies in the duty Silent is here to perform.] The dragon looked up at the Way-guard. [Thank you, old friend. He-]
Hiccup's eyes widen and he resisted the urge to go comfort Onywing as the dragon's voice seemed to break. The hatchling was still sleeping and chose that moment to stretch, pushing four paws into Hiccup's belly.
[He chose a great friend in you,] Onyxwing finished in a whisper.
Hiccup saw the Way-guard dip his head and saw sensing lobes rise again. Onyxwing nodded his head again. Hiccup gazed at the other Night Furies, finding all of them looking down as if they had been told something profoundly sad. He frowned, wondering what the Way-guard was saying and just who this he that Onyxwing seemed in pain to speak about was.
[Then, please, show Hiccup the way,] Toothless' father said, his tone not as sharp as before, but still reminding Hiccup of Stoick whenever he wanted answers. [So, I can find out why part of my nest's history has been kept away from it and why I have an elder who is giving false tales and using teachings that are harming those they should aid.]
Onyxwing sighed. [You have every right to be angry. I am sorry my daughter has clung to those beliefs. I am sorry she has let bitterness cloud her judgement and her actions. I am sorry I did not come by often enough to see that and to stop her. I can only offer the reasons why after the full tale is known.] Onyxwing looked to the Way-guard again. [Can you show him now? I see. You think the human will help?] Onyxwing looked to Toothless' father. [There is a human searching the humans' old territory?]
Toothless' father grunted. [See how it feels to have information withheld from you?]
Literally Nobody: Yes, we finally do. And hehe, I'm glad I can still surprise my readers. I love writing Hiccup with hatchlings and yes, he will be a great father. Never fear, Icewing will waiting for her favorite human. She has something to show off after all. Shadowfire was not kidding when he said they were going to learn to fly. Have a good day/night as well.