The dragon spoken about in this chapter, his name was suggested by SnowBriar. Thank you, SnowBriar for your suggestion.
"Explain," Hiccup growled, his alpha magic coating his words.
Onyx's words caused ever instinct Hiccup possessed to rise. If they had not fully dealt with this human than many Night Furies Hiccup had come to love would be in danger. Hiccup would not allow that. Hiccup would do all he could to ensure every peaceful dragon could live their life in safety but he would also be the first to admit Night Furies held a special place in his heart.
To his surprise, Hiccup saw Silent close his eyes and with that same popping motion, lowered his head. Sunburn's wings rattled, sounding like thin metal scrapping against each other. Onyx appeared lost in the past again, but a nudge from Sunburn brought the dragon's attention back.
[That human is dead, Hiccup,] Onyx said. [My rider used a spell I had never seen before. He made the water in the sea form around that human's face. The human drowned while standing on land.]
Hiccup winced. He disliked death of any kind though he would, and did, kill to protect everyone he loved. Still that was brutal, even for Vikings who did not avoid gory details in their battle stories.
"Your rider seems reckless with his magic," Gyda said with a hiss. "My old master would not be pleased with him."
[Kaja told him he was getting reckless, especially after the first part of his plan to avoid his vision ended successfully,] Sunburn said. [But for this, she joined in killing that male. The nest he took out-] Sunburn's voice trailed off and when she spoke again her voice was clogged with tears. [There were hatchlings just out of their eggs and some who had not yet greeted the world. That human killed every hatchling and smashed ever egg.]
[The nest had also been Luna's hatch nest,] Onyx whispered. [Her younger sister… she… Luna and I would have had a niece or a nephew.] Onyx dropped his head. [None survived. The adults…their scales were taken..all of them. We.. we found my mother-in-law first…]
Hiccup hissed and he heard many growls and not all were dragon either.
"Had that man not been dead," Fishlegs began, his voice reminding Hiccup of the lighting in a storm as it caused the hairs on the back of Hiccup's neck to rise, "I would have dropped him from Meatlug's back while we were at cloud level."
"I'd of helped," Snotlout stated, his voice tight and clipped.
"You still said the threat was not fully dealt with," Astrid pointed out.
Hiccup resisted the urge to shiver as Astrid'd tone became ice.
[The male had a daughter and a close warrior flock-mate,] Sunburn said. [When our riders killed him, his daughter vowed vengeance. She entered a mate-hood with the alpha of a flock of dragon hunters who formed during the Days of Chaos. She has long since passed but we know her flock carried on her grudge against our riders.]
"And the warrior?" Gyda asked.
[Headed south,] Onyx said. [We lost him when he finally reached the mainland. We had our paws full keeping that daughter and the flock she left behind in check to really worry.]
[And this flock is still causing harm to dragons?] Toothless asked.
[Yes,] Sunburn said. She glanced at Onyx and grunted. [That is partially why our riders are not with us right now. They are dealing with the aftermath of a raid against that flock. We normally would be with them, helping deal with the dragons we freed.]
[But this,] Onyx began. [We had to be here.]
"How did you even know about me to be here right now?" Hiccup asked.
Onyx' lobes lifted and Hiccup saw the dragon's eyes widen then blink.
[You're sure?] Onyx asked then sighed. [Very well.] Onyx turned to Hiccup. [Silent heard your call and knew it was time.] Onyx titled his head looking as if he was debating something. [Silent's nest is considered a sacred place for dragons. The raid against that flock took place near it. We knew something was going on, besides the battle we just finished against that flock, because the other Way-guards were reacting to what they said was a muted alpha call, but one carried by the wind. That Silent woke up, something he rarely does unless his rider wants to fly, meant something bigger than a stray alpha rank dragon. My rider and I went to the island to find out what was going on. Silent told me of your call and that this was second time it had been heard. It was agreed Silent would leave first as he is the slowest of us-ow!]
Hiccup could not help but chuckle as Silent and Sunburn smacked Onyx with a wing and a tail each.
[What?! It wasn't a joke or a tease. He is the slowest fly- Ow! Fine.]
Onyx shook himself. Hiccup glanced around the group, finding the humans had finished eating. He turned back to Onyx.
"Do we get any clues for finding this device?" he asked.
He had vowed to get them back to their riders and their story only served to strengthen his resolve. Onyx titled his head and then tossed it in the direction they had traveled from to get to the hut.
[The dragon/human pair assigned to hide it lived in hut we passed. We could check in there for clues. The human part of that pair never cared for intricate puzzles and tests so he could have very well left a detail flight to where he put the device. It was not what he assigned to do, but I wouldn't put his past him.]
They left the hut, retracing their steps until they ended up another large hut, but this one had Typhoomerang carvings. Hiccup blinked and turned to Onyx. That dragon species was not of this nest. Onyx chuckled.
[I see you recognize the dragon.]
"We met a nest of them," Hiccup said. "I'm going back to visit them after winter as the alpha of that nest wished to speak with me some more."
Onyx nodded his head. [We know of that nest. They are Heatwave's descendants.]
"Well, that would explain why they knew more of the All Tale then the Changewings," Fishlegs stated.
Onyx chuckled. [Aye.]
By an unspoken agreement, achieved with looks alone, the humans, along with Sharpshot and Sneaky who refused to leave Hiccup and Astrid's backs, entered the hut. It held the same disrepair as the other. A fact that sadden Hiccup. This had been someone's home. Someone and their flock had lived here, played here, slept here, and yet all they left behind was destroyed by time. Despite his sorrow, Hiccup joined the others in looking over the hut.
Skulder's shout caused everyone to rush over to where he had been investigating a wall opposite the door.
"I think I found the device," he said.
He held out his hand. A small round disc of some material Hiccup did not recognize lay in his palm. The side showing held a carving that was familiar though. It was the same stylized Night Fury used by Bork as the symbol for the Strike class. Hiccup shared a look with Astrid and knew she thinking the same as he. Toothless' hatch nest had a great deal tying it to Berk even before its heir befriended a dragon from that nest. Hiccup knew Astrid also wondered as he did just what else this nest held that tethered it to their nest.
Literally Nobody: Hehe, pay attention to those twins. Yes as will the Wingmaidens. Hehe, touche. Hm, most of Onyx's tales are not pleasant mind you.
Kirika: I do promise that the full truth will be revealed when it's time for it.