My readers are simply the best. Thank you all for understanding. My headache is better. I have a feeling it deals with allergies and sinuses. Now, as promised I have the first of two chapters for you today. Enjoy. This and the next one are dedicated to all my readers for being so awesome. Thanks, everyone.
In the end they needed Shadowfire and Hookfang to keep the almost exhausted Typhoomrang from taking a swim. Hiccup directed them all to a nearby sea stack, knowing that none of the three dragons would make it far. The Typhoomrang collapsed on its belly as soon as Shadowfire and Hookfang released its neck and tail. Onyxwing immediately landed in front of the dragon, nudging it with his muzzle.
[Heatwave, why are you here? What's happened?]
Heatwave moaned and shifted so that he could stare at Onyxwing. [Told to come. Told to help.]
Onyxwing grumbled. [Your rider still doesn't know the meaning of no.]
Heatwave chuckled. [As if you ever learned it.]
Hiccup and the others landed, though some like Shadowfire and Hookfang, had to land on other sea stacks. The one Heatwave and Onyx were on was barely able to hold them, much less the rest of the riders.
[Who is this?] Heatwave asked, staring at Hiccup. [A new member of the nest? Don't we have enough Wind-shriekers as it is?]
Toothless hissed. Hiccup laid a hand upon his brother's head. Toothless snorted but remained quiet. Hiccup dismounted and moved to stand next to Onyx.
[Play nice, Heatwave,] Onyx stated. [This is Hiccup.]
Only because he had learned to watch since Gyda her family came to live with them did Hiccup see the minute widening of Heatwave's eyes.
[Hiccup, this is Heatwave.]
"The dragon half of the pair sent to hide the disc?" Hiccup asked adding emphasis to the task assigned.
Heatwave grunted and Hiccup realized he had gotten the underlying message. Be disrespectful to Toothless and expect disrespect in return. Onyxwing's glaze flicked between both of them before turning to Heatwave.
[So, you flew this far without any rest just to help?] he questioned.
[No,] Heatwave said lifting his neck and looking back in the direction he flew from. [I saw a ship. Heading this way.]
Hiccup jerked. "What did it look like?"
Heatwave turned back and looked down, as even laying down his neck length still put his head near to Shadowfire's height. [Like any other ship humans in this part of the world uses. There were ten human males on it and the leader seemed to be a massive sized human. Same size as your rider's father,] Heatwave added looking at Onyxwing.
[How far out?] Toothless questioned.
[A day, maybe more. That's why I am exhausted. I just flew straight here.]
Toothless' father listened until Heatwave finished telling his tale. The alpha of the nest only moved when Heatwave laid back down. Toothless' father then walked out of the royal chambers. A series of roars echoed up and down the corridor. Toothless' father then reentered the chambers.
[We need to get all the non-fighters to safety,] he stated.
[The human's old territory,] Onyxwing said. [The one underground.]
[Will you escort them there?]
[Yes,] Onyxwing said. [Then we will return to aid you in the fight.]
Toothless' father nodded his head. Hiccup glanced over at Haizea. The female kept an eye upon her son and her nephews as Toothless' boys let the hatchling play with their tails. He frowned, turning to Toothless' father.
"May we aid Onyx in getting the non-fighters safe and then join the fight as well, sir?"
Toothless' father warbled a laugh. [Son, I did not expect you or your flock to stay out.]
Hiccup grinned.
"You gotta admit," Tuff said, "it's a slight improvement."
"You would think he'd learn to leave the tail of a dragon called Poison-tail alone," Fishlegs added. "He got stung by the Speedstinger because he tried to grab it and throw it off Hookfang."
Ruff chuckled. "That night was hilarious. This is better. Boss man, you should draw this."
"There will be repercussions, Ruff," Snotlout promised, as Hookfang carried him down the corridor via the back of Snotlout's tunic.
The entire thing gave Hiccup the impression of a father dragon carrying his son somewhere.
"No, there won't," Hiccup said, trying hard to keep the amusement he felt out of his voice. "You were warned by that fledgling's parents not to pick her up."
Snotlout grunted. "Thought it'd help. She was shaking."
[Your heart was true,] the male Flame Whipper said, walking beside Hookfang in order to keep an eye on Snolout, or so he said, [but she scares easily and at that age is not in control of her tail.]
The fledgling in question, a Flame Whipper the length of Hiccup's metal leg, rode upon her mother's back as they walked. She chittered something in the Old Tongue that sounded sad. Her parents murmured softly in return. Hiccup slipped past a Woolly Howl mother, who carried her hatchling upon her head, and came along side the Flame Whipper family. The fledgling looked up at him, shaking more. Hiccup did not move closer, giving them their space. He looked at the mother.
"Did she apologize? Is that what she said in the Old Tongue? I got the impression she was sad."
The father, a dragon with a light green body and wings and a light blue head and tail, glanced at Hiccup with a shocked look before looking forward and continuing to walk.
[Not sure how you picked that up, my prince, but yes. She is worried that she will be punished for harming one of your honor guards.]
"Will you tell her it's okay? We all understand."
The father did not pause his walk but did trill something in the Old Tongue. Hiccup saw the fledgling glance at him. He smiled softly. The fledgling then chittered but laid down. Her mother, who had an orange body and wings and sand colored head and tail, sighed.
[Thank you, my prince.]
Hiccup resisted the urge to scratch the female's head. The family was not a part of his nest and he had no real right to act like their alpha, even if he wanted to offer them the same that he offered dragons of his nest. Besides he had not given any of the dragons a choice to touch him or not and he knew doing so would prolong the walk. They were already a bit behind since it took some time to calm hatchlings and fledglings before the journey could even begin.
"You're welcome," he said instead.
He moved away, again slipping past the Woolly Howl mother so he could return to Astrid's side. She, Stormfly, Sneaky, Moondust, and Toothless walked along the right edge of the group in a staggered line. Hookfang, still carrying Snotlout, Gyda, Shadowfire, Skulder, and Silent walked along the left. Onyx and Sunburn had the front. The twins, Barf and Belch, Fishlegs, and Meatlug interspersed themselves within the group. Heatwave remained in the royal chambers recovering from his flight.
It was hoped that with this arrangement they could get to the ruins with fewer young getting left behind because their curiosity had them darting from the group. Toothless' father promised a flock of guards to come and relieve them when he was able to gather the volunteers. That would help the parents staying to keep their young from exploring the crumbling village. Skulder also promised to stay and help the parents. He did that on Berk before he left so Hiccup knew he had the experience. Besides, the man was not much of a fighter anyways and since it was a lone ship Hiccup knew most of this battle would have the dragons in the air. Skulder had no dragon bonded to him.
Just as Hiccup ducked around the Woolly Howl, he felt a familiar weight hit his shoulder and heard a familiar grunt come from Sharpshot, who rode upon his back. A familiar, and at the same time unfamiliar, coo echoed a heartbeat before a decidedly unfamiliar trill came from Sharpshot. Hiccup saw Astrid place a hand over her mouth and could see the mirth in her eyes even as the Woolly Howl mother screeched sounding embarrassed, amused, and annoyed all in one.
Kirika: I am so glad and giddy that you find my story fascinating and a pleasure to read. Thank you. And thank you for understanding and the get well wishes.
Literally Nobody: Hehe, yep, Hiccup is too good for us and he doesn't realize it. No, Aunt will remain with Toothless' family. Judgement was that she was no longer an elder but still a member of the nest. No, he did not. In more ways than one. And thank you for understanding and for the get well wishes. Have a good day/night as well.
Guest: Hi, welcome and thank you for reading and reviewing my story. Aye, some of the threads are weaving together. Some, however, are not. Hehe, we'll get to how it falls back eventually. And what are you thoughts about Old Wrinkly? I love knowing the theories my readers think up. Also thank you for understanding.