Author's Note: In case anyone was wondering, I don't like typing long names (whether or not I like the names themselves) any more than you like reading them (especially when those names involve non-english letters, such as ó, pronounced like the 'o' on 'clothes'). Luckily, in-story methods of avoiding that abound in this particular universe. Rest assured, no matter how many ridiculous names are introduced, the important ones will over the course of the story be shortened to something manageable.

Svarturkló looked at Kappi and Hiccup as she paced nearby, walking into and out of shadows cast by the moon. They were both asleep, the human sheltered under the wing of the dragon, both looking as if they'd collapsed there. It was a sight she'd gotten used to. The last three months had been hard on her boys, and the long days of flight always caught up to them whenever they reached one of their targets.

Svarturkló realized she had thought of Hiccup and Kappi as 'her boys'. Well, Hiccup had been proving himself trustworthy for the last three months. His plan to use that oddly marked hide hadn't made much sense to her, but it was working. As well as could be expected, anyway. They'd found plenty of candidate islands, but their quarry remained hidden. That was ignoring the many uninhabited but unsuitable islands they stopped on, and the few that were already occupied.

Yes, it had been a trying few months, but that did not mean that it was all bad. She was seeing more and more how similar her son and Hiccup were, now that she had spent so much time around them. Both were smart, sometimes sarcastic, and kind-hearted. They acted like brothers, played like them. She was truly starting to consider Hiccup one of her own. She hadn't told either of them that, but she was pretty sure Kappi at least knew. Her son had begun referring to her as Kló again, like he had done back in the nest. Hiccup had followed suit, apparently not aware of the meaning behind names for Furies. Both she and Kappi had let him remain unaware for the time being.

Her mind wandered back to some of the events of the past few months. Specifically, the ones that had been most important in her gradual acceptance of a human into her family.

They were en route to the second island on the list. Kló had remembered that Hiccup's plan involved an overnight flight soon and so insisted he get some heavier clothing since this island they were resting on had a village. Since he would need valuable items for bartering, they had gone hunting the night before and acquired several valuable pelts.

Kló and Kappi waited in the woods while Hiccup went to town before the shops closed for the night, cautious to avoid leaving footprints in the snow that would raise unwanted questions about dragons on the island.

'Kappi, what are you doing?' Kló was sitting at the base of a tree, watching Kappi climb. He was halfway up already.

'I'm getting to a safe place, so I can see what Hiccup is doing without leaving myself vulnerable.' Kappi reached a sturdy branch, and hung as if to sleep by his tail from it. He was practically invisible in the trees.

Kló sat at the base of the tree and listened as Kappi relayed what Hiccup was doing.

'He's trading the pelts now. The trader gave him everything he wanted... and some money too. Those pelts were way more than enough. That's good... Hiccup found something else.' At this Kappi got really excited, still relaying to Svarturkló at intervals. 'It's a staff, but the wood is really dark blue! It would be perfect for when we make another scythe. He's using some of the extra money to get it... He's still got some left. Now he's headed back...'

In a few minutes, Kló could hear Hiccup coming. But at that moment, Kappi growled, still using Hiccup's senses. 'He's being followed... they are going to attack him... he doesn't want to lead them towards us... I convinced him to anyway because they smell like violence and anger... they've all got weapons... Hiccup's running this way!'

At this, Kappi dropped out of the tree, teeth bared. 'Hiccup says for us to hide. He wants to try to scare them off.' He leaped back up, closer to the ground this time.

Kló jumped up into a nearby tree. It was going to be difficult for any human to see them against the dark sky and trees. Hiccup would with his gradually improving sight, but these thugs would not be able to.

In a few moments, Kló could see Hiccup. He saw them, and ran to stand somewhat in front of the trees they were hiding in. Kló growled inaudibly as four large men advanced on Hiccup. This was no group of teenage bullies. The one in front had a bow. He drew, and pointed the arrow at Hiccup.

"Foreigners pay the tax around here. Our tax. You haven't paid. Somehow, you slipped by us whenever it is you came through the docks."

Hiccup held the staff in one hand and was already wearing his new clothing, a heavy coat with a hood and gloves the only obvious changes in his appearance. His boots had been reinsulated, and he had a much thicker set of pants now, but those were subtle changes. He still looked skinny, despite the coat, and gripped the staff like he knew how to use it. Kló remembered Kappi saying he used a scythe fairly well, but a stick was different. This stick really was different, and it was made of a strange dark blue wood, almost black. Hiccup leveled the staff at them. His voice was calm. "This tax is paid by all who arrive by boat?"

The archer sneered. "Yeah, and you haven't paid. Pay up." His three thugs stepped forward, all armed with bludgeons. They looked bored, like this happened all the time. It was starting to snow softly.

Hiccup smiled disarmingly. "That explains it. I didn't come by boat. So I was never at the docks, and never even knew such a tax existed." His voice was still carefully neutral.

Kló knew Hiccup was telling the truth. Unfortunately, the archer and his thugs weren't convinced, and didn't care anyway.

"We all know the only way to get to an island is by boat. Unless, of course, you swam here?" The archer's voice was mocking now. "Or, I suppose you flew here. Feel free to show us any wings growing out of your back as proof of that. There's room for them under that coat." He sneered again. "Our tax might not be common knowledge, but we make sure all foreigners pay it. I don't know how you slipped by us, but I don't like it. Can't have word getting out that our little tax can be avoided if you're sneaky." He drew back the string of his bow. "However you did it, your secret will die with you."

That was all Kappi could stand before he pounced from the tree onto the archer and tore the bow out of his arms. Hiccup immediately attacked the thug closest to him, slamming the staff into the thug's stomach, knees, and head in quick succession. There was power fueled by fear and anger in his blows, and the thug dropped like a sack of grain.

Kló saw one of the thugs try to get away, running from Kappi in terror. She leapt from tree to tree and pounced on him as he ran. The thug only had time for one short, abruptly silenced scream. She showed no mercy. From what these men had been implying, this village would be better off without them.

After she had removed the head from the rest of the body, something occurred to her. She was in complete control. After being under the Queen's dominion for so many years, it was… strange… to fight for herself. Not bad, though.

Her thoughts were cut short when she heard a screech of fear. Kappi!

Kló ran as fast as she could back to the location of the main fight, but by the time she got there, it was over. Kappi was keening loudly, hunched over Hiccup's prone form. He was bleeding, and there was an arrow sticking out of his arm. As Kló ran closer, he groaned, and sat up, clutching the arrow with his good hand.

Hiccup stared blankly for a second at the arrow. It was sticking out of the muscle of his upper right arm. Kló didn't think it was in too deep, but hopefully it wasn't barbed. Hiccup pulled it out with his hand, screaming in pain as he did. It hadn't been barbed. He dropped the arrow and awkwardly squeezed his arm above the wound, to stem the blood flowing out.

Kappi quickly moved over to lick the wound, and once he was done Hiccup quickly bound it. Hiccup would be fine; Night Fury saliva had proven to be a powerful painkiller and kept wounds from getting infected.

Kló demanded, as they fled the scene, to know what had happened. It was Kappi who told her.

'Hiccup had stopped one of the thugs, you were chasing the second. I had finished off the archer and was moving over to help Hiccup. That one he was fighting had a thick skull, he didn't stay down for long. We had just knocked him out for good when Hiccup dove in front of me. The arrow would have taken me in the eye. Apparently, the last thug had decided to grab the archer's bow, and wanted me dead more than Hiccup.'

Kló had met Hiccup's eyes. 'Thank you.' She could only hold great respect for one who would literally take an arrow for her son, even if he was a human.

They made a very short hop to the third island so Hiccup could rest in safety. His heavy clothing proved effective in keeping him warm on the long overnight flight to the fourth island. That one had been particularly bad; Apparently at some point after their map had been made, a colony of Whispering Deaths had moved in. That was when Hiccup learned that being able to communicate with dragon's didn't assure him of being able to coexist with them. The Whispering Deaths were none too fond of their visitors. They weren't open to any discussion of any kind, but chased them with the intent to kill until an exhausted Kló and Kappi finally managed to escape. Hiccup had redirected them to a small island close by to rest. It was marked on the map as uninhabited.

Kló collapsed in the sand. Kappi fell beside her, both of them utterly unable to even move. They had flown most of the day, spent several hours flying at top speed, and then flown another hour without rest to get here. Needless to say, they were all a bit discouraged.

Hiccup went a little way into the forest to see if he could find fresh water. He crossed that last island off of his list as he walked.

Kló tried to pull herself up but failed miserably. She was just too exhausted. Then she stiffened. She heard voices, human voices.

"I was sure I saw two dragons fly this way. Night Furies!"

"Caw, your seein' things again."

"Hey, who're you?" At that, Kló's heart leaped into her throat. They must have found Hiccup. And both she and Svarturkló were too tired to even stand.

"Me? I'm, uh, Alvin the poor but honest farmer! I wanted to see if the uh, soil was good for farming here! So I rowed my boat here." Hiccup wasn't the greatest liar.

"Well, did you happen to see any dragons? Thorgils here says he saw two Night Furies. I'll tell you what. If you know where they are, lead us to them, and we'll split the profit. Fifty-fifty. That's enough for us all to live like kings!"

"Fifty-fifty?" Kló's heart sank. He sounded like he was considering it. "How's that work when there are three of us?"

Kló would have despaired, but then she saw Kappi. He was calm. He seemed ready to fight, but he also seemed sure Hiccup wouldn't betray them. She caught his eye, only for him to grin reassuringly. Apparently she was the only one worried.

"Oy, that's a good point. 'Ow do we each get fifty? Varin, you aren't gonna cheat me are ya?"

"Yes, I am." There was a loud clang. "Now we can split fifty-fifty. So do you know where they are?"

"Yeah, actually. Right over there." Now Kló despaired.

"Okay, this way?"

"Yup."

Kló heard a grunt and then a loud noise, like a small tree falling into a stream. A few moments later, Hiccup reappeared. His face was pale, and he moved quickly. He dropped a cudgel he was holding as he ran. "Can you guys fly? We really should go before that guy wakes up. I don't know if there are more of them on the island."

Kló grunted. 'It feels like my wings will fall off if I try.'

Kappi purred. 'But we'll be fine in the morning. What exactly is the situation here?'

Hiccup understood what he was asking. "They seemed like dragon hunters. I ran into two, Varin and Thorgils. They saw us fly in. I goaded Varin into knocking out Thorgils, then took Thorgils' cudgel and knocked Varin into a stream. He might not be unconscious now that I think about it." Hiccup quickly grabbed his almost-black staff. "He might come looking for us."

Kló thought quickly. 'Cover us in sand. Not our noses, but everything else. We're far enough up the beach to not have to worry about the tide. This way we won't be so visible from a distance.'

Hiccup laughed and set to work. In half an hour, he had created two sandy hills where there used to be two exhausted Night Furies. He set up in between them, staff in hand.

Kló had her eyes closed, but Kappi was telling her what Hiccup could see, so she didn't feel too exposed or vulnerable. They spent the night like that, uncomfortable as it was. Kló even managed to get some sleep. Hiccup stayed up all night, guarding them.

When Kló woke, she almost forgot what was going on. Then she remembered. 'Hiccup, is it safe out there?'

Hiccup's voice was strained with tiredness. "Yeah, you're good."

Kló erupted from the sand like a small explosion, showering the stuff everywhere. She was very surprised to see who she assumed was either Varin or Thorgils, tied up and gagged a few dozen yards away. 'When did that happen?' She quite enjoyed the blank panic on the hunter's face as he struggled to free himself and yawned in his direction, being sure to show her teeth. The dragon hunter struggled harder.

Hiccup walked up from behind her, staff in hand. "A few hours ago. He apparently decided to keep searching for you guys once he regained consciousness. I had to attack him because he was about to walk right on top of you. He might have noticed something." He gestured to the frantic prisoner. "He's definitely noticed something now."

Kappi erupted from the sand. Kló found it quite amusing to watch.

'My question is, how did the hunter not notice you?' Kappi had apparently been listening for a moment.

"My eyesight is still improving a little at a time. I'm by no means able to see in the dark yet, but I can make out shapes a lot better than he can. I saw him coming, and snuck around behind him."

Kappi eyed the near-hysterical prisoner. 'What do we do with him? He's kinda seen a bit too much for comfort. He's seen Night Furies, for one thing. And you, talking to us. He might spread rumors, attract unwanted attention.'

Kló didn't like the sound of that. Furies as a species relied on safety in secrecy. 'Get rid of him.'

Hiccup spread his hands. "I can't just kill him in cold blood. Let me talk to him first. Try to figure something out."

'Or you could just solve the problem. Like I said, kill him.' Kló did not sound at all happy. 'We live by secrecy. Do you really think you can keep us secret and keep him alive?'

"I can try first." Hiccup responded. "At least let me try."

'Let him try.' Kappi chimed in. 'It doesn't hurt us to do that. If he can't keep the human silent, then-'

'Then I can kill him.' Kló finished. 'Fine. But if you fail, Hiccup, we will not have this discussion again in the future.'

Hiccup didn't seem very happy with that. "Fine, but I don't really think that's fair." He walked over to the prisoner and removed the gag.

"Don't kill me! What kind of lunatic talks to dragons like they can understand him anyway? We can still split the money! Just lemme go and we can kill them..." The hunter might have not been smart enough to consider the stupidity of insulting his captor while trying to get himself released, but he could see the mounting rage in Hiccup as he spoke. He trailed off, but not before crossing that line that had been crossed one time too many in the last day.

Hiccup visibly restrained himself from doing anything other than scowling. When he spoke, his voice carried all of the fury he would have liked to unleash physically.

"Let me get this straight. For you, and for any hunter you ever tell this to. There isn't enough wealth, power, or anything else in the world to make me even consider betraying my brother or his mother." He took in the hunter's confused expression. "I consider them family, and if I ever hear of a hunter named Scart again, I'll hunt you down and kill you myself."

Kappi growled in agreement. 'We will.'

Hiccup continued with a dark smile. "Take up another line of work. Something that doesn't involve dragons in any way."

"Sure, sure, I will! Just lemme go!" The hunter seemed to consider that more than a fair trade.

Kappi cut in. 'He's lying. I can smell it on him.'

Hiccup's face darkened even more. "The dragon can smell lies. Swear it, so that I can be sure you'll hold to it. And if he can still smell you lying, I'll let them decide what to do with you."

The hunter grimaced and lowered his head, defeated. "I swear on Odin himself to take up a line of work that in no way involves dragons, and to never hunt a dragon again. I'll, uh, take up fishing! Or woodcarving!"

Hiccup looked to Kappi for confirmation.

'He isn't lying,' Kappi agreed.

Hiccup cut the hunter loose and turned to the Night Furies as the hunter ran as fast as he could in the opposite direction. "Ready to go?"

That was the day Kló truly believed that Hiccup considered Toothless family. And maybe herself as well, though he wouldn't consider her a mother unless she allowed him to.

Kló was finding it hard to sleep. She was sprawled out on a rocky outcropping just above a lake, watching the moon's reflection. Kappi's soft snores were faintly audible behind her. She had been there for a few minutes when she heard Hiccup get up. He moved to sit beside her, also peering over the edge at the water below.

"Don't give up hope. Even if it's all you have right now." He was clearly referring to the complete lack of success they had been suffering from. This was the tenth island, a perfect candidate… and completely devoid of Night Furies. It was depressing. He seemed to be talking to himself, but his words were clearly meant for Svarturkló.

She subtly angled her head to look at him out of the corner of her eye. He seemed a bit sad.

"At least you get to search. When my mother was taken, I was a baby. I couldn't even understand the situation, let alone help look. And when I look back on it now, how my father just set out blindly to bring her back. He never developed a plan, though, and even started his search with seeking the dragon nest, probably as some sort of misguided vengeance. He had no hope, though, so he was doomed to fail because he acted knowing he would fail. Why plan carefully when it didn't matter? That was what he must have thought, deep down. And he never found her."

Kló had never heard this story. She had wondered what had happened to Hiccup's mother, but only in passing. Now she regretted not asking. 'What was her name?'

"Valhallarama, but apparently she liked to be called Valka." Hiccup laughed softly. "She disliked her own name so much that she preferred a nickname but ended up having to name her only son Hiccup. That's just ironic. If I hadn't been born a runt, I probably would have a really generic name, like Lars. Something short and not at all mockable." Hiccup didn't sound angry or resentful. He was more thoughtful than anything. Maybe a hint of actual amusement.

Kló thought about that. She could see his point, but... 'She didn't get to choose your name?'

Hiccup sighed. "Viking tradition. Runts are named Hiccup. I share the name with several small sheep back on Berk. I should be thankful. Some tribes float runts off to sea to die. Yet another Viking tradition. The reason Berk doesn't is probably because they needed every possible person to fight in the war. I wonder if they'll go back to it now."

Kló was horrified, but that particular custom was not the point she had been trying to make. 'I think if you wanted to now, she probably wouldn't mind if you changed it. Your name, I mean. She basically did the same thing, with a name her parents actually picked for her.'

Hiccup was quiet for a few minutes. "Maybe, someday. I wouldn't want to name myself though. Names should be given." He looked up at her. "We got kinda far from my original point, didn't we."

Kló smiled. It was something her son had taught her recently. 'I got it all the same. Don't give up hope.' She looked at their reflection. A boy and a dragon, sitting side by side. 'And thank you. For everything.'

Hiccup stood. "Goodnight, Svarturkló." He went back to Kappi's wing and was soon asleep. Kló stared at her reflection for a few more minutes and then curled up nearby. Sleep came quickly.

They were a few days travel away from the island that was number eleven on the list of possible candidates. Kló and Kappi had set down for the night on an uninhabited island Hiccup had directed them to. They were settling down for the night when it happened.

Hiccup had been standing right next to her. And then he was gone. Kló had only seen a flash as if something was invisible...

"Toothless! Svarturkló!" That was Hiccup, but where was he? His voice seemed to be pained, and it was fading even as he screamed.

Kló roared, a deafening cry that got even louder when Kappi joined in. The noise must have startled what Kló was pretty sure was a Changewing, because it fled to the air, judging by the sudden wind originating somewhere nearby. And Changewings can't camouflage against the air. So, Kló whirled around, and in an instant she spotted the dragon in question, along with Hiccup, who was dangling from its back claws, dripping blood as he was carried off.

Kló knew that Changewings were opportunistic predators not prone to giving up prey. It was definitely planning on eating Hiccup. She saw red. She bolted into the sky and caught up to the dragon in seconds. Without thought, she tore into the Changewing's side. There were no words. There was no fire. This was a pure, rage induced mauling, and the Changewing didn't stand a chance. It faltered almost immediately and whipped its head around in an attempt to spray acid.

Kló had planned for that and leaped from her hold on its side to the red dragon's neck. One wrench of her jaws on its neck and the dragon went limp. In the same instinctive state, Kló lunged to grab Hiccup, who was now unconscious. She had to grab him with her mouth, but she had carefully sheathed her teeth so the hold wouldn't hurt him. She pried him loose from the dead dragon's grip as they plummeted, managing to get him loose just seconds before they would have crashed into the ocean along with the carcass of the Changewing. Once she had regained control of her momentum, she quickly flew them back to the island, Hiccup safely held in her gummy mouth by the torso. She carefully set him on the ground, and Kappi immediately began searching for wounds to treat.

Kló stepped back, the red cloud over her mind receding. Once Kappi had treated the talon marks on Hiccup's shoulders, he curled up around him and shot Kló a grateful look. He probably recognized that rage and said nothing as there was nothing to be said. Hiccup woke up sore but alive the next day and thanked Kló for rescuing him. He seemed to have the sense not to ask about the Changewing.

That was the day Svarturkló had first begun to realize she considered this human one of her own, subconsciously. Because that had been a mother's rage.

Svarturkló was pulled from her memories and back to the present by the call of some night bird nearby. She surveyed the area, prowling quietly around the clearing. Nothing was around. She sat down next to Toothless and considered all that had happened. She still wanted to find their pack. But she remembered what Hiccup had said. Don't give up hope... even if it's all you have. She wasn't going to give up hope. But it wasn't all she had either. She had her son. Sons. Maybe she could be happy with just them?

They would keep looking. But hope wasn't all she had. She considered something else Hiccup had once said. Maybe, someday soon. When the time was right.

Author's Note: Next chapter will be delayed until late Sunday night. On the bright side, that means less time left on a cliffhanger...