Seven years ago….

"Darkmoon, stop it!" I gasped between giggles. It was my thirteenth birthday and my third year on the island. I was growing up quickly in the presence of the dragons and Valka. She had protected me and taught me.

The Night Fury was licking me furiously and I ran away from the girl. Darkmoon was my companion, my best friend. Ever since she had hatched three days after I came on the island, we had fallen in love with each other.

Darkmoon had three other siblings and her parents. Valka had befriended the dragons years ago, but this was their first clutch of eggs. She was the youngest of all the Night Furies. Her siblings were all brothers, so I stepped in as her other sister. We named the oldest brother Maelstrom for his fiercely protective temper, the middle brother Thundercall since he hatched in a storm the day after Maelstrom, and the third brother was Waverunner because he had grown attached to the beach.

When Darkmoon had emerged from her shell, it was the middle of the night. I had stayed up with her parents, Wynterwind and Summerset, just for this. Summerset, the normally overprotective mother, surprisingly let me stay. I guess I was thirteen summers old and young enough for her to adopt me as one of her chicks. I stayed up through the storms and rumbling thunder in the distance until the egg hatched. The Night Fury came out like a meteor in the sky. She crashed out of her shell and let out a little roar before her mother picked her up. I had laughed at her spark.

So now, I played with the youngest chick. She was smaller than the males. That was typical for her species of dragon. Even though she was only three years old, she was about just to my shoulder height. She was five feet now, but would grow to about nine feet in only a few years. Although she would be full grown at only about seven years old, the Night Fury might live to be over a hundred.

Wynterwind let out a little roar and we all ran over to him. He nuzzled his check affectionately. I waited in the back until Valka came over. I saw her run to my side.

I expected her to tell me happy birthday, or have a smile on her face. What she said was anything but.

"Outcasts! They're coming for the Night Furies!" She explained breathlessly. My eyes widened with shock. Night Furies? Really!? No, I wouldn't let them take my family, my dragon family and best friend!

There weren't that many Night Furies known to Vikings. They didn't lay eggs often and when they did, they were valuable.

Instantly, we were in motion. Summerset and Wynterwind got up and herded their chicks towards the northern cove. Hopefully, they would be safe there. Darkmoon called for me and I ran to her side. Cloudjumper set down as Valka climbed on him.

"Go! Take Darkmoon and make sure the chicks are safe!" She encouraged me. I nodded, feeling tears of sadness sting my eyes. Over the hills, I heard the calls of Outcasts as they charged up the hill.

Climbing on Darkmoon, we took off into the sky. We trailed with the other chicks and headed towards our only hope of safety. Over the green hills, we flew far and fast.

But when we got to the cove, it was too late. It was all a trap.

Summerset and Wynterwind had set down, sniffing out the area. They led us forward as we padded softly on the pebbles. That's when they attacked.

Nets came down on the chicks. I saw arrows fly at the adults, but the thing was, they never stuck deep enough to kill. Only a dragonspeare fletched arrow could kill one of them.

The chicks however, were a different story.

When the Outcasts stormed down, I watched them struggle. Darkmoon took me up to a ledge, and out of the way. She looked down, trying to keep me safe and go to her parents.

"No, Darkmoon!" I cried softly into her side. Summerset let out a mourning call as something stuck deep. It must've been a dragonspeare arrow because her call was cut off. But I knew the meaning.

It was sad, saying to not come down. It was saying, "Save yourself! We are lost."

I couldn't watch as the chicks were killed and Wynterwind's was finally slaughtered. I never watched as they dragged the bodies down onto the boats to be sold for profit. Their scales would make a great armor.

All I saw the blood when it was all over.

Darkmoon and I flew back to the nest. Valka was their waiting. She told me the Outcasts had backed off suddenly after a few minutes of warning calls. I told her what had happened.

We cried and mourned for a day and a half.

Darkmoon didn't fly for weeks after that. The Bewilderbeast consoled her in that secret ways that only dragons knew.

A year later…

Darkmoon and I were on a regular flight around the island. It was more of a test flight for a new saddle that I had designed. So far, it was passing all the test I had designed for it. The grey leather was great at helping me keep hold onto Darkmoon's back. She rolled her eyes back to look at me. I patted her head.

"Let's take this up a notch." I exclaimed through the mask. She shot upwards, spiraling in circles. We flew high over the ocean. The pod of Scauldrons breeched through rough waves. As we reached the peak, I kicked myself off of the saddles.

I had full faith in Darkmoon now.

I was at a full freefall, cloak streaming behind me as I descended through the air towards the ocean. Darkmoon let out a happy screech behind me. I stretched out my hand and gave her the cue. Her claws latched onto my arms and we slowed down. Shooting up again, I climbed into the saddle.

That was exhilarating!

"Come on, Moons. Let's settle down for an hour or so." I laughed. The dragon whined but followed my suggestion. We landed on a small hill that overlooked the forest. Following path, I walked down the slope and found a little alcove. Figuring this would be a great place to sleep for a little while, I dropped the hood and walked into the cave. It was more of a little dig out in the side of a hill. It was like a dragon had abandoned it.

Darkmoon flopped down at the mouth of the cave, her green eyes closing. I patted her dark snout before continuing in the ten feet it extended to.

"Well this is exciting." I shrugged in disappointment. Darkmoon's ears flickered as I settled down. Her tail twitched.

That's when I noticed the usual rock.

There was a pile of rocks in a dark corner. They were all grey or brown. This one was oddly ovular and was jet black. A single streak of white marred one side of it. It wasn't large, but the white was just noticeable. I gasped as I dug it out.

It was a Night Fury egg.

Every Night Fury had a specific marking on their egg. Wynterwind's and Summerset's egg had a little dark purple splotch on the top. It was like a special mark that when the egg was laid, it could be identified as that parent's egg. From this mark, I knew it wasn't Wynterwind's or Summerset's. They weren't the parents.

Darkmoon came over to investigate and her eyes went wide at the sight of it. I showed it to her and she sniffed it tentatively before licking it.

"Groooss." I grumbled. She chortled as I put the egg in my pouch to show Valka.

A year later….

"Come on, Alexander!" I called to the Night Fury. I was sitting on the on the same ridge over the alcove where I had found Alexander's egg.

"Alex-boy, stop teasing Moons." I chuckled. He was pouncing on her tail and Moons was hissing at him. He just seemed to have fun pawing at her tail until she tackled him.

"Moons!" I called for her. Darkmoon quickly came to my side. She sat down next to me. Soon enough, I saw her yawn and got a face full view of those sharp teeth that could retract. Alexander nudged her shoulder, wanting to play more. I patted his leg and his dark, flat head turned to me. The grass tickled my arm as if it was trying to get my attention. Alex, only a year old, licked my arm.

"Hey!" I giggled happily. Alex was smaller than Darkmoon, younger, but just as playful. He might have come from a different mother than Darkmoon, but they acted like best friends, like siblings.

Darkmoon set her head on her legs. Her green eyes peered up to Alex. I watched as a silent conversation passed between them. Soon enough, Alex curled up by Darkmoon, so that she had her head resting on his front legs. Alex hummed happily.

"You two are cute." I smiled and took my turn crawling up against Darkmoon's belly. She was warm in the cold wind that was gathering. Between the two dragons and chilling wind, I started to drift off.

When I woke up, Darkmoon was shuffling my shoulder and crying insistently. I shot up, taking out my sword.

Alexander was gone.

"Alex!" I screamed. I called the Night Fury's name multiple times until my voice was hoarse. Darkmoon lifted her nose to the wind and caught a scent of something. Scrambling on her back on the saddle, I shoved my feet into the straps and she took off. Clutching onto the front, I hung on for dear life as she shot off in the direction her nose told her to go.

We neared the eastern beach where the Changewings normally sunbathed. No, they weren't here.

There were broken nets, scorch marks, and small drops of blood. As we touched down, the waves lapped at us, encouraging us forward. The splashes of blood grew darker and larger. Tears stung at my eyes.

"Raaw…" Darkmoon cried softly. She raised her head and cried out again and again.

"We can't lose hope!" I tried to encourage. Getting on her back, we soared over the ocean. I knew Valka wouldn't be too pleased if we got lost, but we had to find Alexander.

Eventually we hit a point where had to stop. I scanned the ocean, but there wasn't a trace of dragon to be found.

Then, in the distance, I spotted a ship. No, a fleet of ships. I heard Alex's whines, but I couldn't do anything.

Darkmoon and I were no match against hundreds of warriors. We would be killed and that would do none of us good. Darkmoon called out sadly as Alex returned the please.

It was that same cry that I had heard from Wynterwind and Summerset. It said, "Save yourself. We are lost."

I saw the banners. I memorized the masts of the ships. I saw the symbol and would draw it down for years on. Berk. Berk ships. Berk warriors.

Berk kidnappers.

As we flew back to the island, both of us weighed down by sadness, I swore revenge on any Berk islander that would dare to come near us. They would pay for taking Alexander away from Moons and I.