Chapter 5

The next morning the dragons came back up to the balcony to see if Serenity had improved at all. They were very relieved to find out that she was much happier than she had been in ten months. She was smiling and laughing again. She told them about the dream she had and she thanked all her family. But while she was saying all this, Windwalker kept twitching in discomfort. The back of her neck where her saddle sat itched a great deal. She could handle it, for now.

She and Tenor took their riders on a flight over the ocean. They hadn't gone flying like this in a long time. They brought Edelweiss and Black Widow as well. They had a picnic on top of a random sea stack. All the while Windwalker tried to ignore the itching on the back of her neck. She didn't think it was anything serious as she had survived worse injuries.

Meanwhile, Re, Aurora, and their two dragonets flew to Berk to tell them all that Serenity was doing much better. The dragons there were very happy to hear that. Then Gothi wrote in the dirt and Gobber translated.

"She says Serenity should go back to her original family," he explained. "That's where she really belongs, nature put her there."

"What? And have her be hit with a shovel again," Aurora said. "I don't think so. Her family doesn't want her." Gothi wrote some more.

"Well, that's where she's supposed to be," Gobber translated. "Perhaps she wasn't meant to be happy."

"Well she's happy now," Re said. "And there's nothing you can do to change that." He and his family spread their wings and flew back towards Dragon Island.

"Windwalker plans to spar with Tenor this afternoon," Re said.

"Ah, I know," Aurora said. "They have to keep their fighting skills sharp. Who do you think will win this time?" Re considered.

"Don't know," he said. "They're both the best fighters I've ever seen. Let's go find out." They picked up speed and soon landed in their throne room. Apollo and Avalon went to the tide pools where Eider and Black Widow were planning to meet them.

Later that day, Tenor and Windwalker met up at the Dragon Island arena. They both landed in the middle of it, no saddles. Their goal was to bring the other down with as little injuries as possible, and neither of them was allowed to activate their titan wing. The other Draconians, as well as the dragons of Dragon Island, all gathered to watch. The only one who wasn't there was Serenity. She had a habit of running into the arena whenever someone went down, and risked being accidentally hurt or killed. It was a habit she'd had as a child and never grew out of.

The two dragons circled each other, growling and gnashing their teeth. Tenor withdrew his venomous black teeth into his gums, Windwalker did the same. Then they pounced on each other. They slashed at each other with their claws and hard gums. They each tried to get the upper claw. Finally Windwalker pinned him to the ground.

"Ha! gotcha again," she sneered. "No matter how hard you try you'll never win." Tenor sneered back at her.

"That's what you think," he shot back. He then dug his claws into the ground and that enabled him to catapult her off him. He got to his feet and jumped on her. He wrapped all four legs and both wings around her, using his body weight to keep her from getting away. Suddenly she began crying out in pain.

"OWOWOWOW!, GET OFF PLEASE!" she screamed. At first Tenor thought she was just crying wolf to get him to loosen his grip.

"Sorry, I'm not falling for that again," he said.

"No I'm serious," Windwalker said. "My back really hurst." The itching had intensified to unbearable burning. Tenor finally got off and it seemed to make her feel slightly better but her the back of her neck still stung.

"You okay?" Tenor asked, concerned. Windwalker still looked like she was in pain. She could bare it no more and took off. She flew up to Chris and Serenity's room where Serenity and Edelweiss were watching the wildlife. Windwalker landed next to them. Serenity sat up.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"My back, it burns," Windwalker moaned. Serenity put Edelweiss down. The child made a fuss. She wanted to be close to her mother.

"You'll have to wait a few minuets my flower," Serenity said patiently. She pulled the wooden swan toy out of a pouch attached to the chair and handed it to her. It quieted the child for the moment. Then Serenity beckoned Windwalker over. She examined the dragon's back and neck where the saddle usually sat. She saw a few blisters and hot spots on the back of her neck.

"Ooh you have a few blisters," she said. "And hot spots. It's probably from your saddle."

"But my saddle has never caused this before," Windwalker said.

"How long have you had it?" Serenity said.

"All through the Song war," Windwalker said.

"My guess is that it's starting to show its age," Serenity said. "We should probably have Hiccup mend it. Where is it?"

"In my cave," Windwalker said. Serenity got up.

"Will you watch Edelweiss for a minuet?" she asked. The dragon nodded. Serenity went inside her room and went through the tunnel that led to Windwalker's and Tenor's cave. She found Windwalker's saddle and took it off the stone it was on. She went back to the balcony, picking up her trusted medical bag on the way. She sat back in her chair and looked at the saddle. It looked very used. She flipped it over and saw that the leather was cracked and rough. Windwalker looked surprised.

"Oh, I really liked that saddle," she said.

"Don't worry," Serenity said. "It's not going to be thrown out just because it's a little worn." She put the saddle down and opened her bag. She pulled out a bottle of ointment, that had Night Fury saliva as one of its ingredients. She opened it up and pulled out the black brush that was attached to the underside of the lid.

"This will help with the pain," she said. She brushed the ointment all over the blisters and hot spots. Once it was all coated in the ointment Serenity closed the bottle back up and put it away. She pulled out a special bandage that was designed for such injuries and wrapped it around Windwalker's neck.

"There, does that feel better?" she asked.

"Yes," Windwalker said. "That stuff smells horrid but yes." Serenity chuckled and scratched the dragon behind her ears. She purred with pleasure.

"I'm glad you haven't lost your touch," she groaned.

"So am I," Serenity agreed. She scratched the dragon right under her sonar flaps, and Windwalker all but melted. Then Chris landed on the balcony mounted on his uncle.

"What happened?" Chris asked, dismounting.

"My back was hurting really bad," Windwalker explained. "Serenity says I have blisters."

"Oh, I thought you flew off because you were mad at Tenor for defeating you."

"I'm not a poor sport," Windwalker said. Edelweiss got to her feet and ran to her dad smiling big. Chris picked her up and nibbled her neck. She laughed and latched onto his neck. Chris then put her onto his strong shoulders. Windwalker stood next to her mate and Serenity got to her feet. She and Chris turned to go inside but then stopped. He swayed on the spot like he was about to fall over. Serenity quickly became concerned. She got Edelweiss down then supported Chris.

"You okay?" she asked.

"I feel a bit dizzy," Chris said. Serenity felt his forehead.

"Hmm, you feel pretty warm," she said. "Come on you should lay down." She helped him into the room and over to the bed. He sat down really heavily. Serenity gently laid him down. While he was resting Serenity fetched her bag and sat beside Chris.

"You feeling any better?" she asked.

"Yeah," Chris said. "Bit tired though." Serenity reached into her bag and pulled out a flask of water.

"Here drink this, then get some rest," she said. Chris drank all the water from the flask. He didn't realize how thirsty he was. He handed it back and Serenity put it on the night stand.

"Come get me if you feel worse," she said. Chris just nodded as he closed his eyes. Serenity kissed his cheek, then went back outside with Edelweiss and the two dragons.