Chapter 7
Chris and Serenity flew over the ocean and sea stacks. They flew for the whole afternoon. Then they landed on a large sea stack to give Tenor and Windwalker a short break. They dismounted. Serenity couldn't help but notice that Chris didn't look entirely happy. She walked up beside him and gripped his hand gently.
"Is there something wrong?" she asked. "Aren't you happy that Re's okay?"
"I am," Chris said. "I just realized I almost lost my father. I don't know why that's effecting me now of all times. I guess it's because I had a lot of faith in you the whole time."
"Well you didn't loose him," Serenity said. "I knew there would be a lot of pressure, being a healer for such a high ranking dragon." Chris looked at her.
"Thanks for saving him," he said.
"You're welcome," Serenity said. She kissed his cheek.
"Well, we should get back," Chris said. "It's getting dark." Tenor and Windwalker got to their feet. Chris and Serenity mounted them and they took off.
The sun was starting to set when they landed next to the apple tree. Re and Aurora were wide awake. They looked up when the others landed. Chris and Serenity dismounted.
"Had a good time?" Re asked.
"Yes sir," said Serenity.
"Are you okay Dad?" Chris asked. Re beamed.
"Perfectly fine," Re said. The two riders sat in their chairs. Tenor and Windwalker laid down on the dragonnip. Re saw something wrong with Tenor.
"Are you alright Tenor, you look awfully thin," he said. Tenor looked at himself, he did look thin. His ribs were starting to show.
"I haven't eaten since the avalanche," he said.
"Why?" asked Re.
"Alto snapped at him for eating a stag when you were hit by lightening," Windwalker said, before Tenor could open his mouth. Re flinched at the memory.
"Well, I'm not dying," he said. "You should go eat something, it's no use starving yourself." Tenor took a deep breath.
"Very well," he said. He stood up and stretched his wings. "I'll go to the feeding station for now." He spread his wings and took off. Edelweiss and the dragonets climbed out of the tree and joined their elders.
The sun soon set and Re lit the fire pit. The young Draconians soon fell asleep. Tenor came back feeling much better. They were all looking forward to returning to Dragon Island.
"Well, we should head to bed," said Serenity, as the three of them got to their feet.
"Just a minuet Serenity," said Aurora, also getting up. "My I see your locket?" Serenity pulled out her locket and handed it to the queen, slightly nervous. Aurora examined it.
"Re told me it needs a new chain," she said.
"Yes ma'am," said Serenity.
"Then it's about time it got one," said Aurora. "As a reward for saving Re's life."
"I never require payment though," said Serenity. "My services are payment for your hospitality." Aurora didn't appear to hear her. She carefully placed the locket on Serenity's neck, right on top of her collar bone. Suddenly tiny, golden rods began branching out of the locket and linking together, forming a chain. The chain grew longer. Soon the two ends of the chain joined together at the back of her neck. The magic didn't stop there however. A flash of silver went around the chain, and it was suddenly embedded with tiny gems; sapphires, emeralds, and onyx stones.
Aurora lowered her paw, and took a sep back. She seemed satisfied.
"Thank you," said Serenity, her cheeks turned pink. She hugged Aurora's neck. The queen hugged her back. They separated after a minuet.
"Now, off to bed with you," Aurora said, beaming. Serenity went back over to Chris and Edelweiss. The three of them went into the house and closed the door. Aurora laid back down beside Re. The king yawned.
"You like giving them treasures don't you," said Aurora.
"I'd give them more if they let me," Re said.
"Well, you can't blame them for wanting to work for their gold," said Aurora. She laid her head on his shoulders.
"They're probably the only humans that do," said Re. He laid his head down on his front paws. They soon fell asleep.
The next morning the Draconians all felt restored enough to fly back to Dragon Island. The three humans came out of the house and the dragons got to their feet. Chris and Serenity mounted their dragons, and Edelweiss mounted Black Widow. They made their way down to the plaza where the vikings and dragons were working. The Berkian riders spotted their allies in the plaza and went over.
"You guys heading back," said Hiccup.
"Yeah," Re said. "No offense to my good dragon healer, but that hospital can feel a bit cramped with all of us around the tree."
"When are you going back to Draconia?" asked Astrid. Aurora looked up at the sky, and her face went blank.
"It's only starting to get cold, so in a few weeks I reckon," she said.
"Maybe we can come to Draconia next summer," said Hiccup. "If that's okay with you." The Draconians exchanged a surprised glance.
"Hmm, never had outside guests before," said Re, scratching his neck casually. "But I don't see it as a problem. We would really look forward to it." The Draconian dragons spread their wings and took off. They flew over the village and out over the horizon.