Chapter 7
Serenity woke up one rainy night. She had been roused by the loud thunder. Her room was very dark, except for the occasional flash of lightning. She sat up and leaned against her pillows, deep in thought. It had been three months since she saw Chris. He's been out of her life for longer than that in the past, but she couldn't help but miss him. She missed him so much it hurt her mentally. She felt like Chris had taken a piece of her heart with him when he left. She looked around the room. She couldn't see much except the bars of Edelweiss's crib. Serenity pulled the blankets back and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Her bare feet touched something sharp. She put her legs back up onto the bed, tried to see what she had stepped on. All she could make out was black shadow. But she could hear something breathing right beside her bed, it sounded like a dragon. Serenity guessed that she had stepped on a dragon's spine, but she couldn't tell which dragon is was. She was very touched by this; all the dragons had taken the liberty to keep her company as only a dragon knew how. Serenity slowly swung her legs back down, her toes searching through the darkness for the floor. But all she could feel was smooth, warm scales, or fleshy membrane. She gave up and crawled to the foot of the bed and stood up when she finally found the floor. She went over to the crib to check on Edelweiss. The child was sound asleep, her thumb in her mouth, hugging a stuffed dragon toy Serenity had made her. She pulled Edelweiss's blanket, which had been kicked off, back onto the sleeping infant. Then she went back over to her bed, wondering how she was going to get passed the dragon without waking it. Then lightning flashed outside and show Tenor sleeping next to the bed, with his wings stretched out. His ears twitched with every little sound. Then he was thrown into blackness once again after the lighting struck.
"Tenor?" Serenity whispered. The dragon opened his glowing green eyes and looked at her.
"Why are you up?" he asked. Serenity heard him yawning. "Bad dream?"
"No, bad storm," Serenity said. "And I wanted to make sure Edelweiss wasn't frightened by it."
"I see," Tenor said. Serenity heard him get to his feet and stretch.
"You don't have to get up," she said. "I was just going to ask you to move a little so I can get into bed, please."
"Well, I'm moving now," Tenor said. He padded over to his rider. She couldn't see him, but her could see her. She suddenly felt a scaly muzzle and hot breath on her hand. She stroked Tenor's muzzle and he purred.
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have woken you," she said. She heard a snort of disapproval.
"You can wake be up anytime love," Tenor said. Then lighting flashed again and Serenity saw his dark, ghost-like silhouette, it actually startled her a bit.
"Wow you are so spooky in the shadows," she said, breathing heavily. Tenor chuckled.
"Well it's all part of being awesome," he said. He snorted again.
"I bet you could be a ghost if you really wanted," Serenity said. Then she yawned.
"You should go back to sleep we can talk more tomorrow," Tenor said. Serenity went over to the bed and sat on it.
"Where's Black Widow?" she asked. Tenor smiled in the dark.
"Under the bed," he said, amused. "The darker the better she says." He laid back down next to the bed, giving Serenity enough room to get out of bed if needed. Serenity laid back down and pulled the covers back over her.
"Hey Serenity," Tenor said. "This might seem like an odd question but; what's it like for a human to have dragons for friends and family?"
"That's actually a very good question," Serenity said. "Well, for me it's very cool. I like watching dragons get creative when doing simple human things, like opening a door." Tenor chuckled.
"And it's fun to have friends that are so reliable," Serenity continued. "Dragons can be all fierce and violent one second, then gentle as a lamb the next." Tenor murmured in agreement. He was about to ask more questions when he heard Serenity's slow and steady breathing, she had fallen asleep. Tenor made himself comfortable and fell asleep too.
The next morning Tenor woke to fine Serenity's bed empty. He got up, stretched, and went outside. He saw Serenity sitting in her chair with Edelweiss on her lap. When the child saw Tenor she struggled to get free. Serenity set her down and she ran over to the dragon.
"Hey little flower," he said. He lowered his head to her level so she could pet his muzzle. She grabbed hold of his nostrils. She had a very firm grip which Tenor figured would work in her favor when it came to gripping the saddle. He gently nuzzled Edelweiss, and she hugged his snout very tightly. Tenor lifted her off the ground a few inches then set her back town. Edelweiss giggled when she was lifted off the ground and stopped when she was put down. She let go of the dragon's snout and went over to where Black Widow was laying down.
"She's a thrill junky that one," Tenor said.
"Just like someone else I know," Serenity said winking at him. Tenor went over and laid beside her chair. She wasn't sewing or knitting like she usually did, she just sat there doing nothing and that bothered Tenor. He tried to figure out how to make her smile again. He gently put his head in her lap as he mauled it over. She stroked his snout absentmindedly. Suddenly Tenor felt something grab his tail. He jumped and looked at what had him, it was only Edelweiss. She clung to the dragon's tail like she was holding the branch of a tall tree. Tenor slowing swayed his tail back and forth. Then he swung it around to Serenity so she could pry the child off. She put Edelweiss on her lap and Tenor gently nuzzled her. She giggled and hugged his snout.
"Dagon," she shrieked happily. "My dagon?"
"Where's Black Widow?" Tenor asked.
"Still under the bed," Serenity said. Tenor carefully freed his snout from Edelweiss's grasp. He got to his feet and went back inside. He looked under the bed and sure enough Black Widow was still fast asleep.
"Black Widow get up," Tenor barked sternly. The young dragon woke up and crawled like a spider out from under the bed. She yawned and stretched. She looked up at Tenor and rubbed against his legs. Tenor nuzzled her.
"I miss Mama," she said. "Will we every see her again?"
"I think so," said Tenor. "Once that village sees how good your mama is, they'll let us in as well." Black Widow nuzzled him back.
"I know, I miss her too," Tenor went on. They went out side where Serenity and Edelweiss waited. Edelweiss beamed and giggled.
"My dagon," she said, reaching her little arms towards Black Widow. The young dragon ran up to Serenity and put her front paws on the armrest. Edelweiss petted the dragon's snout, and Black Widow gave her a nibble. Her teeth were in her gums so it was perfectly safe. Edelweiss hugged Black Widow's snout like it was a teddy bear, and gave her a nibble. Black Widow purred and nuzzled her friend. Then Edelweiss struggled to get down. Serenity set her down and she and Black Widow went to go get their ball. Serenity leaned back in her chair and Tenor laid next to her again and put his head back in her lap.
"Edelweiss will be two years old soon" Serenity said, stroking her dragon.
"So will Black Widow," Tenor said. They watched said children play with their ball. They were actually throwing it now, rather than rolling it. Tenor looked at his rider, she still wasn't smiling.
"Say, you want to go flying" he asked.
"No thanks," Serenity sighed glumly. Tenor decided right then and there that he wasn't going to let Serenity be depressed anymore. He slowly got to his feet and curled around the chair.
"Why not?" he asked playfully.
"I don't feel like it," Serenity said. Tenor snorted.
"Awe come on," he begged, rolling onto his back. "You haven't gone flying in along time, it'll do you some good." He saw that it was making no improvement. She still looked sad. Tenor got to his feet again. He tilted his head, looking at her hat. He snatched it in his jaws and ran to the other side of the balcony.
"Hey give that back!" Serenity ordered, startled. She ran after him, but the dragon just pranced away.
"I'll give it back when you stop being sad," he said, muffled by the hat.
"Now," Serenity barked, her mood was lifting a bit.
"Sure whatever you say," Tenor said, he walked over to her. "Your wish is my command, oops." He tossed over the railing, pretending he'd dropped it.
"Tenor," Serenity wined. The dragon went to the railing and looked down to see where it had landed.
"Hey it landed on the rocks," he said. "Come on we'll go get it." He went into a playful crouch. Serenity looked at him, he tilted his head like a puppy.
"Does it run in a Night Fury's blood to be delightfully annoying?" Serenity asked. Tenor gave her a gummy grin, his tongue hanging out of his mouth.
"Oh alright, you win," Serenity said. Tenor got up and Serenity mounted him, using her magic to saddle him up. Tenor spread his wings and was about to take off when Serenity spoke up.
"Wait what about them?" she asked looking at Edelweiss and Black Widow.
"They'll be okay for a few minuets," Tenor said. He took off and dove towards the rocks. Serenity held on to the reins and saddle horn. Tenor flew towards the rock the hat had landed on and snagged it with his talons. Then he zoomed off towards the top of the volcano. Serenity didn't protest, she was enjoying the flight. Tenor flew to the tip top and flew in circles around the crater. All they saw was old, grey, rock and no magma.
"Why does Re like volcanoes so much?" Serenity asked.
"It's a mountain that breathes fire," Tenor said. "What dragon isn't going to love that?"
"Oh, that makes sense," Serenity said. "He seems to like his collection of volcanoes. How many does he have now?"
"Six," Tenor said. "Mt. Vulcan, Mt. Earth, Mt. Phoenix, Dragonfire, Inferno, and this one, Dragon Island."
"Phoenix, Dragonfire, and Inferno are the newest ones," Serenity said.
"Yes," Tenor said. "You remember the day they erupted?"
"We were very busy that year," Serenity said. "Cleaning up after the eruption, then updating the nearby towns and cities so they were prepared for future eruptions." Tenor murmured in agreement.
"I'm so glad you weren't the only healer working that year," he said. "With all those injuries you would have exhausted yourself." Serenity patted his neck.
"Come on, we should get back," she said. "Before those two miss us."
"Fine," said Tenor. "But we take the long way, around Berk and then back to the balcony." Serenity clicked the reins and they took off.
They headed for Berk. Tenor flew at a steady pace. He flew lower the water. When he was close enough he flipped over and Serenity trailed her fingers through the water. Then Tenor flipped right side up and flew higher. He picked up speed as they approached Berk. He flew over the village. He roared to announce his presence. Some of the Berkian dragons took off and joined him. They flew over Gothi's hut not paying it any heed. Then they went over the Golden Apple Tree, Serenity snatched an apple from the top branches and put it in her saddlebag. Tenor flew over the woods and hills, over the Cove, and over the shorelines. He circled the highest peak, then went back towards the village. He flew oven lower over the houses and plaza. He suddenly spotted Hiccup near the blacksmith beckoning to him. Tenor growled in a nonthreatening way.
"I have to land real quick," he told Serenity. He then circled around and landed in the plaza, he tensed up the minuet he touched down. Hiccup and Toothless came up to him.
"Where are Re and Aurora?" Hiccup asked.
"Fishing," Tenor said. "One of the advantages of having gas lungs instead of a stomach is that we can eat all we want, and all it does is give us more fuel for fire breathing. Anyway what is it you want?"
"I was going to ask if Re and Aurora were interested in a trade," Hiccup said.
"What sort of trade?" Tenor asked. Serenity got off and stayed by her dragon's side.
"How many of those glowing crystals does Draconia have?" Hiccup asked.
"The southern mines are full of them," Tenor said. "And more deposits are found every year. Why?"
"Is it possible for Berk to get some?" Hiccup asked.
"Oh of course," Tenor said. "And you might have gotten them for free, if you hadn't said trade. What are you willing to offer us that we don't already have?"
"The Bewilderbeast tusk," Hiccup said. He pointed to the giant tusk behind his house. It had been cleaned and polished since Toothless shot it off the Bewilderbeast. The shackle had been taken off and used for scrap. Tenor looked up at it.
"Are you sure?" he said. "That's more valuable than gold, and certainly more valuable than glowing crystals, and you'll never get another one."
"It's all I've got," said Hiccup. Tenor looked back up at the tusk.
"Wait here," he told Serenity. She stepped back and Tenor took off. He circled it a few times then landed on top of it. Then he flew back to the ground.
"Well I will bring this to Re and Aurora's attention," he said. Serenity remounted him and they took off again.
They flew back to Dragon Island and approached their balcony. They found Re and Aurora laying on it with Edelweiss and the four young dragons. Tenor landed next to them and Serenity got off.
"There you two are," Re said. "Where've you been?"
"Flying," said Serenity. Tenor reached into the saddlebags and pulled out her hat. Serenity was about to take it back, but he pranced out of the way.
"Come on Tenor give it back," Serenity said. She cased him all over the balcony. Suddenly she tripped and hit the ground hard. Tenor stopped when he heard her fall. He looked over his wing. Serenity was laying on the ground not moving. He went over to her and nudged her. Suddenly she rolled over and snatched her hat from Tenor's jaws.
"Ha! gotcha," Serenity said, laughing. Tenor smiled, his goal had been met. Serenity got to her feet and put her hat back on. Tenor nudged her shoulder and she hugged his head.
"Thanks for laughing again," Tenor said.
"Thanks for making me laugh," Serenity said. "You old rascal." Tenor purred. Re and Aurora smiled at each other. Suddenly Serenity felt a tug on her pant leg. She look down at Edelweiss, who reached her little arms up. Serenity picked her up and hugged her. Black Widow jumped up onto Tenor's back and nuzzled his neck.
"Things are looking up around here," Re said.
"And about time too," said Aurora. "A dark cloud has hung over this family for way too long." Tenor then changed the subject.
"Hiccup wants to trade his Bewilderbeast tusk for a supply of our glowing crystals," he said.
"Wow, he must want them if he's willing to hand over such a rare artifact," said Aurora.
"He's the one who used the word trade," said Tenor.
"Well we better go negotiate this," said Re. "You coming Tenor?"
"No thanks," Tenor said, nuzzling Serenity again. She stroked his muzzled
"Very well, we'll be back later," said Aurora. She and Re spread their wings and took off. Serenity sat back in her chair, Edelweiss went back to playing with the young dragons, and Tenor laid beside his rider and put his head back in her lap. Serenity stroked him as she watched wild dragons go about their lives.