Flashback part 2
The next day Avalon and the rest of her team landed outside their tree house on Royal Town. Avalon went inside to find Edelweiss and the Night Lights fast asleep on the pile of cushions. Apollo came up beside her.
"I remember when we'd put all the cushions into a pile like that," he said.
"Yeah, especially if it was raining or snowing outside," said Avalon. She lowered her head and licked Edelweiss's face. She stirred and sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"Morning," she said. "Is it time to go?"
"Yes," said Avalon. Edelweiss and the Night Lights all got to their feet and stretched.
"Were's our parents?" Ruffy asked.
"They had to go check on things in Draco's Nest," said Avalon. "They're trusting you three to take care of yourselves for the time being." The Night Lights looked enthusiastic.
"I should change into something less shiny," said Edelweiss. She headed over to a changing screen where she had a few of her clothes stored. Pouncer looked over at Apollo.
"Why less shiny?" He asked.
"Shiny things can give away our location to the buffalo," Apollo explained. A moment later Edel came back out now wearing a sage green, strapless, leather corset and dark brown leather trousers with another white flower embroidered on the left hip.
"All right, lets get going," said Avalon. They all headed outside. Edelweiss got on Dart's back again, and they all took off.
They flew over the Draconian wilderness, leaving the city of Bluegreen far behind. They sang travel songs to pass the time. Several dragons, griffins, and giant eagles passed them in the air. Edelweiss spotted a herd of unicorns running trough the green valleys below, heading for the small springs. All the passing dragons greeted their queen.
Soon Avalon headed for the foothills of a large large mountain range below, covered in trees that had all the fall colors. Avalon lead the way to a large cave entrance. Everyone landed on the ledge outside it, and headed inside. The interior of the cave had smooth marble walls, and a stone fire place at the far end. There was a hammock in the corner for Edelweiss, and more large leather cushions for the dragons. A large crystal candelabra hung from the ceiling.
"Make yourselves at home," said Avalon. She lit the fireplace, which was filled with green crystals.
"Where are the buffalo?" Pouncer asked.
"They will pass through here this evening," said Avalon. "We will wait here." She laid down in front of the fireplace and lit it with her breath.
"Let's go outside and soak up the sun," Edelweiss suggested to the Night Lights. They turned and headed back outside.
They laid on their backs in a pinwheel in the grass outside the cave. The Night Lights all had their wings fanned out to their full extent. The cool breeze washed over them.
"I wish we could get real sunlight down in the Nest," Dart sighed. "All we have is the sunstone and the green heating crystals."
"Yeah, this place is paradise," Edelweiss agreed. "Lots of space to explore, lots of dragons to talk to, and almost no humans to bother me." Ruffrunner turned his head to look at her.
"You don't like humans do you?" He asked. "Papa says not all humans are bad."
"I personally don't agree with Avalon closing her boarders to them," said Dart. "From what Daddy has told us, they can really benefit this place."
"Maybe she'll lift it one day," said Edelweiss. "But there are several creatures here that wish to live somewhere safe, where the wrong humans can't find them. Anyway I've always had trouble getting along with humans, mostly because of my half dragon nature. Even Hiccup's fellow riders weren't too fond of me. They tended to get jealous of me talking and riding dangerous dragons." She then yawned and stretched. "Out here I'm free from all that." She closed her eyes as another gust of wind blew over them.
They spend most of the day laying on the grass; dozing off, or looking for shapes in the clouds. Soon Avalon and the rest of her group came out. They headed over to Edelweiss and the Night Lights.
"Come on, it's about time," said Avalon. The Night Lights got to their feet, and Edelweiss followed. "The buffalo are on their way now."
"I should grab my hunting gear," said Edelweiss. She ran into the cave, Black Widow followed. Avalon turned to the Night Lights.
"We're not hunting the whole herd this time," she explained. "We'll just take one buffalo per individual, Edelweiss and Black Widow count as one. The buffalo come here to graze. We stay out of sight until they come to a stop. Then choose your prize wisely, don't hunt any of the calves. You can talk down your prize however you want." Edelweiss and Black Widow rejoined them. Edelweiss now carried a hunting bow, and a loaded crossbow, along with a pair of quivers holding all her arrows and bolts. She climbed into Black Widow's saddle. The big black dragon was fidgeting with excitement.
"I can hear them coming," she said.
"Hide," said Eider. All the dragons disbanded and found places to hide. Edelweiss and Black Widow decided to fly very high. From such a hight they could see the vast herd of buffalo galloping in to the grassy field. Edelweiss pulled out her brass binoculars. She could see the other dragons slinking about out of the buffalos' sight.
"Do you know which one you want?" She asked.
"Which ever one is at the front of the stampede," said Black Widow, scanning the herd. Edelweiss put the binoculars down and readied her crossbow. The tip of the bolt was coated in Monstrous Nightmare gel. Edelweiss held the crossbow out to Black Widow, who lit it up with red flames. "I don't see why you need both a crossbow and regular bow."
"In case the crossbow misses," Edelweiss explained. "It takes too long to reload. If the crossbow misses, I'll switch to the bow." At that moment, below, the other dragons started their attack. They managed to take down several buffalo. This made the animals stampede. Black Widow flew way ahead of them, then circled around and came at them head on. She flew at the stampede low and fast. Wind rushed in their ears, and both their hearts were drumming with adrenaline. Edelweiss raised her crossbow, aiming it at the lead buffalo. When they were close enough, Edelweiss fired and the bolt hit the buffalo right in the leg. The animal stumbled and fell. Black Widow rocketed upwards. Suddenly the straps on the saddle snapped apart; Edelweiss fell off her back and all the dragons watched in horror as she fell screaming into the thundering buffalo stampede.
"NOOOOO!" Black Widow roared. She couldn't dive into the stampede after her, so she had to hover there and wait helplessly for the buffalo to pass. The other dragons came up beside her.
"What happened?" Avalon asked.
"The saddle broke," Black Widow said, her voice cracking. The Night Lights circled the stampede.
"Is she going to be okay?" Dart asked, close to tears.
"We'll see," said Avalon. They waited anxiously. Then at long last, the buffalo passed and vanished over the mountains. The Night Lights hurried over to a small figure laying on the grass. The rest of the dragons landed around Edelweiss, and took in the horrible sight.
Edelweiss lay completely motionless on the grass, with a broken off buffalo horn stabbed right in the middle of her chest. There was also a bloody hoof print on her face, and her right leg was bent in an unnatural way. Everyone was too stunned to say anything for a few seconds. The Night Lights laid around her, nudging her desperately. They were all crying.
"She's dead isn't she?" Ruffy sobbed.
"No she's not," Avalon sighed. "But she's slipping away." The queen seemed to be considering something.
"Isn't there something you can do?" Dart sobbed. Everyone turned to look at the queen.
"Yes there is," said Avalon. "You're about to witness a rare miracle." She approached Edelweiss, the Night Lights backed up to give her space. Avalon sat on her haunches and used her long tail to remove the broken horn from Edelweiss's chest. Then she took a deep breath and extended her index talon. She cut a thin line across her own chest, a strange green light radiated out of it. Avalon used the same talon to pull out a big piece of the light in an orb the size of a lemon. She placed the orb of light into the open wound on Edel's chest. The light vanished into her body, and Avalon used her magic to close the wound. Edelweiss stirred and moaned in pain. Then her eyes opened a few inches. She looked her queen in the eye.
"Thank you," she whispered. Then she passed out again, but she was breathing normally now.
"What did you do?" Pounced asked.
"She gave Edelweiss a piece of her heart," said Apollo. "So now their bonded for life." Avalon could hear the confusion in the Night Lights' minds.
"Why don't you guys go bring in the buffalo," she said, smiling. "I'll take care of her. We'll meet back up in the cave, and I'll explain." The dragons all disbursed, except for Avalon. She very carefully scooped Edelweiss up in her talons, and flew back to their cave.
While Avalon attended to the rest of Edel's wounds; the other dragons brought in the seven buffalo carcasses, all ready skinned and ready for the smoke pit back at their castle. When all the dragons came back into the cave; they found Edelweiss laid out on her hammock. Avalon was using more magic to heal her wounds.
"So what was that thing you did?" Pouncer asked. Avalon finished her task, then left Edelweiss to rest. She joined the others at the fireplace and laid on a cushion.
"Ohh, how do I explain this," she said. She placed a talon over the slash in her chest, which was no longer glowing. "Lord Draco will grant a dragon the ability to share their heart with a human of their choosing. When that happens the human shares the dragon's strength, pain, and death. Whatever happens to one, the other feels it. The human will live as long as the dragon lives." She took a deep breath. "But Grandfather doesn't grant the ability as often as he used to, there are risks that come with this bond." She looked at Edelweiss. "If Edel goes dark, does something evil, then Grandfather will destroy us both."
"Our dad did the same for hers a long time ago," said Apollo.
"Yes," said Avalon. "This bond was made a few times throughout history. But Edel will be the first female, and the youngest."
"So this bond you've made, it's for life?" Dart asked.
"Yes, it's irreversible," said Avalon. "Edelweiss will be on her feet by morning." She looked over at Black Widow, who was laying beside her rider, the broken saddle at her feet. "Is that the saddle my brother and Hiccup made for the two of you?"
"Yes," said Black Widow. "It has such sentimental value to Edelweiss, that she refuses to part with it.
"I can understand that," said Avalon. She heaved another big sigh and waved her talons at the saddle. It magically repaired itself, then secured itself back on Black Widow's back. "Hopefully she'll get a new one soon though. Even if Edelweiss takes really good care of it, it won't last forever even with magic."
"Well, we have plenty of time to talk her into it," said Apollo. Avalon nodded then stretched her limbs.
"We should get some rest," she said. "We'll head back to the castle first thing tomorrow, and get those buffalo to our smoke pit." The Night Lights laid around Edelweiss's hammock, and Dart placed her head on Edel's abdomen. The other dragons made themselves comfortable around the fire and sang themselves to sleep.
Edelweiss woke up the next morning. Her whole body felt sore, but she felt no other pain. She sat up and looked around. Avalon was already awake and watching her from the fire side.
"How are you feeling?" She asked. "Emotionally I mean."
"I take it I didn't dream all that happened yesterday," Edelweiss said, placing a hand over the scar that was now in the middle of her chest.
"No you didn't," said Avalon. Edelweiss curled into a ball. "There's no need to feel guilty Edel."
"I should have checked my saddle before taking off," Edelweiss said. "You wouldn't have to risk your soul."
"Don't worry," said Avalon. "Grandfather granted me the ability back when we were dragonets. He trusts me, and I trust you. As long as you don't go dark, and do something evil. We'll all help with that." She glanced around at the sleeping dragons. She took a deep breath, and Edelweiss suddenly felt herself relaxing. She glanced up at her queen.
"Did you do that?" She asked.
"Yes," said Avalon. "I could feel you getting more anxious. With this bond I can help calm you if you're feeling anxious or overwhelmed, simply by keeping myself calm." At that moment the others woke up. The Night Lights all nuzzled Edelweiss, relieved that she as okay.
"Time to go home?" Apollo asked.
"Yes," said Avalon. "We don't want the buffalo meat to go bad."
"Edelweiss promised she'd show around the rest of your lands afterwards," said Pouncer. "But after yesterday, I'm guessing you want her to stay near you."
"No, she can go with you," said Avalon. "As long as she stays out of trouble, she can go where ever she wants. You can head out as soon as we get home. I'll be informing my parents what I did." The dragons all headed outside. Edelweiss climbed onto Avalon's back. The dragons etched took a buffalo in their talons and took off. They headed back towards their castle. Edelweiss hugged her queen's neck from behind.
"Thank you Avalon," she whispered. "I won't take this for granted." Avalon just smiled.
They landed back at the castle. Eider and Apollo volunteered to take the buffalo to the smoke pit. Edelweiss dismounted and ran over to the Night Lights, hugging them.
"I'll let you know when Toothless and Moon come back for them," said Avalon.
"All right," said Edelweiss. She jumped onto Dart's back, then she and the Night Lights turned and headed back out towards the horizon. Avalon took off and headed for Mt. Vulcan where her parents were living.