Arne nodded. "Indeed I can, Night Fury." He looked at him with a kind smile, adding: "And I can see you have the Chosen child with you."
Flashwing stepped back, holding Bright close to him. "Are you intending on threatening me by taking him away?" he growled intensely.
"No. I do not. I can see how much you care for the boy." Arne didn't fluster one bit. "However, I would like for you to keep your tone in a friendly, conversational manner, Night Fury. I am simply here to assist you."
Flashwing stared suspiciously at him. "How should I know you're not lying?"
"Because I am not. You have my honesty."
Flashwing looked down at his human hatchling, who was awakened and stared confused at the other human before glancing up at Flashwing. He sighed and stared at Arne for a long, silent moment before finding his voice again. "Do you promise me that you will not harm either me or my son?"
"Of course," said Arne with a nod. "I do not intend to, nor do I have any malicious thoughts. I merely want to help you, if you can promise me one thing."
"What is it?"
"If I am to assist you in raising this child — who you have realized is quite different from dragon hatchlings — then my request is that you keep our meetings a secret from your colony," said Arne.
"Why?" asked Flashwing, confused. "Why can't you come with me?"
"Because there is a particular someone in your colony who resents humans, am I not correct?" Arne asked with a raised brow.
Flashwing realized who he was referring to. "Yes. My Alpha. How'd you know that?"
"Because I can read the hesitation within your mind," stated Arne.
Magic, Flashwing realized. Arne knows magic? How? "May I ask how you are able to do it?"
"Do what?" asked Arne with a tilt of his head.
"How are you able to read my mind?" repeated Flashwing. "I thought that nobody was able to learn how to do it! So, how can you?"
"I've known for quite some time," answered Arne with a heavy sigh. "I'm going to tell this to you, and only because you are intrigued by it: I have learned Magic to be able to read minds, levitate objects, and use certain words for their true meaning."
"What is Magic?"
"It is an art of knowing the true meaning behind objects, and items in Norse," Arne explained. "There are only a few of others like me who can understand the true meaning behind the words."
Flashwing looked down and pondered, before realizing Bright's growling stomach that reached his ears. "What do humans need?" he asked Arne.
"They need milk from mammals, because we are also mammals," Arne replied. "If you can bring an ewe here, then you will be able to quell your child's hunger."
Flashwing hesitated, glancing between him and Bright.
"Don't worry, I won't take him away from you," said Arne with a reassuring smile.
Flashwing relaxed slightly, handing Arne the hatchling, before spreading his wings and took flight — not before looking down to make sure Arne remained on the piece of land on the island. Then he flew off to find an ewe.
Flashwing returned with an ewe in his claws as he landed on the island, noticing Arne was sitting with Bright in his arms, and Arne looked at him with a nod.
Arne came over to the ewe with Bright in his arms, before lowering the hatchling to the belly of the ewe, which flinched for a moment when Bright began to drink the milk until it relaxed at the touch.
Flashwing smiled as soon Bright was drinking the ewe's milk. He looked at Arne with a grateful expression. "Thank you for telling me about the ewe."
Arne waved a dismissive hand. "There's no need. I am always looking forward to help the Chosen child if he ever needs it."
"Why is my son a 'Chosen'?" wanted Flashwing to know. "Why is he named as such?"
Arne looked at the still drinking Bright, before he glanced back at Flashwing. "It's because he has a truly special destiny ahead of him."
Flashwing made a small circle in the grassy dirt. "What kind of destiny?" he hesitantly asked, uncertain.
"He needs to stop the war between humans and dragons," explained Arne. "And also…to stop an ancient order from returning to the Archipelago."
Flashwing tilted his head, eyes staring at him.
"You have a lot on your mind, I know," said Arne with a sigh. "But all will be answered in due time, Night Fury."
Flashwing blinked. Then he felt Bright's touch on his scaly leg. He looked down with a fatherly smile. "Are you done, my son?"
A belch came from Bright in response.
"That is impolite, Bright." Flashwing burst out a laughter.
"It looks like his belly is full, which is good," observed Arne. "Before you leave, Night Fury, I have a favor to ask you."
"Sure, after all you helped me feed my hatchling," said Flashwing with a nod.
"If you intend on returning to your home, then you must not reveal my identity to your colony," said Arne.
"Why?"
"Because dragons in your colony hate humans, correct?"
Flashwing was silent for a moment. "Yes. Most of them are, since they lost their families because of them."
Arne nodded, then his face turned serious. "Then my request is for you not to say our meeting. You must come to me in secret, and always look in case if someone is following you. I do not wish to be exposed."
"I understand," said Flashwing. "I will agree with your request, Arne." He took Bright up in his paw gently. "Thank you again for helping me."
Arne's expression softened and he gave him a nod.
Flashwing spread his wings and took off from the piece of land of the island, and he was flying back from hence he came.
Flashwing flew through the connected tunnels of the Mountain as he passed through them quickly, until he was met with a shining light at the end of the tunnels. He hovered in the air as he was back in Dragon Mountain, where all the dragons was still in their nests.
Flashwing made his way to his isolated cave nest, then landed softly on the ground and cautiously walked inside, with Bright still in his paw. The human was asleep after his meal to quell his hunger. Flashwing took a deep breath and announced: "I'm back."
Luna burst out of the shadows of the cave and hugged his free front paw. "Pa! You back!"
Flashwing chuckled. "Yes I am, my little star."
Penumbra stepped out to greet him. She noticed Bright the second she came out. "You reconsidered your choice," she stated, looking at Flashwing.
"I did." He nodded. "I wanted to keep him, so I returned to the Mountain."
Penumbra walked up to him and nuzzled him with care. She lowered down to Bright and nuzzled him with motherly kindness.
"Is the Alpha here?" asked Flashwing.
"No," she replied, glancing up at him. "He is at the Alpha nest."
"Good. I just wanted to make sure."
"Pa, I happy you back," said Luna as she let go of his paw.
"Me too, dear," smiled Flashwing.
He saw Luna walk back into the cave toward her nest. Flashwing looked at Penumbra, who seemed surprised at something.
"How were you able to quell his hunger?" She pointed a claw at Bright.
"I've had, uh…" Flashwing then lied: "I figured it out on my own."
Penumbra smiled, then nuzzled his cheek. "I am just happy you are home again. Now we are able to raise Bright as our son."
"Indeed," Flashwing agreed. He carefully walked toward the nest he shared with her. He lowered Bright on the grass and curled around him, with his tail protectively covering the human hatchling's body. He felt Penumbra lay beside him and they fell asleep.
