Viggo raised his head and just kept his gaze locked on the tiny new bewilderbeast as he continued to take his first steps, he was a bit wobbly at first but he seemed to be quickly growing in confidence as he made his way straight toward Bewilderbreath.
When he found her, he nuzzled his face beneath her chin, and she nuzzled him right back as they both let out equally happy growls of excitement. Despite the chilliness in the air, it was a heartwarming sight.
"She'll be a great mother to him," Valka whispered to Viggo, when he finally managed to tear his focus away from the hatchling, he glanced at Valka to see an equal expression of awe and wonder shining in her eyes.
After a few moments longer of greeting Bewilderbreath, the baby confidently marched over to the other three dragons to meet them. He spent a few moments playing with Cloudjumper's wings, crawling beneath them, and then popping up like he was playing peekaboo. Cloudjumper just smiled and purred at him in response.
After several minutes of playing his game with Cloudjumper, the baby moved on to greet Thunderstorm, who was acting more tender and gentle than Viggo had ever seen him, even when the baby climbed up his wing and then began scratching and sniffing the saddle he was wearing curiously. Viggo thought it looked like the baby wanted to know what the saddle was, and he was pretty sure Thunderstorm's growls were an explanation when he motioned to Viggo with his head.
Just as quickly as before though, the hatchling jumped off and ran over to greet Firestorm next. The two just stared at each other for a long moment before the baby let out a squeak of delight and tried to butt his head against Firestorm's chin several times, until the nightmare suddenly roared loudly yet playfully and collapsed to the ground like he was severely hurt, but then popping his head up again moments later, the whole time the hatchling still making happy sounding noises.
Valka finally couldn't hold in her laughter anymore. "Oh isn't he precious? Barely out of his egg, and he's the most playful dragon I've ever seen."
"Are most newborn hatchlings like that?" Viggo asked.
"No, I don't think even the scuttleclaws are that energetic besides being hungry. But it's a good sign that he's sociable already, he'll need that skill, eventually."
"Do you think he has all his powers already?"
"I don't know, every dragon has its secrets. I haven't heard the humming though, and besides their bows of respect, I don't think he's controlling them. Cloudjumper is just the same as he always is, I can tell. And as for his ice powers, we won't know until he lets some out. But speaking of which. One thing I know all hatchlings are is hungry." Valka walked over to the trough they had filled with fish for Bewilderbreath and came back with some in both hands, handing some over to Viggo. "Seems his hatching froze these too." Valka laughed.
"You aren't kidding." Viggo laughed as he tapped the fish against the floor, "These things are solid."
"Well let's see if he can still eat them. And introduce ourselves." Valka stepped slightly closer and knelt down, but still gave the hatchling plenty of space to choose to come to her.
"Hey there," she called out, "Are you hungry little one?"
The baby glanced up at her, studying her carefully for a moment before his eyes locked onto the fish in her hands. He then ran over as fast as his little legs could carry him until he was right in front of Valka.
"Hey there, do you want some fish?" Valka cooed at him.
The hatchling squeaked and then stood on his hind legs to reach the fish in Valka's hand, and despite the fact that the fish had to be a quarter of his size he easily downed it in only three bites and then quickly moved on to the one in Valka's other hand.
"Oh boy, you are hungry aren't you little one?" Valka laughed when after he finished chewing he immediately began sniffing her hands for more, and finding nothing, moved on to nuzzling his head against her torso. Valka didn't seem to mind as she couldn't control her giggles. "You are going to be so strong, aren't you? Just like your father, I know you may never meet him, but I know he will be proud of you already. You're just so cute, but you are already amazing aren't you?"
The baby squeaked in delight. He stopped his search to look up into her eyes, and they both just stared at each other for a moment longer before the baby began squeaking something again.
"Sorry, I'm not a dragon like you, I'm a human. I can't understand you, but I helped carry you here, I brought you to your father, and he wanted you to be here where you could be kept safe."
Even more surprising to Viggo, the baby seemed to understand Valka just as clearly as he understood the dragons. He nodded his head, made some more squeaking wounds, and rubbed his face against Valka's torso once more, but a lot more calmly almost like he was really trying to take all of Valka in.
"That's right, my name is Valka, little one. Someday you'll be the strongest of them all. I just know it. But before that day comes there's someone else you should meet." Valka motioned towards Viggo, and the baby turned his head to follow her gaze.
The baby immediately locked on to the fish in each of Viggo's hands and happily ran up to him.
Viggo bent down on one knee to get closer to him, just as Valka had done, and held one fish out to him, which the hatchling quickly snapped up, but the second, Viggo held just out of his reach.
The hatchling let out a small growl and glanced up at the fish with pleading eyes.
"Now hold on, little one. You may not know it yet, but you have a very important destiny. You are going to be a leader among dragons, but you will need to do a lot of growing up. Your first lesson is never to be greedy because when you give into greed, nothing will ever fill the hunger within you. Nothing will ever be enough." Viggo then let the baby have the fish, but he still held his attention while he was eating.
"That was my mistake in life, I let greed and my desire for power overwhelm me for so many years, and I have seen it overwhelm my so-called allies time and time again. When you are a leader, you must lead for the right reasons, and if you give into greed yourself, how can you expect anything else from your followers? You need to be loyal to your subjects, just as much as you expect loyalty from them. And not merely your own desires."
At this point, the baby had finished eating and was closely watching Viggo as he finished his speech.
"I'm Viggo, little one, and I promise, I, Thunderstorm, and every single dragon here will always protect you until you are ready to protect and lead yourself. Understand?"
In response, the baby lowered his head, but then to Viggo's disgust regurgitated half a fish on the ground inches away from Viggo's feet.
"Augh, did you eat too fast?" Viggo grimaced.
The baby shook his head and made a strange dipping motion with his head, and from behind him. Valka tried to stifle her laughter.
"Valka, what is it? Did he eat too much?"
"No, that's not it at all," Valka said through her chuckles. "You gave him food, and now he's sharing with you."
"Wait, you can't possibly mean…?" Viggo couldn't help cringing away from the half-fish lying on the ground, covered in slobber and gods know what else.
"Unfortunately I do. And Viggo you need to take it…something like this, and so soon after he just hatched, will make or break your relationship."
Viggo glanced down at the half-chewed, slobber-covered piece of fish and swallowed his revulsion.
"Don't you ever say I didn't do anything for you?" Viggo warned the baby who kept looking at him expectantly. Viggo grabbed the fish in his hands and then closed his eyes as he forced himself to take a bite of the raw fish, at least it wasn't a frozen block of ice anymore. He then chewed and swallowed as quickly as possible, and then prayed to the gods that that fish wouldn't make a second return appearance.
Seeing the baby was satisfied with his first bite, Viggo threw the fish in Thunderstorm's direction who snapped it up with much more gratitude.
"Thank you for that, and don't worry. I know with my help, we'll make you into a fine Alpha. Someday though," Viggo added, when the baby suddenly yawned and made its way back over to Bewilderbeath, falling asleep by her side the moment he reached her, and she gently wrapped her tail around him, just like when he was an egg.
"Good work Viggo, I know you will do wonderful. The Alpha made the right choice." Valka whispered to him. "He's so cute but also so playful already, and based on how he ate, I have a feeling he should grow rather quickly."
"You think so? Just how long do you think this place will be able to hold him?" Viggo joked, "And speaking of which. Firestorm, can you go try to melt the ice back into a pool for him? When he wakes up I won't be surprised if he wants to go for his first swim."
Firestorm nodded his head and began breathing a steady stream of flames over the spiky ice sculpture that had once been the baby's pool and unlike the ice in the nest, it began to quickly melt back into water once more under the barrage of dragon fire.
"Don't worry Bewilderbreath, once he's done, feel free to cool this place back down to your preferred temperature." Viggo walked over to scratch her beneath her chin. "If the Alpha made a good choice in selecting Thunderstorm and me as the leaders of our flock, he also made an excellent choice in you as the hatchling's mother. As much as he will learn from me about leadership, I know he will learn to care for others with just as fierce devotion as you will care for him."
Bewilderbreath purred in happiness and then went back to contently watching the hatchling curled up in her tail.
"You know, I just had a thought, what do you think we should name him?" Viggo turned back to face Valka.
She shook her head at him. "Oh no Viggo don't do that. It's too soon."
"I'm sorry. I don't follow."
"Well, another thing I have learned from observing the dragons, is that all dragons have names. I have no hope of understanding what Cloudjumper or Thunderstorm's true names are. Even if they accept the names we give them, every dragon still holds its true name."
"How can you tell then?"
"Well it's obvious, or it is for me after 19 years with them." Valka chuckled slightly. "I can hear the difference when dragons call for each other, just as we have our names without a dragon giving them to us. Although I am sure Cloudjumper has his own name that he and all the other dragons call me, and the same for you."
"I suppose that makes sense, but again, how do you know about naming hatchlings?"
"Just another thing Cloudjumper taught me. Many dragons, especially the mothers may not even let me near the nest when they're newborns, but I can tell that when they call their hatchlings, they always use one call. And I have also seen a ceremony of sorts when the hatchlings are either able to fly, go on their first hunt, or leave the nest completely. Only then do they get their name from either their parents or from the leader of their specific group."
"Remarkable. So you are saying I should wait until he is ready?"
"Yes, especially a future alpha like him, he has to earn his name, both his draconic name and any name you give him. My best advice is to watch what other dragons do. If I were a betting woman, I would put my money on either Bewilderbreath or Thunderstorm knowing when the proper time to give him a name will be. And it will be in a way that is impossible for you to miss. Plus think of it logically, as cute as he looks right now, I would think that any name you gave him now either wouldn't describe him now or won't describe him years from now when he is full grown."
"Yes, I see your point." Viggo nodded his head in acceptance. "There is something awfully poetic about earning your name."
"Indeed, not so much different than Vikings I suppose." Valka agreed.
Viggo smirked, "I don't suppose you earned a moniker glorifying your deeds?"
Valka laughed at that. "Oh no, me on Berk? The last thing I could possibly do was earn a name like Fearless Finn Hofferson or Stoick the Vast. If I did have a name I'm sure it'd be Valka the Kindhearted at best, and at worst, Valka the crazy dragon lover. I was chieftess but without Stoick I don't know what my life would have been. But what about you, any additions to Viggo Grimborn I don't know about?"
"No, Grimborn was enough of a title to strike fear in my enemies and respect from my customers and men. Especially once my business really took off. I'm sure the Hooligans probably came up with names for me, but none that I ever heard. I doubt they'd be very flattering to me either. Viggo the Vindictive perhaps?"
"That may have been fitting for you once. But now I think Viggo the Noble has a nice ring to it."
Viggo grinned at that. "And while Kindhearted and Crazy Dragon Lover are good descriptors. I would call you Valka the Dragonhearted. Not only do you love the dragons, but you protect your loved ones, all your loved ones, just as fiercely as any dragon."
"Thank you, Viggo. To be honest I've never expected someone to describe me like that." Valka said, smiling lightly.
"And you think I ever thought anyone would describe me as noble? The leader of a relentless band of dragon hunters?"
"But you aren't that anymore. I meant it, Viggo."
"I know, but that does bring up a question I have, why is it Hiccup Horrendous Haddock?"
"Well, Haddock is of course Stoick's house. The Haddocks have led Berk for the last 400 years. Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the first was a fisherman who first discovered Berk and then led more people to its shores, and Stoick was very close to his grandfather when he was young, who was named Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Second. So it was in their honor and memory that we named him so, plus the fact that he was born so small, so fragile, so early. He was a Hiccup, so that name fit. Stoick insisted that he needed a noble name to make him strong. Which I suppose in the end it did. As for the horrendous part of the name, that's part of the old wives' tale that having a scary-sounding name will protect you from trolls."
"Stealing your socks?" Viggo grinned, "Well I heard it's only the left ones, so Hiccup shouldn't have to worry about that."
"And here I thought only Gobber said that." Valka laughed. "I never put much stock in trolls when we have dragons flying through the skies. Honestly, I wouldn't surprised if someone at some point mistook a Thunderpede or a Quaken for a troll."
"And how do you explain the socks?" Viggo challenged her.
"Well in my experience while Smokebreaths only steal metal, a terrible terror will steal just about anything. Again probably just a story someone made up a long, long time ago."
"Well, you never know what could be under our feet. Like you always say there's still so much to learn about the dragons. And when that hatchling is going to eventually become so big it will turn this entire island into a glacier, who are we to say what's impossible?"
"I'd have to agree with you Viggo." Valka smiled, and they both eased into a comfortable silence as they glanced over to watch the hatchling continue to sleep peacefully.
After a few minutes, Viggo broached the subject that had been hiding in the back of his mind ever since the excitement of the egg hatching began. "Valka, not to bring up the Buffalord in the room, but now that he has hatched…how long before you and Cloudjumper return to the nest?"
Valka looked at him for a long moment. "I know, we should be leaving soon, I'm thinking tomorrow morning. Whenever he wakes up, you can introduce him to the rest of the dragons waiting outside and if all goes well, it'll be for the best that Cloudjumper and I go back home."
"And we will have a way to stay in contact, right?"
"Of course Viggo. All you have to do is write me a message and send it with any of the dragons. I've mostly used Terrible terrors for messengers in the past, but realistically any dragon will do the job just as well. And don't think it has to be for emergencies only situation. We can do what we can to stay in contact with each other."
"Yes, right." Viggo sighed.
Valka reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder, "Don't worry Viggo, remember, you won't be alone. You'll have everyone outside with you. It can be lonely at times, I know, but it won't be as lonely as you think. You'll see. There are some days I can't even imagine my old life. This is what I was always meant to do, and I think this was always your destiny as well. It was no accident that Thunderstorm brought you to me, I think he knew long before you did, where you truly belonged."
"Yes, perhaps he did," Viggo said, while the hatchling slept and their riders talked, the other three dragons had stayed in the cave but had given Bewilderbreath plenty of space, even though their eyes were all locked on the snoozing white form of the hatchling.
Finally, though, the hatchling opened his eyes again, and quickly scrambled up Bewilderbreath's back and down her snout, and then looking up at her with pleading eyes.
The groncicle made a rumbling sound deep in her throat and then walked over to the trough filled with fish, grabbing a mouthful before slowly feeding the hatchling one by one, even though he was still acting absolutely ravenous as he devoured them, but when he still had two fish remaining, he chewed them up and then spit them out so that they were each bitten in half. He then nudged one towards bewilderbreath's open mouth, and then proudly carried the remaining two and a half fish over to the other three dragons watching over him, laying one at each of their talons.
The other three all looked equally surprised, and then all bowed their heads in thanks to the hatchling who then ran back proudly over to Bewilderbreath who had just finished her own snack.
"He's learning already," Valka whispered. "Looks like you've successfully taught your first lesson."
"Well, I'm sure that not every lesson will go over as smoothly. Would hatchlings normally share food like that?"
Valka shook her head, "Oh no, definitely not. Perhaps among siblings, but a hatchling has no reason to give food to an adult unless they're forced to. You've already taught him a valuable lesson Viggo, that it is good to think of other's needs, and not just his own. A lesson learned so young is certain to stay with him."
"I hope you're right. Who knows, maybe we've already avoided a potential Red Death situation in only a few hours." Viggo added, "But speaking of his future, before he takes a nap again, do you think we should present him to the rest of the dragons? I'm sure they're all eager to see him."
"Yes, I think that will be a good idea, I don't know how much longer even the Sentinel we have standing guard will be able to keep the flock out. And go on Viggo, you and Thunderstorm deserve the honor."
"OK." Viggo slowly walked over to the hatchling, who was currently chasing the tip of Firestorm's tail, but he always kept it just out of reach.
"Hey there little one," Viggo said, speaking softly and kneeling down to the hatchling's level when he got close. "How would you like to go meet everyone else on our island?"
The hatchling looked at Viggo for a moment, and then after receiving a nod from Firestorm, the hatchling calmly approached him and allowed Viggo to pick him up in his arms. Viggo grunted involuntarily, despite his small size, he was already much heavier than a terrible terror, Viggo briefly let himself wonder just how long he'd even be able to do this.
The hatchling meanwhile seemed content to grip the fabric of Viggo's shirt and stuck his head over Viggo's shoulder to look behind him as Viggo walked over and carefully mounted Thunderstorm's back.
"Firestorm, do you mind clearing the way so we aren't swarmed immediately? And Thunderstorm, when we leave we'll fly up to the top of the wall to make sure everyone can see us."
Both dragons nodded, and Firestorm quickly exited the cave to fulfill his duty. While Bewilderbreath followed him happily, Cloudjumper and Valka also left together, with Valka promising they'd stay out of the way but there was no way they were going to miss this moment either.
The hatchling started trying to escape Viggo's grasp to follow the others, but he managed to soothe him. "Don't worry little one, you'll see them all momentarily. That and so much more."
Thunderstorm then raised his head tall and walked out the cave with a noble air about himself. When they made it outside, Viggo was surprised to see it was already sunset, lavender sky before him, and a fiery orange behind. All the dragons of the nest were silently, and respectfully waiting in the central courtyard of the compound or were perched along the walls.
The hatchling went motionless for a few moments when he turned his head to see all the new, unfamiliar faces, and he seemed as transfixed as they all were.
Thunderstorm then slowly lifted off into the air and moments later, landed on the highest point he could find on the wall, where they would be in clear view of all the dragons watching below.
"Dragons! Friends! As you all know, we have amazing news to share." Viggo announced proudly. "Earlier today, the Alpha's egg hatched, and the hatchling is happy, healthy, and I can tell he is already on his way to becoming an alpha in his own right, that we will all be proud of someday. When that day comes, Thunderstorm and I will gladly step down from our leadership, ready to serve him. But until that day, it is our responsibility, and all your responsibilities, to not only protect him from any harm but teach him to be a noble leader who is worthy of our respect. He has a destiny due to his legendary parentage, but he must also earn the right to be a king as great as his father still is, and I hope always will be. He has some big talon prints to fill but there is no doubt in my mind that he will succeed because we will all be behind him every step of the way."
"And now, the moment I know you all have been waiting for, here he is." Viggo carefully pulled the hatchling away from his chest and then turned him around while holding him up above his head, so he could take in all his future subjects, and they could take him in as well.
The baby seemed to freeze for a moment as he looked on, while down below, every single dragon bowed their head low to the ground respectfully and made low growling sounds from deep in their throats.
"One day, this will be your kingdom, and these your loyal servants, but only as long as you are loyal to them in turn," Viggo whispered to the hatchling. "Until that day comes when you earn your name, and your title as King. We will protect you to the very end."
The baby finally seemed to unfreeze as he squirmed slightly in Viggo's arms and let out a small squeak that still rang out loudly over the silent crowd of dragons below.
All the dragons slowly lifted their heads, and opened their mouths in what Viggo could tell were happy smiles. They all began to roar back their own greeting, which seemed to blow the hatchling's voice out of the water, but Viggo could tell by his excited squirming that he seemed to be even happier to see them all.
"Alright, now I'm sure everyone wants to meet this little one." Viggo brought the hatchling back so he was holding it against his chest. "If you're all patient, we can introduce you all to him individually," Viggo promised.
Thunderstorm then let out a few roared commands of his own, and most of the crowd of dragons began to break up into small groups or headed back to their caves for the night. Once they got moving, Thunderstorm flew down from the wall, and then together he and Viggo slowly walked around the compound, letting the hatchling walk on his own as they greeted every dragon.
Every dragon was patient with the hatchling, even the ones who had taken a few days to warm up to Viggo and Thunderstorm's leadership were happy to let him crawl, sniff or headbutt them as a greeting. While the baby was just as excited at every new face. And despite the several hours it took for them to reach everyone, they all seemed to understand that they had to wait their turns, although all eyes were on the hatchling from afar as well. Viggo was fairly sure to catch any cuteness they might otherwise miss.
Viggo was surprised at just how much energy the hatchling had until the very end, but after they finished greeting the entire flock of night terrors the hatchling let out a tiny yawn, and then crawled back to Viggo, standing on his hind legs and looking up at him with plaintive, tired eyes.
"Come here little one." Viggo gladly picked him up and carried him back inside his cave where Bewilderbreath was already waiting.
He was about to set the hatchling down so he could join Bewilderbreath, but he couldn't help his surprise, and the jump in his heart as he took in the sight of the baby already peacefully sleeping in his arms. "Seems like you were tired after all little one." Viggo chuckled softly to himself.
So instead he stepped closer to Bewilderbreath himself, she was already curled up in the straw nest they had made for her and the hatchling. He set the hatchling down in the crook of her tail, just like he had seen him sleeping earlier.
"There you go, good night Bewilderbreath, again let the Sentinel know if you need anything, alright?"
The groncicle nodded her blue eyes kindly, then turned lightly lick the hatchling's face clean for a few moments, and then settled herself down to sleep as well.
Viggo took his cue to leave, and when he left the cave again, he could tell that it was well past midnight, and his long night and day finally made itself known on his body. He was more than ready to fall asleep just as deeply as the hatchling was.
But when he walked over to his cave, he could see both Thunderstorm and Firestorm waiting outside, along with Valka and Cloudjumper, and by the look on Valka's face, Viggo knew it was time.
"Leaving so soon?" Viggo asked sarcastically, in a vain attempt at humor.
"Yes, we must. We promised the Alpha we would be back as soon as he hatched, and we must keep our word." Valka said, rather stoically. "You don't need me, you both, or should I say you three clearly have things under control," Valka promised.
"I know. Logic tells me the flock will be perfectly fine. Thunderstorm and I have got this, but I have to admit I still have doubts of whether I can handle everything…" Viggo paused at a loss of words. "In here," Viggo placed his hand over his heart. "Valka, If I haven't told you before, I'll tell you again. You may be the only person I have ever trusted without question, my only true friend, sorry my only human friend," Viggo corrected himself, "and I will miss you."
"I'll miss you having around the nest as well Viggo," Valka admitted. "Its… it's been a long time since I've had a human friend to talk to as well. But this is not goodbye Viggo, remember, if you ever need to send a message, or even feel the need to visit, I'm just a dragon flight away."
"I know, and I hope you know I extend that same promise to you. If you ever need my assistance or just want to talk again, you can just let me know or visit as well."
"I will remember that Viggo." Valka held out her hand, and Viggo quickly took it for a firm shake. "We will see each other again, of that I have no doubt."
Valka then placed her helmet over her head, and climbed onto Cloudjumper's back, who had also finished his goodbye with Firestorm and Thunderstorm. And then moments later, he launched himself into the air on his four great wings. After rising, within a few moments more, he had disappeared into the night sky as stealthily as any night fury, but that didn't stop Viggo from standing outside, staring up at the starlit sky until finally, Thunderstorm nudged him and together they walked to their beds.