The towering spire mountains of Berk finally appeared over the horizon, urging the riders to pick up the speed, with the architecture catching the eyes of the guests. Zyrah was breathless as they passed through the two carved sea statues, waves crashing against the rock.
She had been given an idea of what to expect; an ever-expanding village with dragons everywhere, much like Firewind. Though the buildings towered into the sky more than the homes of Firewind. There was such a variety of dragon species flying around, helping haul around wood and chunks of blue ice.
"What's with the ice?" Rurik questioned.
"That's Bewilderbeast ice! From Drago's Bewilderbeast, specifically." Ana explained.
"It caused a lot of damage to the village, it almost killed Toothless and me." Hiccup chimed in.
Yeah, well, I had to protect him cause he chose to challenge Drago. Toothless added with an exasperated tone, causing a laugh from Blueheart.
That's how you got your sick Alpha glow! Belch said.
Hiccup and Toothless led the riders to the village square, where Toothless landed, roaring to announce his return to his flock. Other roars followed as dragons circled their Alpha, chorusing in delight he had returned safely. But the air then fell eerily silent, not just from the dragons, but the Berkians as well when Blueheart and Zyrah landed.
Berk had never been so quiet when the residents realized what they were looking at. Whispers began to pass through the crowd as the shock was processed. Another roar from above signaled the attention of the rider's dragons, craning their heads up as Valka and Eret landed with Cloudjumper and Skullcrusher.
"Son! You're home!" Valka exclaimed, rushing over to bring Hiccup in for a tight hug.
"I'm glad to be home, Mom." Valka's attention was then snagged when she spied Blueheart sitting next to Toothless.
"Son… is…" She managed to say, hesitantly approaching Zyrah and Blueheart. Valka was stunned to see Zyrah there, acknowledging her presence.
"You must be Valka," Zyrah began, offering her an awkward but polite smile. Valka wordlessly bobbed her head in a dragon-esque manner, returning the awkward smile.
"Is… this… Night Fury yours?" She slowly asked, trying to comprehend the sight. Zyrah nodded in confirmation, patting Blueheart's neck.
"She is. This is Blueheart." Valka's eyes widened.
"A female?" Another nod of affirmation.
"Incredible…" Valka held out her hand to Blueheart, showing she wasn't a threat, though Blueheart had sensed that, picking up how her scent was similar to Hiccups.
Hiccup's mother? She observed.
Yep. She's very sweet, but she's still awkward with living on Berk.
Oh, that's right… she spent 20 years with dragons.
Hiccup then spoke up, introducing Berk to Zyrah, Konall, and Rurik with their dragons, informing them that they would be staying for a bit, but making sure to omit the specifics for the time being. He didn't want Blueheart to be overwhelmed by the attention. But she had a suspicion she'd be unable to avoid it with her mate being the Alpha of Berk's flock.
As Hiccup led the group to his house up on the hill, Zyrah was in awe of what Berk was like. She couldn't believe she'd gone almost her whole life not hearing about this place. From a dragon-fighting village to a joyous, active dragon-safe sanctuary.
"Hiccup, I don't even know what to say…"
"Pretty incredible, eh?"
"It is."
"And don't worry. There's a guest bedroom where you three can stay for the time being. Just no funny business between you two," Hiccup said pointedly at Konall and Zyrah, garnering flushed cheeks and an eye roll from the latter.
After the informal introductions, Zyrah, Konall, and Rurik put their packs away for the time being, as Hiccup wanted to introduce them to Gobber, Spitelout, Gothi, and a few other notable villagers in the Great Hall. Upon leaving the house, Zyrah took in more of her surroundings, finally appreciating what she was seeing.
There were even dragon species she'd never seen before, to which Fishlegs was keen and eager to divulge all the information he knew. But it was Valka's Stormcutter, Cloudjumper, that Zyrah was the most fascinated by.
The massive dragon was seated on a spot next to the Haddock household, his frills ruffling as he swiveled his head around, observing the dragons as they went about their daily lives. Zyrah cautiously approached him, with Blueheart and Toothless right behind her. She craned her neck up, being sure not to make direct eye contact, but it seemed Cloudjumper didn't mind her watching him.
He lowered his head, a low rumble emitting from his throat, and his pupils widening in curiosity.
"Admiring him, hm?" Came Valka from behind Zyrah, startling her.
"Oh! Mrs. Haddock! Yes, haha, I couldn't help myself."
"He is a wonder. I'm used to him getting quite a bit of attention."
"I've never seen a Stormcutter before. Fishlegs and Hiccup were courteous enough to show me their drawings, but it's… different seeing one up close. And he's magnificent."
"Aye, that he is. But, if you don't mind me, could I get a closer look at your dragon?" Valka inquired, gesturing to Blueheart.
"Of course! She's a sweetheart, she doesn't mind." Eagerly, Valka approached Blueheart in polite wonder, holding her hand out, to which Blueheart welcomed the gesture, sniffing her hand. She allowed Valka to run her hand down Blueheart's head to her shoulders, spine, and tail.
"Both fins." She remarked.
"Mhm. We met when she was still young, we discovered each other in the woods on my home island. She tackled me to the ground." Zyrah laughed at recalling the memory.
"And… what of her relationship with Toothless?"
"They're mates, actually, and! Blueheart is carrying an egg!" Valka widened her eyes in astonishment at this revelation. Upon a second glance, she spied the slight protrusion from Blueheart's belly.
"So, you're telling me, while Hiccup and the others were gone, Toothless and your dragon… became mates?" Zyrah confirmed her guess with a nod.
"Correct. But there's way more to it than that. I'm sure in the Great Hall, we'll start telling you all about what happened." She offered. In response, Valka smiled and gestured up the stone steps to the Great Hall, where the two made their way up, followed by the Stormcutter and two Night Furies.
The riders were all seated accordingly alongside Hiccup's council; Gobber, Spitelout, Gothi, Eret, and Mrs. Ack, who was Ana's mother. Hiccup sat up at the main long table with Astrid, Fishlegs, Ana, Snotlout, and the twins, Valka just behind Hiccup.
All the respective dragons were hanging around a little off to the side, Blueheart nestled next to Toothless, who curled his tail around her protectively.
Hiccup then began to relay the beginning of the trip to his council, already warranting astonished reactions. And it didn't take long for Zyrah to be brought into the discussion, explaining her side of events and then how everything tied in together.
The mention of dragon hunters shifted the air in the Great Hall. Berkians were no strangers to the onslaught of hunters that really weren't that long ago.
"Aye, seems that none of us are safe from 'em!" Gobber exclaimed.
"I hate to say it, but you're right about that," Hiccup confirmed.
Then… the Night Fury colony was finally revealed, earning astonished reactions.
"So… Night Furies are definitely not extinct?" Eret questioned in disbelief.
"Exactly. They're critically endangered but not entirely gone." Fishlegs also confirmed.
"And Drago was also after it?"
"In a way, yes. But Zyrah's birth parents, specifically her birth father, took it upon themselves to find it himself. And while they were successful in finding it, they didn't get their chance to tell the archipelago."
"Why not?"
"My birth father dared to challenge the Alpha Night Fury and lost the fight. My birth mother… decided to end her own life for reasons I'd rather not discuss." Zyrah explained sternly, eyebrows furrowed, arms and legs crossed.
"Wait, so Night Furies answer to an Alpha?"
"Yep. We actually found they typically answer to a mated Alpha pair. When one dies… the surviving mate becomes the leader. And interestingly enough, Blueheart over there is the daughter of the fallen Alpha."
As the discussion got deeper and the riders caught within it, the dragons were having their own chat.
Cloudjumper and Skullcrusher were inquisitive and wanted to get to know Blueheart, neither of them having seen another Night Fury besides Toothless, and he was their Alpha.
But Toothless didn't mind, he trusted the older dragons, yet he wanted to make sure Blueheart was comfortable, already aware of how overwhelming it was to be here.
It's okay. Whatever they'd like to know, I'm open to. Blueheart took care to omit Toothless's birth name for now until he was ready to tell Cloudjumper and Skullcrusher himself.
Don't worry, we won't barrage you. Cloudjumper assured, but I'm sure other dragons will be wanting to know, so I'll beat them to it so they won't harass you.
It's appreciated. Blueheart commemorated with a chuckle.