"Another unfortunate thing is that I don't think we can go any other direction. I think we're at our limit of what a dragon's life can look like without a radical change. And that's really only because we can't harness the power of tools. Of course like I said earlier, each of them acts as a different tool. We have hammers and saws and forges, and ways to catch fish and obviously hunt but that's what each of them is born to do. Basically. It's why only certain species can realistically be one of our highflyer scouts or long distance, because they've been specialized for it. A Terror or Nadder can't really sit high up on the winds as well as a Timberjack can. Luckily for me I have two Timberjacks that act as highflyer scouts and they can sit up there for days and days and never have to beat their wings once. They are utterly massive dragons or at least have massive wings that let them sit on the air and simply float. At the highs that those two can achieve with ease others have to constantly beat their wings to stay up that high and will wear themselves out before they're useful. When we get back up." Hiccup held out his hand to help his father again. "I'll see if I can spot them and point them out to you. Luckily, again, for me, Timberjacks like their alone time much like my Firework Princess.
Speaking of which, I hope they're okay. I hope none of the stokers will need her." Hiccup mumbled to himself.
"Worried about something? Stoick asked.
"Just adding to the pile."
"What is it?"
"Just worried about my nest mothers and hatchlings. Also hoping that none of my stoker class dragons will need the Fireworm Princess."
"I'm sure they're fine, Hiccup. You sent them in the opposite direction of the potential attack. I'd be very surprised if they've met any sort of danger going the way they were. But I'm curious about why, what did you say? Uh, Stoker class dragons need your Fireworm Princess?"
"Well it's not just her but her and her fireworms themselves. Stoker class dragons, Nightmares and the like sorta have a fatal flaw, and I do mean fatal. You've seen Nightmares set their bodies on fire before. They can do that because they like, sweat out this kinda gooey, kinda, it's got the same consistency as snot, that's what it is. But the stuff is flammable. So what happens is, they sweat this stuff out and it sits under their scales. So then they can put a little flame up to their leg or wing, and suddenly, whoosh, they're on fire. The thing about it is that over time, or if they've needed to set themselves on fire a lot for some reason they can run out. Sorta. They can regenerate it slowly but can go too far that they can no longer make fire. Nightmare's have this specifically since they also use this same liquid to shoot their flames normally form their mouth. So they can go too far and have, what I call burn out. Which is fatal to all stoker class dragons. Fireworm Princess' have this venom they create, which reignites a stoker's flame, and kick-starts the production of that flammable liquid in them. But the issue is twofold. I need the venom, which I do have. Queen, which is the name of our Fireworm, let me collect and store some of her venom in situations where she couldn't be there. The issue being that I don't know if it loses its potency as it sits, so what I have may be useless to save someone. Secondly I need her fireworms themselves. Having that venom is one thing but they also need help warming up again, so the fireworms lay on them and heat up to help the stoker. And it's hot. I've watched Queen a few times doing her magic so that I could write notes and things about it, but when it comes to the point where they have to warm up the dragon I have to be very far away. The first few times I tried to be sorta close by but it's like trying to sit in a blast furnace and trying to focus on anything that isn't your skin burning. So even if the venom works I don't know how or if we can warm them up enough to help. I don't know if having them lay in a fire would work. I don't think it would be hot enough.
Of course the opposite side of this is that none of my stoker class dragons should be using their fire for anything. So I shouldn't have to worry about any of them losing their flame for a while. Sure they slowly lose it over time but I don't think any of them are showing signs that they'll need Queen soon."
"Then it's nothing to worry about." Stoick remarked. "You've made an issue out of nothing." He could see Hiccup wanting to say something but held his hands up and continued. "I understand that there is a chance of what you're worried about to happen. But you said yourself that it's not likely to happen. So to worry about it is a waste of energy. Then if it does happen, at least you have a plan. Whether or not it works you don't know but it's all you can do. Maybe there's something better, who knows, but now is not the time. You, we, them, have bigger problems. Namely a big attack, and the awkward down time that we're in. We know that it's coming but it's obvious that something has diverted them. It must have been far too since we haven't even had one of the scouts you sent out come back. But we know someone saw it and was confirmed.
I know it's hard to wait and you have a lot of antsy dragons wondering what's going on. I've been through this before a few times and just some advice, keep your head, and reassure your people that it's for their safety. As I understand it there are a ton more dragons here than usual, probably some that don't think this is even their fight because there here so little. You just have to keep reminding them that you're in this together. You, and Toothless, are here with them, you're not excluded from what's happening. If anything I think you've been smart about how you've handled this so far. Calling them back at the sign of a huge threat and bolstering your numbers, and bunkering down, ready for what's to come. Then, well damn, it's not happening as planned, I'll give them most of their freedoms back but not allow them to leave again. Keeping them close for when you do need them.
The unfortunate part right now is that we don't have any sort of time frame. It could happen in a few days, few weeks, or after the thaw. That's the main issue. Plus the ones you did send away, which again I think was smart, are now even more in the blind than we are.
If I can make a suggestion, I would send someone out to them and inform them of what's happening. We know it's safe in that direction and know about how long it'll take for whoever to get out there and to return. It'll give you something to wait for that isn't one of the scouts that's following the Bewilderbeast. We'll still be sitting on our hands for now but it'll help that you have something that you know will work out how you plan it." Stoick climbed up to the final shelf and followed Hiccup out the hole leading outside. The large man put his hands on his hips and took a deep breath. "Thank the gods that we made it back." He walked up to the chest that he and Hiccup had originally planned to get themselves. "So what's in here?" Stoick wondered.
"Open it." Hiccup offered. The large man undid the latch on the chest and opened the lid, revealing the weapons that had been confiscated when they arrived. Stoick reached in and pulled out his axe. A few of the dragons became defensive and Hiccup quickly signaled for them to be calm.
"Now then." Hiccup reached into the box and pulled a few swords out. "I am entrusting you with your weapons. While it wasn't technically necessary to take them in the first place, it did make the dragons more receptive to you. Now that they're used to you being here, I believe that it's time that I return these to you. Plus you'll need them sooner or later." He walked towards the other humans waiting around the smoldering ashes of the previous night's fire and handed the weapons to their owners. "So then, I think it's time to announce that Toothless and I have been talking, and we think it would be good to get off this rock for a day or two and go on a little hunting trip."