A.D. 752 9th MONTH, DAY 25
4 MONTHS LATER
In the middle of the night, Flashwing was awakened by the shaking body of Bright. He glanced down at his hatchling, nuzzling him lightly, "Shh, Bright. It's all right." However, Bright continued to shake his small body, which worried Flashwing. Oh no…he's freezing, he realized upon reaching a gentle paw on Bright's forehead.
Curling his tail slowly around Bright to warm him, Flashwing began to notice something he recognized on the hatchling's color, which was changing. A loud sneeze came from Bright, which woke Penumbra and Luna. He saw them stand up and turn to him.
"What is wrong, Pa?" asked Luna.
Penumbra looked down at Bright. "More importantly," she corrected, pointing at the human with a claw, "what's wrong with our son?"
"He's cold," Flashwing responded, his gaze not leaving Bright. "His body won't feel warmth. I fear that he might not…" He trailed off.
Penumbra's eyes widened. "Is there anything we can do to him?"
"I believe there could be something…" started Flashwing, his voice uncertain. "I just haven't figured it out yet."
As if sensing his uneasiness, Luna walked up to Bright and nuzzled his cheek. "What we do, Pa? Baby brother won't freeze, right?"
Flashwing shook his head, before giving her a smile of reassurance. "Don't worry, Luna. We shall be able to do something about it."
Penumbra nodded, waving a dismissive paw to her. "It's more of an adult matter, Luna. You shouldn't worry sbout it. Please, return to your nest."
Luna frowned, but she returned to her nest.
Flashwing gently took Bright up close to his chest. "I'll be looking for the Alpha. He might be able to give us some help," he told Penumbra, who eyed at him. "I will be back."
"And we will be here waiting for you when Bright is feeling better," said Penumbra. "Be careful with our son."
Flashwing nuzzled her cheek. "Thank you, my dear. I will be careful." He turned, spreading his wings and flew out of the cave.
Flying through the Night Fury tunnel, Flashwing was steadily flying to the Alpha nest, with his heart beating once more when he neared the plateau and, as soon as he saw Scales resting on the flat rock, he stopped and bowed, holding Bright close to him by his chest.
Scales' body stirred upon having sensed his presence, he opened an eye and stared at him. "Why did you come here with the human?" he muttered, a sign of irritation was present in his tone as he pressed his muzzle together in a short snarl. "I have enough problems with him as you already know."
"My son has a cold," said Flashwing, standing firmly in place. "If I don't do something about it, he will most likely freeze…to die. I can't let that happen, Alpha. And you know it."
Scales grunted incomprehensible. "Take him to see King Frost at his island near Ice Mountain in the northern region."
"The Bewilderbeast?" gasped Flashwing, holding Bright slightly closer. "Won't he be suspicious as to why I have my son there?"
"Wasn't I suspicious by it as well?" Scales pointed out with a raised ridge. "As you may know, Flashwing, I did not take kindly to Bright when you first presented him to me, remember?"
Flashwing opened his mouth to speak, but he gave into silence.
"You may go with your hatchling, but be right back as soon as he is taken care of by King Frost."
If there was any more Scales would say, he did not show any sign of telling him. "I understand. I shall take my leave immediately." Flashwing kept Bright close, turning tail from the Alpha, spreading his large wings and took flight to the entrance tunnel of Dragon Mountain.
Flying outside of Dragon Mountain, Flashwing continued his way, making a sharp turn to the west as Arne's voice spoke to him in Dragonese.
Svaklar re wux gethrisjir, Flashwing? There was a hint of curiosity in the question.
I am going to see the Bewilderbeast, King Frost, to cure Bright's cold, replied Flashwing.
Vi daar, wux yenta?
Yes. Flashwing continued beating his wings as he flew in the air. It will be a long while before I can return.
Svanoa tira nomeno shinalt?
This morning, replied Flashwing, continuing making his way to the northern most dragon island. He wouldn't feel warmth from my body, and I know that dragon scales increases the warmth beside a human. But, this time, he couldn't.
Coi tiliw qe zahae ousch argthon, suggested Arne.
Yeah, my thoughts exactly, agreed Flashwing. The low temperature could be the reason. It's almost closing in to winter, too. He held onto Bright and, as soon as the dragon island known as Ice Mountain was in his eyesight, Flashwing landed on the icy cold piece land that led deeper inland.
The wind was cold, almost freezing him from the inside when he felt it, but he showed no sign of weakness while he approached the entrance of Ice Mountain.
Above him were a couple of dragons guarding the nest, and they flew down to meet him. "Halt! Who are you, and where did you come from?" demanded the Raincutter to the right, the tone in his voice sounding serious.
"My name is Flashwing, this is my son Bright, and I am from Dragon Mountain led under the Alpha Dragon, Scales," said Flashwing. "I would say more, but if you would, please let me come to meet your king. I have some urgencies regarding my hatchling."
The Raincutter looked inquisitively at the human. "And why do you have one of them as your hatchling, Night Fury?" He raised a scaly ridge. "I have not heard someone as mighty as you would be raising one."
"It's of importance," said the Crimson Goregutter to the left. "We need to make sure you are of no threat to King Frost, you see."
"He won't harm anyone in your nest," promised Flashwing with an affirmative nod of assurance. "I can make sure that never happens. He is only four moons old."
The two dragons looked at each other, then finally, at Flashwing again. "Very well," said the Raincutter with a heavy sigh. "You may go inside with your hatchling, Night Fury."
"Thank you," said Flashwing. He proceeded going inside the entrance tunnel to the Ice Mountain. Once he was within the icily tunnel, he heard Bright cough a rough irking sound. Oh no. He's getting worse by the minute, he realized, hastily beating his wings faster while flying through the tunnel to the nest.
As soon as he got to the nest, he landed on the soft, snow covered ground. Flashwing felt something enormous stir in the great hole in front of him, while a rumbling noise echoed loudly through the nest. The dragons around him stopped immediately their activities and stared at the Night Fury in curiosity.
Flashwing ignored the looks and held Bright close to cover his body near his scales when King Frost, a large Bewilderbeast with bluish scales that had a darker shade underneath the hide and enormous tusks which could move an entire cliff, arose from the hole and stared down at Flashwing with a piercing stare, which could had ended him by their coldness.
He bowed to the Bewilderbeast respectfully.
King Frost spoke, his booming voice sounded like it ripped the earth in half. "Who are you to come to my nest?"
"It is I, Flashwing of Dragon Mountain, led under the leadership of Alpha Scales, great King Frost," said Flashwing. "I have come to ask you regarding something dear to me."
"And what are you doing all the way up here in the northern borders of my territory?"
"It is my son, great King. He is ill and he won't feel warmth. I fear he will die from the cold if he is not treated." Flashwing looked down at Bright, a tear dropping from his left eye.
King Frost's yellowish eyes looked down at the human in his paw. "And may I ask how this has happened?"
"When I awoke during the early morning, I noticed something was strange about my son," started Flashwing, "it happened when the season changed to winter. I fear he wasn't born to endure the cold without a reason."
King Frost rumbled. He looked to be in his deep thought, as if deciding what to with the human. Then, slowly with the utmost care, he lowered one of his tusks down to the human hatchling, and soon Bright's body lit up in a golden fire-will-power, and the glow stopped immediately after it appeared.
"What'd you do, great King?" gasped Flashwing in shock.
"I have merely bestowed this hatchling a great gift," said King Frost. "He will no longer need dragon scales to survive the winter."
Flashwing's jaw dropped. It is as the rumors said about the King. He is a caring Bewilderbeast. He bowed his head gratefully. "I thank you for the gift upon my hatchling, great King Frost."
"You are welcome, Night Fury. Is there anything else?"
Flashwing looked at Bright, then he shook his head. "No. There is no more I need. Thank you for the help, King Frost. I shall take my leave."
"Have a safe journey home, Flashwing of Dragon Mountain," rumbled the Bewilderbeast.
•••
Murtagh looked out to the horizon. The sun was up and the frosty air gave an icy shiver down his spine, while he clenched and unclenched his aching fingers in the winter wind, trying to keep the feeling in their tips. He felt the cold, as he went back into the camp, where a Raincutter he called Razor was waiting for him. The Raincutter's scales were for the most part gray, with a glimt of white shining in the sunlight. Its reddish brown eyes stared at Murtagh as he approached the campfire.
"Oh, Razor," he started upon reaching the dragon, sitting down beside him. "I miss him so much. My cousin, I mean. Wherever he is, I can be sure to get him back with me to Fría Island — or better yet, we can journey to the farther north, or at the edge of the world and be free from the tribes."
Razor lowered his head to nuzzle Murtagh, and he accepted the gesture. His hands touched Razor's warm scales.
"You know I want him back, don't you, bud?" Murtagh spoke. "I would do anything in my power to keep him safe from danger. I feel so useless whenever I receive that dream again on that fateful night — the night where he was taken from our tribe."
Razor looked at his rider.
Murtagh sat down, cross-legged, on the cold earth. He felt Razor curl his tail around him, and draped a wing over his body. Murtagh let out a breath. He saw it turn to ice, but at the same time, the breath was just a tiny bit of cold air from his lungs. A tear fell from his cheek, and he wiped the cold water away.
"I promise you, Razor," he said, staring at his dragon once more, "I will bring my cousin back so we can be together again. If it weren't for that damned Night Fury, I wouldn't have lost him. He was only a baby, and who knows, maybe he is gone for good. But I cannot think like that." He sighed in frustration, lowering his gaze, clenching his fists. "It has been four months since I last saw him. I don't want to lose him again, if I do manage to find him."
Razor touched his cheek, sensing his rider's sadness.
"You know," continued Murtagh, raising his eyes to meet Razor's. "You're one of the first dragons I've met that has shown me you were not mindless creatures. You are intelligent, aware of your surroundings, and are capable of knowing what to do in dire situations. I am thankful to have met you, bud."
Razor rumbled, showing happiness by rubbing his cheek against his rider's.
"Have I touched your feelings?" laughed Murtagh.
A rumbling, gurgling throaty noise escaped Razor, as if he was laughing alongside him.
"I did, didn't I?" Murtagh smiled. "That's what I like about you, Razor. You bring me life and hope, and I am forever grateful for it."
Soon, he heard footsteps coming from the forest. Razor uncurled himself and stood protectively in front of his rider, awareness in his eyes was all Murtagh could see.
"Who's there?" demanded Murtagh. "Come out! I know you're there!"
"You're quite an interesting fellow, having bonded with a Raincutter like that one," said the armored man between two trees. Underneath the shadows of the oak trees was a smile on the man's expression.
"What do you want?" continued Murtagh.
"I want you to join the organization, of course," the man replied.
"What organization?" asked Murtagh, confusion in his voice.
"The Draconids," confirmed the man as he walked out of the shadows from the trees. His shining, silver clad armor was like a knight's, and he did not wear a helmet. "We're a group of people — and dragons — who work together for a more peaceful world with no violence."
Murtagh narrowed his eyes to see the man's face. He had brown, spiky hair and forest green eyes. "And why should I join your so-called organization?"
"We are real," said the man. "And I can show you and your dragon what it means to bring peace to the Barbaric Archipelago. Think about the choice. A world without violence, nor stubborn Vikings who think they're above everyone else."
Murtagh looked at Razor, who glanced at him in return. "May I know your name?"
"Of course, if you tell me yours."
"I am Murtagh, son of none. And the Rider of Razor the Raincutter."
The man chuckled, bowing respectfully. "Well met, Murtagh, son of none. I am Valor, Knight of the Draconids, and the rider of a Skril named Lightningl."
Murtagh blinked. "I thought that the Berserkers were the only tribe who could tame a Skrill."
"Funny you should say that," chuckled Valor, spreading his arms to the sides. "I had been born on the Berserker Island, but I deserted them long ago in hopes of preventing more violence between the Viking tribes." He walked toward Murtagh, his iron boots clanging along the way.
Razor stood between them, growling in warning to Valor, his wings spread to intimidate him.
"Razor, you don't need to distrust him," said Murtagh, walking up beside the Raincutter and placed a hand on his scales. "We can figure something out with Valor."
"Ah, thinking about my offer, are you?" asked Valor with a glimt of light shining in his eyes.
"I am," continued Murtagh with a nod. "And I would like to see the rest of the Draconids before I join the organization."
"Of course you would like to see. Not everybody gets to join the Draconids at a young age such as yourself," admitted Valor. "Well then!" He clapped his hands together. "Let us go to the campsite!"
Murtagh saw him make a calling sound, and a purple scaled Skrill came out of the shadows underneath the trees. Its bluish eyes was wild like a raging ocean. He saw Valor get up on Lightning's back, to which he did the same with Razor and, together, they flew from the small camp.
•••
On a windy afternoon, Flashwing was making his way home to Dragon Mountain his mind not leaving King Frost. I wonder if the blessing King Frost gave to my son would truly save him from the winds of winter, he thought, uncertainty filling his mind while he held Bright close to his chest. The hatchling was sound asleep in his paw.
Flashwing looked down for a moment at him, before beating his wings in the air as another blast of wind blew into his face.
However, as he was continuing to fly, his mind lingered on something else. Maybe I shouldn't dwell on the thought for long, he decided, beating his wings. I should be focusing on getting home right now—
Svanoa ui wer sihe? The voice of Arne came to him once more.
The sudden voice of the human made Flashwing jolt his head upward in surprise. He almost dropped Bright down, had he not held on tight on the hatchling. This caused Bright to cry out and awake from his sleep.
Bright's fine, however, you scared me to nearly drop him, replied Flashwing in his mind. The Bewilderbeast gave him a great gift. A gift to survive the winter without the scales of a dragon.
Si mi bivai, Flashwing. Oli batobot ui jikael ekess nymuer!
Can you please talk normal? snapped Flashwing, groaning with an eye roll. I'm feeling a little confused at what you are trying to say, despite that I know Dragonese better than you.
Sorry, it's a habit of mine to use Dragonese when I'm with a dragon to easily converse with them, said Arne apologetically. But that is wonderful to hear, with Bright being given a gift from a great Alpha Dragon.
Indeed, agreed Flashwing, his shoulders returning to their usual composure from the initial shock, beating his wings once more while the sun was slowly rising up in the sky above. How are you holding up today, Arne?
I'm doing just fine, thank you for asking. I am fishing, as many humans do nowadays, to spend the time. I am still wating for you to arrive, because it is getting lonely on this island without company.
Flashwing felt his scaly forehead becoming wet. Don't worry. I will arrive in a few days to get Bright more acquainted with you; after all, human hatchlings need to interact with others of their species in order to learn to be like them.
You learn fast, laughed Arne's voice. I like that about you. In fact, I think your species are learning faster than humans and most other dragons.
Night Furies are the most intelligent species of all dragons, after all, Flashwing pointed out.
True.
Flashwing continued making his way home. Anything else that could be useful for Bright to learn how to talk? I've been meaning to ask you that for a long while now.
A hum came in his mind. Well, human babies usually learn to talk at the age of two, so there is still quite a bit to go for Bright to learn on how to talk.
Oh, I see. Flashwing beat his wings again, his pace steady while holding Bright in his paw. At last, the Dragon Mountain island was coming in sight. I will be seeing you, Arne. It was nice to talk with you. I am now near Dragon Mountain.
Very well. Have a nice day!
Silence soon overwhelmed Flashwing's mind.
Flashwing flew through the entrance tunnel to the Night Fury tunnel. After a while of flight, he made it to his nest and landed down on the familiar, earthy soil of the ground, announcing loudly: "I am back!"
Immediately, Luna burst out of the nest and ran up to him, hugging his free paw. "Pa, you are back! I have missed you!"
"I was only gone for a few hours, my little moon," said Flashwing with a chuckle. He walked into the nest, watching as Penumbra rose to her paws to greet him. "How have the two of you been while Bright and I was gone?"
"Oh, you know. The things you've known for us to do: playing, and me teaching her to fish for herself, as well as having some quality time between mother and daughter," said Penumbra.
Flashwing smiled. "Good. As for Bright, he's not feeling the cold anymore."
"Really? How? I did not know that was possible," she said in surprise.
"King Frost of Ice Mountain was kind enough to give him a great gift, and I think it has something to do with resisting the cold temperature of winter."
"That is good to hear." Penumbra nuzzled him, then she touched Bright with her cheek, who was soundly asleep. After her touch, Bright opened his eyes, and Penumbra blinked a few times.
"What is it?" asked Flashwing, curious.
"His eyes — they shine brighter than before," replied Penumbra. "And the small bit of fur he has is now white."
Flashwing looked down at Bright and examined him closely with her observation. "You are right," he concurred. "I am taking this as a good sign from King Frost, with our son having his fur color change."
Luna walked up to them, sniffing curiously to Bright.
Soon, they heard someone approach the cave nest near the entrance. They looked over to the entrance and saw Aquawing, who ruffled her wings in her approach.
"May we know why you're here, Aquawing?" asked Flashwing, a bit surprised. "I hope there's a reason for it."
"I was wondering how it goes with you," she said. She walked inside the cave.
"Oh, you know. The good things, Aquawing," said Flashwing. "We were just happy to know that our son now has a resistance to the cold."
At his words, it piqued Aquawing's attention. "Oh? Is that so? That is a surprisingly good thing to hear from you, Flashwing."
"Indeed." Flashwing nodded in agreement. He looked down to Bright, who was yawning. "However, I think our son is tired, so may I ask the reason for why you're here?"
"I've come to inform you that the Alpha will be expecting to have a meeting with you, Flashwing."
"The Alpha?" asked Penumbra, as if she appeared not surprised in the slightest. "And why, may I ask, does he want to meet with my mate?"
"It has something to do with your son, Penumbra. And before you act, no. He does not wish to send him away. He is just curious about the meeting with King Frost directly from Flashwing."
"Is that it?" asked Flashwing, a hint of curiosity in his voice. "Why couldn't he just come here and ask me it now?"
"Because he is currently in a meeting with some Monstrous Nightmares regarding their nest and one of their members," replied Aquawing. "He's busy. You may come to Alpha Scales' nest once their meeting is over."
Flashwing nodded. "Very well. I shall do it, and what about Bright?"
"He may rest after your hours long flight," she answered.
Flashwing walked over to Bright's nest that was beside Luna's, and placed Bright in his grass filled nest. He stepped over to Aquawing. He looked over his wing shoulder. "I shall return shortly."
"That is fine, dear," said Penumbra. "I wish you a good meeting with the Alpha."
Flashwing walked side by side with Aquawing out of the Night Fury nest, and they were now making their way to the Alpha nest.