Hiccup woke up without Toothless and couldn't find him when looking around. He got up and stretched and looked around. Most of the others were still around including Dusty. He moved and checked on Color.
"Have you seen Toothless?" He asked.
"He left earlier on. Someone came and got him. I wasn't paying that much attention, sorry." He pressed his head against Color. "Is she okay?"
"She looks fine. When I get back I'll show you how to feed her and get her water. Hopefully she'll wake up soon and we'll be able to get what happened from her. Then I can give her more to help her pain." He stood up again and turned to leave. As he moved on he found a lack of other humans. He looked out over the edge of his shelf and found the reason for most people missing. An influx of dragons along with his people trying to figure out what to do about them. He sighed and started to climb down. About half way down he was seen and Toothless came to join him.
"Turns out they all decided to come, and all at once." Toothless nervously laughed. "We need to get them all settled and figure out what we're going to do. I think the humans are making some of them nervous too. But they've been mostly helpful."
"Well good it would be counter productive if they were making things worse." Hiccup looked at all the new dragons trying to figure out what was going on and where to go. He already knew that he was going to get an ear full from his species leads about that. But they knew what was at stake and would understand in the end. "So is it all three of them?"
"Yes it is." Toothless swirled around Hiccup and sat behind him. "Seems we're the alphas of nearly every dragon who lives around here now.
"Oh good that won't be stressful." Hiccup put his hands on his hips.
"It's not all bad. They'll be safe here for the time being. Plus they'll get a chance to interact with the humans. Which will help too."
"That's true. Let's just hope that this'll be enough to fight against whatever's out there. Toothless we have to be able to control them if need be." Hiccup turned around and looked into his mate's eyes. "You can't hesitate, you know that."
"I know." Toothless looked around at all the people who'd been gracious enough to give him a chance. "They'll hate me again."
"For a bit. But you'll be saving them or at least their way of life." Hiccup ran his hand along his dragon's neck. "Besides, many of them won't. Those who really understand what's going on won't even question it. But the biggest thing is, no matter what we need to keep as many under our control as possible if we want to win. I don't know what's going on out there but we have to win. No matter the cost." He looked into Toothless' eyes again.
"Just don't be too reckless. I can't do this without you." The dragon whispered.
"That goes for you too, you know." Hiccup cupped Toothless' face. Toothless silently nodded.
"Well I'd hate to kill the mood here boys." Stoick announced himself. "But I'm going to pull rank and this will go by a bit smoother if the alphas or whatever did a little more leading and a little less loving right about now. You can have your little don't die on me moment later when this place isn't upside-down." Stoick pointed with his head at the catastrophe only feet away from them.
"Maybe an alliance with the humans was a bad idea after all." Hiccup sighed.
"Sorry boy, you may lead this place but you're still my son. So you're gonna get out there and lead these people. Go on." Stoick commanded.
"Fine." Hiccup jumped onto Toothless' back. He gave the dragon a pat on the side. "Let's go before he gets really mad." The pair flew off into the crowd.
"Hiccup I'm not…" Stoick called after them. "Whatever."
For the most of the rest of the day, everyone worked to get all the new dragons situated and in a place where they could at least sleep for night. As the day wound down, Hiccup called a massive meeting including nearly anyone who had any sort of power above others, plus the alphas who'd now joined his flock. During the meeting he informed everyone that changes in power would be held off until further notice. He didn't want people getting hurt now that the threat of attack was more real than ever. He also asked the alphas to group those who couldn't fight, and were too young to, as they were going to be moved to The Edge to keep them safe. And that would be something they worked on the next day, along with getting people jobs as to help keep the place running. Hiccup let them all know that with the addition of new people, again, that tempers would flair. He asked them to hold strong and remind people that this wasn't just for their flock, it was for everyone. And with the absence of dragons everywhere else the problem would almost assuredly be coming their way now. If whatever was out there attacking the flocks needed dragons to fight for them, then the only place with dragons left was Heil Heim's Gate. Their home and a place that he wouldn't let fall unless he no longer drew breath. That seemed to bring them together and put everyone on the same page.
With the meeting adjourned, Hiccup went to his nest and collapsed into the warm furs. Toothless quickly joining him.
"You did well today." Toothless praised.
"You always say that." Hiccup covered his eyes with his arm.
"And most of the time I mean it." Toothless chuckled. "But I'm being serious. You're keeping everyone calm but ready for what's next. Plus the idea to send off young and incapable is smart. It'll create that little bit of room for people, and the likelihood that they'll be found way out there is small. It's so out of the way that without knowing those islands are out there, there'd be no reason to even be anywhere near that place. Even if this place falls, they'll be safe. More importantly, free. That's what you've given us. Freedom. A chance to live without fear of death. A chance to prosper, hopefully with the help of humans."
"I hope so, big guy. Right now I fear whatever's happening won't stop unless every dragon is gone."
"Once Color wakes up we'll know." Toothless said confidently.
"Gods I hope so. If she doesn't have anything we're going to be just as blind as we already are. Now with even more people wondering what's going on." Hiccup rubbed his face. "I don't want to go into this fighting something we don't understand. We'd be at a massive disadvantage."
"Not the first time we've had to do that."
"Yeah well last time we knew our enemy and not to mention got lucky." I don't want to rely on luck with so many lives at stake."
"Trust me, I don't either Hiccup. But if she can't give us anything we'll just have to prepare the best we can and adapt as it comes."
"I know, I know. Improvising just gets messy fast. Messy means death here."
"I'm well aware. I don't like it just as much as you do. But if she doesn't have anything, that's just how it's going to have to be."
