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Chapter Text

Dad! 

     The black and white Nightlight rushed to her father's side, her wings flapping anxiously, her eyes wide with fear. Dad, what's happening?

      The Night Fury limped forward to touch his nose to hers, looking right into her eyes, even as the space around them continued in chaos.

      Their wide, open cave was littered in golden shards of cracked crystals and the bodies of many dragons, some half eaten, some nearly all but burned away. Dark shadows were dodging every attempt at an attack upon them, twisting through the air like snakes made of thick smoke.

      When they paused for just a second, their eyes were visible as great, evil-yellow orbs that seemed so deep and bright they made you freeze in terror and you forgot to move. Then they would open their mouths and let out a horrible boggy green fire that caused their victim so much pain, they dropped out of the sky, burning.

      And as they fell, they would get swarmed in smokey shapes, until they were satisfied, and what was left--however little or much--landed on the battle-worn ground with a thud.

      Just look at me. Toothless said, gently but firmly. I don't know what's happening. And I don't know what to do.

      How do we get rid of them? His daughter panicked, trying her best to keep her father's gaze. Are we all going to die?

      Listen. Toothless lifted his wings so that they touched her face, blocking out some of the horrors around them. Remember the humans I told you about?

      The ones we're not allowed to go see anymore? She inched closer to him, trying so hard not to shake with fear. 

      You have to go back and tell him we need help. Toothless blinked at her reassuringly. I know he'll come.

      But-- She started.

      Just go! Quickly! Toothless said, a little sharply. He pulled his wings back. Don't let them see you and don't stop until you find him. Go!

      She stubbled backwards, twisted around, and took off, not looking back and staring straight ahead, dodging fighting dragons and falling crystals. 

      One of the black, smokey snakes hissed and whipped in her direction, and, terrified, the Nightlight put on as much speed as she could, beating her wings hard as the heat of the creature's breath twisted closer and closer.

Chapter Text

Zephyr was finally getting what she had been wanting for almost five years.

      A chance to see what it was like to be Chief. 

      Well, chieftess, anyway.

      Her parents were leaving on some "secret trip" together for a week or two, and they had told Zephyr that she could try her hand at running the village.

      "It should be pretty easy." Hiccup said optimistically. "You've followed me around enough to know how things work."

      "--And if you need any help," Astrid added. "Gobber'll still be around. And so will Eret and your grandma."

     "I know." Zephyr bounced a little on her heels. 

      "Don't be afraid to ask for help, now, okay?" Astrid said, for the hundredth time. "There's nothing wrong--"

      "--Nothing wrong with needing help, I know." 

      "And don't forget to--" Hiccup started.

      "--Take care of my brother." Zephyr finished. "I know!"

      "And make sure--" 

      Zephyr cut her mom off, "--I know. I can do it, okay? I'm almost eighteen."

      Her mom and dad looked at each other.  Not their I'm-not-so-sure look though. It was a look Zephyr hadn't seen them share before--and her parents shared a lot of looks.

      "Okay." Astrid said at last. "Good luck, Zephyr. Bye, Nuffy."

      Nuffink, Zephyr's sixteen year old brother, who had been standing quietly beside his sister, gave Astrid a hug. "Bye, Mum! Bye, Dad! Have fun."

      Hiccup ruffled Nuffink's hair and smiled down at him. "Make sure you listen to your sister, alright?"

      "I will." Nuffink sounded just a little exasperated. "We'll all be fine!"

      "Bye, Zephyr." Hiccup patted her head, but then put his arms around her when she gave him a hug.

      "Bye, Dad. Bye, Mom." Zephyr gave her mom a hug and then stood and waved them off as their ship started to sail away, waiting until they were out of sight.

      "Right then," Eret, who had been standing a little behind her, said cheerily. "Ready to get to work, Chief?"

Being a chief turned out to be even better than she thought it was going to be. Maybe it was just because it was her first day, but she had been expecting it to be difficult, and instead had enjoyed in immensely. 

      "You won't like it soon enough." Her best friend, Camicazi, said, in light teasing. "You'll be too busy bossing everyone around, you'll forget about me."

      Camicazi was Fishlegs and Ruffnut's daughter, who was almost exactly Zephyr's age. After she had been born, her parents (more specifically, Ruffnut) had decided that one child was enough, and did their best to spoil her.

      Zephyr was glad Camicazi hadn't turned into a sparkly princess or some kind of annoying idiot who thought the world belonged to them and them alone. Camicazi was a brilliant, witty girl who took more interest in dragons and daggers than dresses and jewelry.

      "Don't be ridiculous." Zephyr swung herself over a fallen tree, which must have collapsed last night, during a recent storm. "You'd bother me far too much for me to forget about you."

      Zephyr loved that most of New Berk was covered in trees and little springs of water. It made nearly every place feel cheerful and fresh. Wandering in them for hours was one of the things Camicazi and her did together often.

      "Hold up," Camicazi stopped to stare at where the tree was cracking off its stump. "Look at the size of those claw marks."

     Zephyr gave it a closer look, and realized there were deep slashes in the wood, almost as if something had been trying to grab hold of the tree to steady itself, but I stead knocked it down.

      "...A bear, maybe?" Zephyr said doubtfully. There was a steep dip in the ground just behind the tree stump, and a trail of plants had been wiped clean off the ground. It looked like something incredibly large had slid the whole way down. She felt a little uneasy about it. "I think I should tell Eret."

      "No way!" Camicazi insisted eagerly. "You're the stand-in chief! It's your duty to check it out yourself!"

      Zephyr hesitated.

      "Well I'm going, anyway." Camicazi said decidedly.

      "Wait!" Zephyr cried, as her friend jumped over the drop and slid down the already made crevice. "Cami!"

      Angry at Camicazi and annoying at herself for following, Zephyr went down after her.

      "Cami!" Zephyr snapped, sliding next to her friend and grabbing her arm to get her attention. "You can't just do that! Those claw marks were way to big to be--"

      "...Whoa." Camicazi said, staring straight ahead, ignoring Zephyr.

      Zephyr followed her gaze and gasped.