Rocky is sitting next to the small pond on his cave, as he washes Niether's makeshift saddle in it. Said dragon is gnawing on a bone in the background. His right side is still bandaged.
"You're lucky that the pond is pulling water in from under ground, and that it drains off the side of the mountain." Niether calls out as he snaps the bone in half with ease.
"Well, salt water is bad for leather, even if this is a horribly made saddle." Rocky glances back at the dragon. "And I'd rather not ruin our only saddle."
Niether huffs as he continues gnawing on one of the bone halves. Rocky then lifts the saddle out of the water, and looks it over. He smiles as he sees no more red on it, then he grabs a nearby rag and starts wiping it down.
Rocky stands up after wiping it, but he nearly falls over as he grabs his side in pain. Niether stops gnawing and glances over, tilting his head. Rocky drops the saddle on the rocks around the pond, as he leans onto a table next to it.
"You should take it easy." Niether calls out with a rumble.
Rocky lets out several deep breathes. "This is me taking it easy."
Niether rolls his eye. "Right."
"Oh shut it you, you weren't the one who was shot." Rocky pushes off the table, as he grabs the saddle again.
Niether shakes himself as Rocky walks over. "Because I'm more careful then you."
"Whatever you say."
Rocky attaches the saddle onto Niether's back, giving a few tugs to make sure its tight. Rocky then leans against his dragon as he slowly slides down. Rocky leans against, Niether as he sits on the ground.
Niether then continues gnawing on one of the whale bone halves. The human looks up to the sky as the afternoon sun shines down onto him. He puts a hand on his right side.
Rocky then closes his eye as he rests his head back onto the dragon. He then lets out a long sigh. Niether stops gnawing and glances at Rocky.
"What's got you sighing?"
"We've been here for almost three weeks, and it's been nothing but one crazy day after another." Rocky lets out along sigh. "Part of me is glad we're not dealing with the craziness of our old life. But another part of me hates this life, as its nothing but a different kind of crazy."
"Crazy isn't the half of it, Rocky. This is insane, imagine telling us that we'd pass out drunk, only to wake up in two separate bodies, one being a dragon, and be transported to a fictional world."
"Yeah... that's... We are crazy." Rocky chuckles as he opens his eye, looking to his dragon. "But hey, we're in this together."
"Yeah, we are. So stop almost dying. We don't know what'll happen if one of us were to die."
"But I think there's something you're not mentioning."
"What happens if I live longer/What happens if you life longer." They say at the same time.
"I know, I just... don't feel like talking about it." Niether rests his head on the ground and looks away.
"But you can't ignore it forever. You're a dragon, you're life spans are long. So what does happen when I die from old age."
"We'll get there when we get there." Neither turns his head at Rocky.
"You can't avoid it."
"I can." Niether suddenly gets up, causing Rocky to fall over.
Niether starts walking to the edge of the cliff, making the human confused. Rocky sits up as he grunts.
"What are you doing?" Rocky calls out with a grunt.
Niether opens his massive wings, before giving a hard flap, and takes off to the sky. The force from his take off, nearly causes Rocky to fall over again. He lets out a annoyed grumble as he watches Niether fly off.
"Sheesh, what a drama queen." Rocky shakes his head. "I guess, I might understand his feelings."
Over with the dragon, he soars across the ocean, away from Wyre island. He flaps his wings a few times, before he lets out a sigh.
'Ugh, why'd I fly off...' Niether sighs in thought. 'Running from my- our feelings again. Too bad there's no alcohol nearby.'
Niether shakes his head as he rumbles.
"Whatcha doing?" Leafwisp suddenly appears right above Niether, upside down.
Neither roars in panic, nearly falling from the sky as his flight faulters. He flaps his wings a few times, recovering his pace. He glances up and glares at Leafwsip, who moves down and flies beside him.
"What are you doing Leafwisp?" Niether rumbles.
"Oh you know, just on my daily flight. But then I see you fly off without your human." Leafwisp states as he glances at the other dragon.
"You know I don't need a human to fly."
"I know, but it is rather weird to see you without him."
Niether just lets out a rumble as he looks back ahead.
"It's just... a conversation came up that I didn't want to be apart of."
Leafwisp's eyes light up as he grows intrigued. "Oohhh, now I'm interested."
Niether moves slightly away from the Changewing. "You are a strange dragon."
"Says the dragon that's supposed to be extinct. And aren't you guys supposed to be living in the far north? Why are you far south?"
Neither doesn't respond right away as he tries to think. "The circumstances are the reason. I would blame Rocky, but that's only part of the reason."
"You two are so interesting, I'm so glad I stop for a vacation." Leafwisp gives a toothy smile. "Oh, my brothers and sisters will be jealous of all the fun I'm having."
"You have siblings?" Neither glances over.
"Yup, I have five siblings. And we all live on an island full of Changewings, it is kinda far from here. But once and a while all five of us go on a little migration. We had ours a little while ago, and they're all probably back home."
"And you're not with them just because you find me and Rocky interesting?"
Leafwisp flips over Niether, flying on his right now. "It's not everyday you meet the ancestor of the Nightfury."
Niether thinks for a moment, before his brow furrows. "Ancestor?"
Leafwisp tilts his head. "Don't you know? I mean, I guess not many people know these days, but I'm interested in learning about rare dragons. I've spent a lot of time talking with the old dragons of my island, they're very knowledgeable."
"I..." Niether goes quiet for a moment as he thinks. "I've never even meet my parents. So I never met another of my kind."
Leafwisp's eyes widen for a moment, before he looks away in guilt. "Oh, sorry. I guess you very well could be the last of you're kind. Just like that Nightfury from the island that humans called Berk."
"Berk? How far is that from here?"
Leafwisp thinks for a moment. "A very long flight, many many days away. I can't give you an exact time frame. Why?"
"Rocky and I would very much like to meet the Nightfury, to uh-" Niether thinks for a second. "To maybe see if he's seen any more Briskwinds!"
"Your kind hasn't been seen in centuries, so it's unlikely."
Niether lets out a disappointed sigh. He looks down to the ocean, seeing a few small islands below them.
Back at Wyre island, Rocky is walking around the island, with Raincutter and Stinger beside him. Stinger lets out a chirp as he zips around the area, snapping at a butterfly, which he misses it each time.
Rocky chuckles as he watches the young dragon play. Raincutter lets out a chortle as it steps up beside Rocky as he stops in the small clearing. Several dragons lie about in the sun.
But they growl in anger as Stinger runs on and around them, as he chases the butterfly. Rocky crosses his arms as he watches Stinger run about. He then glances at the scared dragon next to him.
"Young dragons sure have a lot of energy."
Raincutter lets out a rumble as she tilts her head. He then looks back to Stinger, who zips up to him and barks. Rocky kneels down as he laughs as rubs the dragons head.
'You know, I think I'm starting to like dragons more then dinosaurs.'
Stinger lets out a purr as Rocky rubs his chin. Then a moment later he stops, and continues walking on. Raincutter and Stinger follow him, with the young Speed Stinger zipping back and fourth.
They then arrive at the beach, where they find Spine and Snips staring out to the ocean. He calls out to them and they look back at him, giving a roar in return.
He walks up to them and pats Snips on the side, before scratching Spine under the chin. Raincutter lays on the beach behind them, while Stinger runs around the beach at high speeds.
Rocky then sits between Spine and Snips, before letting out a grunt as he lays on the sand. He looks up to the afternoon sun as it starts its downward arc.
Snips then looks down at Rocky ands leans over him, sniffing at his wound. He lightly pats her nose.
"I'm fine, it's healing up. But it'll probably be a few days before I can even resume out normal training and patrols."
Snips lets out a squawk as he flaps her wings. Spine lets out a rumble and his sister barks at him, making him look away. But then everyone hears a rumble and they look back to see Mulic walk out of the forest.
He lets out a roar, and all the dragons roar back in return. He walks over and lays on the ground beside the ground. He lets out a long sigh as he closes his eyes.
"Having fun, Mulic?" Rocky calls out, and the dragon just huffs in return.
Then a roar echoes out and everyone looks out to the ocean, and sees Niether and Leafwisp flying back. Everyone calls out to them and the two dragons land nearby.
Niether walks over to Rocky, with a rumble.
"Sorry for flying off."
Rocky shrugs as he looks back out to the ocean. "It's fine, I can understand why you don't want to think about it."
Leafwisp slinks over to Mulic, making the Monstrous Nightmare growl at him. But the Changewing just smirks as he goes invisible. Mulic then lowers his head back onto the sand, but then roars as he looks back as Leafwisp appears on his back with a devious smirk.
Niether lays down behind Rocky, putting his head on the ground next to the human. Everyone looks out to the dark blue ocean, while Stinger still runs up and down the beach.
"You know, as much as I love this peaceful moment, I can't help but worry." Rocky starts as his teal eye looks up to the sky.
"What do you mean?" Niether's teal eye looks at the human.
"Just a gut feeling, that this is just the beginning of something very... dangerous."
"Operation Jörmungandr?" Niether questions.
"Operation... what?" Spine questions as he looks at the large dragon.
"Something Sigewulf is working on. Heather found out he's doing something dangerous. But we don't know what it is."
"Well, we won't let him get away with whatever it is!" Snips hops from foot to foot, kicking some sand onto Rocky.
"Snips!" Rocky wipes sand off himself.
"Sorry!"
The fluttering of wings rings out and everyone looks back to see Grandma Drips fly down to them. She lands walks over, before laying on the beach. Everyone greets her and she greets them back.
"What brings you out here?" Mulic calls out.
"Even I need a small break every now and then, Mulic." Grandma Drips calls out, and she lets out a sigh, laying her head on the ground. "The youngsters are very rowdy. I can't keep up with younger dragons anymore."
"Maybe you should retire and let Drurg take over." Spine turns to the Gronckle.
"I'll retire when I pass, Spine."
"Crazy old lady." Mulic mutters.
"Are you old too?" Leafwisp slinks around the Monstrous Nightmare.
Mulic tries to bite the Changewing, be he leaps away. "I'm not even near half her age!"
"You are the oldest out of the Patrol Group." Raincutter points out.
Mulic lets out an annoyed groan. Rocky quietly chuckles at the interaction as Niether translates for him. He smiles as he puts a hand on his dragons head and starts rubbing it. Stinger runs over and stops right beside Rocky, and stomps his foot.
Rocky chuckles as he also starts rubbing Stinger's head. Stinger starts letting out low rumbles.
"We're all just one interesting family, huh."
"Huh, I never looked at it like that." Leafwisp slinks over. "I guess we all are kinda like a family."
"An annoying family." Mulic rumbles as he sifts on the sand.
"We all know you love us, Mulic." Snips calls out.
Mulic just rumbles as he looks away, making everyone laugh. Everyone then looks back out to the ocean.
"I think, we should enjoy this for now." Rocky speaks, as he puts his hands on the sand as he leans back. "Who knows how much longer we'll even have this."
"We'll have peace here for as long as we fight back." Grandma Drips points out. "We must never give in, because I for one will not let them take over my home."
Rocky throws a fist up. "Yeah!"
All the dragons roar in response, and Rocky chuckles. He then lays back in the sand, and pulls out his notebook from his satchel. He opens it up and flips through the pages, flipping past drawings of dragons, islands and several of Heather.
He then lands on an empty page, and he glances around at everyone, before grabbing his pencil. Then he starts drawing and Stinger roars as he looks over. Rocky draws a rough sketch of everyone sitting on the beach. Stinger chirps as he sees himself in the drawing.
Rocky continues drawing as all the dragons remain in silence, letting the warm afternoon sun shine down onto them.
Far off in the ocean The Vanquisher sits anchored far from any island. Dozens of other Hunter ships are anchored a little ways around the large ship.
Sigewulf stands at the bow of the ship, looking out to a large bubbling area in front of the ship. Large sets of chains are attached to the front of the ship that disappear under the water.
Sigewulf has a large egotistical smirk as he stares to the bubbling water. The ship shakes a little as a deep roar echoes underwater. The chains shake as the boat lurches forward suddenly, before stopping. Sigewulf doesn't even seem bothered by it.
Suddenly a Hunter walks up to Sigewulf, with a slightly worried look.
"Uh, sir, are we sure this is a good idea."
"It doesn't matter." Sigewulf glances back calmly at him. "I need this dragon for my Operation."
"But the men are-"
"The men don't know the cost if this fails." Sigewulf frowns at the Hunter, making him grow tense. "If this fails, the future of dragons Hunters will be in danger. I don't care how many we had to lose to secure it. I refuse to not go through with it."
"But what do we even need it for? The men are saying this is madness."
Sigewulf smirks as he looks back out to the water. "To destroy the Yong Dragon Rider. Once we do that, we can take over the Dragon isles. Then after that-" He motions to the bubbling water, as the ship shakes again from a deep roar. "-Berk is next. Those Dragon Riders won't be able to stop this dragon, not this one of legend."
Sigewulf chuckles like a madman, making the Hunter shift in fear. Suddenly another Hunter walks up.
"Sir, we got word from Julvig."
Sigewulf smiles as he turns around and walks to the second Hunter. "What of his mission."
"He managed to find it sir, right where you said it would be. He reported some heavy losses though."
Sigewulf continues to smile as he grows a crazy look. "Perfect." He starts walking towards his quarters as the two Hunters follow.
"Sir, but I thought there was only one left?"
"I thought so too, but my Father's journal revealed something wonderful. And it proved to be true." Sigewulf stops in front of the door. "A male cannot refuse the call of a female in distress, it's perfect for this plan." He glances back at the Hunters. "Tell the men to prepare for departure back to base."
The two Hunters salute. "Yes, sir!" They run off to the side.
Sigewulf enters his quarters, and shuts the door behind him. He walks over to the large table in the center, where Rocky's old map lies. He slowly walks over with a smirk.
He looks over the map, looking over the Hunter pieces lying between the Chief piece, and the Dragon and Accomplice pieces. Hos eyes land on two Hunter pieces on an island just outside the patrol circle, an island named Raven Island.
"It's almost complete." Siegwulf mutters as he leans onto the table.
Sigewulf then grabs another Hunter pieces and places it at Raven isle. He then moves a few more Hunter pieces closer towards Dragon Isles. Then he steps back, putting his hands behind his back.
"It's such a shame Rocky, that you won't be able to see the full might of Operation Jörmungandr." Sigewulf smirks smugly as he walks around the table. "Having to kill such a fine dragon, my brothers might not be too happy, but in the long run they'll understand."
He walks around the table for a moment, studying the map. He stops and again leans over the table
"Once I deal with you, Berk will be next. Hiccup and his Dragon Riders can't stop me... No one can stop me." The ship shakes again as another deep roar echoes, but he doesn't seem to mind. "Not with it in my control."
Sigewulf starts chuckling, before it slowly turns into mad laughter. Light shines down onto the map, with the Chief, Dragon and Accomplice pieces casting long shadows towards each other.
(And that's the end of the first arc of the Dragon Isles. So I hope you enjoyed it. I really didn't expect to continue this book past chapter two, but you all seem to enjoy it, which makes me very happy.
Also truth be told, I don't exactly know how many arcs the Dragon isle will have, since I just keep adding stuff. But my goal is only 26 chapters in total for this section.
I'm shooting for Rocky to meet Hiccup and the others by chapter 27, and actually get into RTTE. But I don't want to exactly rush through this war Rocky and Niether have with Sigewulf, but I don't want to drag it on forever. Since that might bore most people.
But that's all I have for now, so I hope you all continue reading. And remember, voting and comments will keep this book alive. So I hope you all have a good day now!)
7-1-2026
3000 words