The morning sun shines over the dark blue ocean, as waves splash onto the beaches around Wyre island. Several dragons fly over the island. But the resident human is humming as he is standing waist deep in the ocean. There's a fresh scar on his right side.
He's scrubbing his arms with a lump of yellow soap. He then dives down under water, as the soap washes off him. He then starts the wash his brown hair with a white stripe.
Then a thump echoes from the beach and Rocky looks up to see his purple dragons, Niether, landing. He opens his mouth as a bunch of fish drop out. Rocky stands up and takes a few steps closer.
Niether looks over, before letting out an annoyed rumble and looking away. "Ugh, you're naked."
Rocky crosses his arms. "Not like you haven't before."
"But that was when we were one, but now we're two. So It feels weird."
Rocky rolls his one eye and turns away. "Fine, then. I'm almost done."
Niether rolls his one teal eye, before glancing over at Rocky. He then lets out a questioning rumble.
"You have a tattoo on your back."
"Uh, I do?" Rocky questions and he lifts up his eyepatch.
Rocky and Niether's vision then split, seeing what the other sees. And Rocky sees a large purple tattoo spanning his entire back.
"A skrill?" Rocky questions, as he flips his eyepatch back down. "Wait, how long have I had this on my back?"
Niether rumbles as he grabs a fish off the sand and scarfs it down. "No clue."
"Why would I even have a tattoo of a Skrill, I'd rather have one of a Briskwind Boltren."
"Doesn't matter, hurry up and finish washing up."
Suddenly someone lands nearby, and the two looks over to see a familiar Monstrous Nightmare. Mulic rumbles as he walks towards Niether.
"Grandma Drips wants to see you two."
"Us?" Niether scarfs down another fish.
"Yes, she wants to see you two soon. I don't know the reason." Mulic then flaps his wings and hovers in the air. "So hurry up and get to her."
Mulic then flies off, leaving the two behind. Rocky climbs out of the water, while Niether looks away. Rocky grabs a folded towel on a nearby rocky. He dries himself off as Niether continues to scarf down fish.
The he gets his clothes on, which consists of a purple tunic with black pants with a brown belt, that have several empty loops; and Nordic runes run along it. There's a sword on his left hip with Nordic runes and engravings on it. His right shoulder is a leather pauldron with fur lining, that's attached to a simple leather chest armor. The chest piece has scales from Raincutter stitched on. The left shoulder pauldron is several scales from Mulic stitched together.
He has a bracer made from Niether's scales, with fur lining, on his left arm. He's got a right bracer made from the spines of Spine and Snips' spines. He's got a fingerless leather glove on his right hand. His black boots have a fur lining at the top, with several leaf-like scales from Leafwisp attached along the rim. There's a satchel hanging from his shoulder, with several gems and rocks hanging from twine on it.
Rocky adjusts a few straps, before rolling his arms. He walks over to Niether and looks over his improved saddle. The massive dragon lays down, and scarfs up the last fish.
"Still not the nicest, but better then the last." Rocky climbs ono his dragon's back. He then pats him on the back. "Alright, let's go."
Niether opens up his massive wings, before taking off into the sky.
Several hours later, the afternoon sun shines down onto a large group of flying Gronckles. With Niether, Rocky and Grandma Drips in the back. Rocky is staring off to the ocean, lost in thought.
'It's been a week since the arrow incident. And a month since coming to this place. It's been one heck of a month I say. This month has been more chaotic then my 5 years in college.'
Niether lets out a rumble as he is also lost in thought. 'I must say, turning into a dragon has been a very weird experience. But honestly, I'm having a lot of fun. Screw dinosaurs, dragons is where its at!'
Rocky glances over to Grandma Drips. "Can you explain what we're doing? You gave us a very vague answer."
Grandma Drips chitters as she looks over. "We're heading to the Boiling Isle. A place where hundreds of Gronckles will fly too, to lay their eggs."
Both Niether's and Rocky's eyes shine. "Baby Dragons/Baby Dragons!"
Grandma Drips chuckles. "Yes, and I invited you two along to show you what it's like for Gronckles to have eggs. And for extra security."
"Have you ever had children?" Niether asks the old Gronckle.
"Unfortunately no, I'm not able to have children. Which caused my mate to leave me after he found out. But that never deterred me, I come to the Boiling Isle every year to greet the newest Gronckles to this harsh world."
"Oh, I'm so excited to see some baby dragons!" Rocky cheers happily.
"But are you sure all those dragons will be fine with Rocky and I around?" Niether asks the old Gronckle.
"Oh, you'll two be fine." Grandma Drips smiles at the two, as some lava falls from her chin. "Words gotten around about you two, you're both kinda famous all over these chains of islands."
"Famous?" Rocky questions as Niether translates.
"Well, you two are taking the fight directly to the Hunters, no dragon will even dare to do that. Fearing they might get captured, or killed."
Niether lets out a low chuckle. "Well, we're both a little crazy."
"Crazy isn't the half of it!" Rocky pats Niether on the neck.
Soon the migration group moves below the clouds and a large island comes into view. The island is filled with sulfuric pools and puddles. A large lake lights in the middle, with steam pouring off it. Gronckles are already moving around the island.
Rocky and Niether gasp in awe at the sight. The group then flies down and quickly land on the island. Rocky slides off Niether's back as he looks around in awe, seeing dozens of Gronckles moving around.
He chuckles as he moves out of the way as a Gronckles walks past him. Niether lets out a rumble as he sits on his hunches. Grandma Drips looks around and hums in thought.
"This is odd, there are usually a lot more Gronckles."
A large red gronckle walks up to Grandma Drips. "We ran into some complications along the way, my lady."
Grandma Drips chitters as smoke exits her nose. "What kind?"
"Dragon Hunters Ambushed us out in the middle of the ocean, quiet of a few of us got captured. But we did hide our trail back here, but a shame that many of those mothers will lay those eggs, and their children will never be free."
Grandma Drips growls in anger and turns to Human and his dragon. Niether lets out a deep growl as he turns to Rocky, and gives a quick translation. Rocky crosses his arms as he calls out.
"Where did you all get ambushed?"
"Just a few hours to the East of here, near a set of large sea stacks." The Red Gronckle informs. "We believe the Hunters may be transporting them to an island not to far from there, just a little ways to the North of them."
Rocky climbs onto Niether's back as he looks to Grandma Drips. "We'll be back before nightfall."
"Thank you boys." Grandma Drips calls out, as they take off into the air at highs speeds.
"Let's hurry this up, I am not missing seeing some baby dragons get hatched."
"I agree!" Niether roars as he speeds off into the afternoon sky.
A few hours pass as Niether hovers above a large group of sea stacks. Rocky has his map rolls out on his saddle, and he's drawing on it. Adding the area and any island he passed on it. He then rolls it up and points towards the north.
Niether huff as he speeds off, and not to long later the two are hovering above an island. Several large boats are docked at the side of the island. Rocky reaches into his satchel, and pulls out a spy glass.
He looks down at the island and looks over the boats, seeing them mostly unguarded as Hunters carry supplies onto them. He then shifts towards the center of the island, and sees dozens of Gronckles inside a massive cage dome.
Inside Hunters are feeing the Gronckles different kinds of rocks. Then the Gonckles them vomit up the mixture. Then the Hunters scoop it up and take it to what looks like a forge inside a building beside the dome.
Rocky then looks around the area, spotting several towers with ballistas on the top. Then around the ground some archers with dragon root arrows lie about.
Rocky hums in thought as he looks around. Suddenly Leafwisp appears beside the two.
"Oh, looks like trouble." Leafwisp lets out a rumble.
Rocky yelps and nearly drops the spy glass. He turns to the side and glares at the green dragon. "Leafwisp! What are you doing here?!"
"Oh, you know, I was board so I started following you two." Leafwisp flips around them giving a toothy smile.
"How long have you been following us?"
Leafwisp taps his chin in thought. "...Since you guys left with the migration."
"That long?!" Niether nearly roars.
"What, there isn't much to do on Wyre island today."Leafwisp whines as he flaps his wings a few times. "Besides, I'm not harming anyone.... yet~"
Rocky sighs as Niether translates for him. "Well, since you're here. Think you could beat up some Hunters for us?"
Leafwisp grows excited. "Do you even need to ask?!"
A few moments later, a Hunter shoves some Gronckle lava and carries it off to the side. Suddenly a loud but low pitched rumbling fills the area. Everyone drops what their doing and heads for a weapon, but a high pitched firing sound echoes.
Suddenly a massive explosion goes off at the top of the dome, causing part of it to collapse. The smoke clear to reveal a massive hole, with Niether hovering above it.
Rocky throws a fist up as he yells. "Come on, Gronckles. Get out of there, we must leave!"
All the Gronckles chitter as they hit the Hunters beside them. Then they all fly up and exit the dome.
The balistas turn towards Niether and Rocky, but acid lands on them. The weapons start to melt away, making the Hunters panic. Leafwisp appear at the bottom of the tower, as he slinks around, tacking Hunters to the side.
Rocky then pats Niether on the neck. Niether then nods as he zips off to the side, towards the docks. He stops right above the ships as a bright purple and blue glow comes from his mouth.
Then he breathers down a Power Beam at the ships, blowing them in half. Smoke starts to blanket the air cause of the burning ships. Niether then lets out a loud roar as he takes off towards the sky. The Gronckles and Changewing follow after them. Niether turns around and fires a large Power Beam behind him.
The Power beam flies through the air, and through the hole in the dome. Then it strikes the forge and a moment later, a massive explosion rockets the island as the entire area around the dome goes up in flames.
Everyone quickly leave the island behind, and Rocky laughs as throws his hands as he laughs. He rubs Niether on the neck as he laughs. Niether lets out a low chuckled rumble.
"We are the Kings of the Dragon Isles!" Rocky laughs.
"Okay, you're letting a simple win get to your head." Niether speaks up.
"Oh, come on, Niether." Rocky smiles as he crosses his arms. "You can't say you don't get excited anytime we messed up Sigewulf's plans."
Niether rolls his eyes. "I do, but not like you."
"Whatever."
Leafwisp flies up beside them. "You two are rather weird."
"Says the Changewing."
Leafwisp rolls his eyes as everyone flies back towards the Boiling Isle.
A few hours later, the evening sun shine onto the island. Niether lands as dozens of Gronckles fly in and land about the island. Rocky slides off his dragons back with a smile.
He looks around seeing some baby Gronckles playing about. He chuckles as a few run past him and Niether. Grandma Drips walks up to them with a smile.
"I knew you two could do it." Grandma Drips chitters. "Thank you two so much."
"Wasn't much, we're just glad to help." Niether rumbles..
Rocky looks around and sees some Gronckles rolls their eggs into a sulfur puddle. Then a moment later, some baby Gronkles climb out of the puddle. He smiles as they babies all let out tiny roars. He then notices a lone egg to the side.
"Hey, you forgot one." Rocky walks over to the egg, and goes to pick it up.
Suddenly the egg starts to glow and the mama Gronckle moves away. Suddenly the egg explodes, sending Rocky flying back and landing next to Niether and Grandma Drips.
"Ow, that hurt."
"Oh yes, do be careful." Grandma Drips looks down at him. "Our eggs do explode."
Rocky grunts as he sits up, as Niether lets out a warbled laugh. "Of course they explode, why wouldn't they explode?"
Rocky stands up as he shakes himself. As he then leans against Niether.
"So, how long are we staying?" Niether asks with a head tilt.
"Tilt tomorrow morning." Grandma Drips informs, before walking off.
The two watch her walk off, before turning to each other. They grow big smiles, before running off and playing with some of the baby dragons.
A few hours pass, Niether is laying on the ground sleeping. As Rocky leans against him, a small campfire burning in front of him. Several baby Gronckles lie around him, sleeping.
Rocky smiles as he glances down at them. 'Who knew baby dragons were so cute.'
Rocky sighs as he closes his eye and leans his head back onto his dragon. He smiles as sleep takes him.
The next morning, Rocky is adjusting the straps of Niether's saddle. Then he glances around, seeing dozens and dozens of Gronckles eating rocks with their babies. Niether is laying on the ground as he scarfs down some fish. Leafwisp is a few paces away, laying on his back.
He then climbs onto Niether's back as he reaches into his satchel, and pulls out his map. Rocky then starts drawing on the map, drawing the few new islands he came across.
Then a few moments later, a loud roar echoes about. All the dragons perk up, and the baby Gronckles all climb onto their mothers, before everyone takes off into the sky.
Leafwisp and Neither look up to the sky, and stand up. Rocky quickly puts his map away. The two dragons quickly take off to the sky and follow after the dragons, as they all split up and head in different directions.
But the two follow their group.
"Well, this tiny vacation was nice." Rocky puts hits hands behind his head.
"I did rather enjoy it, now I'm wondering what other baby dragons look like." Niether lets out a rumble.
"Trust me, Changewing babies are the best~" Leafwisp calls out.
"Aren't they some of the weirdest eggs?" Niether looks over to him.
Leafwisp lets out a gasp. "Weird, no! Our Eggs are the best and coolest!"
"Riiiiight." Rocky mutters with a nod.
The three follow their group back home.
Over at the Vanquisher Fleet docked at a small island. Another large ship is docked beside it. Sigewulf is standing inside a large holding area at the very bottom of the ship.
He's looking inside a dark cell with a smirk. Julvig, wrapped in bandages, walks up to him. He shifts nervously, before speaking up.
"Sir, the men are starting to question your decisions." Julvig informs him. "They're worried that you're taking all this too far. Just to get revenge on one boy and a dragon, it's seem a little too far. We lost over a hundred men to get the two dragons."
Sigewulf stares into the cage, not giving Julvig even a glace. "These men will understand the sacrifice we've made for this. They seem to underestimate that boy and his dragon. They're smart, but not smart enough for this."
Sigewulf chuckles as he leans forward against the cage. Inside a low rumble echoes as a pair of violet cat-like eyes peer through the darkens.
"And even so, these dragons will be very useful to us. We'll be unstoppable! And my brothers will finally see that I can pull my weight! They'll see!"
Sigewulf gives a laugh which slowly turns unstable. Julvig takes a step back in worry
"But sir, we were also stopped by Silvia Redhorn." Julvig informs.
Sigewulf stops laughing and frowns. "I care not for what that old lady wants. If she wants this dragon, she can come face the whole Dragon Hunter army."
"Sir, she says she'll hunt down this dragon-" Julvig motions inside the dark cage. "-and face you down if you don't take out that boy."
Sigewulf just huffs and waves him off. "She can say what she wants to say. But leave me, Julvig. I must plan the next step."
Julvig salutes before walking off. Sigewulf leans onto the cage door again with a smirk.
"I hope you're ready girl, you'll work as perfect bait."
The dragon inside the cage gives a growl in response, before their violet eyes close. Sigewulf smirks as he steps back, putting his hands behind his back.
7-2-2026
3000 words