Rocky is sitting in the little pond washing himself. He runs his hands over his arms, running his hand over the little scars. Off to the side, Niether is chewing on a bone.
After a few minutes, Rocky gets out and straps on his armor. Then straps on his sword, then stuff his dagger under his Nadder Spine gauntlet. He tugs on his straps a few times to make sure they're secure.
He walks over to Niether, who bites the large bone in half; before tossing the two halves into the cave. He then stands up as his teeth retract into his gums.
"Does that feel weird?" Rocky questions as he pats his dragon on the snout.
"Did the first few times, but now it feel natural." Niether rumbles as he lowers himself to the ground.
"Weird." Rocky climbs onto his back and they take of to the sky.
Several hours later, Rocky is taking several heavy breaths as he leans against a rock. Sweat pours from his forehead, before wiping it away. He then leans against the rock, with his sword resting against it.
He looks to the side where Niether is licking the back of his paw, before rubbing the side of his head. The rest of the patrol group is a few paces away, but one is missing. The orange and black Deadly Nadder, Snips.
Rocky takes a few more deep breaths. "So uh... anyone know where Snips has been all day?"
Everyone lets out roars of no. Spine squawks as he flutters his wings a few times.
"She was gone from the nest when I woke up this morning."
"She's hasn't missed a training session before." Mulic points out.
"Maybe she wasn't feeling well." Raincutter points out.
Spine chirps. "I live with her, so I would've known."
"So any idea where she could've gone?" Leafwisp slinks around the group.
"No clue."
"She has been acting as little weird these past few days." Neither points out.
Rocky lets out a breath as he pushes off the rock, grabbing his sword. he sheathes the sword to his hip as he walks over to his dragon.
"She has been rather... evasive the past few days." Rocky leans against his massive dragon. "Absent minded as well."
Suddenly they hear some squawks above them, and they all look up to see Snips flying down to them. She lands beside the ground and shakes herself a few times. She quickly notices everyone staring at her.
"What?"
"Where have you been?" Spine walks up to her.
"Uh... places... and... places." Snips shifts from foot to foot in nervousness.
"Places, that's very vague."
Snips squawks loudly at her brother. "I can be places! Besides, its none of your business what I do! I'm an adult!"
"It is my business when you don't tell me!" Spine squawks loudly at his sister. "I was worried!"
"Well, stop being worried!"
Rocky and Niether give each other side glances, before looking back at the arguing siblings. But Mulic lights himself on fire and steps between the two.
"Alright, stop arguing, we've got a patrol to head to." Mulci unlights himself and walks off.
The two Deadly Nadders stare at each other, before huffing and following after the Monstrous Nightmare. Raincutter, Leafwisp, Niether and Rocky all glance at each other; before following after them.
A little while later, the group is flying high above the ocean. The sun is starting its descent in the sky as it shines onto them. Rocky leans back on his dragon, running a hand over the dragons white marks; as he glances behind him.
Snips is flying a little ways behind the group, as she seems lost in thought. Rocky then looks to the side as Spine flies beside him.
"Your sister is out of it again."
Spine rumbles as he looks back. "Just what is up with her?"
"Well we could easily find out." Niether points out.
Spine looks to the large purple dragon. "What do you mean?"
"Weeeeellll, we could follow her when she wakes up early in the morning."
"What? But that is so wrong, and a massive invasion of privacy."
"Buuut you could find out what's got her all like this." Rocky points out.
Spine looks away lost in thought, then after a few moments looks back at the two. Both Rocky and Niether smirk at him, making him slightly uncomfortable.
"Ugh, fine..."
Rocky and Niether chuckle as they glance at each other.
Mulic, who's at the front, looks back at the chuckling Rocky and Niether. He then rumbles and looks to Raincutter, who's flying beside him.
"I don't like it when those two get like that."
Raincutter chirps as her head spins around and looks at the two. "They're planning something." She looks to Mulic. "Should we intervene again?"
Mulic lets out a low rumble. "No... let them make mistakes, they'll learn from them."
"...If you say so."
The patrol goes by without incident, and the group lands back on Wyre island. But as they land Snips run into the island.
"I'm tired, goodnight!" Snips calls out as she runs off.
Everyone watches her run off. Rocky slides off Niether's back as he rubs his sore thighs.
"There she goes." Rocky points out.
"Heading to bed early three nights in a row." Niether points out.
"Something's wrong with that girl." Raincutter points out as she flies off.
"Eh, she'll get over it." Mulic walks off.
"Well, you two have all have a goodnight~" Leafwisp goes invisible and slinks off.
Spine stares at where his sister went, then looks to Rocky and Niether.
"Okay, what's your plan?"
Niether rumbles with a smirk. "Just a few easy steps."
Next morning soon arrives as Spine sleeps in his large nest, with Snips sleeping beside him. Suddenly Snips' eyes shoot open as she slowly gets up. She carefully steps away from the next, before opening her wings and taking off to the sky.
A few moments later, Spine's eyes snap open as he gets up. He sees his sister fly into the early morning sky. He lets out a few chirps, and a few moments later Niether walks out from the tree line with Rocky on his back.
Rocky lets out a yawn as he stretches out. "So, you ready?"
"Of course, what if what she's doing is very dangerous!" Spine shifts from side to side. "It makes me really worried."
"Well, won't be the worst thing we done, but lets go!" Niether takes up to the sky, and follows after Snips.
Spine lets out a squawk as he takes to the sky after them. The two dragons and human fly low to the ocean as they fly after Snips. They keep a good distance, but close enough to see her.
They fly for several hours, and they follow her out of the dragon isles territory. Which confuses Spine as he quietly chirps.
"We're leaving the Dragon Isles territory." Spine points out. "What does she need out here? This is way to far away."
Niether rumbles in question. "Yeah, what would she need out here."
"Well must be important if she has to go so far for it."
Soon they watch her glide down to the rocky island. Spine rumbles in questions.
"I have no knowledge of the island, and its in the middle of no where."
"Well, let's land on the edge of the island." Niether calls out.
The three zoom over and quietly land on the edge of the island. They then sneak their way through the rocky hills. Rocky leans forward on Niether's saddle.
The move across the island and come to the top of a hill and see Snips standing in front of a cave. She lets out a few squawks into the cave. Suddenly a few squawks come from the cave.
Then a blue male Deadly Nadder walks out. The two do a little dance together before nuzzling each other. Spines jaw drops in shock as he shifts.
"She's with him?!"
"Do you know him?" Neither questions.
Spine growls in anger. "That's Vane the Coward! He's a total loser, who's always ran away from fights with Hunters! He's the reason my sister was injured when you two met her."
"And the dance they did?" Niether rumbles with a head tilt.
"They're bloody mating!" Spine growls louder. "Imma go give them a piece of my mind!"
Spine takes to the air and Niether glances at the human.
"Probably should've left it alone?" Rocky questions.
"Yup."
Down below both Snips and Vane chirp as each other as they nuzzle. Until a loud roar echoes above them.
"SNIIIIPS!"
Snips quickly looks up to the sky and sees her brother. "Spine?!"
"Oh poop..." Vane mutters as he steps back as Spine lands beside the two of them.
"What are you doing here?!"
"I should be asking the same thing!" Spine roars at his sister. "Being with Vane the Coward! What are you thinking?!"
"I'm thinking that I'm not a hatchling and I can make my own decisions!" Snips roars at her brother.
"But mating with him?!" Spine roars at Vane, making him back up. "You remember what he's done?!"
"Yes, and I've forgave him for his transgressions."
Suddenly Niether and Rocky land nearby.
"Alright, let's not argue so much." Rocky calls out.
"Rocky?! Niether?!" Snips questions.
"Hello~" Niether sings.
"A Briskwind Boltren..." Vane mutters in shock. "And a human?!"
"Yes, indeed I am a Briskwind." Neither walks over and introduces himself. "My names, Niether and the humans name is Rocky."
"Hello." Rocky waves to the nadder.
Snips barks at the three. "Why are you three even here?"
"I was worried about you, so I had those two help me do this."
"You two!" Snips turns to Niether and Rocky with her tail spine up.
Rocky yelps as he lowers himself onto his saddle, as Niether holds up a wing to block him. Niehter's eye go slit as he growls at her. But Spine steps between them, with his tail spines up.
Rocky holds up his hands as he peers out from behind Niether's wing. "Can we know exactly why you and Vane are on this island. You know that's like 4 hours away from our home?"
Snips growls before she flickers her tail and lowers her spines. Spine also lowers his tail spines as everyone calms down. Vane is just off to the side looking between everyone.
Snips growls as she steps into the cave. "Follow me."
Niether's eye returns to normal as he lowers his wing. Vane goes to follow Snips, but Spine growls at him as he pushes him to the side. Vane just blinks as he also watches Niether walk in after the two Nadders.
Rocky gives Vane a "Sorry" smile. Vane then follows after the large purple dragon. The group walks all the way to the back of the cave, where a large next made from wood resides. A hole in the ceiling lets sun shine down onto it.
Spine looks into the nest and his jaw drops. Niether rumbles as he walks over and he lets out an excited gasps. Rocky slides off Niether back as he lets out a questioning sound.
Rocky peers into the nest and he lets out an excited gasp. Inside the nest are three spiky blue eggs.
"EGGS!" Rocky yells in excitement.
Spine blinks a few times, before looking at Snips. "You... with him.... huh?"
Snips huffs at Spine as Vane walks up beside her. "Yes, and you can't do a thing about it."
Snips and Vane chirp at each other, before nuzzling together. Spine looks between the eggs and his sister. Rocky leans onto the nest with a happy smile, as Niether lets out a low rumble.
"But why all the way out here?" Spine questions with a head tilt.
"Well I knew you'd hate my choices, so I chose some place remote." Snips turns to her brother. "A place with natural protection against any Hunters, and a place far away from the battles. It's safe out here."
"And you have him watch over the nest?"
"Well, its not like I can just disappear for very long periods of time. I have a duty to protect my home from the Hunters."
Spine looks at the eggs again, then too Snips. "But to keep this hidden, from your friends. From your family? Why?"
"I have my reasons for you." Snips huffs as she shifts. "You barley let me do anything on my own. And for my friends, I just don't want them to worry about me."
As Rocky leans onto the nest, a piece of wood breaks away, and he falls into the nest. Both Snips and Vane roar in panic as he flips into the nest. Spine and Niether roar in shock.
All the dragons go on alert, but calm down as Rocky sits up in the nest next to the eggs. He shakes his head, and runs a hand through his brown hair with a white streak.
"I'm okay." Rocky calls out.
Rocky notices the eggs in front of him and he smiles. But suddenly the eggs start to crack and he blinks. All the dragons hover over the nest as the egg shake and crack.
Suddenly all three eggs hatch as several baby Deadly Nadders cry out. The one in front of Rocky is a Blue and Black female, with yellow eyes. The one behind that, is a black male Nadder with blue eyes. Then the one a male blue Nadder with yellow eyes.
All the baby Nadder cry out as they see Rocky in front of them. he laughs as they stare at him. But then they brandish their teeth and his smile fades. Rocky then screams in panic as the baby Deadly Nadders dive at him.
Several minutes later, outside the cave. Rocky sits on the ground, covered in bites. The dragons sit on the ground next to him. Rocky has the blue and black baby in his lap as she sleeps. She was named, Snoots.
The other two babies chase each other in front of him. The black on was named Slips, and the blue one was named Stine. They chase each other as the dragons all watch. While Rocky just stares off into space while petting Snoots.
"Well, can't say that I can be angry now." Spine glances to his sister.
"You had no right to be angry in the first place." Snips retorts.
"I didn't think they'd hatch so early." Vane speaks up. "But they really are beautiful, just like they're mother."
"Oh, stoop."
Vane and Snips nuzzle each other, making Spine gag a little. Niether rumbles as his teal eye watches the baby dragons.
"If anything happens to this babies, I will burn down the whole world." Niether says, making the three other dragons look at him with a questioning look. "I said my piece."
The group watches Slips and Stine chase each other for a few more minutes. Then Spine looks up to the sky, seeing the sun at its Apex. He then turns to his sister.
"What is your plan?"
Snips turns to her brother with a head tilt. "What do you mean?"
"Well, do you plan to stay here to watch over your children? Or are you coming back to Wyre island, and visiting them again everyday?"
"Well, now that they are hatched, I was thinking of brining them back to the island. It'll make it easier to watch over them."
Spine then groans in annoyance. "Don't tell me you're gonna bring him." He motions to Vane, who just ignores him.
"He's coming with, he'll look over the children while we continue our work."
Spine huffs as he shifts. "Fine, but how will we get the kids back home?"
Snips looks past Spine and towards Niether. He notices her stare and tilts his head.
"What?"
Several minutes later, everyone in the air heading back home. Rocky is on Snips' back, as the three dragon babies all sit on Niether's back. They nibble on his spines or the sadle.
"Hey, stop that!" Niether yells and the babies stop mid-bite, before just calmly sitting. "Good."
"Well, this'll be a long flight back home..." Rocky mutters then gives a small yawn.
Spine growls at Vane. "You might be coming back to the island, but that doesn't mean everyone forgot."
Vane rumbles as he slightly moves away. "You don't have to tell me."
"Sorry about this Niether, but you are the largest one here." Snips calls out.
"It's fine, as long as they don't chew on that saddle." Niether rumbles as he glances back at the babies, as they try to chew on the saddle again. "It was rather difficult to make."
"Well, thank you for letting them ride on your back."
"Your Welcome~"
Several hours pass and they land back at Wyre island, as the rest of the patrol group and Stinger crowd them. They all grow excited as the three baby Nadders run around the group.
"You had kids?!" Mulic roars in surprise. "And with Vane the Coward of all dragons!"
"Ugh, I hate that nickname." Vane complains as he shifts.
"Well, you deserve it!" Spine growls at him.
Raincutter lowers herself to the ground, as the baby dragons run around her. "They are... small."
"And very energetic." Leafwisp slinks around, avoiding the dragons.
"Well, congratulations are in order." Mulic lifts a wing as the babies run under it.
Stinger starts to chase the three babies around as they all give happy roars. Rocky chuckles as he watches.
"I guess it's gonna get a little more lively around here." Niether points out.
"Yeah, it will..." Rocky smirks.
Several hours pass and moon light shines down onto the Rocky and Niether, as they sit outside their cave. Rocky sits in front of a small blue-purple campfire as he cooks a fish over it.
Niether sits beside him, eating fish from a basket. Rocky glances at Niether, then looks back to the fire.
"Think you'll ever have kids?"
Niether swallows a fish whole, then licks him lips before looking at Rocky. "Probably, why?"
"Well, there is that female Briskwind." Rocky points out. "If you manage to find her again, and she doesn't kill you. You two could well... you know... and have kids. Continue the species."
"Well, if fate allows it." Niether swallows another fish whole. "You know, I've been thinking about that actually. If I were to have kids, they would be the very last true Briskwind Boltrens. If there are no more of my species out there, how would they continue it? They can't.... and that actually makes me kinda sad."
Rocky hums for a moment. "I never actually saw it like that."
Niether sighs as he lays down. "Yeah... But you know, let's not think about that."
Rocky chuckles as he removes his fish from the fire. "Well, our island is a little more lively now. A few baby dragons will sure make everything a bit louder."
Niether lets out a happy warble. The two let out a sigh as they look up to the night sky.
"You know, for some reason I have a sense of dread."
"Why?" Niether rumbles as he looks to the human.
"I don't know, jut a feeling something bad may happen soon. Sigewulf's been quiet for the past week, and that can't be good."
"Well, what ever he does, we're ready for it."
Rocky smirks as he looks to his dragon. "What ever he throws, will throw it right back at him."
Rocky holds out a fish, and Niether holds up a paw, and the two "Fist" bump each other.
7-21-2026
3200 words