Zephyr and Dart: The Quest Of The Broken Tail

6

Her landing was anything but graceful, she rolled over her own paws, slamming down on one of her wings with a heavy grunt. The joints of her wings ached and burned, she panted, pushing herself onto her front legs, with her back ones against the ground. Ruffrunner touched down beside her and crouched, poking his snout to the side of her face. "Are you alright, sister?"

She huffed, standing up fully and painfully pressing her wings to her body. "Not an easy trip to make twice." She admitted, heaving a sigh. Ruffrunner tucked his head under her chin and allowed her to lean heavily on his own side. "At least we're here now. Where did you find Hiccups hatchling?"

"Their den." Dart reported back and straightened up. "It's just up there," she swung her snout one way, "quick flap as the dragon flies." She stretched her wings again. "Just give me a moment." Ruffrunner scanned her, then looked around for a moment. "Take all the time you need sister." He nudged her affectionately and stepped away, pressing against the ground stealthily and ascending a small hill to look out over the sleeping village. Practically blended in against the night. 

Dart flustered her wings after a while and crawled up to stand beside her brother. He looked at her, "ready to go?" She flexed her wings.

"Yeah I'm ready." She nodded and lifted off the ground, her brother by her side. "Just follow me." She sped away in silence, Ruffrunner on her tail.

It wasn't long before the two landed soundlessly on the platform just in front of the little room Dart had been in the night before. The door was opened slightly and the dying light of fire glowed from within. Dart's ears twitched at the sound of soft breathing and she glanced towards Ruffunner, who merely watched her.

Dart pressed her wings against her body and nudged the door with her snout until it opened, sure enough, there was Hiccup's hatchling. Right where Dart had left her. She was slumped over the workbench, her eyes closed and snoring softly. Dart twitched her ears curiously and cautioned another step in, she looked over Zephyrs shoulder and felt her heart drop.

The tail wing was in worse shape than before, the false membrane ripped away, exposing the spokes and frames of the wing shaped apparatus. But there were other things on the desk the sword, the unfinished armour and a strange piece of moulded leather with strappings and two stirrups. She tensed, whatever that was she wanted nothing to do with it.

"Dart what's going on." Ruffrunner poked his head through. Zephyr stirred and blinked awake, looking up, she gasped and fell backwards, her eyes trained in shock on the two dragons. She scanned Dart, relaxing a little at the familiarity of the black reptile but then her eyes snapped to Ruffrunner and she swallowed.

"Hey Lunar.. who's this..?" Zephyr squeaked.

"Lunar?" Ruffrunner repeated incredulously. "Is that what she called you?" He chuckled. "Didn't you tell her your name?"

"Obviously I did." Dart hissed at him and whacked him with her tail. "She can't understand." Zephyr had fallen backwards, pressed against the desk looking up at the dragons. Dart glanced at her, her tail lashed a little. "I thought you were going to fix it."

Zephyr swallowed and stayed staring up at her, her mouth open and her chest rapidly rising and falling with silent, panicked breaths. "I um.. uh.." Dart twitched an ear and tilted her head a little. "Small issue.. my father.. who is honestly probably the only person who'd be able to fix this.. has well.." she trembled and sniffed. "Been captured by a Roman emperor..."

"What does that mean, Dart?" Ruffrunner grunted.

"I don't know Ruff.." Dart looked at him briefly, then back to Zephyr.

"It could be weeks before we even know if he's okay.. my mother and the warriors.. they went to Rome. But.." Zephyr looked at the strange leather apparatus on the desk. "But.." she trailed off.

"Dart where is she going with this." Ruffrunner asked. Dart found her stomach churning. She stepped towards the workbench and looked at the items on it. "Dart?"

"Ruff.." Dart began, her voice level. "Do you remember the story father told us?"

"Which one?"

"About how the people of Berk.. would ride him and his friends.. I think.. I think she's trying to say.. that wherever papa's friend is.. the quickest way to get to him is-"

"No! Absolutely not!" Ruffrunner barked, his voice echoing through the small chamber, Zephyr blocked her ears and cringed away quickly. "Dart you can't be serious!" He grabbed her by the back of her neck with his teeth and wrenched her out of the room unceremoniously.

"Ruff-" she yelped as she landed on the wooden deck.

"Dart you're not about to stand here and tell me that you're going off on some quest with a human you don't know! We don't even know what's happening or where fathers friend is!" His eyes were filled with rage and fear, the ridges along his back standing on end, his wings bristled and his tail thrashed.

Dart heard feet thundering on the wooden panels and she looked back to see Zephyr standing, trembling at the door. "Dart!"

"His tail was damaged because of me Ruff!" She whipped her head to him. "He's unable to fly cause of me! That's why I bought it here! I have to fix it Ruff, not just for father but for me! I don't want to be a burden I don't want to have to keep hiding in the den."

Ruffrunner back pedalled over his words a few times, then his expression steeled and he stared at her. "No it's too dangerous."

"Ruff, please." She begged. "Father got up to way more dangerous shenanigans."

"That's different Dart. He's older. Wiser. Stronger."

"The only way he got Wiser and stronger was by taking risks." Dart argued. Ruffrunner opened and closed his mouth. "Ruff.."

He looked away, his teeth gritted and his eyes squeezed shut. "If something happens.."

"Then it'll be my issue to deal with." She quipped. "I've got to do this." He breathed in deeply, and said nothing for a while. Then he looked at her, and the ridges began to flatten. Dart stared up at him hopefully, he huffed and set his chin on top of her head, she laid her ears flat and inhaled her brothers scent.

"Just... be quick about it.." he ordered gently. "I'll go back home.. keep mom and dad from coming after you." He promised her. "Stay safe Dart." He took a few steps away and began to beat his wings, flying higher and higher into the air, the familiar whistling pitch of a plasma blast pierced her ears and he disappeared.

Dart drops her head, and sniffs once, twice, both from sadness and trying to cling to the last scents of her brother in the air. The weight of what she had decided began to pull down her heart.