Whispers of Another World

Chapter 36: Attack On Canyon Peak

   "Alaya."  Hiccup greeted her simply as she rushed up to him.  He didn't want to say more than he had to.  "You're no longer a Dragon Rider."

   Alaya gasped, but not so much in surprise as Hiccup had expected.  She shook her head.  "That's - not important right now.  Hiccup, Canyon Peak is surrounded."

   "You're not a Dragon Rider.  It's not my problem."  Hiccup said.  He heard Fishlegs, Snotlout, and Astrid walk up behind him, curious as to what was going on.

   "By Dragon Hunters!"  Alaya emphasized as the twins rushed up behind her.  "A flock of Nadders was shot down and Sky is surrounded somewhere in the island, and who knows what other dragons have settled there since Amber and Moon left that we didn't see!?"

   "Then get Amber."  Hiccup snapped harshly.  Alaya's eyes widened in shock.  "You're not a Dragon Rider anymore.  I can't help you."  Before Alaya could say another word, he turned and walked away, gesturing for Toothless to follow.

   Alaya's heart beat rapidly in her ears.  "WHAT?"  She shouted.

   "Told you it wasn't a good idea."  Ruffnut sighed.  

   Alaya ignored Ruffnut and turned to the other Riders.  "Please, you have to help me.  I don't know where Amber and Dewdrop went, and there are about 20 ships.  I can't save whatever dragons they may have captured on my own, or with the twins.  Please."  Alaya pleaded.  There was little to nothing she could do without them, and she didn't believe that all of them - no matter how stupid or fearful they thought she was - would turn their backs on helpless dragons like that.

   Fishlegs and Astrid nodded without saying a word.  Snotlout hesitated, looking at them both as they mounted their dragons, then sighed.  "Fine.  But this is to one-up Hiccup for once!"  He snapped, mounting Hookfang, who snorted.

   Then, to Alaya's surprise, Toothless bounced back with an odd, light brown tail in his toothless mouth.  He glanced back and forth at the people around him, then dropped the tail and nudged it toward Astrid, who seemed to get whatever message Toothless was trying to give.  

   "Uh...while they're doing that, I think I know where Dewdrop and Amber went.  Can I go see?"  Moon asked.  

   Alaya nodded, dismounting.  "Of course.  Just be back soon, and be careful."

   Moon nodded in return and flew away as Astrid unclicked the tail that Toothless had on.

   "What are you doing?"  Alaya asked in confusion.

   "A few Snottletogs ago, Hiccup made Toothless a new tail - it was a tail that allowed him to fly on his own.  Toothless destroyed it, but Hiccup made another one and hid it.  It seems Toothless wants it now.  He wants to help."  Astrid explained, clipping on the extra tail.  Toothless grinned and nodded.

   After a few moments of Toothless flying around, making sure he knew how to do basic maneuvers still, Moon returned with Amber and Dewdrop.

   "When did this - okay, y'know what, sure, that may as well be a thing,"  Moon said, dipping her head to allow Alaya to get on.

   "Let's go save Sky,"  Amber said, still dull in coloring but clearly fueled with rage.  She definitely wasn't going to pass up a chance to obliterate the Dragon Hunters.

   With Toothless's new tail, they all rose into the air and darted for the island.  

   It didn't take long to get there, but they hadn't discussed a plan, and neither Amber nor Dewdrop was waiting for a command.

   "Amber, Dewdrop, wait!"  Alaya tried to cry, but already mother and daughter had vanished into mere ripples of the air and were already wreaking havoc and confusion among the boats.  On the upside, the sun had had its cycle and was sinking slowly beneath the ocean now...allowing Toothless to vanish into the darkening sky, even better now that he was wearing a dull-colored tail rather than a bright red one that stood out.

   "Alright...Toothless, you go for stealth attacks, hitting the weapons on the ships and the trapdoors.  Fishlegs, try to free all dragons that you can, and Astrid and Snotlout, distract them from Fishlegs, then destroy when the dragons are free."  Alaya said, not even thinking about the fact that she wasn't part of the Riders anymore.

   "What are you going to do?"  Snotlout asked.

   "The twins and I will attack anyone on the island and evacuate any dragons still there.  If it seems like you're going to get captured, back off a little bit until there's a break where you won't get captured.  I don't think anyone wants right back in a cell."  Alaya said.  "Let's go!"  

   Moon dove toward the island upon these words, landing on the interior of the cliffs without much attention - the ships were more distracted by the venom that came out of nowhere.  As Moon shrank further into the shadows, voices reached their ears - one was the one that had threatened Paradise.  Alaya tightened her grip on the saddle, her veins burning like lava.  

   The other one was strangely comforting - familiar, but not familiar enough for her to place it.

   "I'm glad you've decided to join us."  The lady with the sharp brown eyes and braided black hair said with a slight sweet tilt to her tone.  

   "Good for you, I guess."  The other person said.  Alaya couldn't see who said it, though, as they were walking with Sky, trailing the brown-eyed lady, and shielded from view.

   She laughed.  "Don't be so tense.  I'm sure you'll grow to love it among us."

   Moon glanced up at Alaya.  "Do we?"  She murmured.

   No.  She seems to be some kind of leader - we're only here to free the dragons, and it seems Sky is going of his own free will...which doesn't make sense, but that at least means he won't be hurt or anything...I hope.  We can talk some sense into him later when we're not as exhausted.  Alaya replied.

   There was an explosion from the other side of the island, and a small pack of Gronkles followed the twins up into the sky, out of range of the arrows.  Moon flew out of the canyons and straight for them.  

   "Was that everyone?"  Alaya called, catching up.

   "Yup!"  Ruffnut grinned.

   "Alright, let's go see if anyone else needs help,"  Alaya said, turning and twisting.  All of the trapdoors were exploded, but only a few ships had been completely disabled.

   Astrid flew up to Alaya.  "Toothless disabled the ships with dragons on them.  They're all free.  Did you get your dragon?"

   Alaya hesitated, then sighed.  "Yeah - yeah we did."

   "Then let's get out of here before we're cut to shreds!"  Snotlout shouted, flying up toward them.  

   "Toothless!"  Moon roared as they flew away.  "We're leaving!"

   Toothless flew up beside them as they left for Berk.  They had managed to free the dragons of Canyon Peak, and despite the darkness and the fact that Alaya had been up for over 24 hours, that was enough for her.

   ...although she and everyone else fell asleep on the meadow as soon as they landed.