HTTYD The Dragon Master and Mistress

Chapter 16

Sitting and keeping watch over his nestmates is Cloudjumper. The aging Stormcutter is the second in command of the dragons on their island. Due to his long history with the white king, he knew how to keep the nest running smoothly. Being second in command usually went to the alpha's mate, but due to the fact that Toothless does not have a mate yet, that responsibility had fallen into the paws of Cloudjumper. The Stormcutter had not to care that he shouldered this honorable position. He had already had more than two decades of experience at the job. So, it was no big deal that he had this title again. He does hope that sooner rather than later, Toothless would find himself a mate so the aging reptile can take his well-deserved retirement because he knows that there are more miles behind than in front of him.

The four-winged dragon looks at the clear blue sky all the while he is reminiscing the previous times, he had with Valka that he cherished. Nobody could blame the old dragon for missing his former rider. He had spent twenty years with the woman. The two had taken on the world together and it had crushed the dragon to watch his rider get killed and be powerless to stop it. Despite his loneliness with the departure of Valka into the next life, he is grateful that Valka lives on through her hatchling, Hiccup. Hiccup was so much like his mother that he felt like a piece of her is still with him. But he did wonder if Hiccup's father is a human alpha because of the leadership skills the young man had shown in his brief time knowing Hiccup. The four-winged dragon figured that Hiccup might have inherited his ability to lead people from his father like how the young man, had inherited his ability to connect with dragons from Valka. He still remembers the night he found the human hatchling inside that burning human den. Even back then he knew that something special was inside the tiny infant. So far it looked like he had been right about Hiccup. Just when the Stormcutter was about to get some tasty fresh fish, he heard a familiar squawk from a Deadly Nadder, Stormfly. The elder dragon knew that Hiccup's mate is the blue and golden scale dragon's rider.

Usually, the alpha dragon makes his or her presence known by being the one to call to the other flock-mates that they had arrived back safely. In a world where most humans are after their blood, it was best to let the rest of your nestmates know that you came back safely, especially their alphas. The fact he had not heard the Night Fury's call worried Cloudjumper deeply. Had the alpha and his rider gotten hurt? That also made no sense to the second-in-command dragon because he knew that Astrid would never retreat if Hiccup and Toothless were ever harmed or missing in any way. In a blink of an eye, the moment the lone dragon rider and Nadder landed securely on the ground, Cloudjumper is beside the two. "Hello, Cloudjumper. How are you doing today?" Astrid greeted as she hops off Stormfly. Petting the Stormcutter gently on the head before adding like she knew what the four-winged dragon was thinking, "Cloudjumper, Hiccup, and Toothless are safe. But I need to get some dragons for some training to help the people of Berk."

Astrid felt sorry for the heartbroken dragon. The blonde-haired woman knows that the Stormcutter deeply misses his rider. Who would not miss the person who you spent twenty years with to suddenly die in a blink of an eye? It was understandable that there will be times where Cloudjumper would miss Valka. If Stormfly had died and passed on into Valhalla so suddenly like what happened to Valka, it would devastate the young woman. So, she sympathizes with the dragon who had lost his rider. She hopes that her gentle touch will bring some needed comfort to the grieving dragon. Astrid stops her petting before adding to her statement. "Cloudjumper, do you mind helping me and Stormfly with rounding up some dragons? We're going to have to bring the villagers of Berk here where it's safe." Astrid guesses by helping her with getting dragons would allow Cloudjumper to get his mind off Valka, even if it was only a little while.

Then Astrid, Stormfly, and Cloudjumper gathered a group of dragons. Most of the dragons had greeted the return dragon rider with a warm welcome. But they were also wondering where their king and his rider are at. Both should have been with Astrid and Stormfly, right? Were their leader and his rider in dire need of help? Whatever the case might be, they all were willing to help as much as they can. Sadly, not all the dragons were able to go on the trip to Berk. The others had to protect their island from an unwelcoming guest that might be paying a visit. The dragons that were going were a large group of Deadly Nadders, a little bit of Gronckles, some free Timberjacks, with a side of Hideous Zippleback, a small group of Monstrous Nightmares, some Terrible Terrors for sending out messages out in the form of Terror mail, and a few Scauldrons to pull ships for those who refuse to fly any dragons.