Howling Echoes - The Echoes, Book 1 - Rewritten

Chapter 3: The Nest

   "You still think we can be allies with these guys?"  Astrid murmured.

   "Yes, actually."  Hiccup said.

   Kiara glanced around.  The walls were damp and dusty, with plenty of ledges for Gronkles to rest on.  She wouldn't have Gronkles as her judge dragons, would she?  They're too gentle, even the dullest of Hunters can relax them if they don't lash out like idiots.  

   "So, I'm going to go in there and train those dragons, and prove to them that we aren't Dragon Hunters."  Hiccup said.

   "Are you sure it'll work?"  Astrid asked, concern flashing in her blue gaze.

   "I'm betting my life on it."  Hiccup said.

   "You're betting all our lives on it."  Astrid amended.

   Kiara scoffed lightly, too quiet to be noticed.  Not mine.

   After a bit more walking, Mala stopped in front of a ledge, looking down for a moment before turning to speak to us.  "We protect the dragons as they protect us.  We accept their judgement as they accept ours.  Step forward and receive that judgement."

   Kiara inhaled sharply as Hiccup stepped forward.  He was her only shot at rebuilding the Night Furies.  She would be furious if he died.  "I'm the leader.  I'll go first."

   "Please, by all means, go first.  Even though you're not the leader, you should go first."  Snotlout muttered.

   "Shh!"  Astrid snapped.

   "So he can train any dragon?"  Heather asked beside me.

   "Except for a few,"  Astrid said.  "Scauldrons, Whispering Deaths, Changewings..."

   Hiccup was shoved to the ledge and he stumbled to a stop.  "...and Speed Stingers."

   "Oh,"  Kiara couldn't help but react.  "Have fun."

   "Ehe,"  Hiccup shot a half-smile-half-glare at her just before he was shoved in.

   Kiara edged closer to the ledge and leaned forward to get a better view.  She could feel Mala and Throk glaring at her, but she couldn't care less.  She was curious.

   Hiccup got to his feet quickly and approached one of the Speed Stingers, hand out.  Kiara sighed.  "Idiot."  She muttered, watching as the Speed Stinger tried to sting him.  He jumped back and jumped over another one that tried to sting him.  He grabbed a bone and used it to block another sting, but it split in half and he threw them away.  But now he was cornered.  The Speed Stingers approached, hissing.

   "Hiccup!"  Astrid raced forward, but Mala was quick to unsheath her sword and put it in her way.  Astrid stopped, raising her hands in surrender.

   Then, Kiara heard a faint whistling sound.  A sound she hadn't heard in years.  No way, she thought, just before blackness swept over her and landed in the pit.  Eyes shining, she approached the edge, Mala and Throk too distracted to stop her.

   Black scales swept in front of Hiccup and sharp white teeth flashed as the dragon roared, its protective emerald green gaze enchanting Kiara.  "I can't believe it," she breathed.  "The Night Furies...they do still exist."

   Hiccup mounted the light brown saddle that clashed on pitch-black scales, and the dragon leaped onto the ledge, snarling.

   When Kiara turned, the guards were knocked out and most of the Riders had spears.

   "Surrender!"  Queen Mala ordered.

   A Deadly Nadder with blue scales and yellow spines and eyes leaped forward, spines at the ready as it hissed.  "Yeah, I'm thinking, no,"  Astrid said.

   A frosty blue dragon twisted past the Deadly Nadder and blasted frost toward Mala and Throk, making them part.  She leaped for Kiara, who embraced her in a hug as Hiccup spoke.

   "...would these dragons risk their lives to protect us if we were Dragon Hunters?"  Hiccup asked.  Mala looked away, looking thoughtful but rather irritated that he had a point.  "You said you accept the judgment of the dragons.  Well, accept the judgment of our dragons!  We are not the enemy."

   Mala got control over her expression and went back to calm and collected.  "Release him."  She said.

   "My queen -"  Throk started.

   "The dragon judged him innocent Throk, release him."  She turned to face them.  "Release them all."

   Kiara patted Frostflake.  "Hey, girl."  She murmured.  "I know, it's too dusty and warm here, isn't it?"

   Frostflake burbled.  "Yeah, it is, huh?"  Kiara gave her another hug.  "Did you have fun letting me get captured by Dragon Hunters?"

   Frostflake shrugged.  

   "Frostflake!"  Kiara sighed, rubbing her nose.  "See this is why we keep getting into trouble.  Can't always escape by myself, you know.  Especially from people."

   "Meh, meh, meh."  Frostflake burbled.  "It's fine."

   "No, it's not fine!"  Kiara snapped, half playfully, lowering her voice.  She sighed.  "One of these days I'm gonna get killed because of you."  She said affectionately, going to follow the Dragon Riders.  "Right, so, to get you caught up on events..."