The Heirs of Berk

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟙𝟞

Rowan's POV

Sometimes the best way to win is to pretend that you have the upper hand. To pretend that you know exactly what you are doing and that you have absolute faith in your victory.

That's usually my plan of action. 

And usually it works pretty well.

So, why not give it a spin in this scenario, as well?

We were surrounded on all sides. It was six Dragon Riders against us four, five dragons against five. We were tired from the battle, but they were too. We had lost our leader, but so had they. However, unfortunately for us, the Dragon Riders' looked pretty angry, and very determined. On the other hand, the other Dragon Pirates and myself had no motivation to fight. It was as if all our energy had been drained with the disappearance of Acacia and Ama.

The weather seemed to be matching my mood. Dark, gray, formidable clouds began to gather overhead. Wind came through the trees slowly, lazily. The sun was swallowed by the oncoming storm.

And while I hate to admit it, the Dragon Riders were older than us. Therefore, the odds of winning a fight with them at the moment were very clearly not in our favor. I figured I could put my 'fake it 'till you make it' strategy to good use.

When the rider on the Deadly Nadder opened her mouth to speak, probably demanding the egg (so predictable), I just laughed.

I didn't let her, or anyone else, get any words in. I simply gave a short, sharp laugh, letting my eyes twinkle with amusement. I could see my friends' confusion. Gazing at Vera I said in a jovial voice, "If we pretend we have the upper hand, they'll believe that we do! Just play along, and don't screw up my act." 

Of course, since I spoke in Dragonese, none of the Dragon Riders knew what I said. Their dragons did, but that didn't really matter. They couldn't tell their riders. 

By listening to my tone of voice, it could be interpreted as me telling my fellow Pirates something like, ha, can you believe them? They will be so easy to take down! or let's take these guys prisoner! They could be thinking anything. Honestly, who knows what went through their minds.

And thankfully, the others played along. Cassie took it even farther.

"You want this egg?" She asked the Riders, pointing at the dragon egg in my arms. Smiling easily, she told them, "good luck getting to it through us."

I grinned as I watched the Dragon Riders exchange uncertain glances with each other. They were getting nervous... and we could use that to our advantage.

Yeah, I didn't account for the twins.

"Is that a dare?" The twin on the left Zippleback head smirked. "Cause we'll take it!" Her dragon grinned too, and it opened its mouth, showing off the toxic green gas that was gathering.

Every part of me that actually had fun was desperate to jump in. I love dares. But alas, the sensible voice in my head told me that wouldn't be very practical. I'm not going to lie, I don't listen to that voice a lot. But the voice sounded an awful lot like the scolding, disappointed tone that Azure used when I told her we didn't have Acacia.

And besides, the twins probably wouldn't appreciate any competition. I do, after all, excel at pranks... and humbleness, of course.

So instead of joining in, I rolled my eyes at the troublemakers. "Nah," I said, "it's not a dare. It's a warning, because we're pretty formidable. And if you don't take note... well, it becomes a problem for you." 

The blonde on the Nadder growled, gripping the axe in her hands strongly. The Zippleback and its riders hadn't backed off yet. But strangely enough, the boy on the Gronckle didn't seem phased by my threat, unlike his colleagues. He seemed to be studying us in a new light.