Once in a Nightlight

Chapter 26

It was a few months after the new offsprings were born. Toothless and Luna had settled comfortably with their new family.

"Pouncer! Get back here!" Toothless hissed from inside the den, rushing after his son, the white Nightlight, and grabbing hold of his tail. "Remember, son, you can't run off without me or your mother." Toothless said with a stern look.

"Sorry." Pouncer said to his Dad before he was let go and bounced onto the ledge with Toothless close behind so he could keep watch. Following behind his father, Ruffrunner came waddling out with a yawn and joined his brother Pouncer on the ledge to watch the dragons flying around and getting on with their day.

"Ruffrunner, don't go too close to the edge now." Toothless warned him, watching as Ruffrunner backed away a little with Pouncer so neither of them accidentally toppled over the edge.

"Hi Dad." Came a little voice from besides him. Toothless turned to look at his daughter who was now awake and sitting at his side.

"Hello Dart." He purred and leaned down to give her head a lick. "Did they wake you up?"

"No, Mom did." Dart said and yawned. "What are we doing today? I can't wait to explore, the den is getting boring." She said with a little grumble before joining her brothers. Toothless chuckled at her and glanced to Luna who nuzzled against his side.

"How'd you sleep last night?" Luna asked Toothless, sitting at his side.

"Pretty well. I did get waken up by Pouncer though, he was having a nightmare." Toothless said to his mate and gave her head a lick. "Come on, they're getting pretty impatient." Toothless gestured for Luna to follow and took off from the ledge of the den, and following behind their children flapped their little wings and followed after their father, with Luna close behind to ensure neither of them got lost or had an accident.

Toothless decided to bring the offsprings to the nursery, letting them get used to the nurses and the other dragonets should either Toothless or Luna get too busy. Toothless landed at the entrance and announced their arrival, while the Nightlights landed soon after him.

Pouncer tripped as he landed on the crystal floor, being nudged back up by his mother and quickly trotted after his father with Dart and Ruff close behind.

"Hello Toothless!" Mills greeted warmly and gasped as the little Nightlights made their way after him. "Ooh are these the sweethearts?! They're gorgeous!" She purred happily and walked over, leaning her head down to sniff them. Ruffrunner backed away slowly, out of fright to see a new face and hid behind his mother's leg. Luna chuckled and glanced at him.

"It's okay, Ruff. This is Mills, one of the nurses." Luna purred to her son and gave his head a lick, walking next to Toothless and sat next to him talking to Mills, while the Nightlights explored.

"Pouncer what are you doing?" Dart grunted at her brother, who was digging the floor near the corner. "You're ruining the floor!"

"But I saw a bug crawl into this corner." He said to his sister, rolling onto his side so he could stick his little paw into the hole. "Mmph, I think it got away."

"You scared it off, that's why. And why would you even want that bug? We don't eat them." Ruffrunner said, sitting next to Dart.

"I just wanted to play." Pouncer whined and sat down in the corner with droopy ears. Dart rolled her eyes a little before gesturing for her brothers to follow her over to the other cubs playing. The three of them peeked curiously around the corner and watched the dragonets rolling around and playing with one another.

"Hey, do you guys want to play?" Colt saw the three Nightlights standing there watching and gestured for them to come over.

"This is Colt, a good friend of mine." Toothless said as he approached his children and smiled down at the young dragon. "Haven't seen you in a hot minute."

"Toothless!" Colt squeaked and bounced over, rubbing against his leg. "I haven't seen you forever! Are these your kids?" He said and leaned over to sniff Dart.

"Mhm. This is Dart, Pouncer and Ruffrunner. I'm sure you guys will be good friends." Purred Toothless and gestured for the young Nightlights to go and play with the others. "Go and meet everybody, me and your mother will be out here if you need us." He said to the three of them before turning away to talk with Mills some more.

"C'mon! I'll show you guys around." Colt said, gesturing for them to follow as he bounced into the nursery.