The 'Dragon Defender'

Writing Wrongs

I wait for Adriana to fall asleep before I leave. No need to involve her in this when it's only a one person job. Besides, she needs her rest. I head out to the Great Hall, making sure to stay quiet so I don't wake anyone. If I get caught, I don't know how well I'll be able to lie my way out of it.

Berk is a much different place when the village is asleep. It's quite nice to be out in the dark, quiet streets instead of when they're all bustling and lively and full of humans. It's not like I have to worry about any dangers since I could handle myself against anyone who may show up. So to me it's just peaceful.

I go to push open the door to the Great Hall, only to notice a slither of candlelight flitting through the cracks. Someone's inside already. Who would it be? Problably Fishlegs or Hiccup would be my first guesses. Maybe both. I consider heading back, but I've already come all the way out here, so why not see if I can catch them plotting? At least then I'll have a heads up on the next scheme.

When I enter, I'm surprised to see Asher snapping his head towards me, eyes wide. He sighs in relief when it's only me. "Oh, Indi. You scared me."

"What are you doing out so late?" I ask him, shutting the door behind me. "I could ask you the same thing," he jokes. "Couldn't sleep, got curious about this place. Help me out, I'm looking for that dragon book you said they have. I want to see what they've got on Morphwings."

"We're here for the same thing," I note, walking over to the little hidey hole. "They keep it hidden in here so nobody steals it. Apparently they've had that issue before."

"And here we are," Asher smirks, sitting beside me at a table once I set the book down, flicking through until I find our page. The title has been crossed out to replace 'Stealthwing' with 'Morphwing', along with a few sketches and facts ranging from concerningly accurate to less so.

"Did you tell them we're completely immune to the effects of dragon nip?" Asher snickers. "Nope," I hum. "They know me in my dragon form, don't know it's me. Call me Nightling. They tried to make me docile with the stuff before, didn't work out for them."

"You like it, though, right?"

"It's pretty good, yeah. Love the smell of it."

"Tell you what, some of the others back home are really susceptible to it. Melanite goes nuts for it. There's this one girl who's not allowed near it because she'll do the whole flop thing other dragons do, she's that strongly effected. Apparently Plasma's not supposed to have any of it, but he still does."

"I gave him some once."

"Heard he got some at that party. Thought it'd be from you. Rumour is he was out of it for most of the party because of it. It doesn't take him much."

I can't help laughing a little at the thought. "Was he okay?"

"Yeah, he was fine, he enjoyed himself. Alpha wasn't pleased, but what's he gonna do?"

"Did Plasma get in trouble?"

"Nah, it was all fine. It was mostly just the Alpha sighing as he watched him interacting with people. He wasn't even that bad, he was just very chatty."

"Hm... good to know."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Asher laughs. "Nothing, let's just see what else we need to figure out here," I roll my eyes, lightly swatting at the back of Asher's head to try and get him back on topic.

"Sure, nothing," he taunts, but ultimately does look back to the page in front of us. "Hm... distant relatives of Changewings and Razorwhips, true... intelligence on par with that of humans, true... can change shape to blend in with humans... ah..."

I frown beneath my mask at this bit, then rub my fingers over the writing. It smudges the words a little, but they're still easy enough to read. Too easy. Whatever I do now can't be played off as an accident. But what else can I do? Let them keep this knowledge?

I rip out the page.

"Indigo?!" Asher looks up at me in shock. "They're too close," I explain, holding the ripped page over the candle, watching the flame eat through the parchment as if it were famished.

"I'm going to erase their memories," I state, my tone void of emotion as I toss the burnt paper into an unlit fire pit to be mistaken for kindling. "I have no true reason to kill them, and it would only make things messier long-term. But I can make them forget about Morphwings, about us, about everything I need them to."

Asher nods slowly. "And you're okay with that?" He checks. "You were right," I shrug. "They become a threat when they know too much. And thus they need to be dealt with."

"If you say so," Asher agrees, looking down to the book. "What do we do with this? Just put it back? They'll notice the page is gone."

"Mm... I think I know. Stay by the door, warn me if anyone's coming."

I morph and take the book carefully in my mouth, then fly up to the capitals atop the stone pillars supporting the roof. I hide the book carefully amongst the dragon-esque shapes.

"Good idea," Asher compliments as I land and morph back. "Thanks," I nod. "With any luck it'll take them a while to even notice the book is missing, let alone that the Morphwing page is gone."

"What if a dragon finds it before they realise it's gone?"

"They'll blame the dragon."

"Ah. Clever."

I nod slightly. "Now all we need to do is get out of here without being caught. Does Gothi know you're out?"

"She was out like a light when I left. What about Adri?"

"She's sleeping, too. I should probably get back in case she notices I'm gone and gets worried."

"Yeah. I'll get moving, too. Be careful, okay? What you've just done... if they so much as suspected any of us..."

"I know. But once I have the Changewings here, it won't matter."