Comet Nights (HTTYD Fanfic)

Chapter Thirteen: Alpha Female

"We can't go back."

"I know! I know!"

Astrid and Hiccup were curled up underneath Comet's wing, a nest in the snow like before. Overhead, the whoosh of dragons' wings was forever in the sky. The scaly creatures were far too thick for Comet to even hope to make it through, and Hiccup could faintly hear his Night Fury's anguished roars. Comet kept her eyes closed, even so, she radiated sadness that her companion was trapped in such a predicament.

Hiccup felt anger rise in his throat, hot and heavy. They had failed! He had nearly drowned and gotten shot down by dragonfire and his girlfriend had been trapped by a psychopath.

"Today is the worst day ever." he snarled.

Astrid snorted. "Tell me about it."

The fury rose even higher- and broke. Hiccup slammed a fist on the ground, clenching his teeth as he glared at Comet.

"And it's ALL YOUR FAULT!!" he screamed. Astrid yelped in surprise.

"Hiccup, stop this!" she pulled at his arm, but he couldn't hear her, couldn't feel her touch. Rage had overtaken his mind, blurring the corners of his vision. Full of fury, he threw his fist at Comet's midnight side, a painful-sounding thwack echoing in the enclosed space.

Slowly, softly, Comet opened her jewel eyes.

Astrid inhaled sharply.

The Night Fury gazed at them, her eyes full of pain- but not from Hiccup's attack. She blamed herself for failing, for not achieving their goal.

The agony in her eyes was so acute that it hurt just to look on her.

Hiccup saw this, and his anger disappeared only to be replaced by regret. He slid down her side, curling up with his face on the ground.

"I'm sorry. I-" and he broke into sobs.

Gently, Astrid pulled him up, cradling her head in her lap, and tears ran across her cheeks in harmony.

Comet watched, her blue eyes seeing it all. She felt terrible. Her heart was a dead weight in her chest, bringing her down with every sluggish beat. Her keen dragon ears could distinctly hear Toothless's cries, and she could hear the words in them too...

Help me, he screamed. Help me, Comet. I love you...

How she longed to respond to him, to call out that she loved him too! To curl up under his wing and hum together, or to pounce on his tail and make him yelp before he started to play back. To watch him fish and dive her head next to him, to soar on the air currents together, as free as windblown leaves. To twine her tail with his at night when they coiled up in their nest, hearts beating in tandem, two dragons who loved each other...

She looked upon the two humans. They loved each other, and they both knew it. It was beautiful, no matter who, to see two beings in love. No matter what gender, no matter the age, love was a beautiful thing, in its many forms. There was the bond between two friends, and the bond between siblings. The bond between parents and their children, and the bond between two who felt passion in their hearts. Maybe that was the most sacred of all, the bond between two mates...

Mates...

In that moment, she felt a glow in her soul, and realization, a wonderful dawning epiphany. Maybe she had not laid eggs, but she loved Toothless, and he loved her back. That made them mates. Two beings in love... The Alpha and his female...

A blue glow pervaded the snow nest. She felt the power racing from her chest, up her head, lighting up her back spikes and running down her tail, the power of her bond filling her heart and soul. She wasn't afraid any more. Scars were scars, but once they healed over, they became part of you. A piece of your skin, a tag. You had survived. And you could love.

What was it that the humans called me?

Comet.

I am Comet.

I am the light.

She stood, her wings spread. She could hear the humans gasping, but she didn't care. They were safe.

She- She was invincible!

Her feet found purchase on a jutting spike of ice, left over from the long-ago days of Bewilderbeasts, and she threw her head back and roared. Power thrummed out of every scale, carried in her voice, commanding the citizens of her kingdom. No more pain. No more gathering.

Come to me!

Come to me!

And, as more and more dragons gathered behind her, her power built. She finally felt right, ever since she had been driven wandering all those years ago, ever since her scar had stood out white on her chest. She had found her place, her calling.

She was Comet.

The Alpha's mate.

And that made her the Alpha Female!