Selene

Chapter Forty-Three: To War

On a mountain overlooking the city of Fo'Dhia, Albion watched with his currently-favored eye from one of his favorite trees.

He didn't like it; the long line of humans leaving the city with their wagons and carts and horses. Large packs of humans always meant one thing; trouble. But what was with those dragons?? Why where they going with the humans? And... where those humans on their backs?? He didn't like it. He didn't like it at all.

The gryphon screamed his objection letting it echo off the walls of the valley. Finishing off the days kill he wiped his beak clean, and launching from his perch, followed the company from a safe distance.

It was a miserable day to be flying, and much more so to be walking or hauling supplies. Rain berated the traveling army tugging at their spirits as if it had made an alliance with the enemy. Even the Wotādīni admitted this was an unusually wet season.

With another long trip ahead Hiccup had hoped he could catch a few winks while Hookfang followed the caravan but it was no use. Every ten minutes it seemed someone got stuck and the procession would congest, making it worse.

"There's another one, Hookfang," Hiccup rubbed his eyes and pointed to a wagon whose wheels were all but completely buried in mud. "Hmph it's Megaminds again."

Scree! Trooper launched from his position between Hookfang's horns.

Two cattle lowed in alarm as the monstrous nightmare came up from behind. With Trooper in the front, pulling with all of his might, Hookfang wrenched the wagon out with four powerful wingbeats and an amusing suction-cup sound.

"Tapadh leat!" The mud-splattered men shouted gratefully. Feeling accomplished the terrible terror squeaked his welcome and proudly took his place back on Hookfang's head.

"You're welcome," He answered what he'd come to recognize as 'thank you'.

Between the canvas sheets in the back of the wagon a nose poked out. Two eyes followed, and then two antennae covered with thin layers of metal. Mega looked down at the ground moving beneath him to spot what was left of a flooded anthill. The little insects floated steadily down a stream from it and he snatched them up one by one with a long, slender tongue.

That is until Ebony pounced after and caught it. The Mindbender squealed every protest he could think of, pulling back with all his strength as his tongue was stretched to the fullest. In perfect timing she let go and like a slingshot Mega's tongue splattered mud all over his own face. She made that laughing sound Toothless would as he hissed insults her way and retreated back into the canvas.

"Well at least one of us is having fun," Hiccup watcher her go, caked in mud and splattering in every puddle she could find.

"I hope it's not like this tomorrow," Camicazi conceded, 'Stormfly' shivering underneath her. "Between all the mud and rain there's not a chance of seeing the horror and shock on our enemy's face."

The Rocket ripper glanced at Hookfang and chattered something off. He responded by combusting into his flame jacket and she edged closer with a cozy trill.

"Yikes!" Hiccup jumped as the dragon between his legs caught fire. He was safe enough with Snotlout's fire-proof saddle but random licks here and there always managed to singe his clothes. "I don't think I'll ever get used to that."

"Mmmm I could." Camicazi enjoyed the heat radiating off the monstrous nightmare as much as 'Stormfly' did. "But then, I've always liked Hookfang. Secretly I've thought about challenging Snotlout to the death for him."

Hookfangs eyes turned to slits and he pulled away with a snarl, flashbacks of their trip around Bog-burglar island playing in his head.

"That really isn't a secret. Hey Heather, where've you been?"