The 'Dragon Defender'

Legging It

Fishlegs' POV:

I can't believe what Atali knows about Nightling! It's so great that we finally get to learn more about Stealthwings! I've been wanting to add something to their page in the Book of Dragons ever since I first created it. We've still not got much, but with Atali's help we might be able to learn more than ever.

Once Nightling was lead off by Minden, Atali turns back to Hiccup. They've pretty much been ignoring the rest of us, if I'm honest, but it's better than not being able to hear the conversation at all. It's very interesting, it's all about Nightling.

"There's something I need to tell you all about that dragon," Atali says, moving her gaze from just Hiccup to all of us. "She's not going to like me saying this, which is why I'm so glad that Minden took her away when she did."

"What is it, Atali?" Hiccup asks. "That dragon is called a Morphwing," Atali explains. "They're distant relatives of the Razorwhip and there is a theory that they are also distantly related to the Changewing."

"Does that mean they can camouflage themselves?" I ask eagerly, knowing what Changewing relatives usually have in common with the Mystery class dragon. "Shut it, Fishface," Snotlout glares at me. "What? I'm just asking!" I defend myself.

"Actually, you're not too far off," Atali answers my question. "They can't camouflage per-say, but they do have their own little method of hiding in the plain sight of humans."

"How?" Heather questions. "They do as their name suggests," is all Atali answers with. "I'm not going to speak more on that matter. But another thing you should know is that Morphwings are equally as intelligent as a human. They have the same thought process, the same emotions, everything. In that sense, they're completely equal with humans."

"Is there anything else?" I ask curiously, petting Meatlug. She grins up at me and licks my face. I love this Gronkle!

"That Morphwing doesn't want you knowing much about her," Atali says, catching my full attention. "She's very protective of other Morphwings she knows. She doesn't want you knowing where they are because her kind value their privacy and make absolute certain that they remain hidden. Discovering where they are could... upset them, to say the least. Your Morphwing has been altering her behaviour so you know as little about their natural behavioural patterns as possible."

"That explains why we can't figure anything out about her," I realise. "Astrid, if you go see them later, we can see what they know about Morphwings," Hiccup tells Astrid, talking about this secret person they've been getting information from lately. I still don't know who it is, but I really want to.

"Seriously, who are you talking about?!" Snotlout demands in annoyance. "If you find out, they won't be happy with us," Astrid replies. "Besides, they haven't been around lately, Hiccup. You know they might have..."

"I know," Hiccup nods. "But they can't be. They just can't be. The others would've panicked or fled or something like that. They wouldn't have just carried on as usual. They're alive and those guys know it."

"Hiccup, please tell me who this person is!" I beg. "Sorry, Fishlegs, but they don't trust that you can keep your mouth shut under pressure," Astrid shrugs. "And remember our training where you couldn't even handle the dark? You have to admit, they're right not to trust you to be able to handle interrogations."

I sigh. I understand all of this, but I still don't like that they're keeping secrets from me. Who are they running off to see? Why is it a secret? How did they get in on the secret and not me?

"Let's just go find Nightling," Astrid suggests, changing the subject. "Minden took her to the stables," Atali said, pointing in the right direction. "It's pretty much just a maintenance station. You can't miss it."

Everyone gets on their dragons, ready to fly off, when Minden comes back hurriedly. "Atali! Atali!"

Minden lands in front of Atali, who looks confused. "What is it, Minden?" She asks. "The Morphwing!" Minden exclaimed. "She flew off and then she got caught up with some dragon hunters! They were trying to invade the island, but the Morphwing is holding them off with a few of the guards! We have to hurry!"

What?! Nightling is in trouble?!

"Lead the way," Hiccup said to Minden. We all flew off, following the Wingmaiden. I hope that no dragons got hurt, it would be awful! Especially Nightling, she's our one chance to learn about Morphwings and she's just incredible!

When we arrive Nightling is firing blasts of purple flames at the hunters, not holding back. The two Wingmaidens who are fighting with her are busy taking out other hunters.

"Meatlug, go!" I tell my sweet little Gronkle. She barfs out lava over the hunters. Plasma blasts, magnesium fire and Zippleback gas fill the area thanks to Astrid, Hiccup and the twins helping me.

"Ruff, Tuff, Fishlegs, you go help Nightling!" Hiccup orders. "On it!" I agree, flying towards the Morphwing.

She's still fighting bravely. It's like this is her own island that she's defending. Maybe it's the fact that there are baby Razorwhips everywhere?

I don't even notice the net coming at us until I've been trapped in it along with Meatlug. "Aaaah!"

Nightling starts chewing and clawing at the net, trying to get us free. Meatlug joins in. Once it's almost broken, Nightling uses her tail to slice it like a knife through bread.

As Meatlug and I try to scramble out of the net, we hear a screech. I look over to see that Nightling had a dragon root arrow stuck in her chest. Thankfully it didn't get past her scales, but that's not what worried me.

"No! Nightling!" I yelled, trying to get to her, but another net was thrown over her. "I've got the big one!" A hunter yelled as he and five of his friends came and started hauling a panicked Nightling away. She looked really bad after taking that arrow. I'm not surprised, that stuff is horrible to dragons. She'll be feeling very sick for a while now.

"Hiccup!" I yelled, flying over to him on Meatlug. Hiccup was confused as to why they were retreating so suddenly. I pointed to where a struggling Nightling was being hauled onto a ship.

"She's under the effects of a dragon root arrow and she's in a net, Hiccup!" I start panicking myself.

"They took Nightling!"