The 'Dragon Defender'

Typhoomerang Attack

I'm still thinking over what Selene said when Adriana rushes in in her human form, tears streaking down her porcelain face. "Help! Please, you have to help us, Indigo!"

"What's wrong?!" I ask, morphing into human form and clasping her hands in my own. They're shaking. "It's Asher!" She says. Instantly I'm running to the cave they share. What happened to my brother?!

He's laying in their large, shared nest in his human form, covered in gashes and blood. I gasp and kneel beside him, surveying the damage. "Ash! What happened to you?!"

"We were out flying and a Typhoomerang attacked us!" Adriana explained, panic evident in her voice. "Asher tried to protect me... it's all my fault!"

"It's not your fault that that Typhoomerang has no knowledge of manners," I tell her as calmly as I can while I wrap the worst of Asher's injuries. I won't be able to do much, though. I'm no healer.

"Is there anyone here who knows much about healing or herbology?" I ask Adriana. "No, we've never needed anyone to help with a case this severe after we went into hiding all those years ago," she replied, sniffing. "We need someone who knows this stuff, but we don't have anyone here."

I wrack my brains for a way to help him. "I could always take him to Berk, if we're really that desperate. They have a healer there. She doesn't trust me and she knows who I am, she's just looking for confirmation, but she'll help us. He's in his human form so the whole dragon thing won't be an issue, though even if it was they're at peace with dragons."

"A human healer?" Adriana looks skeptical, but she nods out of having no other option. "Okay, if you're sure he'll be safe. Can I come, too? I want to be there to look out for him."

"Only if you're happy to give us a ride there," I say. "I'd do it myself but I can't risk him falling off." "Of course," she agrees instantly. "Let's go."

While she morphs into dragon form, I carefully pick up Asher, who's bleeding has slowed down thanks to the makeshift bandages but won't hold forever, and settle him on his mate's back. Once I'm on and we're both secure, Adriana takes off. I give her directions along the way.

"Once we get there you'll have to take human form again and take care of him where we land," I instruct Adriana as we fly. "We can't land anywhere where people will see us for obvious reasons. I'll go off to find help. I'm on good terms with the chief and chieftess, so I can always find them, too. I'll stick to the story that Asher is my brother and since we can't say you're his mate, you can be his betrothed. Okay?"

"Okay," she agreed. When we finally spotted Berk in the distance, I told her to land on the beach, to which she complied. Thankfully nobody was around. I hauled Asher gently off of her, then she morphed back into her human form and took over for me while I ran off to get help, making sure my mask was up.

I went straight to Hiccup's hut, where I was just in time to see Hiccup and Toothless taking off for a flight. "Hiccup!" I yelled up to him. "Toothless!"

"Artemis?!" Hiccup was the one to look over, shocked. "What are you doing here, Indigo?" Toothless asked as he brought Hiccup down along with him.

"There was an attack by a Typhoomerang!" I explain. "My brother got hurt! He needs help, fast!"

"Your brother?!" both boys are shocked again by the revelation. "There's no time for that! He's bleeding out!" I say desperately.

Hiccup nods. "Right. Where is he?" "He and his betrothed are on the beach on the southwest side of the island!" I answer. "I've dressed his wounds, but that's all I could do, I don't know how else to help him!"

"Okay, let's take him to Gothi," he agrees to help, offering me his hand. "Thank the gods for you, Hiccup," I breathe in relief, taking his hand and letting him pull me up onto Toothless's back. I barely register the take off, flight or landing, but I'm quick to rush off to Asher's side.

Adriana looks at Toothless in shock. "Is that a Night Fury?" "Toothless is one of the best," I confirm, gently scooping up my brother. "Did anything happen to him?"

"Nothing new," Adriana replied, still worried for her mate. "He's covered in blood still. Your bandage thingies aren't helping much anymore."

I realise she's right; I'd used some spare (well, not exactly spare, but I can live without it) cloth to wrap up the worst of the bleeding gashes, but now they were just absorbing the blood, which was still leaking through.

"Okay," Hiccup seemed put off by Asher's condition, but his mind worked quickly and efficiently. "Give him to me and get on Toothless, then I'll pass him back to you. I'm not sure he can carry all of us, though."

"Yes I can!" Toothless insisted, moving over and trying to bring all of us into his back at once. "Are you sure?" I ask him. "Definitely! It's not a long flight!" Toothless confirms. "You heard the Night Fury!" I say to Hiccup, deciding to let Toothless have his chance. I mount Toothless, leaving room for Hiccup to fly, then take Asher from him. Hiccup helps Adriana up behind me, then gets on as well and we take to the skies.

Adriana isn't used to riding a dragon as opposed to being one, so she squeaks and holds my waist tightly to stop herself from falling off. "First flight?" Hiccup asks her. "I'm not used to it with unfamiliar wings," she replied nervously. "It was a struggle to get here without her screaming her poor head off," I add with a sigh. "Where's your dragon now?" Hiccup asked curiously.

"We split up to look for you, they'll be somewhere around here," I spin up a lie quickly. Hiccup nods absently, then we arrive at Gothi's hut in the mountaintops.