Riders Dragons of the Archipelagos

XIV

James! Star yelled to him, and felt a jolt of surprise as he woke.

What? He asked.

Do you see this? She demanded, Astrid and I found this in the forest.

Your footprint? James said. Star shut him out of her mind completely, "James doesn't get it." She whispered.

"Of course not," Astrid said. "Your supposed to be the last of your kind. You and the other three."

"You are the only other person that saw this," Star told her, "will you help me find it's source."

"Let's do it."

"How do you feel right now Starfire?" Astrid asked.

"I don't know," Star said.

"What if it's male?" Astrid continued. "Will you-"

"I don't know," Star repeated, "if it is a male, I don't know if I'll like him, or if he'll like me. It's more complicated than you think."

"It's sounds kinda like humans," she said.

"Really?"

"Yeah," Astrid nodded. "If only Ruffnut wasn't so much like a guy. I wish talking to her was like talking to you."

"What do you mean?" Star asked, and stopped. She looked back at Astrid who sprawled out on her back.

"I like talking to you," she whispered, and patted Star's side. "It feels normal...and it's kinda fun."

"Star smiled slightly and Astrid tucked her hair behind her ear.

"If you need a brush, I could ask Stella," Star offered, "you could even ask Hope, you two look about the same size."

Astrid nodded and smiled. "I do stink, don't I?" She asked, and Star snorted. "That would be nice. I could use a bath."

As they walked along Astrid sat up and sighed. "I knew James's pain. I knew about Elva and his father."

"How?"

"I laid in his saddle on the flight to Berk," she whispered as if she'd committed a crime. "After be healed me."

"I'm sorry for you, then," Star told her. "You need rest, you should lay back down."

"No. I-"

"Go on," Astrid reluctantly laid back down.

"I hope you do like each other," Astrid whispered, already drifting off to sleep. "It would be big."

As Astrid slept Star began to follow her nose again. She wondered how Hiccup and Sormfly would feel about once they figured out she was spending time with a different Rider's Dragon. When she'd told James he hadn't seemed like he cared much l, but that was probably because he'd been half asleep.

Suddenly the wind shifted, and the scent disappeared, and she was struck with confusion. Either the wind had shifted or, her eyes widened and she jumped around.  Or he'd backtracked...standing in the tracks she'd left behind her, stood another dragon that was identical to her.

It's legs were bulkier than hers, and the horn on it's snout was slightly taller. The horns at the back of it's head had a second smaller one below each of them. In comparison to it's body it's wings were smaller than Starfire's. But what stood out the most was it's shiny white teeth. They extended down from his upper lip about two inches, this was a telltale sign that it was male.

James! Starfire yelled once more, and felt him jump again.

What? He exclaimed.

Look.

It must've taken him a minute to process the image because he didn't respond for a while.

Oh my gods, he gasped. Where are you?

In the woods, Star told him. I don't really know, Astrid's asleep so I can't really fly.

Why is Astrid with you? He asked.

Its a long story.

Talk to him, make an impression, James whispered. I'll try my best to find you.

I'll try to.

"Astrid wake up," Star whispered, growing nervous. "I need you."

"Humphf?" She mumbled, but didn't wake. Star's heart began to race, she didn't know what to do! It only got worse when the other dragon began walking towards her. He stopped about four feet in front of her.

"Um, hello," Star choked. "I'm Starfire, but I go by, Star like a lot.

"Eclipse," he said, and began walking around her. "You have a different aura than when you did when I first saw you. You looked powerful and confident, now I'd say you're somewhat...shy."

"Hey back off!" She snapped and jumped around to face him. "You're getting a little close."

"Is that your Rider?" He asked, "I thought he was a guy."

"He is," Star said. "This is our friend."

"Oh that's the girl you saved aboard the Dally Anne," he stepped closer.

"Back off," she growled, "don't come any closer."

Eclipse quickly stepped away, "take it easy," he mocked her. "By the way I wouldn't trust the captain of that ship. He works for Mogg, and he hates our kind."

"Who's Mogg?" Star asked. "why does he hate us?"

"He hates us because I Burt down his village," Eclipse told her. He hates you because he's a descendant of Dragnier, the child of a human and an orc, a horc, if you will-"

"I won't," Star said.

"Well your genius Rider told me captain of the Dally Anne where you reside," Eclipse explained, "and Mogg's on his way right now."

"Well just stop him," Star said.

"Mogg isn't like Dragnier," Eclipse told her, "he's smart, and he's got the greatest Armada in all the Archipelagos. He's relentless, he's killed so many dragons that his entire fleet is armored with our scales. Him and his father are the reason why there are so few. Once he figures out about her home," Eclipse nodded at Astrid. "No dragons will be left.

"Hell kill their Riders and yours," he continued, "until he's in control. The Riders will be gone forever."

Star, James asked suddenly, can you hear me?

Starfire heard a low howl sound from close by. Eclipse's head shot up and Astrid awoke.

Yes. Star said. Without another word Astrid was forced to grab on to the horn in front of her, because Star began barrelling through the forest.