Flight of the Night (How To Train Your Dragon Fanfiction)

Splitting Up

Darkflight sunk his teeth into a large branch and groaned in pain. Skypacer pushed gingerly on Darkflight's shoulder. "On the count of three I'll push it in, okay?"

Darkflight nodded slowly and Skypacer swayed a bit. "One!" She pushed harshly and Darkflight's shoulder popped back into place. His jaw gaped in shock and the branch fell from his mouth. He swiveled his head to Skypacer with tears showing in his eyes.

"What the heck was that about?! What happened to two and three," he demanded as his hackles rose and he was debating whether or not to launch himself at her.

Skypacer thought for a heartbeat. "Two...three. See, there they are!" Amusement twinkled in her eyes as she began to assess Darkflight's wounds. Skypacer had learned a lot of healing techniques so she was watching out for Russet Feather and Darkflight during their recovery.

"Yeah well that didn't feel great," he sniffed as he looked at his shoulder and gave it a lick. It was still tender but he knew it would heal, thanks to Skypacer. His heart on the other paw would never be completely healed as long as Stormchaser wasn't with him. He even missed Thunderheart although he didn't want to admit it.

"May we have a small vigil for the dead," asked Russet Feather as she strode toward them and with horrid realization Russet Feather had had one of her eyes clawed out by Clawface just before the battle had been finished. Although the two rouge dragons were still alive Darkflight doubted they'd be coming back any time soon.

"Of course," murmured Skypacer as she allowed Darkflight to lean on her. "Try not to use that shoulder for at least a few days. I don't want you popping it out again."

Darkflight managed a small nod but the breath was caught in his throat. When he looked around he saw the bodies of Heavystep, Firebreath, and Rainchaser. He wanted to wail out in grief but he just couldn't. That would be losing his cool and he didn't do that. At least he hadn't yet. By the night though he would be able to see himself grieving for all that life had taken from him.

"May I say something," asked Darkflight as his heart seemed to be squeezed in his chest.

Skypacer dipped her head. "If you'd like." She looked down in a large groove that Heavystep had been buried in and so had Firebreath. However Rainchaser was the only one that had no been buried yet. His death was perhaps the most devastating of them all.

Darkflight reached out a paw and drew Rainchaser near, murmuring into his ear about what a powerful dragon he would have become. Darkflight lifted his head and tears shown in his eyes. "Today a battle had been fought that should have never been fought. There were casualties on both sides including a baby dragon named Rainchaser. I hope that he will find his rest among the stars and that his brother will also be there, Gentlewhisper."

Skypacer took a step forward and Darkflight stood delicately on his own paws. "I call upon my ancestors who have gone before me. I have lost my mother, my father, my brother Cloudjumper, my mate, my offspring, Swifstream, Deathwhisper, Heavystep, Smolder Moon, Wind Racer, Rainchaser, and Gentlewhisper. I just pray that we lose no more this season and that we will be able to rest like we should."

Darkflight shot her a look. He knew that resting was not in any of their vocabulary. None of them would be resting anytime soon.

Russet Feather said a few words and hoped that the dragons would share the same skies as Starbound when they died. She wanted Wind Racer and her sister to look after Rainchaser and Gentlewhisper. Skypacer and Darkflight mumbled in agreement before Russet Feather began to bury Rainchaser.

While she was doing that Darkflight turned to Skypacer. "You said you lost a brother," he murmured with respect. "Cloudjumper?"

Skypacer smiled timidly. "Yes I did. We were separated when we were young and I haven't seen him since. Soon after that I met Heavystep." Her words seemed to crackle in her throat and she let out another moan of uncontrollable grief and she had to look away from the mound where her brother had been buried.