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Six against one—doable. But, Camicazi hadn’t eaten in a few days and was slightly off her game. She held them back until the ugly one, well, they were all ugly, but this one was particularly ugly, threw a cheap shot and a dagger pierced her shoulder. She pulled out the knife and shook it at him. “Well that wasn’t very Viking like now was it, pig-face.” But that lost second gave the men time to close in.
Pig-face grabbed her, pulling the arm he just wounded. “Who are you? What ya doin’ here?”
She winced in pain “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
He grunted, lifted up his sword and slammed her head with the hilt.
***
Camicazi opened her eyes. “Right” she said looking up at the greenish-black cage that was her prison, “I didn’t win”.
Rolling over to her side, she push her body up onto an elbow and waited for the throbbing in her head to stop. Then she pushed herself to a seated position. The cage was made of a metal she had never seen, but the lock, well, a lock is a lock for a Bog-Burglar. “And you can’t keep a Bog-Burglar under lock and key.” She said to herself. She twisted and sat on her knees, the cage too small for even Camicazi’s tiny frame to stand up in. Stretching just a smidge, she turned her head and saw a pair of big black eyes watching her.
“Well, hello there.” She moved and leaned against the bars. In the cage next to her, a muzzled dragon let out a low warning growl. “Now, now, I suppose you wouldn’t trust me, seeing I look kind of like the ones who locked you up and all, but can’t you see that I’m locked up too.” She shook her bars for effect. “So you know ‘enemy of my enemy’ and all”. Poor thing, thought Camicazi. The dragon was triple her size, at least, and in a cage not much bigger than her own.
“Hmm,” She rubbed her chin, “I think I can get that muzzle off you from here, but I’m not sure I can unlock your cage unless I’m out of mine. Might not have enough time for both.”
She surveyed her surroundings. The blow to her head was probably making her a little dizzy but the swirling feeling in her stomach was a familiar feeling.
The sails on the ship were puffed out and every few waves the bow would rise up and fall back down into the sea. The air smelled of salt, spices, rotten fruit, and wet yak wool. There were barrels and crates stacked up on the starboard side. But three cages sat on the little deck and one was empty.
Trading ships like this came to Bog every few months. They were all the same. Goods on deck and and beds below. Camicazi stared at the white flag flapping from the tallest mast; a tan dragon with a knife though its heart was painted in the middle. Beyond the flag, fluffy grey clouds rolled around in the darkening sky. Behind the ship, pinks and purples dotted the horizon. Camicazi shrugged. She knew they were heading west, but since she had been lost at sea for a few days before even finding that island, she didn’t know where they were going west towards.
“So that does me no good, ay?” she said to her neighbor “I wonder if you can fly us out of here? Eh dragon? Have you ever flown with a girl before? Girls are the best dragon riders you know? I wonder what kind of dragon you are? I’ve never seen the likes of you before. And I’ve been all over the Archipelago.”
The boat gave a sudden lurch and Camicazi grabbed her stomach. “Uhh, I feel quite queasy, dragon. I don’t normally get sea sick, but…” Her voice faded off as she tried to keep herself from vomiting. She hugged her shivering body tight. “I believe this cold sea air is getting to me.”
She gave the dragon a weary smile and put her head on the cage floor. The dampness made her feel worse but a weariness was coming over her. She put a hand on her throbbing shoulder and felt the stickiness of semi-dried blood. Peeling her shirt off the wound she felt small amounts of fresh blood drip down her shoulder.
The dagger hadn’t gone all the way through but perhaps pulling it out right away hadn’t been her smartest move. She reached her hand through to the dragons cage. Maybe the dragon would bite her hand off or maybe he’d see she meant peace. Either way she didn’t think she’d be in a worse state than she already was.
“I’ll get us out of here, I promise. I just need a little rest.”
***
When Camicazi woke the sun was high over head. “I slept too long.” She sat up but her eyes went black and she laid back down again. The dragon raised his head and made chirping noises.
“Oy dragon, you still here? That’s brilliant, I dreamt the dragon hunters…well never mind that. I have this feeling I’m not going to get out of here without your help.” Camicazi’s stomach growled. She sat up slower this time and looked around the deck. “Oy!” She yelled to the dragon hunter pacing “How about some food. Yeah?”
He looked around, a bit startled, but then laughed when his eyes fell on Camicazi. “Hungry?” He lifted a bucket that sat next to the dragon’s cage and threw it at her. What came in was raw, days old fish. The smell alone sent her into dry heaves.
“Why you intolerable bone head. You wait till I get out of this cage. I’ll make your face look like a smashed pumpkin turned inside out after being stepped on by a yak. Oh no, I’m sorry, it already does.” She reached her hand through the bars and hurled fish back at him.
He came close, grabbed her hand and twisted. “Tough guy, huh? What are you going to do when I break your arm?”
The dragon let out a deep growl and rammed his body against the cage, startling the man enough that he let go of her hand. Camicazi pulled her arm back through and moved to the other side. He spit at the dragon. “You a tough guy too, huh? We’ll see how tough you are when I skin your hide.”
A voice came from across the ship “Leave em’ alone, HammerHead. The Capin’ wants to see you. No time for messin’ around.”
HammerHead spit again before following the other dragon hunter.
“Walk away, that’s right, I know you’re shaking in your yak boots.” Camicazi yelled
The dragon chirped and shook his head.
“What is it buddy, am I wasting my time you think? I suppose you’re right. I’m just so hungry and”, She lowered her voice “I’ll admit this to you and only you because I think we are friends and you can’t talk, but I’m pretty weak. Not always, mind you, just today. After not eating and losing so much blood and let’s not forget the blow to my noggin.” She gently touched the egg that had been forming on her head and winced. “But I can still break us out of here, even with one good arm and slightly blurry vision and a stomach that sounds like Thor’s thunder, don’t you worry.” She laid herself back down. "I’ll just rest a bit more and you wake me when its night. Do you understand me, dragon? Wake me when the moon is out and the ship is quiet.”
The dragon looked at Camicazi and titled its head to the side. “That’s right,” Camicazi closed her eyes, “when the ship is all quiet.”
***
Camicazi’s hand felt warm, then cold, then warm again. It was dark but bright stars speckled the sky like a million, tiny, Fireworms. The full moon cast it’s light onto the ship and surrounding water. She could see the dragon’s head pressed up against his cage letting out puffs of smoke from his nose.
“Were you breathing on me then? Trying to wake me up? Aye, so, then we are friends, yeah? What ya think? Is now a good time to break us free?” The dragon gave a soft chirp. “All right then hold still. I need to get that muzzle off you first. We’re going to need what ever fire you’ve got in there.”
She slipped her hand into her neighbor’s cage “Those stupid dragon hunters, they should have known not to put our cages next to each other.”
Studying her for a moment the dragon pulled his head back so that her hand was right above his face. Slowly he tilted up his muzzle until her small, slightly trembling fingers were resting on his nose—and stayed.
Camicazi let out a soft whistle,“You are a rare one aren’t you? Well, let’s get on with it, shall we?” Slipping her hand to the left side of his face she tugged and pulled until the dragon heard three clicks. His ears flickered at the sound. She then slipped her hand to other side and there were another three clicks.
“Now, I’m going to take this muzzle off, but you must not do anything till we are out of the cages. Do you understand me? I don’t know what you’re capable of but it will be worthless if they see I’ve freed your mouth but we’re still locked up.” The dragon gave a sort of snort and nodded his head.
“By Thor you do understand.” Slowly so that the chains didn’t make a lot noise, Camicazi slid off the muzzle. The dragon gave his head a shake and smiled at her. She smiled back, “You are something else.”
Moving to the lock on her cage, Camicazi pulled out a compact leather parcel from under her coat. Carefully she unwrapped it and pulled out a thin, silver hook. “Oy! I dropped it.”
She began to feel around the cage when a soft purplish light glowed next to her. “Here it is here,” she showed the dragon and saw the low flame from his mouth. “Out dragon, out, that’s enough. I found it. We don’t want anyone to notice your light.” She began working on the lock, paused and turned back “That was pretty amazing friend, thank you.”
Two, four, five clicks, then Camicazi cautiously pushed open the cage door. The dragon stomped his feet and tried to move around his cage. “Easy boy, easy, stay still. I’ll get you out, let me just make sure…” Camicazi crawled out and waited to feel or hear any movement coming toward them. “All right then, your turn.” Again, five clicks and the dragon’s door popped open.
“Come out slowly.” The dragon listened and crawled out. When he was fully out he straightened up and stretched out his wings. Camicazi let out a breath of amazement. "You are magnificent.” The dragon licked her face.
“Okay boy, thank me later. First we need to get off this ship. Can you fly?” In response the dragon flapped one wing then another. “All right good, there’s just one thing I need to do first. You stay here in the shadows and when I call, you fly over the side of the boat and meet me at the bow.” She pointed, not knowing if the dragon knew the parts of a ship. But the dragon chirped and sank into the shadow. “Amazing,” Camicazi breathed.
She crept around, hiding behind poles and barrels, until she spotted him. “Oh, that lazy doof.” If Hammerhead had been asleep, the job would have been easy peasy. But for the talent of Camicazi, any burgling was a breeze. She snuck around and with the flair only a Bog-Burglar could display, pulled his sword from the sheath. Not making a sound, she continued until she was standing on the tip of the bow.
“OY! Bone head.” She yelled “I told you’d regret the day you messed with a Bog-Burglar.”
The dragon hunter jumped to his feet, considered a moment the shouting girl waving her arms, then reached for his sword.
“Ooh, are you looking for this? Well, a small girl stole it, right from under your big fat hairy nose. I hope it was given to you by your father and he got it from his father and he got it from his father. And now you can tell your son about the day it was stolen—by a girl.” During her exceptional exit speech Camicazi had been slowly inching her way back towards the edge of the boat. When she finished, the dragon hunter’s sense came rushing back to him and he charged toward her.
Not only was Camicazi the greatest burglar in the Archipelago, (or so says her mother, Big Boobied Bertha) but also an amazing escape artist. She waited until Hammerhead was only a foot away until she yelled “Dragon” and jumped off the side of the ship.
The cold water stung like biting nano dragons. Camicazi kicked her feet, willing her petite frame to the surface. Something else hit the water pushing her down again. She felt the large mass swim under her and she grabbed the dragons neck, closed her legs around his back and gave him a gentle kick letting him know she was ready.
They soared up through the water into the night sky. Camicazi let out a whoop of joy and thrill. Leaning down close to the dragon’s ear she said, “Hey friend, why don’t you show me what that purple glow can really do.” She guided him toward the boat, “Let’s make sure these dragon hunters hunt no more.”
A roar resonated across the sea. The dragon flew over the boat shooting out blast of purple fire all along the deck. He flew up and back around, hitting the sails. “Woo hoo!” Camicazi pumped her fist in the air. “Good shooting my friend. Come on, let’s get out of here before they have a chance to fire back.”
Camicazi shivered as the chilly air blew around her. The moon was still bright, but now a little lower in the sky. Stars sparkled all around them, singing their lullabies. Camicazi took a deep breath. The adrenaline that flowed during the great escape was easing up. Her body shuttered again. She was sweating through her already wet clothes.
Laying her head down on the dragon’s neck she hugged him. “I’m going to call you Ziggerastica, after the king of all dragons.”
Ziggerastica turned his head slightly to peer at the girl. He could feel the heat penetrating off of her as she shivered, again. “I’m so cold.” She whispered “maybe we can find a place to rest for a while and get warm.”
The girl’s eyes fluttered, open and shut, open and shut. He felt her grip around him loose ever so slightly. He slowed his flying a little, keeping perfect balance so she wouldn’t fall. The dragon’s sharp eyes searched the ocean for land. Camicazi’s grip was weakening as her breathing became more steady and her heart rate slowed to an even beat.
Ziggerastica flew until the moon was low in the sky and a sliver of pink stretched out in the east and he spotted land. Beating his wings harder and careful not tip his sleeping rider, he flew close to the shore until he saw a small patch of beach.
He landed and crouched down until his belly lay on the ground. Pulling his wings close to his body, he turned over until Camicazi fell onto the sand. He licked her hot and salty face. She didn’t open her eyes but her body trembled.
Ziggerastica breathed a line of purple fire around the girl and himself, then lay close covering her with his wing. She had saved him from the dragon hunters, he would now and forever, protect her with his life.
***
The dragon’s sleep was shallow and dreamless. Dawn turned to morning and morning into day and still Camicazi slept. Ziggerastica nudged her with his forehead. When she didn’t respond he went to the water, ate some fish then coughed up half for her. She didn’t move. He roared and pounded his front paws on the sand. He nudged his face against her hand and she made a soft groan. Blowing another ring of fire he let out another roar and laid next to her. If nothing else, he would wait.
As the color of the sky changed from blue to a deep red, Ziggerastica went to the water again for food. While he was chewing, his ears flicked. Wings spread, he jumped, and sped to his girl. Crouching on hind legs, he positioned his front legs in an attack pose. He bared his teeth and let out a warning growl. Twigs snapped louder as strange smells got closer.
“Slow down, we don’t know for sure that was a dragon.”
“I know that roar.”
Two men emerged from the trees. The taller, more muscular one wore all black. The smaller one made a clinking sound when he walked. Ziggerastica followed the sound down the man’s body where one leg was different, smaller and grey.
“Toothless!”
“Hiccup, wait!”
Ziggerastica stepped back and fired a warning shot as the men came nearer.
“Cale,” Hiccup said looking at the dragon’s tail “That’s not my Toothless.”
Cale rubbed his face with his hand, “I thought Grimmel killed all the Night Furies?”
“That’s what he said, but think about it. How could he know if he really had killed them all?” Hiccup stretched out his hands towards Ziggerastica and laughed nervously. “I mean clearly, he didn’t kill all of them.”
Hiccup took two steps closer to the new Night Fury, putting his hands up in surrender. “Hey there.”
“Hiccup” Cale said “There’s a body behind him.”
Hiccup tried to focus on the body but clumps of clouds were blocking out the moonlight.
Cale stood next to Hiccup, sword drawn. “It’s either killed him or protecting him.”
Hiccup shrugged. “Unfortunately there’s only way to find out. You'll need to put your sword away and step back.”
“What if the dragon attacks?”
“Then I’m glad I’ve got the Queen’s best guard behind me?” Hiccup gave Cale a crooked smile.
“Alright. I know you once were the best dragon trainer but I’m afraid you might be a little rusty.” Cale sheathed his sword and stepped back a few paces.
“I’m a little afraid of that myself.” Hiccup said as he inched toward the dragon.
“Hello friend, my name is Hiccup. I had a dragon just like you, but we’ve never seen another Night Fury—ever. So this is, well, pretty exciting if you ask me.”
The dragon was watching his every move. “I’m not going to hurt you or your friend.” Hiccup lifted his hands, palms facing up. “In fact, I might be able to help him if you let me close enough.” He reached arm’s length and stopped.
“I promise you, we are your friends. We only want to help. Will you let us?” Hiccup stretched out one hand and waited. Ziggerastica sniffed the outstretched hand before pushing his head into it. “That’s it fellow,” Hiccup took his other hand and scratched under the dragon’s chin, “do all Night Furys like this?” When the dragon began to purr Hiccup said, “I guess so.” He laughed as the dragon’s whole body relaxed. “Now let’s have a look at your friend.”
Hiccup waved Cale over and knelt down next to the body. “He’s a woman! I don’t recognize her, but I’d guess she’s about 19, 20, your age.” He said when Cale had knelt by her head. “I think the crest on her belt is from the Bog-burglar clan. I’ve heard of them, but…what is she doing way out here, with a Night Fury?”
Cale pointed at her shoulder. “She’s been bleeding.” He felt her forehead and cheeks. “She’s also burning up and very pale. We need to get her up to the village.”
He moved around to her side and started to lift her up, but the dragon pushed him aside and growled.
“No friend.” Hiccup put his hand on the top of the Night Fury’s nose. “She’s very hurt and needs our help.”
Ziggerastica tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. He sniffed Hiccup and then Cale. He gave Cale another growl but then stepped aside.
Cale picked up Camicazi and Hiccup said, “Move slowly. I think he will stay very close to you.”
They walked through the trees until they came to a set of stone steps. Cale took the lead, Ziggerastica bouncing up the steps close behind, and Hiccup taking up the rear. At the top of the mountain a group of people stood with torches. A women with a long blonde braid stepped forward. “Hiccup?” She looked from Hiccup to the new dragon back to Hiccup. Her mouth opened in question and disbelief.
“I know Astrid, I know, but this girl, she’s sick.”
Astrid saw the girl limp in Cale’s arms. “Mala,” she called to someone in the group. “Hiccup needs help.”
Mala was a tall woman, with short blonde hair. She wore all black with lines of gold across her shoulders and belt. As she approached, Ziggerastica moved in front of Cale and Hiccup, and snarled.
“Careful,” Hiccup called to the others “He’s very protective of her.”
Mala stopped “Cale will need to bring her to the healer.”
Giving his wife a quick kiss Hiccup turned and addressed the leader of the Defenders of the Wing. “Mala, we found them on the beach. I don’t know anything except this dragon was protecting her and she’s sick.”
Mala gave her head a quick nod “If the dragon trusts her then so shall we.”
Astrid grabbed Hiccup’s hand and squeezed it. “Hiccup, a Night Fury?”
“It’s unbelievable Astrid.”
The grouped walked until they reached a large gate. To the sides of the iron doors stood walls fifteen feet high where soldiers stood, bows loaded and ready. One of the men from below called out for the entrance to open for their queen and the archers lowered their weapons. The gates gave a loud clang, opening inward, moving slow as if to show how heavy and impenetrable they really were.
As they entered, Cale turned towards the right, but Mala stopped and motioned for Hiccup and Astrid to do the same. “Cale will bring her to the healer. The dragon will follow. We must find his trust so he will let us examine him. He could be hurt as well.”
Astrid spoke first “Hiccup will be able to. You know his way, Mala.”
Hiccup smiled at his wife. She’d never lost faith him. “I need Fishlegs. I can calm the Night Fury, but Fishlegs is the doctor.”
“Follow Cale. I will send for Fishlegs. He will meet you at Old Wrinkly’s” Mala nodded to her friends and walked on.
Astrid narrowed her eyes at Hiccup. “What have you figured out already? I know you’re not saying it all.”
Hiccup sighed. “I really don’t know much, Astrid. The girl is a Bog-Burglar. I’ve read about the tribe, but never met one. There was a crest on her belt that makes me think she might be the daughter of the Chieftess. If she is, she’s a long way from home.”
“And what about the Night Fury?” Astrid asked
“He’s older than Toothless, I think by a lot. And he’s bound to the girl. There wasn’t a saddle on the beach and he doesn’t look like he’s had gear on. I don’t know if Bog-Burglars are dragon riders…” Hiccup faded off trying to remember what he knew about the tribe.
Astrid interrupted his thoughts, “I thought all the dragon’s left. I thought they all went to the hidden world.”
Hiccup put his focus back on Astrid, “All of our dragons went, yes. But what if there are more dragons out there, from places we’ve yet to explore?”
Shouting interrupted the conversation. Hiccup and Astrid ran to the yelling and growling. The Night Fury was standing in front of a hut, wings out, teeth bared. A few trees were on fire and there was a commotion to put them out.
Hiccup called to the soldiers to relax their weapons and take a step back. “He’s scared. Where’s Cale, where’s the girl?”
“I’m over here, Hiccup. He won’t let us in.” Cale was kneeling on the ground, the girl resting on one arm.
“Step back!” Hiccup spoke more forcefully to the group and this time they took three steps back.
He came close to the dragon, but didn’t touch him. “I know you’re scared, but please trust us,” He motioned around him “all of us. The man inside this hut will help your friend. You can watch from the window.” The dragon loosened up but didn’t move from the door.
A bit exasperated Hiccup walked to the window and pointed in. Old Wrinkly waved from his rocking chair, waiting calmly to see his patient.
Ziggerastica followed Hiccup and looked into the small stone house. He could see a bed, bottles, a fireplace with a strong fire blazing and a very, very old man rocking in a chair, smoking on a pipe. The old man looked at the Night Fury and winked.
The dragon walked over to the girl and licked her face, she didn’t respond and felt hotter than before. Cale looked directly into the dragon’s eyes. “I’m not sure how much you can understand, but I think she might be dying.” He lifted up her head, trying to get her close to the dragon. The dragon nudged her and rubbed his face on hers. She lay still, her breathing very shallow. Cale rubbed the dragon’s cheek. “She has a fever, she looks like she hasn’t had food or water for days, and she’d bled quite a bit. Please, let us help her.” The dragon whimpered, put his head down and walked over to Hiccup.
Cale stood swinging the girl up in his arms. He walked fast so the dragon couldn’t change his mind and brought the girl though the door of Old Wrinkly’s. Astrid followed closing the door behind her.
Hiccup placed his forehead on the scared dragon’s and rubbed under his chin. “They will help her, I promise.” The dragon whimpered but stayed close.
“Hiccup!” Fishlegs, a man Hiccup’s age, but much, much bigger came from around the corner. He pulled at his beard “What in the name of Thor?”
“I know, I know” Hiccup said “I found him on the beach; protecting a girl.”
“This means…”
Hiccup interrupted “there are other Night Furys.”
Fishlegs squeezed his hands together and squealed. “Where did they come from? Does she have more? What…”
“She’s unconscious. She’s in with the Old Wrinkly now.”
“Well, let’s see what we can find out from him then.” Fishlegs walked up close, reaching out his hand. “Hello, boy. Have you had a rough time? Would you mind if I take a look at you. Make sure there’s no broken bones or anything?”
Ziggerastica sized up Fishlegs. He was the size of the dragon hunters but had kinder eyes, his voice softer. He had no weapons either. The dragon pushed his head into Fishlegs’ hand.
“That’s a good dragon” He began walking around, giving commentary. “Look, Hiccup.” He lifted one wing. “There are fresh cuts and old scars. The fresh ones are definitely from a blade but I’d say the old ones are from claws.” Examining the scales on the dragon’s back and tail he continued, “Yup. There are more scars, definitely from claws. I’d say this fellow has been in a few good fights with dragons and just recently met up with some Vikings. He’s old too, really old. Look at the growth here on the tail and missing scales under here.”
Hiccup looked closely, “Can you make a guess?”
Fishlegs gave a long whistle, “Two hundred, maybe three?”
The old friends took a moment and let the truth sink in. There were other Night Furies, and there have been other Night Furies for hundreds of years.
“Do you know what this means, Hiccup?”
“Grimmel didn’t get to all of them.”
“Thank Thor.” Fishlegs clapped his hands, “Back to business. Let’s see what kind of flame he’s got. He scratched the Night Furies ear and then pressed his thumb into side of his throat. The dragon coughed and spit out a purplish fire ball.
Fishlegs continued poking at the new dragon, “He’s got a good set of teeth. His tongue is nice pink. Looks healthy.”
The dragon gave a moan at Fishlegs and motioned with his head toward the hut.
“He’s so smart, Fishlegs. He’s worried about the girl.” Hiccup said
“Then let’s go see how your friend is doing.” Fishlegs and Hiccup led Ziggerastica to look in the windows on either side of the hut.
“She’s asleep.” Cale was sitting outside the door whittling. “Astrid helped clean her wounds. She’s still very hot and not responding, but our healer was able to give her some drink.”
“Where is Astrid now?” Hiccup asked
“Old Wrinkly asked her to get fish for the dragon.”
“Can we go inside?” Fishlegs asked.
Cale nodded and moved aside, but the old man appeared in the doorway.
“I think she might need him.” The shaky voice pointed to the Night Fury. “It will be tight, but he’ll fit.” Old Wrinkly shuffled to the dragon and coaxed him through the doorway. Once inside the dragon laid next to the bed keeping his eyes on the girl.
Old Wrinkly tinkered with some bottles until he carried a small vile toward the girl. Carefully he raised her head and put drops into her mouth. “This is for her strength,” he said talking to the dragon, “and this is for yours.” The healer pointed to the bowl on the floor, next to the dragon.
“Warm sheep’s milk for your belly. It will help you rest too, old friend.” Old Wrinkly rubbed the Night Fury’s head. The old man smelled of the earth and Ziggerastica liked it.
While the dragon drank, Old Wrinkly lit his pipe, took a few puffs and began to sing. The dragon’s head swayed with the tune. The old language drew out memories the dragon had long forgotten. His head eased into his front paw, his eyes fluttered shut, and he fell asleep.
***
Ziggerastica dreamt of people with skin as black as his. He felt the boy climb his back and whisper in his ear. They would fly at night, invisible. Sneaking off to meet other Night Furies and their humans from the surrounding villages. Together, human and dragon would talk.
The boys would discuss ways of uniting the villages while the dragons discussed ways of keeping them apart. Right now they were equals, fighting side by side. If the humans stood together, would they need their dragons or would they treat them as pets?
Some of the Night Furies remand faithful to their humans; their friends. But others, grew restless and anxious. They waited until the humans were grown and beginning their plans of solidarity. The rogue animals called to the dragon Furious, a great sea dragon. So large that when he rose from the depths of the ocean he blocked out the sun. They woke him from his hibernation and his anger raged against them, human and dragon alike. Many of the dragons fled with their eggs, but most stayed and fought.
The battle spanned days, into weeks, into months. A dragon as large and savage as Furious could not be easily beaten. They tried to weaken him. But he gulped up all who came in his path. When Furious grew tired and full he returned to the sea leaving the land desolate, the air full of burning earth and flesh.
What humans were left were now scared of the dragons and forced them away. What dragons were left scattered throughout the earth, slowly forgetting their humans, their language, even their own kind.
But now Ziggerastica remembered. He had been there. He had fought Furious, stood by his boy who had grown to be Chief.
The dragon shook himself awake and looked at the old man who was still singing in Dragonese. Ziggerastica gurgled in his throat trying to remember the old sounds.
Hiccup and Fishlegs had been sitting talking. They turned now and gazed at Ziggerastica.
“I’ve never heard Toothless make those sounds.”
“No,” Old Wrinkly shook his head “that’s because Toothless never learned Dragonese.”
“Dragonese?” Fishlegs asked
“I had a friend,” began Old Wrinkly,“It was a song that her mother had taught her and her grandmother had taught her mother and her grandmother’s mother had taught her grandmother and, so on and so on. She told me a story of the great Dragon War of her people. Before the war, man and dragon were equals, talking together in the language of the dragons, Dragonese. She did not understand what the song said, it had been lost generations ago, but she believed there might still be dragons who did. Sometimes she would try it out on wild dragons and they would relax in her presence. Her mother said the song was part of the legend of her people’s dragon. She knew their dragon was an all-black, long and lean, with a purple flame, invisible at night, and faster than all other dragons.”
Hiccup bounce up on his knees with excitement, “Night Furies? Night Furies were her people’s dragon?”
“Yes,” Old Wrinkly nodded his head.
He paused a moment puffing on his pipe, waiting for Fishlegs or Hiccup to ask a question, but they sat like children, mouths open, anticipating more of the story.
The old man cleared his throat. “She was very old when I met her, but the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. Her skin was the darkest I’ve ever seen. Even the colors on her clothes were different, coming from plants I have never heard of. I didn’t travel far from home; but she had. Months, she told me, maybe years to get to her land. A large land, bigger than all the islands of the Archipelago. She traveled alone, never having married or children. I was so young and eager to learn from any who practiced healing.”
He rocked back and forth a bit, taking a few more puffs, then pointing his pipe at the two men. “She was also a great healer of dragons. She’d sing this song to soothe them and treat them with special herbs and spices. She took me on as her apprentice until she got restless and moved on from here. During our time together she gave the song to me. She was afraid it would be lost and forgotten.”
Old Wrinkly turned a little in his rocking chair and looked at Hiccup. “I sang it to Toothless the first time you came to our island. He relaxed but didn’t speak back to me. I knew he had been the dragon of the legend, but I guessed he had been a hatchling or born after the great war.”
Hiccup stood up “You sang it to Toothless? Why didn’t you tell me this story back then?”
Fishlegs stood up too, “Was this Night Fury talking to you in Dragonese?”
“Do other dragons speak it?” Hiccup asked
Fishlegs piggy-backed on Hiccup’s question “Can you translate it?”
“Who have you taught the song too, why haven’t you taught me…?”
Old Wrinkly put up his hands, interrupting Hiccup. “I wasn’t sure of you at first and when Toothless gave no response I thought maybe some of the legend was just that, a legend. I don’t know what the words mean and neither did the wanderer. I have tried to sing it to other dragons with no success.” He shrugged “I suppose it is time that I teach the song to you.”
Hiccup placed both hands on his head “This means there are other Night Furies out there?”
“Perhaps,” said Old Wrinkly, “Grimmel traveled far in his search for them. I would think they are few and far between. They must have spread out across the world.” He turned toward the dragon. “Now drink the rest of your milk and rest.”
Ziggerastica drank and quickly fell asleep. This time he dreamt he was hunting a large gray animal with round, floppy ears and a long, curly nose. His boy rode on his back shouting his battle cry and whooping with joy as they swept in for the kill.
***
Ziggerastica woke up and jumped to his feet; his heart pounding, the room dark, the fire—only embers. His dragon eyes surveyed every inch of the room. No danger, only moonlight shining on the girl. His girl. His heart beat relaxed. He stretched his back and padded his feet on the ground. Before lying down his forked tongue licked her face. This time she was no longer hot. He was so pleased he licked her again. Her head moved suddenly and it startled him. He jerked back knocking over a small table, sending a pitcher of water crashing to the ground.
Cale appeared in the door a torch in one hand, sword drawn in the other. Camicazi sat up in bed confused by the noises and screamed in pain. Grabbing her head she laid back down and moaned. Cale moved quickly to the bedside and noticed the spilled water and broken pottery. “Dragon! You must be more careful.” He sheathed his sword and hung the torch on the wall.
“Don’t scold him yak brain,” Camicazi said, her hands still on her head. “He didn’t mean it. Ohhhh” her face scrunched up in agony.
Cale moved to touch Camicazi’s head but she swatted his hand away. “Get away from me, you can’t keep me captive here.”
He laughed, “Some prison you’re in. A healer’s house with food and fire. Your own personal dragon keeping you guard.”
She squinted her eyes and tried to look around. “Where am I? Who are you? How did I get here? Why are you keeping me here”
“You are on the island of Caldera Cay. Chief Hiccup and I found you and your dragon on the beach. We brought you here to the healer because you were very sick.”
Camicazi groaned. She knew she had been sick, but she didn’t like that someone else did too. “Who are you?”
“I am Cale, loyal guard of Queen Mala and King Dagur of the Defenders of the Wing. What is your name?”
“Well, Cale, soldier of the Queen and King, I am Camicazi, daughter to the Chieftess Big Boobied Bertha of the Bog-Burglar tribe. And I have a terrible headache.”
“You have been asleep too long. I’ll get you some water.” Cale gave a sideways look at the dragon who responded by copying him.
Ziggerastica came close to Camicazi and nuzzled her belly. She laughed and wrapped her arms around him, “Hi there Ziggerastica. I dreamt of you while I was asleep. You licked my face a lot and stayed close. And now here you are, right by my side. So I am yours and you are mine, yes?”
Ziggerastica chirped and twitched his lips up. “Yes, then? Good! And how are you doing here, okay? Have they been nice to you?”
Cale came back in with water and food for Camicazi. “After you eat, there are a few people who would like to meet you.”
“Ahh, the King and Queen have come to honor me, yeah?” She eased her body to sitting and took the bowl from Cale, smiling at him.
He smiled back. “Your visitors are from Dragon’s Edge. Chief Hiccup had a Night Fury like you. And up until yesterday he was the only one.”
“Ziggerastica is a Night Fury then? I’ve heard stories of a dragon rider with a Night Fury. But we never saw them in Bog.” Camicazi rested the bowl in her lap. “Have I been asleep for a whole day?”
“A day? No. You’ve been here for a week. Your fever finally broke this afternoon.”
“A whole week?” Camicazi groaned.
“I’m not sure how long you were on the beach for either? Do you know how long you’ve been away from home?” Cale asked
“I left on the full moon in Skerpla.”
Cale rubbed his beard “That was two full moons ago.”
A knock on the door brought their attention to Hiccup entering. He pulled a chair over and sat down next to the bed.
“Hello, I’m Chief Hiccup of the Hooligan tribe.”
“Camicazi, daughter of the chieftess of Bog.”
Hiccup let out a long whistle. “You are a Bog-Burglar then. I’ve heard fantastical tales of thievery about your people.”
Camicazi raised one eyebrow “And I’m sure they are all true.”
Hiccup pointed to the dragon. “How long has he been with you?”
“We found each other on a boat, in the middle of the ocean. I don’t know where I was. My ship got a little of course and I crashed somewhere.”
“I’d say more then a little of course.” Hiccup interrupted
Camicazi waved off his comment “Dragon hunters found me and when I woke up, I was in a cage next to Ziggerastica.”
“You named him Ziggerastica? After the king of all the Nano dragons?” Hiccup asked
“My mother used to tell me stories about the brave and strong nano dragons. I was, well still am, smaller than all the other Bog-Burglers and she told me how I can be better than all of them. I loved hearing stories of how little dragons were more fierce and braver and smarter than the greatest sea dragon. So I named him after my favorite one.”
“Where were you headed, when you got lost?” Hiccup asked
“To find America”
Cale snorted “The land that doesn’t exist?”
Camicazi gave her audience a sly look , “I wanted to know if that was true. So I stole a map from Norbert the Nutjob.” Camicazi laughed seeing the surprised look from her listeners. She continued in grand form, “I stole it right out of his pocket, in broad day light—of course he was asleep. Still, stupid fellow, took him three whole days to notice it was gone.”
She raised her arms putting her hands behind her head. “I made it home safe and sound and then headed out to find new land. I was only at sea for a few days when the storm hit, lasted quite a while. I didn’t see the sun but I’m sure it was a few days by the growling my stomach gave after it was over. Thank Thor, I crashed on that island.”
“You stole from the chief of the Hysteric Tribe? Are you trying to get yourself killed?” Hiccup asked
“Oh, he didn’t even know I was there. Easy peasy, it was.” Camicazi yawned “Are you the one with the other Night Fury.”
“Yes.” Hiccup swallowed hard. It had been seven years but still the thought of Toothless not being by his side made his stomach hurt. “And my dragon is, was, Toothless. Can you tell me more about these dragon hunters? How long were you on the ship? How long had the dragon, I mean, how long was Ziggerastica on the ship? Were there a lot of ships? Did they…”
Camicazi put up her hands. “Oy! I don’t know much. I was on the boat for a day, maybe two? That’s when things started to get fuzzy for me. I broke us out of the cages and Ziggerastica flew us away. After he destroyed the boat, of course. Do you know they shoot a deep purple fire? And they can shoot right on target, he was very specific when he shot. It was magnificent.
“Yes”, Hiccup nodded “Their fire is very unique. And what about the Dragon Hunters, there was only one boat?”
Camicazi’s eyes were closed but she answered. “Yes, one boat. And it was weird, you know? It was a merchant ship with a few supplies on deck. But they were definitely dragon hunters. I saw the mark.”
“They flew their flag on a merchant ship?” Cale looked at Hiccup, then gave a nod toward the almost sleeping Camicazi.
“Must have commandeered it” She said, fighting to stay awake.
Cale took the bowl off her lap and placed it on the side table. “You need to rest more. I will wake you in the morning to eat.”
Camicazi let him guide her down into the bed and rest her head on the pillow. She reached out and squeezed his arm. “Thank you” She whispered.
Hiccup walked Cale outside. “I need to get back to Berk. But I’ll return in a months time. Then we can make preparations to bring Ziggerastica to the dragon’s hiding place.”
Cale rubbed the back of his neck. “Do you think the dragon will leave her?”
“I’m sure it won’t be easy, but once he sees his own kind, I think he’ll be willing to stay.”
“And what about Camicazi?” Cale asked
Hiccup gave a long sigh. “She can recover here. When I return I’ll explain about the dragons and the secrecy of this place. I think she’ll be up for the journey home, by the time I return.”
“I don’t think that will be the problem.” Cale answered
***
After a few more days of Old Wrinkly’s disgusting, yet effective, healing potions, color returned to Camicazi’s cheeks. And after a few more weeks of Cale force feeding her, because according to their guest, she needed something more than fish and cabbage, her strength returned.
“Oy, why can’t I have a yak steak?” Camicazi asked Cale-again
“Because we only eat yak during a celebration feast.” He answered
“I’m here. Isn’t that enough for you to celebrate.” She pushed the fish around on her plate and stuck out her tongue.
He pointed his fork at her plate “All your nourishment is here.”
Camicazi sat up straight “I am a strong, grown woman of the Bog-Burglar tribe. This is merely a snack.”
Cale laughed.
“You mock me, but I could best you in any contest, with my arm in this sling.” Camicazi said
Cale narrowed his eyes and his lips went thin. “I accept the challenge.”
Camicazi jumped up pushing the bench over, sending Cale to the ground. She reached out a hand to help him up. “Well, then. Looks like you’re not off to a good start.” She helped him to standing. “Let’s go.”
Cale had been the youngest in the history of Caldera Cay to be promoted to Head of the Queen’s Guard. It was required of every first born to train and fight for their queen or king. His mother had been the first born and her father and his father before him.
He had wanted to be a fisherman like his father. He would come back with tales of dragons in the sea twice as big as their ships. His father had only sailed around the island but it gave Cale a taste for adventure, but he wasn’t given a choice.
His mother trained him until she was killed in battle, then his grandfather took over until he was thirteen and joined the school. He bested his schoolmates and even a few teachers. After saving King Dagur’s life during an attack by dragon hunters he was promoted to head of the queen’s guard.
So he knew he was good and he knew how to go easy on his opponents to make it a fair fight. But then this girl, who was no more than 20, only five years younger than him began to dance around while hurling insults. At one point she did an actually jig while telling him he wasn’t all that bad—for a boy.
“My mother was an excellent sword fighter” he said while trying to catch his breath. Camicazi had just jumped across five barrels and his arm was just beginning to ache from holding the sword up for so long.
“Aye, so you know that girls make the best sword fighters then.” Camicazi jumped off the last barrel, spun around, and poked Cale in the leg.
“OW! That’s it Camicazi, I’m not going easy on you anymore.”
Camicazi laughed “So you’ve been goin’ easy on me, have you? I’m shaking in my yak boots at what you might really do.” And just to drive it home, she shook her legs like two fish out of water.
Cale lunged his sword forward and Camicazi blocked it, He was quick with his return blow but she blocked every one. He knew he was quick and felt the satisfaction when she could no longer talk because she was out of breath from actually fighting. In the end though, she still bested him.
He had never fought anyone so hard before and lost. Actually, he had never lost before. It felt like a knot in his stomach, twisting inside-out while his heart beat irregularly.
“Camicazi, I have never lost before.”
Camicazi let out a whistle and grinned from ear to ear, but she saw his solemn face. “Are you serious? In your whole life you’ve never lost?”
Cale nodded “I was promoted to Captain of the guard when I was seventeen and then Head of the Queen’s guard when I was nineteen, the youngest in our history.”
“Well then you deserve to know that I am impressed.” Camicazi said
“I have the feeling you’ve never said that before?” Cale asked
She winked “Never to a boy.”
***
Queen Mala appointed Cale as Camicazi’s personal guard. It turns out that Bog-Burglers had quite the reputation and as Camicazi grew in strength, Queen Mala’s trust in her grew less and less. This greatly irked Camicazi; not the reputation of being a thief, because in fact she was. But she was an honest thief who would never steal from those who helped her. Still, she didn’t blame the queen for not believing that. But to be given a baby sitter was most annoying.
She did everything she could to lose Cale, but he knew this island better than she did. She did everything she could to annoy him, but he had five younger siblings and the patience of the gods.
So she gave up trying to get rid of him and decided to make the best of it. She followed him around instead asking all about the island and their life their. How they used to rescue dragons and hunt the dragon hunters.
They also began to talk about themselves. About the expectations that were put on them by their families and the adventures they wanted to take. They had more in common than she thought and he was the only sword fighter on the island that wasn’t boring for her to practice with. She found she actually enjoyed and looked forward to his company. A thought that surprised her and one she didn’t let herself think about too much.
“You know you could go home anytime?” Cale asked her. They h ad flown Ziggerastica around the island and Cale had landed them on one of the steep cliff edges. It was a small ledge that only the two of them could fit on. They had climbed down and sat watching the moonbeams dance on the ocean. Ziggerastica flew over the surface of the ocean, sometime dipping under and then flying high above the mountain until he disappeared in the clouds. He did this until he grew tired and finally rested right above them, waiting for the return trip to the village.
“Camicazi? Did you hear me? Old Wrinkly said you were well enough to go home.” Cale asked again
“I heard you. Are you trying to get rid of me then?”
“No of course not. I just wondered if you might want to go home.”
Camicazi pulled a rock out from under her legs and threw it down into the water. “I don’t want to go home.”
Cale waited for the rock to splash and then asked. “Where do you want to go?”
Camicazi shrugged her shoulders. She wanted to tell him that she didn’t really want to go anywhere. She was happy here, with Ziggerastica, with him.
“Chief Hiccup and Fishlegs will be back in two nights. They want to see how you and Ziggerastica are doing.”
“They don’t care about me. They’re just interested in my dragon. They want to take him away.” Camicazi looked up at her dragon and let out two short whistles. The dragon chirped back.
“Are you talking to him?” Cale asked
“Sort of. Old Wrinkly has told me all he knows about the Night Furies and how dragons used to talk. Can you imagine Cale? If he could really talk to us?”
Cale nodded in wonder.
“So I knew he understood me on the ship when we first met. I figured we could make our own language, so I could understand him too.”
“Is it working?”
“I think so, but he understands way more than me. I think he may be the more intelligent one.”
“I could have told you that.” Cale pushed his shoulder into Camicazi’s and she stuck her tongue out. “Camicazi, I don’t think Chief Hiccup wants to take Ziggerastica. He just wants to keep him safe. There used to be more dragon hunters then merchants near our islands.”
Camicazi stood up and began to climb back up to Ziggerastica.
“Hey!” Cale followed her “Don’t storm off.”
“I am not storming off, I just don’t want to talk anymore.”
“Well, next time you could just say so.”
“I just did.” Camicazi climbed onto the dragon and waited for Cale to do the same.
He stayed and scratched Ziggerastica until the dragon lay back down.
“What do you think your doing?” Camicazi said
“Talk to me Camicazi.”
She climbed off the dragon’s back and sighed. “I love him and he loves me. I’m afraid of losing him when I only just found him.”
“He doesn’t belong to anyone.” Cale said
“Tell that to him.” Camicazi thrusted a finger at Ziggerastica “Do you see any chains? Am I forcing him to stay with me? What do you think his choice is?”
Cale lightly put his hands on Camicazi arms. “Yes, he loves you too. We can all see that. Just hear Hiccup out. If Ziggerastica doesn’t want to go, no one can make him. But maybe if he had the choice he might choose his own kind?”
“I wouldn’t” Camicazi pulled back and snuggled her face against the dragon’s. He purred softly “I think we might be a lot alike. I think the gods knew we needed each other.”
***
“It’s too dangerous here for dragons, and there is a place where they are hidden and safe.” Hiccup had returned from Berk the day before and had been arguing with Camicazi from the moment he set foot off the ship.
Camicazi put her hands on her hips. “And just who do you think you are? Telling me what to do with Ziggerastica?”
“I am the chief…” Hiccup began but she didn’t let him finish.
“And I am the daughter of the chieftess, who I might say isn’t doing very well at the moment, which makes me the almost chieftess.”
Hiccup squeezed the bridge of his nose. “I don’t think that’s how it works.”
“No matter,” She answered “it means I don’t have to listen to you.”
He raised his hands in an almost surrender “I have fought and trained dragons for most of my life, you’ve had one for, what, a month? I think I know what’s best for Ziggerastica.”
Camicazi stood up and threw opened the door of Old Wrinkly’s hut. She marched outside and sang “Ziggerastica?”
In moments the black dragon came bounding up to her, Fishlegs running after him.
“Oh” He said when he saw the dragon licking Camicazi’s face “I was checking his teeth when he suddenly clamped his mouth shut, almost biting my head off I might add, and came running.”
Camicazi put her hand on her hip. “See, Hiccup.”
“I understand the bond you have. Believe me, I do.” He pointed at Fishlegs “We all do. But you’re putting him in danger. As long as there are dragons flying and roaming our land and sea, there will be dragon hunters.” He scratched Ziggerastica under his chin. “But he can be safe and with his own kind.”
“Some of us choose our own kind, Hiccup.”
He tried to make eye contact with Camicazi, but she kept her head down.
“Don’t you want that for him? Don’t you want him to be safe?”
She nodded her head and hugged her dragon’s neck.
“Alright, we’ll prepare for the journey and leave in two days.”
That night as Camicazi rummaged around the food bin a voice from behind startled her.
“Late night snack?”
She pulled a dagger from her boot, turned, and pointed it at Cale.
He raised his arms and smirked. “Did I catch the famous burglar off guard? Or maybe,” he motioned toward the two baskets that sat next to her “planning an escape?”
She pushed the tip closer to his face. “Don’t even think about getting in my way.”
“Why are you leaving?” Something like sadness flashed across his eyes, but it was too quick for even Camicazi to notice.
She shrugged “I never did find America.”
Cale put his hands down and gently moved the dagger out of his face. “I won’t try to stop you.” He said “Maybe I can help. I can lead you to the ships below and there’s a small one that…”
“I don’t need a ship” Camicazi interrupted pushing a rock around the ground with the tip of her boot
“But Chief Hiccup said…”
“I don’t care what he said.” Tears streamed down her face. “Queen Mala said that Ziggerastica was free to leave anytime. Hiccup says he needs to be with other dragons. It seems everyone else can decide what’s best for my dragon except me. I just found him Cale. We saved each other. I can’t leave him. Not yet.”
She put her dagger away and finished packing the baskets with food.
Cale silently followed her to Ziggerastica. She tried tying the baskets on with rope, but it kept sliding around whenever the dragon moved. Frustrated, Camicazi kicked the basket spilling apples, dried yak meat, and dragon nip.
“I might have something that will help.” He said
Ziggerastica picked up an apple and chewed on it. “No, no. Don’t eat that.” Camicazi got on her hands and knees and dragged the basket along, picking up the spilled food. “We need this for our journey.”
Cale returned carrying something large and brown.
“Is that a saddle?” Camicazi asked as Cale place it on Ziggerastica’s back.
“Hold still, dragon.” Cale said in a huff. “If you let me put it on straight, it won’t hurt.” Cale stepped back, then adjusted a strap. Ziggerastica stretched and scratched at the device, then pranced around a bit, before sitting down again.
“We have some artifacts from the dragon riders. You can attach the baskets here.” He picked up a basket and attached it to one side of the saddle, then did the same on the other side.
He reached out his hand “Would you like to try it out?”
“Thank you Cale.” Camicazi pushed her hair back and began to braid it. “Hiccup said that as long as there are dragons in our lands and waters there will be dragon hunters.” She pulled a ribbon off her belt and tied it around the bottom of the braid. “But what about other lands? Maybe there are still places where humans and dragons live together?”
Cale put his hand over hers. “Camicazi,” he said softly “Can I come too?”
“What?” She jerked her hand away and tried to turn, but Cale caught her arm. He turned her to face him and put his hands on her shoulders.
“I’ve never left this island. And I’ve never met anyone like you. Please? Let me come. You can be in charge!” He added quickly “Then, when our adventure is over, maybe we can come back here and…” He wanted to say have a life together, but the words caught, afraid of how they would be received.
“What if I don’t want to come back?” Camicazi asked
Cale crossed his arms. “Is that really your plan? What about your home and your duty as the Chieftess’ daughter?”
“They’re fine without me.”
“And Ziggerastica?”
“If he’s ever in any real danger, then I’ll come back. But Hiccup hasn’t been everywhere. Don’t you think the world is bigger than we know? There must be others. Don’t you want to find out?”
“Yes.” Cale lightly touched Camicazi’s fingers with his own “With you.”
She let him intertwine their fingers then gave his hand a squeeze. “Alright then, what do you think Ziggerastica?”
The dragon licked Cale’s face then nudged Camicazi closer to him. Her face turned red and she quickly pushed herself back brushing stray hairs from her face.
Cale laughed. “I believe that’s a yes.”
She smiled “Alright, but you said it yourself, I’m in charge.”
He smiled back. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Together they climbed onto Ziggerastica’s back and flew up into the darkness.