"How much further? We've been flying for almost an entire day" Thyra moaned as they were all worn out from flight.
"Not long now, we should be able to see the island in a bit" Rune answered.
"That's what you said an hour ago and we still haven't seen anything" Sten said in annoyance. "I'm beginning to question if you really know where we're going"
"I don't think Rune would drag us out here if he didn't know what he was doing. Just have a bit more faith" said Forde.
Rune looked to him and nodded acknowledging his words of encouragement and his help in trying to maintain a sense of calmness among them.
"Well the map did say it would take a full day's flight to get there and it's late in the afternoon now so I guess it won't belong until we see the island" Vyra added trying to keep their hopes up.
It wasn't just the humans feeling tired, the dragons were also feeling the fatigue as well. They were all eager to get to this island as quickly as possible. After fifteen more minutes of flying, Rune looked through his spyglass and saw the silhouette of an island resembling the one on his map through a cloud and now he began to feel excited. He looked closer as the cloud passed and it was indeed Dragon's Edge, this filled his heart with joy that he hadn't led he and his friends to their death.
"Look alive guys. Dragon's Edge awaits" he announced as the faces of humans and dragons lightened up.
"Really? Where?!" Sten said as he never felt so relieved before.
"Just up ahead" Rune answered.
"YES!" Thyra cheered. "Rune hadn't led us all to our graves after all!"
Her words caused them all to have a little laugh, lightening up the mood from what is was.
In forty five minutes the team arrived Dragon's Edge and all the dragons landed shakily with some groans. They were clearly tired. Rune rubbed the head of his dragon, knowing his state and promised to make it up to him.
"There, there boy. You can take a rest, we're here now" Rune said as he got off Sandstorm's back.
"So this is Dragon's Edge" Vyra said taking a look around seeing the wooden huts and platforms standing around the island.
"It looks like it needs some work" said Forde as he also looked at the structures.
"Work?! But we just got here" Sten whined as he wasn't in the mood to do a thing but rest at this point.
"We don't have to start anything serious right now" said Rune. "We can just check the places out and do a quick scan of what it would take to get each place hospitable. Right now, the main aim is to find a place to sleep"
"I agree, in our condition there isn't much we can do. Tomorrow is when we can really embark on any remodeling" Forde added, backing up Rune's point.
The team went their separate ways as they began checking out all the buildings and the most run down of them all were the watch towers, closely followed by the clubhouse and then the stables. Snotlouts hut had taken the most damage as it was run down and had partly collapsed, the others had dust, bits of their dragon heads missing and some holes in the ceilings but not completely run down.
"I think if we patch up the holes in the roof and dust the place, we can pass the night here. What do you think?" Rune asked Sandstorm as they stood in Hiccup's hut with some prototype tails still hung up on the wall as well as a shield.
Sandstorm nodded.
"Okay, let's get straight to it" Rune said.
Rune unpacked and opened all the windows as Sandstorm flapped hard to clear out some of the dust. Rune cleaned the sleeping area first and got to work on the roof, before he knew it, it was night time and then he heard a gentle knock on his door.
"Come in" he said.
The door creaked open as Vyra walked in to a dimly lit room.
"This place doesn't look that dirty" she said as she did a little inspection.
"I wouldn't say that. We just did some quick cleaning" Rune answered as he sat at the table next to Hiccup's bed.
"If you say so. The guys started a fire at the training arena and have some briskets and fish over the fire. Want some?" she asked.
"Sure, why not" Rune answered as he met up with her and they walked out. Sandstorm also followed.
"So which hut did you take?" Rune asked as they walked holding hands.
"Oh, I took that one" she said pointing to Astrid's hut. "It has weapons in it and even a ballista on the roof. It has everything my cousin would want"
"So we're neighbors huh"
"I guess so. We can always check up on each other and even stay up late with one another since our houses aren't to far"
"How late?"
"Late enough to do whatever you want" she said with a seductive tone as she bit the corner of her lip enticingly.
"Well sign me up" Rune said with some excitement.
Sandstorm hit Rune in the back with his tail, reminding them that he was around and shouldn't get caught on that train of thought killing the mood.
"Why do you have to be such a buzzkill?" Rune said angry that he had killed his chance for some private time.
Sandstorm chuckled as they arrived at the training arena.
"Look who finally decided to show up" Thyra said with a plate of fish in her hand as the other dragons encircled them.
"You better hurry up and eat or Sten would eat your share" Forde warned.
They heeded his warning knowing fully well that Sten would call no bluff when it comes to food. They enjoyed a wonderful meal under the night sky with each other and their dragons for company, this was a time for them to strengthen their bonds and also to reassure themselves of their decision.
"This place still needs some work. It would take us two to three days to get everywhere in tip top shape" Forde said.
"Indeed, it needs work but I reckon we can do it if we work together" Rune said.
"Yes, if we work together we can do it" Vyra emphasized.
"I wonder how our parents are doing. Waking up in the morning not to see any of their kids" Thyra said trying to imagine how her parents would feel.
Her words made them solemn as they reflected on what their day was like or what they were putting them through.
"I'm sure they are all full of concern" Forde said.
"But in time, they will realize that we needed this. Don't look down guys, everything will work out and we'll be fine" Rune assured them.
"Oh well" Sten said as he rose to his feet. "I'm off to bed. See you guys in the morning" he said with a yawn.
"I think I should also hit the hay" Forde said also standing up.
"Agreed" Vyra added.
Just as they were preparing to go to bed, they heard a loud screech come from above and then something crashed into the stables.
"What was that?" Vyra asked curiously.
"No Idea" Thyra answered.
"Come on guys, we have to check it out" Rune said as he and Sandstorm rushed to the stables.
"Come on, can't we just leave it till tomorrow?" Sten said.
"No, we have to go now" Forde said sternly.
Sten murmured and cursed under his breath as he and Eruptor joined up with the others and raced to the stables.
"What is it this time?" he asked as he saw the team hurdled around something.
"Check it out, it's a white night terror" Forde said. "They are known to be the leaders of their group and native to this island"
"Hiccup once told me about them and that Tuffnut named an Albino Night Terror just like this, Smidvarg" Rune said.
The dragon then opened his eyes as he heard it's name and thought that it was the humans that once lived on the island and they had returned but once his gaze steadied, it realized that they were different people. He took a defensive stance and growled at them.
"Hey, did he just respond to when you said Smidvarg?" Vyra asked as the dragon now looked at her confused at how it know her name.
"I think it did" Forde said.
"It's okay little guy, we're nut here to hurt you" Rune said with a calm voice as he tried to calm him down. He began to approach him slowly.
Smidvarg grunted and hissed at him not trusting him.
"We don't hurt dragons. See" Rune said as he turned to the side and placed his hand on Sandstorm's head.
"We mean you no harm" Rune said as that seemed to win him over but then the dragon soon grunted in pain as it held his side.
"He looks hurt" Thyra pointed out.
"You said these things move in groups and he's the leader right?" Sten asked.
"Yes?" Forde answered.
"So where are his buddies?" asked Sten.
They soon realized that and the effects it would entail. They rushed out of the stables and saw a pack of Night Terrors being attacked by Changewings.
"It seems they were under attack and he got hurt" Rune said analyzing the situation.
"And without their leader, they're easy pickings for the Changewings" Forde added.
"There must be something we can do" said Vyra with concern for the defenseless dragons.
"The only thing we can do is help them fight it out but what about Smidvarg?" Forde said.
"Don't worry, I'll watch him, you guys go. I'm too tired to figth anyway" Sten said with a yawn.
"Okay Sten" Rune said handing Smidvarg over to him. "Take good care of him" he said. "Mind giving us some help Eruptor?"
Eruptor nodded and joined them in the sky as they engaged the Changewings in battle.
"Say, you hungry?" he asked the little dragon who nodded.
"Great, I think I have some fish to spare"
The team made quick work of the Changewings and when they returned, they found Sten and Smidvarg fast asleep with the other cozied up in his arms.
"Guess he's just a big softie after all" Forde commented after seeing the sight.
Eruptor wasted no time curling up around the two as the rest of the Night Terrors flooded towards them and began to sleep.
"Goodnight guys" Rune said as he and Sandstorm began to walk towards their hut now.
The team called it a night and went in to sleep as they prepared for a busy couple of days.