We caught plenty of fish thanks to Flashwing, who wolfs them all down eagerly. While she has her fun I peck at a loaf of bread I brought in her saddle bag. I'm trying to keep it all for as long as I can for our big flight but it isn't the only food I have so it isn't the end of the world if I get too excited.

We enjoy our breakfast in relative
peace, the only interruptions being a few Terrible Terrors who decided they wanted to join us. I threw them a few small chunks of bread and they were on their way. Sweet things, really.

Once we've sorted ourselves out I mount Flashwing and we begin the flight home. I can't wait to play with the hatchlings, check in on my partners, have a nice hot meal... everything will just fall back into place as though the whole 'Dragon Master' fiasco never existed.

But of course we aren't so lucky.

"Leaving so soon?" A somewhat familiar voice questions. "I've stayed for more than enough time," I say to Heather, who is riding Windshear. The Razorwhip seems to be recovering well from her poisoning.

"Feeling better now, girl?" I ask her. She rawks in confirmation. "Why did you come all this way to help Windshear if you don't like leaving your island?" Heather asked. "If I didn't, it would go against all of my morals," I reply. "My sanctuary is set to help all dragons. I would never be able to forgive myself if I just left her in her condition. She's more important than my secrecy."

She's silent for a moment, then sighs. "Look, I'm sorry I freaked out on you yesterday. I was already anxious about Windshear and I-"

"Don't apologise for trying to protect your partner," I cut her off. "I should be the one apologising. If I'd known which island you were going to end up on, I would've come after you."

"Let's call it even," she shrugged. "Fine by me," I agree. "Now we'd better get going. It's a long way home."

"Just watch your back out there," She advised, flicking her gaze behind me. I take the hint and turn in time to catch Snotlout in the act of trying to sneak up on me. "Can I help you?" I snap at him.

He yelps out in surprise, almost falling off of Hookfang. Heather and I chuckle. "Actually, you ladies could help out by joining Hookfang and I on a little flight, if you think you can keep up," he smirks cockily.

"Oh please, Flashwing would leave you in the dust," I say. "Well, not Hookfang. I'm guessing he'll dump you in another tree or something, knowing him."

Even Hookfang laughs at this. Snotlout glares at him, but he just laughs harder. "Hookfang, stop it!" He snaps. Hookfang ignores him.

"As fun as it would be to rub Winshear's speed in your face, Snotlout, Astrid and I are going to have some girl time," Heather states. "Artemis, she said that if I see you to invite you to join us."

"Thanks for the offer, but I should get back home," I reply. "I can't leave my island for too long. It's dangerous."

"What's so dangerous about it?" Heather asks. "My partners are the ones defending the island," I explain. "Without me, they only have the patrols and the basic procedures to work with."

"Surely they can't be that defenceless without you," Heather says. "They're not, They're all just wonderful," I reply. "But I can't take any chances."

"Aren't you a bit young to be shutting the world out and defending lives?" She remarks. I chuckle. "Is there ever a right age to do so?"

"Got me there," she shrugged.

I hear a slap and a groan from where Snotlout is and notice he tried to get closer to us but Flashwing smacked his cheek with her tail before he could do so. A few tiny beads of red droplets form, but with the cut as shallow and thin as it is, I don't see it as any cause for real concern.

"That's what you get," I tell him. "Now I have to go. We've got plenty to do, haven't we, girl?" I look down to Flashwing and pet her. She rawks happily in response.

"How did you find her?" Heather asks, reaching out to Flashwing slowly. I nod slightly to my partner and she keeps a cautious eye on Heather but let's herself be stroked.

"There was a ship. It was full of dragon hunters. They had a few different dragon eggs. I took them back to my island and waited for them to hatch. When they did, Flashwing was among them. She's been an incredible partner to me ever since that day."

Flashwing purred at my story, nuzzling me with her head. I pat it gently. "That's incredible," Heather smiled. "What other dragons were there?"

"There was a Changewing, a Monstrous Nightmare, a Hideous Zippleback and a Scauldron," I tell her. "All of them still live there today. They're a big help to the sanctuary."

"You can tame Changewings and Scauldrons, too?" Heather seems impressed. "I've heard the myths, but I never thought you even existed, let alone could actually do everything the myths say you can."

"That's exactly the way I like it," I reply. "But can you tell me the myth? I need to know just how much of my business is common knowledge."

"It's said that the Dragon Master is elusive and stealthy," Heather began. "That he can tame any dragon he comes across. He has an island far away from any form of civilisation and on that island is a hidden dragon paradise, a sanctuary run by the Dragon Master himself for hundreds of dragons. Anyone who goes there either comes back empty-handed or stripped of their memories thanks to the Dragon Master's ability to erase memories."

"I find it worrying that most of that is accurate," I sigh.