The Rebirth Of A Dragon

Hiccup point of view:

The clearing stank of blood and scorched meat.

Charfang was a wreck.

His wings lay crumpled beneath him, shredded flaps of leather pinned awkwardly in the mud. His tail was nothing but a mangled stump, blood oozing sluggishly across blackened roots. Every breath he dragged in was a rattling wheeze, bubbling wetly in his chest.

But he was alive.

That was the point.

I sat there unmoving, massive paws planted in the churned dirt. My scales swallowed the moonlight, drinking it down until I was just another black shape among the trees. Only my eyes burned—twin green beacons in the dark. Each exhale fogged the cold air with emerald light that flickered and hissed across the ground.

I watched.

Luna circled him with slow, methodical steps. She wasn't frantic. She wasn't roaring anymore. She was quiet. Controlled. Her movements were sleek and precise, every muscle coiling and uncoiling with measured threat.

This wasn't rage.

This was punishment.

Her tail lashed once, slicing the air with a whip-crack that made even the undergrowth flinch. Her wings hung half-loose at her sides, not for flight—but to make herself look even bigger, blacker, a living shadow that moved with purpose.

She didn't bother wasting breath on threats in the human tongue.

No, she spoke in dragon.

Low. Guttural. Venomous rumbles, felt more than heard. Ancient words only I understood.

You thought I was prey.

Charfang whimpered—a wet, broken sound. He tried to drag himself back, claws scrabbling in churned mud, but there was nowhere to go. He was pinned by his own ruin.

You thought you could command me.

Her voice dripped contempt. Sparks of purple plasma flared between her teeth, the arcs crackling and popping in the cold air. She opened her jaws slowly, and a jet of superheated plasma kissed his forearm.

The flesh sizzled and split.

He screamed.

Astrid stood nearby. She didn't move. Her axe hung loosely at her side, blade dark with drying blood. She simply watched, eyes sharp and unblinking. This wasn't her vengeance to take anymore. She'd helped pin him down. That was enough.

This was Luna's right.

Because he hadn't threatened Astrid.

He'd threatened her.

My Luna.

My mate.

He'd spoken of her like property to be broken. A mount to be tamed.

And now he got to see the truth.

She wasn't something to tame.

She was Fury.

Luna advanced, slow and silent, until her nose brushed his ruined cheek. She inhaled, filling her lungs with the scent of his fear, his blood. He shuddered all over, trying to twist away, but there was no strength left in him.

She growled—a sound so low it seemed to vibrate the earth beneath us.

Say it.

He whimpered, coughing blood, eyes rolling.

She drew back just enough to let him see the plasma building between her fangs. The purple glow danced along the wet black of her scales, outlining her with ghostly menace. Heat rippled across the ground in shimmering waves.

Say you're mine.

He sobbed.

His mouth worked around broken teeth.

"I—I'm... y-yours," he stammered, voice shivering. Blood leaked from his split lip, drooling onto the dirt.

She leaned in until their foreheads pressed together. She closed her eyes, breathing in his terror. The plasma built brighter between her jaws.

She whispered it so softly even I almost missed it.

Too late.

And she fired.

A single, surgical burst. It wasn't big. It didn't need to be. It burned a hole through his shoulder in an instant, cooking flesh down to bone. The wound hissed and smoked, the scent of scorched blood so thick it gagged the clearing.

Charfang didn't even manage a real scream. Just a strangled wail that trailed off into a choking cough.

Astrid exhaled slowly. Her breath misted in the cold. She turned her gaze to me, her eyes cold but not unsympathetic. She dipped her chin once.

Acknowledgment.

Understanding.

She knew whose kill this truly was.

Mine.

I flexed my claws in the churned dirt, starlight gleaming in the cracks between black scales. My tail swept in a slow, sinuous arc, stirring scorched leaves and embers.

I let a low growl escape my chest—an approving sound. Old. Alpha.

Luna's eyes snapped to me.

She was panting, thick ropes of plasma drooling from between her fangs to sizzle in the dirt. Her eyes met mine across the carcass of our enemy. The fury in them was raw, primal—but there was something else too.

Relief.

She'd gotten her revenge.

But she hadn't taken the kill.

That was mine.

I flicked my tail once in silent command.

Stand down.

She didn't hesitate. She sucked in a breath, growled one last time at Charfang's twitching body, then lowered her head and backed away. Her tail lashed once more before settling behind her like a waiting serpent.

Astrid shifted as well, stepping back until she could lean against Stormfly's muscled side. She crossed her arms. The axe's blade tapped gently against her boot.

Waiting.

For me.

Charfang's eyes fluttered. One was swelling shut, the other bloodshot and panicked. He couldn't even lift his head. But he was conscious. Barely.

Good.

He needed to see it coming.

I rose from where I'd been crouched, my body unfolding to its full height. My wings cracked open slightly with a leathery snap, sending gusts of wind across the clearing. Emerald vapor poured from my jaws in thick plumes, wreathing my head in rolling, ghostly fire.

I didn't roar.

Didn't speak.

I simply looked at him.

My eyes locked onto his, holding them. Freezing them in place. Telling him everything he needed to know.

You dared.

You threatened her.

Now you see.

You see who she belongs to.

Who claims her.

Who owns the right to punish you.

The clearing went dead silent. Even the night insects stopped singing, as if the whole forest was holding its breath.

All you could hear was the crackle of scorched roots, the sizzle of dripping plasma, and Charfang's wet, dying breaths.

I took one slow, deliberate step forward.

As I got closer Charfang's one good eye tracked me weakly, rimmed red, glassy with terror.

My smile widened.

But before I could move in for the final blow, I heard it:

A soft slither of scales against roots.

Someone moved to my side without fear.

I turned my head slightly, letting one emerald eye flick sideways.

Veil.

My Changewing.

One of my Vanguard.

She emerged from the gloom as if woven from it, her lithe, sleek form catching the moonlight in slick reflections. Purple scales rippled like living shadows, and those bright green eyes—so damn bright—locked onto mine.

I always used to stare at those eyes when I was young. Back when I was human. Back when I didn't know better.

I let out a slow rumble of greeting. "Veil."

She dipped her head in respect but didn't lower her eyes. She didn't have to. She was mine. One of my own. My Vanguard.

But her eyes burned with something savage.

"Alpha," she hissed low, voice almost purring in that changewing way. "Permission to... join?"

I blinked, turning to face her fully. My tail uncurled lazily behind me. "What's wrong, Veil?"

She growled, her frills flicking out in agitation. "What's wrong?" She snapped her head toward Charfang's ruined form. "That vermin dared not just to try and dominate you—but to threaten your mate. My queen."

Her voice dropped to a lethal hiss.

"I want in on this. I want to make him pay."

She shifted her weight, claws digging deep enough to crack roots. She inhaled sharply. "Besides," she added more quietly, eyes narrowing, "I have my own personal dislike of this bastard."

I studied her for a long moment, letting silence thicken like fog. My breath leaked emerald between my teeth.

Finally I rumbled, deep enough to make her scales quiver:

"Yeah," I said. "I know."

She blinked at me, surprised at my tone.

I let the memory roll over me like black water. Bitter. Burning.

"He used to be your friend," I growled, voice dropping. "Until he used you to lure me out. Because even when I was still young and human, I cared too much about my flock."

Veil's frills flared wider, pupils constricting with remembered rage.

I didn't stop. I wanted him to hear.

"He planned to use you the same way he threatened to use my Luna. Break you. Mount you. Use you to get to me." My lip curled, fangs flashing. "Until I found you. Just in time."

Charfang let out a wet cough, a tremor of terror shivering through him.

Good.

I let the words drip like venom. "I remember that day. All too fucking well."

I tilted my head, eyes burning into Charfang's. "That's another reason I should extend your suffering."

He whimpered. The smell of his fear was delicious.

I smirked, green fire licking my fangs. "You should be grateful, Charfang," I purred. "I'm going to enjoy this."

Then I turned to Veil, who was practically vibrating with anticipation. "Aren't you?"

Her eyes gleamed bright green, slitted and sharp. She lowered her head in a perfect bow, voice dripping with hunger:

"Yes. I will enjoy this, my Alpha."

I let out a deep, approving rumble that rolled through the clearing like thunder. My tail flicked once in silent command.

"Then let's share," I growled.

Veil's frill flattened, eyes narrowing in focus. Her claws flexed. Acid dripped from her fangs, hissing as it hit the mud.

She slithered closer to Charfang's trembling body. He tried to scream, but it came out a broken sob.

I looked around once, slowly, deliberately.

My Vanguard watched in utter silence. Some with cold satisfaction. Some with feral smiles.

No one objected.

They knew what this was.

Pack justice.

And the rogue dragons who had followed Charfang? They huddled at the edge of the clearing, eyes wide. Fear on every face.

But when I looked deeper—

Gratitude.

They were grateful to see this bastard get what he deserved. Grateful they weren't the ones facing judgment.

Some of the females, I noticed with a predator's eye, weren't just grateful.

They were enjoying the sight.

I snorted once, smoke and green sparks billowing.

Of course they did.

I turned my gaze back to Veil.

She was already at work, claws sinking into Charfang's leg, acid hissing as it burned through ruined scales. He screamed—a high, broken sound.

Veil laughed. Actually laughed. A chilling, delighted sound that reminded me too much of that anime I used to watch as a kid.

Albedo, I thought distantly. That's what she reminds me of.

She even screamed like her when she really let loose. Eyes wild. Voice dripping obsession.

I shook my massive head once, irritated at myself. Stop it, I snarled in my thoughts. Don't get greedy. She's not mine.

She was loyal. Ferociously so. But she wasn't my mate. Luna was. My queen. And Astrid—my storm.

I couldn't be greedy.

I love them. I won't do that to them.

Still.

I couldn't lie to myself.

I watched.

Veil's body slick with blood. Acid splattering and burning Charfang's most tender, worthless parts. Her delighted shrieks. His pathetic wails. Her tail whipping behind her like a banner of violence.

It was a sight.

A sight that made something in me purr.

But I kept my eyes hard. Focused. Cold.

This is justice.

This is mine to grant.

I lowered my head, green fire leaking from my jaws, casting the whole scene in a witchlight glow. I waited until Veil's eyes snapped to mine, acid dripping from her fangs.

"Let's start round two," I rumbled.

She bared her teeth in a grin so wide it split her jaw, eyes gleaming with delighted murder.

"Yes, my Alpha."

She slashed again, and the clearing filled with wet, bubbling screams.

All around us, my Vanguard watched, approving, hungry for it.

The rogues didn't move. Didn't dare.

Not one sound.

Except for the gasps from those who were enjoying it.

And I didn't stop them.

Because this was justice.

My justice.

For my Luna.

For my pack.

And for every last sin this bastard had dared to think of committing.

Hey everyone!

I wanted to give a quick update and share a few things with you all.

First off—my apologies. I just realized that Chapters 78 and 79 were missing some parts that I had originally planned to include. I've gone ahead and fixed that, so those chapters are now complete and as they were meant to be. Sorry for the delay, and thank you for your patience!

Also, I've been rereading my fic from the beginning, and while I'm proud of how far it's come, I can see ways it could be even better. So once I finish this story, I plan to completely rewrite it from scratch—same plot and core, but with stronger pacing, character development, and emotional depth. Because of that, I would genuinely appreciate your thoughts and criticism on the story so far. Honest feedback will really help guide me when I begin the full rewrite.

Lastly, just a quick announcement—I've also been working on an idea for a My Hero Academia fanfic that I plan to start once this story is finished. I'll share more about it soon, but until then, I'd love your continued support and thoughts to help me grow as a writer.

Thanks again for reading—it means the world to me. 💙