Mmm. The cod is looking fresh today!
And the trout is looking tasty,
- and the sea bass is-- - Psst!
- Huh? - Rescue Riders!
Looking for the Rescue Riders?
Hello?
How can we help you?
Uh, Burps, that was Hannahr.
Whew, that’s a relief!
Talking fish would notagree with my stomachs.
Uh, what’s going on, Hannahr?
I wanted to let you know about
a very special event coming up this week.
What’s it gonna be this time?
Another Clam Festival?
Or a "Best Chicken" Competition?
Or let me guess,
it’s Chief Duggard’s birthday party?
It’s Chief Duggard’s birthday party!
Wow. I am good.
Chief Duggard’s birthday is this week?
That’s right, and every year we throw him a big surprise party
inside the Great Hall.
Ooh, I lovesurprises.
Especially when I know about them beforehand
so I’m not surprised!
Speaking of surprises...
Chief Duggard’s coming right now!
Ah! And what are you all talking about?
Perhaps a very special surprise event coming up this week, eh?
Surprise event?
What evercould you mean, Chief?
Yeah, we have noidea
- what you’re talking about.
None. Not at all. Not even a little.
Uh-huh.
Well, just so you know, I’m a size large...
extra short.
Keeping secrets is hard.
Burps, he wouldn’t have understood you anyway.
Oh, right.
As you can see, the party is technically a surprise...
even though Duggard knows it’s coming every year.
We still try to surprise him with our gifts and,
since you’re family now,
I thought you’d want to get him one too.
Thanks, Hannahr. We sure do!
Wait, wait, wait--
Everyone say their gift idea one at a time!
Lobster.
Let’s try this a different way.
Since we can’t seem to agree on onegift,
how about we each get him something?
That’s a great idea, Ley!
But you guys will never beat the present Wing and I are gonna get him...
A book of tickets for dragon rides!
Like a morning of dangerous fast flying!
Ooh, or a night of crazy speed tricks, or--
An afternoon of not dangerous,
not crazy regular flying?
Uh, right, yeah. That’ll be in there too!
Tickets for dragon rides? Puh-lease.
I’m giving Chief Duggard the best gift of all--
a custom-made wood-carving... of me!
What could be a better gift than that?
I can think of a few things.
No, make that lots and lots of things.
Oh, yeah?
What are you getting him that’s so great, Agg?
It’s a secret.
What? That’s not fair!
Uh, ours is a secret too, right, Sum?
It is now!
Ooh! Ooh! Mine’s a secret too!
It’s rocks!
Like I said,
keeping secrets is hard.
Fine, have it your way.
Now if you’ll excuse me,
I’m off to find the perfect kind of wood
for a perfect carving of a perfect dragon!
That’ll make the perfect present!
Ha!
Uh...
Hmm.
Maybe a self portrait in pine?
Eh, I never look good in pine.
Oh! Maybe birch--
- Hup! - Huh?
Eh.
Or maybe--
What is that?
Uh... are you okay?
Of course.
Just a few more...
and I will have completed my sky sprints.
- Sky sprints? - That’s right.
Very important to stay in top physical condition.
- Care to join me? - Eh, no, thanks.
It’s more important for me to stay in top napping condition,
if ya know what I mean.
I do not.
What now?
Wing stretches, of course.
Don’t want to get a cramp after the sky sprints.
Oh yeah, that’s a constant worry of mine too.
You do this all the time?
Twice a day
except on Sunday.
When I do it three times.
It’s the Chaperang way to be ready for anything
at any time.
- Chaperang, huh?
Well, it’s the Razorwing way to...
pretty much never be ready for anything ever.
But works for me!
Nice meeting ya, uh...
- Talon. - Good name. I’m Cutter!
And I’m in the middle of something.
One, two...
Okay, don’t let medisturb you.
Oh, how am I gonna decide between these five trees?
No, seven trees!
No, 12 trees!
...13, 14...
- Wait, did you say nine? - ...16, 17...
That reminds me of the time I saw ninefish...
- or was it 19... - ...20...
Or 92 and a half...
Oh, that’s right-- It was actually 14.
- ...24, 25... - And it wasn’t fish,
it was wolves-- 14 to 23 wolves!
...28, 29...
- ...30, 31... - Man. That guy can focus.
- ...32...
- ...33... - Uh, Talon, wolves!
- ...34, 35... - Two of them! No, three!
Very funny, Razorwing.
I know you’re trying to mess up my count.
- ...39, 40... - No, really. Wolves.
- Wolves! - ...41, 42...
- Take that!
...45--
- And that!
And especially... that!
You weren’t kidding about the wolves.
Nope. Kind of saved your tail there.
And your wings and, well, pretty much all of you.
You saved my life?
Yeah, but don’t mention it ’cause you did something for me too.
Helped me pick the perfect wood for my carving!
Why didn’t I think of it before?
I look great in oak!
Save ya later, Talon!
He saved my life.
Hmm.
Hmm?
Oh, uh, hi again.
- Sir.
Going the same way, huh?
- Affirmative. - Oh. That’s... fun.
Uh... Ha!
Whoo!
Ah!
Ugh!
Ha! Lost him!
Who’s your new friend, Cutter?
His name is Talon, but I don’t know what he’s doing here!
You saved my life, Cutter.
Which means I now owe you a dragon debt.
A dragon what?
I’ve heard about Dragon Debts.
They’re an ancient tradition
I didn’t know any dragons still followed.
They basically say that if someone saves a dragon’s life--
That dragon must protect their rescuer until the debt is repaid.
Repaid? How?
By saving yourlife.
It’s another very important part
of the Chaparang way.
Chaparang, of course!
They’re known as the "protectors of the sky."
I’ve heard they often guard traveling flocks of dragons.
Hey, that’s like us!
We’re the Rescue Riders, we help dragons too.
"Rescue Riders"?
So you mean you let dragons get into trouble and thenhelp them?
What? No, I mean,
sometimes it happens that way but--
Chaparang’s help dragons before they need to be rescued.
You might want to consider trying that.
Uh, can we get back to how this affects me now?
Talon, you’re saying that,
now that you have a dragon debt to me,
you’re gonna be my own personal bodyguard?
It is a great honor to serve you, sir.
Hmm.
Oh, this is gonna be good.
I can’t believe this.
We save dragons all the time
and Cutter’s the one who gets a dragon debt?
Yeah, I’d loveto have a dragon around me to keep me out of trouble.
Huh?!
Uh...you do, Dak.
Me.
Huh?
Oh... right.
So, Talon, you’re really going to guard and protect me
at alltimes?
I will never leave your side
until the dragon debt has been repaid, sir.
Okay, then...
- protect me from the sun!
Now protect me from that bird!
Away, feathered fiend.
Now protect me from hearing Aggro say
she has a bad feeling about this!
I have a bad feeling about this.
Sorry, Agg. Too slow!
C’mon, "Dragonguard."
I think it’s time to...
secure a safe spot for my nap!
Of course, sir.
Hmm.
Okay, I cannot stand around watching that all day.
Rescue Riders!
Oh, Rescue Riders!
Phew. Saved by the Hannahr.
I was wondering if you’d want to help decorate
the Great Hall for Duggard’s party.
Won’t Chief Duggard see us?
No,
he "went for a walk" for at least a few hours...
and he also left all the birthday decorations out for us.
We’d love to help, Hannahr!
Wait, I’ll come too!
I’d never miss decorating for Duggard’s birthday!
At least, I’d never miss having someone do it for me.
- Wait! clear!
Could someone me help with this banner?
I got it!
I mean... Talon, could you get it?
I wouldn’t want to bump my head on the ceiling.
Of course, sir.
Thank you... new dragon?
Dak, let me help you with that,
and by that I mean...
Talon, go help Dak with that.
Wouldn’t want to stub my toe.
I agree. Not worth the risk, sir.
Yay. I love it when Cutter helps.
Cutter, I think we need a spike to hang this one.
Sorry, don’t think your new "Dragonguard" can help with that.
- Oh, no? Talon! - Huh?
- Think fast!
Wow, those sky sprints really docome in handy, huh?
Knew I had a bad feeling about this.
Phew, decorating is exhausting,
am I right?
Duggard’s party is tomorrow so we better finish our presents!
Okay, Sum, time to get started on our seashell--
Did you say "seashell"?
Seashell what?
Whoops.
Guess our secret present isn’t so secret anymore.
We’re making him a collage
out of seashells.
Well, we were.
I can’t find all the shells we found in the ocean this morning!
Anyone seen them?
Did you say seashells?
Yes, I took care of those.
What do you mean "took care" of them?
- I mean I threw them all back into the sea. - What?
It’s not safe to have all those jagged and pointy shells around.
Cutter could get poked or cut.
Uh, his name is Cutter
and he’s covered in pointy things!
Yeah, Talon, they’re just shells,
I’m pretty sure they could handle them.
- Stop right there!
It is verydangerous to play with rocks
so close to Cutter like that.
But I’m trying to find the best one
to give to Chief Duggard!
- What? - I said,
I’m trying to find the best one to give to Chief Duggard!
- What? - Talon, it’s okay.
He does the rock thing all the time.
Hmm.
Just please burp at safe-- Perimeter alert!
What does that even mean?
I don’t know either, Burps!
- Halt!
What is it? What’s wrong?
We need to keep this air space clear.
Air space?
But we’re practicing tricks for Duggard’s ticket book!
Not anymore you’re not.
Stop, drop, and roll, ma’am!
- Stop, drop, and--
What are you doing?
I was just practicing my firework show for Duggard’s birthday!
Not on my watch you’re not.
- Sorry, Agg.
I’ll talk to him.
Talon, she’s a fire dragon
so shedoes that kind of stuff all the time too.
Everyone here does.
Sir, I take this dragon debt,
and your safety, very seriously.
Yeah, I’m getting that.
Look, why don’t we just head over here
so we can work on mypresent, huh?
Hmm...
Eh?
Uh, I could use a little space to carve.
Careful... that’s sharp.
Don’t want to get a splinter.
It’s kind of hard to concentrate
with you, uh, doing that.
It’s for your safety, sir.
Ugh. Look, isn’t there anything else
you could do right now to "protect" me?
Like keep an eye out for dangerous bugs
or watch for bad weather or...
take a break and grab yourself a fish from the fish barrel!
Wait, you eat fish out of that barrel?
They definitely need to be checked for freshness.
Great! Sounds like a plan.
Nope. Uh-uh. Nope. Nada.
Mm-mm. Oh! Nope.
Nope.
Nope. Oh, definitely not. Definitely no.
Just a few more cuts and... voilà!
It’s so beautiful.
So amazing.
So... me!
Just gotta wash off the sawdust and I’m done.
Hey, Sum?
H-2-On it!
Hang on, sir! I’ll save you!
No!
Talon, what are you doing?
Right now I’m listening to you yell at me, sir.
- What happened? - Talon broke my statue, that’s what!
Statue? Oh, I see.
I thought the water dragon was blasting you.
Huh?
Why would she be blasting me?
A trap? Surprise attack?
An incredibly ill-timed practical joke?
What?! Look, Talon,
I appreciate what you’re doing,
but you reallygotta take it down a notch.
Or ten.
I only have one "notch," sir.
What I’m trying to say is,
maybe loosen up and have some fun.
There’s no time for "fun," not when I’m on duty.
Okay,
well, can you at least cool it tomorrow
so I can enjoy Duggard’s birthday party?
Sorry, sir. There is no way you are going to that party.
Great, I’m glad we understand each other and, uh--
Wait, what?!
Uh... did you say I’m notgoing to Duggard’s party?
Of course not. It would be fartoo dangerous.
Dangerous?
Talon, it’s just a birthday celebration for our Chief.
It’s really nothing to worry about.
Yeah, there’s just gonna be friends from the village,
delicious food,
and lots of birthday presents!
- Presents? - People wrap things up in fancy paper
so you don’t know what’s inside.
- What?! - Ah!
Sorry, sir, but I am not letting you within a 100 yards of that party.
Not "letting" me?
Sorry, Talon, but you can notstop me
from going wherever I want to--
Uh, okay.
Maybe you canstop me from going places.
What am I gonna do?
If Talon "protects" my life much longer,
I’m not gonna have much of a life left!
Knew I had a bad feeling about this.
Maybe there’s some other way to get through to him.
You can’t miss Duggard’s party!
I know but he won’t listen to anyone or anything!
All he cares about is repaying the dragon debt.
Wait a second, that’s it!
If he won’t leave you alone until the debt has been repaid,
maybe there’s a way to make him think it has.
What do you mean?
I mean... everyone gets lost in the Maze Caves, right?
I get lost just thinking about the Maze Caves.
So maybe Cutter can accidentally get "lost" in there too--
And Talon can find me and think he’s repaid the dragon debt!
Exactly.
I guess it could work.
In theory.
Possibly. Maybe.
That’s good enough for me! Let’s do it!
Okay, Cutter.
We are all going to Duggard’s party now.
Sorry you cannot come!
Yes, I am sorry too,
but it is for the best.
Have fun, everyone!
Thanks for all you do, Talon.
Now I’m gonna head inside and take a nap.
But didn’t you just wake up?
Er, uh, a quick power nap.
You know... for, uh, power.
Great idea, sir.
Need a room scan or a bed check or a...
song to ensure your emotional well-being during slumber?
I’m good.
Oh, hello, Talon!
Rock dragon.
Can I help you with something?
Oh, no, I just, um...
forgot something for the party.
- Be right back! - Please do not disturb Cutter
during his mid-morning shut-eye.
Don’t worry, I won’t!
Uh, Talon? Cutter’s not in here.
What?
What’s Talon going on? Where did he go?
Oh, no...
I hope he did not go into the Maze Caves!
Mazes andcaves?
Why would he ever go somewhere so dangerous?
I don’t know,
but I heard him talking earlier
about how he really wanted to find wood
to make a new carving!
Wood? Inside caves?
That’s just what he said!
Just stop giving me that look!
There!
Behold the entrance to the dangerous and deadly Maze Caves!
It does not make sense.
Could he really have gone in there?
Help, help!
I am definitely lost in the Maze Caves
and I cannot find my way out!
I’m coming, sir! Just stay calm!
Huh. Maybe this plan will work after all!
Or not!
Cutter, sir! I’m coming!
Stay wherever you are so I can--
Find you?
Oh, thank goodness! You saved me, Talon!
You were really lost, sir?
But the entrance is right there.
It is?
Wow, I must really have a terrible sense of direction.
Oh, I don’t know what I would’ve done if you didn’t find me!
I could of been stuck in here forever!
Yes. I suppose I did save you.
The life debt has officially been--
- Look out! - For what, Burps?
- Those! Ah!
Ah! Maybe this Maze Cave plan was a bad idea after all!
Plan?
Wait a second, was this all... a trick?
Uh, maybe?
- Ah!
Aah!
Very unwise to put yourself in this much danger, sir.
Yeah, I get that now!
I’m sorry for tricking you, Talon!
But if we fly too much farther
we’re reallygonna be lost in here!
So do you think you could actually save me now!
Don’t worry, sir.
I have been training for this my entire life.
- Follow me!
Wait, follow you toward the wolves?
Whoa!
Whoa! Now that is a cool move!
Now you know why I do the wing stretches.
Are you all right, sir?
I think so.
Thanks to you!
I’m really sorry again for tricking you.
But... now you really did save me
so I guess the life debt has been repaid for real, right?
I suppose it has.
It was the great honor of my life protecting you, sir.
Even with all the tricking and the--
- Look out, wolf!
See? I can have fun. When I’m off duty.
Never joke about wolves, Talon!
That’s the first rule of having fun!
It was good knowing you, Cutter, sir. Stay safe.
Wait, Talon...
if you’re off duty now...
wanna come to Duggard’s birthday party?
You can be my guest.
It would be my honor, sir.
So I’m guessing the plan didn’t work?
Oh, it worked.
Kinda.
Wait, someone’s coming-- Shhh!
Whoa, I guess I’ll walk into the Great Hall for no apparent reason.
Surprise!
Oh, what are you all doing here?
I had noidea you were throwing me a party!
Just look at all the food and the cake and--
Ooh! Oh, the presents! Are those all for me?
Oh! This is a wonderful "surprise" indeed!
Were you guys able to finish your presents for Duggard in time?
Well... in a way.
What? Did youguys do this for me?
And is that... Slinkwing goo?
My claws are still sticky.
We ran out of time to make our own gifts so we thought...
maybe one from all of us is better after all.
Even if it is a statue of you.
I do look good in oak, don’t I?
Look out!
Careful!
Ya almost got crushed by that giant incredibly spiky statue.
You... saved my life, sir.
- Oh! - Hup.
What did he say?
Oh, boy.
Here we go again!
Ah!