Hey, guys! I don't think it's going to be much longer...a few more chapters, probably. I'm mainly setting this up for a Hiccstrid chapter in the end. ;)
So, I watched "Imperfect Harmony", "When Darkness Falls" and "Big Man on Berk" from Race to the Edge so far! Hopefully I can watch more sometime...I'll probably end up doing some what-ifs. I like what-ifs. I WANT MORE HICCSTRID! LOTS OF HICCSTRID! ALL THE HICCSTRID! :D
Anyways, enjoy chapter 4!
"We have to set up camp here," Snotlout said; he was the first one to speak up since Astrid quieted, bent over Hiccup's chest. She was still whispering things to him, telling him that he was alright and that he was safe, but her voice was barely audible and very quiet.
"Wait," Fishlegs gasped. "Set up camp...here? With them?" He pointed at the Black Rains, who the dragons were slowly stepping off and letting free. The angry, venomous dragons hissed at Toothless and the others before flying off, never looking back even once. "They could come back," Fishlegs said. "And they could have friends."
"But it took us hours to get here," Snotlout said. "And it's already almost dark. Hiccup can't fly Toothless, and flying in the middle of the night is dangerous, even if Hiccup was awake."
"He's not doing anything," Astrid growled. The others looked at her, and she looked back down at Hiccup. "Not until he's rested." Any color was drained from his face, and he was still limp, his chest rising and falling shakily, his heartbeat still weak and sounding unhealthy. She didn't want him to get worse, especially not after everything he just went through.
"She's right, see?" Snotlout said, looking back at Fishlegs briefly before turning to Astrid once more. "Um, what do you suggest we do now, Astrid?" he asked.
Astrid sighed. Although Snotlout was always eager to take the lead, he was lost when it came on the actual things he had to do that came with being a leader. "We'll set up the tents and keep careful watch in case any Black Rains come back," Astrid said firmly. "Or, we'll get the dragons to watch for us, it doesn't matter. If we see any Black Rains in a flock that we can't fight, we'll have to move to a different oasis close by and re-set camp. Fishlegs, start on the tents. Snotlout, Ruffnut and Tuffnut, help Fishlegs with whatever he needs help with."
They nodded and instantly left to do what she had told them to. She stayed with Hiccup, afraid to leave him for fear of him getting worse, or his heart stopping. She didn't honestly think his heart would stop, but at the same time…
Well, she didn't want to risk it happening.
By the time they had the tents set up, it was dark. Hiccup stirred once or twice for just a moment before he was dead to the world once again, and although Astrid was worried for his sake, she was glad he was resting. He needed all the rest he could get if he was going to recover.
"We're ready, Astrid," Fishlegs said as he approached her, looking worried as he glanced at Hiccup. "Camp is all set. I...I think I'm going to take the first watch." He swallowed thickly. "But...um...what do I do if Black Rains attack?"
"Why won't Snotlout take the first watch?" Astrid asked. She knew how terrified Fishlegs was of everything, and putting him as the first watch probably wasn't the best idea in the world.
"Snotlout's already asleep," Fishlegs said. "He said he needs lots of sleep to keep up his 'warrior reputation'."
"So, in other words," Astrid said, "he was tired."
"Well, to be blatant, yes," Fishlegs said.
Astrid sighed. "I'll stay up with you," she said.
"Oh," Fishlegs said. "R-really? I mean, I don't want you to feel like you have to if you don't want to-"
"No, I'm going to stay up with Hiccup, anyways," Astrid said. "It'll be fine. Don't worry about it. You just need to keep an eye out. We never know when or if the Black Rains will attack, and how many of them there will be if they do."
"Okay, that sounds like a good idea," Fishlegs said uneasily.
Astrid nodded. "Alright," she said. "Here, help me carry him. Watch his head." Between her and Fishlegs, they managed to get Hiccup into an empty tent: Astrid's tent, to be exact. Toothless and Stormfly curled up in front of it, their eyes wide open and scanning their surroundings for any Black Rains.
"I'll get some more of the supplies," Fishlegs offered, and instantly raced outside once again. He returned with a rolled cloak, which they used to pillow Hiccup's head with. "That's all we've got," Fishlegs said. "We have some water, but really, we don't have much more than that." He twiddled his fingers nervously. "How is he?" he asked.
"I can't tell," Astrid admitted. "He could be better...he could be worse. I don't think there's a way to tell...until he wakes up." Honestly, she didn't know what side effects the Black Rain poison had, if any. Hopefully, none, if they were lucky.
Fishlegs nodded. "Alright," he said. "I'll...I'll be outside." He left slowly, dragging his feet in obvious unexcitement.
Astrid sighed. How had she let it come to this? How? Just how? Why? And to Hiccup of all people. It should have been her, the more she thought about it. She wished it had been her. She didn't want to see Hiccup hurt. She never, ever wanted to see Hiccup hurt.
"Hey."
She looked down at Hiccup. His eyes were cracked open, but they were tired and confused. He blinked at her twice, and she blinked back.
"Hey yourself," she said, her voice never rising above a whisper. "How are you feeling?"
"I've...I've been better," Hiccup admitted. "I've been a lot better, but...but it's...it's not that bad. Um...what happened?" He looked at his surroundings briefly before shifting his gaze back to Astrid. "I feel like I missed something."
"How much do you remember?" Astrid asked.
"N-not much," Hiccup said. "I...I remember you asking me not to die, but that...that was about it. Oh, and...and I think I said something about...the venom...am I dead?"
"No," Astrid said firmly. "No, you're not dead."
Hiccup sighed. "Ah, relief," he murmured. "Sweet relief. I...I didn't think I was going to survive that one."
Astrid's eyes widened. "What do you mean?" she asked. "Of course you knew the thing about the poison before you pushed me out of the way...didn't you?"
Hiccup shook his head. "It...it just kinda came to me," he said. "But no, I didn't...I didn't think about...about my own safety…"
Astrid was appalled. "Why?" she blurted.
"Because," Hiccup started, but then his voice trailed off, and his eyelids fluttered. "Because...because...cause…" He was asleep again an instant later, and Astrid sighed.
She would have to talk to him about it later, maybe after they got back to Berk.
For now, the most important thing was getting Hiccup to rest.
And keeping an eye out for any Black Rains, of course.
