This is more of a flashback sort of thing, so yeah. Sorry!

Well, I gots some questions...

Showing The Love:

What did Astrid and Valka do to Tora? : That's what this chapter is for.

Why is she a dragon? : Again, read the chapter.

Why a Night Fury? : ... READ CHAPTER

Does Tora really like Hiccup? Or is this Hiccstrid? : Mostly Hiccstrid, but maybe a little Tora/Hiccup action. I don't want to ruin people's minds :)

P.S. The good Alpha doesn't die in my Fanfiction

Chapter 4: Astrid

At first, I really did hate Tora. She seemed to take up all of Hiccup's time, even if it was just to check on her. I knew it was the chief's job to make sure newcomers were at home, but it was just so annoying!

But then, sometime around noon on her second day, Valka ran to me and asked that I would help her. She was dusted with snow, so that meant that she had been visiting the Alpha's Haven again. But she was breathing heavily, as if she had run. Why would she be in such a hurry? And what was she holding?

I agreed, of course, and was pushed into the house to my right. Immediately, I noticed where I was; this was Tora's house.

"Valka, what are we doing here?" I asked, and I could tell Valka knew I was annoyed.

"We are here to help a friend," She said simply, pulling me down a hallway. When we got to a door, she put her finger to her lips and pushed the door open.

I thought that Tora would freak out that we were in her room, and try to push us back out, but she didn't. In fact, she didn't do anything.

"Is she okay?" I asked quietly. Tora was laying in her bed, pale and sweating. The covers on her right side were stained red.

"No, Astrid. That's why I called you here. She is not okay." Valka emphasized. "I need your help, because she's not going to like what I have to do."

My eyes had widened. "What are you talking about?"

Valka sighed. "I don't have much time. Before I start, please go lock the door. I don't want anyone in here, even though they might hear us."

I nodded, ran to the door, latched it, and ran back. "Now what?"

Valka pulled up two chairs, making a lot of noise. It was obviously to see if Tora would react, but she didn't. She just layed there, taking shallow breaths. I suddenly felt sorry for her, whatever her problem was.

"Okay, you must promise that you won't tell anyone, not even Hiccup," Valka said, then added seriously, "Especially not Hiccup."

"Why?" I asked for the millionth time.

She pointed behind her, and I knew she wasn't motioning for the wall. "It involves Toothless, and I want him to not freak out on me."

I nodded slowly, letting her continue.

"Well, the wound she showed up with ended up to be infected. And if that wasn't a problem in itself, I don't know how to cure it. Not even Gothi knew how to make it go away. We are completely clueless," She paused. "Then she passed out. In her room, thankfully. Everyone would of had a fit, and you would have known about it already. Turns out the infection is spreading, and there is really only one option left."

Valka held up the small vile she was carrying. I was nearly full with a strange purple-red liquid, and I knew that it couldn't be anything edible. "What is that?"

"This," she pulled the vile back to her. "Is dragon blood."

"And how did you get your hands on that?!" I asked, shocked.

Valka grimaced. "Not by force, if it'll ease your mind."

I pushed myself out of the chair slightly. "Where did you get it?" I asked more forcefully.

Her eyes averted mine. "This is why you can't tell Hiccup," She whispered.

"Toothless!?" I said. "He let you?!"

"It took some persuasion, but he agreed."

"How?"

"The Alpha talked to him."

I laughed once. "Not by force, huh?"

"Astrid, he wanted to help," Valka whispered. "Tora helped save his life."

I swallowed, regretting almost everything about Tora. "Oh..."

Valka stood and walked over to the bedside. "And this is why I need your help."

"What?" I walked to the other side of the bed, trying not to look at the unconscious girl below me. "So that she doesn't throw it all back up?"

"No, you can't eat this stuff," Valka uncapped the vile. "It's very poisonous that way. You have to deliver it directly to the bloodstream."

I took a deep breath. "So what your saying is that you have to cut her?"

Valka nodded sadly. "I needed someone who could hold her down. I figured you could do the job."

"Thanks for that, I really needed to know I could hold someone down so that my mother-in-law-to-be could cut her arm up," I said sarcastically.

Valka looked at me, but I couldn't tell what emotion crossed her face. Pain? Fear? Regret? "Okay, lean over and grab her shoulder and wrist. We just need one side."

I cooperated, but quickly realized that, if she wanted, Tora could grab me with her other hand and flip me off of her. "Valka? This isn't going to work. She's going to be able to grab me and flip me off of her."

Valka sighed. "Get a dragon. It would help."

And I knew just who would be best.

Toothless walked cautiously into the room, sniffing every few seconds. When he saw Tora, he cooed sadly.

"She's going to be okay." I assured.

Valka motioned for me to come on her side. "You are going to hold her from here, and Toothless," she tapped Tora's left side. "You are going to pin her down here."

He seemed to understand that he needed to hold her down, but was reluctant to do so.

"Toothless, it's okay." I said. "She needs your help."

That seemed to reassure him enough to walk over to Tora's side and lay his head gently on her torso and arm.

"Good, now don't move." Valka pulled out a small knife, making Toothless growl loudly.

"Shh, it's okay!" I patted his nose. "It will help her."

Toothless, still rumbling a bit, retreated and let Valka continue.

As soon as the blade touched Tora's arm, her eyes snapped open. "Wha..?"

"Tora, calm down, this is for the best." Valka murmured.

I didn't look at her arm, I couldn't. Even though I couldn't see, I knew when she had started to break the skin.

"Stop!" Tora gasped, breathing in short, laboured gasps.

"Shh, it's okay," I whispered, only to be drowned out by Tora.

"God, it hurts!" She shouted. "Stop, stop, stop!"

I bit my tounge, not wanting to shout for Valka to stop. Tora was thrashing against me and Toothless, desperately trying to free her other arm.

"Let go of me!" She screamed.

Valka spoke next. "Okay, it's almost done."

Suddenly, Tora gasped and fell limp.

"Uh, Valka? What are the side effects?" I asked quietly, releasing my grip Tora's arm.

Valka stopped. "I don't know. All I know is that it will save her, and won't kill her. Isn't that what really matters?"

I nodded, figuring that she would be okay.

Then Valka pushed my face so that I was looking at the cut on her arm. It was long, running from the crease of her elbow to her wrist. But it was dissapearing, and fast.

"What is going on?" Valka whispered.

I didn't answer, waiting for something to happen. Nothing did.

"I think it's over." I finally said.

Valka nodded and lead the way out of the door. I followed and paused, waiting for Toothless. "Are you coming, boy?"

He tentitively sniffed Tora's arm, then followed my out the door.

Little did I know that I had helped start the beginning of Tora's list of problems.