Okay, I've decided to pick up from where the last chapter left off so…here it is! Enjoy :)

NOTE: I DO NOT OWN HTTYD


Healing Together (continuation to Gunshots)

Zenna had never run so fast in her whole life.

Right after Hiccup had told her the news, she had left Eret's apartment and took off to the streets with Skullcrusher following her. She didn't even bother to change out of her clothes, brush her hair or do anything. She just ran like the wind, evading other people and disregarding traffic lights and stop signs, until she reached the hospital.

"Uh, excuse me, miss…No dogs allowed…" the security guard said before Zenna and Skullcrusher barreled right past him. Skidding to a stop in the lobby, Zenna caught sight of her parents and her friends. Hiccup was the first to spot her and walked over to her. "Is he awake?" Zenna asked, panting from all the running she had done. "Not yet, but the doctors checked him out. Eret's pretty lucky. All three bullets went right through him and none of them hit any vital organs," her one-legged best friend said, sounding relieved himself. Zenna took a deep breath and, slowly, let it out. "Holy Shields…thank the gods…" she breathed out. Skullcrusher woofed and wagged his tail upon hearing that his master was alright.

"Hey, Skullcrusher!" Hiccup laughed, happy to see the bloodhound, and gave him a good scratch behind the ear. Skullcrusher barked before putting his nose up in the air and took a deep sniff. Catching Eret's scent, Skullcrusher took off into the white halls of the hospital. "I thought they didn't allow pets in the hospital?" Hiccup looked at Zenna, confused. "They don't," Zenna sighed, running after Skullcrusher.

Skullcrusher was quick to find the door to Eret's hospital room and was now frantically hitting his big paws against the door, howling like crazy. "Shhh! Skullcrusher, calm down. It's rude to howl in a hospital. Some patients might still be sleeping!" Zenna whispered to the dog, catching up with him. Skullcrusher tilted his head to the side and his floppy ears pricked up.

"Good boy…" Zenna said softly, smiling, and scratched Skullcrusher behind his ears. With Skullcrusher patiently wagging his tail, Zenna quietly opened the door and stepped inside. The hospital room was a sterile white in color, the exception being Eret and the several machines with flashing screens around his hospital bed. He was topless, Zenna noted, and his torso was swathed in sterile gauze bandages that had dark red stains blooming on the white cloth. Swallowing nervously, Zenna took a chair and sat by his bedside. Eret was still unconscious but, at least, his heart rate was stable. It wouldn't be long now till he wakes up.

Sighing, Zenna gently placed her hand on Eret's head and began running her fingers through his hair. Skullcrusher woofed and stood up on his hind legs, resting his front paws on the metal railing of Eret's bed and licked his hand. That's when Eret began to slowly wake up. "Mmmgghhh…" he whimpered, his face pinched in pain. Zenna softly kissed his forehead, soothing him. "Shh…it's okay, Eret…It's okay…I'm here…" she whispered, brushing her hand against Eret's pale cheek.

Finally, Eret managed to force his eyes open. Upon seeing Zenna, he smiled weakly. "Hey, Zenna…" he rasped, his eyes half-closed. "Hey, Eret…" Zenna whispered, smiling gently at him. Skullcrusher barked and nudged Eret's hand with his nose. "Hey, Skull, how'd you get in here without a visitor's pass…?" Eret chuckled, petting his bloodhound. Skullcrusher whined and slowly wagged his tail as his master petted him.

"Are you okay?" Zenna asked softly. Eret grimaced as he tried to sit up but just sank back down into bed. "Everything hurts…but not as bad as when I got shot…I think I'll be okay…" he mumbled, looking down at his bandaged abdomen. "Did they take the bullets out?" he asked Zenna who tightly pursed her lips and shook her head. "The bullets went right through you, Eret. You were really lucky," she said simply. "Huh, I've been getting a lot of good luck lately…that's a first," Eret slightly chuckled and Zenna giggled a bit. Then his face grew sad and he looked at Zenna with sad eyes. "Zen, am I really that bad a person that…I deserve to die?" he asked quietly. Zenna's one violet eye widened and she firmly shook her head. "No. Of course not, Eret…Wh-why would you even ask such a thing?" she stuttered. Eret shrugged and said, "That's what that drunk asshole was telling me before he pointed his gun at me. He said that I was just a stain on this world of good people and that I needed to be eliminated." Before his eyes welled up with tears. Zenna gently cradled Eret's head in her arms as he began to cry, the tears streaming down his face.

"Why can't they just give me a chance? I've changed for the better…I didn't even want the life I used to live…Just…why won't they give me a chance?" Eret whispered brokenly, the tears welling up in his brown eyes. Zenna gently brushed the tears off his face and softly kissed the top of his head. "We'll make them give you a chance, Eret. We'll heal together and we'll prove to the world that you're still worthy to live on this planet," she whispered before making Eret look her in the eye. "And I promise that I will never, ever, let anyone tell you ever again that you need to be taken from this world and from me. If someone says something remotely similar to what that drunkard told you, I'll be sending them to hell before they even have a chance to pray for mercy," she said firmly. Letting Zenna's words sink in, Eret nodded and, to Zenna's joy, smiled a little.

"And that is why I love you forever…" Eret mumbled, his eyelids drooping. "Because I'm a badass?" Zenna asked coyly. "No…'Cause…you never…give up on me…" Eret said sleepily. Zenna then looked down and realized that she had accidentally pushed the pain pump while she was talking to Eret. "Ehehe…oops…" Zenna said sheepishly, her cheeks turning pink. Eret merely smiled at her and yawned. "You'll stay, right…?" he said, fighting to keep his eyes open. "It'll take a dragon to drag me out of the room, Eret. I'm not going anywhere," Zenna smiled at him. "That…was a terrible…dragon joke…And you say that…I'm the corny jokester…" Eret mumbled, amused, already falling asleep.

"Sweet dreams, Eret…" Zenna whispered, gently kissing her boyfriend's cheek. "Hm? Oh…Okay…Sweet dreams, Zen…Love you forever…Feed Skullcrusher for me…" Eret muttered before the painkillers kicked in and he was out like a light. Skullcrusher whined and nudged Eret's hand before looking at Zenna expectantly. "Go to the lobby and find Hiccup, Stoick and Valka, boy. I'm sure they have some breakfast for you," Zenna said softly. Obedient to a command, especially when food was involved in the rewarding system, Skullcrusher trotted out of the room just as one of the doctors came in.

"I may have accidentally given him pain medication while I was here…" Zenna mumbled sheepishly, recognizing Dr. Gothi, one of the doctors she worked for as a med intern in the hospital. Dr. Gothi nodded in understanding and checked on Eret's vitals. After looking over his chart, Dr. Gothi smiled at Zenna and wrote something down on a piece of paper and gave it to the one-eyed girl. Zenna knew what she was doing. Dr. Gothi was a woman of few words yet she always got her patients to understand what she was trying to say or do and that led to her to being one of the best doctors in the local hospital in Berk.

Patting Zenna's arm reassuringly, Dr. Gothi left to do her rounds. That's when Zenna looked at the paper and read the words silently.

'There's no greater medicine on this earth like love and never giving up on the people you love.'

Smiling, Zenna went back to watching over Eret. Gently stroking his head, Zenna knew that they were going to be okay. They would heal together and they would take on whatever life threw at them next together. They were a team, always got each other's backs, and were there for each other no matter what.

Most of all…they loved each other. And it would have to take death or something even more powerful to separate them.

"I love you forever, Eret…Forever and ever and ever and ever and a day…" Zenna whispered, kissing his cheek. And she smiled upon seeing the faintest of smiles appear on Eret's lips as he slept.


Well, this took longer than I expected. Sorry if I haven't been active lately. Getting ready for college, the next big adventure! Read and review!

-GuardianDragon98