"Let's lay him down here."
Astrid directed Fishlegs to put Hiccup down on the low bench. The young Viking lay still and unmoving. His eyes were closed. Blood matted his thick hair and trailed down towards his jaw, the deep crimson stark against his unnaturally pale skin.
The other riders trailed into the clubhouse slowly, coming to stand beside Astrid and Fishlegs.
He'd been knocked from Toothless while they had been herding a group of wild dragons away from the outpost. At first, it hadn't seemed like a bad fall, but then Hiccup failed to get back up again, to brush himself off like he usually did and climb back onto Toothless.
Astrid had sent Stormfly diving down to check on him, scared to touch him as he lay there in the dirt.
She pressed a square of fabric to Hiccup's head, watching anxiously as Fishlegs catalogued his injuries.
"You can't die." Snotlout was muttering. "Please don't die."
"I'm not going to die Snotlout." Hiccup rasped, scrunching his eyes shut tighter against the pounding in his head. "But I'm touched that you care."
Astrid let the tension seep out of her shoulders. Sarcasm meant Hiccup was going to be okay.
Tuffnut leant against his sister, his elbow propped up on her shoulder. "Hey Hic, if you die, can I have your hut?"
"Uh, if he dies, I believe Astrid, as his grieving widow, would receive all of Hiccup's worldly possessions," Ruffnut pointed out, ignoring Astrid's eyeroll.
"Oh, of course dear sister." Tuffnut slapped his palm against his forehead. "Actually-"
"What part of 'I'm not going to die' are you not hearing?" Hiccup muttered through clenched teeth. He felt Astrid squeeze his hand… at least, he hoped it was Astrid.
"Astrid, you won't need your hut if you take Hiccup's." Tuffnut continued on anyway.
"Good thinking brother." Ruffnut laughed.
"I guess that would be all of it." Hiccup sighed. He lifted his hand to press it against his aching head.
"Okay, everyone out." Astrid shooed Snotlout and the twins out of the clubhouse. She sat down beside her boyfriend as Fishlegs finished up.
Hiccup peered up at Astrid through squinted eyes. "What happened?" He asked.
"You don't remember?" She glanced down at him in concern, carding her hand through his hair.
"You got lucky Hiccup," Fishlegs informed his friends. "Bumps and bruises and a nasty concussion, but you'll be okay."
"You came off Toothless." Astrid explained. "It looked like one of the straps on your harness snapped." She helped Hiccup into a more upright position. He groaned at the movement, letting his eyes fall shut again.
"I knew it needed repairing," he murmured, swallowing down his nausea. "But we've been so busy, I didn't get the chance."
"Well, it will have to wait now," Astrid told him. "You'll need to take it easy for a few days."
"I think I can manage that." Hiccup cracked one eye open. "At least until the room stops spinning."
"You think you could make it back to your hut?" Astrid asked. "You'll be more comfortable there."
Hiccup considered it. "Will you come too?"
"Of course." Astrid stood, helping Hiccup to his shaky feet. "Come on."