As told by Toothless

Chapter 37

It was the first thing I heard after I had lost consciousness. An outward breath, then a roll of the tongue, then a stretching of the lips, then a hiss of air. Please. My ear flicked, and I opened one of my eyes a crack.

Hiccup was asking for me. Hiccup needed me.

I tried to jump to my feet, but then I felt extreme pain in my chest. Beside me, I heard Hiccup give a happy cry. He was beside me in an instant, pushing my head back down gently, shedding tears of joy onto my face. With a start, I realized that he was covered in blood. Then, with relief, I realized that it was not his own blood, but mine.

"Lie still, buddy, and I'll be back."

I obliged, and Hiccup left. He was back within minutes, with an armful of bandages, and some grass. I sniffed at the grass, then drew back. It had a horrible smell.

"These," Hiccup opened his hand more for me to see the grass better, "Are special plants that grow on this island. They'll sting, but they'll help you get better." He laid them on my wound. They felt like fire, the same roaring, dancing, tingling feeling, but this time, with a bite that my fire never had on my tongue. I hissed, but did not pull away.

For the next week, Hiccup was either at my side or busy doing something that absolutely couldn't wait. He never let anyone touch his cuts and bruises, even though they appeared to be quite serous, for all his attention was on me, or else the vital affairs of the tribe. He ate and slept at my side.

At the end of seven days, the healer carried Hiccup away while he was asleep, to tend to his wounds. But she brought him back quickly; Hiccup had completely healed already. A Night Fury's fire might have a harmful effect, but if a dragon licks your wounds, you will find them better in no time.

I often longed to go flying once more, but Hiccup told me again and again that I could not until I got better.

There were many things for my rider to do now that he was chief, but he was with me every spare moment he had. I learned that after his defeat of Kenna, her troops had surrendered, and Berk had been granted victory. Hiccup should have been happy when he told me that, but he never smiled now. He looked tense and worried all the time. Finally, after straining my ears to listen to one of his whispered conversations with Astrid, I learned what was wrong. I was dying, and there was little hope for my recovery.

One dark night, when the snow blew down along with a biting, howling wind, Hiccup came to my room.

He took one look at my chest, then knelt by me, despair etched deep in his brow. For a minute, he was still, except for the trembling of his shoulders as he silently wept. Then a word brushed his lips, so softly I barely caught the sound before it tumbled into infinity's fell grasp.

"Please."

Then he stood, and, still crying, walked out of the room.

I knew what I had to do.