Chapter 11
Why, part 2

''Jack.''

A familiar voice. A familiar laugh. His sister's.

A light feeling. Like floating. No more pain. No more cold. No more heat either. He was feeling good. He was feeling… at peace. At last.

''Jack, wake up.''

Faint prickles bothered his eyes, like when one is too tired to stay awake. Or when one is about to wake up. He tried to open his eyes, but his eyelids were too heavy, his mind too foggy.

''Everything's gonna be okay. You can wake up, now.''

''Emma…'' He whispered.

A throbbing pain filled his throat and made him cough. His whole body shook as the pain didn't want to subdue. A warm hand came to rest on his nape, gently rising his head. Disoriented, he didn't fight back, and soon the border of a bowl pressed against his lips, fresh liquid brushing against his skin. He tried to hold back his cough and opened his mouth to let in this fresh water. It soothed the throbbing, but only inside of his throat. His skin was burning, especially under the jaw.

He coughed again and tried once more to open his eyes. His vision was so blurry he couldn't make out anything. His ears buzzed as voices spoke around him.

''Jack ? Jack, can you hear me ?''

He blinked laborously, trying to see better, but it didn't help. Soon his eyelids dropped back, the warmth around him dissipating as he lost consciousness.

''Jack, get down from here, you're gonna fall and get hurt.''

''Not at all, look ! Hop, without the hands !''

''Ha ha, you're ridiculous. Look like a monkey.''

''What are you talking about ? Have you ever seen a monkey that handsome ?''

''Ha, silly !''

''That's how you love me, Em' !''

''I tolerate you, you mean. I'm forced to since we live in the same house.''

''Ouch, now you wound me. And here you were yesterday, saying I'm the best big brother ever.''

''I never said that.''

''Did too. You can't take it back.''

''You can't prove it, Jack.''

''Don't challenge me, kiddo.''

''I'm not afraid of you, trickster !''

''Okay, war is on. Brace yourself because I'm coming with my ultimate weapon… the tickles !''

''No, Jack, not the tickles ! Hahaha !''

''Say you're sorry, then. Say I'm the best big brother ever.''

''No, haha ! I'm not- Hahaha ! I won't give up !''

''It's up to you. Just know I can do that all day long.''

''Ok- Hahaha ! Okay, okay ! You're the best brother ever !''

''And you're the best sister ever.''

''I'm just the best.''

''But not humble, visibly.''

''Look who's talking !''

''Hum… Okay, you got me on this one.''

''I always win, you should now that by now.''

''You sure do, Em'.''

The first thing Jack felt as he woke up was this nice warmth surrounding him, especially under his right arm. The second thing he felt, however, was far less pleasant. Pain. A burning sensation all around his neck, just under his jaw. His neck was stiff, too. He grumbled and winced as he tried to sit up, but he was too weak for that, his body barely moving. It was numb, as if still sleeping.

Something moved against his arm. Opening his eyes tiredly, he turned his head and spotted a small green and brown silhouette. Soon, two yellow eyes opened, then a high pitched sound could be heard before something warm, wet and rough slipped on the side of his nose. Jack closed his eyes again and couldn't repress a smile as he recognized the small dragon.

''Hi…'' He whispered, his voice hoarse and scratchy.

It irritated his throat and made him cough. Sharpshot whined, not leaving his side as he needed a few moment to soothe his coughing fit. Once it finally stopped, the boy met a pair of round, worried, golden eyes. His vision had cleared and helped him see properly. He smiled to reassure the Terror, weakly lifting his hand to stroke him. The dragon tilted his head and warbled against his fresh palm. Jack petted him until he layed against his shoulder, resting his small head on him. Jack's hand dropped back on his chest, feeling the soft furr covering him.

Still a bit groggy, he looked around and was surprised by what he saw. He was in a tent, laying on the ground among a pile of furs and blankets. The sun was shining outside, drawing on the tent the shade of the trees, and Jack could hear birds chirping. The tent reminded him a lot of Hiccup's judging by the fabric and how it was set, but it was smaller and arranged in a different way. It looked more like Valka's.

His brain had not finished to link this tent to the circus that the curtains of the entrance were pushed open to let someone in. Jack blinked a couple times while observing the black silhouette of Toothless spotting him. Looking from the ground, the dragon seemed huge, still his round pupils were making him adorable. Jack smiled at the Fury, who seemed to light up at it. He trotted closer, chirping and nudging him softly on the cheek. It could have amused the boy if his head's movement had not triggered the pain in his neck and throat, making him wince.

Toothless backed in a start and whined as an apology. Jack held his hand to stroke his head, trying to reassure him, but this pain was perplexing him because he couldn't understand where it was coming from. As he tentatively touched his skin, he winced even more. It was hurting like a bad bruise, with some scratches, but it was covering all his neck under the jaw, as if… as if a rope had been tied there and had squeezed too hard.

Memories rushed back to Jack. The villagers coming to the pond, armed with torches and forks as if hunting witches. The rope around his neck, strangling him and lifting him above the ground. His clan had tried to hang him. Hiccup, Toothless and Sharpshot had witnessed it. The boy's heart pounded with anxiety and fear as his eyes landed once more on the black dragon.

Had Hiccup and the dragons saved him ? Or was it that, once more, Death had rejected him ? This anguish made his back and hands sweaty, and even more as Toothless exited the tent, surely to fetch Hiccup. Jack debated with himself. Was it better to run away ? Did he have enough strength for that ? Was it better to stay and pretend to sleep – or be dead – while waiting to know how Hiccup was reacting to what he had witnessed ?

He had not made his choice yet as he heard footsteps and voices arriving near the tent. He recognized several performers from the circus.

''I wanna see him ! He almost died for th'love of gods !''

''Calm down, Snotlout,'' Valka retorted, her voice composed but concerned. ''He needs rest after what he has been through.''

''But why did they do this, exactly ?'' Tuffnut asked, he sounded shocked.

''Surely fear.'' Hiccup replied, tone low and troubled. ''We don't know much for now, we'll see later if we can learn something.''

''What's important now,'' Valka added, ''it's Jack's health. No need to rush him, got it ?''

There was only silence as a reply, so Jack suspected the others to nod. As he was expecting them to just part ways, he heard Ruffnut talk with hesitation.

''Take good care of him, okay ?''

''Of course.'' Valka replied, her voice incredibly sweet.

Jack shed a tear as he heard such sweetness. Valka, Hiccup and the other members of the troupe were incredible, they seemed to have a limitless kindness, however he knew the one adressed to him would vanish as soon as they were to learn what he was. Hiccup had heard it from chief Nigel but, weirdly, he didn't seem to have tell the others. Surely he needed more time to proceed it, to get over his shock, or was he denying ?

''Hey, you're awake.''

Jack started as he heard Valka's voice from inside the tent. He turned his head but winced because of the pain. Toothless entered too and blew some air in Jack's hair, the hot breath on his face making him close his eyes but also smile faintly. Smile which dropped as soon as he met Hiccup's eyes. The tamer remained by the entrance, in the back, hesitant. As to Valka, she sat next to Jack, placing her warm hand on his.

''How are you feeling ? Nod to tell me, okay ?''

He hesitated a bit, then opened his mouth, but he only managed to let out a faint, hoarse whisper before he coughed violently. Valka took a hold of his shoulders and started to lift him, Hiccup joining in to support Jack's head. They helped him sit up, slightly bent him forward, and Valka drew circles on his back while talking to him.

''Don't try to talk, your throat and vocal cords are too fragile for that. Hiccup, can you give him some water, please ?''

''Of course. You're gonna be fine, Jack.''

The boy felt the warm hand supporting his nape run in his hair as a comforting gesture. It took him by surprise because he had been expecting Hiccup not to dare touch him, but also because there was no trace of the coarse dye. As the dragon tamer reached the other side of the tent to fill a bowl in a barrel of water, Jack started to get agitated again, running a hand in his hair, filling the complete lack of dye. He even checked his hand in search for brownish stains, but there was none.

''Hush, it's okay, Jack, calm down.'' Valka said as she held his shoulders. ''You're safe now, they won't find you here.''

It was not the villagers Jack was afraid of. They even were the least in his top priorities. What he was afraid of was the two persons around him, the others outside of the tent, the fact he had nothing left to hide his abnormality, but mostly, mostly, the fact they didn't seem to mind it. There was problem, a huge problem and he didn't know what to think of it and it was scaring him out of his mind because he didn't want to be rejected again or even worst and-

''Jack, don't be afraid.'' Valka cooed.

The boy trashed anew and even tried to escape from her, forcing her to hold his wrists, which was just scaring him even more. It didn't take long for Hiccup to notice the commotion, and he quickly took action. Abandoning the bowl of water next to them, he scooted behind Jack, kneeling against his back and wrapping his arms around him. Jack started and tried to fight back, before he was pulled backward and pressed against a warm, toned chest. Then he felt Hiccup's head press against his, his warm breath on his ear while he was murmuring soothing words.

''It's okay, Jack. It's okay. We won't hurt you, I promise.''

The boy let out a sob. Between renewed streaming tears, he could see Valka's face tear up.

''Oh, poor sweetheart… They were hurting you for a long time…''

Jack didn't answer, he didn't even have the will to. Instead, he held to the arms holding him and turned his head so he could bury his face against Hiccup's bicep, letting loose of his tears. Despite his turmoil, he felt Valka's warm hand reach for his and gently squeeze it, Hiccup pressing a kiss in his hair, Sharpshot climbing on his lap and putting his small paws on his arm, along with Toothless' head pressing onto his knees. Jack didn't realise when he fell back asleep. He only felt the reassuring warmth from Hiccup, Valka and the dragons.

He woke up in a start because of a sudden shake, mixed with loud but muffled bumping sound, like something heavy touching the ground. Voices quickly followed but it seemed to come from outside.

''That's it, easy.'' Hiccup said.

''Somethin' damaged ?'' Another voice asked from afar, the accent sounding like Gobber.

''No, all is good.'' Valka replied louder so she could be heard with the distance.

Jack started again because her voice was closer to him. His mind slowly cleared from the sleep, enabling him to realise he was not in the same place anymore. Instead of the small tent, he was laying in what looked like a cart with a canvas roof. Wrapped in furs, he was surrounded by several wooden boxes and barils slightly woobling, as if it had been the whole cart shaking earlier, waking him up.

In this unknown place where he was, the teenage boy was a bit confused and didn't know what to do. He slowly sat up, leaning on the closest box, squeezing the furs around him as if it could shield him. His throat was still aching, but the pain seemed numb while something chilly was tied around his neck. Pulling an arm out of the furs, he cautiously touched it to find a cold and damp clothe. It almost looked like a cylindrical sack filled with small cold rocks, or was it ice chunks ? Since this sack was tied around his neck and the cold was soothing the pain, he decided to keep it.

Letting his arm drop back to his lap, he noticed he wasn't dressed in the same clothes. Granted he still had a nightgown on, but this one wasn't torn off a the bottom, had shorter sleeves and was a pale brown instead of creamy white. Puzzled, he used his other hand – the one still under the furs – to feel what he was wearing. He blushed furiously as he realised he had no pants on, only this nightgown. Someone had changed his clothes while he was out.

Trying to keep his composure, he ran a hand in his hair, but feeling the lack of coarse dye only increased his confusion and growing panic. All he could think of was pull the furs over his head as if it was a hood. He hadn't expected to think that one day, but he missed his old, patched up, scratchy cape. Hidden as he could under the furs, he got up to his feet and slowly made his way towards the front of the cart, where the canvas' curtains were letting in some light.

He was still a bit nauseous and numb, but at least he had gotten back enough strength to stand. Slowly, watching out for the sounds outside, he made out several voices and a few bump noises. When he partially opened the canvas, he wasn't expecting to see a sunny glade. Another cart was there, but there was no horses harnessed to it. Actually, there wasn't even harnes, but Eret and Dagur were rolling up ropes hanging from the corners of the cart. Just behind them, Fishlegs was massaging one of Meatlugs' wings, the dragon laying on her side in the grass, looking tired.

The boy blenched and backed as he saw a shadow passing in front of him. He winced as he bumped his leg against a box, and tensed even more as what was inside chinked. It looked like the box was filled with some metal object, probably cooking tools or even daggers from the knife-throwers' act. He barely got distracted by this as he focused on a shadow forming on the canvas, coming closer to take the shape of Valka, just before she opened the canvas and met his eyes. Her suspicious scowl morphed into a softer face, her eyes lighting up as she smiled.

''Hey Jack, you're up. I bet that means you're feeling better ?''

The boy hesitated, then opened his mouth to answer, but Valka rose a finger to stop him.

''No, don't try to talk. Your vocal cords are still fragile, you can't push it or else you'll cause permanent damages. You wouldn't want to become mute for good, now would you ?''

Her voice filled with teasing, her smile turning in a slight smirk. Jack lowered his head and slowly nodded as a reply, unable to look her in the eye, unable to even know how to behave. It didn't take long for the gentle woman to notice how uneasy he was, her smile dropping.

''Jack, you-''

''Valka,'' Snotlout called as he arrived next to her, ''where d'we put th'ropes for th'tents ? Oh Jack, you're 'wake !''

The stocky guy beamed once his eyes landed on the wrapped up boy, but said boy backed like a scared animal. Snotlout leaned on the cart to climb in it, but Valka stopped him, grabbing his shoulder.

''Snotlout, no. Easy.''

She gave him a stern look, making him stop in his track. He looked back to Jack, then climbed back down so he could give the boy some space. Valka patted his shoulder and gestured to something Jack couldn't see.

''Ask Mala for the ropes.''

Snotlout's shoulders dropped, looking dejected, but still accepted to leave, not before giving a sad look to Jack.

''Get well soon, kid.'' He added before leaving.

Jack hesitantly took a step forward so he could look at him leaving, but Valka was still there, so he backed instantly. She stared at him for a moment, her eyes seemed elsewhere, lost in her thoughts, then she smiled again, but it was a shy smile.

''Do you want some water ? Maybe something to eat ? You've slept for hours, you must be starving.''

Though he was still lost, Jack nodded shyly, still holding the furs around him. Valka's smile grew bigger and she offered him a hand.

''Come, I'll cook something for you.''

But just as she extended her hand to him, he backed again. Once more, he bumped his leg in the chuking box and nearly lost his balance, but he managed to avoid falling. Valka rose her hands as if trying to sooth a scared animal.

''No, no, it's okay. I won't force you to go out if you don't want to. You can stay in here.''

Jack felt a weight form in his chest, guilty and anguish mixing up. He couldn't explain why Valka was still so nice to him if she had seen his abnormal hair, and if Hiccup had told her what he had heard the villagers say. Tightening the furs around him, secretly hoping it could swallow him, he heard voices outside of the cart.

''What's going on ?'' Eret asked.

''Jack wok'up.'' Snotlout explained lowly, his voice sounding so down it seemed out of his usual bragging self.

''Good news, then !'' Astrid smiled.

Silence followed. Heavy silence, before Snolout spoke again, sounding even more depressed.

''He looks fright'ned.''

''After what he's been through, it's no wonder.'' Eret assured. ''how would you react if your own village had tried to kill you ?''

''I… I dunno. I just… I dunno, 'was hoping he'd be happy t'be here with us.''

''Don't worry Snotlout, he'll get over it. We'll be here to help him.''

''Jack ?'' Valka asked.

Her soft voice brought him from the outside conversation, and made him realise there was a tear rolling down his cheek. Wiping it with a shaking hand, he bit his lips as he felt others forming in his eyes. Valka slowly scooted closer, as if she was expecting Jack to crumble before her eyes, and it seemed to be the last thing she wanted.

''It's okay, Jack. You're fine. You're safe, now. We won't let them hurt you. We won't let anyone hurt you.''

Jack bit harder, but still it was not enough to hold back the salted water gathering in his stinging eyes. He wiped his face again and took a deep breath. Once he deemed he was calm enough, he tried to mouth the question burning his tongue. Valka read it and her face turned from concerned to sad.

''Why ?'' She repeated.

Jack nodded, a muted sob shaking his throat, making him wince. He took another step backward but bumped again in a box, in which he dropped himself to sit. Valka jumped towards him, visibly trying to catch him, but she stopped before touching him. Jack felt like she didn't dare to, but not because of fear, disgust and reject, because she looked afraid that would push him away. Her intense eyes were enough to say she was worried about him, about his well-being.

''Why what ?'' She asked, filled with sorrow. ''Why do we help you ?''

Despite his grimace to hold back his tears, he nodded again as a 'yes'.

''Jack, come on…''

She sighed and ran a hand on her face, which darkened with an angry scowl, but this anger didn't seem aimed to Jack because she softened again as she looked back to him.

''I don't know how much the people from your village hurt you, but you didn't deserve it.''

A new sob tore Jack's throat, starting a coughing fit. He bent forward and shrunk on himself, but instantly felt Valka's warm arms catch him, holding him, rocking him. He wanted to give in to this warm embrace, but the spell broke as he felt her pushing the fur from his head. He jumped and shoved her away, pulling back the fur to the extend he hid his whole face, folding on himself like a snail going back in its shell. Valka didn't try again to touch him, and remained silent for a moment, until she got up and backed.

''I'll bring you some food, and some clothes for you to change.''

Jack didn't reply. He didn't even look at her, he just remained hidden in the furs. He waited for the gentle woman to exit the cart, then silence came back, until he heard voices coming from the side of the cart, just outside. So close they could have been eavedropping Valka and him.

''We should have burnt that village.'' Ruffnut groaled.

''Those assholes,'' Tuffnut added. ''I can't believe they did something like that to a good dude like Jack. Seriously, he's adorable, he's even saved us despite you scaming him and getting him beaten up.''

''Hey ! You're one to talk, you tried to mug him !''

''Oh come on, are you going to harass me with this ?''

Jack heard punches and grunts, clear signs of the twins fighting. He couldn't focus on that, even when one of them fell on the cart, slightly shaking it. His thoughts remained focused on what he had just heard the twins say about him. They were defending him. Despite seeming to know what had happened, they were still defending him. But did they really know ? Did they know what made chief Nigel and the village to try and kill him ? Had Hiccup told them everything ?

He sniffed and slowly unfolded his cocoon while a welcoming warmth was spreading in his chest, easing a part of his troubles. Hope shone within him while he couldn't help but wonder if maybe, maybe, he finally had a chance to not be seen as a demon. Could the Hairy Hooligans' circus see him as something else than White the Cursed ?