Thank you SO MUCH for all the reviews, faves, and follows! I didn't think this story would be much of a big hit. It means more to me than you guys know!

Apologies if this chapter was short or rushed! But don't worry, the next update will PICK UP IN PACE! I have big plans for this story...

Chapter Two: Red Sky

It was like watching everything while being struck frozen. Involved and yet detached, Astrid saw the blood spreading from Hiccup's middle and watched as bright crimson drops began to color the brown fabric and then flow freely, soaking into his shirt.

In horror, she watched as his eyes rolled up into the back of his head and his knees began to bend. She knew what was about to happen next. Suddenly torn out of her immobility, Astrid raced forward and caught Hiccup just before he hit the ground.

He slumped limply into her arms, his head resting on her lap in a show that he was clearly unconscious. He barely moved after that. "Hiccup?" Astrid yelled, and was horrified when he didn't respond. "Hiccup, stay with me. Stay right here. Open your eyes... look at me..."

Hiccup only moaned.

"Just hold on," she pleaded. "Everything will be fine. I'm right here, and I won't go anywhere... just stay with me a little longer… we're going to get you help… Hiccup… Hiccup?"

Hiccup had stopped moving.

"No… no, no, no, don't you die on me! Not now! Not after all this!" She looked up. "We need a healer over here! Hurry!"

The riders started to panic, and Toothless went berserk. Snotlout and Fishlegs had to both keep him under control. And then, green eyes blazing with worry, Heather mounted Windshear and immediately took off, yelling, "Have him hang on for a little longer! I'm bringing the healer!"

Astrid sucked in a breath, nodding to herself. She had to stay calm- for Hiccup. She had to get him to hang on until the healer got there. Shaking away her thoughts, she grabbed him by the shoulders and started shaking him. "Please wake up… please wake up… please! I need you, Hiccup… we all do."

For an awful moment, nothing seemed to happen. Hiccup's chest barely continued to rise and fall, the blood on his shirt still blossoming without restraint.

And then in a startling second, he inhaled like he'd never breathed air before, eyes snapping open as he coughed loudly. Drawing a deep, shuddering breath while looking up at Astrid, he gasped, "What… happened?"

Astrid nearly collapsed in relief. "You were stabbed, you big idiot," she said, swallowing. "Only you, Hiccup. Only you."

"Sorry... for scaring you." His face scrunched up in obvious pain. "I thought… that I-I..." He trailed off, suddenly coughing.

"Hiccup?" Astrid whispered.

A moment later, Hiccup regained his breath. "Thought I could beat them," he said hoarsely. "But I... didn't... know about the knife. Two against one. Not fair. Took me... by surprise." His breath was becoming more uneven, and he cringed. "Did you... get them, Astrid? Are the dragons... safe?"

"We got them," Astrid assured, fighting to keep calm while using her hands to try to staunch the bleeding. There was so much blood. His fingertips were cold to the touch and his lips were turning blue.

"Knew you would." His breathing was getting shallower. "You're a good fighter, Astrid. One of the best... I've ever known. Could always… count on you..."

He closed his eyes and Astrid felt her self-control shatter. What would she do without Hiccup if he… died? They had planned a future out. A home. A family. How could Johann take that away from them with a simple flick of his wrist?

"Just lie still, Hiccup, and everything will be fine. Just fine. We'll get you to a healer and you'll be back on your feet in no time." Astrid kept repeating this over and over again to both him and herself as she checked his wound. She realized that in the time Hiccup had collapsed and fell unconscious, it had gotten larger and was bleeding heavier. "Don't worry. It's just a scratch," she said, trying not to let her voice shake too much. Already her hands were coated in blood. "Nothing's going to happen to you. You're going to be alright."

The ghost of a smile flickered across Hiccup's face. "Hurts some... but nothing to be concerned about. Don't know... why everyone's so worried. Always so worried." His leaf green eyes examined her closely and he grew serious again. "Astrid," he said, his voice so faint Astrid barely heard the words. "Please...tell my father to get well again. Needs to get well."

"Tell him yourself," Astrid returned, her hands trembling. "We're all going home. We just need to have the healer check you out first is all. Then you can see him." Her eyes stung with tears. "He'll be so happy to see you, Hiccup."

Hiccup stared up at her again silently. "Astrid. Need to listen..."

"W-what? Hiccup-"

"Toothless. Egg... in saddlebag. Get... to safety." His eyes began to flutter shut. "Now… don't worry about me... I'm fine." He smiled crookedly. "I'm always fine. Always... always fine." His eyelids drooped, and unable to hold out any longer, Hiccup slipped back into unconsciousness.

"Hiccup?" Astrid said fearfully, terrified when he didn't answer. "Hiccup!" She fumbled for a grip on his wrist to check for a pulse, though her hand was shaking so badly she wasn't sure she'd feel one if she tried.

But there it was. Slow, erratic, and quickly fading, but it was still there.

One thing was clear: Hiccup needed help. Now. She just hoped the healer on Berserker Island was good enough to offer it.

"He's going to need some clotting for all that blood- immediately!"

"What? Why?"

"He's going to bleed to death otherwise… Heather, quick, hand me a clean rag and get me some water… we don't want an infection to start. Come on, now!"

Hiccup was confused with all the voices shouting in his ears. What were they talking about? Who was going to bleed to death? He inwardly gasped to himself, hoping it wasn't Astrid or the other riders. Were one of them injured in the battle?

Something suddenly occurred to him. Why can't I see? he thought, desperately wanting to check his friends to make sure they were alright. But, he was still trapped in this eternity of darkness, all alone.

Something cold and wet splashed onto his stomach and he recoiled from the sting. What was that?

"Alright, put the rag down… steady… yes, right there, where the injury is."

A dull ache throbbed in his stomach as something seemed to press down on it. He winced, wishing it would go away. When it didn't, he grew uncomfortable and pulled back.

"Hold him down, he's fighting!"

I'm not fighting, he thought irritably. I just want to be left alone.

"Keep him steady now. Keep the rag on… yes… alright, now let me see." The cold presence was removed from Hiccup's middle, and then there was a pause. "Well, now. I see where the complications are coming from..."

"What is it?" That was Astrid. He was confused about why she sounded so concerned.

"He's severed a blood vessel. I don't think it's too serious, but… we need to act immediately if we want him to get better."

Suddenly, their voices started to blend together, and Hiccup grew confused. What was happening? His heart thudded loudly in his ears and he found himself struggling to breathe. Waves of nausea swept through him and he stiffened.

"No… he's going into shock. Heather, hurry with another rag!"

Panicked voices. Someone shook him and he vaguely heard Astrid crying. But that didn't make sense. Astrid never cried, even under the darkest of circumstances. Something was very wrong... he just couldn't think what it was.

"Stay w-th... us…"

"Keep fighting…"

"No… no…"

"C...n't leave us…"

"HICCUP!"

Astrid paced from outside the healer's hut, unaware of the other riders' presence around her with her mind set solely on Hiccup. Her thoughts were screaming at her to do something. Anything. But that was just the problem... she couldn't.

Neither axe nor fighting spirit could help her now. After all her years with these kinds of things, watching these kinds of things, she suddenly found herself stuck. She couldn't save Hiccup, no matter what she did.

It was a whole other feeling of helplessness altogether.

The door to the hut opened and she swerved around, blue eyes shining with both exhaustion and fear. "How is he?" she demanded the healer, Gordon, who was standing expressionlessly from the doorway.

He hesitated, wrinkles creasing his brow, and in a deep voice replied, "I don't know how long he can last. He's clinging to life, but barely… there's just one thread left. I don't know what will happen if that breaks."

Astrid inhaled, tears stinging at her eyes.

Gordon continued. "In a few hours, we'll know if he's going to make it."

"Make it?" Astrid tensed up, fists clenched at her sides. "But he's Hiccup. He always makes it. He'll always cling to life… no matter what… he won't give up!"

Gordon only stared at her sadly for a moment and turned to go back inside.

Astrid looked around at the other riders along with Toothless, all their faces worn from exhaustion and worry from the last few hours. Even the twins couldn't find a way to joke about Hiccup's predicament.

"Guys… what will we do if Hiccup, you know…" Snotlout looked uncomfortable.

"Don't think like that," Astrid shot back. "Like I said before, it's Hiccup. He'll make it."

Toothless moaned and laid down on the ground. Astrid turned her head to look at him, blinking before suddenly remembering what Hiccup had said earlier.

"Toothless. Egg... saddlebag. Get...to safety."

"Toothless, come here," she said slowly, waving him over. The dragon looked confused for a moment but soon got to his feet and dragged himself over. Astrid walked to his left side, where Hiccup's saddlebag was, and intrigued, she opened the pouch.

It was empty.

Taken aback, Astrid shook her head. "Toothless, was there an egg in here before?" she asked. Toothless snorted his agreement, and Astrid felt herself pale. "Oh my gods. It's missing now. The King of Dragon's egg is… missing."

Alarmed, the other riders looked up. "What do you mean, it's missing?" Snotlout demanded. "Hiccup risked his life to get that thing! And now because of it, he might…" He hesitated. "He might…"

"We need to get back whatever that egg was," Fishlegs continued. "It must still be in the cave, where it fell out of his saddlebag." His expression turned sad. "Hiccup would've wanted us to rescue it."

"Stop talking about him like he's already dead!" Astrid yelled. The riders silenced, and furious, she went on. "Because he's not dead. And he won't be anytime soon. He's still fighting hard- I can feel it. And… and you can believe there's no hope left if you want to. You can believe that he'll die within the hour if that's what you really think. Thor, you can even believe he's already dead if it truly helps," she said, laughing dryly before turning serious again. "But I, for one, am not giving up on him. Ever. Just like he wouldn't give up on any us… just like how he hasn't given up on his father… just like how he hasn't given up on himself! Just believe in him. That's all I'd expect from his closest friends."

A pause, and then: "Well… I'm not giving up on him either," Ruffnut agreed, folding her arms. "Hiccup's had closer brushes with death than this before. I wouldn't put it past him to be back on his feet tomorrow, flying home to Berk to see how the Chief is."

"Me too," Fishlegs said, nodding. "Hiccup's… well… sometimes a miracle in disguise. He always makes it."

The rest of the riders chorused in agreement.

Astrid was satisfied. "Alright. Now, once we know Hiccup's better, we go and get that egg. Then we take it somewhere safe. Somewhere where Hiccup tells us to. Agreed?"

The others nodded.

That settled, Astrid tipped her chin up and looked at the fading sky, its stormy clouds darkening as the sun slowly settled in a flourish of ribbon-like fire, revealing a scarlet sea above her. She closed her eyes.

The sky was bleeding... and so was Hiccup.

Note: Sorry if some of the medical knowledge in here was not known in Viking times. I don't know when HTTYD is set and therefore cannot check my facts. :) But, for the sake of the story, I'll just pretend they knew what they were talking about.

INCREDIBLE thanks to reviewers: animalsarepeopletoo, Grizzly98, katurdi, Fantasygirl1349, Mary (Guest), Master-of-httyd-fics-542, Ignite the Stars, Guest, SweetWritingIsMyLife, Guest #2, DianaG-J, DaisytheDoodleDog, TheyCallMeYourCloverness, Astrid E Lokison, Draconic king, The Dreaming Dragon, The Wizard Rider, GriffTalon, Antox, and Scribblefoxx!