Sorry for the delay in posting this chapter. Brave's latest chapter was hard for me to write for some reason.

Congrats to Wheel's 100th reviewer: MHJohn64th! As soon as I get some time, I shall add your name to the special section for milestone reviewers on my profile. Unfortunately, that's the only prize (other than mention in this chapter) that I can give.

Review Replies:

Hiccup-ALG: The message will return! It will pop back up at the start of Arc 3. As for how Hiccup and Toothless leave the island (because the story can't be 100 chapters of them stuck here, can it?), it won't be a Typhoomerang, but it will still be just as shocking (not literally).

MHJohn64th: Congrats on posting the 100th review for Wheel! Yes, this story is not going to be happy…for the most part. The ending, though…well, I won't give it away, but it should get better. Reunion? Who says that Hiccup and Astrid will be reunited? Haha. Seriously, though, this is Hiccup we are talking about. Sure, he's a bit depressed right now, but he always seems to think of ways out of sticky situations. As for the depressing setting, it wouldn't be realistic for it to get easier for Hiccup and Toothless. The weather will only continue to get colder and the resources at this time of the year are running thin. Well, guess I'll have to look forward to the DVD release of How To Train Your Dragon 2…so I can buy it and watch it over and over again like I've done with the first one. Haha.

kitty.0: If only I had known that (you know what I'm talking about) would happen. Ah, my dad still liked the movie anyway. I can't wait for it to come out on DVD. I'm ready to re-watch it again already…but I won't pay to see it in 2-D in the theaters…and the 3-D showings ended when Transformers opened.

Jesusfreak (anonymous): I wouldn't have picked up on it if I hadn't read an article somewhere about it. As long as they don't show Gobber romancing with other male Vikings in the third movie, I'll be quite okay.

lorde (anonymous): Yes, it was amazing! I mean, I still like the first movie too, but the sequel was just as good (if not a bit better, even). Thank you! I'm glad you like the Hiccstrid…even though they're not together. It'll be like this for a while. I don't see Hiccup making it back to Berk…well, for a little bit, at least. To answer your questions, I am 23 (I'll be 23.5 in a little less than a month! Not helping my "I'm not old" case, I know) and I live on the US East Coast.

dragonlover17: Aww…I love your idea. Unfortunately, it won't fit into the story now as I have it, but maybe I'll write a spin-off chapter where that happens. It'd be fun! I won't be too horribly mean to Hiccup. He's my favorite character (with Astrid as a very, very close second).

ChibiFelicia: Yes, the others did move on quickly, but I'm going on the assumption of these times when the Vikings lived. Conditions were harder and they were much quicker to believe someone dead when they lost communication or are not found for a brief amount of time. Well, at least, I think that's true. It's been awhile since I took a history class. Wow…you really did your research…for my story, even. I feel honored. Haha. Hiccup has to catch some fish first, though.

Lady (anonymous): Yeah, I know it is, but that is the nature of this arc. It's a slower one because the next one will be faster-paced.

Guest (anonymous): She does need a pep talk from Dream!Hiccup. Heck, I could use one of those. Dream!Hiccup is adorable. Yeah…the people in Astrid's life have horrible timing, it seems. Here's the next update.


Chapter 25: Exposed To The Cold
Wheel in the Sky

Hiccup couldn't sleep. How he wished he could say that his intuitive mind was keeping him awake, but this was not the case tonight. The young Viking was accustomed to cold; it was something he had to just get used to while living on Berk, an island where it tended to snow nine months out of the year…and hail during the other three. What Hiccup was experiencing now, though, was beyond cold; it was just brutal. Even without wind, the temperatures were so cold that Hiccup found himself constantly shivering. He could find some temporary comfort by sitting near to his dragon, but even that would only help for so long before the cold sent chills running beneath his skin.

How he wished that there was a more favorable shelter on the island. He had explored one warmer afternoon, looking for a cave, but there were none. Hiccup had concluded that this island had the central woods and the beach with the water surrounding it in all directions; there was nothing else.

Currently, Hiccup lay curled up tightly to Toothless's side. The large black dragon slept peacefully, unaware of the struggle his little human was having. Hiccup shivered violently as the night air passed over his small form. Briefly, he had wondered how Toothless could go on sleeping, how the dragon did not notice the shaking.

In attempts to distract his mind from the shivering and the cold, Hiccup thought back to the warmer days , ones that had so quickly fled. Somewhere nearby lay Hiccup's discarded half-finished makeshift fish netting. He wished that he could finish the project, but the shivering would just deter his fingers and he did not want to mess up the careful weaving of the vines. "O-Odin…h-help me. Give me strength to c-c-carry on," he whispered out between shivers. The night air was so cold that it instantly clenched his chest in reflex, making it harder than ever to breathe.

Trying again to distract himself from the cold, Hiccup thought of things that made him happy. Dragon racing was the first thing that came to his mind. Back home on Berk, Hiccup and his friends (but mainly Hiccup) had been designing a new sport based on the informal fun races they held every so often. Hiccup had been looking forward to participating (for he was certain the "sport" would become an instant hit among the villagers), but now he was unsure if he'd ever get the opportunity. How he had looked forward to beating Astrid in front of the spectating crowd made up of eager Berkians.

Immediately, Hiccup's mind was flooded again with thoughts of Astrid. Gods, he missed her. Does she miss me too? Has she moved on? I'm sure she has. Berk isn't known to hold out hope for castaways, Hiccup thought, downcast. This realization was almost enough to convince Hiccup to just give up, but then he would remind himself that giving up would get him nowhere. At least if he tried to survive, Hiccup might someday stumble upon the resources he'd need for a return trip to Berk.

Sighing, Hiccup shifted, trying to fall back asleep. Day was approaching and Hiccup knew that he needed the rest. His mind was already cloudy enough from the cold some days. He didn't need sleep deprivation to muck up his thoughts any further. Sometime later, a few hours before daybreak, Hiccup finally fell into a light sleep.

Several hours later, Hiccup was roused when his dragon pillow shifted. Toothless had risen from where he'd lain and Hiccup, not prepared for the movement, found himself laying on his back, the air knocked from his lungs. When Hiccup could breathe smoothly again, he glared at the dragon, but Toothless's back was to Hiccup. Thank you for nothing, you useless reptile! Hiccup felt a small smile find its way onto his face. Those were the exact words he had said to Toothless during his and Astrid's first flight together.

Sitting up, Hiccup noticed the wind. Overnight, it seemed to have picked up. Please tell me that it's not going to snow. OnBerk, snowfall could get heavy at times, coating everything in a fluffy layer of white and stranding Vikings inside their homes for days. If it snowed like that now, Hiccup (and maybe even Toothless) could be buried. With a glance skyward, Hiccup's fears were confirmed. There was a storm approaching. Whether it would bring snow, though, Hiccup did not know. The chill of the growing wind reminded Hiccup of yet another impending danger. He had seen it happen before on Berk. Vikings who stayed out in the cold for long periods of time would experience it. First, their exposed skin would turn blue and then they would lose all feeling. Left untreated, it would just get worse and worse. Hiccup, himself, had experienced it once before and that was an experience he had hoped to forget. Unfortunately, the memories resurfaced before he could stop them.

888

Hiccup was in his sixth year of life…and still quite the small boy, smallest still among all those his age. It was a customary season of harsh snows on Berk that year. Back then, Hiccup had still loved snow very much and on this one particular day, the morning after another heavy snowfall, he woke up enthusiastic to play out in the fallen snow.

The house had been empty that morning and Hiccup knew that his father would most likely be home late as he was probably busy with his chieftain duties. Hiccup frowned at the though. His father was always too busy to make time for him. Young Hiccup knew that he should probably be used to this by now, but it still hurt, a constant reminder of his unimportance.

By the time Hiccup left his house, the other kids his age were already outside. Finding them, Hiccup ran up to them, asking them if they wanted to play in the fresh snow. As usual, they scoffed, telling Hiccup how "real Vikings don't play in snow". Hiccup gave his usual "Fine, then I'll go play by myself." answer before running off back to his house. When Hiccup would play in the snow, he would always do so behind his house because the building sheltered the view from Berk; none of the adult Vikings would see Hiccup's actions and belittle him like the kids.

For hours, Hiccup entertained himself in the snow. He built snow Vikings and held imaginary dragon battles in which he, the hero, would arrive at just the right moment and vanquish the beasts, saving Berk. It was late in the day when Hiccup decided to leave behind his imaginary world and head inside to see if his father had returned. It wasn't until he went to pull open the back door that Hiccup noticed. Before, he had not paid much attention to his hands while he was playing, but when his hands touched the door, he felt searing pain. The young Viking wanted to cry out, but he knew that would make him look weak, so he simply bit down on his lower lip and entered the house.

The first thing Hiccup noticed once he had shut the back door was the smell. It wafted into his nose and his stomach rumbled in anticipation; he had not eaten yet today and his father's cooking smelled wonderful. As Hiccup walked further into the house, he noticed Stoick sitting in his favorite chair by the fire. Stoick took little notice of his son and only briefly told the boy that there was a bowl of hot stew on the table for him to eat. In reply, Hiccup gave a simple word of thanks as he sat down at the table.

Unfortunately, though, he was having an increasingly harder time hiding the pain in his hands. They burned with an icy fire and he found himself continuing to grit his teeth in pain. Even when Hiccup had thanked his father, the boy had a hard time keeping his voice steady and he knew that the Chief had noticed. Discreetly, Hiccup ate his stew and stole glances at his father who did the same from across the room. The wooden utensil in Hiccup's hand was unsteady as the boy tried his best not to grip it too tightly as that would send more icy shock waves up his arms.

Finally, after many discrete glances, Hiccup heard his father sigh and walk over to the table. The boy thought little of it; his father never really cared what his son did…unless it involved causing trouble out in the village. So, Hiccup continued to slowly eat his stew. Hiccup was just about to take another bite when his father's strong grasp locked around his skinny left arm and he was pulled to his feet. Dropping his eating utensil in surprise, Hiccup was barely able to speak a confused "D-Dad?" before the man released him.

Stoick immediately began filling a pot full of water and muttering words that Hiccup could barely hear. As Hiccup listened closely, he heard a few snippets of Stoick's conversation with himself. "Tell me sooner…" and "heat water…" were the only words the young Vikings could understand.

Once Stoick had filled the pot, he carried it over to the fireplace and hung the pot on the hook to allow the water to heat. Hiccup made to move over and ask what this was all about, but his father stopped him. "Don't go disappearing, Boy. Stay right there."

It did not take long for the water to heat to the desired temperature. Stoick did not want it to be too hot. When he was satisfied, Stoick removed the heated pot and brought it back over to the table. "Put your hands in the pot, Hiccup."

The boy did not really want to soak his ice-cold hands into the warm water, but he knew better than to argue with his father. Slipping his hands into the water, Hiccup resisted the urge to cry out in pain. Soon enough, though, it all became too much for the 6-year old and he hissed at the hurtful feeling in his hands.

"Now, tell me," Stoick spoke in that stern "no-nonsense" tone of his, "how long were you outside and what were you doing?"

Hiccup did not really want to tell his father that he was doing something as un-Viking-like as playing in the fresh snow, but when he stole at glance at his father's dark eyes, Hiccup could just tell that his father already knew the answer anyway. "I…I was playing…in the snow, but I don't know how long. It was awhile, though, I guess."

Hiccup watched his father exhale. "You should have told me that your skin was exposed to the cold for such a long time, Hiccup."

The boy was almost surprised at the concern he heard. Had his father actually been worried about him? That would be a first. "I didn't think it was that big a deal. I thought it would go away eventually and—"

Stoick cut off Hiccup. "It would not have gone away. You're just lucky that your hands hadn't turned blue yet! If it had gotten that far…"

Looking down at his hands in the rippling lukewarm water, Hiccup tried to imagine them with a bluish hue. "What would've happen? Would they have cut my hands off like they did to Gobber's arm and leg?" he asked with the boyish curiosity of which only he seemed capable.

His father gave a stern look and Hiccup instantly quieted. This always happened; it would seem that Hiccup would always say the wrong words, causing more disappointment and disgust from his father. Stoick turned to head back out to the village. "I have work to do. Don't even think of moving from that spot until your hands feel normal again." As the Chief left the house, Hiccup heard one last quiet word. "Yes." The boy knew that was the answer to his previous question and he was too hurt to notice his father's concern.

888

As Hiccup thought back on that day many years prior, he recalled the feeling in his hands. It had been painful, painfully numb. He didn't feel that feeling yet, but he knew that if he did start to feel it, then his days would finally truly be numbered. With no way to get warm, he would slowly freeze to death, literally. Quickly, he lifted his tunic slightly, eyeing his skin for any bluish coloring. Luckily, he saw none; he was still okay for now.

While Hiccup had been lost in his thoughts, the storm had crept closer. There was no warning—once it started, the storm poured down in torrents, instantly soaking through Hiccup's tunic and fur vest. "Toothless!" Hiccup yelled to his nearby dragon who instantly ran over and sheltered his rider with one of his black wings. Well, at least it isn't snow… "Come on, Toothless. Let's get further into the woods. Hopefully we can make a better temporary shelter from this rain in there." Together they walked in sync, both hoping to stay as dry as possible.


I know…this is super late…but, on the plus side, I gave you all an extra 1,000 words to read in this chapter. The flashback kinda came to me and I was like…sure, why not. Although, it was hard because I'm so used to writing Fatherly!Stoick and then I had to switch to Uncaring!Stoick for that little scene. Hope you enjoyed it anyway.

P.S. You have no idea the temptation I had to have Hiccup start singing "Do You Want To Build A Snowman?" when he asks the other kids if they want to play in the snow. Ultimately, as you see, I decided against that. Haha.

Coming Up Next: Astrid was really starting to think that she could no longer handle everything that life was throwing her way. Everyone still acted overfriendly, always greeting her and asking about how she was feeling on that day. Frustrated, Astrid cancels Dragon Training for the day and spends her time alone. Later on that night, she is blessed with another dream, but this one is different tonight. Who is that mysterious figure that has appeared in the dream? No…it couldn't be…

Next Chapter: Well, I think this next one won't take as long to write up (but of course, I don't know for certain), so I'll tentatively say that I'll aim to have it posted…hmm, I'll try a week from today—next Thursday after 10 PM US East Coast time. HEADS UP—I won't be updating any stories between tomorrow (Friday) and Monday because I won't be home. Going to visit my family for the holiday. This has been posted in the announcements section of my profile as well. (Yeah, I have one of those now. Feel free to check it every so often. Sometimes I post notices there.)

Thank you all for reading and supporting Wheel in the Sky (and baring through this slow-moving arc. Four more chapters until Arc 3!)

Posted: July 3, 2014