So I figured out that Dragon's Edge is actually 37 hours away from Berk (thanks to a reviewer whose name escapes me...you know who you are, so thank you a bunch. :D), so if suddenly you're thinking "But the thing said twenty four hours in a previous chapter and now it's changed!" then that's why. :) Thanks to all who read, review, fav, and follow, and here's chapter 4! :D

Snotlout was having a bad day. He didn't want to go search for the cure for Eel Pox, but at the same time, his protective cousin instincts had taken the better of him, and he had actually volunteered to go out again once they got back to Berk.

The only thing he hated was the fact he had to ride with Gothi, but even then, it wasn't that bad. Not as bad as it could have been, of course.

Well, on the other hand, it could have been better. Gothi could have ridden with the twins, but she wouldn't have any of that. They'd been flying for hours now, heading to Eel Island to find the bloodvein eel. Afterwards, they had to get to Healer's Island and find the list of herbs to help finish making the cure for Eel Pox.

Snotlout was not excited about going to Eel Island. He had learned from Fishlegs and Hiccup what happened when Toothless accidentally ate an eel once: he got the dragon's version of Eel Pox, which was something Snotlout didn't want to risk Hookfang getting. It explained why dragons were so terrified of eels, much like Snotlout was terrified of being around someone infected with Eel Pox for fear of getting sick.

Which meant that it was going to be harder to get the eel if neither Hookfang nor Barf or Belch wanted to go near the creatures.

Greeeeeeaaaattt.

Sarcasm so included.

But it was better than being around Hiccup and risking getting Eel Pox. Snotlout would rather look for a cure than take care of him, like Astrid and Fishlegs were doing. He didn't understand why Astrid had gotten so mad at her when he refused to go near Hiccup. Did she want everyone to get sick?

He was pretty sure she didn't, but at the same time, he really didn't know one way or another. He never understood women, especially Astrid. There was that one time she got all creepy around him, telling him how his eyes reflected the clouds so beautifully, and her voice got all weird…

He didn't like her very much after that. Those few minutes were just plain terrifying.

They landed on Eel Island, and as soon as they did so, Snotlout dismounted first, followed by Gothi, and the twins. He surveyed their surroundings, putting his hand over his eyes to block out the sun.

"Okay," he said. "We need a strategy." Oh, he was not good at this. He always wanted to be the leader, to best Hiccup or even best Astrid, but now, he was at a loss. He didn't know how to be a leader. "We could, um…" He didn't want the dragons getting the Eel Pox disease, or else they would have a real problem on their hands.

Think like Hiccup. Think like Hiccup. He couldn't believe he was actually thinking about that, but as much as he hated to admit it, Hiccup was brilliant. He was smart, intelligent, clever (sometimes fiendishly clever), and always knew what to do to get them out of whatever situation they found themselves in.

"I know!" Tuffnut said, waving his hand in the air. "We can fly over the ocean and burn the surface of the water! Getting the eels after that will be a piece of cake!"

Snotlout opened his mouth to tell Tuffnut that it was a stupid idea, but then, he actually thought about the male twin's suggestion. "Hey, you know what," Snotlout said, "that's actually not a bad idea."

"Yeah!" Tuffnut shouted, pumping his fist into the air. He froze a moment later. "What?" he blurted.

"Yeah, you heard me," Snotlout said. "Let's scorch the water, grab an eel while they're stunned - or dead - and then get back to Healer's Island to get the other stuff we need."

It sounded like a good plan, and it didn't take them very long to complete their task. Thanks to Ruffnut and Tuffnut, they had no problem firing at the water and at the eels that dwelled in the shallow water, and Snotlout had no problem scooping the dead eels into a burlap sack and swinging it over his shoulder.

Now, they had to get the herbs, and they could get the cure back to Dragon's Edge for Hiccup.

Hiccup retched and coughed into a bucket for what felt like the hundredth time that day. Astrid sat by him, rubbing his back while whispering soothing nothings in an attempt to calm him, although it didn't work very well. He was feeling worse and worse, and nothing they were trying was helping it get better.

"Hey," Astrid said calmly, trying to keep her hidden worry out of her voice. She brushed Hiccup's sweaty bangs out of his face, and he let her without protest. "You don't have to cry." That was another thing: his delusions were getting worse, and he would wake up panicking and shaking, not knowing where he was or who he was.

Hiccup shook his head. "I don't...I don't like...looking weak...'spesially...in front...ah'you…"

Astrid took the bucket from him and set it to the side. She hated seeing him sick, but honestly, she wasn't disgusted by it. She was a Viking: most the things they saw were disgusting. Eel Pox was no exception, and besides that, Hiccup was her friend. If she didn't take care of him, who else was around that could?

"You don't look weak to me, Hiccup," she assured him, putting her hand on the side of his head and pulling him towards her, leaning his head against her shoulder. He let himself relax with a content sigh, and Astrid ran her fingers through his greasy hair. "You never do. Sick, yes, but not weak. Everyone gets sick. Even the strongest people."

"Mmnn...you already said that once," Hiccup murmured. "I...I t-think I know what you mean…"

She brushed his bangs away from his eyes and kissed his warm forehead. "Good," she said. "And don't you forget it, either." She tapped his nose, and he blinked his glassy eyes in confusion.

He sighed, pressing his forehead against Astrid's neck. "My head hurts," he said quietly.

"I'm sure it does," Astrid said, putting her arms around him. It came as no surprise to her that his head was hurting. "You're sick, remember?"

"I remember…" he said, although he was whispering more than anything now. "But...it...it really hurts, Astrid…"

She knew it did. She knew having Eel Pox was painful. "I know," she said sympathetically. "I know. Hang in there, Hiccup. Snotlout and the twins will be back soon with the cure, and you'll be back on your feet, annoying people and causing trouble again in no time."

"Foot," Hiccup corrected drowsily. "Hmmm...I'm really tired…"

Astrid patted his back softly. "I know," she said. "Here, lie down for a little bit. You'll feel better for it."

He did as he was told, and Astrid pulled the blanket back over his shivering, feverish body. He fell asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow, and Astrid watched him with concern.

She hated seeing him so vulnerable, especially since he was normally so stubborn - too stubborn to admit it when he actually needed help - but she was glad he was being so open with her. He wasn't hardly ever completely honest with her when he was unwell, but now, he was being almost brutally open.

And she felt so sorry for him, because since he was normally so stubborn, even when he was sick, she was reminded of just how awful he really must have felt. He must have felt terrible, the poor thing…

He whimpered in his sleep, and she shushed him, taking the wet rag out of the bucket and bathing his sweaty face with it. He quieted after a moment, and she sighed with relief. She wanted him sleeping soundly, not restlessly.

All at once, Toothless and Stormfly lifted their heads in unison and eyed the door of the hut. They didn't look angry or nervous; just curious. Astrid looked to the door and listened, trying to hear what they were hearing.

And then she heard it. The roar of a dragon, followed by the tell-tale thump of one landing. Astrid recognized the roar almost as soon as she heard it.

Skullcrusher.

Stoick's dragon.

Within moments, the door swung open, and Stoick raced into the establishment. He said his son's name in a quiet whisper and instantly crossed the room in six long strides, reaching his son's bedside in a remarkably short amount of time. He put his hand on Hiccup's forehead, frowning at the heat raging through the dragon trainer's skin.

"That's a high fever he's got," Stoick commented, worry evident in his voice. He sat down on the edge of the bed. "How did he get Eel Pox? He never gets Eel Pox."

"I don't know," Astrid said, mentally sighing with relief, thankful that the Berkian Chief had finally arrived. He was Hiccup's father, and she was sure that him just being there would help Hiccup a lot. "He mentioned being up all night a few days back," Astrid continued, "and there was a snowstorm...it's been absolutely freezing the past few days."

Stoick nodded. "I could tell when I flew in," he said. "The ground's covered in snow. I'm surprised you lot aren't drowning in it."

"We manage," Astrid said. "Sometimes it's worse than others, but we manage. Any word from Snotlout or the twins?" She knew Stoick probably didn't know anything she didn't, but it was worth a shot.

"Nothing," Stoick admitted. "Not since they left Berk for the cure. Snotlout was panicking because he was around Hiccup, and the twins...well...I don't think they fully understand the concept of 'contagious.'"

"They don't fully understand the concept of anything," Astrid said. She glanced back down at Hiccup and brushed the back of her hand against his cheek. "I know what you mean about his fever," she said. "I'm trying to get it down…" She was trying. She was really, really, honestly trying, but it seemed that no matter what she did, Hiccup's health didn't improve, and she felt awful because of it.

"You might try some snow on his head, Astrid," Stoick suggested. "It's colder than the water you've got, I'm sure. It should help."

Astrid lifted her head. She hadn't thought about using snow before. The more she thought about it, the better of an idea it sounded. So she stood up and headed outside, taking a bucket with her as she went.

Meanwhile, Stoick stayed with Hiccup. After a few moments of silence in the abode, Hiccup stirred and muttered in his sleep. "Sorry...burning village…" he murmured, rolling over on his side. "Again...sorry...my fault…"

Stoick sighed. He hated the things that came with having Eel Pox. He placed his hand over his son's and rubbed the boy's arm soothingly. "It's alright, Hiccup," he whispered. "It's alright. Just sleep."

After a few moments, Hiccup's breathing deepened again, and Stoick sat back, just about the same time Astrid raced back into the house, carrying the bucket of snow.

"He needs the cure soon, Astrid," Stoick said, running his hand over Hiccup's head. "His fever's gotten higher."