It all started during Dragon Training. Hiccup was teaching the new trainees some simple flight manoeuvres when the throbbing in his head began. It was mild at first but as the loop - de - loops and upside-downs increased, the pain became much more prominenet.

Hiccup, being...well, Hiccup, decided not to pay much attention to it. But a person, Viking or not, could only take so much and he decided that if he was to get through the day, an hour's rest was needed.

That did not, however, mean that Hiccup was even going to mention to anyone that he felt the slightest bit unwell. After all, Vikings still did value strength and as Chief, the rider felt obliged to maintain a strong exterior at all times. Diseases were hilghly looked down on in Berk and he refused to let the people's respect for him drop.

"Okay guys," Hiccup said as they got off. "You're done. Practise well and I suppose it's Fishlegs' class tommorow?" The eager heads of the young riders nodded with awed faces, none of them noticing the slight crease in his forehead and the fact that he had stopped the class much earlier than usual.

"Okay, good. If you have any problems, I'm always free."

As they left the Arena, Hiccup leant slightly against Toothless. The dragon made a questioning noise and Hiccup shrugged it off, saying he just felt tired. Toothless didn't believe a word of this because he knew that tiredness would never deter Hiccup from flying. Only illness would. He could also sense that his rider's skin was heating up so he scooped Hiccup up and placed him on his back, carrying him back to their home.

Hiccup protested weakly but gave in soon, glad to finally have his feet, or foot, of the ground. Toothless dropped Hiccup and his bed and sat near, keening softly.

"I'm fine, bud," Hiccup reassured. "Just," he yawned, " sleepy." Hiccup pulled the warm furs around him and fell asleep, sure that he would wake up in an hour.

Hiccup woke up, expecting to feel better, instead groaning at the extreme pounding in his head. "It's like there's a forge in there," Hiccup murmured to Toothless. He placed his hand on his forehead and scowled. He was running a fever, and a high one at that. There was no way he was getting out of bed. His plan was to lie in for the rest of the day. He should be fine by tomorrow.

The sound of the door slamming echoed through the house. Okay, plan change.

"Hiccup?" Astrid's voice called out. He winced at how loud it was and walked towards Toothless.

"We've got to get out of here," He muttered. "I don't want Astrid fussing over me." The dragon immediately felt the heat radiating of his body and tried to convince him he wasn't well enough to go flying.

"Just to the cove." He assured Toothless. "Come on." Toothless snorted but he could hear the urgency in his voice and let him get on. Tthe two leaped out the window, just in time for Astrid to make her way to the room. Luckily, she didn't spot them so they were safe. Sort of. Now all they had to do was knock Hiccup upside the head so he would stop being an idiot.

Toothless lay his rider down and growled at him. If the dragon could talk, Hiccup was sure he would be cursing him for being so stubborn.

"Toothless," Hiccup whined, "I'm fine! Really!" The dragon snorted at him. "Okay, maybe that's a lie but you know what will happen if the village knows. Either they'll think I'm weak or they'll baby me. I don't need either.

Hiccup then proceeded to cough, leaning over and bracing himself on the ground. The dragons eyes immediately widened as he saw this, placing his head on his rider worriedly.

"It's," Hiccup coughed, wheezed and coughed again before continuing "fine". Toothless was ready to shake him now. This was a lot of things but fine wasn't one of them. First the head ache, which he could brush off since Hiccup had a lot of those. Then the fever, though the dragon didn't really understand what a 'fever' was to it's full extent. What was the matter with a little heat? But now this, a cough that sounded like he was trying to rid his body of his lungs. He decided that it was necessary to call someone. Astrid. Valka. Fishlegs. Heck, even Snoutlout or the twins!

Toothless turned to look at his tail. It was still on automatic. Good. That just made his work easier. He caught Hiccup's shoulders between his front paws and took off, his back legs curling around Hiccup too. Now that the boy was trapped, he began searching for someone that could help.

"Toothless! No, no, no no no, don't you dare! I know what you're up to, you over-grown, winged, lizard!" Hiccups comments continued, the dragon ignoring his words completely.

Hiccup finally stopped talking, trailing off about 'being kidnapped by your own dragon'. Toothless, however, had more success in completing his goals as he spotted Astrid making her way threw the woods, towards the cove. Suprisingly, she was on foot, but he would worry about that later.

Toothless flew down, plopping Hiccup on the ground at her feet. The boy groaned.

"Toothless?" Astrid questioned. She looked at the dragon, then the boy, then the dragon again. Her face contorted into an odd expression, somthing that was both worried and triumphant. Worried because the groaning boy at her feet didn't look too good and triumphant because she finally found him.

When Hiccup woke up, he felt loads better. He opened his eyes to see Astrid sitting on a chair by his bed.

"Hey," he croaked. Astrid looked at him and smiled, causing his heart to beat just a little faster. She hugged him tight and held him for a few seconds before letting go and socking him in the arm.

"Owwww..." He groaned. "Isn't it usually the other way around?" She scowled at him. "You idiot," she hissed. "What in Thor's name were you thinking?"

He grinned sheepishly at her. She rolled her eyes.

"You should be fine by tomorrow. Gothi gave me some medicine, it's on that stool." They both turned their heads towards the green chunky sludge. Hiccup's face scrunched up.

"A spoon of it five times a day and you should be fine. And before you ask, no. I don't know what's wrong with you, I can't understand half the things Gothi writes. So you and your insatiable curiosity are going to have to deal with it." He pouted.

"Where's Toothless?" He asked, suddenly realizing the lack of dragons in the room.

"Oh, you know...standing out guarding the house and snarling at anyone who so much as looks his way," Astrid said casually. Hiccup, however, found it impossible to keep a straight face and began laughing which lead to coughing which lead to panting. He looked at her sheepishly while she just shook her head. She took a bunch of animal furs and dumped it on his head, walking off with a 'You're an idiot, keep yourself out of trouble, drink your medicine.' He just grinned. Life was going back to its previous state on Berk.