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DreamWorks Dragons: Defenders of Berk
Double Trouble
Chapter 2
Gothi applied a large coat of a glossy substance on the open gash that split Hiccup's skin. The boy hissed and shut his eyes, the pain increasing for a moment before it died down and the area felt cold and numb. This was needed for Gothi to stitch the gash closed without causing more pain; the substance numbed his skin and protected the area from infection.
The wound was nasty, many layers of skin having been cut, but thankfully it wasn't straight down to the bone. It was very bloody though, a descent sized pile of red colored, soaked rags lying by the bed Hiccup sat on were used to stop the blood. The flow never really stopped and Gothi worked quickly to thread the wound close.
The ones present in the room along with Hiccup and Gothi were Toothless, Stoick, Gobber and Astrid. The other teens didn't want to see all of the blood and decided to stay outside. The twins, however, were not given a choice on the matter. Stoick was so furious that he grounded them from dragon riding and ordered they stay outside while Hiccup was being taken care of. With his anger, Stoick didn't think just taking away the privilege to ride dragons was enough of a punishment, but Astrid said otherwise, aiding him in his final decision. She in question was sitting by Hiccup along with Stoick as the young Viking's laceration was being stitched back together.
Outside the house, Snotlout and Fishlegs remained waiting as the twins left a while ago; the guilt really getting to them. They now walked across the wooden bridge to one of the towers, their Zippleback, Barf and Belch, following behind as riding was prohibited for them. Their movements were sloppy and sorrow hung around them like a large black cloud.
"This is terrible." Ruffnut commented, her eyes remaining down towards the ground.
"I know, Stoick was terrifying… and intimidating. I'm glad I went to the bathroom this morning." Tuff stated.
"I mean, we didn't intentionally try to hurt Hiccup." Ruff tried to cheer them up.
"Yeah, it was an accident." Tuff joined in, the two of them looking at each other. "So why do I continue to feel like this?"
"I know right?" Ruff agreed.
"I mean, I always love watching violence… but that was just—Errr, make it go away!" Tuffnut complained, pounding at his chest as if that would help ease the guilty feeling.
"What are we going to do?" Ruffnut questioned.
"I don't know; we've got to make it up to Hiccup somehow." Tuff stated, stopping the beatings he delivered to himself. "But how…?"
They glanced around for a bit before landing their eyes back on each other.
Ruffnut shrugged, "We could help him out if he needs it." She suggested.
A smile tugged on the corners of Tuffnut's mouth, "Hey, yeah! And we could listen to his orders." He added proudly. A smile began forming on Ruffnut's face as well.
"And make sure he's taking his medicine!"
"And that he's sleeping well!"
"And that he's eating!"
"And that he doesn't get hurt again!" they shouted in unison.
A sling was placed over Hiccup's shoulders, his right arm lying within it. The slash had been stitched shut and the blood stopped; Hiccup's chest wrapped with white bandages to secure the wound. A clean tunic was given and Astrid helped him put it on as well as a clean wool jacket. A couple of hisses escaped his lips from the movement of his right arm, Astrid wincing as he did so not trying to cause any more pain.
"Sorry," she whispered.
"It's okay." Hiccup replied softly.
Stoick turned to Gobber and Gothi.
"Is there anything else that can be done?" Gothi glanced up at him before peered down and drawing in the dirt. Gobber nodded his head before looking back up at his friend.
"She says as long as his arm is in the sling for a couple of weeks, the wound will heal. Other than that, I say take it easy and get some rest lad." Gobber stated. Hiccup nodded and got up off the bed; Astrid helping him, her hand on his back as she walked him out the door and back to his house.
Stoick sighed heavily and placed a hand on his forehead. Gobber rested his own hand on Stoick's shoulder, giving the man a nod in reassurance.
"Are you sure you're comfortable?" Astrid asked, standing beside Hiccup's bed where the boy was laying on his side.
"Yeah, thanks Astrid."
"No problem, you get some rest okay." She said softly, bidding him farewell as she disappeared down the steps. Toothless came over and cooed, curling up beside the bed and laying his head on the edge near Hiccup's. He smiled before closing his eyes.
Astrid closed the door behind her, getting quite the surprise to find the twins staring at her once she turned around. She gasped from the shock of their sudden presence before placing her hands on her hips and glaring at them.
"What do you guys want?" she asked rather harshly.
"We just wanted to make sure Hiccup was okay." Ruffnut answered.
"Of course he's not; he's in a lot of pain no thanks to you guys." She said, brushing them aside and striding off.
"Oh come on Astrid, go easy on us, we said we were sorry." Tuff pleaded.
"Yeah well, until I hear Hiccup excepting that apology, you guys are not off the hook." She said, not looking back as she continued to walk away.
Ruff and Tuff glanced at each other before taking a look at the house. Knowing they couldn't do anything right now, they walked away.
But they had made their choice; they vowed to serve Hiccup until their debt was paid. And it was going to be paid in full.
To be continued…
