Chapter 5: Nearly
"Look good?" Hiccup asked, lifting the long thin piece of now hard medal for Astrid to see. She nodded but still didn't move from her place on the ground beside Stormfly- something that was both worrying and surprising Hiccup. By now, Astrid would've fought and argued to move- to help, or just so she wasn't needy. She hated being vulnerable and still, so when she actually was without fighting it… that had Hiccup a bit concerned.
"Looks good to me, but I have no idea what it's supposed to look like…" Astrid smiled softly, her broken arm moving to rest comfortably in her lap. Hiccup didn't miss the wince of pain she gave, nor the little huff of concern Stormfly let loose from beside her.
"Well…" Hiccup glanced out the cave at the dwindling light, the sun barely hovering above the horizon. "Should we head home now or wait for morning? If we leave now, we should get back to the Edge before midnight, and seeing as how we're closer to the Edge then the Defenders, I think going there would be the best option."
"Home." Astrid replied simply. "I really don't want to spend another night unprotected in this cave."
"Right." Hiccup agreed, stumbling up off his knees before carrying the rod over to a dazing Toothless. He all but collapsed on the ground, his leg screaming protests at the sudden jerky movement. Hurriedly he slipped the new piece into the proper place, pulling on the string going up the length of Toothless's tail to see if it worked correctly. Much to his relief, it did, and to test it even further he gave it a small tug, nodding in satisfaction when the tail held firm.
"Did it work?" Astrid asked hopefully from behind him.
He stood up slowly, moving carefully so as not to cause too much pain… he needed all the strength he could get for the several hour-long ride back to the Edge. "Yep! Thank goodness…"
Cobalt rumbled softly, giving Hiccup's arm a nudge and obviously asking for some attention. Hiccup rubbed the dragon's bumpy snout before giving him a light pat and pointing towards the cave entrance.
"You can go back to your own home, Cobalt…"
The dragon whined, but didn't protest. He gave Hiccup one last slurpy lick on the face before hovering above the ground and slowly flying out of the cave.
"How do you feel?" Hiccup asked in concern, refocusing his attention on Astrid. She was pale and sweaty, although the last he'd checked she hadn't felt as fever flushed… although not quite that normal temperature.
"I'm fine, Hiccup." Astrid replied with a roll of her eyes. "I'll be a lot better once we get home."
"Well we'd better hurry then…" Hiccup once again looked out at the sunset world. "It's going to be dark before long."
Toothless got to his feet, giving himself a shake before stepping close to Hiccup's side, allowing the boy to lean against him and limp over to Astrid and Stormfly. Hiccup let go of Toothless and bent down to help Astrid to her feet.
She let out a small quiet whine of pain, causing Hiccup's heart rate to pick up speed and his concern to increase. "Thor! Did I hurt you? S-sorry I-"
"No, Hiccup, I'm fine." Astrid grunted, both her arms wrapping about his neck as she huffed for breath. "Just, sore is all."
"I'm sorry…" He whispered quietly, pulling her as much into his arms as he could without making himself collapse. She leaned against him, her head resting against his shoulder and her bangs obscuring her closed eyes.
"Not your fault." She whispered.
Stormfly jumped to her feet, spreading her wings wide while giving a loud squawk. Hiccup eyed her injured wing carefully, noting in relief how the dragon didn't seem at all bothered or pained. Perhaps slightly- but not enough to ground her.
"Stormfly…" Astrid whispered, struggling weakly to push herself away from Hiccup's embrace. "How-"
"She looks good." Hiccup reassured. Stormfly chose that moment to trot forward and nuzzled Astrid's arm lovingly, giving the girl's hair a ruffle with her sharp beak.
"Thank Thor." Astrid breathed, reaching out a hand to pat Stormfly's snout before peeking through her eyelids to smile softly. "Hm, it's… warm in here."
Hiccup placed a hand against her forehead, frowning when he felt the soft but unhealthy heat that radiated from her skin. It wasn't a high fever by any means… but it wasn't normal either.
"We have to get you home." Hiccup stated firmly, all thoughts of staying the night fleeing his mind. "Stormfly, kneel."
The dragon obeyed instantly, crouching down till her back was even with Hiccup's arms. He helped Astrid crawl onto Stormfly's back, careful to avoid moving her broken leg and arm too much. She sighed once securely in the saddle, reaching forward to grab the handles firmly in her hands.
"You okay?" Hiccup asked before letting go of her, not wanting to release his hold and find she hadn't yet caught her balance.
"Yep."
Toothless stepped forward, nudging Hiccup and urging him to climb on. He did so but was forced to bite his lip to refrain from crying out at the pain it caused his leg.
"Are you alright?" Astrid asked in concern, her hand reaching down to brush at his bangs. He shook his head and grinned at her, hoping the smile came as convincing.
"Peachy." He replied, using the same response she'd given him the day before. Astrid smiled and gave Stormfly a nudge, the dragon squawking before turning and trotting towards the door, Toothless following suit.
…
"It's chilly." Astrid stated matter a factly upon reaching the fresh air. But immediately upon hearing her words Hiccup was digging through the saddlebags, trying to find the one blanket they had left. Astrid smiled and shook her head, finding his concern touching but… not necessarily necessary.
"Hiccup, I just meant that it was chillier then I thought it was-"
"You feel chilly? As in- fever chilled or like- maybe your fever broke?"
"Hicccuup." Astrid groaned with a roll of her eyes. She could feel Hiccup staring at her, but she chose to ignore it by giving Stormfly a little nudge. "Let's go home."
"But if you're-"
Toothless growled suddenly, and Astrid could feel Stormfly tense up underneath her. She instinctively reached for her axe, but winced when she chose to grab it with her broken arm. She cradled it close to her chest, refusing to let the sting of salt water behind her lids fall. Sure, she might feel like crap, but she couldn't let that affect her. She was a warrior!
"Bud..?"
"What is it?" Astrid turned and looked at Hiccup and Toothless, both rigid and ready for anything that came their way. Stormfly backed up towards the cave, not because she was frightened per se, but because she wished to protect her rider to the best of her ability, especially with Astrid injured.
"No, Stormfly!" Astrid protested, trying to direct her dragon back out into whatever danger it was Hiccup and Toothless were facing alone. "No- girl!"
"ASTRID STAY IN THE CAVE!"
Growls and hisses were coming from outside, and in all honesty- it frightened Astrid. But heck, nothing could make her actually admit that…
The only thing that frightened her was the fact that Hiccup and Toothless were out there alone, fighting whatever it was making those horrible hisses…
"Stormfly, out. NOW."
Stormfly squawked irritably and shook her head stubbornly. There was a shout from outside… and a loud roar that could only belong to an angry Night Fury. Astrid saw red for a moment in her panic, fearing that something had happened to…
"HICCUP WHAT'S WRONG!?" she screamed, twisting about in the saddle as far as she could go without causing blinding pain. "HICCUP!"
"N-nothing- ASTRID! Stay in the cave!"
"What's wrong!?"
"No-TOOTHLESS! WATCH OUT!"
She grit her teeth in anger at her inability to jump down and dash out to see what was wrong… why wouldn't Hiccup just tell her for crying out loud!? He was injured too!
She leaned forward, the sounds of angry growls and hisses echoing in the distance of her hearing, as she whispered softly. "Stormfly… please. I need to help… please?"
Stormfly snorted before whipping about, nearly sending Astrid tumbling over the side and onto the cold stone ground. She clung tightly to the saddle with her bad hand, her good hand fumbling to unstrap her axe.
They dashed out into the open, and Astrid's eyes widened at the sight. Over ten Speed Stingers were zipping about at top speeds, hissing and slapping their tails in the air at any chance they had. Hiccup and Toothless were backed up together in the middle of the onslaught of small dragons, Hiccup having his fire blade extended before him while Toothless was growling, his eyes narrowed to slits.
Hiccup's eyes met hers for a split second before they were back on the dragons about him. "I TOLD YOU TO STAY IN THE CAVE!" he shouted, never once becoming distracted from… well… staying alive.
"You need help!"
"Not this again!" Hiccup replied, in an obvious roll-of-the-eyes tone. "Please, Astrid, I-I can't have you getting hurt again!"
"And I can't have you getting hurt again!" She shouted angrily. That idiot thought he could fight almost fifteen Speed Stingers on his own? "Just get on Toothless and let's leave!"
"I'd love to, but one of these nice friendly dragons sliced Toothless's tailfin fabric!"
Brilliant. She thought sarcastically. Hiccup really was starting to wear off on her…
"Let me fight off the Speed Stingers and-"
"I am not letting that happen!"
"HICCUP HORRENDOUS HADDOCK THE THIRD!" she roared furiously. She noticed worriedly how some of the Stingers were glancing her way, although for whatever reason they seemed to be more focused on Toothless and Hiccup then Astrid and Stormfly. Astrid figured it was because they thought they'd harmed Toothless- grounded him, making him easy pickings, unlike Stormfly who was well enough to fly.
"USING MY FULL NAME CHANGES NOTHING!" Hiccup shouted in response. Astrid groaned and would've facepalmed had the situation not been so dire.
"Hiccup, listen! You and Toothless are going to die if you don't fix that tailfin!" While speaking, she dug about in the saddlebags in search of the only blanket they had left, Hiccup having used the other one for the new tailfin that was now destroyed.
As soon as she had hold of it she pulled it out and took a wild chance of tossing it through the air, and if Hiccup hadn't taken the time to glance over at her the blanket would've landed in the fray of wild dragons. He caught it deftly in his hand, his other clicking the button on inferno and diminishing the flame.
He flipped over before crawling over to Toothless's tail, and Astrid gave a harsh nod of satisfaction before taking her axe in hand, hating how she struggled to hold it when she normally could toss it in one hand without a problem.
Stormfly jumped forward towards Toothless's back end- so they could protect Hiccup better. Astrid bit her lip hard, prepared for the pain that was about to come- already her arm ached and her chest was throbbing…
"Astrid, I don't like this…" Hiccup muttered from below.
"I know!" She replied, having more to say but not having the energy to say any of it.
Toothless let loose several more plasma blasts, while Stormfly began streaming fire. But the Speed Stingers were faster than light, flashing from one place to another and somehow avoiding getting injured at all.
"They're too fast!" Astrid shouted, flicking her axe blade down by Stormfly's leg to protect her from getting pricked by the venomous Stinger. "You almost done!?"
Pain stabbed sharply and suddenly in her leg, causing a small gasp to escape her mouth. She froze in place, not really registering anything as the pain slowly dulled into an aching pulse that strengthened every time she attempted to move her injured limb... The Speed Stinger that had slit her with its tail zipped past, clicking its tongue in victory.
"Done!" Hiccup shouted, and Astrid didn't hesitate a moment. She gave Stormfly a nudge and the dragon took off, the sound of swooshing wings resounding behind them informing her that Hiccup was following.
"Are you hurt?" Astrid hissed through clenched teeth. The axe was too heavy in her hand, and it used nearly all her strength to get it strapped back into the holster. She then just held as still as possible, hoping that if she didn't move the pain would ebb away.
The sound of Toothless's slim wings cutting the air sounded closer and closer, until they were pounding right beside them. Stormfly hummed softly in concern, while the sound of Hiccup's heavy breathing and Toothless's huffs continued to grow louder.
"Astrid…" Hiccup wheezed. "You… you okay?"
NO. was the first and upmost word that popped into her brain, but she refused to say it.
Dazed, hot, faint… all those words were perfect for describing her current feelings…
"H-hicc…" She murmured, before the world hastily faded black, and she was spiraling into the merciful darkness.
Sorry it's been so long, but here I am! And I hope to finish this story this week if I can ;D
REVIEWS would be wonderful! I'm feeling rather down today so some reviews would be amazing. :)