And another story comes to an end! The one after this will take place directly after this one. And I know exactly what it's gonna be about...

Enjoy!

The Adventurous Adventures of Hiccup and Wrenlou

A Storm Blows Through It, Part XII

Waking was strange. It felt like his mind wanted to wake up, but his body was still so very tired, like he had run for miles and miles. It was a struggle to even open his eyes, and when he finally did, everything was just a blur. He wasn't sure what he was seeing, and it took a while before the high, curved ceiling came into focus. He now realized that he had never seen it before. He groaned when he tried to move and his entire body just hurt.

"Wrenlou? Wren? Are you awake? Hiccup! Hiccup, he's awake!"

The voice was puzzling, familiar and yet strange, but he wasn't given much time to think about it. Before he knew it he found himself in the embrace of an older boy. After a while the other boy pulled away, holding him by his shoulders.

"Wren... I was so worried about you... don't ever do that again!"

"Broghan...?" he whispered.

Broghan nodded. "Yes, it's me. Ezra came to tell us what happened. I've been worried sick!"

"I..." Wrenlou stared at his brother, "what happened...?"

"You can't remember?" Broghan asked frowning, "nothing at all?"

Before Wrenlou could answer Hiccup stormed into the room, closely followed by a healer. The young boys face lit up when he saw his friend awake, and he practically jumped him, throwing his arms around his shoulders and pulling him in for a hug.

"I'm so glad you're awake!" Hiccup exclaimed while he pulled away, "I was worried."

"Why..." Wrenlou asked, still puzzled, "why was every one worried? Where am I? What happened?"

"How much do you remember?" the healer asked.

"Not much," Wrenlou admitted, "just... we went to find the... dragon, I think it was... that was attacking us, and then we found it's nest. It attacked us, we made it back to the hall, and after that it's just... blank."

"It was a dragon," Hiccup said excitedly, "and the reason that you don't remember is because it carried a poison that put you in a coma for almost a week. You're in the hospital."

"The fact that you don't remember is due to that venom," the healer explained, "it's the same in all the patients. Can you sit up?"

"I.. I don't know..." Wrenlou said, still thoroughly confused.

Every movement was painful, but with the help of the healer and some pillows in his back, he was able to sit up. It was then that he spotted a white heap in the corner of the room, and it was looking at him with blue and green eyes.

"Snowflake!" he called happily, and the dragon jumped up.

He barely had time to brace himself for the impact, and the moment she reached him Snowflake started licking his face. She was whining and yipping like a dog, setting her front paws on the bed and rubbing her head against Wrenlou's chest. After a while she calmed down and put her head on his legs, while the healer took to examining his wounds. The three cuts had come a long way, and were healing nicely. After she rebandaged them she left the room.

"I still don't get it," Wrenlou said, stroking Snowflake's head, "what exactly happened?"

"Well, after you were attacked and fell unconscious, more riders were attacked before we could figure out what it was exactly," Hiccup said, "it took many long hours in the library before I figured out what it was called. Unfortunately that didn't give me the antidote. so... eh... I went into the shelter to find it and... eh... it attacked me too."

He showed Wrenlou his bandaged arm before he continued. "I did fall unconscious, but I woke up what I believe was just a few hours later. It turns out that her saliva was the antidote."

"Wait, back up," Wrenlou said, interrupting Hiccup, "you went back in there... alone? Are you insane?"

Broghan chuckled. "That's what I said. And Ezra. And basically everyone in Dragoncity. But you can't deny that he saved everyone who had been attacked by this dragon with his little stunt, even if it was dangerous and stupid and risky and insane..."

"Okay! Okay... I get it..." Hiccup said while he fumbled with the bandage, "I'm sorry, okay?"

"I'm not mad..." Wrenlou said, his tone softening, "in fact, I'm grateful. Really. So, what happened to Rico? And... Michelle? And the other woman?"

"Oh I found them too," Hiccup said proudly, "well... the dragon led me to them."

Wrenlou smiled a little and he rubbed his side. "Thanks Hiccup... really..."

Hiccup smiled and looked up when the healer came back in. She was carrying a cup with a hot contents, the steam was spiraling out of the cup. She handed it to Wrenlou, who frowned.

"What's this?" he asked, holding the cup out to her.

"It's a mixture of several different herbs," she explained, "it helps your body get rid of the rest of the venom. It might have a strong after taste."

"In other words, it's disgusting," Wrenlou said while he carefully sniffed the contents of the cup.

"Well... yes," the woman said, "that's why I have a cup of water for you when you drink it all."

"Fine..." Wrenlou sighed, and he gulped the liquid down.

He shuddered and pulled a face of disgust when he took the other cup with water from the healer. After he had emptied that, he looked up at her.

"What did you just gave me!" he said forcefully, "that was the worst thing I've ever tasted."

She smiled a little. "It's better if you don't know."

Wrenlou frowned. "Why? What was in it?"

She just shook her head and left the room. Wrenlou looked at Broghan, then Hiccup.

"What was in it?" he asked again, "come on, tell me. What was in it."

"We really shouldn't..." Hiccup started, and Broghan nodded in agreement.

Wrenlou grunted and crossed his arms. "No fair!" he complained, "I deserve to know!"

Hiccup shook his head, and so did Broghan. "Believe me brother, it's best if you don't know."

Wrenlou eyed them suspiciously. "It's her spit wasn't it. Her saliva was in it."

Broghan sighed. "Yes..."

"You made me drink dragon spit?" Wrenlou asked and he shuddered, "that's so gross... don't ever make me do that again!"

"Or what," Broghan teased him gently, "what will you do? Makes us drink it too? Hiccup already did that. I had a taste just to see what is was like. You see, you're not alone. In fact, every one who has been infected has to drink it after waking up.

"Gross..." Wrenlou mumbled softly as he closed his eyes, "just... plain gross..."

Broghan smiled a little as Wrenlou fell asleep again. All his worries had been lifted. His brother would be okay.

0-0-0-0-0

Just three days later Hiccup was back in the shelter, together with Ezra and a few others. They had decided to close off most of the tunnels, leaving just the rooms and a few of the halls for the riders and the dragons during a storm. The rest was to be closed off with a thick wooded door, so that they would be able to get in in cases of emergency. It really was the best solution. This way the little dragon would be able to raise her family in peace, and the riders would be safe from her venomous attacks.

"Excellent work men," Ezra said as he watched the workers install the last door, "truly excellent. This way we'll both be safe."

Hiccup nodded. "That's what dragon riders are for right? To protect those who need protecting? Even if it are other dragon riders? Or dragons?"

"You know what," Ezra said, looking down on the boy, "you are absolutely right. That is what dragon riders are for."

Hiccup smiled. Knowing that he did the right thing only made him feel better. He knew that his actions had been stupid and dangerous, but in the end it meant that he had saved both the dragon riders and the dragon that now coexisted with them. His smile widened when he caught a glimpse of ice blue eyes just beyond the door. They looked back at him, then disappeared into the darkness. Hiccup looked up at Ezra, and seeing the man's attention on the workers and the door, he slipped out. He knew of one back exit, a very small tunnel in the rocks they had left open so the dragon could hunt for her babies. It was too small for a human anyway, barely big enough for the dragon herself. That's where he went, wrestling through the bushes. And that's where he met her again, her eyes watching him from the darkness. He knelt in front of the hole, extending his hand.

"You and your babies will be safe now," he whispered, "just like I promised."

She crooned softly and licked his hand. Then she pulled away a little and three smaller sets of ice blue eyes peered at him from the darkness. Hiccup gasped, as he saw one of the babies come a little closer. Instead of grey, like it's mother, it was a pale white, the sharp spines at the end of its tail soft and flexible. The other two quickly revealed themselves, both the same colour as their sibling.

"They're beautiful..." Hiccup whispered and he gently ran a finger over their tiny heads, "really. You must be a proud mama."

The dragon crooned and licked her babies. Hiccup smiled when he saw how she pushed them back into the tunnel and turned to him one last time.

"Goodbye..." he mumbled, "be safe."

She nodded and licked his finger. Then she turned away, quickly disappearing into the shadows. He sat there for a while, before he stood up again. He was soaking wet again, since the rain was still pouring from the sky, and he knew that he had to get dry clothes as soon as possible. After all, he didn't want to get sick. In a few days time they would get back to the Bay, for the last part of their training, and he had to fit for that.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

And another riddle succesfully guessed! The answer to this one was Feathers. And this weeks winner is Kenraali! So if you want to give me your address, sent me a PM. if you don't, that's fine too, just let me know!

Alright, onto the new riddle. Here we go!

I am a word, six letters long
I sometimes enter with a gong
All in order from A to Z
I start with the letter B

What is the word?

Good luck!