Hiccup trudged once more through thick brush, occasionally bending down to check the ground for prints and scales. He picked up a scale, this one brown.
"Strange," he muttered. "Multi-colored dragon, maybe?"
A twig snapped somewhere nearby, and Hiccup tensed, reaching for his sword.
The bushes rustled as a strange form hobbled forward.
It took Hiccup a full minute to realize it was a woman, her back hunched strangely. She shuffled and limped as she walked, and one of her arms was bent and twisted.
She looked up and stopped, her eyes wide. "Who are ye?" she asked in a soft Scottish accent.
"I could ask you the same thing," replied Hiccup with a suspicious look.
"Aimee," said the girl.
"Do you live here?" asked Hiccup, taking in her oddly patterned clothes.
"Aye," she nodded. "I care for the dragons here."
"So you're, what, their guardian?"
Aimee smiled. "Ye could say that."
She bent down slowly and picked an herb, tucking it into the basket hanging from her mangled arm. "This island has an abundance of herbs, ye know. It's a healer's paradise here. Yer friend might benefit from my knowledge."
"How did you know about that? Have you been following us?"
Aimee laughed. "You ride a night fury. It's pretty conspicuous."
Hiccup stared at her.
"I live here. Ye think I don't know about a cave on my own island?"
Hiccup shrugged. "No offense, but you don't seem like the explorer type."
Aimee looked down at her arm. "Ah. Nay, I tend to stay close to my hut."
Hiccup frowned. "I didn't see a hut."
"Who said it's visible?"
Hiccup shook his head and sighed in exasperation. "Look, could you come help my friend? I did what I could, but..."
"Aye," nodded Aimee. "If you'll accompany to my hut, I can grab the herbs I'll need."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Hope was aware of her ankle long before she opened her eyes. She shifted her foot, and a stabbing sensation travelled up her entire leg.
She yelped as her eyes flew open, and she clutched her ankle.
Toothless leapt to her side from his position by the cave mouth, nuzzling her comfortingly.
"I...I'm okay, boy," she said shakily. She rubbed her swollen ankle gingerly. "What do you say? Should I try standing?"
Toothless growled.
"I'll take that as a yes." Hope smiled and used him to pull herself to her feet.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Hiccup looked around as he followed Aimee to her hut. Though she didn't look it, Aimee was a quick little thing, and she darted over to a rock.
"Here we are," she smiled.
"There's nothing here," said Hiccup.
She chuckled and pointed at a hole in the ground just big enough for a person to fit through, well hidden by the outcropping of rock. "This is my front door."
"You live underground?"
"Guess again," she laughed, jumping into the hole.
Hiccup sighed and followed suit.
He slid down a tunnel and landed in what appeared to be another cave, this one well furnished and full of sunlight. There were a few openings in the rocks overhead, but they were all covered by a clear substance that glinted in the sun.
"What is that?" asked Hiccup, pointing overhead.
"Lightning rock," answered Aimee. "It can be found underground where the lightning strikes the sand. I discovered it melts over fire and hardens once you cool it down."
Hiccup looked impressed. "How old are you?"
Aimee grinned and dodged the question. "So how is your friend hurt?"
"Uhh...sprained ankle, I think."
"Hmmm. Best to prepare for a break in this situation." She rummaged through a large basket and pulled out a large strip of cloth, then plucked several bundles of herbs from the vast amount dangling overhead. "Ye have a fire in yer cave, I suppose?"
Hiccup nodded.
"Perfect," said Aimee, tucking the supplies into her basket. "Now all that's left to do is go find yer friend."
She quickly referenced a piece of parchment before pointing at another hole. "This is a shortcut," she said. "After ye."
As Hiccup turned, he just barely missed a strange smile that crept across her face. She muttered something under her breath and followed Hiccup into the darkness.
