HELLO! So, I twisted my wrist just a few minutes ago, or something. AND I AM REALLY MAD BECAUSE NOW, typing takes me forever, and I can't play piano, either! AND RIGHT WHEN I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF LEARNING "A WHOLE NEW WORLD" FROM "ALADDIN"! DARN, I really wanted to work on that tonight...
Oh well. Tomorrow! :D So, even though my wrist is telling me "NOPE!", my heart is saying "YES!" So, shout-outs:
silverwolvesarecool: Oh yeah. You got that right. Careful, Stoick.
Markiplier is My Senpai: We'll have to see. I'm not giving away any spoilers yet. :)
midnightsky0612: I know! Poor everyone! :(
BraveDragonof214: YEAH! YOU GO, BRAVE! *cheers you on and hands you more knives*
Silver Electricity: It's like, AAAWWWW, and then, AWWWWWW! :D
Animals Rule: I might consider that sometime. It sounds interesting. :)
IonitaMircea32: I know, right? I love it when he's all intense and determined, but then I get on my computer and write about him sick or hurt...WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME!? :D
Silverthornofriverclan: I know, but go HICCSTRID! :D
Astrid paused outside her door, worried at what she would find. Then, taking a breath and gathering her courage, she walked inside her house and then into Avril's room, where the young girl was laying on her bed, unconscious while her mother and father stood around her.
"Is...is she doing any better?" Astrid asked.
"That's what the healer said," said her father, "but what do they know?"
Astrid's mother glared at the man, and he quickly refrained. "Of course," he said, "they do know a lot. Avril will be fine, Astrid."
"We don't know that," said Astrid.
Silence followed her statement, and as much as Astrid wanted to take it back, she didn't. She was right, and she knew it, along with her parents, and probably the whole rest of Berk.
"You two can go off and get some rest," said Astrid. "I'll...I'll stay with Avril."
"No, Astrid, we're fine," said her mother. "You're the one who needs-"
"If you're fine, which you're not, then I guess I am too," said Astrid. "Besides, I'm not getting any sleep unless I do it here with Avril." She quickly stormed out of the room and to her own, grabbing first her blanket and then a pillow before stomping back into her little sister's room, spreading her supplies out on the floor. "I'll be fine here," said Astrid.
"Astrid, I know this is hard for you," said her mother, "but really, we're okay watching Avril by ourselves."
"But I'm not okay not watching her," said Astrid. "I'm staying here."
Neither of the Hoffersons argued with their daughter, only because they knew what Astrid was going through. They weren't going to leave, either, and since they weren't going to, then why should Astrid be any different?
And so, Astrid fell asleep on the floor, worrying about her sister, and then Hiccup, hoping beyond every shadow of doubt that they would both be alright in the end.
…
As much as he hated it, Stoick knew that, once morning arrived, he had to go take care of the village. He stayed by Hiccup's bedside all night, not sleeping, just making sure he was there in case something happened where Hiccup woke up in need of comforting. He didn't, though, and slept, albeit restlessly, through the night, and for that, Stoick was glad. It was good that he was finally sleeping. He needed it.
Morning came sooner than later, and when it did, Stoick was forced to leave his son's side to go take care of the village. Before he did, though, he made sure Toothless was watching Hiccup, which the Night Fury was, curled up around the foot of the bed. Stoick kissed his son's forehead gently, and then headed off to do his daily chiefing duties.
…
Astrid wasn't in the mood to leave the house, but she knew that she had to. She wanted to go see Hiccup again, while her mother and father were taking care of Avril. After a few hours at Avril's bedside - the little girl was still unconscious, breathing deeply in unnatural sleep - Astrid left the abode, leaving Stormfly to guard her sister just before doing so. Then, she trekked to the Haddock residence.
On the way, she bumped - quite literally - into Snotlout, who was walking with Hookfang in the direction of the Training Academy. Snotlout looked at her, and she looked back, until the boy finally finally spoke.
"So...how is Avril doing?" he asked.
Seeing Snotlout's caring side was a rather big thing for most vikings, but Astrid had seen that side of Snotlout quite often, so it came to her as no surprise. Besides, he really did care about his friends, in which Avril was one of them.
"She's...unconscious," said Astrid. "But the healer says that in a few weeks, she should be back to normal, so...I guess that's good."
"Um...yeah, I guess so," said Snotlout. "Um...have you heard any news on Hiccup recently? Like, any new developments?"
"Not really," said Astrid. "Other than the fact that he's getting worse instead of better, is severely underweight, and dehydrated."
Snotlout stared at her. "Those are some pretty big things," he said.
Astrid nodded. She knew Snotlout was Hiccup's cousin, and she also knew that Snotlout did care about Hiccup, probably more than he cared about any of his other friends, although he would never admit it. He was protective over Hiccup, too, although he rarely let people see it.
"I'm...actually going to see him right now," said Astrid. "But before I do...how are Fishlegs and the twins doing? What have they been up to? I don't feel like I've seen them recently, and when I did, I certainly didn't talk to any of them."
"They're holding up," said Snotlout. "Of course, it's not the same without you or Hiccup, so I've kind of took to running the academy while the two of you are out of commission…and don't get mad at me, because I was only trying to help!"
"I know you were, Snotlout, and I appreciate it," said Astrid, laying a hand on the other boy's shoulder.
"Yeah, well...wait, what?" said Snotlout suddenly, pulling away from her. "Are you messing with me, Astrid?"
"Do you really think I would mess with you in times like this?" Astrid asked, not harshly, but not softly, either. She was shocked when she heard that Snotlout was giving into the thought that she was joking.
"Not really," said Snotlout.
"Well, that's good," said Astrid. "And I am serious, Snotlout. I appreciate your help more than you realize, especially with all this crazy stuff going on."
"Oh, well...you're welcome, in that case," said Snotlout. "Well, I guess I should go, um...run the academy! Wow, that sounds weird…"
"Yeah, okay, I guess I'll see you later, then," said Astrid. She and Snotlout parted, going in separate directions, Snotlout to the Training Academy, and Astrid to the Hiccup's house. She only hoped that he had improved since last she saw him.