SHOOOOUUUUTTTTT-OOOOUUUUTTTSSSSSS! :D
Guest: I know! I love that song, too! :D
silverwolvesarecool: GO GO GO, GANG! :D
Silver Electricity: Thanks! :D
Markiplier is My Senpai: You're not going to get many calm chapters with me. *rubs hands together*
midnightsky0612: Thank you! :D
neobendium: Yeah. I like Snotlout when he actually thinks. I don't think he's an all stupid character. I think he can think for himself when he wants to.
Silverthornofriverclan: KILL THE DRAGON! I never thought I would say that...
xFaerieValkyriex: Yeah, I think that's what happened. My wrist got worn out from my piano playing, and probably my typing. But at least it wasn't my dominant hand, so I'm typing all this with one hand, which is irritating, but hey, I lose my mind when I don't update. :D Thanks for the advice, too! I'm keeping it wrapped and ice it whenever I can. It helps a lot. :D And poor Avril and Hiccup! I just want to wrap blankets around them...after I finish torturing them through my writing...ugh. I'm weird. I like seeing characters go through pain, and at the same time, I like seeing them all happy and healthy. I'm crazy. :P
Toothless801: OOOOOOOHHHH, VIRTUAL POPCORN! *holds net out of window to catch all of it* Thanks! :D Yeah, I love piano. I self taught myself for two years, and I just recently got a piano teacher, so that's exciting. :) And thanks for the compliment on Snotlout's character. He's kinda hard to write sometimes, since we've never actually seen Hiccup get hurt in the TV series yet, and we haven't seen Astrid all freaked out or going through so much pain yet, so I don't actually know how he would react...but thanks! I always love seeing your reviews, and all the other reviews I get. They make my day. :D Thanks again! :D
Astrid pushed the door to the house open, and instantly caught the scent of something boiling over the fireplace. It smelled like broth, which it probably was, if it was going to be for Hiccup.
Breaking herself from her thoughts, Astrid walked upstairs to the loft, taking care as she skipped steps as to arrive there sooner. Valarie was there, unpacking her things, presumably having just arrived. Gina and Rosie were by her side, waiting for her orders.
Hiccup was still sleeping, although he looked ready to wake up at any moment, tears rolling down his cheeks, his eyes squeezed shut as he whimpered and cried out softly.
The healer turned around, and noticed the new arrival of Astrid. "Morning, Astrid," said Valarie. "I was sure you would come here this morning."
"Of course," said Astrid, moving to sit on the side of the bed, her fingers tangling in Hiccup's messy, unkempt, sweaty hair. His whimpering quieted just slightly, and he subconsciously leaned into Astrid's hand. "Is there any improvement?" Astrid asked the healer. "Anything new at all, good or bad?"
"I don't know if there's good news, Astrid, but there's bad news," said Valarie. "His wound is infected now, and there isn't anything I can go about it. I can't drain the infection, because he hasn't been eating anything. His body isn't strong enough to heal itself, which is bad. It's really bad, Astrid. It's not a bad infection, but I can't get rid of it, and because of that, it will only get worse, until eventually, it takes his life."
"WHAT!?" Astrid blurted.
"The next time he wakes up," said Valarie, "I'm going to have to get him to eat something, or else...he will die, Astrid. The infection will kill him."
"No," said Astrid. "No, no, he can't die. Isn't there something else you can do!?" Valarie shook her head sadly, and Astrid felt her breath quicken. "There has to be something!" the girl cried. "It could be weeks before his body's nourished enough to take care of itself! What do we do until then!?"
"Try to keep him alive," said Valarie so calmly that Astrid was a bit taken back. Valarie sighed. "I'm doing everything I can, Astrid," she said in a pleading sort of voice. "But...but there's only so much I can do."
"I'm...I'm sorry for yelling," said Astrid. "I'm...I'm really thankful for what you're doing both for Hiccup, and for Avril. I just...I'm so worried about both of them. I can't lose either one. They mean so much to me, and to see them in so much pain...I'm sorry, it's no excuse, and-"
"It's alright, Astrid," said Valarie. "I don't blame you for your outburst. I certainly can't get mad at you for it, which I'm not, by the way. I know how hard this is for you, and I've seen many cases like this before. I'm used to being yelled at."
"I'm sorry, Valarie," said Astrid.
"Please, Astrid, you don't have to apologize anymore," said Valarie. "Now then, Rosie, go on and fetch a bucket of water from the well." Rosie nodded, and then ran off. "I'm going to wash the wound again. He's getting another fever."
"Is...is that bad?" said Astrid.
"If I can't get it down, yes," said Valarie.
Astrid and the others waited for Rosie to return, which she did in just seconds, carrying a small bucket of water in one hand. She handed it to Valarie, who set it beside her, and then took to undoing Hiccup's bandages once more. She had kept the wound clean and bandaged most the time, meaning she had to undo them and redo them frequently.
Astrid gasped at the sight of the gash. It was red and black; a clear sign of infection. It was inflamed and swollen terribly, with pus oozing out of it in a way that made Astrid's stomach churn.
"It looks bad," she gasped out.
Valarie nodded, dipping a rag into her water bucket before she began cleaning the wound. Hiccup whimpered, and Astrid put her hand over his soothingly, trying not to imagine the amount of pain he must have been in.
It took about five minutes before Valarie deemed herself finished, dabbing the area she cleaned to ensure it was dry before she applied healing salve to the wound. Hiccup visibly relaxed, his breaths evening out as Valarie rebound his stomach, the wound cleaned as best as was possible.
While Gina took to getting rid of the bucket, Rosie ran to get a new one, filling it with water and then bringing it back to the Haddock residence. Valarie dipped a new cloth into the clean water, and then laid it on Hiccup's forehead in an attempt to drown the fever before it spiked.
Not ten minutes after she did that, Hiccup groaned, his eyes fluttering for a few moments before they opened, falling onto each person in the room. He gasped for breath, his chest heaving, although he didn't start crying immediately as he had done previously.
It only took Astrid's tender, caring voice; "Hiccup?" before he started bawling. Astrid hated seeing Hiccup cry; it always made her heart ache to know he was in such pain to the point where he didn't even try hiding it.
"Hiccup, what's the matter?" Astrid asked gently. Behind her, she heard Valarie order Rosie to go get some broth, which the girl quickly ran off to do.
Hiccup stared at Astrid for a moment, before he spoke, finally.
"Astrid," he said, "I'm...I'm scared."
That was all it took. Astrid straddled the bed and lifted Hiccup to rest on her legs, one of her arms supporting his head while the other arm wrapped around his small, shaking frame. Rosie came back an instant later with a bowl of warm broth, and a spoon.
"What are you scared of, Hiccup?" Astrid asked. "What's hurting you? What's wrong?"
Hiccup swallowed hard, his breath sporadic. "The Gemsho," he whispered.