Once on the other side of the island they stopped. They both looked through the forest. The light from the torches flickering in and out from behind the trees. He knew they wouldn't come after them, but they would search the island just in case. He sat down anyway. The sand and dirt oozed through his toes, and the sea he was looking to was calm.
"Toothless? Do you think I went to far? I think I went over board. I didn't have to do that." He pulled his knees to his chest and rested his head on them. Toothless laid down behind him, wrapping himself around Hiccup.
"Yes, you did go too far. Though I think you also needed to do what you did. From what you told me people dying isn't uncommon." Toothless nuzzled Hiccup's neck. "You were protecting us and I can't blame you for that. We were ordered to keep each other alive." Toothless tried to comfort his mate, who had started to sob quietly. "Hey it's going to be okay. We made it the first time, barely knowing each other, barely able to trust each other, couldn't talk to each other, and were older, wiser. It not going to be easy, but it'll be easier than last time. And maybe we'll end up somewhere, where the winter isn't so harsh."
Hiccup chuckled to himself. "Do you promise? I think I'd like that."
"I can't promise anything but I'd like that too. We always have trouble in the winter. No matter how much preparation we do." Toothless chuckled.
Hiccup pulled Toothless' head over his shoulder and kissed the side of his mouth.
"Thanks bud." Hiccup looked into the woods. The torches were getting closer but he wasn't worried. They could easily escape without any issue. "Toothless I'm tired now. That fight took me out." He leaned into his dragon, crossing his arms and closing his eyes. "If they come too close wake me up and we'll go. I won't be able to do anything right now."
Toothless didn't like that they hadn't already left. There was nothing left for them on their island. Only the danger of Hiccup's father finding them again. He let Hiccup sleep for longer than he should have. The torches were in the last few rows of trees before he woke Hiccup. He sharply pushed Hiccup, waking him.
"I've let you sleep for too long. We must leave right now."
Hiccup groggily stood up and climbed onto Toothless' back.
"Alright bud." Hiccup yawned. "Let's get out of here." He held on tight as Toothless shot into the air.
"Which way?" Toothless yelled over the sound of his beating wings. Hiccup pointed randomly in a direction. Toothless was satisfied with the decision. He flew in the direction he was told to go until he found an island to land on. Hiccup was barely awake when they landed.
"Hiccup I've found a place we can rest tonight. I think we're too far away for them to follow us. I don't think they saw us either so we're fine." Toothless laid down in the grass. He liked the cool and slightly damp feel on his scales. A nice change from being dry and warm every night. Hiccup sat in front of him, leaning against his stomach like normal.
"Feels weird not being in our house. I wish we were. It was warm there." He leaned into Toothless more, placing his hands between himself and Toothless to warm his fingers.
"Your body is cold love." Toothless curled around Hiccup and placed a wing over him creating a small room.
"Don't go all over protective on me Toothless" Hiccup giggled.
"Don't think you're invincible because of your change. You can still get sick and being sick right now would not be good."
Hiccup sighed loudly as he laid down on the leg Toothless provided him.
"Don't be that way Hiccup. You know that I'm not allowed to let anything happen to you. Even if I wasn't told to do it be someone else I'd still do this. It's my job as your mate."
Hiccup's breath hitched. "I love you Toothless."
"And I you my love." They both quickly fell asleep.
The morning came quickly but they slept through that and well into the afternoon. They were awoken by a group of Nadders squawking loudly near them. Toothless woke first, annoyed from being rudely awoken. He didn't want to disturb Hiccup so he listened to the Nadders instead.
"Have you heard? The queen is sick. I even heard that she doesn't think that she will make it through the rest of the spring."
No. Are you sure?"
The first Nadder nodded her head. While the second couldn't believe it. Toothless didn't like that they had randomly flown back into the Queen's area. He looked down at Hiccup and wondered if the queened called for the dragon, if he would be affected. He also wondered if he would be able to resist her call himself. He feared that he would mistake Hiccup as just another viking and blindly attack him. He shuddered at the thought.
'I don't know what I'd do. I won't allow anything to happen to him. Not while I live.' He watched the group of Nadders fly away. He watched Hiccup sleep a little longer before he woke up. Hiccup slowly woke and emerged from his small shelter. He shoot and stretched, while turning to Toothless.
"What's up bud? You look worried about something." He cupped his dragon's face. "Is everything okay?"
Toothless sighed. "There was a group of Nadders that passed by. One of them said that the Queen was sick and wouldn't live for long."
"Isn't that good?" Hiccup asked.
"Well yes but it means that we're in her territory again. She could call out to the dragons and I'm worried that you'll be affected by it. Even if you aren't, I still am. If she calls I could attack you. I don't want to hurt you. I don't know what I'd do if I did. I'd. I'd."
"You'd do nothing." Hiccup poked Toothless between the eyes. "I'm inside there don't you remember. We're in each other's heads. I'm not worried. I'm the voice in your head. If she calls I will over power her. You're not hers to control. Not anymore."
"Hiccup, I don't know what to say. Thank you."
"You don't have to thank me. I promised you a long time ago that I wouldn't let anything happen to you. I intend to follow through on that. You'll just have to trust me."
"You know I have no issue trusting you. When you say you're going to do something you do it. This is just another one of those things."
"Toothless, I love you bud."
"I love you too Hiccup."
