So... not sure how I feel about this chapter... anyway, here it is. Sorry that's it's shorter and maybe a little confusing. I worked a lot this week.

Enjoy!

The Adventurous Adventures of Hiccup and Wrenlou

A Storm Blows Through It, Part IX

Broghan had never really seen Dragoncity before. He had been here once, with the Choosing, but that had been at night, and even though the streets had been lit, it was nothing like seeing it in daylight. Despite the damage done by the storm and the streets being flooded, it was still a majestic city. He couldn't help but awe at the high towers, that were surprisingly undamaged, and the white marble buildings. As they landed on the plaza, he looked up, at the buildings surrounding him. He gaped at them, until Ezra put a hand on his shoulder.

"Come," the man said softly, "I'll bring you to your brother."

Broghan nodded and followed the man, Moonchaser close behind him. They entered a large building, people rushing through the hallways carrying all sorts of stuff. Ezra led him through a long hallway with doors on either side, and he stopped in front of one on the left.

"Your brother is in here," Ezra said, opening the door, "if you need, I'll be outside, most likely."

Broghan nodded and Ezra let go of the door, turning back to where he came from. Broghan watched him go, not moving until Ezra turned a corner and disappeared from view. Then he turned to the room and slowly pushed the door open. He took a deep breath and walked into the room, Moonchaser following him closely. Snowflake, who was keeping watch at the side of Wrenlou's bed, looked up when he walked into the room, and the white Night Fury crooned softly.

"Oh Wrenlou..." Broghan mumbled, taking Wrenlou's hand, "what have you gotten yourself into this time..."

Snowflake whined and put her head down at Wrenlou's other side, watching her rider with sorrowful eyes. Moonchaser walked over to her and curled up next to the white dragon, her head on Snowflake's back. Broghan sighed, keeping Wrenlou's hand in his own.

0-0-0-0-0

"Hiccup?" Ezra called softly, his voice echoing through the library, "Hiccup, where are you?"

There was no answer. The only thing he heard was the rain falling on the roof, an occasional thunderclap in the distance. He sighed. The library was huge. Hiccup could be anywhere. But just as he was about to turn back, he spotted something black between the books, and he walked towards it. Just as he had suspected, it was Toothless. The dragon was curled up amidst a huge pile of books, some stacked neatly, while others had clearly fallen to the ground and simply left there. The dragon was asleep, a small trail of smoke curling from his nostrils with every exhale. He had his wings tucked to his side, but Ezra could just see that Hiccup was asleep against his dragons side, his head on a book that he had been reading when he became too exhausted and fell asleep. The man carefully moved some books out of the way, clearing a path to Hiccup. Toothless stirred when he felt his wing was touched, but he didn't quite wake up yet.

"Hiccup... hey..." Ezra said softly as he shook the boys shoulder, "come on buddy, wake up."

Hiccup groaned, blinking a few times against the light and he seemed confused when he saw Ezra standing over him.

"Hey kid," the man said softly, extending a hand, "come on. Time to get you to bed."

"I'm not tired," Hiccup protested, but his wide yawn right after proved him wrong.

Ezra smiled warmly. "Come on, you should get some rest. The books can wait, they'll be here tomorrow. You'll be no help to anyone if you get sick from exhaustion."

Hiccup nodded reluctantly, closing the book he had been sleeping on. Then he slowly stood up, stretching his painful muscles.

"Come on Toothless," he said, poking the dragons side, "get up lazy lizard."

Toothless just groaned and wrapped his tail around himself, hiding his head under his wing. Hiccup shrugged.

"I guess it's no dinner for you then."

At this Toothless perked up, his ears upright and his pupils round. Hiccup smiled and started following Ezra through the maze of books. After a lazy stretch Toothless followed.

"Broghan is here," Ezra said when they were standing in the doorway, watching the rain, "he's with Wrenlou. Why don't you go to him?"

"Okay..." Hiccup said softly, "Ezra? I haven't found anything yet... But most antidotes for poisons are made from the poison itself, so we have to catch it alive."

Ezra sighed. "Hiccup, we've been over this. I can't risk any more lives in there, I just can't. That dragon is way too fast, and much too dangerous. I will not send more riders in there, I will not. The healers will find the cure, really. Now go to Broghan. I'm sure he could use some company."

Hiccup nodded and watched as Ezra disappeared into the rain, his cloak pulled over his head to try and stay dry. After a moment he stepped into the water and started walking towards the hospital. Toothless stayed next to him, with his wing over Hiccup's head, to at least try and keep him a bit dry.

0-0-0-0-0

It was dark when a small figure stepped outside, followed by a large black shape. The figure wasn't carrying a torch, not that it would have survived the heavy rain, but he was carrying a back with him. He had a cloak wrapped around his shoulders, and after looking left and right, he quickly ran towards the door to the shelter, closely followed by the large shape.

The creature whined when the small figure opened the door and peered inside. The hallways were dark, empty, not a living soul in sight. The creature whined again, and the figure turned around.

"You have to stay here Toothless," Hiccup mumbled softly, gently stroking his dragon's nose, "you can't come in with me."

Toothless whined again, pressing his nose against Hiccup's chest as if he were trying to tell the boy not to go.

"I have to," Hiccup said, "it's their only chance. It's Wrenlou's only chance."

Toothless crooned softly and licked Hiccup's face. The boy smiled a little.

"I'll be fine," he assured his dragon, "honestly. Just... stay here, okay? Guard the door for me."

The dragon slowly pulled away from his rider, watching how Hiccup lit a torch and looked back into the dark hallway again.

"Well," he said, taking a deep breath, "here goes nothing. Wish me luck bud, I'll need it.

Toothless crooned and Hiccup smiled at him. Then he started walking into the hallway. Toothless watched the flickering light of the torch grow weaker and weaker until it eventually died. Then he simply curled up outside the door, the rain pounding down on his scales. He didn't care. Rain never bothered him. He would wait for Hiccup's return, rain or no rain.

0-0-0-0-0

"He is what?" Ezra shouted.

"Gone, sir. We can't find him. He isn't in the library and we don't know..."

The man shut up when Ezra held up a hand. He had spotted a black shape near the entrance to the shelter.

"He didn't..." he mumbled, stomping towards the door.

It was open.

He was sure it had been closed. Now however, it was cracked open just the slightest, swaying a little in the wind.

"Good gods," Ezra whispered, pulling the door open, "he went in here."

"Alone?" Tom asked, "is he out of his mind?"

"Desperate I think," Ezra said with a sigh, "but even so, he can't do this. Ready your team. I'll lead them. We have to find him before he gets seriously injured, or even killed."

"But I thought..." Tom protested, but he shut up when he saw Ezra's face, and nodded.

"I sure hope you're okay in there Hiccup," Ezra mumbled, "what would we do if you died..."

0-0-0-0-0-0

Alrighty fellas! The second riddle! The answer was Nothing, and the winner this time is Mystery Writer 5775. So, if you could PM me your address, I'll send you something!

Before I give you the third riddle, I have a small request for the guests. It would be great if you could use a guest name, that way it's easier to tell you all apart. it get's really confusing if I have bunch of guests and I don't know who is who, you know? Thank you in advance!

Alright... the third riddle... here it is:

I have four wings, but cannot fly.
I never laugh and never cry
On the same spot I'm always found
Toiling away with little sound
What am I?

Good luck!