The Healing Pools

The pair look at each other trying to see if either one is dreaming. When they can see that they are in fact not Hicca presses her head to his gently. Toothless closes his eyes a rumble can be heard coming from his chest. Hicca sobs slightly, "Oh Toothless. I am so happy you are awake. I was so worried that you would never wake up." Toothless answers softly, "I am here now. And so are you." Toothless pulls back then his eyes look down to see Hicca's missing leg.

Toothless sits up to look at her prosthetic leg better. Hicca explains, "They could not save my leg. I built a new one." Toothless moves to get up but then he falls back down feeling pain shoot up. He looks over to his wing only to notice that he is missing his entire left wing. Toothless goes still not moving and he forgets to breathe. Hicca bumps him with her head again which causes Toothless to breathe again and look at Hicca scared. Hicca gives him a saddened look then Toothless states, "I will never be able to fly again." He turns away from Hicca who then says, "I have been working on something for you that will allow you to fly like before."

Toothless closes his eyes then says, "You know that once an owl loses flight it is death." Hicca shakes her head saying, "That is not true. Gobber lost his wing, and he still fights and gets around." After Hicca mentioned Gobber, she feels her heart sink. Toothless manages to stand up a little wobbly then says, "I am a grounded owl Hicca. I can't help you anymore or even raise owlets with you."

Toothless begins to walk away but Hicca stops him saying, "I will not leave you Toothless. You and I are one. I don't want another." Then with determination, "You will fly again Toothless, I swear. We will be flying in the sky together again."

After a moment passes, Toothless looks to Hicca and says, "Only in dreams would we fly again." He then hobbles away to another room leaving Hicca behind. Who in turn feels tears fall from her eyes then she takes a running start and flies out the Healing Pools. Toothless watches her leave, drops his head down and retreats to the shadows of the hollow he is in.

However, Stormfly had seen and heard the whole thing as she returned to check on the pair but now quietly leaves the hollow to look for her sister. Stormfly searches for a moment then she finds Hicca sitting on a branch that overlooks their home. Stormfly lands on the branch saying nothing but she too looks at their home. Stormfly sits with Hicca waiting for her to speak.

Hicca breaks the silence, "I want to be alone right now." Stormfly nods and says, "I hear you Hic. I will leave but I want to stay something first." Hicca remains silent and Stormfly continues, "You are smart, brave and caring. You said you will get Toothless to fly again and that is what you are going to do. Don't let this rough patch stop you or him. We all are here for you and we all will help you both."

Hicca remains silent and Stormfly gives her a gentle bump then takes off. Stormfly turns her head yelling, "I know you won't give up Hicca! You are too stubborn to let anything stop you!" Stormfly then dives down and out of sight. Hicca thinks for a moment then a look of determination comes again. She takes off to the blacksmith's shop once again.

The Blacksmith's Hallow

Hicca pulls the prosthetic wing off the stand and begins to run more tests on it and even sets it up to test its motions. Stormfly is right, Hicca won't back down and won't let this rough patch stop her from helping the one she loves. Hicca said she would get Toothless to fly again and damn it she will get him to fly again.

After a few hours Hicca has finished with all her testing she is ready to show Toothless. Hicca wraps the wing up in cloth so she can carry it too Toothless. Meanwhile, still in the healing pools, Toothless is watching Hicca from his perch. He can't see what she is making but he knows she is up to something. As he watches he feels someone walking in but he gives them no acknowledgment. A male voice says, "You need to eat Tooth." It is Hookfang who speaks and places a few strips of fish onto a leaf plate.

Toothless answers, "I am not hungry." Hookfang sighs then stands next to Toothless looking down to see Hicca. He then says, "You know she will find a way." Toothless answers, "She should give it up. You and I both know that when an owl goes down. There is no getting up." Hookfang nods and says, "Look Toothless. I get that you feel worthless right now. That you can't take care of her or any owlets you will have some day."

Toothless glares at Hookfang demanding, "Your point?" Hookfang looks to Toothless, "My point is that you should not give up. Hicca won't give up. Like her, you are stubborn. So, you don't have a wing. You are alive and that is what matters the most."

Hookfang turns to leave with Toothless watching him leave. Hookfang stops and slightly turns his head, "The saying is, "a down owl, is a dead owl." If that were true, both you and Hicca would already be dead. I believe when you get knocked down you get up stronger." Hookfang leaves and takes off leaving Toothless with his thoughts.

Toothless looks down then at his food then back at Hicca. Hookfang flies and lands near Stormfly and says, "We will have to wait and see what they will do." Stormfly nods her head then asks, "Shall we join the others?" Hookfang nods his head and says, "When Tooth gets air born again, we all are going to go flying together like when we were flying here." Stormfly nods then takes off after Hookfang.

Toothless watches them fly away to join the rest of their friends as Hookfang's words come back to his mind, "The saying is, "a down owl, is a dead owl." If that were true, both you and Hicca would already be dead. I believe when you get knocked down you get up stronger." He knows Hookfang is correct but the more he thinks about it the more he realizes that Hicca will not give up. He stands up more than says to himself, "I hope you have something for me Hicca. I really do. I trust you and if you won't give up then I won't either."

Auther's notes: I do apologize for a late posting. All day Friday I was not able to sit down long enough to work on this chapter. But I was able to finally sit down and work on it. I hope you like this new chapter. Once again, I apologize for a late posting I will make sure next Friday chapter 12 will be posted on time. Please do have a wonderful day/night. Thank you for stopping by and reading this crazy adventure.

From: NightFury Rider