Don't Drop Dead, Dragon Boy Part 3

623 23 5
                                    

Astrid couldn't see any more open wounds, but by the shaky, shuddering rise and fall of his chest, and the rasp to his breathing she assumed he broke a rib or two, or at least bruised it or cracked it pretty good.

Astrid pulled the torn blanket over him, hoping it would at least help keep him warm until she could get him to safety.

She had to make sure he didn't have any more open wounds, and she had to make sure his ribs weren't broken to the point where moving him would be dangerous.

Hiccup twitched, and then, after another moment, his eyes cracked open, just enough for Astrid to see the emerald colour they were. He blinked slowly and incessantly.

"Ast..." He slurred

Astrid nodded. His voice was cracked and wheezy, but at least he was awake. Her panic dimmed, if slightly, and she managed a small, weak smile. "Yeah, it's me," She promised. "It's me, I'm here, I'm right here."

"Ast'rid..." Hiccup coughed. "I...I...I think...I think...I...fell..."

"Yeah, you think?" Astrid tried for a laugh, but it didn't even work. Hiccup didn't even appear to hear her. He shut his eyes again, and Astrid shook him gently yet firmly, trying not to panic for his and her sakes. "Hey, stay with me, alright?" She said. "Just...stay with me."

Hiccup nodded shakily.

"Alright," Astrid said. She look at Stormfly, and then back at Hiccup. "Do you think you can get on Stormfly's back if I help you?" She asked. She really had to get back to the Edge. He didn't look good...

To her relief, Hiccup nodded, and Astrid slowly began pulling him into a stand. However, before they got far, Hiccup screamed in pain and collapsed heavily against her, his breath more ragged than it had been before.

It was then Astrid decided Hiccup wasn't going to be able to move, even though he claimed he could. She help him tightly in her arms, trying to think of what to do. Hiccup swallowed.

"I'm...m'sorry, Astrid," He said. "I'm...I'm fine, r-really..."

"No, you're not fine," Astrid said, "and you shouldn't be sorry. It wasn't your fault" She looked at Stormfly and nodded at the dragon. "Go, get help," Astrid commanded, and Stormfly obeyed instantly, spreading her wings and soaring back out of the cavern.

Astrid looked down at Hiccup and shook him again. "You gotta stay awake, okay?" She said. "Here..." She knew she had to keep him talking, somehow, or else he would pass out again, and she didn't know what damage he'd done to his head, or how bad it was.

"How'd you get down here in the first place?" She asked.

Hiccup blinked tiredly and sighed. "I...I fell...?"

Astrid sighed heavily. "Yeah, no kidding," She said. "I mean, how'd you end up in the cave in the first place?"

"Night T-Terror," Hiccup wheezed."Gotta...get'em...back...t'Edge..."

Oh. Well, that made sense. Hiccup followed the Night Terror into the cave and fell down the chasm without knowing it was even there. Astrid wondered how long he'd been there, alone, lying unconscious on the ground, without her even knowing where he was...

"I'm sorry, Hiccup," She apologized.

"No...m'sorry," Hiccup corrected. "I...should've been...more c-careful..."

Astrid shook her head and held him tighter. "Just...stay away from caves from now on, alright?"

Hiccup nodded.

The other riders and their dragons showed up, not more than ten minutes later. After Astrid learned that Hiccup's head wound was not life threatening, she let him rest, and when the riders reached them, they found Astrid, holding Hiccup in her arms.

Hiccup was sleeping and despite his injuries, he looked peaceful. Of course, it made sense. Astrid would always protect him tothe best of her abilities, and when she failed to protect him, she would never leave him as he recovered, no matter how long it took.

Because she loved him. She didn't know where she would be without him.

------------------------------------------

Next update soon, I promise.

Toothlesslover23              


Hiccup And The Gang Short StoriesWhere stories live. Discover now