First Friends

Chapter 16

Fevered dreams flickered around me, occasionally mingling with the outside world. I heard Hiccup crying and calling my name, faintly felt him lay his head on my side as I struggled to keep breathing, and twitched my lip slightly when Elder Gothi, whom I'd met several times, peeled my eyelids apart to look into my eyeball. It was disconcerting, but I didn't let it bug me too much as I had enough to worry about. My adoption birthday came and went, but no one felt like celebrating, too worried about me to bother. Hiccup's birthday passed in much the same manner. I drank very little and ate even less, so I became emaciated, longing for Death's warm embrace.

Eventually though, my fever wanned and released its hold on me. I opened my eyes on my own and lifted my head as best I could. Hiccup was curled up beside me, laying his head on my side, sleeping an uneasy sleep by the way he twitched. I purred weakly, but happily, and he opened his eyes. He looked up at me and threw his arms around my neck.

"Oh, Tiger! I was so worried about you," he said softly. Stoick came up the stairs, saw Hiccup with his arms around my neck and my eyes closed.

"I'm sorry, son. I guess the sickness was too much for him," he sighed, approaching us and kneeling next to me. He put a hand on Hiccup's shoulder, offering sympathy. I opened my eyes and licked his hand. "Oh! Well, you little scoundrel you!" He ruffled my head playfully and I tried to push myself to my feet, but was too weak to do so. I pulled my head around so I could lick Hiccup's face properly as my purring increased in volume.