Deceptively Delicious

Chapter 4

Snotlout really tried to be quiet, but for every noise that escaped him he could sense Hiccup's shoulders tensing against the straps of the improvised sled. It was a rough journey, and Snotlout wasn't sure that he would be able to stand the trip back. But then they were at the river, and Snotlout had a different issue to think about.

He cringed when Hiccup helped him with his clothes, feeling embarrassed, as if he was a small helpless child. Even so, if Snotlout was honest, he didn't have the strength to really do anything for himself anyway. Still, being stripped by the chief's son wasn't as pleasant as it might sound.

Snotlout moaned as the icy water hit his skin, a surprising amount of relief mingling with the chill. He shivered violently and yelped when the water hit his chest, raising goose bumps along his pale skin. "The-the-the wa-water is c-c-cold! H-hurts less th-though."

Hiccup nodded, smiling a little at this first bit of good news. "See, not so bad. I can't leave you in too long though, can't risk you getting hypothermia on top of everything else." Snotlout's lips were already starting to turn blue, and his fingers were totally numb.

To Snotlout it felt like hours, but really he had only been in the stream for about ten minutes when Hiccup decided to pull him out. His violent shivering, even with Hiccup's best efforts to dry him off and bring him back to camp quickly, only faded away when he was nestled back in his spot by the fire.

Some time later, Snotlout turned to Hiccup and burst out, "Look, I'm sorry." Hiccup blinked and raised his eyebrows. "What?" Snotlout shrugged and turned red, "Well, I just... Hiccup, I feel so stupid. If I had looked closer at the berries then being stuck out here would be so much easier. I hate being so helpless." Snotlout fiddled with a small stick and then broke it in half, looking guilty.

Hiccup snorted and shook his head, refusing to believe this. "Snotlout, none of this is your fault, I don't know how I could possibly make this any clearer. You made a silly mistake that anyone could have made- I could have made that mistake. You'll be just fine."

Snotlout nodded and turned over to go to sleep, snoring within minutes. Hiccup stayed awake a little longer, scouring the skies for signs of his friends. He tried to relax, knowing that worry wouldn't help, but his heart still throbbed uncomfortably; where could his friends possibly be?