There's No Such Thing As Normal (Hiccstrid)

Chapter 8

Astrid's P.O.V.

I winced as Gothi cared for my leg. The man was outside talking to Stoick and my parents, explaining how the Timberjack had made the tree branch fall on me. Stoick was making it clear that he was very grateful for the man saving the village, more than me. And my father was saying how I was more important than the village if I was the only one hurt. I really just wanted them to move away from the hut, so I couldn't hear them trying to put me down and bring me back up; in front of a stranger no less.

"Why don't you say something?"

Like what? "Hey, Gothi, I appreciate it but I think I'll just go with the agony and avoid my parents and Stoick."

"Well no need to get sarcastic, Ms. Smart Alec."

Gothi finally finished my leg before handing me a mug. I sigh at the acrid smell before raising it to my lips. "Don't drink that!" my dad's voice shouted before an arrow knocked the mug from my hand. I looked at him in confusion when I saw neither he nor my mom had the bow. Dad ran toward the spill before taking some of the liquid on his finger and sniffing it. He gagged before standing and looking Gothi in the eye. "I see it's gotten to the point where we can't even trust our own village healer," he growled before wrapping my arm around his neck and helping me to my feet. He took most of my weight as we headed for the door.

"Hold it, Sven," Gobber said as he looked at Gothi's dirt mat. "Says she needs to stay here and rest." Dad scoffed.

"Yeah, I'm not letting her in here without me or Ingrid at her side," he growled before helping me out of the hut, where we met my mom, the man, and Stoick.

"Well, was I right or was I right?" the man asked, leaning on the wall as he inspected his bow. His voice was slightly muffled by his mask

"Scarily yes," Dad says.

"Oh, come here, baby," Mom said before wrapping me in her arms.

"Getting the healer to do your dirty work, eh, Stoick?" the man asked and the chief rolled his eyes before going inside.

"What's your name, son?" Dad asked, patting the man on the back.

"You can just call me Ryder," he said.

"Oh, Ryder won't you stay with us for your visit to Berk?" Mom asked and I elbowed her in the gut. She didn't seem to notice as Ryder chuckled lightly.

"Well, Mrs. Hofferson, I'd love to, but I have a friend still in the forest and he'll get worried if I don't show up soon," he says, rubbing the back of his neck, "Besides, I'd hate to impose."

"Oh, nonsense. And your friend is more than welcome to stay with us too," Dad said.

"Uh, I think you see him, you'll sing a different tune. Particularly a scream," Ryder says.

"You saved our daughter, the least we can do is give you a place to stay," Dad said.

"Is there a way I can say no?" Ryder sighed.

"Nope," Mom said.

"Okay, I'll just go tell my friend where I'm gonna be," Ryder said and looked at me with a nod before running to the forest.

"Wonder why he doesn't want his friend to come," I murmur quietly, making my parents look at me with smiles before burying me in their arms as the sun disappeared.

Moonhigh

I ran my fingers over my leg as I sat on the front steps. Ryder had come back a few hours after early moon and my parents gave him the guest room. I started to calculate how long it'll take my leg to heal in my head. About three or four weeks. Damn.