A New Rider

Awake-and Sleep

Hiccup and the others woke when Astrid returned. Her saddlebags were full of plants and herbs used for healing.

"Where were you?" Hiccup asked Astrid, yawning , when she dismounted.

"Collecting." She responded, handing me a bag. I looked in it and smiled. Asrid had even gathered plants that I hadn't asked for, but still had important healing properties.

"Collecting what, exactly?" He asked, stepping towards me.

"Herbs." I responded, pulling some out and laying them on the table sorting them by use.

"What for?" He said.

"Healing, of course. You guys need some herbs handy for when you guys are injured. Which, might I add, seems to happen a lot."

"That's.... not a bad idea. We can't always fly to Berk for Gothi's help."

"Exactly." I nodded. "I can help. And, I can teach you guys some basic herbs."

"Fishlegs is the plant expert here." Hiccup said, gesturing with his hand, which I noticed he did a lot of.

"Good." I said, turning to the blond gronckle rider. "You can help me. Hiccup, we should build a hut for medicine and to house the wounded. I can also teach you healing for dragons too." I smiled, despite the critical situation with Luna.

"We should hook you up with the Defenders of the Wing." Tuffnut said, "You know, 'cause they also know that kind of stuff."

The name seemed oddly familiar. "Defenders of the Wing?" I asked, hesitantly.

Hiccup nodded. "They are one of our allies." Before he could elaborate, a voice behind me said,

"You know, my brother will not approve of all my injuries."

"Luna!" Hiccup cried. I spun around. Luna was awake, slowly propping herself up with one elbow.

"I was up all night cleaning and bandaging up that wound. You better not bust it open again." I

warned

"My savior." She laughed sarcastically, but she heeded my advice and laid back down.

I laughed, half with relief, and half with histarics. I hadn't slept at all and I spent the entire night worrying for my friends life.

"How are you feeling?" I asked.

"Like I was just shot through the stomach with an arrow." She deadpanned.

I rolled my eyes. "Your feeling good enough to sass." I commented.

"I'm always feeling good enough to sass." She said, "Even if I'm at the Doors of Death. I get it from my brother."

I sighed at sat down, exhaustion kicking in.

"I'm just glad you're alive." Hiccup said to Luna.

"I'm glad I'm alive too." She agreed.

I laid down with Ambersky. "Now that you're ok, I'd like to sleep. Is that ok with everyone?"

Luna mumbled, "Me too." and immediately started snoring.

"Go ahead." Hiccup told me.

I closed my eyes. Sleep came rushing towards me. Suddenly, I was falling. Ambersky was flying towards me, but she was only getting farther and farther away from me. I hit the ground and-

I jerked awake, twitching violently. Hiccup's eyes widened as he stared at me. Toothless' eyes also widened, pupils dilating as well.

Tuffnut looked at me and said, "Chicken gets those dreams too. She scratches when that happens."

Ambersky nuzzled me, as if saying, "I'm here. Calm down."

I steadied my breathing and laid back down, closing my eyes. I heard footsteps exit the room and Luna's snores as I drifted back into sleep.

Word count: 544

Who else has had a dream where they are falling and woke up thrashing? It happened to me when I was at a friends house. I scared her and fell off the couch. Anyway, real question for today is: What is the wierdest dream you have ever had? Mine is probably the one where the sorting hat ate the sigers at my school. For elaboration on that dream go to my dream journal. I have some wierd dreams!