Another Nightmare book 2: To rescue a nightmare

Chapter 28 Final

The Christmas Eve is here and so is your Christmas gift, the final chapter of Another Nightmare book 2 to rescue a nightmare. I hope you enjoy it and return next year for book 3, because this isn't over, not even close. Also, maybe Toothless and Hiccup won't spend as much time separated in book 3 as with book 2, for those who prefer things that way. If anything they are going to be harder to separate and probably need to explore the bond more.

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Toothless' squeal was the only warning before Hiccup slumped, hanging over Fishlegs' arm. Ivar had to hold on as Toothless ran to Hiccup's side before he could get off the saddle. He noted how Meatlug immediately settled down and avoided the Night Fury's gaze. The rest of the flock gathered around in a large circle. Toothless couldn't care less about the dragons as he pushed Hiccup's head with his snout and licked his cheek, continuing his whimpers.

"How is he?" Ivar asked.

"I think he's just asleep, but he's burning up. It seems bad. He didn't just lose," Fishlegs gulped, "lose his leg. He is sick. At this rate he could die."

Fishlegs raised his head and flinched as he met Toothless' stare. Had the dragon understood what he had said? Probably at least the important bit. How would he react if Hiccup...? They couldn't think like that. They couldn't have just saved him to lose him to some illness. Ivar pushed his way past Toothless to Meatlug's side to check on Hiccup, despite Toothless' protest. The protest did make Ivar a bit nervous, but he still persisted in checking Hiccup's temperature. He listened to his short breaths and leaned to look at the stump.

"The fever is really bad, but I need light to see the-" Toothless' growl halted him. Toothless waved his head for Stormfly, who stepped closer. She was easy to recognise even in the dark from the way she was walking with her earlier injury. After exchanging a few more grunts with Toothless she opened her mouth and Ivar was bathed in warm light.

"Thank you," Ivar said and looked at the stump again. It was pretty well bandaged. He peeked under the bandage to see a bit of the swollen red and generally unpleasant looking leg. "We need to get him back to Fjoll quickly."

"I packed an extra fur," Fishlegs said. "He should stay warm while you take him back."

"Good. ...Wait, what do you mean me?" Ivar asked.

"You said we need to get him back quickly. Toothless is the fastest dragon here and I'm not going to tell him to hold back for the flock."

Ivar looked at Toothless, who had leaned down next to them, staring at them with impatience. Was he understanding more than usual even with Hiccup unconscious? They dragged Hiccup on Toothless' back and got their belongings that they had left on the island. They dressed Hiccup with whatever clothes they could, finishing with Fishlegs' considerably larger fur before tying him on the saddle. Ivar got on the saddle behind him, trying to get a hold on Hiccup who was basically laying on Toothless, his head between Toothless' ears.

"Wish us luck," Ivar said. He turned the pedal.

Toothless leaped and bolted. The speed at which he was flying... When Ivar looked behind him he could barely follow the movements of Toothless' wings. He had to hold his head sideways just to breathe because of the wind pushing on his face, and he made sure Hiccup could breathe too as Ivar laid his left cheek on Toothless' scales. At least wind blew the smell of blood away. The rest was up to Toothless. He kept flying, and kept flying, and kept flying without slowing down. They took more than a day to reach the Hunter base, at this rate they would be back in Fjoll before sunrise, if Toothless could keep going as he did. Ivar was more than sceptical of that. No one, nothing, could do something like that.