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Chapter 9

•••Astrid POV•••

The island was gigantic. And with the time they had they could be anywhere. We suspected from the giant scorch mark in the ground by Hiccup's tent that a dragon had attacked them. There was no sign of them anywhere. No fires, no dragons, and no prints either. The wind probably blew dust over them.

"Any luck?" I asked the twins as they flew past.

"Nothing. Just Hookfang sleeping soundly over there." The twins pointed west to a clearing of trees.

"Although Snotlout isn't there so it's not really important." Ruffnut added.

"Keep searching. They must be close to here." I ordered.

•••Snotlout POV•••

Stupid dragon had to fly away whenever I saw him. Right now it's sitting in a lovely clearing taking a lovely, little nap. I scowled but remembered that Hiccup's life was on the line.

"Okay. Look dragon. I'm not going to hurt you. I just need your help to help my dying friend back to our camp. Okay?" I said. The dragon seemed to finally notice me. He sauntered towards me and sniffed. He could smell the blood.

"Are you going to follow me now." The dragon stared me down and snarled before launching me up into the air and onto its back.

"Wait! We have to go get Hiccup!" I yelled. I pointed in the direction of the tree I left him next to and the dragon followed. I spotted Hiccup and told the dragon to go down. As I landed I could see now how bad Hiccup was. He was ghost white and the blood had completely soaked through his clothes.

"Don't worry. We'll get you out of here." I mumbled. We took off and flew towards camp. The fresh air seemed to help him breathe better at least. That's when we spotted Astrid.

•••Astrid POV•••

"Astrid!" I heard someone call my name. I turned to see a monster nightmare.

"Is that Snotlout!" I cried out. Everyone else turned to look. We all knew that Snotlout had abandoned the dragon after the dragon hunter attack. So why was Snotlout on him now?

"We have to get to camp. Hiccup is in trouble." Snotlout said. When he flew up next to me I saw what he was holding. Or who.

"Hiccup!" He was ghost white with beads of sweat rolling down his head. A cut on his hip was bleeding out badly and his breathing had gotten rapid.

"What happened to him?" I asked. Snotlout shook his head.

"I don't know. We were running from a Deadly Nadder in the forest when he suddenly got really slow and fainted. I think the wound is an old one." Snotlout explained.

"It couldn't have been from when he washed up, I check for all injuries, that wasn't there." Fishlegs said. I thought in silence for a bit.

"Ryker!" I screamed.

"Who?" Tuffnut asked.

"Remember, he's that dragon hunter with the weird mustache. Like, who cuts their facial hair like that?" Ruffnut replied.

"His facial hair doesn't matter right now. We have to get him back to camp." I said. Everyone agreed and flew back to camp. Fishlegs landed at his tent to retrieve the medical equipment and everyone else at Hiccup's tent where we set him. Toothless had been laying there awake for Hiccup's return. When he saw Hiccup he was immediately right beside him. Hiccup had waken up for a few seconds assuring Toothless that he was fine.

"Everyone stand back." Fishlegs said bursting into the tent. We all turned and left the tent but silently waited just outside. Toothless had stayed inside. It was another hour before Fishlegs came out.

"He's going to be fine. Luckily the cut wasn't as deep as we thought. I gave him a few stitches and wrapped his wound with new bandages. Now I'm not Gothi but it would be a good idea to leave him alone for awhile. To rest and let his wound heal." Fishlegs explained. Everyone nodded and went their separate ways. All except me.

"He's fine Astrid. Just let him sleep." Fishlegs said holding my shoulder.

"Y-Yeah. Why am I even worried. He's a stranger. He's going to leave once he heals. We probably won't even ever see him again." I mumbled. Fishlegs looked away as if agreeing and walked away. I followed soon after.

•••Hiccup POV•••

I woke up sore. I sat up to stretch. That's when I realized where I was. I was in my tent. Toothless was asleep next to me. I pet his head which caused him to wake up.

"Hey bud." I said. Toothless purred but then changed his attitude and snarled. Clearly he was mad.

"Toothless I'm sorry, okay? You were asleep, I can handle a dragon on my own." I replied. Toothless patted over and hit my side with his muzzle. I doubled over in pain.

"Hey! That was unfair!" I joked. Toothless mouthed what I just said mocking me. I laughed.

"Hiccup? Are you awake?" Astrid said from outside the tent. I stood and walked out with Toothless as my cane.

"Yep. Awake and Alive as well." I joked. Suddenly I was engulfed in a bear hug. Then Astrid hit me in the shoulder.

"Don't make me worry like that!" She yelled.

"Okay. I promise." I replied. She nodded.

"Good. Now, who is ready for breakfast?" She asked pulling me and Toothless to the fire pit. Everyone was gathered around. They all seemed anxious.

"Hiccup. There's something we were all wondering." Fishlegs said.

"Oh really? What is it?" I asked.

"We were wondering if you could stay with us for the rest of the year." Astrid explained. I was shocked. Sure our relationship had somewhat grown, but inviting me to stay with them for a year was something new.

"You want me to stay?" Everyone nodded. Even Snotlout.

"You could help us train our dragons, teach us all the things you've learned about dragons, maybe it isn't as fun as your island but-." I stopped Astrid.

"I'd love to."