Ch. 15- Dragon Trivia

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I felt the fire of my aching head long before I was able to force my eyes open. It was a slow process, but I finally managed to gather the energy to do so.

As I waited, I thought about the events that led me to this state. The Dragon Race, last lap, the black sheep knocking me down the well, my head bumping the wall- which explained the killer headache- and winning the Dragon Race. I didn't remember anything after Hiccup's warning. Hmm, what was that even about?

I thought about my aching body and figured his warning probably had something to do with that. Yeah, good guess.

I groaned and pried my eyes open. The room was dim, light only coming from my right. It even danced, meaning it was night and the candle was flickering.

"You're awake," Hiccup observed, moving into my line of sight. I moaned in pain, unable to speak. "You should have told me that you hit your head that hard. We could've postponed the race and finished it later, no big deal. You had everyone worried sick, the way you blacked out."

"What happened?" I murmured in confusion.

He helped me sit up. "Dad just finished making you some soup. Gothi said to take it easy the next few days. I'll be right back, then I'll explain everything, okay?" Without me answering, he left for a minute.

The soup was still steaming with it's beautiful warmth, and my stomach growled at the smell and the sight of it. I weakly raised my arms and attempted to take a firm- ish hold on the bowl. Hiccup noticed and pulled the bowl back.

"Maybe I should just feed you." I started to shake my head in denial. "You can barely even talk, let alone hold this bowl. It's no problem, I swear. So, do you remember the Dragon Race?" He asked, sitting down on the edge of the bed. I barely nodded. "Winning?" I nodded again, opening my mouth just enough for Hiccup to slip the spoon in.

I moaned at the taste and eagerly ate the next spoonful of the soup.

He chuckled, "Glad you like it. Well, right after you black out, Violet crashed into a wall- not being able to dodge without you and all- and you both went falling, well, to the ground." He kept feeding me as he spoke, and I was loving the soup, though being fed like that was really weird. "We rushed you and Violet to Gothi. Violet was fine, just worried about you. You, on the other hand, hit your head really hard in the well. You have a concussion, so no flying for the next few days. You bruised your wrist in the collision and scraped your other arm a bit, not too bad. Other than that, a few minor scrapes and bruises here and there. Oh, and you've been out all day."

By the time he finished explaining what happened, I had eaten most of the soup in the bowl and was able to grab a hold of it, myself. "Thanks, Hiccup," I thanked. "That explains a lot." I wolfed down the rest of the bowl, earning a chuckle from Hiccup.

"I'm so glad you're okay."

"Me, too. Can I have more soup? Please?" I showed him my empty bowl.

He took the bowl from me, but set it down next to the candle. "In a few minutes, let your stomach settle."

"But I'm still hungry!" I whined.

"And you were in two accidents in less than fifteen minutes and have been out all day because of it. You need to take it easy, and I'm going to make sure you do."

I frowned. ""Taking it easy" doesn't involve doing nothing but laying in this bed, does it?"

"No."

"Thank Thor," I sighed, leaning against the bed frame.

"It means staying inside and not moving around too much or doing any labor. And no flying."

"What? What about-"

"Not even slow, relaxing flights."

"But-"

"I mean it, Star. You could've gotten seriously hurt, or worse. You're lucky to be alive."

"Kind of an exaggeration, don't you think, Hiccup?"

"No. No, it's not. Starfire, people have died from accidents less severe than the one you were in. If you hit your head even just a smidge to the right, you would have died. Star, you're lucky to be alive."

"Come on, it can't be that bad," I tried.

"No, Star, it is. You're staying in this house for the next few days, and that's final." His firm, commanding tone softened as he pulled the blanket up. "Now, lay down. You need your rest."

"But what about my soup?" I complained, laying down anyways.

"Dad will be back soon. He had to step out to handle something. When he gets back, I'll wake you up so he can see you're alright. You can have more soup then. For now, just sleep." I nodded and closed my eyes.

"Hiccup?" I said softly, but it sounded normal in the silent room.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry for worrying you. I honestly didn't think it was that bad."

I felt his hand run through my hair. It was just like my dad and brother used to do. I smiled and relaxed into the soothing touch. "It's alright, Star. You can make it up to everyone by recovering properly."

"Okay," I mumbled, barely able to understand myself as sleep quickly took over.

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The following few days were a dull. I could barely go out to use the bathroom without Hiccup standing right outside the door (which made it very hard to do my business. It unnerved me). I could only eat soup, which I didn't mind since it was delicious. I couldn't stand longer than to get to point A to point B. I couldn't hold my head or wrist without Hiccup trying to take me back to Gothi or send a Terror Mail to her (which I wasn't able to stop him a few times). I could barely do anything!

After five days, I was about to lose it. I certainly would go mad if he didn't let me go for a flight, even just a slow one.

I sauntered down to breakfast to be greeted with the most wonderful phrase to ever be heard by any viking, dragon, or any other creature.

"Gothi said you're fine to go for a small flight today, so-" Hiccup didn't even get to finish before I was out the door. He had to drag me back inside, where I shoved breakfast down my throat without tasting it.

"Come on! Come on! Come on!" I bounced excitedly in place as Hiccup walked out of the house as slowly as he possibly could. "Hurry!"

He laughed, "I am. Calm down before you hurt yourself even more." After nearly a century of waiting, he climbed on Toothless. I jumped on Violet and took off the nanosecond I could.

Hiccup didn't let me do a single trick, but the flight did soothe my nerves. I wasn't used to going days without flying. Violet was as restless as I. Honestly, I was surprised Hiccup managed, but both Toothless and him seemed fine.

After the peaceful flight with the unwanted lack of action, he brought us back to the arena, where an excited gang rushed over.

"Starfire! Oh, thank Thor, you're alright!" Astrid exclaimed, hugging me.

"Star! Oh, it had been quiet without you," Ruffnut said.

"Yeah, not enough stories," agreed Tuffnut. "Oh, how I love your stories!" It was true, the gang had taken a liking to the stories I told of my life on the move.

"Yeah, you're stories are way better than trader Johann's stories," Snoutlout also agreed, spitting at the name.

"Who's-"

"A trader who is a friend to Berk but tells-" started Hiccup.

Snoutlout cut him off. "He tells these stupid stories that gets on everybody's nerves. He exaggerates everything. And every time he tells a stupid story, we nearly get killed!"

"Now who's exaggerating, Snoutlout?" hinted Fishlegs. "But I have to agree with the twins. Your stories are way better."

I blushed, "Awe, thanks, guys. So, what are we going to do today?"

"I was thinking an easy game of trivia about dragons. Sound fun?" Hiccup offered.

Snoutlout and the twins groaned as Astrid called Fishlegs and I as teammates.

"What about Hiccup?" I asked.

"He usually asks the questions and keeps tally," answered Fishlegs.

"Oh."

"Well, why don't we mix it up a bit? Let's let Starfire ask the questions. We'll probably all benefit from that," Hiccup suggested. Everyone quickly agreed.

I shook my head. "No. I don't even know how to play. I've never played before," I lied. I had goofed around with Bard, taking turns asking silly questions about dragons, going to find the answer if we didn't know or disagreed upon it.

Despite my declining, everyone insisted.

It was Astrid who came to my rescue. "How about we play a quick game with Hiccup asking the questions? After the first team gets twenty points, Hiccup and Star can switch places."

"I'm still not sure. I think I'll just sit this one out and watch," I tried. I didn't want to somehow ask the wrong question and turn my friends into enemies. I was happy to simply get along with them. I didn't want to come across as a know- it- all or- if they knew more than me- an idiot.

"We insist," Astrid continued, dragging me to the seats and the board that was already split into two for the two teams. "You'll catch on quick, trust me."

"Wait, how come she's on your team?" Tuffnut asked.

"Yeah, we want her on our team," declared Ruffnut.

"Your team already has three people," Fishlegs pointed out.

"Yeah, but none of us are that smart," Ruffnut actually said. My jaw dropped at her careless comment. While it seemed rather true to me, I still couldn't fathom how one could admit that. It seemed like something too embarrassing to say.

"It's not like I know much about dragons," I reasoned. "For all we know, I might drag you down."

"You know, sis, she makes a valid argument," Tuffnut said near her ear.

"Fine, but teams in the future might change depending on her skill."

"Now that that is taken care of, everybody ready?" Hiccup prepared.

Astrid and Fishlegs quickly got the twenty points needed to switch. I didn't even need to answer, despite me knowing the answer to every question. Snoutlout and the twins didn't even get one correct answer, even when they counted the Zippleback blast till the shot limit. The answer was six, though their answer of three proved they couldn't count.

I hesitantly walked to the board. Hiccup gave me an encouraging smile and pat on the shoulder as we passed each other, but I was still a bundle of nerves.

I gulped. "Uh, Typhoomerage shot limit?"

They all looked at each other then shrugged.

"Star, we haven't dealt with Typhoomerangs but a few times. We barely know anything about them," Hiccup admitted.

"Oh, um, eight, but it's also kind of a trick question."

"How?" asked Astrid. "Eight seems pretty straightforward to me."

"Well, Typhoomerangs eat eels, you know that, right?" I asked. They nodded. "Okay, so when they eat eels, it-"

"Gives them more shots!" Hiccup finished. "Like when Toothless ate that eel!"

My eyes widened. "Toothless ate an eel?" I asked. "Violet never goes near an eel. No dragons does, except Typhoomerangs. What happened?"

"Eel pox was spreading throughout the village, and an ingredient for the cure was an eel. So Toothless and I went to feel island to get an eel, and one ended up in his stomach. It made him really sick, but the cure for Eel pox (without the eel) fixed him right up," explained Hiccup.

"Interesting," I noted. It went silent before I was reminded to keep asking questions. "Oh, right, um, I don't know if you'll know the answer or not. Maybe Hiccup should-"

"Nonsense," Hiccup chuckled. "You're doing fine. And if you ask another question we don't know, then we'll learn something. Learning never hurt anyone."

"Depends on what you learn, actually," I denied.

"Just go on."

"Okay, um, how many eggs does a Night Fury usually lay?"

Hiccup perked up. "You've seen Night Fury eggs? Are there other Night Furies?"

"No, and not that I've seen. Toothless and Violet are the only two Night Furies I've seen. I was just curious and hoped that you knew the answer." Hiccup slouched in his seat, disappointed. "Sorry. Maybe I should stop-"

"You're fine, Star, just keep going," waved Astrid.

I asked four more questions before Fishlegs was able to answer. It was a pattern of a few answers unknown and a few answered. Even then, Hiccup and Fishlegs could only sometimes answer because of some fact they memorized from the Book of Dragons.

But once I started getting the hang of it, I relaxed and was actually enjoying myself and teaching them things about dragons that they didn't know.

It seemed my expertise was appreciated around here.

I might just belong here after all.

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