Coming back around

Astrid groaned, ears aching. She felt like someone had stuffed sheep wool so deep into her ears that it was in her mouth. Reaching up to feel them, she was relieved to find out that she could still hear, though everything rang slightly as it went through her damaged ears.

She next became aware that someone was holding her hand. Opening her eyes blearily, she saw Hiccup, fast asleep, but still clutching her hand comfortingly. One hand propped his head up, but it looked like he was going to collapse any second. 

What had hapened? The last thing she could remember was seeing a Thunderdrum, then passing out. Had Stormfly brought her back? 

Hiccup'd head fell out of his hand and he jerked awake. 

"Astrid!" he said excitedly. Then, noticing he was still holding her hand, he blushed and quickly let go. 

"You've been out for days now. I was starting to get really worried." His large green eyes still held concern for her. 

"What happened?" she moaned, clutching her painful ears. 

"How much do you remember?" Hiccup asked, seeming a little wary.

Screwing up her eyes, Astrid said, "Well, I landed in a cave. There was a Thunderdrum in there, and it roared at me. I guess I passed out," she admitted, embarassed.

"But what happened?" she asked, looking up again."Did Stormfly get me?" 

Hiccup glanced behind him. Until that point Astrid hadn't noticed the other person in the room. But now Rylan emerged from the shadows, grinning in an embarassed sort of way. 

Forgetting her pain and exhaustion, Astrid hauled herself out  of bed. 

"What is he doing here?" she demanded, glaring at Rylan. Her axe sat close by, and she was seriously considering diving for it when Hiccup replied,

"He saved you."

She blinked. Rylan shifted a little awkwardly, smiling at her. This Outcast boy had rescued her, maybe even saved her life? 

She swayed, shock now added to her natural unbalance. Hiccup caught her arm and she sat back on the bed. Rylan. He'd saved her from the dragon?

She looked down, red flooding to her cheeks. And she had only been out there to make him leave. Never had she considered that he might be the kind of person she now saw. Even though it was almost painful to get out, she muttered,

"I'm sorry." 

"What for?" Rylan asked, a little confused. 

"I... I was only out there to try to scare you off," she admitted, eyes fixed her left boot. 

To her and Hiccup's surprise, Rylan started chuckling. 

"Don't be sorry. I was about to come barreling into Berk anyway. You even helped me get in safely! But of course," he added hastily, seeing her eyes narrow, "I would have rescued you anyway."

She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. 

"So, what does your dad think?" she asked Hiccup. He shrugged.

"He still doesn't really trust him, but Rylan's getting the benefit of the doubt now. Pretty big step for dad," he aknowledged grudgingly. 

Rylan's blue eyes had narrowed on the word dad, but he shook it off.

Stoick had been nervous about letting an Outcast enter Berk, but he couldn't deny that Rylan had done a deed worthy of consideration. He wasn't allowed to fly without an escort, but otherwise, Rylan could do what he wanted. 

Jolt was in heaven. Toothless and he got along like they'd known each other for years, and Hiccup and Fishlegs went to see him almost every day. They'd even started a new chapter in the book of dragons for Pyrons. Jolt now had free reign of Berk and all the fish he could eat.

Sunlight split into the dark room as Stormfly nosed open the window. Her large horned head pushed through the gap, sniffing Astrid in concern. Astrid grinned, staggering up to greet her dragon. 

Hiccup and Rylan backed out of her room to give them some privacy. Stormfly clearly felt guilty about leaving her friend in the cave, and they needed time together. 

Rylan and Hiccup exited the dark house for the blinding sunlight. Toothless and Jolt were playing outside, chasing each other's tails. Jolt batted Toothless's fake tail, growling playfully. Toothless fell backwards onto him, legs waving wildly. 

Hiccup grinned, and called,

"Come on Toothless! Time to go home." 

The Night Fury raised his head, green eyes wide and pleading. Jolt threw a similar look at Rylan. Shaking his head as if he couldn't believe himself, Rylan said,

"Let's go flying instead. Jolt hasn't been flying with me for days!"

At his words, Jolt bounded over, tail swinging wildly. Toothless too raced over, coming to stand attentively next to Hiccup. Hiccup rolled his eyes in amusement and said,

"You always get the best of me bud. Come on then!"

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