Astrid's P.O.V.

I woke up in my bed, a pair of crutches leaning against the wall next to me. I sat up and grabbed the sticks before standing and positioning them under my arms. I then made my way to the door. I carefully moved down the stairs before seeing my parents in the kitchen. Mom's eyes widen.

"Where'd you get those?" she asks. 

I shrug before Ryder walked in.

"Oh, I made 'em last night," he says casually, "They feel okay? Right size?"

I nod before sitting at the table for a rest. Dad then took one and examined it. He let out an impressed whistle.

"Gothi would never have given her anything as nice and sturdy as this," he murmured, "Probably the best we could get from her are a couple of sticks."

"You say you made them?" Mom asks.

"Yeah. I like making things. I actually made my leg. I don't mean to brag but it's a lot easier to walk on than a plain old peg," he says.

"Well you did a fine job. What are these carvings?" Dad asks, running his finger over the wood.

"Well, um... I took the liberty of putting a few Deadly Nadders on them," Ryder says.

"Why?" Mom asks.

"I see it as her spirit dragon," Ryder said.

"Spirit dragon?" Mom repeated.

"Yeah. It's like a spirit animal but it's the type of dragon that's supposed to protect you," Ryder explains.

"Protect?" Dad says in shock.

"Yes sir," Ryder says.

"Oh, well... I suppose people have a right to believe different things," Mom says uncertainly, "If you believe that dragons can protect things other than themselves, I guess it's not our place to judge."

"I couldn't have said it better, Ingrid," Dad said, "Ryder, I'd love to hear more about these spirit dragons."

"Sven, don't you think we should be heading to breakfast?" Mom asked.

"I can tell you about them tonight, I guess," Ryder said.

"Sure! We can all gather in the living room after sunset," Dad suggested and Ryder and Mom nodded in agreement. They then walk for the door, pausing as they realize I'm not following. "Are you coming, honey?" Dad asked. 

I shake my head.

"Do you need some help?" Mom asks.

I shake my head quicker before getting situated with the crutches and moving to the stairs.

"Sweetie? Want us to bring you some chicken?" Mom asks. I spin around in exasperation before pointing at the door with a crutch.

"Don't raise that crutch to us," Dad scolds jokingly.

I smirk with a roll of my eyes before trying to climb the stairs. I heard the door close and when I was about half way up the staircase, I started to loose my balance. I let out a yelp as my body started tipping backwards. Right when I was sure I was about to break my back, someone caught me in a pair of strong arms. I looked around in confusion before seeing Ryder's masked face.

"I think I'll stick around until you get used to the crutches," he says as he carries me, bridal style, to the top of the stairs. When we're there, he gently sets me down and I lean on the wall as he retrieves the crutches. He gives them to me and helps me get situated before I go down the hall. He follows me, pausing in the doorway as I go into my room. "Am I allowed in here?" he asks. I look at him over my shoulder before shrugging. I sit on my bed and pull my ax out from under my bed before taking my sharpening rock from the night table. "An ax. Powerful with the right training," Ryder said as he sat at my desk. I glanced at him without saying anything. He suddenly looked out the window. "Ah, crap," he muttered, "Hey, I'll be right back. Do me a favor and don't try to tackle the stairs until I'm back." With that he walked out the door and I heard his foot steps fade down the hall.

"Ugh, I thought he'd never leave," I mutter, my voice hoarse.

"Why don't you like him?"

"I just think it's a little strange that he insists on wearing his mask all the time."

"He saved you like four times since yesterday. Six times since last week."

"How do you figure?"

"He's the guys from the cave, idiot."

"He followed me?"

"I dunno. You should ask him what brings him to Berk."

"I'm not saying anything to him. Once I do, he'll join the rest of the village and make me glad I don't talk."

"Shut up, he's coming back!"

My head shoots toward the door to see Ryder walk through. "That guy is helpless when it comes to taking care of himself, I swear," he muttered. I put my ax back under my bed before attempting to stand up. 

Ryder shot forward and helped me to my feet before I staggered out into the hall and to the steps. He suddenly took my crutches and picked me up bridal style again before carrying me down the stairs. He set me back down and gave me the crutches again. I nodded in acknowledgement and went to the front door. He opened it and held it open for me. I nodded again before lowering myself down the two steps and going toward the forest.

"Are you going to the forest?" Ryder asked, walking after me.

I nod.

"I din't think that's safe for someone with a broken leg," he says.

I sigh in annoyance.

"You should listen to him. He's trying to help."

I don't need someone to help me. It's just a leg. I then paused before moving my crutches to one hand and easing myself onto my broken leg. I held back a cry of pain and got back on my crutches before continuing to the trees.

3 weeks later

I ease my weight onto my leg and am surprised to feel normal. Ryder was still staying with us, claiming that his friend in the forest needed a longer break from traveling. He'd started helping Gobber in the forge and even had me on physical therapy to help my leg heal quicker. It felt weird to have him touching my leg every night but I have to admit, it probably did help it heal faster. I sat down on the steps of the porch and layed my crutches next to me.

"Okay, ready to get that splint off?" Ryder asks, jogging up to the house. I looked at him in confusion. "You can stand on it can't you?" he asks, sitting next to me. He then pulled my leg into his lap and untied the ropes before taking the sticks off, making me hiss in slight pain as the wood peeled away from my skin. When the pressure of the splint was released, my calf cramped, making me yelp. Ryder quickly wrapped his hands around the muscle before digging his fingers into the muscle to loosen it. "Is that better?" he asked and I nod. He massaged it for a minute more before putting it down to look at it at a normal angle. He then stood up before extending a hand to me. "Why don't you try walking?" he suggests and I take his hand before he pulls me to my feet. I took a few steps, my muscle feeling like a noddle. I smiled as I picked up speed and balance. Soon, I was running through the village, gaining speed with every stride. It felt so good to run again, feeling the wind in my hair, my clothes pressed against my body. 

"To the forest!"

You read my mind!

I swerved around vikings and carts before reaching the tree line and bursting into the undergrowth. I haven't been in the forest since Ryder didn't think I was ready. I'd stumbled a lot that day I tried to go with my crutches. I slowed to a jog before sliding to a stop as I saw a flash of black in the bushes. As I stared, a black-scaled half-tail swung above the branches.

"I've never been more happy to have a hallucination," I say with a scoff, cringing at the sound of my voice. I ignored the tail and run through the forest before coming to the cliff that Hiccup saw me run off. I walked to the edge and looked down at the pointed rocks. Memories flashed through my mind, making me wonder why he would suddenly start caring about what I saw, when I saw it, and what I thought.

"Whatcha thinkin' about?" a voice asks and I spin around to see Ryder walking toward me from the tree line.

I shrugged.

"I see you've been containing your energy a little too long, huh?" he said with a chuckle.

I grabbed my arms in embarrassment.

"Why don't you tell me your name?" he asks, growing closer.

I looked at him in confusion. Hadn't he asked my parents? He smirked and I guessed he understood what I was thinking.

"Yes, your parents told me, but I want to hear it from your own mouth."