My eyes were open the entire time I was lying on the ground next to the dead Speed Stinger, but I saw only a blurry figure. Time felt like it wasn't passing at all. I couldn't even tell if I was cold.

A shadow fell over my eyes.

Just kill me now. I deserve it.

A hand wrapped underneath my right arm and pulled me semi-upright. I watched impassively as the dead Speed Stinger slowly receded. My boot and peg were making a pair of furrows in the snow as I was dragged along to some place for my judgment.

Whoever was dragging me brought me into a house with a roaring fire. I was thrown into a chair just before a face appeared inches in front of me. I couldn't focus on who it was, but I knew this person was somewhat heavy-set with a yellowish mustache hanging over the sides of his mouth.

The Viking said something, but I only saw his mouth moving.

"Hiccup," he said, a little more urgently this time.

I heard it but didn't comprehend anything. He sounded like he was a mile away and underwater. He waved a blurry hand in front of my face. I couldn't move anything in response.

He stood and walked away from me, seemingly giving up for now. His left hand was missing. In its place was a pair of large forceps. A small part of my mind defogged as I realized who this person was.

Gobber had pulled me away from that nightmare. He brought me to a house somewhere on Berk and was taking care of me for now.

My mind and body slowly began working over what seemed like hours.

It started with my skin. I felt the warmth from the fire in the hearth as it fought off the cold aura surrounding me. My hands and the right side of my torso burned fiercely as they thawed from being exposed to the snow.

My eyes were next. The wooden floor beneath me slowly lost its blurriness. I found my peg and focused on the plate attached to it.

My ears followed. I heard my breathing gradually fade into existence, followed by the crackling of the fire nearby.

My nose was last, as I smelled a thick, coppery odor that wouldn't leave.

I tried to take a deep breath, and my lungs seized. I keeled over in pain and collapsed on the floor with an agonized groan. The impact to my shoulder jarred me just enough to help me focus.

"Hiccup!" Gobber shouted from somewhere nearby. He picked me up by the arm again and sat me down in the same chair. "Hiccup, talk to me!"

I pulled in a breath, but when I tried to say something, a voiceless rush of air came out of my mouth. I couldn't move my lips to act like I was trying to talk.

From somewhere to my right, a girl's voice rang throughout the house. "Gobber, what happened to Hiccup?" It sounded like Astrid.

Gobber glanced in her direction. "I think he killed a dragon."

I blinked, voluntary movement slowly coming back to me. My eyes focused on Gobber. I looked directly at him, as if I were affirming what he told Astrid.

"T-Too..." I whispered, trying my hardest to enunciate so that Gobber heard me.

He looked at Astrid and asked, "Where's Toothless?"

"Near his house, not moving. Is... is he dead?" she asked.

"See if you can get him over here," Gobber answered.

Astrid didn't say anything, only slamming the door shut behind her.

Gobber refocused his attention on me and said, "Come on, Hiccup. Look at me. I'm not gonna ask you what happened out there." He motioned with his hand in the general direction of my house. "Just tell me you're gonna be okay."

I nodded slowly, a single tear escaping my eye and running down my face.

"I don't know how long you and Toothless were out there, but you almost died from the cold," he told me.

At that moment, the door flew open with a loud bang.

Gobber looked in that direction and said, "Astrid's got Toothless with her."

Astrid coaxed Toothless inside. He gave a low groan as he half-dragged himself toward the hearth, following Astrid's lead. He collapsed with his head just barely in my peripheral vision. His body was wracked with violent shivers, and he had almost no control over his breathing.

For a brief moment, I wondered why Toothless wasn't himself out there. Why didn't he rush in to protect me like he always did?

"Lock the door, Astrid!" Gobber shouted in her direction. She shut the door and latched it.

"I've never seen him so lost," Astrid stated as she stepped toward us. "Toothless was wandering around like he was looking for a place to die."

My shoulders slumped.

From somewhere else in the house, a voice asked, "Is that Baster Hiccub?"

After a few seconds, I realized it was Johann, and he was trying to ask, Is that Master Hiccup? His nose sounded like it was sealed, as if it was broken.

Both Astrid and Gobber looked away from me.

"Yes," Astrid announced. "And no, you're not going to bother him."

"Oh, dat's too bad. I was sure he'd warb ub listeding to how I-"

"Johann, stop!" Astrid shouted at him. "Just leave him alone!"

Astrid knelt in front of me with a worried look on her face. She paused for a beat then whispered, "Hiccup, you're the bravest person I've ever met."

I tried to thank her. But something shut my throat, and all I could do was close my eyes. I felt another tear roll down my cheek. Astrid brushed it away. She was going to look after me, even though I somehow remembered her dragon was in more danger than I was.

Astrid pulled a chair up next to me. She sat down and put her hand on my right knee without saying a word. It didn't take long for her to wrap her arms around my chest in a hug. Just like Toothless, she was going to be there when I needed her most.

I felt a brief glimmer of warmth from Astrid, like a distant candle in the darkness. My shoulders relaxed a little, and I immediately fell asleep from exhaustion.