Treehouse Secrets

Mystery Rider

Stargazer flew straight up and disappeared into the clouds.

'Go.' Astrid smiled and whispered to herself.

Blasts were being shot, left, right and center. When suddenly the large dragon was spotted plummeting to the ground, head first.

The explosion rippled so far it almost caused everyone to topple over.

The chief ordered everyone to return to Berk, taking his son with him.

Astrid looked around for Oakley but couldn't find her anywhere and hoped she had flown back to Berk.

***

Astrid had just punched Hiccup for scaring her. Toothless had to hold him up as he hadn't quite gotten used to his prosthetic leg.

The blonde viking quickly spun around as a familiar dragon landed behind her.

'StarGazer?!' She panicked as she saw that the dragon had come alone. 'Oh no!' She quickly mounted the Stormcutter, leaving without a word.

Her Nadder followed them closely as Hiccup threw his new saddle on Toothless and quickly flew in the same direction, but not before Stoick joined him to see what was going on.

***

Astrid rushed to Oakleys side, dropping to her knees. The brunette viking lay on the grass below her tree house, bruised and battered and covered with blood. She had three large gashes on the left side of her chest, and blood pouring from the back of her head. She was covered with dirt and ash. Her skin was white and ice cold, her breath raspy and her heart barely beating. Astrid quickly did her best to cover the gash on her head to slow the bleeding.

Toothless soon landed behind them, Stoick and Hiccup both slid off Toothless and rushed to the young girls side. Hiccup toppled over and shuffled closer.

'How did this happen?!' Stoick bellowed.

Hiccup and Stoick both looked towards Astrid as Hiccup had been unconcious during the last part of the battle.

'She must have gotten caught in the explosion.' Astrid tried desperately to contain her tears.

'You're telling me, she was the mystery rider?' Stoick scowled.

Astrid nodded, looking back down at the bruised girl in her arms.

'She saved us all?' Hiccup said.

The other riders all landed at the scene.

'Go get Gothi!' Hiccup ordered.

'Meet at my hut!' Astrid added.

'Now!' Stoick bellowed.

Snotlout and Fishlegs both turned back immediately to fetch the healer. The twins groaned before joining them.

Stoick scooped his daughter in his arms placing her on her dragon and holding her in place as Astrid mounted behind her. He would have flown with her himself, but StarGazer wasn't familiar with the large chief, so he rode with Hiccup and Toothless and Stormfly followed along behind.

***

Stoick had gathered everyone in the great hall to explain the situation to his people as many were curious about the mystery girl.

Astrid and her mother stood in the main room of their hut with Hiccup, who was sat down. He soon stood as Gothi emerged from Astrid's bedroom.

'Is she gonna be okay?' Hiccup asked.

Gothi nodded and began listing her injuries, explaining that she had a severe concussion and had lost a lot of blood, though all her wounds had been stitched up, meaning she will most likely feel weak, dizzy and nauseous when she awoke. Also stating that she may experience some memory loss due to her head injury. She told them her hands should heal by themselves.

She advised that the young girl should take it easy for a few days and that she should have someone with her at all times until she was feeling better.

'Can we see her?' Astrid asked.

Gothi nodded.

Astrid rushed in then ran back to aid Hiccup into the room. Astrid's mother stood by the door. Oakley laid on Astrid's bed, wearing one of Astrid's night tunics, a blanket up to her waist, her ruined clothes piled in the corner of the room. With StarGazer laid in another.

***

They sat by her side for a few hours before they noticed the room getting darker.

'You should head home, Lad.' Astrid's mother suggested to young Hiccup.

Hiccup shook his head.

'Hiccup, you're exhausted. Go get some sleep.' Astrid ordered.

'We'll stay with her and come and get you if she wakes up.' Her mother added, lighting the torches to keep the room lit.

He nodded before slowly exiting the room, still wobbly on his new leg.

When the door to the hut closed behind him, Astrid finally let go, bursting into tears. Her mother approached and held her daughter tightly as she sobbed hysterically in her mother's arms.

A few hours passed and Astrid was officially cried out. She held Oakleys fingers gently stroking them with her thumb, trying to avoid holding her sore hand. Her skin still cold as ice.

She used her other hand to gently sweep the brunette's bangs away from her face. She leaned in and gently kissed the top of her scar. She had already told her mother all about Oakley so wasn't concerned that she was in the room.

Her head shot up as she felt Oakleys grip tighten on her hand.

***