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"Hey Fishlegs?" Heather called. They were now walking, with their dragons, in one of the islands near Berk to search and retreive the ingredients they needed for Astrid's illness.

"Yes Heather?" Fishlegs turned towards her, averting his attention from the different kinds of rocks that he was telling Meatlug.

"Just out of curiosity, I was wondering... what exactly is the Eel Pox?" She asked. "I know that we're searching for the Eel Pox Cure to help with Astrid and all but I've never heard of such sickness in our island before."

Behind them, Snotlout could be heard wailing, "This is why I never want to get stuck with these pairings ~ and this time it happened to be Heathlegs. Ugh!" He faked gag. "Why even bother asking Fishface when we all know that I am the answer to your questions?" He flexed his "muscles" and pointed to himself. "And if you needed to know anything, come to Snotlout, maybe he could help."

"Oh, is that so?" Heather eyed him, thinking.

"Yeah."

"Then what is the answer to my question?" Heather challenged, crossing her arms.

"I don't know. I said maybe, didn't I?"

"And that is the reason why Fishlegs was the one that I asked."

"Whatever." Snotlout scoffed. "Hookfang and I will go this way and look for whatever we're looking for." He escorted his dragon to the opposite side of where Fishlegs is heading, mumbling words to himself.

Heather was debating whether she should stop him or not. It wasn't a wise idea splitting up because that often leads to trouble, but the island they were in was nearby Berk. It wasn't like Snotlout hasn't gone here before. Plus, they've travelled into the great beyond already. Surely, Snotlout can handle himself. If he handled himself well at the Edge then he should be able to do that here too. There's also the fact that whether they stayed together or split up, they were always prone to trouble. In the end, she let Snotlout leave. They would easily find him anyway.

"As I was saying, what exactly is an Eel Pox?"

"Well, the Eel Pox is a dangerous disease that affects both humans and dragons. Its symptoms include the chills, violent sneezing, coughing, and paleness in the skin. It also causes delutions that makes people out of character. After drinking the soup or the cure, it would take about two or three days and then everything is back to normal." He started. "However the effects are much worse in dragons."

"Oh." Was all that Heather said. It was much worse with dragons. That means that if Astrid needed the soup, then it would be easier to cure her. She's not a dragon, she's human. "So I guess that Astrid will be all fine considering that the Eel Pox
Cure is included in the list. If an Eel Pox can be cured in about two or more days, Astrid will be back to herself in no time."

"I think you don't quite get it Heather." Fishlegs said and the said girl knitted her brows in confusion. "If Astrid needed the cure for the Eel Pox ~ a dangerous disease as I mentioned earlier ~ as a part of the ingredients needed for whatever sickness she has then that means it's a more serious problem. The Eel Pox cure and the Buffalord saliva mixed with the green substance ~ the cure for the Scourge of Odin, the sickness that could make you a goner in about three moon cycles ~ were only almost half of all the ingredients." Fishlegs didn't explain in an arguing tone, he was talking with his panicky voice, speaking quickly. Worry and panick evident in his tone.

But that doesn't excuse him from being so negative. "One's illness isn't measured by the ingredients needed Fishlegs." Heather stated. "I was the one who visited Astrid earlier and I saw her. I saw my best friend sleeping peacefully. She look a little pale but that was all of it, she doesn't even have a fever or anything. Astrid is fine. She will be fine." She convinced.

"We all know that Astrid is strong Heather. She has faced both sickness (the Scourge and the Eel Pox) before and she got through it but her condition is not even half of what she must be going through right now. If what you said is true, then that means that the sickness must be affecting him on the inside ~ and it's much more dangerous when no signs are being shown."

His words made Heather stop at her tracks. Noticing this, Fishlegs headed further in the island to search and left Heather with her thoughts. Windshear stopped beside her Rider.

Heather saw Astrid with her own eyes. Astrid will be fine. Heather knows she will. She convinced herself. But if what Fishlegs said was true? What if the sickness was attacking Astrid on the inside? It was not fair.

"I hope she's alright, Windshear." Her dragon nuzzled her, giving comfort.

She was worried. Very worried. She doesn't know what will or may happen. She lose her family once she didn't want her best friend to... to... No! She wouldn't dare say it. Astrid will get better and Heather is going to help her make that statement a reality.

She walked towards where Fishlegs headed with Windshear. "Goid job, Meatlug! Here's a dozen of rocks for a dozen of Rock Blossoms." Heather approached him as Meatlug started munching on his treats.

"Look Heather," Fishlegs started, "I'm sorry if I sounded so negative but I was just stating the facts. I know Astrid and if anyone is capable of surving anything, it's Astrid. She's one of the most stubborn Vikings I know so even if Odin did want her to join him in Valhalla, I'm sure she would defy him and stay here with us."

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Hiccup Haddock. What brings you here to our island? And where your other companions?" Mala greeted the dragon riders. The visit surprised her but she welcomed them gladly nonetheless.

"Mala, we're sorry for dropping by unannounced but we need your help." Hiccup said determinedly.

Mala furrowed her brows, taking the matter more seriously. She noticed that Hiccup Haddock was extra-stern today and determined. Even the boy and girl sibling that were with him weren't as hyper as usual. They were still bantering in the background but she knows that was not the best they could do. Whatever hapoend has somehow affected them. That must also be the reason why the riders were not all present. "What seems to be the problem?"

"It's about Astrid ~ " before Hiccup could continue, Throk interrupted him with a gasp.

"Are you asking us to help you in wooing your lady?"

Hiccup's frown deepened. "I wish that was the case Throk." He sighed. "Unfortunately, Astrid has some kind of this rare illness she got from the Crimson-Blue Flora but it wasn't the only problem. Her wound has gotten infected by the poison of the Wing of Death."

"I am sorry to hear that." Hiccup heard Throk say.

At first, Hiccup hesitated whether on telling Mala about the Wing of Death, but he figured out that giving her that detail was important. Who knows? Maybe she could tell them a quicker way to cure it.

"Despite this unfortunate situation, I assume that you must be releived right now that confirmation and assurance has been granted to you." Mala told him. Confirmation and assurance? What was she talking about?

"Judging by the puzzled look on your face, I suppose you don't know, do you?" Hiccup shook his head.

"The only thing that the healer gave us was the list of ingredients for the cure, how she got ill, and that she was hallucinating the reason why she doesn't want to be around us."

"Well, stories of the Crimson-Blue Flora was heard around these parts of the island back when I was younger. I suggest you find the answer to that yourself." Mala said.

"What do you need our help with?" Throk asked and Mala nodded in agreement with the question.

Hiccup handed Mala the scroll with the list of ingreduents so she could see it herself. Throk stood behind her to see it as well. "The list includes Snapdragons and we don't know where to find it. We know where to find almost all of the ingredients except that and the Purple Oleander."

"Ah, very well. We will help with whatever we can." Mala gave the scroll back to Hiccup. "Throk and I will come with you for company."

"Thank you Mala, you don't know how much this means to us." Hiccup said earnestly.

"We were happy to help, especially for Astrid." Mala said. She and the Berkian Warrior had been close since the riders' last visit in Caldera Cay. Mala respected such tough ladies like Astrid and Heather who were still young yet blossoming into graceful warriors.

She noticed the closeness of Hiccup and Astrid back then, and always hoped that they would be together someday. So despite how serious the sitiation was, Mala couldn't help but feel happy at how much the two cares for one another. She hoped that she would find her man someday.

It was foretold that a man from afar would come into her rescue, and it was definitely not Snotlout, she hoped that dah would come sooner too. Even if here subjects were strong and loyal, she still needed someone to help her lead. Being a leader was not an easy job after all. But if that moment never happen, it will still be alright. A woman can stand alone and hold her pack on her own. It will be much harder, but manageable nonetheless. She's been doing that for years, she can do it over again.

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"Buckthorn root?"

"Check."

"Dozen Rock Blossoms?"

"Check."

"Handful of Goatweed?"

"Check."

"One Wild Dagga Plant?"

"Check."

Searching feom island to island, they finally found the items needed. It took them some time to find the ingredients than expected ~ mainly because some Ingerman forgot his way saying that three years have fast since his last search for the said items. On the other hand, Heather didn't know whether Snotlout had made them slower or quicker; Slower because of his constant flirting, whiningm and complaing while qhicker when he tripped over himself and found the Wild Dagga Plant which was the second to the last item on the list.

"That's about all of it, we just have one more ingredient missing." Heather said securing the ingredients in her saddlebag before asking Windhear to fly.

"Bloodvein Eel..." Fishlegs shuddered. "I know you don't like them girl, neither do I." He patted his dragon to relax.

Snotlout rolled his eyes. "Scaredycats."

"Snotlout, dragons don't deal greatly with eels." Fishlegs reminded. "Except for Typhoomerangs." He added.

"Whatever. Hookfang and I can handle it."

Heather flew betweem them for separation but that didn't stop them from throwing words at each other. This is gonna be along ride...

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"Mom? Is that you?" Astrid asked hearing the creaking sound of her door.

"Yes, sweetie. It's me." Hiccup's voice answered. She wondered what would it be like if Hiccup actually have an endearment for her. Would it make her heart flutter like her always told her?

Technically, Hiccup called her "m'lady" one Snoggletog after giving him his cup of Yaknog that she made. Will Hiccup ever call her that again?

Her thoughts were brought back to reality as Helka placed the soup on her nightstand. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine Mom."

"Are you sure?"

"Mom, do you not trust me?"

Helka sighed. "Very well darling, just take this soup and rest, alright? I'll be off with Gothi to prepare the ingredients for the cure."

"Speaking of ingredients, what are the things needed for me to heal? She asked. She wasn't really paying attention earlier while Gothi was scribbling down and constantly smacking Gobber. She could hear the faint "ouch" muttered by the Blacksmith but she barely understands a thing from whatever anyone was saying.

Her head was ponding hard at her that the words coming out of their mouth didn't process in her brain. But still, the pain wasn't enough to keep her from acting that she was listening and that her head wasn't being hit continuously by Thor's mighty hammer.

She manage to fake it all well until the adults left and her mother bid her goodbye. When the door closed, she didn't try to stop herself from wincing and from clutching her chest. She kept tossing in bed and not a single position made her feel comfortable.

Her trying ~ but failing miserably ~ to ease the pain only stopped when her mother had brought her soup because she has to keep the normal act again. Fortunately for her, a few minutes after eating the soup, she easily fall asleep. And thankfully the pain went away.

"You didn't know?" Helka asked surprised.

"I wasn't really paying attention. I tried to but I couldn't ~ with all of you turning Hiccup I find it hard to listen and look." She wasn't lying. She did find it weird hearing Hiccup's voice overlapping and being surrounded with a bunch of them.

"Don't worry aboug it, dear. We'll deal with it." Helka said. "Anyway I'm off now. Have a good night and if you need me, send your dragon okay?"

Astrid nooded and her mother kissed her forehead.

She heard the closing sound of the door and a few minutes passed before she decided to eat her soup. Honestly, she didn't really feel like eating. She just felt tired. But if she want to get well, then eating is the key. So forcing herself, she ate the soup.

She was halfway in finishing it when she realized that she couldn't take it. No. The next thing, she found herself looking for a pail in the house to hold the content threatening to spill of her mouth.

The liquid was bitter with a hint of the soup in them. Gross. Astrid never like throwing up. It made her lost her appetite even more. When she was dine, she went back to bed and muttered an apology for not being able to finish the soup.

"I'm okay girl, don't worry." She assured the Nadder and asked her to leave the house to get some fresh air. Stormfly might be a dragon but she's not dumb. Astrid knew she would summon her mother in an instant if she detects something was wrong.

She was about to go to sleep when she felt that the corners of her mouth wet. She made a disgusting look before wiping it with her hands. But instead of disgust, she found herself staring wide-eyed at the fluid.

Blood.

Hope you like it :)

Sorry for the late update. I know I said next week last week which is this week but I wasn't expecting to update on a Thursday. It was actually planned last Sunday but wifi problems had me change the schedule.

So as some of you guys have been wondering... Yes, we already have classes and it started on Janhary 03, 2018. I'm from the Philippines so classes here start differently from some of you guys. And yes, the last chapter was updated at about 5:00 am in the morning before I went to school. I hope that answer your questions.

Anyway, school was tiring and busy but I'll do my best to update once a week for this story. Thank you guys for the support, votes, comment and reads that I have been getting. I really appreciate it.

Have a nice day/night. And in case you don't, tomorrow will be a better day.

Love y'all!