The day had started off as ordinarily as any other. Night Terrors were singing placidly on the rooftop of Hiccup's Dragon's Edge residence, as Hiccup began to wake up. As the sunlight filtered through to Hiccup's brain he could only manage one thought, Gods I feel AWFUL. He managed to roll himself into a sitting position and as soon as he did his head began thumping with renewed vigour. He could practically feel the blood pumping through his brain, something that hurt a lot more than you would think. He drew his knees up to his chest and gripped his head with his hands. He pulled at his shaggy, russet locks in frustration, groaning as the pounding in his head increased in tempo. Along with the headache, his stomach was roiling as though he were on board a boat, or his stomach acids were tossing about like an ocean in a particularly violent storm. Both sources of pain crashed together in an agonizing crescendo as he became more awake. And the more he woke up the worse it got, until he was practically a walking vessel for pain. He groaned again as the pain washed over him. Toothless perked up in concern when he heard that. His rider hadn't been sick for quite a while, and he remembered clearly the last time his rider had been ill. Hiccup had to take every little thing to the next level, and sickness was included in that. While the other riders got a cold or even the flu, Hiccup had to come down with full on Eel Pox, and a chest infection to boot. He was bedridden for weeks, which made him a simply unbearable patient. No Toothless was definitely not looking forward to dealing with another bout of illness.
Hiccup stifled another moan of pain as he heard Toothless approaching his bed, concern apparent in the constant gentle warbles he kept voicing. "I'm okay. I'm okay Toothless. Just give me a minute to get myself together.' Hiccup mumbled into his knees. Toothless growled softly to let Hiccup know he wasn't going to be fooled so easily. Hiccup huffed a little when the Night Fury pinned him to the bed with one of his paws as he tried to rise from the bed. "Toothless, seriously I'm fine. Just a little under the weather is all.' Toothless did not look convinced in the slightest. Hiccup sighed as he pushed against his friend's heavy paw. Toothless however refused to budge. "Well if you're going to be all mother hen about it.' Hiccup said resignedly, with a hidden mischievous smile hovering about his chapped lips. Toothless nodded and plopped his head down on Hiccup's chest, just in case. His rider had a tricky habit of escaping and running off on him, and the other riders. "I guess I'm just gonna have to stay in bed all day. And that means we won't be able to go flying at all for the next…oh…few weeks. But I guess you're okay with that aren't you bud.' Toothless' ears had perked up at the word flying, but his spirits dropped when he heard the rest of the sentence. He ran the scenario around in his head for a moment, before grudgingly taking his head and paw off Hiccup's chest to allow him to stand. Hiccup's face burst into a brave smile, for his head and stomach were still waging war against each other. "Aww thanks bud. I knew you'd relent.' He smirked as Toothless threw him a look that clearly stated he wasn't happy about being talked into letting Hiccup out of bed, but he was excited at the prospect of flying. But before they left, after Hiccup had changed, he whacked Hiccup lightly around the side of the head with his tail fin. "Agh, Toothless!' Hiccup groaned indignantly, rubbing the side of his throbbing head.
Toothless warbled as though he were laughing. Hiccup mock scowled, but quickly stopped when moving his facial muscles made his headache increase a little. He sighed and attached his prosthetic to what was left of his left leg. He frowned slightly when he observed that his stump looked a little inflamed. He reached out and experimentally brushed his fingers against the red skin. A small hiss escaped his lips when his nerves growled in response to his touch. Damn it. Now he was going to have even more difficulty walking normally. Astrid was sure to notice him limping. And looking unwell. The girl had eyesight like a Night Fury. Seriously she could spot a Changewing a hundred metres away in pitch blackness. Okay, maybe that was an exaggeration, but she always knew when something was even the tiniest bit off when it came to Hiccup and his wellbeing.
Toothless started whining when he noticed the angry, swollen remainder of his friend's leg. He crept forward and gingerly sniffed at it. He instantly recoiled when a sickly, rotting smell reached his heightened smell receptors. Hiccup stared, baffled by Toothless' reaction to his leg. Sure it looked bad, (and felt it too, but there was no way he was going to openly admit that to anyone), but Toothless' reaction was almost way out of left field. The dragon was normally completely unfazed by Hiccup's amputated foot, so this was unusual to say the least. "Toothless?' Hiccup asked, extending a placating hand to his friend. Toothless however wasn't having it. He sheathed his teeth and snarled at Hiccup's leg. "Toothless? Seriously bud what is wrong with you?' Hiccup said, seriously confused by the reaction. Toothless even went so far as to approach, hissing and growling, looking prepared to take a bite out of Hiccup's leg. "Whoa bud, calm down!' Hiccup danced clumsily out of snapping distance and frowned down at Toothless, looking almost incredulous at the turn of events. Toothless had the grace to look a little shame faced when Hiccup moved back out of reach. He gazed up into Hiccup's face and saw the frown that shadowed his slightly glazed, emerald eyes. He lowered his head and gave his best 'forgive me' face. His pupils dilated so they nearly engulfed his viridian irises.
Hiccup visibly relaxed as he took in Toothless' puppy dog eyes and sorrowful demeanour. "Ahh it's okay bud. You're just worried about me, aren't ya?' Toothless purred in response and gently approached Hiccup's outstretched palm. He bumped his head softly against it and remained in contact for a few seconds. Hiccup felt calm as the dragon's warmth flooded through his hand and up his arm. When Toothless drew back, Hiccup continued on with his task of attaching his prosthetic, now trying to accomplish this as painlessly as he could. It was harder than it sounded. Every bump, jostle and knock produced a burning sensation that made him cringe. Finally the prosthetic was attached and he was ready to stand up. This also became a challenge. As he soon discovered, putting even the smallest amount of pressure caused the swelling to abruptly rebel, causing the burning to intensify, creating a very unwelcome addition to Hiccup's growing list of ailments. Walking today was going to be an absolute nightmare.