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"Astid showed me it," Nova said, hoping that no one would freak out. There seemed to be an awful lot of drama with Hiccup's crew as of late.

Ashling scooted in a circle to watch. Bandernach crawled over to lay on her lap as she pulled a Sachle off her back and sheRymmaged around in it for food. She found a white onion and pulled it out, peeling off a thin layer with her teeth.

"What's that for, 'Ash?" Asked Hiccup. June walked up to Ash before she could answer. "Hey, I'm watching you! You make one move on him and I'll-" "That's enough of that!" Hiccup said, not wanting to start a fight between the two girls.

Ashling jumped up, her face red. She lookedsewhere between indignant and confused, and Thunderburn - who had landed - took a few steps toward her with a growl. Ashling darted over to him. "Hush, Burn, none of that, now," she told him before turning back to June. "I- I mean - that-" she paused, taking a breath and scuffing the rock. "l think you've misconstrued. I meant nothing of the sort. Hiccup's been my best friend for as long As I can remember - just keep that in mind." she turned back to the dragon, scratching him. After several moments the deep red shade retreated from her face and she looked at June again, holdin up the white onion. She smiled slightly. "Besides, eating onions isn't exactly good for picking guys up." she sat down, keeping her distance from June.

Now Hiccup had a big problem: He had three girls who liked him. Astrid wanted him BADLY. June thinks Hiccup loves her more then Astrid, and now Ashling was involved in all of this too. "Hey Nova!" Said June walking up to Nova. "Why don't you ask Hiccup if he'll help you gain the trust of your Night Fury?"

Carefully, Ashling crept back over to Hiccup. She looked at him through warm, sympathetic honey-hazel eyes. "Be careful," she told him under her breath. "I know I can't make choices for you, but..." sh shrugged.

"Ash, I've got this!" Hiccup said, frustrated. He brushed past Ashling and went to help Nova, changing into teacher mode a a snap. "You definitely have a bond, but you don't have total trust of each other. You need to know how to communicate. "

Ashling looked hurt, but wiped the expression away quickly and simply nodded, walking back over to Thunderburn. She leaped up on the Skrill's back, tapped his neck, and in response, he leaped off the edge and lifted into the air. She knew she didn't want to just leave, but all the same, she needed to bite her tongue and clear her head until she could think clearly... And not say something stupid.

••••••••••••••••••
Hiccup flopped down on his bed. His whole body ached. Why did i get myself roped into that? he asked himself. It felt good to be dragon training again, mentally of course, and at least he knew he was right in taking a break until he was healed. He heard the door downstairs open, then slam shut again. Hiccup sighed, knowing exactly who it was. "I'm up here, Ash!" He called.

She looked up, hesitating. The quadroceps in her legs suddenly pulsed, restless. She was inclined to leave. All the same, she shifted the satchel on her shoulder and walked up the stairs quietly, slowly moving the cloth out of the way. "How d'you feel?" she asked quietly. She already felt a bit awkward around him - she wondered if he had realized how she felt. He had a girlfriend and Ashling was less than eager to interfere. "I... I brought you some fennel and gingerroot if you're aching." he told him, pulling the bag off her shoulder and opening it.

"Gods, yes," Hiccup said, wincing as he sat up on his bed. "I hate not being able to train dragons without being reduced to this." He gestured to his sorry state.

Her gaze softened. "I know how you feel." he told him. "Remember that time I fell through the bank into the riverbed? Broke a few bones and couldn't move for weeks. You saved my life, Hiccup," she added, recalling the whole insident - the storm, the slipping, the lurch of her stomach as the ground fell away, and the searing pain as she plunged a few dozen feet into the sand. She walked over, sitting next to him on the bed.

(By the way, I just posted up Ashling's profile.)

(where?)
Hiccup smiled at the memory- one of the few helpful things he did before he became the 'hero'. "Hey, thanks for coming over, it's kinda nice for it to just be you and me," he said after a pause. "Like old times," he added.

(On the source.)

She smiled, wanting to hug him. "I missed that," she told him. "Ever since the whole dragon training thing, you've hardly been alone long enough for us to really... Talk, you know? I miss that time. Even though things were not as... Good for you. Honestly, I miss that. I miss when you would look for the night furies you never hit and had lunch with me. Then... You hit one. And dragon training... And..." she leaned back, staring at the ceiling.

'Yeah, me too. Everything just changed so quickly. But now, I actually have a place in the tribe, a role as the chief's son. You understand, right?" Hiccup looked down at Ashling.