"I'm Here"

Hiccup's POV

After Krogan was gone, Hiccup rushes over to Krystal. The girl was crying, gripping her wounded leg as tears streamed down her face. Hiccup wraps his arms around her, careful with her leg.

"Hiccup..." Krystal whimpers.

"Shh, shh. It's okay. I'm here. I'm here." Hiccup soothes, running one of his hands through Krystal's dark hair. He hadn't realized how tense he had been until he notices his vision go blurry from escaping tears. Hiccup had feared that he was going to lose Krystal forever. As the thought went through his mind, Hiccup tightens his embrace, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall.

"Mrrow?" Hiccup looks up at the soft purr to see Shadow standing over them, looking at Krystal in worry. His once-red scales had dulled to a faint yellow, his amber eyes no longer filled with hatred and fury. Hiccup looks down again and finds Krystal asleep in his arms. He doubted that she had gotten much sleep while being held captive.

"She'll be okay." Hiccup reassures the dragon, who nuzzles the boy.

"Hiccup!" Astrid and the rest of the gang appears, running towards them.

"Is Krystal..." Fishlegs stops upon seeing Krystal unconscious in Hiccup's arms.

"She's fine. She's just asleep." Hiccup replies. Astrid gasps upon seeing the girl's injury and crouches next to the two, immediately starting to tend to the wound. Krystal hisses involuntarily in her sleep, causing Hiccup to subconsciously pull her closer. Once Astrid finishes with Snotlout's help (much to the rest of the gang's surprise), Hiccup and Astrid gently lay Krystal in the stretcher the twins quickly created from materials lying around. It was big enough for Krystal to lie in safely while the dragons carried her. Hiccup squeezes Krystal's hand once more before leaving to mount Toothless. The boy leans down and whispers into her ear.

"Don't worry, Krystal. I'm here. I'm not going to let anything happen to you. Not now, not ever."