Between Waves and Clouds

PART 3 - FROM A WORLD TO ANOTHER

A whine from Pouncer brought him out of his thoughts. Frost was naked and seemed unconscious, he surely was freezing ! Nuffink quickly pulled off his furr cloak and wrapped it around the boy, he could feel his cold body through the furs, he was really cold ! He had to warm him up and fast ! He took him in his arms and lifted him before climbing back on Pouncer's saddle, and the dragon didn't wait to fly away, heading back to the drakkar.

On the way, Nuffink rubbed Frost's shoulders, hoping to warm him up a bit, but he felt like the merman – or ex-merman ? – was stealing all his warmth without absorbing it. When they finally got back to their base, Pouncer lit up the fire settled on the edge of the boat. Nuffink brought Frost to the hold and quickly changed the fur around him. Not only did the white-haired boy was cold, but also soaked wet. Nuffink used the blanket from his bed to wipe and dry his friend, so freaked out he didn't pay attention to his beautiful naked body. He had to focus, this was an emergency !

While drying him and puting on him dried and warm clothes, he got bothered by some kind of staff Frost was holding in his hand. It looked like a shepherd staff... He tried to pull it out but not to avail. The merman was stronger than he looked, he was clutching the staff as if his life depended on it. Nuffink gave up and wrapped another fur around him before carrying him to the bridge and laying him in front of the fire. Instinctively, the three dragons circled them and used their wings to shield them from the wind and keep in the warmth.

Nuffink smiled and thanked them before turning back to Frost, staring at him while biting his nails. He wasn't seeing any change, the merman didn't seem to react to the heat from the fire. He put a hand on the pale cheek and forehead, noting how the skin was cold, still he got the impression that he was less cold than when he had found him. He stared at his face and calmed down.

Frost was breathing calmly and steadily, he seemed just asleep. He was not choking nore suffocating or something. Nuffink hovered a bit, then he bent and pressed his ear on the merman's chest. It was chilly, he could feel it through the cloth and fur, but most of all he could hear his heart. It was beating steadily and slowly. Not slowly like someone in hypothermia would do, just like someone sleeping.

It relieved him to an extend he couldn't even quantify. He sat back up and gently ran his fingers through the snowy hair. When he brushed the chilly ear, he noticed how it had changed. It was no longer the fin-like merman ear, but a perfectly human one, though it seemed a bit big compared to the head. The viking smiled, amused, it made the boy look younger.

While staring at him, admiring him, Nuffink also noticed there were three lines on each side of the boy's neck. If he had not known Frost as a merman, he would have thought it was scars, though he did know it had been gills. He guessed other scars like these adorned the boy's ribs.

Nuffink kept on stroking the white hair, wondering how Frost had managed to become human. A crazy thought came into his mind, wondering if it had something to do with the shepherd staff he was still holding in his sleep. Well, how much crazy this could be in the whole situation ? After all, a month ago, he was still there was no such thing as mermaids.

* * *

He freaked out. After ten hours, what had looked like a peaceful sleep had turned worrisome again. Frost wasn't waking up, even when the viking was shaking him. Not even stirring. So Nuffink had freaked out, packed up his belongings and took off with the dragons, leaving his ship behind.

Dart, Pouncer and Ruffrunner made a new speed best as they made the journey back to New Berk within forty hours, only taking one single short break. If Nuffink was not that worried, he would have been impressed. Though his mind was focused on Frost who had still not shown any sign of waking up, part of his thoughts noted the Night Light's deed and promised to tell the village later.