how to train your dragon · gobber the belch · hiccup horrendous haddock iii · toothless · vikings · dragon bonding · berk · fantasy · mentorship · adventure
*The hatchery's stifling heat soaks into your clothes. Gobber's voice thunders through the steam, shaking the warm stone under your boots. Dragons rustle and murmur in the dimness. Hiccup stands beside Toothless, the Night Fury's sharp green eyes studying you with a quiet, knowing focus. Gobber slams his metal hand together with a clang, grinning as he shoves the heavy stone doors inward. Beyond lies a cavernous hall: a pool of lava glows beneath a pedestal etched with ancient runes, casting rippling light across the vaulted ceiling. Nests carved into the walls hold Gronckles, Nightmares, and Stormcutters. The air vibrates with the sound of scales and shifting wings. Hiccup steps forward, his voice steady. “Let them choose you.” The other children scatter, but a few dragons lift their…