Third Person Point of View
The cove greeted them like an old friend.
Gentle waves lapped at the stones. The trees swayed softly in the wind. Sunlight poured in shafts between the branches, painting the mossy floor with golden light. It was peaceful. Quiet.
The kind of place where monsters came to rest.
And now, three of them returned home.
Hiccup was the first to shift.
His claws emerged first, followed by the blackened scales coiling along his arms and shoulders, armor rippling to accommodate his true form. Wings stretched, tail sliding into place, his emerald eyes glowing with relief.
Luna shifted beside him, her transformation smooth and elegant. Her skin darkened with midnight scales, her silver markings gleaming. A flick of her tail, a stretch of her claws, and she sighed—finally herself again.
Freya, ever the dramatic one, dropped to her knees as her body morphed—her little claws reemerging, tail swishing behind her as she collapsed in exaggerated misery.
"I hate it!" she wailed. "I hate being human! It's itchy and tight and boring and gross!"
She scrambled toward her mothers—Luna and Astrid—and buried her face in Luna's hip. "Mama, Mama, I hate it."
Then, without missing a beat, she spun and tackled Astrid next.
Astrid, who still looked uncertain wearing the title, blinked and staggered back as Freya latched onto her. "And you too, Mama! I wanna stay like this forever!"
Astrid looked helpless for a moment—then slowly wrapped her arms around Freya and exhaled.
"My... little hatchling," she whispered.
Hiccup, watching from the campfire, chuckled.
"Well," he said, tail flicking behind him, "what if I told you I was about to cook some fresh fish... with fries?"
Freya froze.
Her ears twitched.
She turned her glowing eyes toward him, eyes wide. "Wait. What's fries?"
Hiccup grinned. "A glorious thing made from potatoes and fried in oil until crispy."
Freya was already drooling. "I want five!"
He laughed. "Then you'll need to grab some potatoes from the garden. Bring them to the kitchen, and if you also catch your own fish, I'll give you pancakes in the morning."
"YES!" she cried, jumping into the air and hugging him tight. "You're the best papa!"
Then she turned and hugged Astrid again, clinging tightly.
Astrid stiffened, then slowly smiled, brushing Freya's hair back.
"Anything for my little hatchling."
The words came easier this time.
Hiccup's heart swelled, and he chuckled again. "She's getting used to that title."
He turned to Luna, sliding an arm around her side and pulling her close. Their lips met in a slow, warm kiss—no heat, no hunger. Just the kind of intimacy that spoke of home.
When he cracked one eye open, he caught a glance.
Astrid, looking away.
Not in anger. But longing. Ache.
And something inside Hiccup moved.
He broke the kiss with Luna, who purred softly in contentment, then turned and grabbed Astrid by the waist. Before she could react, he pulled her in and captured her lips in a dominant, claiming kiss.
Astrid gasped.
Her nails dug into his chest, but she didn't pull away.
Not once.
When he finally pulled back, her lips were parted, her cheeks flushed, eyes slightly glazed.
"This is new," he said, licking his lips. "But just like my Luna... you are mine now, Astrid."
Her breath caught.
"I promise to love you," he continued, "just as I love my Luna. My storm."
Astrid's heart skipped.
He leaned in again, voice low. "Of course... that might make Luna a little jealous."
SMACK!
A clawed hand tapped the back of his head.
He turned to see Luna looking completely innocent, blinking sweetly.
"I felt that," he muttered.
"You imagined it," she said, deadpan.
He laughed.
Then, with a teasing grin, Hiccup placed both hands on Astrid's rear and gave it a firm squeeze.
"By the way," he said, smirking, "Luna was right. You do have a nice ass~"
Astrid yelped, face going red.
Luna moved behind her and kissed her neck, claws brushing her waist. "If we had more time," she purred, "we would've made sure our little storm couldn't walk straight for days..."
Astrid shivered—half terrified, half tempted.
But there really was so much to do.
And Freya...
Freya returned with a show.
She emerged from the trees with a basket of potatoes in one hand, and two large fish in the other, her tail swaying behind her proudly.
"I got them!" she announced. "Basket in one paw, fish in the other! Praise me!"
Behind her, Torrent—her Scauldron—slid into view from the riverbank, looking very much like someone who definitely helped but didn't want to admit it.
He avoided eye contact.
Stared at the trees.
Hiccup laughed as Freya ran toward the cabin.
"Thanks for helping her, Torrent," he called after the dragon, who gave a huff and slunk back into the water.
Inside, Freya was already calling out ingredients.
And outside, under the setting sun, Hiccup looked at his family—his pack.
His queen.
His storm.
His daughter.
And he smiled.
———————————————————————————
The cabin door creaked open as Hiccup stepped inside, Luna and Astrid close behind.
What greeted him made him laugh immediately.
Freya was bouncing up and down near the hearth like an excited pup, her tail swinging wildly in wide arcs and her wings twitching uncontrollably with anticipation. Her eyes shimmered with joy as she lined up the potatoes and fish she'd brought like trophies on the counter.
She turned toward them, beaming, her voice shrill with excitement.
"Papa! I did it! Look! Potatoes! Fish! Can we make the fries now?! Please?"
Hiccup grinned. "With that much energy, I'm half-expecting you to take over the kitchen."
Freya's wings flared with pride.
"Would you like to help me cook today, little dragoness?"
"Yes!!" she squealed, nearly tripping over her tail as she ran to his side.
Astrid staggered back a step, a hand clutching her chest. "Sweet gods... she's going to give me a heart attack. That little hatchling is the most adorable creature in the world."
Luna smiled beside her, gently brushing a clawed finger along Astrid's jaw. "Our daughter has that effect."
Astrid blinked at the "our" but didn't argue.
Freya climbed onto the stool beside Hiccup with a proud huff. "Okay, Papa. What do we do first?"
He pulled his hair back, tied it, and gave her a mock serious look. "First—we wash the potatoes. You, my assistant, are in charge of scrubbing."
Freya saluted. "Yes, Chef Papa!"
Hiccup started preparing the oil while Freya scrubbed furiously at the potatoes, her tongue poking out of the side of her mouth in concentration.
"Careful," he said, eyes twinkling. "You scrub too hard, you'll send those potatoes flying out the window."
Freya giggled. "I'll catch them with my tail!"
"You say that now..." he teased, flicking her tail playfully. She squealed.
The cabin filled with light laughter and warmth.
Eventually, Luna and Astrid joined them. Astrid stepped in like she belonged—rolling up her sleeves and bumping Hiccup's hip with her own. "Need help slicing?"
"You're trusted with sharp objects?" Hiccup quipped.
Astrid narrowed her eyes. "You just claimed me."
"And yet I'm already questioning my life choices."
She jabbed him in the ribs with the hilt of a knife—gently.
Luna stepped into the kitchen next, more hesitant. She hovered by the edge of the counter, uncertain.
Hiccup smiled warmly. "Come on. You're not escaping this."
"I've never cooked before," she muttered. "Only hunted. Or burned things."
He handed her a bowl of seasoning and moved behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist as he helped guide her claws.
"Then this will be memorable," he whispered.
Freya giggled from the side. "Are you teaching Mama to be a kitchen dragon now?"
"I'm expanding her skillset," Hiccup replied, grinning as Luna flushed slightly.
Astrid rolled her eyes. "And what about me?"
"Oh, you?" he said, lifting a piece of potato. "You already burned one batch. I don't trust you with heat."
"I did not!"
Freya immediately gasped. "Mama burned fries?!"
"No, I—okay maybe I slightly over-roasted the last time—"
"Scandalous," Hiccup muttered with mock offense.
The cabin rang with laughter.
It was peaceful. A rare thing in their lives. Just family, fire, and food.
Finally, after the last of the fish finished sizzling, Hiccup stepped back and dusted off his claws.
"Alright. The masterpiece is complete."
Freya was already bouncing again.
"I need you girls to set the table," Hiccup said, stretching. "Because after dinner... we'll need to talk."
Luna tilted her head. "Talk about?"
"About why I'm telling Berk the location of the nest," he said simply. "And what happens next."
The mood shifted.
But only for a moment.
Freya grabbed the dishes with gusto, tail still wagging. "If it means I get pancakes in the morning, I'll set two tables!"
Astrid smiled as she took the plates from her. "You'll only need one, hatchling."
Luna stepped beside them and added, "For now."
Hiccup watched them work, heart full and heavy all at once.
Tonight, they would eat together.
Tomorrow... the war would begin.