The Dragon Whisperer

My name is Hiccup. Great name, I know. But my people believe that hideous names will frighten off gnomes or trolls. But I was named Hiccup as I was born a runt. I live on the island of Berk, with my father, Stoick the Vast, the chief of Berk. He is one of the best dragon killers of his generation.

When I was little, my mother was abducted by a four-winged dragon, and she was believed to be eaten. That's another thing, my village is persistently raided by dragons. While most people would leave, we won't, as we're Vikings. We have stubbornness issues. For three hundred years, we've been at war with them. They destroy our houses and steal our food, and we fight back to stop them as best we can.

Most kids my age grow up to become big and strong dragon killers, but I'm small and weak, so I've been apprenticed to Gobber, the village blacksmith, to keep me out of the way, as I have a rather bad habit of causing as much damage as the winged reptiles. I've been called a lot of things, but my nickname in the village is Hiccup the Useless, the most worthless heir in the history of the village.

Many of the kids my age used to be my friends, but as we grew up, and I remained small, they quickly took to bullying me. My cousin, Snotlout, is probably the worst of them. I've tried to prove myself to the village, but I can't do anything involving strength, so I created things to try and make up for it, but they tend to backfire horribly.

I haven't given up hope though. Killing a dragon is everything on Berk. Which is why I've set my sights on the ultimate prize, the dragon no one has ever seen. We call it the Night Fury. It never shows itself, never steals food, and never misses. No one has ever killed a Night Fury. That's why I'm going to be the first.

I've managed to build something that will help me do that, and when it comes next, I will be ready.

When I do, everything will change, especially for me. I hope for the better…