Small AN: While I know there is no visual difference between a male and a female Woolly Howl, I am making that a part of this version of HTTYD.

[I said something funny?] Toothless' father asked, staring at Hiccup. [And son, your face is rather red. Is that normal for humans?]

That caused more snickers, even Toothless and Moondust joined in this time. Hiccup would have loved for a hole to open under him so he could bury himself and hide.

"If a human gets embarrassed, they blush," Astrid answered, the only one from the Berkian nest that was not laughing in any form.

[What I said embarrassed my son?] Toothless' father asked.

"Kinda," Astrid answered, her hand still massaging the back of Hiccup's neck. "What I'm doing isn't magic like Gyda uses, but many humans consider it magical. I was rubbing his neck because I saw he was still upset with Toothless. It was my way to help him."

[This rubbing of his neck helps how?] Toothless' mother asked.

Gyda, who had stopped snickering, moved around to the queen of the nest's side. "May I?" she asked, holding her hand just above the back of the female's neck.

Toothless' mother tilted her head but nodded just the same. Hiccup watched Gyda lowered her and began to massage the back of the female's neck. Hiccup grinned as Toothless' mother's eyes became half-lidded and she cooed.

[I see why humans consider this magical. Do all humans do this for each other?]

Gyda smiled and lifted her head. She gestured to Hiccup and Astrid. "For the most part it is done by flock members, but it is also a bonding practice for mates or those intended to become mates. There are other instances where a stranger to a flock is the one doing the massage. Those are paid for the service. A human might get their cousin a massage for a gift, such as the day their cousin was born, eh, hatched, or as a gift for an upcoming mate-hood ceremony. Other times it is done as part of healing after an injury."

[I see,] Toothless' mother said. [And for Astrid to do so now was to strengthen the bond between her and my son?]

"That and ease his upset," Astrid said. "It's a silent way to tell him, I'm here with him."

Toothless came around and laid the top of his head against Hiccup's belly. Hiccup's arms immediately enclosed his brother's head.

[I did not mean to make you upset, brother. I just know you like to jump off my back and while I understand the reasoning, I still fear one day I won't be able to catch you.]

Hiccup pulled his brother closer. He hunched over. "I know," he whispered. "I just.. I wasn't going to jump. I don't like ice water even though I live on Berk. We'll only do the jumping off thing at home unless I have to elsewhere, okay?"

[Okay.]

Hiccup released his brother and Toothless moved back to stand beside Moondust, who nuzzled him.

[Young prince,] the brown bear colored dragon said.

Hiccup turned to him.

[I must confess, when my sister informed me that humans were allowed past the outer sea stacks and then I watched my alpha name you his son, I was not happy. This far north, the troubles most dragons have with humans are limited, but I have had my fair share of problems with your kind. I see now, though that not all humans are alike. You and those with you are nothing like the humans I have encountered.]

The dragon then bowed to Hiccup, wings spread.

[I am glad to be proven wrong about you, my prince.]

Hiccup smiled. While he wanted to hold his hand out like he did other dragons, he knew he could not. This dragon bowed to Toothless' father, and every nest dragon back home who had placed their muzzle into his palm, told him they could hear his alpha side, as they called it, purring. Hiccup worried that it would cause an issue were any in this nest to hear that purring. Hiccup then frowned.

"Your sister was the Ice-shooter that met us?"

[Yes,] the male said, standing. He tilted his head. [You seem confused.]

"I didn't recognize you as an Ice-shooter. I couldn't see her back scales and she didn't have a beard like you do. The other Ice-shooters last night were too far for me to really get a good look at them and I was more than a little shocked and surprised to be named a prince of the nest."

[I'm sorry, beard?]

Hiccup pointed to the pointed scales under the brown dragon's chin. The brown dragon blinked. A blue colored one, that sported the same scale beard, laughed.

[I see,] the blue one said, its voice also male. [Young prince, male Ice-shooters have this beard as you call it. Female's chin scales are smaller and his sister does not turn her back to visitors to the nest.]

"Oh," Hiccup said. He glanced at the other four he did not know then turned back to Toothless' father. "I know you wished us to go meet my aunt, but can we know their dragon names?" he asked, gesturing to the four.

Toothless' father nodded. [Of course, though will you repay us by letting us know their human names if they have one?]

Hiccup glanced to Gyda. She tipped her head. Hiccup turned back to the alpha of the nest. He would call him dad while he visited but it would take time before he thought of him as anything more than Toothless' father and the alpha of this nest.

"Sure. Gyda can answer. She knows more of the human names than I as she's not from my nest originally."

Toothless' father tipped his head at the four dragons. One, the same color as Frost, stepped forward. Its girth was similar to Meatlug and every other Gronckle but it had a longer and pointer nose with bigger nostrils. Its tail was also long and had no bludgeons upon it.

[My kind are called Snow-eaters,] it said, its voice female.

"Humans named them Groncicles," Gyda said. "They were thought to be the ice shooting cousins to Gronckles, which what humans call Rock-biters like Meatlug."

[Why?] the Groncicle asked.

"That I could not tell you," Gyda answered. "The one who named most of the dragons died long before I was born."

Hiccup bit back his chuckle. Those who knew of Gyda's true origins, including Toothless' parents, smiled but said nothing. One of the last two dragons, and Hiccup had no comparison for this dragon, waddled-walked forward. It had wings but its body resembled a lizard. It had a black belly and bright yellow head and end of the tail. Its wings and torso were bright purple.

[My kind are called Poison-tails,] it sad, its voice male.

Hiccup turned to Gyda when she did not speak. He found her staring at the Poison-tail with a frown, but she shook herself when she noticed Hiccup staring at her.

"Apologizes. The human name for your kind is Flame Whipper."

[Odd, but I like it.]

[You would,] the other Flame Whipper, a bright red and blue one, said, its voice female.

She lightly wing-slapped the first one earning snorts from the others with her.

[And my kind?] the Ice-shooter asked, staring at Gyda.

"Woolly Howls."

The Ice-shooter shook himself and grunted. [I think I prefer Ice-shooter. That name does not tell another dragon what I can and cannot do.]

[What is the human name for my kind?] one of the white Night Furies asked, its voice male.

"I'm sorry," Gyda said. "As far as I am aware, your kind was considered myth and rumor, so I do not know the human name."

The dragon looked to Hiccup and Astrid. [Perhaps my prince and his intended could rectify that.]

Kirika: Who says you have to pick between the two? I say enjoy both, hehe.

Literally Nobody: Toothless' father is awesome. The human will be revealed soon. I promise. Thank you, but it is my readers such as yourself that give me the reasons to write for so long.