Fan redesign concepts: Sky Torcher & Flame Thrower
not much changed tbh
The mafia of TNR. I do not have much to say about them tbh.
Sky Torcher is a rather typical eastern dragon. I tried to make sense of his her coloration, so in my world these dragons camouflage for volcanic ash.
Sky Torchers have insane tolerance for heat and will nap and rest at the bottom of the lava/magma lakes, only their snouts poking out if anything at all.
Now Torchie has a dewlap she displays when intimidating her opponents. It will glow orange when she's charging an attack and attacking with fire. I replaced the tiny wings along her tail with just a long sail, which doesn't look very unique but not that awkward, I think? I'm trying to keep as similiar to original as possible lol
Torchie is a big girl
Flame Throwers. I do like their design in most part.
My biggest issue with them was their legs (which they share with a lot of other dragons native to TNR). The legs of the dragons in HTTYD were always one of the most distinctive things for me—they do not have long fingers. Most of them have a foot with nubs for fingers and impressive claws. So when a dragon has long fingers, it looks kind of out-of-franchise for me, if that makes sense? There were some exceptions, like Submaripper, who didn't have claws at all but frog-like paws instead, but my point stands imo lol
My Flame Throwers have bigger tusks that they use mostly for display; their bite force is actually very weak. They do, however, have VERY hot fire. Like they can stand toe-to-toe with Deadly Nadders, maybe even best them.
They're vaguely Thunder-sized
Symbiosis
Symbiosis of these two is kind of similar to the one between burrowing tarantulas and frogs.
Sky Torchers like to be hot, too hot for their eggs to bear and survive; therefore, their nesting grounds need to be at least a bit away from adults' perfect chill spot. But eggs are a very nutritious snack and easy to get when a parent is napping a bit away. Especially given the fact that most egg-eaters are much smaller, it is easy to not notice them from a distance or fight them when trying to not harm eggs.
Some Sky Torchers sacrifice their comfort and stay in colder places until their young hatch, doing their best to intimidate any possible annoyances, and some get themselves bodyguards—Flame Throwers. Flame Throwers will protect eggs from thieves in exchange for food and protection from bigger dragons.
For plot, Torchie and her gang will try expanding her territory (quite aggressively) for more prey as she is preparing to lay her eggs