Guide to Dragons

Mold Dragon

Name: Mold Dragon (Draco formae)

Element: Water

Size: 8 feet tall (2.4384 meters), 10-11 feet long (3.048-3.3528 meters), 300 pounds (136.078 kilograms)

Diet: Fish, carrion, some insects and reptiles

Habitat: Near freshwater

Description:

Don't let the name fool you, this dragon doesn't actually have mold on its scales. Because of the slight differences in the color of its scales, it gives it a moldy appearance, hence its name.

Mold Dragons can be found near freshwater, typically lakes since it can't swim very well and couldn't handle the currents of a river. They also try to stay on dry land as much as possible, and usually hunt from the land too.

Hunting is simple: all they do is wait at the water's edge until they see a fish. Then they either hook it with their claws or grab them with their mouth. When it goes to insects, they usually eat dragonflies or butterflies (larger insects). They will grab them out of the sky as they fly by, although the insects aren't very filling. Maybe they just eat them for the memories of when they were young.

Breeding season for this dragon is usually in winter, when the water will be frozen so the young don't risk drowning. The males will rut to attract females, meaning that they lock their horns together. They also make huffing sounds while they're at it. The winner is determined by who backs down first. Although females will still mate with the losers.

A mating pair will stay together for about a decade, having a clutch of eggs every two years.

There are between six to ten eggs in a clutch, and they hatch in about four months.

The hatchlings are like most young dragons: clumsy, unsure of themselves, and dependent on their parents. It takes them a week just to be confident in their walking abilities. Of course, the biggest part of their body at this time is their head, making them very unbalanced.

In a few months when the waters thaw, the parents will take their clutch to learn how to fish. The young usually end up falling in the water a lot, which teaches them to swim. Most fish are too big for them, so they end up just feeding on the insects. The parents don't teach them how to hunt insects, so every Mold Dragon does it a bit differently.

When they hit about a year and a half, the parents chase them out so they can focus on the next clutch. And so, that is how they grow up.

Mold Dragons are actually very shy. They stay away from humans and other dragons, and try to avoid fights.

That said, if they see another dragon or human near their clutch, they try to simply shepherd the chicks away from the danger. If the dragon or human provokes them, however, one of the parents might get a bit territorial and growl a lot. Fights with this dragon are rare, and only young dragons of other species try to attack them, probably cause they don't know any better. They do once they feel their claws though.

Humans really should mind their own business. If you see this dragon, let it be. It won't attack you if you don't give it a reason to.