Guide to Dragons

Winter Dragon

Name: Winter Dragon (Draco hiems)
Element: Ice
Size: 13 feet (3.9624 meters) tall, 10 - 11 feet (3.048 - 3.3528 meters) long, 1,100 - 1,300 pounds (498.9516 - 589.6701 kilograms)
Diet: Fish, Penguins, Seals
Habitat: South Pole

Description:

I've long talked about this being the largest dragon, in height anyways, so I'm sure you've heard of this one before.

In fact, long ago, this dragon used to be a sign of universal good, paired with evil (Dark Dragon). It is also among one of the endangered dragons, or dragons whose number have plummeted in the last hundred years.

I believe, if my research is correct, that the first dragon ruler was a Winter Dragon. No one knows if that's fact or just ancient myth anymore, but it would surely be interesting to find out.

Winter dragons typically live in hunt in packs, each centered around a breeding pair. Similar to wolves, these alphas are the only ones who mate.

Of course, there are loners. The Winter Dragons who don't want to be in a pack will typically stay in breeding pairs of a male and female.

Winter dragons lay about 3-9 eggs each "season". To Winter Dragons, there are only two seasons: the one where they go north and the one where they migrate south. Traditionally, a pack will move north in summer, and south in winter. And I don't mean a little bit each way. I mean from south pole to north pole or vice versa.

Winter Dragon chicks are some of the fastest growing dragons possibly ever. A typical season lasts 3-6 months, and they are ready to fly by almost two months old. Many dragon chicks get about five or so months before they actually leave and/or learn to fly. My guess (yes, guess. These things aren't that common) is that Winter Dragon wings are fully developed from hatching, and simply grow with the body as they age.

By the time the pack or parents are ready to migrate again, the young will be able to come with them. However, when they get to their destination after the two to six week journey, the juveniles will be mature and either leave the pack, join in the pack as full members, or (if born to loner parents) join a pack or find a mate and wander together.

This means that Winter Dragons take between 3 and 4 months to fully mature, which may be the shortest maturity time of any dragon. But I said that already, didn't I?

The alphas of a pack are very important. Though they don't make decisions for the pack (seeing as most dragons in the pack actually get to do pretty much what they want as long as they don't harm the alphas or the chicks) food is brought to them and they're the ones to settle disputes with other packs.

Yes, instead of having whole packs fight each other, the alphas simply fight the other alphas, cutting down on the amount of dead or injured dragons.

If one of the alphas died, the one still alive would either do one of three things. One, pick another mate. Two, wander alone. Or three, kill themselves to make way for a completely new pair of alphas. The third option seems insane, and it is by human standards, but a breeding pair can form such a strong bond that one just cannot be without the other. A perfect dragon love story.

New alphas are typically the first ones to take the nest. In-fighting isn't something they believe in.

These dragons are generally peaceful as long as you're not another pack, and don't mind humans. They greatly enjoy gifts of food or something unique, so if you do happen to encounter one, bring something it probably wouldn't have seen before, a piece of silverware, a book (they can't communicate in nay human language, but most know English and French; I don't know why those two specifically, but that's what I've discovered), glass, maybe even an antique weapon.

If you come across a lone Winter Dragon, just know that it's probably out hunting for the pack. This doesn't mean you're in any immediate danger, but it's a good thing to keep in mind. Also, if you can avoid it, try not to get near a nest, eggs, or chick(s). Parents are fiercely territorial.

If you do anger one of this species, know your best defense is to flatter it. It might be able to answer, but it will understand praise. If that doesn't work, grovel for mercy, because you'll need it.

The best advice I can give you is to not bother it.