Guide to Dragons

Speed Dragon

Name: Speed dragon (Draco celeritate)

Element: Acid

Size: 4-4 1/2 feet (1.2192-1.3716 meters) tall, 6-7 feet (1.8288-2.1336 meters) long, 140-150 pounds (63.5029-68.0389 kilograms)

Diet: Rodents, reptiles, small mammals, also will eat berries, fruits, and some mushrooms

Habitat: Forests, sometimes plains

Description:

The name "Speed Dragon" is almost outdated. This was one of the first dragons discovered, and at the time, it was fast, considering that many believed that dragons were sluggish creatures. This idea has been disproved many times, especially when the Ostrich Dragon was named. In any case, its name has stuck.

This is one of the two only omnivorous dragons known. Which leads me to the other interesting thing about this dragon: it stores its food. Most dragons kill, eat, then go hunt again if still hungry. This dragon will kill animals or forage plants and store them in its den for winter. This is where the contradiction is. Where this dragon lives, winter almost never gets below 10 degrees Fahrenheit (-12.222 Celsius). The dragon doesn't need all the extra food, and typically ends up eating less than half of it.

Most think the dragon does this because of some instinct that they needed thousands (maybe even millions, if dragons were around back then) years ago, possibly when there was a harsh winter season. For some reason, this instinct hasn't been lost, even now when they don't need it.

So, what does this dragon gather? Almost anything. Leaves, rodents, corpses, insects, small trees, fungi, etc. Their nests are usually hollowed out trees or small caves. Some even dig their own dens out of the dirt. And at least half of the space is used for their "winter storage."

Speed Dragons mate every five or so years. They have a slow reproduction rate, only having usually one chick at a time. There has been one incident when two eggs were laid, but only one hatched.

Females are only in heat for a short time, so males try to mate with them as quickly as they can. Females can also only mate with one male when she is responsive. Once mated, she becomes infertile again until her chick has grown up.

The chick stays with its mother for about eight or so years. Which makes this one of the slowest dragons when it comes to maturing. Ironic, isn't it?

When the juvenile is old enough to go out on its own, it gets to grow about two more years until it mates. This extra time gives the juvenile the ability to establish itself firmly in the world before having its own chicks. Besides, they can start on their food storage.

This dragon is not overly territorial, or aggressive, but it dislikes other dragons getting near its chicks. If a dragon or other animal tries to steal from a Speed Dragon's food pile, then this dragon gets aggressive.

If, for some unknown reason, you are able to anger this dragon, outrunning it is out of the question. Trust me, you won't be able to. Best thing to do is keep going about your business. If it's getting more upset, then turn around and go the other way. These dragons aren't tall, but they're heavy. And they can swim. This is one dragon better left alone.