It’s time to talk about dragons. In my story, there are five species of dragons: Great Dragons, Fire Dragons, Sea Dragons, Snow Dragons, and Stone Dragons. Most of the dragons live in colonies, and with the exception of the Sea Dragons, they only eat meat (Sea dragons only eat fish)..
Great Dragons
Great Dragons are the largest of the breed, they grow to be 45-50 feet long. They are gold in color, and breathe fire. Their talons are the strongest, they fly the fastest, and their scales are stronger than any but the Stone Dragons. Great Dragons can swim (if they have to). Great Dragons are the most intelligent and cunning of all the dragons. The Great dragons suffered the most from the “great betrayal,” and there are few of their kind left in the world. Gek and Ard may be the last survivors of the Great Dragon clan. All Great Dragons are named after lizards.
Fire Dragons
Fire Dragons are red in color and have longer mouths than other breeds of dragons, so they can breathe twice as much fire as any other dragon. They grow to between 40 and 45 feet in length. They don’t like cold weather and are poor swimmers. They are known to be hot-tempered and quick to anger. By agreement, the Fire Dragons should only be living on the west side of the Amber River, in the Kingdom of Baize. The first appearance of the Fire Dragons occurs in Chapter 22 of The Honor of Dragons. Fire Dragons are named after shades of red, or elements of fire (Ember, Rose, Fern [inferno], Char).
Snow Dragons
Snow Dragons are the smallest of the breed, topping out at about 25 feet. They are white or light grey in color, and they don’t breathe fire, but ice. They can withstand cold temperatures that would freeze any other dragon. All Snow Dragons live in the northern, snow-covered area of Franconia, called the Snow Fields. Unlike other dragons, they live and hunt in packs. Snow Dragons are highly intelligent as evidenced by their ability to work together, while the other dragon breeds are generally loners when hunting for prey. Snow Dragons are named after wintery conditions (Bliz[zard], Frost, Ice, Sleet).
Sea Dragons
Sea Dragons are the best swimmers (naturally). They don’t spit fire or ice, but water. They can spit water in a thin stream with enough force to cut a tree in half, or they can adjust the stream to knock a human down and blow them across the ground. Sea Dragons grow to about 40 feet in length. Sea Dragons are blue or green in color. They are considered pacifists and isolationists. They keep to themselves, and don’t concern themselves with the outside world. This is because, unlike other dragon breeds, the Sea Dragons do not lack for prey (there are plenty of fish in the sea). The Sea Dragon colony is on the Coral Islands, although some members of the clan have relocated to the shores of the mainland. Since they only eat fish, Sea Dragons all live near the ocean, or other bodies of water. Azure is a Sea Dragon. Sea Dragons are named after shades of blue or green.
Azure
Stone Dragons
Stone Dragons are black or dark grey in color. They grow to between 40 and 50 feet long. They have the strongest scales, and can withstand enormous strikes. They also spew fire, but, because of their great weight, they don’t fly as fast as other dragons. For the same reason, Stone Dragons can’t swim at all, but can walk across the bottom of a river. They can hold their breaths for much longer than other dragons. They and are generally considered to be fire-proof. Stone Dragons are generally considered to be slow-witted. Like the Fire Dragons, Stone Dragons should only be living on the west side of the Amber River. Stone Dragons are named after types of rock (Jasper, Amber, Gravel, Slate).
All dragons can speak and understand human language. This is a carefully guarded secret, that the dragons have vowed to never disclose. In ages past, dragons died in order to preserve this secret.
Lastly, all dragons know about the “great betrayal,” when the humans promised them a tribute of 20,000 head of cattle every two years, in exchange for a vow that dragons would not eat people. The cattle were delivered as promised, but were given slow-acting poison. Most of the dragons of that era died from eating the poisoned livestock. The dragons have never forgotten or forgiven this heinous act by the humans.
Dragons have other abilities, but that’s a secret for another BLOG.