Sections:
1. Dracoling Appearance
2. Dracoling Coloring
3. Typical Qualities
4. Dracoling Mating
5. An Observer's Essay

Section 1: Dracoling Appearance
Dracolings have large multi-faceted eyes that can seem to mesmerize by their constant color changing and gem-like appearance. They have three front claws and one rear claw on each leg, suitable for grasping or clinging. Their claws are generally 3/4 to 1.5 inches long. Their tails are about 2 feet long and are very dexterous. This puts their total length at approximately 4.5 to 5 feet. They do fly with their wings, with a wingspan about equal to their total length.


Section 2: Dracoling Coloring
As stated in the relevant sections, dracolings are separated in their hierarchy by color. Greater dracolings are typically gold, bronze, or silver. Gold dracolings are always female and are the leaders of any given group. Bronze dracolings are male and tend to be second in command.
The lesser dracolings are blue, brown, green, or red. Green and red dracolings being the females in the lesser category. There are also black and white dracolings, the other anomalies, which are typically outcasts.

The gold dracolings, with their leadership tendencies, are typically labeled queen. The silvers, because they lack the rarity of queens, are generally referred to as princess.


Section 3: Typical Qualities
All dracolings live in small caves, typically near water. Their diet consists of fish and raw meat. Their curiosity is insatiable - they investigate the unknown to a fault. They have the capacity for basic emotions and are loyal to their flight or their master until death. Their natural life span is around 100 years, though their actual life expectancy in their natural habitat is around 35 years. They are attracted to music and sometimes attempt to sing along.


Section 4: Dracoling Mating
When it is time for dracolings to mate, the female begins to excrete pheremones which attract males and repel females. The female feasts heavily, though not so heavily that she cannot fly, and takes flight, being pursued by the males. Lesser and greater dracolings can all breed together, though lesser males who attempt to mate with greater females are chased away. Conception occurs in flight. After an undetermined about of time, most likely months, eggs are laid in a sandy nest which is very well guarded. When the hatchlings emerge, they are incredibly hungry and imprint (like ducklings) on whatever feeds them. It's been said that a bond with a dracoling is very much like that of a familiar. Dracolings have not been observed to mate for life.


Section 5: An Observer's Essay
Dracolings are small reptilliam creatures, reminicient of dragons. With their sharp claws they are able to rend flesh from bone as well as carry delicate objects. They inhabit areas near large bodies of water, tending to live in small caves. They have large, faceted eyes that change color seemingly with their mood. From hatching, they exhibit insatiable curiousity, basic emotions and intellegence, and extreme loyalty. They eat fish, shellfish, and raw meat when available. They seem drawn to unfamiliar sounds and they frequently mimic the howling of the wind. They also mimic other sounds, such as the singing of birds or the music of a flute, as I discovered. In their caves, a hoard of shiny shells and bits of metal can be found.

Regarding lesser and greater dracolings. . .
It seems clear that these creatures have definite social structure. The greater dracolings - gold, bronze, and silver - are the strongest and most revered. The lesser dracolings - brown, green, blue, and red - are usually smaller and follow the greater dracolings they are loyal to. Golds are, without doubt, the leaders. They are fearless, commanding, and fierce in battle. Bronzes seem to be the next in the chain of battle command followed by silver, brown, blue, green, and red.

Regarding variations. . .
Colors other than those mentioned above have benn observed. Though extremely rare, black and white dracolings have been hatched. Having no place in the social order, they are typically ignored by the rest of their kin. In these two colors, gender seems to be random.




Jennifer Mauck : 8-10-98