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Wild and Domesticated Behaviors
Wild and Domesticated Behaviors
Dracs, like the legendary dragons of old LOVE treasure; or anything that is gold, silver or remotely shiny. Males often collect treasure to lure in potential mates and will even 'bathe' in coin or gems in order to get them stuck in their manes, tails or under their scales.
Dracs live in herds, much like horses, but unlike horses can form mated pairs even in the presence of a King Stallion. Kings rule over the herd much like a male lion does in a pride. He protects them from danger and is the 'big man in charge'. Depending on the King he may or may not allow mated pairs or Bachelors to be in his herd; it depends completely on the male.
Some herds can also be controlled by a Queen Mare. These herds are often much smaller and generally consist of just mares and their offspring. Once old enough, Queen mares will chase the colts away and only allow the mares to stay. These herds often followed by bachelor males looking for a quick love session.
Breeding and Offspring
Unlike horses, Dracs do not birth live young. They lay clutches of eggs ranging from 1-3 eggs each which are watched over by the mother and (in the cases of a mated pair) father. Clutch size typically depends on diet and age of the mare. Older, more mature females are able to carry larger clutches than younger females. Gestation periods in mares varies as well but most will latch a clutch of eggs 5 months after being covered by a stallion. It takes an additional 5 months for the eggs to hatch. During this time they are very vulnerable to predators and rapid temperature change. In the wild, females will seek out caverns to make a nesting den out of. They will collect anything that absorbs heat to make her nest and by the time it is complete looks like a cross between a crocodiles nest and a birds. Gold and coins are sometimes even used on the interiors of the nests to act as heat sponges.
Mares will heat their nests with their breath and sometimes minimal fire if they choose to spare it. Just before the eggs hatch the mothers will dig them out from their toasty home and stand guard as her chicks hatch.
Foals and Growing up
Foals and Growing up
Foals typically have poor sight the first week they are out of the egg and stick close to their mothers. They rely on sensing heat to tell them where to go and what not to try and eat.
They are born without teeth and eat a mixture of milk nursed from their mother and raw meat she brings back. Some mothers will let the meat rot a little before presenting it to their young as to help with their digestion. This stinky habit can be avoided in stables if handlers are willing to pre-cook meat or simply cut it into small chunks.
Like horses mares only have 2 teats which becomes a problem when three foals are born. Often times one foal may be pushed aside and not allowed to eat or nurse as much as the others. These 'runts' actually survive well in the wild as they are able to nurse and poach food from other Drac mothers who may have had a small clutch. However when in captivity mares can sometimes become aggressive towards these runts and human intervention is often needed to keep the foal from dying
Growth and Development
Drac foals (or chicks) mature much like their horse cousins. Nursing stops when the foals teeth come in or when the mare has enough of their biting. Unlike horse foals, colts can be kept with their mothers and sisters without fear of them breeding back to them. This is thought to be thanks to a strong natural instinct as well as the high intelligence these creatures sport. Their joints fuse at around age 3.5 and are at that point ride-able. Flight for Drac foals is achieved around 6 months when their wings have finally muscled up enough. However, most Dracs are not strong enough to fly with a rider on their back until age 5. It takes a year and half of ground and weight training before these beasts have the power to lift a rider with them into the air.
Fire production can occur as early on as 3 years of age but really depends on how early platinum is introduced into the Dracs diet. Foals younger than three won't consume it and even if you try and sneak it into their food they will turn their noses up at it.
It is the recommendation of the breed foundry to not introduce fire to your Drac until they are at least 5. By this point Drac and Rider often have a strong, trusting bond which is needed with adding heat to the situation.
Art by: Western-Witch and TalonV
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