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Description: Judging by this title, you guys are already aware of the subject. I mean, this is stuff we've heard about in those old fairy tale stories our parents tell us during bedtime. These guys are big: six meters tall and ten meters in length. Unlike the popular depiction, dragons are actually pretty plainly colored. The texture and the look is nothing you wouldn't expect from something like a snake or a komodo dragon. Though they do have very large wings and horns. Oh, and yes they do breathe fire, but not in the way you are thinking. They have these gaseous glands located somewhere in their upper respiratory system and this sort of igniter that sits in the back of their throats. (I will touch upon this in a moment.)
Now, most popular tales tell how dragons tend to hoard wealth, eat people and livestock and take human women as brides or something like that. All of these characteristics are wrong, save for the hording and the eating of livestock. They don't seem too particularly interested in eating people. In fact, I dare say they are rather playful, albeit aggressively so. They are rather territorial though, especially The adults. So, don't expect to get out of there in one piece. However, if a dragon is away from their home and they are approached by people, they will act aggressively in an attempt to scare them off. However, I just think this is nothing more than them fucking with people. Dragons are particularly reserved creatures, but they have shown some rather interesting social skills. As for their hordes, well not all that glitters is gold.
I've been studying the behaviors of these dragons for quite a few months before I made this article. Dragons are smart, corvid levels of intelligence but smarter or at the very least near-human levels of intelligence. In comparison to how they behave, they have more in common with crows and ravens. For example: they really like shiny objects. During nightfall, these guys will go out to hunt. When they return back to their dens, they will pick up whatever metallic object they could find along the way; big or small. One time, I went into a dragon's den when it left for its hunt and I took photos of mangled up vehicles, some of them outdoor metal sculptures you'd find in the town plazas, coins, and this very expensive looking lamp. There was a lot more in there too but I didn't have too much time to look.
Their social behavior is rather interesting to say the least. Not just towards other dragons, but humans like us. In my search for other dens, I've noticed that dragons are primarily isolationists despite being social creatures. With the exception of having a mate, you'll never see more than two dragons in the same den. (read the location and population for more details.)
As for their physiology, I was able to find a corpse of a dragon to study. Given the damage it sustained, it looked like it had got into a fight with another of its kind. I figured it'd be good idea to take it with me (Dragging it home was such a bitch though.) and call up another Warder buddy of mines who's a doctor. He had a lot of interesting shit to say too. Their upper bodies are pretty tough and covered with very dense scales, but their lower portions are more sensitive, which allowed for easy incisions. Doc takes a look, finds this unusual, fat bag of gaseous like substance swirling around in there. He also found two prong looking bones at the back of its throat. When you strike em together, you get a spark. How such bones are capable of that feat, he doesn't know. Though they seem to correlate to the gas found within the glands. We decided to test the intensity of the flames, fashioning it as a flame thrower. When we used it, this intense jet of flames shot right out and burnt a hole into the concrete of my driveway. The hole was five meters deep.
Background:
Dragons have existed all across Western Europe and Eastern Asia myths for ages. Though these ones are the typical western variants that we've all come to know and love. Though why are European beasts of legends living here in America? Granted, Central America is no stranger to similar creatures like the Rainbow Serpents and Mesopotamian Snake-like Dragons that have been reported in the past. My best educated guess is that European dragons have migrated to North America some time ago. How did they though and why? They are not like Arctic Terns where they can hold the longest distance in the air. Dragons are massive after all. Plus, they have not displayed any migratory patterns aside from newborns leaving their nests.
My theory is this: rather than crossing thousands of miles across the ocean, they hopped from one island to another across the Norwegian Sea. If I were to compare them to birds, it could be they were searching for new breeding grounds. They have no natural predators though. So I can only deduce is that sometime ago, dragons were hunted by humans. In response to the years of disturbances, they changed locations by passing through Northern Europe across the sea in order to get to America.
In mountain regions across the United States, there had been reports of flying reptilian creatures in the middle of the night. Some claim they see em as early in the evening or late afternoon. Either way, they are rarely seen and any such reports are brushed off as nothing short of freakish wildfire incidents like the ones in Texas, cloud formations or alien sightings near bumfuck Appalachian towns. Then again, dragons have the intelligence of a 4 year old. These freakish accidents were nothing more than pure dumb luck on their part. It is possible to communicate with them, but expect nothing short of mimcry or relying on body language on their part.
Location and Population:
Most dragons can be found primarily in mountainous regions. Such as the Rocky Mountains, Humphreys Peak, San Antonio and more. They mostly make their homes within large pockets of carved out stone, which I believe they burned through first to do so. They will either always remain isolated, or paired up.
Because they are so sparse and spread out, it's hard to tell what the total population is, and where there is a high concentration of dragons. I have compiled a list of sightings similar to the ones I've described and there had been at least over seventy sightings.
Their breeding habits are not a mystery but I wouldn't want to go into explicit detail about it. Just know that dragons can lay up to six eggs in total. I've counted six eggshells when I checked one of the dens left empty. When there are paired dragons, the females will almost never leave her den under any circumstances unless it is to hunt, drink, or defecate. Males take over looking over the eggs between the period of which their females leave the nest, and their return.
Hunting or Procurement Methods:
Unless a dragon has been causing trouble and you're not well equipped or skilled to deal with them, just avoid them. They may not be too smart but they aren't dumb either. Plus, they are very tough. None of them would be stupid enough to make an unprovoked attack outright. Though just in case something were to happen, say a dragon gets pissed off that you smashed their eggs they will move heaven and earth to find you and kill you.
When hunting, it is best to do it in groups of seven. Always keep your distance and remember to aim from beneath. Their lower bodies are not well protected as their shelled backs and sides. When it charges, it is best you move out of the way as quick as you can. Dodge around trees and circle around it when their backs are turned. Watch out for their tails though; they're as tough as a horse's back kicks. If you notice there are sparks coming out from their mouths, run.
A good trick to getting rid of dragons swiftly is to aim for the glands, which are located just beneath the base of their necks. Its hard to get a good shot as the dragon will constantly be moving.
Non-violent approaches can also be done with non-aggressive dragons, and they've shown to be rather effective. However, I do not recommend this if you are a Red Ryder. Dragons do not know their own strength. Even a recently hatched dragon can hurt you if you are not conscientious of their physical capabilities. If somehow, you come across a dragon in your travels, or they're raiding your farm in the middle of the night, or you stumble unto their caves, always bring something of value. And by that, I mean bring something nice and shiny no matter what it is. Like in the tales, tributes will appease the dragons. This method though can be used to properly pacify and divert them away from general population centers, get them more focused on hunting in the wilds instead.
Do note that you'll probably have a friend for life. Be aware of their size and stature though. Like I said; dragons do not know their own strength. Just give them scratches, rubs and throw stuff for them to catch and bring back, and give em something shiny.
Encounter Records:
My first encounter with a dragon was pretty goddamn terrifying. I always liked reading about dragons when I was a kid. Good or bad, they were just so fascinating and I always wanted to see one in real life. Ya know, back before I thought they didn't exist. I nearly shit myself when I saw it.
I had just moved into Alabama, just near Horn Mountain. I figured I'd take the simple life since my dad died. A lot of family drama and nonsense that just made me decide it was best to just get away from my brothers and sisters.
After I had gotten everything set up with the furniture and my farming equipment, I decided to crash in early for the evening. I didn't get to sleep for too long though. In the middle of the night, I woke up hearing all kind of noises outside. Cows crying out in a dreadful panic, sheep screeching, and it was all coming from my neighbor's farm across the street. I picked up my gun and rushed outside to find the cause of all that noise. Not just because I was doing it out of respect for my neighbor, but because I couldn't handle the thought of some predator hanging about ready to kill anyone of us.
I had no idea what to expect. I found large tracks and I wasn't sure if I was looking at an alligator or what. And I thought to myself; 'alligators do not come this far out from the coast.' Maybe it was someone's pet, maybe it wasn't, because I couldn't tell the size of the footprint. I ran into my neighbor's field and saw it. By god I'll never forget the sight of it.
The description I made for it could not do it anymore justice than just seeing the damn creature. There was blood everywhere. Gore, guts, torn bits of flesh. Half-eaten remains littered the field around the beast. The stench was unbearably rancid as was the creature's breath. I could see its mouth even in the dead of night. It was dripping with blood, gripping a bloodied cow. It had the eyes of a serpent. Could barely even see the pupils. The color of its eyes were yellowish colored and oh how they glowed. Despite it being so dark, I could make out its complexion. Its scales ridged and full of sharp bumps. I could feel the heat coming off from it too.
I was frozen solid with fear. I thought for sure that I was going to die. Its intense gaze pierced through mines as though he was looking into my soul. It just stood there, staring at me, growling with a deep tone so intense that I swear I could feel the earth shake beneath my feet. Then, it stood up on its haunches, leaned forward, and dropped the half-eaten carcass right by my feet. I blinked and stared at it, then back at the dragon. Those golden eyes continued to stare at me as it reached over with a claw to nudge the carcass my way. I wasn't sure what was going through my mind at that moment. I was surprised I was still alive. more so the creature dropped the farm animal as if to share.
Then, the dragon stretched out its massive wings, and pushed itself up to fly into the night. The beat of its wings creating small gusts of wind that very nearly blew me off my feet. I stood there, still frozen solid as the dragon flew off into the night.
I must had went through seven bottles after that night.
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