A Field Guide to Dragons of Hypatia
By Vivian Rosalee
Rainbow Dragons
The size of rainbow dragons vary, depending on the amount of mist or fog nearby. If there is no mist, they are no longer than one foot. They can grow to be 40 times that size. They will quickly become dehydrated if they aren't able to soak themselves at least once every 3 days.
They are nearly 100% genetically identical to shadow dragons. They only difference is shadow dragons are made up of all shadows, where rainbow dragons are made up of all light. This makes rainbow dragons utterly terrified of shadow dragons. They do all they can to avoid each other, and (almost) always succeed. There have been some reports of meetings occurring, though nothing officially documented. Still, one wonders what would happen should they form an unlikely pair…
Elements
(hybrid- secondary)
water
air
​
Average Weight
5 pounds (at their smallest size)
200 pounds (at their largest size)
​
Average Length
1 foot (at their smallest size)
40 feet (at their largest size)
​
Average Wingspan
3 feet (at their smallest size)
120 feet (at their largest size)
​
Average Height (at shoulder)
4 inches (at their smallest size)
12.5 inches (at their largest size)
​
Appearance
​
Rainbow dragons are easily identifiable at all stages of life. Their body can be any pale color, including pure white. Some can have various colorful markings across their body. Their wings are the most colorful part. All documented rainbow dragons have vibrant wings with multiple colors of the rainbow.
​
The Egg
Rainbow dragon eggs are smooth, with no pitting. They are oval in shape- similar to a chicken egg, but much larger. They average about 6 inches in length, though one has been documented as small as 2 inches.
​
Their coloring varies between eggs, but they all are several hues swirled together, and very sparkly.
​
Hatchlings and Adulthood
When first hatched, rainbow dragons only have 3 colors in the wings. As they mature, they gain more and more shades of color in their wings, including colors not visible to the human eye. Because of this, their lifespan is not known.
​
​
Determining the Sex
​
Rainbow dragons are usually sexually dimorphic, though many exceptions occur. The best way to know for sure is witnessing egg laying. The following information is what has been documented as typical for a male or female rainbow dragon.
​
Males
-
Wing color: warm tones at the tips of their wings, cool tones at the base. Male hatchlings have all warm tones.
-
Eye color: warm tones
​
Females
-
Wing color: cool tones at the tips of their wings, warm tones at the base. Female hatchlings have all cool tones.
-
Eye color: cool tones
Typical male dragon wings when hatched
Typical female dragon wings when hatched
Genetics
​
There are three ways a rainbow dragon egg can be laid and hatched.
-
Two rainbow dragons mating and laying rainbow dragon eggs. ​
-
Two shadow dragons mating and laying rainbow dragon eggs
-
A female cloud dragon consumes the spores of a sun dragon, causing her next eggs to be laid as rainbow (or shadow) eggs.
​
A rainbow dragon will never mate with a shadow dragon. If such a case were to happen, it is unlikely that the result would be pure rainbow or shadow eggs.
​
Reproduction
​
Breeding
Rainbow dragons only breed when there is plenty of mist or fog available. They do not mate for life and they aren't picky overall, though each rainbow dragon has a preference- usually based on their favorite color. This obsession with a certain color means there are many causes where cross breeding happens.
​
The Nest
The male and female build the nest during their time together. They usually build it in a nook in a cave, covering it with rocks and other cave debris to keep it out of sight from predators.
​
Laying Eggs
It takes 1-2 weeks for a female dragon to lay her eggs after mating. The average clutch size is 4. Each egg has a 50% chance to be a shadow dragon egg instead of a rainbow dragon. She instinctually abandons the nest afterwards, since she is so terrified of shadow dragons, even if they are still in their egg.
​
Rainbow dragons can remain in their egg indefinitely. They only hatch during the day when a rainstorm hits. Like their mother, they too abandon the nest, ready to begin their life at their first breath.
​
A typical rainbow dragon habitat
Rainbow Dragon nest
Habitat
​
Living
Rainbow dragons have been found all over Hypatia, wherever there is a reliable water source. They seem especially abundant at waterfalls- they enjoy the fine mist gathered at the bottom of the fall. They also love huge mountain ranges, residing primarily in the valleys where fog rolls through almost on a daily basis.
​
Collections
Rainbow dragons aren't big collectors. They all have a color preference- some dragons are more obsessed than others- but don't tend to gather objects in massive hoards.
​
Movement
Rainbow dragons tend to find a spot after they hatch and stay there, so long as their mist or fog remains constant. Since their collections usually aren't big, they don't mind moving occasionally of their water source dries up, taking one or two of their favorite pieces and starting anew somewhere else.
​
Diet
They will eat any small bugs and/or berries. Depending on the dragon, some can have a preference for a certain color insect/berry.
