MaueWings (FunnyOrangeSandWing)

MaueWings are a dwarf subspecies of dragon descended from multiple Pyrrhian tribes that became stranded on the Maue archipelago, located just south of the network of islands connecting Pyrrhia and Pantala. 
== Description ==
MaueWings have SkyWing, NightWing and SandWing ancestry, and as such they come in a variety of colors, from golden to strawberry blonde to bloodred to robust umber. Most have dark black tiger stripes, reminiscent of their NightWing ancestors’ black scales. Some have a small poisonous spur on their tails, but this is a recessive gene, so as such it rarely appears in them. They also have inherited NightWing-like spines along their back that they use to warn others of danger by bristling them. They have a compact, SandWing-like snout, twisted SkyWing-like horns that are longer in males than in females, and unusually large ears. They have a somewhat baby-like appearance even as an adult, and this is probably due to their longer growth rate, as they reach full physical maturity around ten years, while mainland tribes take only seven to physically mature. Their smaller size is likely influenced by both the limited resources of the island and the giant predatory eagles that hunt them, and they are around half to three-quarters the size of a mainland dragon. Their wings are relatively small, as they are more adapted to ground movement, climbing, and gliding. 
== Ecology and Diet ==
As they live on an island, their diet consists of mainly small game, such as lizards, snakes, small rodents, birds, fish, and insects, however, they occasionally hunt the small hogs and deer that live on their island. They also eat fruits, nuts, and many nutritious leaves. All in all, their diet mainly consists of 40% meat and 60% fruits and vegetables. However, on this island, they are not the apex predators. The Giant Crested Eagle of the Maue Archipelago often hunts these small dragons. Larger adult island hogs can also occasionally hunt down an unlucky adolescent MaueWing, and the eggs of this tribe are a staple food item for many. For this reason, MaueWing broods contain up to 15 eggs instead of the normal 1-6 eggs of mainland dragons, because usually up to 1/3 of a brood will not last until hatching. The Giant Crested Eagle seems to exclusively prefer MaueWings as food, as the dwarf tribe make up about fifty to sixty percent of the eagle’s meat-based diet. As such, MaueWings have become a nomadic tribe, creating mobile transportable homes woven from palm leaves and branches. 
== Culture and Life ==
MaueWings hatch after about 3 months of incubation, a short time compared to the yearlong incubation of mainland dragons, likely stemming from their nomadic lifestyle and dangerous environment. As such, they are somewhat underdeveloped as newborns, and need to be carried for a month before they can successfully ride on the backs of their parents. At about a year old, they can independently move, climb, and glide, and are put to work scavenging materials to make new homes. Their clothing and armor is made of various leaves and bark, and the chiefs of each MaueWing Clan are granted Hogskin cloaks, which keeps them warm during the cold, rainy nights of the archipelago. As they live scattered among many islands, they are fairly adept swimmers and fishers, crafting nets and traps for fish, setting them all over the shores, and checking them as they travel. Their harsh lifestyle means they do not have time for religion or beliefs, but they do believe in giving the dead their due. At five years, they are allowed to join in on hunts and are taught communally by the whole Clan how to gather and fish. At eight years, they usually start courting and pairing with desired partners, and at ten years they start having dragonets of their own. The average life expectancy of a MaueWing is little more than twenty years, as seventy to ninety percent of all MaueWing deaths are caused by Giant Crested Eagles. However, MaueWings that live past 30 are considered wise elders and are assigned as advisors to the Chief. 
== Names and Language ==
MaueWing individuals have an interesting naming system. Their names usually have at least three vowels and as few consonants as possible. Examples include Oeaneo, Aulano, and Ragau. Masculine names generally end in O, E, or U, and feminine names generally end in A, I, or a consonant. Their language contains many basic dragon words but more complex words are completely unrecognizable by non-linguists. This language is called Mauese and is very little known. 
== Relationship with Mainland Tribes ==
The MaueWings, while reclusive, have reached out to the Scientific and Cultural Confederation of Possibility, and a few have left their homes and joined the Confederation as MaueWing interpreters and representatives. Many are welcoming yet cautious of visitors on their islands, and they will usually follow and observe explorers and travelers for about three days on average before attempting any form of contact or interaction. Often, explorers will raid Maue Eagle nests to win over the support of the MaueWings. This works almost every time, and MaueWings often host festivals to celebrate the outsider dragons they dub “Eagle-slayers”. 
== Trivia ==
* Inspiration for the tribe mainly came from Polynesians, Homo Floresiensis, and the Dwarf Elephants that lived on several Mediterranean islands up to 400,000 BCE. 
* The Tribe also has scattered RainWing and SeaWing ancestry, which is why they are so unbothered by water. 
* The tribe originated from various tribes of dragon that fled Pyrrhia during the Chaos of the Clouds Era. A small group of those dragons got lost at sea and became stranded on the Maue Archipelago, where they were forced to adapt to giant eagles, limited food, and harsh weather.
Category:Tribes (Fanon)
Category:Work in Progress