ShadeWings (X.dragonlynx.X)

== Appearance ==
ShadeWings have stocky builds, with a fair amount of muscle, although they are not significantly stronger than other tribes. They are typically smaller than average dragons, although their wings have a broad shape that allows for more maneuverability in the air. Along the back, sides, back of the neck, back of the head, and topside of the tail, they have thick, armored scales that are difficult to penetrate. The scales along their chests, undersides, and wings are smaller, allowing for more flexibility.
ShadeWings' faces are short and stocky, with squarish snouts. Their horns are about average length, mostly straight with a slight curve. They also have a second pair of horns on the bottom of their faces underneath their ears, which are much shorter. Their eyes are typically gray, like their scales, but unlike the scales, the eyes may show hints of color, most commonly blue-green, amber, or indigo-purple. (Indigo-purple tends to show in darker eyes, whereas amber might glint in paler eyes. It varies by dragon.) Eyes, unlike ShadeWings' scales, cannot change shade or color.
ShadeWings can shade-shift their scales to regulate body temperature by making them paler or darker. Typically, they are more of a neutral gray, without much variation in the patterns. Of the two subtypes, forest ShadeWings tend to be darker in color, as the alpine forests are cooler. Grassland ShadeWings, on the other hand, typically prefer a paler hue, as the grasslands tend to be warmer. However, these shades vary greatly throughout the course of the year, being lighter in the warmer months and darker in the colder months, as the Shade Kingdom is not very temperate and tends to reach extremes. Regardless of the shade, ShadeWing scales stick to a grayscale color scheme and do not have color.
== Abilities ==
ShadeWings have the ability to shadeshift, or change the shade of their scales, to regulate body temperature. By making their scales darker, it allows them to absorb more heat from the sun and warm up when it is cold. On the contrary, by making their scales paler on a warm day, they can deflect heat and keep cool. This allows them to survive in a variety of climates. ShadeWing scales are very adapted at using this skill, which means that they can deflect or absorb heat much better than regular black, white, or gray dragons.
Besides being a basic survival skill, shadeshifting can be used as a defense in battle as well. While they cannot be completely immune to either fire or frostbreath, they can ward off the brunt of the damage by changing their scales. With concentration, they can shift their scales pure black or pure white. Often this can be dangerous, as ShadeWing scales are powerful, and absorbing or deflecting too much heat can cause severe health problems. However, turning pure white can help them resist against fire, deflecting the heat; in the same way, turning pure black can help them resist frostbreath, using the sun's heat to cancel the blow. It doesn't make them invulnerable, but combined with their armored scales, it makes it them a tough opponent in battle, despite having no natural weapons except for their teeth and claws.
== Subtypes ==
=== Silvershifters ===
Silvershifters, also called reflectors and shinescales, are a rare variety of ShadeWings most commonly found in grassland ShadeWings. They have a special trait that allows their scales to be reflective, which helps to deflect heat. They can still change the shade of their scales, and by making them a shiny silver color, they can reflect much more heat than regular white. They can use this skill to make themselves very much completely fireproof. However, because the shiny, reflective surface deflects heat, they have trouble absorbing heat to keep warm, so they stick to warmer climates.
Silvershifters have no way of turning off the shiny, reflective property of their scales. It is a permanent trait that they are born with. Because this trait is powerful enough to deflect fire, silvershifters can be left very vulnerable in cold climates, more so than regular heat-adapted dragons like SandWings.
Reflective scales, or silvershifting, is a rare recessive genetic trait that only a few families (mostly forest ShadeWings) possess. The chart below shows the rough chance of a dragonet being a silvershifter based on their parents:
 	Silvershifter	Carrier	Regular
Silvershifter	100% 	75% 	25%
Carrier 	75% 	50% 	12.5%
Regular 	25% 	12.5% 	0%
Silvershifter - Has reflective scales (both carries the trait and expresses it)
Carrier - Does not have reflective scales, but carries the trait (relatives/ancestors may have been silvershifters, but they themselves are not)
Regular - Does not carry the trait at all
== Subspecies ==
The two subspecies of ShadeWings, forest ShadeWings and grassland ShadeWings, are not so much subspecies but separate states or colonies of ShadeWings. Although they live in different climates, their physical differences are minimal, most of their differences being cultural. For this reason, the names "forest" and "grassland" ShadeWings do not acquire capital letters. Still, their physical makeups differ in small ways.
=== Forest ShadeWings ===
Forest ShadeWings, also called "foresters", "mountain-dwellers" or (jokingly) "ColdWings" by grassland ShadeWings, make their homes in the cold alpine forests of the western Shade Kingdom. Thanks to the cold climate of their mountainous home, forest ShadeWings tend to shift to darker shades rather than lighter ones. Although they still have the ability to shift to lighter shades, it takes more energy for them to resist/deflect heat and become pale gray or white. Because they are more suited to absorbing heat, silvershifters are rarely found in forest ShadeWings.
There are other, smaller differences found in forest ShadeWings. Foresters' wings are slightly broader and shorter than other ShadeWings', allowing them to easily change direction in the air and maneuver between obstacles like rocks and trees. Their claws are slightly longer and their talons wider, adapted to rock-climbing and tree-climbing when flight is impractical. Their armored scales are also thicker and wider on the top of the head and back to guard against falling rocks, but smaller on the chest, legs, underbelly, and tail to allow for easy flexibility on the ground and in caves and trees.
=== Grassland ShadeWings ===
Grassland ShadeWings, also called "grasslanders", "meadow-dwellers" or (jokingly) "WarmWings" by forest ShadeWings, live in the open, warm meadows and grasslands of the eastern Shade Kingdom. Contrary to their forest-dwelling counterparts, grassland ShadeWings are more adapted to warmer climates and more easily shift to lighter shades and deflect heat. Although they can still shift to darker shades and absorb heat, it requires more energy, especially if they are attempting to turn black and resist frostbreath, ice, or snow. Because they are more suited to deflecting heat, silvershifters are more commonly found in grassland ShadeWings.
There are other, smaller differences found in grassland ShadeWings. Grasslanders' wings are generally more voluminous than foresters', allowing for smoother, faster flight in the open air. Their legs are also a bit longer, allowing for speed on the ground as well as in the air. Their eyesight is sharper than that of other ShadeWings', as well, allowing them to more easily spot prey in the open meadows of their home. Their armored scales are generally a bit smaller and more even, allowing for smooth motion on the ground and in the air.
In general, the physical adaptations of foresters and grasslanders, while noticeable, do not make much difference to their internal anatomy or external appearance. Grassland-forest hybrids are common and don't particularly stand out from other ShadeWings. Often a grassland or forest ShadeWing will move from one area to the other, especially if they mate with one from the other subspecies.
== Territory ==
The Shade Kingdom is a territory along the east coast of Pyrrhia's "wing". It is split down the middle by the Diamond Spray River. On the east side of the Shade Kingdom are a great many warm, open grasslands. Although the temperature still varies widely, it tends to be more warm here, and this is where the grassland ShadeWings make their homes. On the west side of the river is the cool, mountainous forest territory where the forest ShadeWings live. The weather tends to get colder here, which the forest ShadeWings have adapted to more so than grassland ShadeWings.
Despite the temperature differences in the different territories, there is still a great variety of weather types, and the temperature tends to reach extremes. The summer months are typically very hot in the grasslands, and even the alpine forests become quite warm. It is often drier in the western Shade Kingdom during the summer months, whereas the grasslands, especially the outer grasslands, tend to be very humid. On the contrary, Shade Kingdom winters tend to be very cold, even on the grasslands. In the mountainous forest areas, snowstorms often blow through, occasionally reaching the river.
The river area tends to be directly in the middle of the two contrasting territories, weather-wise. It does not reach quite the extremes that either side does. Few common ShadeWings live along the river, but the royal palace is built across it, acting similarly to a bridge, with supports on both sides. It is a vast building, and it is where forest and grassland ShadeWings often meet to diplomatically discuss their issues. It is also where the royal family, many nobles, and other highly important and respected ShadeWings live, to avoid being biased towards one side or the other.
=== Hunting ===
==== Forest ShadeWings ====
Although all ShadeWings are naturally omnivorous, fruits and nuts are more easily accessible to foresters than they are to grasslanders. Forest ShadeWings' diets consist of a healthy mix of fruit, nuts, and small prey such as squirrels, rodents, and birds.
Forest ShadeWings typically eat light, usually having two small meals a day, one in the morning and one in the evening. Each meal (not including snacks in between) usually consists of two or three pieces of small prey, or else one or two pieces of prey and a talonful of fruit or nuts.
==== Grassland ShadeWings ====
Even though grasslanders are as capable of eating fruit and nuts as forest ShadeWings, these foods are less accessible on the grasslands, so grassland ShadeWing diets are typically more meat-based. With their swift wings, long legs, and sharp eyes, grasslanders are built for hunting in the wide, grassy meadows. Grassland ShadeWings often target land prey such as rabbits and foxes, as well as larger birds such as hawks and falcons. Occasionally they go for larger prey as well.
Because their prey is larger, ShadeWings typically like to hunt for one or two hours in the early afternoon and then have just one larger meal a day. Like all ShadeWings, grasslanders are smaller than other dragon tribes and don't need to eat much to survivie.
== Culture ==
=== Names ===
ShadeWing names have a lot of variety. They often tend to be two-part names, similar to those of NightWings. These names typically have to do with scaleshifting, which is usually represented by referring to weather (Windseeker, Darkcloud, Lightningshift), shadows (Stoneshadow, Darkcloud, Rippleshade), the color gray (Crystalslate, Stoneshadow), or change in general (Rippleshade, Lightningshift), but can represent different things as well. Often they are a mix, as seen in these examples.
Silvershifters, although rare, typically have names that refer to silver, metal, shininess, and reflectiveness. Examples include Starshine, Silvergleam, Ironwings, and Mirrorscales.
=== Religion ===
The ShadeWings' idea of religion is different from that of other religious tribes. They do not directly worship gods or ancestors, nor do they teach certain prayers or other specific and/or complicated religious beliefs. Rather, they have a very simple internal belief that life has a balance, and as many bad things must happen to you as good things. There is also a belief that there is in fact a higher entity that controls the unpredictable elements of life (i.e., luck) to maintain that balance.
Although there is no specific "correct" way to pray, nor any defined name or form of this higher entity, it is believed that if one prays for this god to turn the tables in their favor for a specific action, they must sacrifice something else worth equally as much. For example, if a young ShadeWing forgets to do his homework and prays that the teacher doesn't collect it, he might willingly choose to sacrifice a free afternoon to extra studying. The belief is that he must be sincere in his sacrifice and truly believe it is worth it, or else his favor will not be granted. If his wish is fulfilled and the teacher does not collect his homework, but the ShadeWing then goes back on his promise, playing all afternoon, then he will receive a worse turn of luck. Perhaps the next day, he will forget his homework again (because he spent all afternoon playing) and the teacher will not only remember to collect it, but also punish the ShadeWing for forgetting the homework even when it is a day late.
Different ShadeWings have different ideas about the nature of this higher entity and the system of sacrifices. Often these specific opinions are personal, and religion is not often discussed. However, occasionally there are groups who adopt more specific beliefs and develop their own branch of religion, with a name and certain practices/ceremonies. None of these branches, however, have become particularly popular, and the ShadeWing religion has no official name.
== Society ==
== History ==
== Relationships with Other Tribes ==
Category:Tribes (Fanon)
Category:Content (X.dragonlynx.X)