The CloudWings

History

Cloudwings are few in number, and although they sometimes seem more story than fact, the oldest of the Skywings can still recall how Cloudwings had once shared the mountains with them.

The Skywings, after having their Princess killed at the Royal Seawing Massacre, grew defensive and suspicious of outsiders. The Cloudwings became a target of their concern with their high rates of animus hatchings.

It started slowly. Simply. The Skywing Queen announced that she wished for more land. The increasing numbers of her tribe had all but hunted their mountains bare, and unlike the Cloudwings, they could not grow the majority of their food to sustain their growing population.

The Cloudwing Queen was puzzled. Did they not already share a large portion of the mountain range with each other? Nevertheless, she agreed to allow Skywings to hunt on her tribe's mountains.

*"No."* Insisted the Skywing Queen. She needed the mountains for her dragons, and her dragons alone. The shared ground would be Skywing territory from now on, for it was evident that her tribe needed it more than the Cloudwings.

The Cloudwing Queen was puzzled, but she conceded that the shared ground from now on would be reserved for the Skywings, and the Skywings only. There was truth in the statement that Cloudwings could grow most of their food, and they were smaller and didn't require as much to eat as other dragons might.

If the Skywings were in such dire need of food, then it would be cruel to let them starve, especially after the events that had occurred at the Seawing Palace. Perhaps she could gather members from her tribe to teach them how to farm. She suggested the idea to the Skywing Queen.

*"No*." Was the reply.

Location

Cloudwings had resided on the mountains with Skywings, but because of the aggressiveness of the Skywings, they fled the continent long ago and resettled in Pantala. The CloudWings built floating cities above Beetle Lake and the mountainous region of land that resembles a forewing. These cities are elegant places comprised of full shapes and round, flowing lines. They are filled with wide, curved streets, circular plazas, tall, graceful arches, and soaring towers with domed roofs.

Notable Landmarks

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Biology and Physiology

Eggs

The eggs of Cloudwings are small and have patterns of dappled grey on them. When picked up, they feel very light and almost squishy, like a half-filled water balloon. They are laid in clutches of around seven, and carefully placed in shallow depressions that have been scraped out on the top of the tallest towers of the cities. There, they are exposed to the elements in all of their unrestrained ferocity.

Lifespan

CloudWing dragonets mature at the rate most other tribes do, and are considered adults at eight years old. However, they tend to have a shorter lifespan, with the oldest living CloudWing having been recorded to be only 100 years old.

Appearance

Your typical Cloudwing is less pointy and sharp than one would imagine a dragon to be. Their horns, teeth, and claws are blunt, and they have wings that seem a bit too large for their bodies. The membranes of their wings which stretch between the frame are rounded. They have a similarly rounded frill lining their back, instead of the spines that many of the other dragon tribes have. Cloudwings usually come in mottled white and grey colours, and they have a long tail that ends in a teardrop shape. Their eyes are large and seem dewy in appearance.

Abilities

Cloudwings, like Rainwings, have colour-changing scales. However, the colours which their scales change into are limited to a palette of whites and greys.

Though they are not built for speed, CloudWings are able to fly for incredibly long durations. Their wings are large and wide, which enables them to catch air currents and glide for days on end, wasting very little energy while doing so.

They possess neither frostbreath nor the ability to breath fire, but they can breathe out large gusts of wind due to their oversized lungs, as well as cause the water vapor in the air around them to condense. If there is enough water vapor, they can create a thick fog that facilitates escape from dangerous situations.

CloudWings can also manipulate their molecules, although this is more of a practiced skill than a natural talent. All CloudWings are born with the ability, but it takes many years to learn how to properly do it. Molecular manipulation is used by individuals for regeneration or for intangibility.

Diet

The Cloudwing diet is sparse. Some would jokingly say that they need nothing more than sunlight and water to survive, which actually isn't far from the truth! However, they must receive other forms of sustenance in order to grow healthily and properly function. This can consist of anything from grains to birds to insects to fruits. Generally speaking, Cloudwings will not eat too much meat because they find it to be "heavy." Their digestive systems, while omnivorous, cannot handle red meat.

Culture

Values

Cloudwings value peace, kindness, honesty, and wisdom. They believe in second chances and redemption.

Beliefs

The CloudWings, despite being dragons will very little colour to their scales, have complex eye structures. They can see many colours, and associate different colours with different meanings.

Religion

No religion is practiced by the CloudWings.

Superstition

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Taboo

Red and orange are used to signify danger. Blue is used to signify death, but also new beginnings. Black is used for preseverance and endurance.

CloudWings believe that when a sky is completely clear and there is only blue to be seen for miles and miles, hardship will soon arrive, and all those who have guilt weighing on their souls must act with caution. This is because of the old myth.

Traditions

There are few traditions for the CloudWings, save for the ones which are used to choose their Queen.

Mating Traditions

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Funerary Traditions

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Society

CloudWing society

Government

Like every dragon tribe, the Cloudwings have a queen. Choosing the queen is a long and complicated process. When the current queen grows feeble and tired, every female Cloudwing of 9 years of age or more must decide whether or not she desires to rule over the tribe. If she decides that she does, then she must spend a month of learning with the current queen. During this time, the members of the tribe will observe her actions.

A good Cloudwing queen is expected to be honest and fair, thoughtful and collected. She is patient and nurturing, of sound mind, and in good health. She carries herself with confidence, but at the same time, she must be humble and selfless. To her, war is a last resort, but she is by no means a coward. She lives and dies by her tribe.

This is what the tribe looks for. Many contenders cannot finish their month of training, and some are dismissed early if they display traits unbefitting of a good queen. The contenders who do finish their training will then be presented in front of tribe and queen. The queen announces each dragon, and the tribe decides the next queen.

Laws

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Punishments

The punishments of the CloudWings may seem quite weak compared to those of other tribes, but they have proven to be just as effective.

Family

Many would say that the whole Cloudwing tribe could be considered one large family. All of the neighbors know your name, the names of your siblings, your ages, your favorite foods, and what each of you did that one day your parents left you alone at home and told you to behave while they were gone.

Due to this closeness, Cloudwings will become suspicious if a dragon appears to be hiding secrets about their household life. Domestic abuse is not tolerated, and any dragon in the tribe who has been found to abuse members of their family is swiftly dealt with.

Names

Naming is an important task in Cloudwing society. First is the temporary name, given to hatchlings by parents and kept until a dragonet is fully grown.

Parents choose a name for their children from several categories. A name can be chosen from the types of clouds present that day, such as Cumulus, Cirrus, or Stratus. It can be chosen based on how the clouds look, like Grey, Opaque, or Soft. It can also be chosen from the general state of the weather, exemplified with names such as Stormy, Bright, and Windy.

Then comes the name choosing ceremony. When each dragonet is of age, they may choose a new name that is wholly their own, or they may choose to keep their current one.

Cloudwings are never named after plants or animals, for this is seen as naming your child after food, and cannibalism is highly looked down upon. Many Cloudwings are amazed when they travel outside of their tribe and meet dragons named "Kestrel" and "Turtle," or even "*Coconut,*" out of all things. COCONUT.

Intertribal Relations

The Cloudwings promote pacifism, which made other dragons view them as weak, whiny cowards who were too soft to fight. They haven't had to contend with this stereotype for a while, though! Ever since they were believe to have been killed off, the other tribes have forgotten about them.

DayWings

The Day

PetalWings

The Petal

StoneWings

The Stone