The 'Claws of the Clouds Mountains' are a mountain range stretching
across Pyrrhia from the north coast to the south coast. It serves as the
main territory of the Sky Kingdom as it supports the SkyWing palace and
most of the SkyWing tribe.

## Description

The Claws of the Clouds Mountains lurk like the long, long spine of a
giant sleeping Dragons|dragon, black except where the craggy peaks are
studded with light. They cut into the air and were described to look
like jagged teeth.

## Notable features

### Agate Mountain

Agate Mountain was the tallest mountain in Clearsight and Darkstalker's
time, but an earthquake eventually shifted the peaks so that it was
shorter than Jade Mountain. Darkstalker was buried under this mountain
as well. It was a rocky black mountain.

### Jade Mountain

As depicted on the map, Jade Mountain, noted to be the tallest mountain
in Pyrrhia, is located in the southern portion of the mountain range.
Jade Mountain is also home to the Jade Mountain Academy, built by the
dragonets of destiny after the conclusion of the War of SandWing
Succession. The Dragon of Jade Mountain, Stonemover, also resided there
in an upper cave. It has two peaks, that, at the right angle, looked
like "a pair of snake fangs lunging out of the earth."

### Sanctuary

Sanctuary is built along a cold stream trickling downhill from a lake in
the foothills of the Claws of the Clouds Mountains, beside a very small,
cold lake. Each home looks completely different from the next, and
Sanctuary's architecture includes a mound of clay with a hole in the
roof, a rough cabin made of logs and leaves, and two structures by the
lake that are half-submerged in water. It is surrounded by bushes and
trees that smell like damp leaves and pine needles. There is a huge
boulder half-covered in poison ivy within the forest, and a smooth,
cold, tall, flat boulder in the shade of the trees. The air smells like
scavengers, pine trees, and distant snow. It is full of scuttling
noises.

Halfway up one of the surrounding mountain peaks, there is a pebbly
cave. Sanctuary is punctuated by sounds of incessant chatter, leaves
rustling, and wind whipping around the snowcaps of the mountains.
However, the cave is very quiet.

Not far from the lake's edge, in an area cleared of trees, there is an
odd corner: a space surrounded by a very tall fence, which is composed
of tree trunks lashed together. Inside, there is a dragon-made pool of
water and a pile of leaves and pine needles with a small leaf canopy
covering it.

### The dragonets of destiny's cave

The cave that the dragonets of destiny were raised in is located under a
mountain within the Claws of the Clouds Mountains. Since SkyWings
preferred to live on the mountain peaks, it was very unlikely that any
SkyWing would stumble across the tunnel to the cave. The cave is located
in a ravine, and there is a boulder blocking the door that can be moved
aside using a key around Dune's neck or a sturdy wooden lever hidden
underneath the boulder.

It was mentioned that, if it was not for Glory's ability to change
color, the dragonets would have never known how many colors existed
beyond the boulders. Mazes of stalagmites and hanging stalactites are
all over the cavern. One particular stalagmite had holes over its
bulbous shape, where a dragon can sit on it. The cave is entirely bare
rock and stone, with no mud. Torches hung around the walls in the area.

The dragonets have dinner and lunch in the great central cave. Fires
flickered around the edges of the dome, and echoing space yawned
overhead, dripping with stalactites. The cave dome is big enough for six
full-grown dragons to fit across with their wings extended. The hall
leads to two small sleeping caves, where the dragonets sleep in.
Twisting stone tunnels lead from the central cave to four different
places: one to the battle area, one to the guardians' cave, one to the
study room, and one to the outside world, where the boulder blocks the
exit. Starflight's sleeping cave had Literature|scrolls over the floor.

The study cave had a small "sky" hole in the roof, barely big enough for
a dragon head to fit through, which was partly hidden by a thicket of
branches outside of the hole. A map of Pyrrhia hung on the wall between
the torches.

The battle cave is surrounded by stalagmites, with a staircase leading
to the central cave. A dragon dummy stood beside the wall, where a
drawing of a dragon depicted all the weaknesses of a dragon body.

There is a small, freezing-cold river that trickled through the cave
into the outside world. Inside the caves, the river flowed upstream into
the guardians' cave. Downstream, it flowed from the central cavern along
the tunnel to the battle cave. The central cave was connected to the
study cave, with a small gap in between. Further downstream, the river
eventually leads to a pitch-black wall, which is the passageway to the
outside world. A gap, complete with sharp outcroppings, connects the
dragonets' cave to the passageway. Tight, twisting channels and small
openings of air makes up the passage, eventually ending in a waterfall
opening to the outside world. Bats, glowworms, and a sticky white acid
in the rocks can be found in the channels.

## History

### The Dragonet Prophecy

#### The Dragonet Prophecy

The dragonets of destiny were raised beneath the Claws of the Clouds
Mountains, where it was very unlikely that any SkyWing would stumble
across the tunnel to the cave.

#### The Lost Heir

Tsunami often mentioned and thought about the dragonets' cave throughout
the novel.

#### The Hidden Kingdom

Glory often thought about the dragonets' cave throughout the story.

#### The Dark Secret

Reed and his troop battled the IceWings along with the other MudWings
and SandWings at the Claws of the Clouds Mountains. Starflight also
often thought of the dragonets' cave throughout the story.

#### The Brightest Night

Sunny followed Fierceteeth, Strongwings, and Preyhunter as they flew
over the southern Claws of the Clouds Mountains to get to the Kingdom of
Sand. She reflected on how she would look at the mountains on the map
the dragonets used to have in their cave. Later, Sunny flew back over
the mountains, but took a break in a cave on Jade Mountain where she met
Stonemover.

-----

### The Jade Mountain Prophecy

#### Moon Rising

Jade Mountain Academy is located in the Claws of the Clouds Mountains.

#### Winter Turning

The Talons of Peace temporarily settled down near the Claws of the
Clouds Mountains, where the Jade Winglet found and interrogated them for
information on Ex-Queen Scarlet.

#### Escaping Peril

Peril and Turtle passed by the Claws of the Clouds Mountains on their
way to Possibility.

#### Talons of Power

Darkstalker, his followers, and some of the members of Jade Winglet flew
over the Claws of the Clouds Mountains to get to the lost city of night
from the Rainforest Kingdom.

#### Darkness of Dragons

Winter mentioned how Sanctuary was an establishment in progress.
Sanctuary is located in the Claws of the Clouds Mountains.

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### The Lost Continent Prophecy

#### The Dangerous Gift

Snowfall and the Pantalan refugees visit Sanctuary for shelter.
Sanctuary is located in the Claws of the Clouds Mountains.

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### Legends

#### Darkstalker

Clearsight used an Animus enchantments|animus-touched bracelet to trap
Darkstalker in Agate Mountain, trapping him there for two-thousand
years.

#### Dragonslayer

Wren and Sky passed the Claws of the Clouds Mountains in the night,
where they stumbled upon the dragonets of destiny's cave.

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### Field Guides

#### A Guide to the Dragon World

Starflight reflected on living under the mountain several times in the
guide.

The Claws of the Clouds Mountains were indirectly mentioned in the Clash
of Claws Tournament description.