Razorwhip-Draco novaculis
Class: Sharp
Size: To 60 feet long, wingspan of 80 feet
Appearance: A light build and slim cylindrical torso (chest slightly larger than abdomen) supported by four thin, muscular limbs, the front limbs tipped with two, sometimes three long toes ending in short but sharp talons and the rear limbs with the typical four and a spur (digits on the rear limbs longer than the front). The tail is thin and slightly tapered to a sharp tip, and uniquely telescopic, able to retract into itself or extend as needed thanks to unique joints between the vertebrae, and lined on the upper surface with large, sharp-edged armor plates that overlap and fold backward to sharp points, and which wrap fully around the tail toward the tip. The neck is long and flexible, covered by interlocking armor plates and bearing curved spiky extensions of these plates on the underside of the throat, and the head is narrow, ovular and laterally flattened with a large, rounded chin and a pronounced rear-curving nose horn. Jaws close in a slight underbite exposing slightly rounded but serrated teeth, and nostrils are situated at the rear of the base of the rostral horn, teardrop shaped and angled slightly backward. Eyes are large, rounded, and shielded by a pronounced socket ridge broadened and tipped toward the back by a small spike, giving the impression of large eyelashes. Large overlapping armor plates matching those on the neck and tail rise from the back, extending into spikes at the base of the neck (larger right at the base and smaller further back), and the sides and belly are plated with large overlapping chainmail scales. Wings are long and relatively thin in outline, membranous with sharp tips on the support rods, and the leading edge is lined with spikes and bears a large razor claw at the main joint. Color is a nearly uniform metallic gray throughout, sometimes shaded with slight hues of blue, green, or purple. Eyes are iridescent deep green in both the whites and iris uniquely, and frame vertical ovular pupils.
Fire: A long-range stream of high-intensity, nearly white flame, accurate to over 100 feet away and with a shot limit of 10.
Flight: Despite its appearances the Razorwhip is extremely flexible and agile, able to turn on a dime and navigate obstacles with extreme precision.
The Razorwhip is an odd dragon, with an appearance like that of a living suit of armor, and skill in defense to equal a martial artist. Armed with razor sharp armor plates and an extendable tail, they are hard to pin down and incredibly difficult to get close to if they don't invite approach. The plates lining their tail have spine-like protrusions that can detach and be thrown at will much like a Nadder's spines, and Razorwhips can also attack using the spines lining their wings in similar fashion. With extreme flexibility they can also squeeze threats to submission or death, the spines on their neck and tail lacerating victims in such a hold, and their overlapping scales and plates slide readily over each other to permit easy bending of all parts of the body (and at the same time create eerie metal-on-metal style noises). Their tails are a truly special surprise, often held naturally at a relatively short length with the tendons and ligaments between the vertebrae folding the sections of the tail in on each other, but in a second's notice they can unhinge and whip out to over double the prior length, reaching out to lash at attackers who thought they were out of reach or coiling mercilessly around enemies or objects to be used as tools or an anchor point. These ligaments and this folding ability do mean it's fairly easy for this dragon to dislocate their tail, but like most dragons they heal immensely quickly.
The Razorwhip also possesses another unique trait, that of lacrimal toxin. Poisons are produced in the tear glands and excreted in defense, when the dragon is in close proximity to threats. Despite these many defenses however, this species is highly intelligent and a problem-solver, prone to avoid conflict when it can and also very loyal to its companions, protective of those it considers to be a friend and very openly affectionate; even with sharp edges they love to find ways to cuddle at night.
A/N-So, I had a different idea about which dragon Heather would ride later in my series, but after watching the episode with this species I'm keeping their line of thought.
What do you think? An impressive dragon to say the least. Let me know in a review! And don't forget to check out Time's Revelation, as of this posting we're two chapters from the end, and from there will move on to Book 5: Inheritance Past.