What is a House Dragon?
House dragons are like a cross between dragons and mice. In fact, "mouse dragon" is another name for them, but they resent being compared to rodents. One of my house dragons, Thelik, explained it to me this way: "We're not furry, we don't dirty up our nests, and we don't get fleas. We're nothing like mice!" Personally, I still think they're very mouse-like, but I won't tell him that any more.
Most house dragons are very small, rarely growing more than two inches tall. They have sensitive mouse-like ears, sharp little fangs, and sharp little claws. You might expect them to have bat-like wings, but instead, their wings are closer to that of a pterosaur's. House dragons come in many different colors. A dragon's color reveals much about his or her personality and abilities. (More on that in the Color-Coded Guide to Dragons.)
Although they can survive in the wild, house dragons much prefer to live near people. But even though they like to benefit from our nice cozy homes, they're cautious and don't always reveal themselves. They can be very quiet when they choose, and they know just enough magic to help conceal their comings and goings. They sneak bits of food when we're not looking (especially candy), and sometimes make off with buttons, keys, and other tiny objects that they use to decorate their nests.
Where there's one house dragon, there are usually more. They're social creatures and prefer to live in groups. Because they're so small and the world can be so dangerous, they depend on each other. Even when they make friends with humans, they feel more safe and secure when they're with their own kind.
If you have adopted a house dragon (or he adopted you!), there are a few important things to keep in mind. First, house dragons are delicate creatures and need to be handled very gently. Being picked up and handled too much can be very stressful to them, and they're easily harmed. Please don't give them to your children as toys, and don't put them in your pocket where they could easily be crushed or suffocated. Never drop them if you can help it! Their wings aren't strong enough to save them from being badly hurt from an unexpected fall.
House dragons like to explore odd little nooks and crannies when you're not looking, which means they often pick up dust. If your house dragon gets a little dusty, you can gently wipe him off with a damp cloth.
They'll eat just about anything you and I will eat, but they absolutely love sweeties. Chocolates, caramels, peppermints, cookies, brownies, ice cream-- you name it, if it's sweet and sugary, they'll eat it right up. But it's not good for them to have too much. Encourage them to eat their fruits and veggies, and try not to leave bags of candy out in the open.
If you take care of your little dragon and make him feel safe and loved, he will surely bring luck and happiness to your life.