Interactions [lore] (Patreon)

As animals, drakes do NOT act with human instincts or human morals. do not attempt to "humanize" them. they don't share our values. Drake hierarchies are based on loyalty, honor and justice. Essentially the opposite of humanity.

Forms of affection:

Kissing and licking the wrists and forearm undersides= sensual/sexual/erotic.

Touching foreheads=equivalent of touching each other's anima (soul) and is very deeply affectionate.

Licking hollows = reserved for mates, very erotic, a drakes most sensitive and delicate zone on their body. A sign of the ultimate trust.

Licking the insides of each others mouths = kissing, if done with teeth unfurled, can be a forceful sexual act/rough sex act

Touching each others palms (fingers on palms)= indicating desire for recreation(sex)

Chest kisses= romance, love, kissing the heart of a drakes anima(soul)

Tail on tail curling= either best friends or mates

Forms of affection within a pack or between friends:

Palm to palm greetings = sign of hello

Cheek to cheek nuzzle = hello to close friend/family

Biting or nipping the snout of another drake= act of playful dominance

Pouncing on another drakes chest, wrestling= playful. Sometimes a form to show one is stronger than another without violence.

Tail curling together= consoling a friend, best friends, it's an act of reassurance

Tail swishing(can be full tail or bottom 1/2)=relatively happy, content, good mood, pleasant.

Forms of agitation:

Ears folded back= anger/annoyance

Smoldering from a partially open maw=aggressive action, a threat display, the next action will likely be very violent.

Glowering/glaring= disbelief, anger, irritation, any type of mild anger/upset.

Partial lip curl= one side of the maw or the other slightly raised in a threat display. The fangs on the curled part of the maw may be extended as well

Full lip curl(fangs unfurled at least on the top jaw, possibly both jaws)=extreme anger, threat display

Tail tip twitching= indicative that a drake (usually younger ones with less control) is about to attack, similar to snakes and certain lizards flicking their tail before attacking. Older drakes have great control over this action and won't do it unless intentionally warning someone.

Other:

Kill claw tapping= Listening for echo/hunting. The kill talon on drakes is used as both a weapon and a means of creating a scan of their environment. While drakes have excellent eyes, they hear in super-stereo. The tapping of a claw creates a unique sound that reflects off of objects allowing their ears to send signals to their brain of a layout of the area, hazards, or other bodies. Similar to a whale or dolphins echolocation. Ezrael has mastered this ability and is a renowned hunter. Does not work on soft terrain.

Pinning by shoulders= trying to get someones attention/wake up call, usually mildly violent.

Teeth snapping= form of heightened aggression. Usually seen in aberrant or feral drakes.

Spitting flames= they're trying to kill you

Ramming horns into chest of opposing drake= attempting to knock them off their feet. Can be violent or not, can be used to snap someone out of a state of rage OR used mid-fight. Ramming horns into another drakes back is an act of betrayal and considered VERY dishonorable. A dishonored drake is expelled from their pack.

Locking horns= display of dominance between any two drakes. Can be males, females, mixed genders or androgyns (though rare). A male who is too pushy towards a female may end up on the receiving end of a head ram. It isn't uncommon for the loser of a horn fight to become subservient to the winner for a period of time.

Social circles:

A group of drakes is known as a pack

A pack can be 3+ drakes, upwards of 30. A large pack is known as a hoard. Ezrael's ship the behemoth is considered a pack.

Matriarchs= An elder female who survived the original wars on Emain and is now a leader of one of the numerous colonies. Only elder females get the title of leader. If there is no elder in a colony, the toughest adult female will be the leader by default. Male drakes are subservient to elders. Female drakes are the "police force" essentially carrying out the elders wishes. Juveniles are a subclass and have no voice in leadership.

Augments are used by matriarchs in the modern timeline, to protect the colony or carry out judgement on a rule breaker.  As Ezrael was wearing a govt issue control collar prior to leaving the homeworld, she had no colony or home to go to. Once freed(see: she tore the collar from her neck and nearly died in the process) she had no desire to be subservient to anyone else and created her own pack with her own rules. Ezrael does not follow the standard operating procedure for a drake, and she does not compromise with anyone. If she is crossed she will not hesitate to murder the betrayer. If she is argued with, she will kill the person arguing. She isn't of sane or sound mind, even allowing both of her offspring to cannibalize a crewmate before slaughtering her herself. That behavior makes her unliked by her own species, as they are few in numbers and killing an adult breeding-age drake is seen as a horrible offense.  One Ezrael has committed countless times. She isn't entirely wrong in her beliefs however, rather, Ezrael believes only the strongest and healthiest drakes should be allowed to survive and breed the next generation. A sentiment that while correct, is difficult when your species is only a few thousand strong.

Aeryn was a former member of a colony, but as both an androgyn and an augment she found comfort in the simplicity of Ezrael's crew and signed on when offered a place. Aeryn, like Ezrael, carries a gene of stubbornness and prefers the lifestyle of moving constantly, as opposed to following the rules someone else has enforced. While the majority of the crew of the Behemoth come and go freely and blend into civilized colonies without effort, both Ezrael and Aeryn have problems with authority and value strength and freedom far more than anything else. Aeryn does not challenge Ezrael for pack leader because Aeryn respects (and fears) Ezrael. Though she is not an elder or a matriarch, being the first prototype augment makes Ezrael an entity that instills fear and admiration in all others. There isn't a drake alive that doesn't know who she is. (and most are not stupid enough to challenge her)