Sky tribe update. Lore and art. (Patreon)

I have updated the Sky tribe. The title picture and lore. Also the Snow tribe is introduced here. In my development it was formerly known as the "Ice tribe". But I thought "snow" would fit them better as I have changed their appearance from thin creatures covered in glistering glassy spikes to thick white fur. These dragons dwell in the northern regions and are the "geeks" of this world, they are good at science and math.

https://kodar.org/patreon/content/100/SkyDragons2.png

Sky Tribe dragons reside high among the clouds and are seldom spotted on the mainland. Originally dwelling near the Southern Shield ridge, they relocated to the floating islands above the Rift following the Great Sundering — a catastrophic event that tore a vast rift across the lands and introduced magic to the world. Though the magic sustaining these elevated lands remains an enigma, it has been millennia since the cataclysm, and not a single island has fallen down yet.

The most significant of these floating islands is known as the White Shrine, a remnant from the pre-sundering era adorned with ancient structures. Columns, white stone buildings, and dragon statues dot the island, untouched and revered by the sky tribe. This sanctuary, holding numerous mysteries of the past. Cultivation of fruit gardens or the rearing of livestock is prohibited on the island, and strangers are forbidden from setting foot on it.

The unique feathery wings of the sky tribe dragons, coupled with fur intermixed with feathers covering their bodies, provide insulation at the lofty altitudes they fly. Sporting thick manes and tufted tails, their hides display predominantly white hues with subtle tints of blue, green, and other shades. Building homes, gazebos, and terraces on their islands, they cultivate magnificent gardens teeming with a variety of plants, favoring vibrant and colorful flora. Flowers bloom everywhere, accompanied by honey bees, fruit trees, and bountiful harvests of mead, fruit, berries. However, most of the growth is natural, the sky dragons refrain from unnecessary manual labor and getting the paws dirty. The sky tribe dragons indulge in leisure, engaging in games, crafting, or simply enjoying restful slumber. Comparable in size to Earth and Steppe dragons, they rank among the larger and stronger dragon species.

The Sky tribe, possibly the least populous among dragonkind, experiences limited birth rate due to various factors, reproducing slowly. Female sky dragons enter heat every few years, and even then, conceiving is not guaranteed. This adaptation may stem from their accustomed existence in regions with scarce food supplies. Despite their love for fruit, sky dragons are not vegetarians; they maintain a limited livestock and hunt small herbivores, such as rabbits, on the islands. However, some dragons find the process of hunting and consuming prey disgusting. 

Not all islands are suitable for gardening or handling livestock. Categorized by seven levels of height, the lowest levels feature gardens, flowers, and hunting grounds, while the higher ones are increasingly colder, ultimately becoming snow-covered with glaciers at the highest levels. The topmost island, a bare frozen rock overlooking the clouds, houses a solitary watchtower where a dragon hermit resides — a snow dragoness engrossed in magical crystals, books, and mathematical research. No sky dragon would ever agree to a life like that, but for the snow dragons it's in their nature. Thick white fur and magic keep them warm and sustained on conjured food.

Contrary to their laid-back appearance, the sky tribe is not as naïve as it may seem. A comprehensive library on the White Shrine island is well-guarded, housing the knowledge from across the world. The sky tribe is one of the oldest intelligent races on the planet, if not the first. While possessing a knack for magic, easily passing tests for magic affinity, they never exhibit actual magical abilities, leading to speculation that they might be connected to the Rift somehow or are vigilant guardians against its potential devastation of the entire planet. Their interactions with Earth Dragons below fuel conspiracies, especially given the mysterious nature of the Earth tribe. Additionally, the origins of the impressive structures on the White Shrine island remain a puzzle, as their seemingly casual demeanor belies the necessity for magical properties or unwavering dedication to manual labor required to build such a things.