Diamond: The male diamonds dragons are the second largest, fastest, and strongest next to the Queens, growing to between thirty-five to thirty-eight meters, and are typically the only ones able to catch them in a mating flight. For thousands of years the position of Weyrleader was the privilege of diamond riders, and so it remains. Diamonds only Impress male candidates. Again because of their size and endurance the diamonds are the first picked to be Wingleaders and -seconds in a fighting pattern, and fly the middle and upper ranks. They, like all males, chew firestone. Diamonds are smart--they have to be. They must be clever and wily to avoid Thread as well as to catch golds in flight. A diamond's strength is in tactical thought and a certain amount of cunning.
Black: Black dragons can be male or female, but the females are the only genuine blacks. The males are actually considered bronzes, for bronze metal, when exposed to oxygen over time, darkens and turns black. The only reason the males are considered mutations is because they are fairly rare. In all other respects they are equivalent and equal to their lighter-colored brethren, although blacks are said to grow up to forty meters in length. They Impress males only and chew firestone. The females really are oddities, as no one can suss out what they are a variation on. They rank below the golds and bronzes, but slightly above the silvers. They can produce clutches, but not so large as a gold's, and are usually barren from chewing firestone anyway. They may grow to the size of a small gold, and are typically flown by black or bronze males; sometimes brown or copper. The black females Impress females only. They tend to be somewhat high-strung and feisty, but have the intelligence of any bronze with an added feminine depth.
Bronze: Bronzes are middle-ranking males of middle size, speed, dexterity, and everything else, though perhaps they are stockier than the lean diamonds and lithe coppers, and grow from thirty to thirty-five meters in length. Of the males, bronzes have the highest endurance next to diamonds, but aren't as fast and powerful: otherwise they would be flying Queens instead of silvers! Stolid and reliable, bronzes genrally have Wingsecond position in the upper and middle fighting ranks. They only Impress males. Of the five usual colors, bronzes are the "smart ones." Their thought, while limited to the present and immediate future, is logical, sensible, insightful, and wise. Not to say that they can't loosen up and have a good time like any of the others. If you must have a dragon in a time of crisis, choose a brown. He won't lose his head.
Silver: The silver females are products of the virus, and thought to be small crystals without the proper pigmentation. However, even if they don't chew firestone they may not be fertile. It really depends on the Weyr and the dragon. Some silvers lay only very small clutches; some lay one or two and stop; others have the full capacity of crystals, though this is rare; and still others are completely barren. If they chew stone, they fly as Wingseconds and occasionally -leaders in the middle ranks. If not, they join the Queens in the lower wings. In size, they are larger than bronzes but smaller diamonds, reaching at most thirty-six meters. They Impress girls only, and can be flown by any color copper on up, but are usually mated by browns. They have the wisdom, patience, and stamina that dignify browns, and they can be somewhat enigmatic and playful, too. Silvers have a better time with abstract logic than most dragons, but they don’t think forward or retain knowledge any better.
Copper: Copper dragons are perhaps the strangest of the mutants. They are hermaphroditic, and decide their sex based on that of their rider after Impression. Furthermore, they ONLY Impress HADs - Hear-All-Dragons. Copper males grow to be about the size of browns (twenty-eight to thiry-two meters), and the females slightly larger (up to thirty-six). Fertile females clutch only rarely, and are flown by copper males, blacks, or sometimes diamonds and black males. They can be Wingseconds in a fighting pattern, and sometimes -Leaders in the middle ranks. Coppers are inquisitive and witty, sensitive, and fun. A copper of either sex loves a good laugh. Their minds work like live wires: The right connection sets off sparks of thoughts and ideas. On the other side of the mark is dark humor and biting sarcasm, but this is rare. For the most part, coppers are the beloved jesters of the Weyr.
Grey: It is debatable whether the male gray dragons are mutations, since blue dragons are known to take on grayish hue when fatigued or very old. However, it is a rare thing to see a dragon with gray color in his prime, so they are assumed to be oddities. The grays grow from twenty-five to thirty-two meters in length, and may fly copper females, but usually chase the scarlets and greens. In a Fighting Wing, grays help fill the ranks along with blues, greens, and scarlets. They Impress male candidates only. Grays are smart enough in their own way. Their capacity to think ahead, however, is limited at best. They tend to be quieter, more serious and less emotion-driven than others of the "lesser" colors--the introspecitve dragons. They know themselves well and their riders better.
Blue: The blue males are the "workhorses" of the species. They are stout and hardy, having higher endurance than their smaller sisters, and ranging between twenty-five to thirty meters. Blues generally Impress males only, but have been known to choose girls when boys are in short supply. They may fly a small copper female, but mainly greens or scarlets. They form the ranks of the Fighting Wings. Interestingly enough, the trademark blue of the HarperCraft is based on the most common shade of this reliable beast. Blues are steadfast and loyal. If you must trust a dragonpair, trust a blue first. They don't betray and will stop at nothing to do what is right.
Green: The most numerous of all dragon colors are the green females, who number the same as all the other colors put together. They are the best Threadfighters as well, being extremely dextrous and maneuverable in the air. Unfotunately, they haven't the endurance of their larger siblings and so have to alternate with other greens and scarlets. Otherwise, they make up the majority of the Wings. They may Impress female or male humans, but females are preferred and encouraged, as they have a better time coping with the greens' drives. The greens are able to clutch, but are prevented from doing so by chewing firestone. If they were allowed to clutch, the Weyrs would be up to their eyeballs in little green females before one could blink. They are flown by any male who cares to chase them, but generally they mate with blues. Greens are unpredictable and volatile, especially when near to rising. They think with their feelings and passions, displaying a 'point A to point B' thought process. Their emotions, however, run deep. If they like someone, they REALLY like that someone. If they dislike someone, let him beware. Greens make everyone's life more interesting.
Scarlet: The scarlets, also direct products of the virus, are small, dainty females. They grow slightly smaller than greens: between twenty and twenty-four meters. Like the greens, they are able Threadfighters because of their size, but they have even less stamina. They could perhaps even be called frail. Also like greens, the scarlets are made to chew firestone for the good of the Weyr, for they produce small, weak clutches. However, they rise to mate with the same alacrity of greens and are pursued by any who care to follow, though it is usually a gray who is the chosen one. Scarlets fly the middle ranks of a fighting pattern. If possible, scarlets are even more changeable than greens. A scarlet might like you one day and despise you the next, with the same intensity of greens. The kind-hearted ones are extremely sweet, the mischievous ones are terrors on wings. Scarlets are the spice of Weyr life.
White/Albino: Albino dragons are a very rare fluke: a throw-back to the original dragons genetically engineered by Kitty Ping. They may grow, like Ruth, to twenty meters, but others are smaller. Thier riders need to take special care not to overwork them. Rather than lacking pigmentation, whites are more of a translucent pastel blend of all the dragon colors together. Whether considered male or female, they are asexual and do not rise to mate. One could Impress either a male or female candidate, and generally a white will act as Wingleader to a Weyrling wing. Albino dragons are unique in one big way: They possess foresight and memory. They can think ahead and plan, and they remember much of things past. A white dragon is about the most human creature you're likely to encounter on Pern, and that says it all.
