Tequali Riding Dragon

One of these guys [link] In the round.

This species from my novel, "Malarkey and Belinda." It is a kind of dragon, but not in the traditional sense. (Those who are very much into tradition and apt to get uptight about "what dragons are like" can just think of these guys as being "dragons" in the same sense as "komodo dragons"or "bearded dragons" of the lizard family are "dragons," which they probably are more like unto, anyway).

Teq is a desert country in the world of the novel. Its people were nomadic once, but now most of the population lives in one great city, built up to provide shelter from the summer sandstorms. Over the centuries, the Tequali bred a dragon up from a native wingless variety that lived in the desert. The riding dragons that they use today resemble those original wild dragons about as much as a chihuhua resembles a wolf.

The riding dragons, also called "horse dragons" do have some scales (particularly the undercarriage), but are mostly covered in a fine, soft fur, not very much unlike the hair on some breeds of horse. They are typically gray/brown in color, with long black manes and beards.

They are very tall and long-limbed.

Unfortunately, this one, made of Super Sculpey, slumped over in the oven when I baked him. He was supposed to have one foot out, off the ground, but he slumped over during the baking process and it was too late to help him when I discovered this. Since he was still standing upright, I proceeded to paint him and to make accesories. He looks like he's slinking along, which would be an appropriate slow gait for him, given his long, snakelike features.

Super Sculpey over a bailing wire and nail frame, acrylic paint, my own hair -dyed with inks, and various fabrics, leather bits and other odds and ends for the accessories.

Sewing up that little saddle was fun.