Aww... It’s a cute baby dragon. No matter where it goes or what you do, you find this hatchling staring at you.

And look! It has grown wings! It must be close to maturing.

Young dragons are relatively defenseless. They are born with relatively soft scales, which are shed and replaced with harder ones as the hatchling matures. Once a hatchling’s wings grow in, it typically marks the beginning of maturation. At this point they are often capable of hunting on their own and are usually left alone by their mother.

Orfinn has particular reason for his grave expression. While still an egg, both his parents ate ash contaminated with fungus and arsenic. The combination proved fatal to them, so he has had to make his way alone.

Hatching next to his parents' dead bodies, Orfinn fled the area and settled in healthier environs. He lives nearby a blacksmith's shop and is well-fed in return for occasionally assisting with smelting.