This hatchling appears to be... dead?

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.

This hatchling's rotting appearance has almost always ended up with it being buried alive at the cemetery of the royal palace of Sindria, very much to the horror of the dragons residing there. Almost as if the night (or the lack of light) energizes him, he would spring out of his 'grave' in the wee hours, scaring the dragons in his vicinity.

His parents were well aware of this hatchling's habits, and they have since hissed at any dragon who tries to bury him. Though, they've had little success, as the Dark Green dragons at the palace are able to utilize their vines and grab the hatchling from the safety of their burrows.