This hatchling could hardly be considered cute.

And look! It has grown wings! At least it isn’t quite as naked-looking anymore.

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.

Salem has long resented that he was never allowed to grow up. Although he had no wish to be frozen and remain a hatchling forever, it was enforced upon him, excused by some mutterings about "scroll goals", whatever they were. He hates that his wings will never be as big as his father's, that he will never sire children, and despises everyone that forced him into his fate. He spends hours watching the debates in between the clans rage, all the while hating every one of those hypocrites who did nothing to protect his freedom while fighting for their own. None will listen to his protests however, as he is only a hatchling, and Salem's frustration and anger grows by the day as he sees the life he could have had compared to the half life that he currently lives. He has never told anyone of these feelings, as no one would stop to listen, and having been raised from the egg beside his adopted mother, he fails to see why he should adhere to her judgement just because she is an adult.