For the book I'm working on right now, I've created a creature called a zanna. Zannas are their own race; that is, they are not a hybrid of anything. They have six legs like insects'; the scales, horns, and muscular build of dragons; feathered wings; shark-like teeth; and snake fangs.

Their scale pattern is intricate and swirly, as if following each individual muscle beneath, and the scales themselves are this shade of blue.Their eyes are the same color--irises and pupils both. So are their talons, which are thick and razor-sharp by the way. Zanna feathers are this shade blue, with gold edges. Each feather's quill is strong as steel, yet flexible as a willow branch. All the feathers on each wing can flutter individually for cleaning purposes. However, the feathers usually interlock into a tight, impenetrable mesh. When a zanna flexes its wings, a human cannot so much as insert a fingernail between the feathers.

Since zannas are not a humanoid race, they cannot speak regular sentences. And what they can say is often very peculiar. For instance, a zanna refers to raw vegetables as "live", and cooked foods as "dead".

They're very dry-humored and wily. But they're super-protective of their masters. Each zanna mates young, usually producing only one egg, which is marked with the parents' scale pattern. And when tragedy hits--especially if that tragedy is the death of the egg--all creation had better beware. A roused zanna is hazardous to your health.

Also, once a zanna has mated, it begins to grow rapidly. An adult zanna before mating is three times the size of an adult human; by the time of death, it is well over thirty feet long, with a wingspan of forty feet.

The zanna in my story is named "Cosaint". (That's Irish for "protector", an apt title for him. )

I'm debating whether or not to make a silver-and-red version for another story. What do you think?

Sounds very neat!

I'm trying to imagine them in my mind...is the torso long and snake-like (some dragons are like that), or average western-dragon proportions? Are the middle set of legs used for locomotion, or manipulation, or both?
I like how you've given them feathered wings, which are actually more realistic for a reptilian organism than bat-like wings.

Thank you, Cephron!

To answer your first question, the torso size ratio is about average. The only part which is a little longer proportionately is the upper (or fore) section of the ribcage, because that is where both the first and second sets of legs emerge. The second set is closer to the first set; that way, a zanna can propel itself at great speed with the first and third sets of legs while carrying an object safely sheltered under its body.

Which brings me to your second question. Yes, the second set of legs is for both locomotion and manipulation. They are also very handy for balance. In a battle, a zanna usually finds itself outnumbered by smaller opponents (i.e., humans). Therefore it often must utilize its front claws for offense and its tail for defense, leaving the middle and hind claws for support. And since the middle claws are closer to the front set than the hind set, they distribute the zanna's weight almost perfectly.

Good questions! I'm glad you asked!

What are their masters like? How did their bond with their masters come about?

When you say they usually only produce one egg, how much of the time is that? I ask because the population wouldn't be sustainable if most of the species only produce one offspring per pair. They would die out rather quickly. Just a thought.

Ooh, I love these creatures! They sound very neat.

*Whispers* Yes, do a silver and red version!

So many good, thought-provoking questions!
Zannas seek out humans whom they can trust. This "choosing" is typically a long process of several years, and progresses much the same way that close friendships between humans do, except that it is formed even more carefully and exclusively than human friendship relationships. Humans call it the "SSS Test": Safety, Stability, and Steadfastness. The zanna starts by finding a human that doesn't try to kill it. If the human is "safe", the zanna tests the human's durability. If it's "stable", the zanna tests how far the human is willing to go to preserve the relationship. That's the "steadfastness" test. Zannas are very selective, so usually their first instincts for a good human master are right on the money. To answer your first question, zanna masters are by necessity selfless, caring, intelligent, loyal, and hardy. Any human that can pass the "SSS Test" becomes very attached to the zanna. The bond is for life. If the male zanna is mated and does not yet have a master, he will wait to choose a master until his egg is hatched and somewhat self-sufficient. That way the zanna can safely leave the baby and mate, and go hunting with his master. Female zannas don't seek out masters when they have young to tend to. This is why zannas are so protective of their masters: the masters are more like members of their own family. Godparents, if you will. I hope that made sense... I haven't processed this aspect of zanna culture much before.

So true. The explanation for that is rather lengthy (which is why I didn't include it before, haha), but I'll try to keep it brief.

By "only one egg", I mean that zannas are content to have a three-member family system at a time: one male, one female, one child. Plus, of course, any previously acquired masters, or a master that the male zanna might find when his egg has hatched. Once the baby zanna matures enough leaves its parents (which is within seven years, under typical circumstances), the zanna mates will lay again. Only occasionally will a zanna couple ever decide to have two hatchlings in the brood at a time. Zannas are very sturdy and hard to kill, so when one survives hatching, it is here to stay. Only newly hatched zannas or brooding (pregnant) female zannas are vulnerable. If zannas weren't so tough, then yes, absolutely, they would die out very quickly. As it is, they are extremely rare, but not endangered. They're hunted by some humans, certainly; but such attacks barely ever succeed.
Thank you, Milly!!!

Yes, that makes sense.

Awesome! And again, great question! I'm glad you asked. It made me sit back and sort my thoughts out thoroughly on that subject.

These are really cool, Kayla! And I agree with Milly, make a sliver and red one! That would be awesome! I think it would be neat if you used them in the same story to have two breeds of zannas, but different would be cool also.