Feeding: By the end of month four, the dragons will usually eat twice a day and continually will be able to handle larger pieces of meat. Food preparation time severely dwindles by the time the dragons are in month 5 as they get big enough to eat entire carcasses of small animals or half carcasses of larger ones. Predatory instincts grow stronger as the dragons may play hunting games and attack any insects or other small animals they manage to catch.

General Care: By month 4, if the dragons have been keeping up their exercises, the dragons are now psychically able to take small flights and may decide to do so. However, due to injuries in first group of dragons who tried to fly unsupervised, the science team discouraged any flying this early, especially without their supervision and unauthorized flight attempts will be met with discipline if they are caught.

Dragons continue wing exercises and marching drills throughout month four. They now march in larger groups and by the third week, they will move in formations as an entire group. Dragons may practice marching with other clutches if there are any close to their age.

Classes begin to focus on the upcoming flights. Partners go into depth in studying flight techniques and both the dragons and riders are taught proper flying technique by older dragons.

The beginning of month 5 is the official starting date for first flights in the natural clutches (although the first group of dragons started a few weeks earlier). Under supervision of the scientists with healers standing by, the dragons make their first ìofficialî flights by running off a small platform and making a small, unimpressive flight that might consist of a few flaps and then often a crash landing. Nearly every dragon will obtain scrapes and bruises during their first flights, while others may sustain injuries as severe as broken bones.

Dragons will continue working on flying throughout month 5, growing comfortable with their wings. Some will take to the air faster than others. Once running take-offs and landings are mastered, dragons will learn to take off by dropping from small ledges and springing from the ground. They will then focus on turning and ascents. Learning to fly is tiring for the young dragons, and it will take several weeks to build up stamina for longer flights, so their human partners must watch for strain and be careful the dragons donít overdo it. Some of the more advanced flyers may work on flying together as a group, although formation flying will be a bigger focus in month 6.

The young dragons still must be bathed once a day, and oiled at least twice daily. Although growth has somewhat slowed, muscle development may cause additional skin stretching.

Size: Dragons continue to increase slowly and steadily in size. They are about groin-high at the withers at the end of month 4 and hip high at the end of month 5.

General Life with a Dragon: The dragons by now, for the most part, have adjusted to living outdoors. The dragons are more and more independent each day. However, when they get hungry or itchy or want a bath, they still make sure their human partners know about it! Since the dragons can no longer comfortably fit indoors without bumping into walls and knocking things over, most are comfortable enough to entertain themselves outdoors while their humans work or attend class.