Dragon and Rider WIP III

Alright folks. The next step in my epic drawing of epicness. I'm still having some troubles figuring out textures for the scales, but I'm starting to get the hang of shading in general.

Any critique would be greatly welcome, and any aid/good tutorials would be deeply appreciated.

This is a character sheet for a dragon and his rider.

This dragon is a cliff-dwelling species, mainly inhabiting oceanside caves and hunting fish. While prefering meat, these dragons are omniverous, consuming kelp and sea weed when food is scarce, specifically when the schools and pods of fish and whales they usually feed on have migrated. They also seem to supliment their diets with minerals found in the cliffs around their dwellings, usually using the need as a means for excavating and renovating their homes.

This species of dragon is an apex predator. Though they have no natural predators once they reach maturity, older dragons will eat whelps and pups. Fully mature dragons have even been seen eating juveniles and young adults.

Since breeding age is reached before complete physical maturity, young mated pairs are required to use the eye markings on the undersides of their wings to ward off larger dragons. They are also used in territorial displays. Breeding age is determined by the erruption of the secondary horns, which develop different colors depending minerals available in the dragon's habitat. Due to a high level of iron in this particular area, this dragon's appear red.

Dragons seem to be capable of registering color variants, and a preference. It sometimes seems as though females prefer a certain color, or in the case of a deceased mate, will search out a new mate with similar secondary markings, sometimes travelling long distances to achieve this goal. Dragons mate for life, though "divorces" have been witnessed.

Dragons cannot be tamed so much as persuaded to assist their riders. An agreement, along with contract, must be reached between the two parties. The agreement can be anything from a set amount of gold per year to increase their hordes to something as simple as three squares a day. Dragons do not wear bridles, as they find it insulting. They will, however, wear a harness of sorts around their necks at the base of their heads, so the rider may communicate with the dragon while in the air. Dragons willing to be ridden also generally concent to wearing a saddle for the rider's benefit and comfort, as the scales, while small, tend to have a destructive effect on any clothing or skin they rub against. As such, saddles must be replaced often.

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This character is (c) me. Do not use under any circumstances unless given express permission by me to do so.