Behavior
Communication
Language was done through growls, deep rumblings, snarls and chitters, I can also remember a certain deep rumbling or purr, hisses and there was definitely a variation in everything depending on the meaning or mood. Like a growl could go from very low to a higher pitch. Or a roar could cover more distance when given in a certain voice depth to alarm/warn others. I can’t say for sure, but I always felt like some form of clicking was present. Maybe something we did with our maws in combination with the chittering is what caused a clicking sound.
I have no memory of “fidgeting” of any kind, but our tails were the main indication of our mood. Anxious, curious, anger, affectionate, relaxed. Everything had a different (sometimes subtle) way our tail would behave, aside from the rest of our body language of course.
For example: a twitching tail would often mean tension, or at least suspense, thus often it would be annoyance, prepare for a fight or something else that might need immediate reaction. But a twitch could also be excitement that has to be released.
Twirling or swishing is relaxation of the muscles and body, thus usually showing a calm state or in thought. Wings would amplify an emotion tenfold, so only if it was an extreme of something would we incorporate them.
Territory
My personal territory as an adult mainly existed of one grand valley that connected to a few smaller ones. The smaller ones I wouldn’t pay that much attention to, so I think those got used by fledglings. Through markings in stone and by using a special scent we left behind I could create invisible borders and make it clear that anyone crossing them could end up between my jaws. The mountain’s edges along the valley also helped in creating a visual barrier against other dragons, although encounters did still happen, both good and bad.
My main lair was a series of tunnels and caves into one of the mountains that formed my border. The caves definitely were nature made, but I do believe others lived in them before me. The main room that had the entrance was big enough to comfortably keep several of my species. Further back there was a smaller cave that would be used to create a nest. Other rooms and tunnels weren’t really used or were too small for an adult to fit.
When walking out of the main cave you would stand on a relative big plateau. On your right it would end in more mountain going upwards, but on the left and in front of you there was a sheer cliff, overlooking a lush, dark green valley surrounded by gray/blue mountains. Along the center of the valley would be a meandering river, ending in a slim but deep lake before continuing on. The lake would often be used to clean oneself or sometimes to hunt for fish.
Hunting
My species were primarily nocturnal hunters, but being warm-blooded will just as easily spend time in the sun. Our eyes were capable of giving us a clear vision in both day and night. A sleeping pattern wasn’t really a thing. I vaguely remember, or have the feeling that we divided the day and night into multiple pieces and spend a couple of hours sleeping between them.
Under the dark of the night and by using the color of our scales to blend in with the night sky, we would usually swoop in from above to catch prey. If the catching wouldn’t instantly kill the animal, biting the neck was the main action, we knew that was the quickest way to kill something. With smaller animals pinching at the right part with a claw would finish the job just fine. That was also part of our knowledge and growing up. We kill to survive, but we do not let them suffer.
Some of the animals on Earth remind me of those I hunted, but aside from vague descriptions such as “deer-like” or “boar-like”, I don’t have a clear image of what I actually ate.