Dragons are dinosaur / lizardlike beings, much as you expect. Further clarification is difficult as they have so many different physical forms. Some are small as a human foot, others are hundreds of meters long. Some are winged, others use 'magic' to fly, others still simply don't. They are also powerful users of forces other people call magic (they consider magic to be a statement of emotion and wonder rather than a description of the forces they control. They don't mind others calling it magic, as the onlookers are expressing the emotion and wonder in watching the forces at work.) They are particularly accomplished at shapechanging, and enthusiastically use it to force others to join their species.
Most dragons get on well with humans (and other intelligent, sociable animals), as they themselves are highly sociable. They tend to transform people they like, but don't make it blatant to others unless they are engaged in a full-scale transformation war.
Dragons take mates in two ways. The normal route is to get a normal relationship going with a dragon of the opposite (usually) sex. The other route is far more unique and demands a level of truly unusual love, dedication and devotion, as well as the dragon being a powerful transformer and physically large. This is to craft his (or her) mate, who may be of any sex or species, into a Suma.
This can be done in many ways, but the most traditional is for the dragon to persuade his love to climb into the dragon's belly pouch, which has been created for that purpose. The two mate while she (I'll assume here the mate is female, but dragon and mate can be any sex) is safe within the cocoon and, if the two truly love each other, their minds and bodies undergo a subtle but hugely significant transformation.
As to what this transformation is, every single suma and doma pairing is very different. The one thing that binds them is from that moment onwards the suma and doma can never seperate or live apart, nor would they want to. To all intents and purposes they are the same creature. Usually that bond is physical, with the suma actually merging with the dragon, other times it's 'merely' mental, with the suma reemerging from the pouch apparently unchanged, yet unable to leave the creature's side for long. Either way, there is always an unbreakable, permanent bond of minds, a love that will never, ever die.
Suma are inclined to be deeply submissive to their doma (as their names imply) but there are cases where the relationship is equal. Where the dragon is the submissive one, he transforms into the suma and the suma becomes his doma.
Generally the suma's normal form is almost human, even if she started off as a dragon. But she also has the features of her mate, usually the same teeth, tongue, eyes, tail etc. However, their forms are under the complete control of the dragon and they are shaped to his whim (so they may have their limbs removed to be carried around, or get turned into airborne or aquatic forms, or even be merged with the dragon himself so they can mate on the move).
Suma and Society
As befitting their submissive positions, suma are treated very differently in draconic and friendly human societies than what how were before their transformation. The suma is expected to walk around naked, and loses her original name, not even her parents feeling right calling her by it, to henceforth be called Suma (or (dragon's name)'s Suma if you need to be exact). The dragon gains the title of doma, which in relation to the suma can be used in place of his name (ie. The suma might say “I love my doma, but I wish he would let me have legs instead of this big snake tail”.) Suma can walk into private places with the casualness of well-respected cats, and indeed are often cuddled and stroked by humans (when not 'icky' with sexual juices).
Suma are in many ways their doma's sexual organs. Always plagued by sexual feelings, they are hugely promiscuous, mating with their doma, other suma and other mates as often as they can (that said, suma grow old as their dragons do and tend to settle down somewhat eventually). Dragons encourage their suma to mate as often as possible, particularly enjoying 'sharing' Suma between them, and comparing how sexually accomplished and beautiful their forms are.
Doma and suma are essentially of one mind. The dragon generally lets his suma retain her memories and independent thinking, but at any time he likes he can search her memories and communicate telepathically. A Suma with an itch may not flinch - her dragon would scratch her instinctively, without thinking. A dragon knows when his Suma is particularly in heat or bored (usually simultaneous) and will think of something to do to her. A dragon can feel a suma's pain, exmotions and sexual pleasure, though they can (and do) cut off the last sensation if it gets too wearing.
Dragons with Suma are respected as she becomes his weakness, his vulnerability, his responsibility. Dragons who have lost their Suma are to be feared, as there is little as utterly terrifying, ruthless or single-minded as one out to get her back. Dragons who have lost their Suma forever don't exist for long - they commit suicide or simply weaken and die. The same thing happens to a seperated suma. Death becomes a pleasure to the still-living half and they will seek their own death so they may reunite and face the challenges of the next life together.
Dragon's young are also worthy of mention, and are part of why the species is so sociable. Dragon hatchlings are fully sexually mature upon emergence from their egg. The nest urgently requires mates, usually animals of human size to keep the little ones content (and away from incest, or violence caused by frustration). Suma are in huge demand to fulfil this role, though actual humans may be approached too, if trusted. (humans are allwed to say no, but the favour of a grateful dragon or priceless item from his hoard are not things you can easily object to). Once inside the nest there's no turning back, and the dragon's 'nanny' is milked, mated and transformed perpetually by the reptiles, eager for sexual attention, food and a chance to get used to their highly unstable change-powers.
Dragon children eventually fly the coop after nine years. Human 'nannies' that have been with them all that time usually cannot comprehend any other life. They tend to become dragons themselves, nannies to a new clutch, Suma to one of the young, or a form of 'freelance' Suma, otherwise known as a Symbiote. It's very rare that they will both choose to return to their human lives, and successfully resist the urgent, ever present need to embrace dragons once more and remain with them forever.
Email Hedonism at heddy@scalehaven.com
Page last updated: July 20th 1999