 |
This article is in need of a clean-up. You can help out Pern Wiki by re-organizing parts of the article, proof-reading, checking grammar and spelling, and doing other helpful things to correct the article.
|
Several creatures of Pern are known to have multi-faceted eyes that exhibit the ability to change color depending on the mood of the creature. This was first observed in the fire lizards, and later the dragons and whers who were genetically engineered from them. It is not clear whether all of Pern’s native species - such as tunnel snakes or wherries - exhibit this ability, or whether it is exclusive to the recent evolutionary tree of the fire lizards.
Overview[]
The eye color of a dragon was an easy visual indicator of the mood of a dragon or fire lizard, even to those that were not Impressed to either one. Many different eye colors exist, some more well-known than others. In addition to this, the colors often combine and “whirl” around the creature’s eye at a speed that can vary depending on the emotion. The meanings of eye colors for fire lizards were described by Menolly, who, having impressed nine at once, had many observations of their moods.
Meaning of Eye Colors[]
Red/Orange[]
Red or orange eyes were typically associated with anger. In fire lizards, red eyes could also indicate hunger.
Yellow[]
The yellow eye color has generally been used to display anxiety or fear - in a dragon’s case, usually for their rider - although it may also represent excitement. When Ruth became confused following an argument between his rider Jaxom and F'nor, “yellow specks” briefly appeared on his eyes.
Pale Yellow[]
The pale yellow color has only been seen once; by the queen dragon Orlith, when her rider Moreta became infected with the plague. It was said to represent concern.
Green/Blue[]
Green could be thought of as the default eye color for the fire lizards and their “relatives”, based on Menolly’s observations that it is the dominant fire lizard eye color. Considering that dragon ichor is also green, along with many internal body components, this could suggest that the original color of any dragonet embryo is green. Blue is also a common color, and like green, appears to be very general in nature.
Purple[]
The purple eye color has, strangely, been depicted more often in combination with another eye color than by itself. On its own, it has been shown to represent worry - similar to the yellow eye color.
In combination with blue, it is believed to represent “love and devotion”. Fire lizard eyes are described as turning “purple-red” when an egg is nearly ready to hatch. This could suggest that both the yellow and purple eye colors represent agitation; whether through worry or excitement, but that purple represents worry about something affecting a loved one.
Upon the death of her mate, the queen dragon Nemorth had eyes that were “muddy purples shot with orangey yellows of extreme distress”
Dark Violet[]
Dark Violet was an eye color seen once, on the white dragon Ruth, although the exact emotion attached to it was not described.
Lavender[]
The lavender eye color has only been seen once; by the white dragon Ruth while his rider Jaxom recovered from the disease fire-head. It was said to represent stress.
Grey[]
The grey eye color can mean either pain or grief. It has been seen exhibited by injured dragons, and also by dragons whose riders have perished - specifically Orlith.
White[]
White eyes were seen in fire lizards, and were descried by Menolly as indicating danger.